The effect of weight loss on OSA severity and position dependence in the bariatric population.

Background: The aims of this study were to determine the prevalence of positional obstructive sleep apnea (POSA) in patients undergoing bariatric surgery and to evaluate the effect of weight loss brought about by bariatric surgery on POSA. Furthermore, the authors investigated whether body mass index (BMI), neck circumference, apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), and age are predictors for POSA.

Method: A retrospective cohort study was conducted with data collected from patients who were screened for OSA pre-bariatric surgery and completed a follow-up polysomnography post bariatric surgery from August 2008 to November 2012.

Evaluation of position dependency in non-apneic snorers.

The aims of this study are to determine the prevalence of position dependency in non-apneic snorers, as defined by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) guidelines, and to investigate the influence of various factors such as BMI, neck circumference, age, gender, and sleep efficiency on sleeping position. A cohort of consecutive patients was screened for complaints of excessive snoring or symptoms suspicious for sleep disordered breathing. Overnight polysomnographic data were collected and non-apneic snorers who met all the inclusion criteria were selected for statistical analysis.

Sleep-disordered breathing in pregnancy: a review of the physiology and potential role for positional therapy.

Background: Sleep disordered breathing (SDB) has been shown to be associated with negative clinical sequelae such as systemic hypertension and cardiovascular disease. It has been reported in the literature that approximately 53-56 % of patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) have positional OSA, known as POSA.

Potential Treatment For Sdb In Pregnancy: These findings have led to a resurgence of positional therapy as an effective treatment for select patients with SDB.

Microwave disinfection: assessing the risks of irrigation bottle and fluid contamination.

Background: It was previously shown that 50% of irrigation bottles and 40% of irrigation fluids had evidence of bacterial contamination despite cleaning with hot water and soap. Although a novel method of microwave disinfection has recently been proposed to minimize contamination risk, this has not been studied in a real life setting. This study investigates the effectiveness of microwave disinfection for reducing both nasal irrigation bottle and irrigation fluid contamination risk after endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS).

Electronic risk alerts to improve primary care management of chest pain: a randomized, controlled trial.

Background: The primary care evaluation of chest pain represents a significant diagnostic challenge.

Objective: To determine if electronic alerts to physicians can improve the quality and safety of chest pain evaluations.

Design And Participants: Randomized, controlled trial conducted between November 2008 and January 2010 among 292 primary care clinicians caring for 7,083 adult patients with chest pain and no history of cardiovascular disease.

Maxillary bone grafts for the repair of traumatic orbital floor defects.

Purpose: To present maxillary bone (MB) grafts as a viable option for repair of traumatic orbital floor (TOF) defects by comparing their use to titanium mesh (TM) looking at TOF defect size, operative time, and complication rate.

Methods: The senior author's surgical technique is described. Patients undergoing TOF repair using MB versus TM were assessed retrospectively, focusing on TOF defect size, operative time, and follow-up results.

Long-term vertigo control in patients after intratympanic gentamicin instillation for Ménière's disease.

Objectives: To assess long-term vertigo symptom control in patients after intratympanic gentamicin instillation for incapacitating unilateral Ménière's disease. To analyze whether an absent caloric response, as analyzed using electronystagmography after gentamicin treatment, is a good predicator of long-term symptom control. Finally, to quantify the patient's perception of long-term posttreatment handicap.

Contrast sensitivity is reduced in children with infantile spasms.

Purpose: To investigate whether visual deficits in children with infantile spasm (IS) are the result of seizure activity or of treatment with the anticonvulsant drug vigabatrin (VGB).

Methods: Vision function was determined in three experiments by determining peak contrast sensitivity (CS) and grating acuity (GA) with the sweep visual evoked potential. Cross-sectional study A: 34 children, including 11 patients with childhood epilepsy with exposure to VGB for at least 6 months, 10 with childhood epilepsy exposed to antiepileptic drugs other than VGB, and 13 normally developing children.

Changes in the electroretinogram resulting from discontinuation of vigabatrin in children.

Electroretinograms (ERGs) have been recorded longitudinally in children before and during treatment with the antiepileptic drug vigabatrin for the past 3.5 years. Vigabatrin induced changes in ERG responses occur in children; the most dramatic changes occur in the oscillatory potentials.

Longitudinal changes in photopic OPs occurring with vigabatrin treatment.

Purpose: Vigabatrin (gamma-vinyl-GABA) is an antiepileptic drug successful in the management of infantile spasms. Photopic ERGs were tested in children followed longitudinally before and during vigabatrin treatment.

Methods: Subjects were 26 infants (age range 1.