Organophosphorus flame retardants in the Qiantang River of China: occurrence, source and ecological risk assessment.

In recent years, the prevalence and danger of organophosphorus flame retardants (OPFRs) have drawn attention from all around the world. This study examined twenty-five OPFRs observed in water and sediment samples from the Qiantang River in eastern China, as well as their occurrence, spatial distribution, possible origins, and ecological hazards. All the 25 OPFRs were detected in water and sediment samples.

Adiponectin Ameliorated Pancreatic Islet Injury Induced by Chronic Intermittent Hypoxia through Inhibiting the Imbalance in Mitochondrial Fusion and Division.

Objective This study aimed to assess the protective value of adiponectin (APN) in pancreatic islet injury induced by chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH). Methods Sixty rats were randomly divided into three groups: normal control (NC) group, CIH group, and CIH with APN supplement (CIH+APN) group. After 5 weeks of CIH exposure, we conducted oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTT) and insulin released test (IRT), examined and compared the adenosine triphosphate (ATP) levels, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) levels, reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, enzymes gene expression levels of , , , and which represented mitochondrial tricarboxylic acid cycle function, the protein and gene expression levels of DRP1, FIS1, MFN1, and OPA1 which represented mitochondrial fusion and division, and the protein expression levels of BAX, BCL-2, cleaved Caspase-3, and cleaved PARP which represented mitochondrial associated apoptosis pathway of pancreatic islet.

[Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis with Acupuncture plus Intra-articular Injection of Sodium Hyaluronate].

Objective: To examine the clinical benefits of acupuncture combined with intra-articular injection of sodium hyaluronate for knee osteoarthritis (KOA) patients.

Methods: A total of 150 KOA patients were randomized into simple medication and acupuncture plus medication (combined treatment) groups (＝75 in each). For all the patients, intra-articular injection of sodium hyaluronate (2 mL) was performed once a week for 5 weeks, and for patients of the combined treatment group, filiform needles were separately inserted into unilateral or bilateral Zusanli (ST 36), Liangqiu (ST 34), Yanglingquan (GB 34), Yinlingquan (SP 9), Xiyangguan (GB 33), Dubi (ST 35), Neixiyan (EX-LE 4) and Xuehai (SP 10) according to the focus, and manipulated with the uniform reinforcing and reducing technique, followed by retaining the needles for 30 min.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea Increases the Perioperative Risk of Cardiac Valve Replacement Surgery: A Prospective Single-Center Study.

Study Objectives: Sleep apnea is common in patients referred for cardiac valve replacement (CVR). We aimed to determine the association of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and central sleep apnea (CSA) with perioperative events in CVR surgery in patients with rheumatic valvular heart disease (RVHD).

Methods: Between April 2010 and April 2014, 290 patients with RVHD undergoing CVR were screened for sleep apnea 1 to 7 days before CVR.

[Chemical constituents from Barringtonia racemosa].

To investigate the chemical constituents from Barringtonia racemosa, twelve compounds were isolated by chromatography methods and identified as 3β-p-E-coumaroymaslinic acid (1), cis-careaborin (2), careaborin (3), maslinic acid (4), 2α, 3β, 19α-trihydroxyolean-12-ene-24, 28-dioic acid (5), 3β-p-Z-coumaroylcorosolic acid (6), corosolic acid (7), 1α, 2α, 3β, 19α-tetrahydroxyurs-12-en-28-oic acid (8), 19α-hydroxyl ursolic acid (9), 3α, 19α-dihydroxyurs-12-en-24, 28-dioic acid (10), tormentic acid (11), 3-hydroxy-7, 22-dien-ergosterol（12） by the NMR and MS data analysis. Among them, compounds 1-4,7-12 were obtained from the genus Barringtonia for the first time. All the compounds didn't show nocytotoxic activity against MCF-7 and A549 cell lines (IC₅₀>50 mg•L⁻¹).

Overnight fluid shifts in subjects with and without obstructive sleep apnea.

Objective: To investigate the characteristics of baseline body fluid content and overnight fluid shifts between non-obstructive sleep apnea (non-OSA) and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) subjects.

Methods: A case-controlled study was performed between February 2013 and January 2014, with 36 (18 OSA and 18 non-OSA) outpatients enrolled in this study. Polysomnographic parameters and results of body fluid were compared between the two groups.

Adiponectin protects rat heart from left ventricular remodeling induced by chronic intermittent hypoxia via inhibition of TGF-β/smad2/3 pathway.

Objective: Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is associated with many cardiovascular disorders. Chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH) is the primary player in OSAS of the many associated factors. This study was in order to investigate the effects of the Adiponectin (Ad) on left ventricular remodeling induced by CIH.

Elimination of central sleep apnea by cardiac valve replacement: a continuous follow-up study in patients with rheumatic valvular heart disease.

Background: Recent studies have suggested that cardiac surgery may affect sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) in chronic heart failure patients. However, the dynamic changes in sleep apnea and heart function after cardiac surgery and the mechanisms responsible for these changes remain unknown.

Methods: Patients with rheumatic valvular heart disease (RVHD) and SDB were enrolled and followed up at three, six and 12 months after cardiac valve replacement (CVR).

