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The treatment for obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) or mandibular advancement devices (MADs) is associated with blood pressure (BP) reduction; however, the overall effect is modest. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) comparing the effect of such treatments on BP was to identify subgroups of patients who respond best to treatment. The article search was performed in three different databases with specific search terms and selection criteria. From 2289 articles, we included 68 RCTs that compared CPAP or MADs with either passive or active treatment. When all the studies were pooled together, CPAP and MADs were associated with a mean BP reduction of 2.09 (95% CI 2.78-1.40) mmHg for systolic BP and 1.92 (95% CI 2.40-1.43) mmHg for diastolic BP and 1.27 (95% CI 2.34-0.20) mmHg for systolic BP and 1.11 (95% CI 1.82-0.41) mmHg for diastolic BP, respectively. The subgroups of patients who showed a greater response were those aged <60 years (systolic BP 2.93 mmHg), with uncontrolled BP at baseline (systolic BP 4.14 mmHg) and with severe oxygen desaturations (minimum arterial oxygen saturation measured by pulse oximetry <77%) at baseline (24-h systolic BP 7.57 mmHg). Although this meta-analysis shows that the expected reduction of BP by CPAP/MADs is modest, it identifies specific characteristics that may predict a pronounced benefit from CPAP in terms of BP control. These findings should be interpreted with caution; however, they are particularly important in identifying potential phenotypes associated with BP reduction in patients treated for OSA.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a chronic and common adult disorder characterized by recurrent episodes of upper-airway obstruction and reopening during sleep. OSA is associated with intermittent hypoxia, sympathetic overactivity, oxidative stress and high cardiovascular mortality and morbidity. It is known to be more common in men than women, partly due to differences in anatomy and functional respiratory components. There are also gender differences in reported symptoms, leading to potential under-diagnosis in females. This gender difference tends to decrease after menopause, demonstrating a role of menopausal status itself in OSA phenotypes. Aging, fat mass distribution, sex hormones and upper-airway collapsibility are postulated to play a major role in these findings. This review focuses on the most recent studies exploring gender differences in the prevalence, pathogenesis and clinical features of OSA. It discusses the role of menopause in this, and explore the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms.

This review of recent research offers practical suggestions for maintaining discipline in the classroom. The first half discusses, in outline form, techniques for preventing classroom disruption, action to take when problems arise, and when to use punishment. The second half examines specific ways to deal with student misbehavior. An outline lists cause of the misbehavior, prevention tactics to use, and recommended remedial action. (Author/LD)

In heart failure (HF) sleep problems and sleep-related breathing disorders are frequently reported and are associated with poor prognosis. However, only few large clinical studies have investigated this issue in heart failure through breathing pattern analysis by polysomnography., Background: In heart failure (HF) sleep problems and sleep-related breathing disorders are frequently reported and are associated with poor prognosis. However, only few large clinical studies have investigated this issue in heart failure through breathing pattern analysis by polysomnography. Methods and results: 370 HF patients, with either moderate-severe reduced ejection fraction or with clinical decompensation, consecutively referred to 10 participating cardiology centers, have been enrolled in the PROMISES Study, an Italian project aimed at generating a large, multidisciplinary database of anthropometric, clinical, echocardiographic and sleep data, the last derived from overnight unattended cardio-respiratory polysomnography in HF patients. Obstructive sleep apnea was the most frequent form of sleep related breathing disorders observed in our cohort (35.4% with an AHI cutoff of 15). The possible determinants of sleep related breathing disorders were analyzed through stepwise logistic regression analysis and two multivariate models showing that a markedly reduced left ventricular ejection fraction was the most important factor associated with central sleep apneas (OR = 7.7 for AHI cutoff = 15 and LVEF ≤ 35%) together with male gender and increasing age. Conventional risk factors for obstructive sleep apnea did not identify HF patients affected by this condition. Conversely, a greater neck circumference was associated with an increased risk for central apneas. Conclusions: Our paper offers a deeper insight into the features of SRBD and its determinants in HF patients, leading in turn to a better clinical management of these comorbid patients.

