A single dose of noradrenergic/serotonergic reuptake inhibitors combined with an antimuscarinic does not improve obstructive sleep apnoea severity.

Previous trials have demonstrated that the combination of noradrenergic reuptake inhibitors with an antimuscarinic can substantially reduce the apnoea-hypopnoea index (AHI) and improve airway collapsibility in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA). However, some studies have shown that when administered individually, neither noradrenergic or serotonergic agents have been effective at alleviating OSA. This raises the possibility that serotonergic agents (like noradrenergic agents) may also need to be delivered in combination to be efficacious.

Corneal hydrops secondary to undiagnosed keratoconus.

A 21-year old female presented to the emergency department with an abnormal appearance of her left eye after trivial trauma the previous day. A protruding, opaque appearing area was noted on the left cornea. The patient underwent visual acuity testing, fluorescein staining with slit lamp examination revealing a conical corneal protrusion with corneal stromal edema suggestive of corneal hydrops.

Characterization of a novel gyrovirus in human stool and chicken meat.

Background: Sequence-independent amplification of clinical specimens can lead to the identification of novel pathogens.

Objectives: To identify novel viruses in human stool specimens from patients with diarrhea and to investigate the ecology and clinical significance of such viruses.

Study Design: Nucleic acid extracted from stool specimens from patients with diarrhea with no known etiology were subjected to random PCR amplification and Roche/454 pyrosequencing.

Protracted withdrawal from cocaine self-administration flips the switch on 5-HT(1B) receptor modulation of cocaine abuse-related behaviors.

Background: The role of serotonin-1B receptors (5-HT(1B)Rs) in modulating cocaine abuse-related behaviors has been controversial due to discrepancies between pharmacological and gene knockout approaches and opposite influences on cocaine self-administration versus cocaine-seeking behavior. We hypothesized that modulation of these behaviors via 5-HT(1B)Rs in the mesolimbic pathway may vary depending on the stage of the addiction cycle.

Methods: To test this hypothesis, we examined the effects of increasing 5-HT(1B)R production by microinfusing a viral vector expressing either green fluorescent protein and 5-HT(1B)R or green fluorescent protein alone into the medial nucleus accumbens shell of rats either during maintenance of cocaine self-administration (i.

Telehome monitoring in patients with cardiac disease who are at high risk of readmission.

Patients with chronic conditions are heavy users of the health care system. There are opportunities for significant savings and improvements to patient care if patients can be maintained in their homes. A randomized control trial tested the impact of 3 months of telehome monitoring on hospital readmission, quality of life, and functional status in patients with heart failure or angina.