Could non-HDL-cholesterol be a better marker of atherogenic dyslipidemia in obstructive sleep apnea?

Background/objectiveObstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is independently associated with dyslipidemia, a surrogate marker of atherosclerosis. Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol is accepted as a major independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease. However, non-high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol is a better marker of atherogenic dyslipidemia and recommended as a target of lipid lowering therapy. We aimed to assess the prevalence of atherogenic dyslipidemia, and relationship between OSA severity and serum LDL-cholesterol and non-HDL cholesterol levels in OSA patients.MethodsWe retrospectively evaluated treatment naïve 2361 subjects admitted to the sleep laboratory of a university hospital for polysomnography. All subjects’ lipid profile including total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, and non-HDL-cholesterol were measured.ResultsOut of 2361 patients (mean age 49.6 ± 11.9 years; 68.9% male, apnea-hypopnea index 36.6 ± 28.4/h), 185 (7.8%) had no OSA and 2176 (92.2%) had OSA. Atherogenic dyslipidemia prevalence was high (57–66%) in OSA patients, and especially increased in severe OSA compared to other groups (p < 0.05). Though total and LDL-cholesterol did not differ between those with and without OSA, non-HDL-cholesterol (p = 0.020), and triglycerides (p = 0.001) were higher and HDL-cholesterol levels (p = 0.018) were lower in OSA patients than non-OSA. Non-HDL-cholesterol was significantly correlated with OSA severity (p < 0.001) and hypoxia parameters (p < 0.01), whereas LDL-cholesterol showed no correlation.ConclusionsAtherogenic dyslipidemia is highly prevalent and non-HDL-cholesterol levels are significantly increased, predominantly in severe OSA patients. Non-HDL-cholesterol but not LDL-cholesterol, is significantly correlated with OSA severity and hypoxia parameters. Therefore, it could be better to use non-HDL-cholesterol, which is a guideline recommended target of lipid therapy, as a marker of atherosclerotic cardiovascular risk in OSA patients.     

Quantitative chemical exchange saturation transfer (qCEST) MRI – omega plot analysis of RF‐spillover‐corrected inverse CEST ratio asymmetry for simultaneous determination of labile proton ratio and exchange rate

Chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) MRI is sensitive to labile proton concentration and exchange rate, thus allowing measurement of dilute CEST agent and microenvironmental properties. However, CEST measurement depends not only on the CEST agent properties but also on the experimental conditions. Quantitative CEST (qCEST) analysis has been proposed to address the limitation of the commonly used simplistic CEST‐weighted calculation. Recent research has shown that the concomitant direct RF saturation (spillover) effect can be corrected using an inverse CEST ratio calculation. We postulated that a simplified qCEST analysis is feasible with omega plot analysis of the inverse CEST asymmetry calculation. Specifically, simulations showed that the numerically derived labile proton ratio and exchange rate were in good agreement with input values. In addition, the qCEST analysis was confirmed experimentally in a phantom with concurrent variation in CEST agent concentration and pH. Also, we demonstrated that the derived labile proton ratio increased linearly with creatine concentration (P < 0.01) while the pH‐dependent exchange rate followed a dominantly base‐catalyzed exchange relationship (P < 0.01). In summary, our study verified that a simplified qCEST analysis can simultaneously determine labile proton ratio and exchange rate in a relatively complex in vitro CEST system. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Development and evaluation of a new PCR assay for detection of Pseudomonas aeruginosa D genotype

This report describes a new PCR-based assay for the detection of Pseudomonas aeruginosa genotype D in occupational saturation diving systems in the North Sea. This genotype has persisted in these systems for 11 years (1993-2003) and represents 18% of isolates from infections analysed during this period. The new PCR assay was based on sequences obtained after randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD)-PCR analysis of a group of isolates related to diving that had been identified previously by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). The primer set for the D genotype targets a gene that codes for a hypothetical class 4 protein in the P. aeruginosa PAO1 genome. A primer set able to detect P. aeruginosa at the species level was also designed, based on the 23S-5S rDNA spacer region. The two assays produced 382-bp and 192-bp amplicons, respectively. The PCR assay was evaluated by analysing 100 P. aeruginosa isolates related to diving, representing 28 PFGE genotypes, and 38 clinical and community P. aeruginosa isolates and strains from other species. The assay identified all of the genotype D isolates tested. Two additional diving-relevant genotypes (TP2 and TP27) were also identified, as well as three isolates of non-diving origin. It was concluded that the new PCR assay is a useful tool for early detection and prevention of infections with the D genotype.     

State and output feedback design for robust tracking of linear systems with rate limited actuators

A design technique (Control of Uncertain Systems with Bounded Inputs, Tarbouriech S, Garcia G, (Eds), Lecture Notes in Control and Information Sciences, vol. 227 , Springer: Berlin, 1997; 173–186) recently proposed for stabilization of a linear system with rate‐limited actuators is utilized to design feedback laws that cause the system output to track a desired command signal. This design technique combines two design techniques recently developed for linear systems with position limited actuators, piecewise‐linear LQ control (Automatica, 1994; 30 : 403–416) and low‐and‐high gain feedback (IEEE Trans. Automat. Control, 1996; 41 : 368–378), and hence takes advantage of both design techniques, while avoiding their disadvantages. In the case that only the output is available for feedback, the performance of the state feedback law is preserved by the use of a fast observer. An open‐loop exponentially unstable fighter aircraft is used to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed control design method. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Flow-independent angiography for peripheral vascular disease: Initial in-vivo results