Adiponectin protects the genioglossus of rats against chronic intermittent hypoxia-induced injury via inhibition of endoplasmic reticulum stress.

Background: Obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome, characterized by chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH), is closely correlated with genioglossus dysfunction. CIH has been identified to mediate mitochondrial damage in genioglossus. It has been reported that endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) could be induced by mitochondrial dysfunction.

Adiponectin alleviates contractile dysfunction of genioglossus in rats exposed to chronic intermittent hypoxia.

Background: Genioglossal dysfuntion takes an important role in pathogenesis of obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) in which chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH) is the major pathological origin. Recent studies have suggested genioglossal injury induced by CIH might be improved by adiponectin. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of adiponectin on genioglossus contractile properties in rats exposed to CIH.

Prevalence and risk factors of sleep disordered breathing in patients with rheumatic valvular heart disease.

Study Objectives: Sleep disordered breathing (SDB) is common in patients with chronic heart failure secondary to non-valvular heart disease; however, the prevalence and characteristics of SDB in patients with rheumatic valvular heart disease (RVHD) are unclear. This study was designed to determine the prevalence, characteristics, and risk factors for SDB in RVHD patients.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 260 RVHD patients.

[Comparison of efficacy between continuous positive airway pressure and renal artery sympathetic denervation by radiofrequency ablation in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome patients with hypertension].

Objective: To compare the efficacy of renal arterial sympathetic denervation (RSD) and continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) in patients with coexisting moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) and hypertension.

Methods: Retrospective analysis was conducted for patients with coexisting moderate to severe OSAS and hypertension for the efficacy of RSD (RSD group, n = 15) and CPAP (CPAP group, n = 16). Comparison was made for polysomnographic parameters and 24 hours ambulatory blood pressure (Bp) between two groups.

[Evaluation of carotid artery elasticity in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome using quantitative arterial stiffness technique].

Objective: To explore the changes and clinical value of carotid elasticity index in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) by quantitative arterial stiffness (QAS) technique.

Methods: Seventy-two OSAS patients were divided into 2 groups according to whether there was coexisting hypertension. Of them, there were 37 OSAS patients without hypertension (OSAS1 group) and 35 OSAS patients with hypertension (OSAS2 group).

[Clinical significance and intervention study of serum interleukin 18 in preeclampsia patients with coexisting obstructive sleep apnea].

Objective: To investigate the role of IL-18 in the obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS)-induced preeclampsia (PE), by comparison of the changes of serum IL-18 levels among different groups as well as before and after continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment in pregnant women with both OSAS and PE.

Methods: In control group there were 18 normal pregnant women with apnea hypopnea index (AHI) < 5. In simple PE group 18 pregnant PE patients with an AHI < 5 were recruited.

A preliminary study on correlation between adiponectin genotype polymorphisms and obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome.

Background: Obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) is regarded as a disease with strong genetic background and associated with hypoadiponectinemia. It is worthwhile to investigate the possible correlation between the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the adiponectin gene and OSAHS.

Methods: With the TaqMan polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method, the SNPs at positions 45 and 276 in the adiponectin gene were determined in Chinese of Han nationality in Nanjing district consisting of 103 OSAHS patients (OSAHS group) and 67 normal controls (control group).

Transvenous phrenic nerve stimulation in patients with Cheyne-Stokes respiration and congestive heart failure: a safety and proof-of-concept study.

Background: Cheyne-Stokes respiration (CSR), which often occurs in patients with congestive heart failure (CHF), may be a predictor for poor outcome. Phrenic nerve stimulation (PNS) may interrupt CSR in patients with CHF. We report the clinical use of transvenous PNS in patients with CHF and CSR.

[Effect of chronic intermittent hypoxia on mitochondrial function of rat genioglossus cells and intervention role of adiponectin].

Objective: To investigate the effect of chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH) on mitochondrial function in genioglossus cells of rats and intervention role of adiponectin (Ad).

Methods: Thirty-nine healthy male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 3 groups, normal control (NC) group, CIH group and CIH + Ad group with 13 rats in each. Rats in NC group were kept breathing normal air, while rats in both CIH and CIH + Ad groups experienced the same CIH environment (CIH 8 h/day for successive 5 weeks).

[Effect of Bi-level positive airway pressure ventilator on the heart function and vascular endothelial function of patients with the overlap syndrome].

Objective: To study the mechanism of Bi-level positive airway pressure (BIPAP) on the heart function and the vascular endothelial function of the overlap syndrome (OS).

Methods: There were 87 males and 33 females (mean age 48 ± 4, range 40 - 53 years) admitted to the Affiliated Jiangning Hospital respiratory department of Nanjing Medical University. Subjects tested with PSG were allocated to normal, OSAHS, COPD and OS groups by the result of pulmonary function testing.

[Twenty years follow-up: the correlation between sleep apnea syndrome and cerebrovascular disease].

Objective: To explore the correlation between obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) and cerebrovascular disease (CVD).

Methods: A cohort of 1868 people was screened for OSAS, and followed from November 1989 to November 2009. Annual medical examinations including blood pressure, blood fat, serum glucose, electrocardiogram and chest x-ray were performed.