Patients’ preference of established and emerging treatment options for obstructive sleep apnoea

Background

Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is the most common form of sleep-disordered breathing. The standard treatment, continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), has limited long-term compliance. Alternative treatment options are required and new methods, including hypoglossal nerve stimulation (HNS) and continuous transcutaneous electrical stimulation (CTES), are currently emerging. We report on patients’ preference for different treatments of OSA.

Methods

We recorded patients’ age, gender, body mass index (BMI), Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), Functional Outcomes of Sleep Questionnaire with 10 questions (FOSQ10), severity of OSA, and current treatment. We showed pictures of existing [CPAP, mandibular advancement device (MAD)] and emerging treatments (HNS and CTES). We then asked (I) whether participants were interested in further information about HNS/CTES; (II) if they would be willing to try HNS/CTES; and (III) if they were to choose only one of the four listed treatments, which one would they prefer to use every night.

Results

One hundred sixty-two patients completed the survey {81 males, mean age 52 [12] years, BMI 34 [7] kg/m², ESS 10.2 (6.0) points, FOSQ10 28.5 (8.1) points}. The majority of the respondents (89.5%) had been diagnosed with OSA. A total of 91.3% of the respondents were interested in more information and were willing to try HNS/CTES. Most respondents preferred the potential use of CTES (56.7%), while 21.7% chose HNS, 17.8% CPAP, and 3.8% the MAD. There were no differences in the characteristics of the patients who preferred CTES compared to those who preferred other treatments, but a regression analysis revealed that a low ESS score was an independent predictor of patients choosing CTES (P<0.05).

Conclusions

More than 9 out of 10 of the respondents were interested in trying emerging technologies to treat OSA, most preferring CTES. Less sleepy patients were more likely to choose less invasive treatments. These findings will likely impact on future research and development of therapies for sleep-disordered breathing.     

Sacral nerve stimulation for treatment of fecal incontinence in a patient with muscular dystrophy: report of a case

Fecal incontinence is a common condition that causes major impairment of social life. Sacral nerve stimulation is a promising treatment in idiopathic fecal incontinence when conventional treatments have failed. However, new indications for sacral nerve stimulation are emerging. The present case shows that sacral nerve stimulation for treatment of fecal incontinence may be justified in other diseases in which fecal incontinence is a major problem.     

个性化健康教育联合重复经颅磁刺激对帕金森病患者抑郁焦虑的干预

目的 探讨个性化健康教育联合重复经颅磁刺激对帕金森病患者抑郁焦虑心理的影响,为加强对帕金森病的治疗提供临床参考.方法 抽取我院2011年4月份到2013年6月份收治的80例帕金森病伴焦虑抑郁患者作为研究对象,按照随机分组的方式分为对照组和观察组,每组40例,在抗帕金森病药物治疗方案不变的前提下,对照组采用重复经颅磁刺激干预,观察组在此基础上加用个性化健康教育干预,选择抑郁自评量表（SDS）与焦虑自评量表（SAS）对两组的抑郁焦虑情绪评估,对治疗前后的得分进行分析和比较.结果 经研究发现,两组治疗后的SDS、SAS评分均有不同程度的改善在治疗后的3周、3个月后,观察组的SDS分别为（49.1±3.2）分、（46.8±1.8）分,SAS分别为（47.1±3.3）分、（46.3±2.2）分,与对照组SDS的（53.5±3.1）分、（52.6±1.6）分和SAS的（49.7±3.6）分、（50.5±3.7）分比较,差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05）.结论 给予帕金森病患者个性化健康教育联合重复经颅磁刺激进行治疗,能够在保证临床整体治疗效果的同时,有效缓解和减轻患者的抑郁、焦虑心理,提高生活质量,具有较高的临床应用价值,值得进一步推广.     

小脑顶核电刺激治疗小儿中枢性协调障碍的研究

目的：探讨小脑顶核电刺激治疗在小儿中枢性协调障碍康复治疗中的优势。方法选取2012年8月至2013年7月收治的84例中枢性协调障碍患儿随机分为观察组（42例）和对照组（42例）,对照组仅采用常规康复综合治疗,观察组在此基础上加用小脑顶核电刺激疗法,对两组患儿治疗后总有效率及Gesell发育量表动作能之发育商（DQ）进行比较。结果观察组显效率（83.33%）高于对照组（57.14%）,治疗后DQ评分观察组[（84.91±7.28）分]明显高于对照组[（71.97±5.74）分],差异均有统计学意义（P〈0.05）。结论常规康复治疗联合小脑顶核电刺激治疗小儿中枢性协调障碍疗效显著。     

性激素补充治疗联合电刺激与盆底肌锻炼治疗围绝经期妇女真性压力性尿失禁的效果观察

目的探讨性激素补充治疗联合电刺激与盆底肌锻炼治疗围绝经期妇女真性压力性尿失禁的临床效果。方法将我院2011年11月至2013年12月收治的GSUI患者60例随机分为观察组30例(给予性激素补充联合电刺激与盆底肌锻炼治疗)和对照组30例(给予电刺激与盆底肌锻炼治疗),对两组治疗效果进行观察。结果治疗结束后,观察组患者总有效率为93.33%,对照组患者总有效率为73.33%,即两组相比差异具有显著性(P<0.05)。结论性激素补充联合电刺激与盆底肌锻炼法是治疗GSUI患者的一种理想方法。     