Background and purpose: Both obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and cardiac organ damage have a crucial role in acute ischemic stroke. Our aim is to explore the relationship between OSA and cardiac organ damage in acute stroke patients. Methods: A total of 130 consecutive patients with acute ischemic stroke were enrolled. Patients underwent full multichannel 24-h polysomnography for evaluation of OSA and echocardiography to evaluate left ventricle (LV) mass index (LV mass/BSA, LV mass/height 2.7), thickness of interventricular septum (IVS) and posterior wall (LVPW), LV ejection fraction and left atrium enlargement. Information on occurrence of arterial hypertension and its treatment before stroke was obtained from patients' history. Results: 61.9% (70) of patients, mostly men (67.1%), with acute stroke had OSA (AHI > 10). Patients with acute stroke and OSA showed a significant increase (P < 0.05) of LV mass index, IVS and LVPW thickness and a significant left atrial enlargement as compared with patients without OSA. LV ejection fraction was not significantly different in stroke patients with and without OSA and was within normal limits. No relationship was found among cardiac alterations, occurrence of OSA and history of hypertension. Conclusion: Acute stroke patients with OSA had higher LV mass and showed greater left atrial enlargement than patients without OSA. This study confirms the high prevalence of OSA in stroke patients, suggesting also an association between OSA and cardiac target organ damage. Our finding of structural LV abnormalities in acute stroke patients with OSA suggests a potential role of OSA as contributing factor in determining both cerebrovascular and cardiac damage, even in absence of clear link with a history of blood pressure elevation.

While Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is associated with increased risk of arterial hypertension and adverse cardiovascular outcomes, the link between arterial hypertension and periodic limb movement during sleep (PLMS), with or without OSA, is still controversial.

Awareness of the importance of sleep-related disorders in patients with cardiovascular diseases is growing. In particular, sleep-disordered breathing, short sleep time, and low sleep quality are frequently reported by patients with heart failure (HF). Sleep-disordered breathing, which includes obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) and central sleep apnoea (CSA), is common in patients with HF and has been suggested to increase the morbidity and mortality in these patients. Both OSA and CSA are associated with increased sympathetic activation, vagal withdrawal, altered haemodynamic loading conditions, and hypoxaemia. Moreover, OSA is strongly associated with arterial hypertension, the most common risk factor for cardiac hypertrophy and failure. Intrathoracic pressure changes are also associated with OSA, contributing to haemodynamic alterations and potentially affecting overexpression of genes involved in ventricular remodelling. HF treatment can decrease the severity of both OSA and CSA. Indeed, furosemide and spironolactone administration, exercise training, cardiac resynchronization therapy, and eventually heart transplantation have shown a positive effect on OSA and CSA in patients with HF. At present, whether CSA should be treated and, if so, which is the optimal therapy is still debated. By contrast, more evidence is available on the beneficial effects of OSA treatment in patients with HF.

Obiettivi: l’obiettivo del nostro studio è verificare la presenza di una associazione tra apnee ostruttive in sonno (OSA) e la presenza di indici di danno d’organo, come ad esempio l’incremento della massa del ventricolo sinistro, le dimensioni dell’atrio e l’ intima-media thickness (IMT) della arterie carotidee in pazienti affetti da ictus ischemico. L’OSA costituisce un fattore di rischio indipendente per l’ictus ischemico. Sono tuttavia da chiarire i meccanismi che sostengono tale associazione. Materiali: Sono stati reclutati 130 pazienti (età media 69.7 + 11.7), affetti da ictus ischemico acuto consecutivamente afferiti alla Stroke Unit del nostro Istituto. Metodi: I pazienti sono stati sottoposti ad un esame polisonnografico completo, volto a indagare i seguenti parametri: apnoea-hypopnea index (AHI), oxygen desaturation index (ODI), SaO2 media e SaO2 minima ed è stata effettuata una stadiazione delle fasi di sonno. E’ stata quindi effettuata una valutazione ecocolor doppler cardiaca volta ad analizzare i parametri relativi alla funzione cardiaca (FE), massa ventricolare sinistro (MVSI), parete posteriore (PP), setto interventricolare (SIV) e alle dimensioni dell’atrio sinistro. Risultati: Il nostro studio ha dimostrato che nella popolazione di pazienti affetti da ictus ischemico acuto la prevalenza delle apnee ostruttive in sonno è alta (61.9%). Questa condizione è maggiormente evidente nel sesso maschile (67% dei pazienti affetti da OSA). Nel contesto della popolazione in esame, i pazienti affetti da OSA presentano un incremento significativo (p<0.05) dei valori di MVSI.alt, MVSI.sc, PP, SIV e le dimensioni dell’atrio sinistro. La sottoanalisi volta ad indagare l’esistenza di una differenza nel rimodellamento cardiaco indotto dall’ OSA in relazione al genere ha confermato il dato in modo significativo solo per il sesso femminile, suggerendo l’ipotesi di una maggiore vulnerabilità agli effetti cardiovascolari nelle donne affette da OSA. Discussione e Con

