Mind reading dysfunctions in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea: A neuropsychological approach.

Obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS) is a prevalent sleep-related breathing disorder that has been extensively studied for its effects on cognitive functions. However, little attention has been given to investigating Mind Reading (MR) skills in patients with OSAS. In this study, we employed a neuropsychological approach to thoroughly assess various facets of MR skills in patients with OSAS.

Practical recommendations for managing severe chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps in the era of biologics.

Objective: We conducted a national survey to understand how rhinology practice has changed with the advent of biologics and how this affected patients with uncontrolled, severe chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP). We aimed to analyse the results of the survey and infer practical recommendations for clinical practice.

Methods: A group of ear, nose, and throat specialists (ENTs) experienced in the management of CRSwNP developed a 74-question survey.

Association Between Severity of COVID-19 Respiratory Disease and Risk of Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

Objectives: The purpose of this observational retrospective study was to evaluate, in patients with a severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection, the association between the severity of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) respiratory illness and the risk of infected patients to develop obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

Methods: Ninety-six patients with confirmed COVID-19 infection were enrolled in the study. The STOP-BANG questionnaire to investigate the risk of the OSA syndrome was filled in by the patients at admission.

Neuropsychological and socio-cognitive deficits in patients with obstructive sleep apnea.

: Patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) suffer from several neurocognitive deficits. We investigated the cognitive and socio-cognitive profiles of patients with severe OSA, controlling for potentially relevant mediating variables (i.e.

The Use of Middle Latency Auditory Evoked Potentials (MLAEP) as Methodology for Evaluating Sedation Level in Propofol-Drug Induced Sleep Endoscopy (DISE) Procedure.

To analyze the middle latency auditory evoked potential index (MLAEPi), compared to the standard bispectral index (BIS), as a method for evaluating the sedation level in drug-induced sleep endoscopy (DISE). In this controlled clinical study on a sample of 99 obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) or snoring patients, we compared the MLAEPi with the BIS after propofol infusion during the standard DISE technique in order to define the MLAEPi values within the observational window of the procedure. The DISE procedure was divided into eight steps, and we collected both MLAEPi and BIS data values from the same patient in every step.

A New Technological Advancement of the Drug-Induced Sleep Endoscopy (DISE) Procedure: The "All in One Glance" Strategy.

To illustrate a new technological advance in the standard drug-induced sleep endoscopy (DISE) model, a new machine was used, the Experimental 5 Video Stream System (5VsEs), which is capable of simultaneously visualizing all the decisional parameters on a single monitor, and recording and storing them in a single uneditable video. The DISE procedure was performed on 48 obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) or snoring patients. The parameters simultaneously recorded on a single monitor are (1) the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of propofol (through the target controlled infusion (TCI) pump monitor), (2) the endoscopic upper airway view, (3) the polygraphic pattern, and (4) the level of sedation (through the bispectral index (BIS) value).

The Neuropsychological Profile of Attention Deficits of Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea: An Update on the Daytime Attentional Impairment.

Introduction: Patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) suffer from several neurocognitive disturbances. One of the neuropsychological processes most investigated in OSA patients is attention, but the results have been controversial. Here, we update the attention profile of OSA patients with the final aim to improve attention assessment, with a possible impact on clinical and medical-legal practices, in terms of which attention subdomains and parameters need consideration and which one is a high-risk OSA phenotype for attention dysfunctions.

[Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA): healthcare and social costs].

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) syndrome is an underdiagnosed widespread chronic disease involving both sexes and all ages. Undiagnosed and untreated OSA is associated with workplace productivity losses and significant direct and indirect medical costs. A cost analysis of OSA was carried out in Italy ten years ago.

[Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome (OSAS): Occupational Health and other medical disciplines facing the problem].

Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome (OSAS) is one of the most common causes of excessive daytime sleepiness, therefore an important determinant of road and work accidents, as well as being associated with multiple chronic-degenerative diseases. The recent transposition of the European Commission Directive 2014/85/EU on driver licensing highlighted the need to tackle the problem appropriately, not only for its high prevalence in the general population, but also for its significant impact on occupational safety and health, and related social costs. The Occupational Health Physician is required to play a strategic role in this regard, not just for early diagnosis, but also for monitoring the therapeutic efficacy in maintaining or reintegrating workers into specific jobs.

Statins May Prevent Atherosclerotic Disease in OSA Patients without Co-Morbidities?

Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is characterized by repetitive interruptions of breathing, causing Chronic Intermittent Hypoxia (CIH) that can be involved in the development and progression of cardiovascular diseases. There is evidence showing a close relationship between OSA and atherosclerosis, even in patients who do not show co-morbidities such as hypertension, diabetes, high levels of lowdensity lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), cigarette smoking and obesity, which can activate the endothelium. This endothelium activation due to CIH and specific to OSA seems to be dependent on a different pathway.

Diagnostic Accuracy of Obstructive Airway Adult Test for Diagnosis of Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

Rationale: The gold standard for the diagnosis of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is polysomnography, whose access is however reduced by costs and limited availability, so that additional diagnostic tests are needed.

Objectives: To analyze the diagnostic accuracy of the Obstructive Airway Adult Test (OAAT) compared to polysomnography for the diagnosis of OSA in adult patients.

Methods: Ninety patients affected by OSA verified with polysomnography (AHI ≥ 5) and ten healthy patients, randomly selected, were included and all were interviewed by one blind examiner with OAAT questions.

Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome: coagulation anomalies and treatment with continuous positive airway pressure.

Introduction: Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is a highly prevalent sleep disorder associated with severe cardiovascular events, morbidity and mortality. Recent evidence has highlighted OSAS as an independent risk factor for an excessive platelet activation and arterial thrombosis, but the underlying mechanisms have not yet been determined. Studies in cell culture and animal models have significantly increased our understanding of the mechanisms of inflammation in OSAS.

Analysis of cystic fibrosis gene mutations in children with cystic fibrosis and in 964 infertile couples within the region of Basilicata, Italy: a research study.

Introduction: Cystic fibrosis is the most common autosomal recessive genetic disease in the Caucasian population. Extending knowledge about the molecular pathology on the one hand allows better delineation of the mutations in the CFTR gene and the other to dramatically increase the predictive power of molecular testing.

Methods: This study reports the results of a molecular screening of cystic fibrosis using DNA samples of patients enrolled from January 2009 to December 2013.

Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome: blood viscosity, blood coagulation abnormalities, and early atherosclerosis.

Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is an independent risk factor for atherosclerosis and arterial thrombosis, which are associated with high cardiovascular (CV) morbidity and mortality. In studies performed in clinical populations with elevated CV event risk profiles, the occurrence of moderate to severe OSAS was very often accompanied by a worsened vascular function and increased prevalence of structural abnormalities. Recent investigations of atherosclerosis in OSAS have focused on thrombotic tendency and blood viscosity, providing new insight into mechanisms of the disease.

Penetration of prulifloxacin into sinus mucosa of patients undergoing paranasal sinus elective endoscopic surgery.

The aim of this study was to assess the concentration of ulifloxacin, the active metabolite of prulifloxacin, in sinuses mucosa and plasma of patients with chronic rhinosinusitis, requiring sinus elective endoscopic surgery. Thirty-nine patients (30 males, 9 females; age range 22-77 years) with chronic sinusitis were enrolled, 35 were treated with the investigational medication. Samples from four untreated patients were used to validate the analytical method, while four treated patients dropped out before surgery.

Influence of Waldeyer's ring hypertrophy on snoring and sleep apnea.

Severe adenotonsillar hypertrophy can be the main cause of nocturnal respiratory affections, as confirmed by the improvement of symptoms seen after adenotonsillectomy. Unsuccessful surgical treatment can be due to craniofacial morphological alterations. Hypotony of the pharyngeal muscles could also be responsible together with tonsil hypertrophy.