Flow-independent angiography (FIA), an approach that isolates arterial blood using MR relaxation characteristics rather than flow effects, was evaluated for application in peripheral vascular disease (PVD). First, pilot studies were conducted in which FIA coronal projection images were obtained from controls and symptomatic patients with PVD to assess clinical utility. All control images corresponded to the expected leg arterial anatomy with little interference from deep veins (one of five) and muscle (zero of five). Superficial venous signal was less well suppressed in comparison to deep veins (four of five). Images of symptomatic patients were less consistent with difficulty suppressing muscle and deep venous signal in some cases and edema when present. We then compared T2 values for muscle (T2_m, tibialis anterior), arterial blood (femoral and popliteal arteries), and venous blood (femoral, popliteal, and saphenous veins) in controls (n = 8) and symptomatic patients with intermittent claudication (n = 5) or ischemic rest pain (n = 7). Changes in T2 measurements of various tissues accounted for poorer contrast in symptomatic patients. Patients with ischemic rest pain had significantly higher T2_m compared with controls (T2_m = 39.3 ± 2.1 (1 standard error of the mean [SEM]) versus 30.9 ± .4, P < .01). For all measurements, other than saphenous vein, variances were greater in symptomatic patients. To realize the inherent advantages of FIA for this clinical application, additional work on suppression of signals from muscle, veins, and edema is required. One promising approach involves shifting from projection images to three-dimensional acquisitions for improved tissue suppression.     

阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停患者临床表现与上气道阻塞部位关系的探讨

目的 观察一组AHI接近的阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停综合征（OSAS）患者中上气道阻塞部位对多导睡眠监测（PSG）图及临床表现的影响。方法选取36例AHI为30—40的成年男性OSAS患者行再次整夜PSG，加同步上气道及食道压力监测确定上气道最低阻塞部位。比较上气道最低阻塞部位在软腭水平、舌根水平和下咽水平的不同患者中PSG相关参数：平均SaO2、最低SaO2、最长阻塞性呼吸暂停事件时间、呼吸暂停事件中SaO2下降率（dSaO2／dt）、微觉醒指数；以及部分临床表现参数：白日嗜睡程度、入睡前收缩压／清晨收缩压、入睡前舒张压／清晨舒张压以及高血压发生率。结果平均SaO2、最长阻塞性呼吸暂停事件时间和入睡前收缩压／清晨收缩压比值在3种不同上气道最低阻塞部位患者中差异无显著性（P〉0．05），但与软腭水平相比，舌根水平和下咽水平的最低Sa02降低（P〉0．05），dSaO2／dt（％／s）比值增高（P〈0．05），微觉醒指数及白日嗜睡评分增高（P〈0．01），入睡前舒张压／清晨舒张压比值降低（P〈0．05），最低SaO2〈80％的发生率增高（P〈0．01）以及高血压的发生率增高（P〈0．01）。结论AHI接近的OSAS患者上气道阻塞部位在舌根水平以下者与软腭以上水平者相比，阻塞性呼吸暂停事件的致缺氧效率和程度提高，OSAS的临床表现加重。     

Diving physiology and pathophysiology

Summary. Divers have worked at 500 m depth in the sea and have reached 700 m in simulated chamber dives. A prerequisite for this has been extensive physiological studies of the body's reactions to pressure and pressure changes. This paper reviews such physiological and pathophysiological studies with emphasis on recent developments.     

40m 以浅潜艇艇员饱和暴露后脱险减压方法的研究

1991～1992年进行了两次8人次模拟20、40m 饱和暴露后脱险减压方法的人体实验研究。在20m 空气饱和暴露后直接出水.在水面进行压力转移,6人次中出现皮肤瘙痒和关节疼痛4人次,当再加压回到20m后,症状消失:水面间隔总时间为9～15min。在4人次j40m 空气饱和暴露后直接减压到22m(再进行水面转移),未发现任何减压病症状。实验期间还观察了:在高压下人体自身的实际耗氧及高分压氧对肺部的影响。实验结果为今后现场实际应用的饱和脱险减压方法、减压程序提供了依据。     

Age-related changes in oxygen saturation over the first year of life: A longitudinal study

Stability of oxygen saturation depends on maturation and function of individual components of the respiratory system. The aim of this study was to record and analyse comprehensive oxygen saturation data in a longitudinal study over the first year of life. Detailed sleep studies were performed on 15 normal infants eight times in the first year of life. The accrued oxygen saturation data were analysed on a computerized oximetry data analysis system. Results show the mean sleep saturation levels trending upwards and stabilizing by 185 days. There was an inverse curvilinear relationship between mean age and median desaturation time and the median number of desaturations at ≥95, ≥92 and ≥90% saturation. The mean cumulative desaturation time ≥90% in the first 4 months was 11.08 min (range 2.5–36.57 min). This study demonstrates monotonic patterns of increasing saturation and decreasing number and time of desaturations ≥95% and ≥90% but a random pattern of desaturations ≥85% occurs across the first 6 months of life. Cumulative desaturation times over the first 4 months of life were high and could be important to the development of maturity of the respiratory system. After 6 months, all indices of saturation and desaturation point to a stable and mature respiratory system.