The overlap syndrome: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and obstructive sleep apnea.

The overlap syndrome defines the relationship between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and is a commonly noted but poorly studied disorder. Individuals who have the overlap syndrome have been recognized to have greater risk for pulmonary hypertension, right heart failure, and hypercapnia than patients who have either disorder alone. In patients who have advanced-stage COPD, concomitant OSA likely has significant adverse consequences.

Prevalence of symptoms and risk of sleep apnea in the US population: Results from the national sleep foundation sleep in America 2005 poll.

Background: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common medical condition with significant adverse consequences, but OSA remains undiagnosed in many individuals. The Berlin questionnaire is a validated instrument that is used to identify individuals who are at risk for OSA.

Design: We conducted an analysis of data from the Sleep in America 2005 Poll of The National Sleep Foundation (NSF).

Using protein microarray as a diagnostic assay for non-small cell lung cancer.

Rationale: Phenotypic and genotypic heterogeneity of lung cancer likely precludes the identification of a single predictive marker and suggests the importance of identifying and measuring multiple markers.

Objectives: We describe the use of a fluorescent protein microarray to identify and measure multiple non-small cell lung cancer-associated antibodies and show how simultaneous measurements can be combined into a single diagnostic assay.

Methods: T7 phage cDNA libraries of non-small cell lung cancer were first biopanned with plasma samples from normal subjects and patients with non-small cell lung cancer to enrich the component of tumor-associated proteins, and then applied to microarray slides.