The utility of single-channel nasal airflow pressure transducer in the diagnosis of OSA at home.

Rationale: Given the high prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and the demand on polysomnography (PSG), there is a need for low cost accurate simple diagnostic modalities that can be easily deployed in primary care to improve access to diagnosis.

Study Objectives: The aim was to examine the utility of single-channel nasal airflow monitoring using a pressure transducer at home in patients with suspected OSA.

Design: Cross-sectional study

Setting: Laboratory and home

Participants: The study was conducted in two populations.

The role of single-channel nasal airflow pressure transducer in the diagnosis of OSA in the sleep laboratory.

Rationale: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common but underdiagnosed disorder. There is a need for validated simpler modalities such as single-channel monitors to assist diagnosis of OSA.

Study Objectives: To assess data sufficiency, agreement, and diagnostic accuracy of nasal airflow measured by a single-channel pressure transducer device (Flow Wizard, DiagnoseIT, Sydney, Australia) compared to attended full polysomnography (PSG) on the same night for OSA diagnosis.

Homebase behavior of zebrafish in novelty-based paradigms.

Zebrafish (Danio rerio) are emerging as a promising model species in neuroscience research. Many traditional rodent behavioral paradigms may be adapted for zebrafish testing. Exposing zebrafish to three different "open field" tanks for 30 min, we showed that fish display robust homebase behavior, in which one area of the tank is chosen as a preferred point of reference during the test, which the fish frequently return to and spend a longer duration in.

Diagnostic accuracy of a questionnaire and simple home monitoring device in detecting obstructive sleep apnoea in a Chinese population at high cardiovascular risk.

Background And Objective: OSA is a common condition associated with cardiovascular (CV) morbidity. It remains underdiagnosed globally in part due to the limited availability and technical requirements of polysomnography (PSG). The aim of this study was to test the accuracy of two simple methods for diagnosing OSA.

Thermo- and acid-responsive photochromic spironaphthoxazine-containing organogelators.

A series of photochromic spironaphthoxazine derivatives has been designed, synthesized, and characterized by using (1)H NMR spectroscopy, FAB mass spectrometry, and elemental analysis. Their photophysical and photochromic behavior have been investigated. Two of the compounds (G(12)-en-SA-SO and G(16)-en-SA-SO) have been shown to be capable of forming stable thermoreversible organogels in organic solvents, tested by the "stable-to-inversion of a test tube" method.

Neurosteroid vitamin D system as a nontraditional drug target in neuropsychopharmacology.

Vitamin D is becoming increasingly recognized as a nontraditional drug target for different brain pathologies. Although widely known for their role in calcium metabolism, vitamin D and its receptor have been linked to several brain disorders, including cognitive decline, epilepsy, affective disorders, and schizophrenia. Here we discuss mounting evidence, and parallel recent clinical and animal behavioral, genetic and pharmacological data to emphasize the emerging role of the neurosteroid vitamin D system in brain function.

Characterization of behavioral and endocrine effects of LSD on zebrafish.

Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) is a potent hallucinogenic drug that strongly affects animal and human behavior. Although adult zebrafish (Danio rerio) are emerging as a promising neurobehavioral model, the effects of LSD on zebrafish have not been investigated previously. Several behavioral paradigms (the novel tank, observation cylinder, light-dark box, open field, T-maze, social preference and shoaling tests), as well as modern video-tracking tools and whole-body cortisol assay were used to characterize the effects of acute LSD in zebrafish.

Modeling seizure-related behavioral and endocrine phenotypes in adult zebrafish.

Larval zebrafish (Danio rerio) have recently been suggested as a high-throughput experimental model of epilepsy-related pathogenetic states. Here we use adult zebrafish to study behavioral symptoms associated with drug-evoked seizures. Experimental epilepsy-like states were evoked in zebrafish by exposure for 20min to three chemoconvulsant drugs: caffeine (250mg/L; 1.

Effect of mechanical factors on the function of engineered human blood microvessels in microfluidic collagen gels.

This work examines how mechanical signals affect the barrier function and stability of engineered human microvessels in microfluidic type I collagen gels. Constructs that were exposed to chronic low flow displayed high permeabilities to bovine serum albumin and 10 kDa dextran, numerous focal leaks, low size selectivity, and short lifespan of less than one week. Higher flows promoted barrier function and increased longevity; at the highest flows, the barrier function rivaled that observed in vivo, and all vessels survived to day 14.

Luminescent amphiphilic 2,6-bis(1-alkylpyrazol-3-yl)pyridyl platinum(II) complexes: synthesis, characterization, electrochemical, photophysical, and Langmuir-Blodgett film formation studies.

Two series of novel platinum(II) 2,6-bis(1-alkylpyrazol-3-yl)pyridyl (N5Cn) complexes, [Pt(N5Cn)Cl][X] (1-9) and [Pt(N5Cn)(C[triple bond]CR)][X] (10-13) (X=trifluoromethanesulfonate (OTf) or PF(6); R=C(6)H(5), C(6)H(4)-p-CF(3) and C(6)H(4)-p-N(C(6)H(5))(2)), with various chain lengths of the alkyl groups on the nitrogen atom of the pyrazolyl units have been successfully synthesized and characterized. Their electrochemical and photophysical properties have been studied. Some of their molecular structures have also been determined by X-ray crystallography.

The heavy vehicle study: a case-control study investigating risk factors for crash in long distance heavy vehicle drivers in Australia.

