Predictors of Adherence to Continuous Positive Airway Pressure in Older Adults With Apnea and Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment.

Background: Almost 60% of adults with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) have obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Treatment with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) may delay cognitive decline, but CPAP adherence is often suboptimal. In this study, we report predictors of CPAP adherence in older adults with aMCI who have increased odds of progressing to dementia, particularly due to Alzheimer's disease.

The mobile sleep medicine model in neurologic practice: Rationale and application.

Background: Undiagnosed obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is prevalent in neurological practice and significantly contributes to morbidity and mortality. OSA is prevalent in US adults and causes poor quality sleep and significant neurocognitive, cardiovascular, and cerebrovascular impairments. Timely treatment of OSA reduces cardio-cerebrovascular risks and improves quality of life.

Top Ten Tips Palliative Care Clinicians Should Know About Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a rapidly progressive and fatal neurodegenerative disorder with enormous palliative care (PC) needs that begin at the time of diagnosis. Although it is an uncommon disease, clinicians who work in PC or hospice are likely to encounter ALS somewhat frequently given the needs of patients with ALS with regard to psychosocial support, symptom management, advance care planning (ACP), caregiver support, and end-of-life care. As such, PC clinicians should be familiar with the basic principles of ALS symptoms, treatments, disease course, and issues around ACP.

Differences in three-dimensional upper airway anatomy between Asian and European patients with obstructive sleep apnea.

Study Objectives: This study evaluated differences in upper airway, soft tissues and craniofacial structures between Asians from China and Europeans from Iceland with OSA using three-dimensional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Methods: Airway sizes, soft tissue volumes, and craniofacial dimensions were compared between Icelandic (N = 108) and Chinese (N = 57) patients with oxygen desaturation index (ODI) ≥ 10 events/h matched for age, gender, and ODI. Mixed effects models adjusting for height or BMI and residual differences in age and ODI were utilized.

Web-Based Access to Positive Airway Pressure Usage with or without an Initial Financial Incentive Improves Treatment Use in Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

Study Objectives: We tested whether providing adults with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) with daily Web-based access to their positive airway pressure (PAP) usage over 3 mo with or without a financial incentive in the first week improves adherence and functional outcomes.

Setting: Academic- and community-based sleep centers.

Participants: One hundred thirty-eight adults with newly diagnosed OSA starting PAP treatment.

Heritability of craniofacial structures in normal subjects and patients with sleep apnea.

Objectives: Accumulating evidence has shown that there is a genetic contribution to obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).The objectives were to use magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) cephalometry to (1) confirm heritability of craniofacial risk factors for OSA previously shown by cephalometrics; and (2) examine the heritability of new craniofacial structures that are measurable with MRI.

Design: A sib pair "quad" design examining apneics, apneic siblings, controls, and control siblings.

Signal transduction pathways in mast cell granule-mediated endothelial cell activation.

Background: We have previously shown that incubation of human endothelial cells with mast cell granules results in potentiation of lipopolysaccharide-induced production of interleukin-6 and interleukin-8.

Aims: The objective of the present study was to identify candidate molecules and signal transduction pathways involved in the synergy between mast cell granules and lipopolysaccharide on endothelial cell activation.

Methods: Human umbilical vein endothelial cells were incubated with rat mast cell granules in the presence and absence of lipopolysaccharide, and IL-6 production was quantified.