Legionella species colonization of water distribution systems, pools and air conditioning systems in cruise ships and ferries.

Background: Legionnaires' disease continues to be a public health concern in passenger ships. This study was scheduled in order to investigate Legionella spp. colonization of water distribution systems (WDS), recreational pools, and air-conditioning systems on board ferries and cruise ships in an attempt to identify risk factors for Legionella spp.

Sleep apnoea syndrome and early stage cirrhosis: a pilot study.

Objectives: Hepatic encephalopathy in patients with end-stage liver cirrhosis is associated with alterations in sleep patterns. Cirrhosis may also affect pulmonary function and it might be involved in the development of obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS) in patients with ascites. We carried out a study to evaluate the presence of OSAS in cirrhotic patients without evidence of ascites (early stage cirrhosis).

Antioxidant capacity in obstructive sleep apnea patients.

Objectives: Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSA) results in oxygen desaturation and arousal from sleep. Free oxygen radicals are highly reactive molecules, which can be produced by the OSA phenomenon known as hypoxia/reoxygenation. Hypoxic conditions, such as OSA, may also result in transient depletion of cellular reductants, which constitute a main line of antioxidant defense.

Reactive oxygen metabolites (ROMs) as an index of oxidative stress in obstructive sleep apnea patients.

Study Objectives: Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSA) is accompanied by oxygen desaturation and arousal from sleep. Free oxygen radicals are highly reactive molecules which could be produced by the OSA phenomenon of hypoxia/reoxygenation: cyclical alterations of arterial oxygen saturation with oxygen desaturation developing in response to apneas followed by resumption of oxygen saturation during hyperventilation. On the basis of these considerations, it was hypothesized that OSA may be linked to increased oxidative stress.