白藜三醇通过下调microRNA-21减轻快速电刺激所致心房肌细胞电重构

目的:研究白藜三醇(resveratrol,RSV)对快速电刺激(rapid electrical stimulation,RES)导致乳鼠心房肌细胞电重构时微小RNA-21(microRNA-21,miR-21)表达的影响,探讨RSV通过miR-21参与电重构的可能机制。方法:采用胰酶、Ⅰ型胶原酶双酶法及差速贴壁法分离培养乳鼠心房肌细胞。通过RES建立乳鼠心房肌细胞房颤模型,心房肌细胞随机分为4组:空白对照(control)组、RSV组、RES组和RSV+RES组。为了证实RSV是否通过调控miR-21的表达参与电重构,除了上述4组,另增加过表达和沉默miR-21组:RES+阴性对照组(RES+NC组)、RES+miR-21 mimics组、RES+miR-21 mimics+RSV组、RES+miR-21 inhibitor组和RES+miR-21 inhibitor+RSV组。CCK-8法检测心房肌细胞活性以确定RSV最佳作用浓度及时间,q PCR法检测各组细胞内miR-21及L型钙离子通道CACNA1C、CACNB2 mRNA的表达水平,Western blot检测L型钙离子通道Cav1.2和Cavβ_2 的蛋白表达水平。结果:与control组相比,RES组miR-21表达明显上调(P0.05),加入RSV预处理后miR-21表达下调(P0.05)。与RES+miR-21 mimics组相比,RES+miR-21 mimics+RSV组miR-21表达下调(P0.05),而CACNA1C和CACNB2 mRNA及Cav1.2和Cavβ_2 蛋白表达量增加(P0.05)。与RES组比,RES+miR-21 inhibitor和RES+miR-21 inhibitor+RSV组的miR-21表达下调(P0.05),CACNA1C和CACNB2 mRNA及Cav1.2和Cavβ_2 蛋白表达量增加,但RES+miR-21 inhibitor组与RSV+RES组比,miR-21表达、CACNA1C和CACNB2 mRNA及Cav1.2和Cavβ_2 蛋白表达量的差异无统计学显著性。结论:在快速电刺激乳鼠心房肌细胞模拟房颤模型中,RSV干预可能通过下调miR-21表达而调控其下游靶基因这一途径来减轻心房肌细胞电重构。     

间歇低氧对大鼠颏舌肌运动皮质区经颅磁刺激反应的影响

目的 应用经颅磁刺激技术探讨间歇低氧对颏舌肌运动皮质区的影响.方法 选取Sprague-Dawley雄性大鼠80只按照随机数字表法分为正常对照组(10只)和间歇低氧组(各低氧组10只),应用经颅磁刺激刺激两组大鼠颏舌肌运动皮质区并记录刺激后的反应,测量并比较反应潜伏期和幅度,多组间数据比较采用单因素方差分析.结果 大鼠大脑皮质前外侧区是颏舌肌运动皮质区最佳经颅磁刺激位点.与对照组(5.20 ±0.64)ms,(1.21±0.53) mV]相比,间歇低氧大鼠颏舌肌运动皮质区的经颅磁刺激反应潜伏期在低氧第1天[( 4.90±0.54) ms]和第14天[(4.64±1.71)ms]显著缩短,差异有统计学意义(F=3.294,P＜0.01);反应幅度在低氧第1天[(2.28±0.57)mV]和第7天[ (1.89 ±0.20)mV]显著增高(F=1.905,P＜0.05).结论 间歇低氧可以引起大鼠颏舌肌运动皮质区的反应性增加.     

Effect of heterotopic noxious conditioning stimulation on electrical and pressure pain thresholds in two different anatomical regions

Objectives. The aims of the study were to investigate the influence of heterotopic noxious conditioning stimulation (HNCS) on pain thresholds in the orofacial and spinal regions and to find out whether there are gender differences in this respect. Material and Methods. Thirty healthy subjects (15 of each sex) with a mean (SD) age of 25.1 (4.4) years participated. Pain thresholds to electrical (EPT) and pressure stimuli (PPT) were recorded in the masseter muscle and 1st upper incisor (tooth), as well as in the fingertip, before, during, and 5 and 15 min after a cold pressor task to the contralateral hand immersed in ice-cold water for a maximum of 5 min. Results. With the exception of the EPT in the orofacial region, all pain thresholds increased during the HNCS and then returned to baseline during the 15 min follow-up. The significant changes in EPT were greater in the finger than in the tooth, while the changes in PPT were greater in the masseter muscle than in the finger. Electrical stimuli in the finger induced greater significant changes of pain thresholds than pressure. In the orofacial region, pressure induced greater significant changes in pain thresholds during HNCS than electrical stimuli did. The HNCS induced pain of high intensity and unpleasantness, i.e. varying between 5 and 10 on the numeric rating scale (NRS). There were no gender differences in the response to the HNCS. Conclusion. We conclude that, in general, HNCS induced by cold pressor stimulation increases pain thresholds, but the magnitude of the effect differs between the orofacial region and the finger and is influenced by the tissue and type of test stimuli.     

心理语言、穴位刺激和胃电起搏协同改善功能性消化不良的胃感觉功能

目的研究心理语言、穴位刺激、胃电起搏协同治疗方法(Coordinated Treatment of Psychological language,Acupuncture pointstimulation and Gastric pacing,CTPAG)治疗难治性功能性消化不良的临床疗效及可能机制。方法根据罗马Ⅲ标准选取80例难治性功能性消化不良患者,随机分为两组:口服药物组(n=38)和CTPAG组(n=42),比较两组受试者在症状评分、临床疗效、胃感觉功能中的差异。结果与口服药物组比较,CTPAG组中临床症状评分明显下降,疗效显著率明显升高;胃的初次饱足阈值和最大耐受阈值均明显增加,差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论心理语言、穴位刺激和胃电起搏协同治疗(CTPAG)可能通过增加胃的可耐受容积,降低内脏敏感性,达到改善早饱、腹胀、进食少等疗效;并且CTPAG组优于常规口服药物组,是难治性FD非药物治疗的一种新选择。