Role of nitric oxide-containing factors in the ventilatory and cardiovascular responses elicited by hypoxic challenge in isoflurane-anesthetized rats.

Exposure to hypoxia elicits changes in mean arterial blood pressure (MAP), heart rate, and frequency of breathing (fR). The objective of this study was to determine the role of nitric oxide (NO) in the cardiovascular and ventilatory responses elicited by brief exposures to hypoxia in isoflurane-anesthetized rats. The rats were instrumented to record MAP, heart rate, and fR and then exposed to 90 s episodes of hypoxia (10% O2, 90% N2) before and after injection of vehicle, the NO synthase inhibitor N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), or the inactive enantiomer D-NAME (both at 50 μmol/kg iv).

Increased systemic inflammation overnight correlates with insulin resistance among children evaluated for obstructive sleep apnea.

Purpose: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in children is associated with obesity, insulin resistance, and elevated baseline inflammation as measured by high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP). Our goal was to evaluate whether inflammation increases overnight among children suspected of having OSA and to determine whether worsened inflammation is associated with the degree of OSA severity, obesity, and/or insulin resistance.

Methods: Twenty-three children with clinical suspicion of OSA underwent a sleep study.