Sleep-disordered breathing in patients with cystic fibrosis.

OBJECTIVE: To test the hypothesis that disease severity in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) is correlated with an increased risk of sleep apnea. METHODS: A total of 34 CF patients underwent clinical and functional evaluation, as well as portable polysomnography, spirometry, and determination of IL-1ß levels. RESULTS: Mean apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), SpO2 on room air, and Epworth Sleepiness Scale score were 4.8 ± 2.6, 95.9 ± 1.9%, and 7.6 ± 3.8 points, respectively. Of the 34 patients, 19 were well-nourished, 6 were at nutritional risk, and 9 were malnourished. In the multivariate model to predict the AHI, the following variables remained significant: nutritional status (ß = -0.386; p = 0.014); SpO2 (ß = -0.453; p = 0.005), and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale score (ß = 0.429; p = 0.006). The model explained 51% of the variation in the AHI. CONCLUSIONS: The major determinants of sleep apnea were nutritional status, SpO2, and daytime sleepiness. This knowledge not only provides an opportunity to define the clinical risk of having sleep apnea but also creates an avenue for the treatment and prevention of the disease.

Sleep-disordered breathing in patients with cystic fibrosis / Distúrbios respiratórios do sono em pacientes com fibrose cística

AbstractObjective: To test the hypothesis that disease severity in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) is correlated with an increased risk of sleep apnea.Methods: A total of 34 CF patients underwent clinical and functional evaluation, as well as portable polysomnography, spirometry, and determination of IL-1β levels.Results: Mean apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), SpO2 on room air, and Epworth Sleepiness Scale score were 4.8 ± 2.6, 95.9 ± 1.9%, and 7.6 ± 3.8 points, respectively. Of the 34 patients, 19 were well-nourished, 6 were at nutritional risk, and 9 were malnourished. In the multivariate model to predict the AHI, the following variables remained significant: nutritional status (β = −0.386; p = 0.014); SpO2 (β = −0.453; p = 0.005), and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale score (β = 0.429; p = 0.006). The model explained 51% of the variation in the AHI.Conclusions: The major determinants of sleep apnea were nutritional status, SpO2, and daytime sleepiness. This knowledge not only provides an opportunity to define the clinical risk of having sleep apnea but also creates an avenue for the treatment and prevention of the disease.

ResumoObjetivo: Testar a hipótese de que a gravidade da doença em pacientes com fibrose cística (FC) correlaciona-se com maior risco de apneia do sono.Métodos: Um total de 34 pacientes com FC foram submetidos a avaliação clínica e funcional, polissonografia portátil, espirometria e dosagem de IL-1β.Resultados: As médias do índice de apneia e hipopneia (IAH), da SpO2 em ar ambiente e da pontuação na Escala de Sonolência de Epworth foram de 4,8 ± 2,6, 95,9 ± 1,9% e 7,6 ± 3,8, respectivamente. Dos 34 pacientes, 19 eram eutróficos, 6 apresentavam risco nutricional e 9 apresentavam desnutrição. No modelo multivariado para prever o IAH, permaneceram significativos o estado nutricional (β = −0,386; p = 0,014), a SpO2 (β = −0,453; p = 0,005) e a pontuação na Escala de Sonolência de Epworth (β = 0,429; p = 0,006). O modelo explicou 51% da variação do IAH.Conclusões: Os maiores determinantes de apneia do sono foram o estado nutricional, a SpO2 e a sonolência diurna. Esse conhecimento representa não somente uma oportunidade de definir o risco clínico de apresentar apneia do sono, mas também de atuar na prevenção e tratamento da doença.

Transvaginal ultrasound ovarian diathermy: sheep as an experimental model.

BACKGROUND: Some techniques of transvaginal ovarian drilling have been previously described. Nevertheless a monopolar transvaginal ovarian cauterization, that use the expertise and safety of transvaginal puncture for oocyte captation seems to be an easier and feasible approach. The aim of this study was to develop a minimally invasive ovarian cauterization technique under transvaginal ultrasound control, and to evaluate the safety of the transvaginal ovarian monopolar cauterization, female sheep at reproductive age were used as an experimental model. FINDINGS: An experimental study was performed in a university research center. Seventeen female sheep (15 Corriedale e 2 Suffolk) in reproductive age were submitted to transvaginal ovarian cauterization with a monopolar Valleylab Force 2 electrocautery. Macroscopic and microscopic lesions were assessed. Ovarian size were 1.31 cm2 ± 0,43 (Corriedale) and 3.41 cm2 ± 0,64 (Suffolk). From 30 ovaries from Corriedale sheep punctured, only 3 were cauterized, presenting macroscopic and typical microscopic lesion. In the Suffolk sheep group, only one ovary was cauterized. No lesion could be found in the needle path. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first experimental animal model described for ovarian cauterization needle guided by transvaginal ultrasound. The sheep does not seem to be the ideal animal model to study this technique. Another animal model, whose ovaries are better identified by transvaginal ultrasound should be sought for this technique, theoretically less invasive, before it could be offered safely to women with polycystic ovary syndrome.

Pré-hipertensão: uma visão a favor do tratamento medicamentoso / Pre-hypertension: grounds to support drug therapy

O risco aumentado para doença cardiovascular (DCV) inicia-se em 115/75 mmHg, dobrando a cada 20 mmHgna pressão arterial (PA) sistólica e 10 mmHg na diastólica. Inúmeros ensaios clínicos randomizados demonstraram a redução de 18% a 42% na incidência de eventos cardiovasculares em pacientes com PA normal e com comorbidades, como diabetes, evidência de DCV e, particularmente, com acidente vascular cerebral (AVC) prévio. A pré-hipertensão arterial é estágio intermediário para o desenvolvimento de hipertensão plena, acometendo 80% dos indivíduos com 40 a 50 anos em um período de 10 anos. Há evidência de que o uso de fármacos anti-hipertensivos em pacientes com pré-hipertensão reduz a incidência de hipertensão arterial em mais de 60%. O uso de pelo menos um fármaco anti-hipertensivo em pacientes com pré-hipertensão e comorbidade já é hoje mandatório. Considerando-se que a efetividade de medidas não medicamentosas deixa a desejar, o emprego de fármacos anti-hipertensivos de baixo custo e boa tolerabilidade pode vir a se justificar com o intuito de prevenir hipertensão arterial em pacientes com pré-hipertensão e sem presença de comorbidades.

The risks of increasing blood pressure (BP) for cardiovascular disease (CVD) start with BP values of 115/75 mmHg, doubling at each 20 mmHg of systolic blood pressure or 10 mmHg of diastolic blood pressure. Several randomized clinical trials have showed a decreasing of 18% to 42% in the incidence of CVD in patients with normal blood pressure and co-morbidities, such as diabetes, known CVD and, particularly, previous stroke. Pre-hypertensionis an intermediate stage for full hypertension, which develops in 10 years in 80% of individuals with 40 to 50 years of age and pre-hypertension. There are evidences that the use of blood pressure-lowering drugs reduces the incidence of hypertension in more than 60%. The prescription of blood pressure agents for patients with pre-hypertension and e co-morbidities is mandatory. Taking into account that the effectiveness of non-drug therapies is low, the use blood pressure-lowering drugs of low cost and well-tolerated may be justifiable with the aim to prevent hypertension in patients with prehypertension without co-morbidities.