Background: Heavy vehicle transportation continues to grow internationally; yet crash rates are high, and the risk of injury and death extends to all road users. The work environment for the heavy vehicle driver poses many challenges; conditions such as scheduling and payment are proposed risk factors for crash, yet the precise measure of these needs quantifying. Other risk factors such as sleep disorders including obstructive sleep apnoea have been shown to increase crash risk in motor vehicle drivers however the risk of heavy vehicle crash from this and related health conditions needs detailed investigation.

The role of cyclic AMP in normalizing the function of engineered human blood microvessels in microfluidic collagen gels.

Nearly all engineered tissues must eventually be vascularized to survive. To this end, we and others have recently developed methods to synthesize extracellular matrix-based scaffolds that contain open microfluidic networks. These scaffolds serve as templates for the formation of endothelial tubes that can be perfused; whether such microvascular structures are stable and/or functional is largely unknown.

The effects of chronic social defeat stress on mouse self-grooming behavior and its patterning.

Stress induced by social defeat is a strong modifier of animal anxiety and depression-like phenotypes. Self-grooming is a common rodent behavior, and has an ordered cephalo-caudal progression from licking of the paws to head, body, genitals and tail. Acute stress is known to alter grooming activity levels and disrupt its patterning.

Periodic trends in organic functionalization of group IV semiconductor surfaces.

Organic functionalization of group IV semiconductor surfaces provides a means to precisely control the interfacial properties of some of the most technologically important electronic materials in use today. The 2 x 1 reconstructed group IV (100) surfaces in ultrahigh vacuum, in particular, have a well-defined surface that allows adsorbate-surface interactions to be studied in detail. Surface dimers containing a strong sigma- and weak pi-bond form upon reconstruction of the group IV (100) surfaces, imparting a rich surface reactivity, which allows useful analogies to be made between reactions at the surface and those in classic organic chemistry.

Modeling withdrawal syndrome in zebrafish.

The zebrafish (Danio rerio) is rapidly becoming a popular model species in behavioral neuroscience research. Zebrafish behavior is robustly affected by environmental and pharmacological manipulations, and can be examined using exploration-based paradigms, paralleled by analysis of endocrine (cortisol) stress responses. Discontinuation of various psychotropic drugs evokes withdrawal in both humans and rodents, characterized by increased anxiety.

Associations between statins and COPD: a systematic review.

Background: Statins have anti-inflammatory and immunomodulating properties which could possibly influence inflammatory airways disease. We assessed evidence for disease modifying effects of statin treatment in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Methods: A systematic review was conducted of studies which reported effects of statin treatment in COPD.

Nucleic acid-induced self-assembly of a platinum(II) terpyridyl complex: detection of G-quadruplex formation and nuclease activity.

A simple "proof-of-principle" concept for the monitoring of G-quadruplex formation and nuclease activity based on the unique self-assembly properties of a platinum(II) terpyridyl complex, has been demonstrated.

Luminescent alkynylplatinum(II) terpyridyl metallogels stabilized by Pt...Pt, pi-pi, and hydrophobic-hydrophobic interactions.

A series of luminescent alkynylplatinum(II) terpyridyl complexes have been synthesized and characterized by 1H NMR, IR, FAB-mass spectrometry, and elemental analysis; one of the platinum(III) complexes has also been structurally characterized by X-ray crystallography. Their electrochemical and photophysical properties have also been investigated. A majority of the complexes were able to form stable thermoreversible metallogels in organic solvents, tested by the "stable-to-inversion of a test tube" method.

Luminescent cyclometalated N-heterocyclic carbene-containing organogold(III) complexes: synthesis, characterization, electrochemistry, and photophysical studies.

A new class of luminescent mononuclear and dinuclear N-heterocyclic carbene-containing gold(III) complexes has been synthesized and characterized. The X-ray crystal structures of most of the complexes have also been determined. Electrochemical studies reveal a ligand-centered reduction originated from the RC--N--CR moieties with no oxidation waves.

The development of a sleep disorder screening program in Australian community pharmacies.

Objective: To develop, pilot and determine the feasibility of a sleep-specific screening and awareness program in community pharmacies.

Setting: The screening was piloted in five Australian community pharmacies.

Method: The Pharmacy Tool for Assessment of Sleep Health was constructed by drawing on known relationships between sleep disorders, and lifestyle factors, medical conditions and medications.

Restless legs syndrome.

Background: Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a common, but frequently undiagnosed, chronic, sensorimotor disorder. In western countries, it is seen in approximately 10% of the general population, with a higher prevalence in women and the elderly (10-20%).

Objective: This article outlines the epidemiology, aetiology, diagnosis and management of RLS.

Luminescence, electrochemistry and host-guest properties of dinuclear platinum(ii) terpyridyl complexes of sulfur-containing bridging ligands.

A series of dinuclear platinum(ii) terpyridyl and terpyridyl-crown complexes with 2,2-dicyano-1,1-ethylenedithiolate (i-mnt), 1,3-benzenedithiolate (SC(6)H(4)S-1,3) and N,N-diethyldithiocarbamate (dtc) bridging ligands have been synthesized and characterized. Their photophysical and electrochemical properties, together with that of the related mononuclear platinum(ii) terpyridyl-crown complex and its crown-free analogue, have been studied. The ion-binding properties of the terpyridyl-crown complexes have been determined by electronic absorption spectroscopy and ESI-mass spectrometry.