Does REM Sleep-Dependent Obstructive Sleep Apnea Have Clinical Significance?

(1) Background: The clinical significance of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep-dependent obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) remains controversial because various criteria have been used to describe it. This study determined the clinical significance of REM-OSA in Koreans using data from patients with sufficient total sleep time (TST) and REM sleep duration. (2) Methods: We investigated 1824 patients with OSA who were diagnosed by polysomnography (PSG).

Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia in restless legs syndrome patients.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBTI) in patients with Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS).

Methods: This is a randomized controlled study. The patients were sequentially selected and randomly assigned to either a CBTI group or a non-CBTI group.

[Characteristics of soil microbes and enzyme activities in different degraded alpine meadows].

Soil microbial biomass C and N, microbial diversities and enzyme activity in 0-10 cm and 10-20 cm soil layers of different degraded grasslands (non-degradation, ND; light degradation, LD; moderate degradation, MD; sever degradation, SD; and black soil beach, ED) were measured by Biolog and other methods. The results showed that: 1) There were significant diffe-rences between 0-10 cm and 10-20 cm soil layers in soil microbial biomass, diversities and inver-tase activities in all grasslands. 2) The ratio of soil microbial biomass C to N decreased significantly with the grassland degradation.

miRNA biogenesis-associated RNase III nucleases Drosha and Dicer are upregulated in colorectal adenocarcinoma.

Drosha and Dicer are important regulators of microRNA (miRNA) biogenesis, and it has been suggested that their aberrant regulation may cause colorectal cancer (CRC). The aim of the present study was to evaluate the mRNA expression levels of these two important RNase III nucleases and their association with clinical features in CRC specimens from South Korean patients. The expression levels of Drosha and Dicer mRNA were investigated in 77 CRC tissues and adjacent histologically non-neoplastic tissues using the quantitative polymerase chain reaction.

Mood Symptoms and Restless Legs Syndrome Without Periodic Limb Movements During Sleep: Is it a Clinical Subtype?

Frequently co-occurring restless legs syndrome (RLS) and periodic limb movements during sleep (PLMS) are postulated to share common pathophysiology. The authors compared clinical characteristics and polysomnography (PSG) parameters among 155 idiopathic, untreated RLS patients who were stratified into three groups based on periodic limb movement index (PLMI). The authors found that RLS patients without PLMS (PLMI <5) had higher depression and anxiety scores, a lower total arousal index, longer latency to REM, and a higher spontaneous arousal frequency on PSG than RLS patients with PLMS.

Comparison of impact of insomnia on depression and quality of life in restless legs syndrome/Willis-Ekbom disease and primary insomnia patients.

Background: Although insomnia is common among people with restless legs syndrome (RLS), its impact on the daily suffering of those with RLS remains unclear. This study aimed to compare the differential impact of clinical insomnia on depression and quality of life (QoL) among people with RLS, primary insomnia, and healthy controls.

Methods: A total of 148 people with RLS, 115 with primary insomnia, and 117 healthy controls were enrolled into this cross-sectional study.

Clinical Characteristics of Primary Insomniacs with Sleep-State Misperception.

Background And Purpose: The aims of this study were to determine the prevalence of sleep-state misperception and to identify any differences in the clinical characteristics of primary insomniacs with and without misperception.

Methods: In total, 250 adult primary insomniacs were enrolled whose objective total sleep time (TST) was more than 120 min, as assessed by full-night polysomnography. Sleep state misperception was defined objectively as a TST of at least 6.

Two subtypes of positional obstructive sleep apnea: Supine-predominant and supine-isolated.

Objectives: The body position has a strong influence on obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The purpose of this study is to compare the clinical features of two subtypes of positional OSA (POSA), namely supine-predominant OSA (spOSA) and supine-isolated OSA (siOSA), so as to discuss whether the two groups can be classified separately.

Methods: A total of 279 consecutive patients with OSA were enrolled.

Prevalence and clinical characteristics of patients with restless legs syndrome with painful symptoms.

Background: The complaint of pain has largely been ignored in the diagnostic criteria for restless legs syndrome (RLS). The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of painful symptoms in RLS, and to compare sleep-related characteristics between the patients who experienced the painful symptoms and those who did not.

Methods: The patients with RLS were retrospectively screened from July 2011 to December 2013 at a tertiary-care sleep center.

Augmentation in restless legs syndrome patients in Korea.

Purpose: Augmentation has been known as the major complication of long-term dopaminergic treatment of restless legs syndrome (RLS). However, there have been no reports on the prevalence of augmentation in Korea. Thus, we aimed to assess the rate of augmentation and evaluate related factors in Korean RLS patients.

Validation of a Korean version of the insomnia severity index.

Background And Purpose: The purposes of this study were to standardize and validate a Korean version of the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI-K), and to evaluate its clinical usefulness.

Methods: We translated the ISI into Korean and then translated it back into English to check its accuracy. The 614 patients with sleep disorders who were enrolled in this study comprised 169 with primary insomnia, 133 with comorbid insomnia, and 312 with obstructive sleep apnea.

Effects of pregabalin in patients with hypnotic-dependent insomnia.

Study Objectives: Long-term use of hypnotics runs the risk of dependency, and subjects usually experience difficulties in withdrawal. The objective of this study was to investigate the success of withdrawal using pregabalin and its efficacy on sleep in patients with hypnotic-dependent insomnia.

Methods: We enrolled patients with hypnotic-dependent insomnia who were 18 years or older.