Evidence has consistently supported the association of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) with an increased prevalence of hypertension. It has also been shown that the severity of OSAS is directly correlated with the degree of blood pressure (BP) elevation and that hypertension occurring in subjects with OSAS is more likely to be severe, resistant to antihypertensive treatment and associated with alterations in day-to-night BP changes. Proposed mechanisms for the pathogenesis of OSASrelated hypertension include the activation of the sympathetic nervous system, alterations in autonomic cardiovascular (CV) modulation, the activation of the renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system, endothelial dysfunction, systemic and vascular inflammation, oxidative stress, metabolic abnormalities, arterial stiffness and alterations in cardiac function and structure. Given the adverse prognostic implications of OSAS-related hypertension for CV morbidity and mortality, the confirmation of resistant hypertension by using ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM) and the identification of alterations in day-to-night BP changes is of the utmost importance to implement more aggressive strategies for achieving BP control. In turn, the proper identification and implementation of specific treatment strategies for OSAS (that is, continuous positive airway pressure) in subjects with resistant hypertension may promote BP control and optimize CV protection. The present paper will review the evidence supporting the association of OSAS with resistant hypertension and the proposed mechanisms for this association. It will also address the role of ABPM in the confirmation of resistant hypertension in subjects with OSAS and whether the proper identification and management of OSAS in subjects with resistant hypertension will improve BP control

Background: The association of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) with glucose intolerance and the beneficial effect of lifestyle intervention have been poorly investigated in women particularly before menopausal status. The study explored 1) whether OSA is associated with impaired glucose homeostasis in obese non diabetic premenopausal and menopausal women and 2) the effects of a 3- month lifestyle intervention on glucose homeostasis in OSA women. Design and Methods: We consecutively recruited 98 obese women (39 premenopausal) from those referred for a weight loss intervention. Ambulatory nocturnal polysomnography, body composition, oral glucose tolerance test, insulin sensitivity and b cell function were assessed before and after intervention. Results: 41% of premenopausal and 64% of menopausal women had OSA which was associated with worse glucose homeostasis before menopausal status. Mean and minimal nocturnal oxygen saturation (SaO2) was associated with neck/height ratio (NHR), independently of total and central obesity. Mean and minimal nocturnal SaO2 and NHR were correlated with insulin sensitivity and fasting glucose. In multivariate analyses, nocturnal mean SaO2 was negatively and independently correlated with fasting glucose (p,0.0001) and NHR with insulin sensitivity (p,0.0001). In OSA women, the intervention induced a 5% weight reduction and a significant increase in minimal nocturnal SaO2, insulin sensitivity and b cell function. Changes in fasting glucose and insulin sensitivity were associated with those in minimal nocturnal SaO2 (p,0.05) and not with weight loss. Conclusions: In obese women, glucose homeostasis worsens due to nocturnal hypoxia and increased neck circumference through mechanisms partially independent of obesity. OSA is more clearly associated with glucose intolerance in premenopausal than in menopausal women. In OSA women, the improvement of nocturnal hypoxia induced by lifestyle modifications is associated with that of glucose homeostasis