The objective was to assess the effect of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) on symptoms of anxiety and depression in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). We hypothesized a decrease in symptoms at follow-up, but that improvement relied on CPAP adherence.

The sample comprised 468 patients (mean age 55.5 years (SD = 12.0), 72% men) with OSA who received CPAP at a Norwegian hospital. OSA was diagnosed according to standard respiratory polygraphy. Mean baseline respiratory event index (REI) was 28.4 (SD = 20.6). Symptoms of anxiety and depression were assessed prior to CPAP treatment and at follow-up after a median of 20 weeks, range 6-52 weeks, with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Patients were classified as CPAP adherent (≥ 4 h per night) or non-adherent (< 4 h per night).

There was a significant decrease in anxiety scores from baseline (mean = 5.16, SD = 3.94) to follow-up (mean = 4.76, SD = 3.81), p < 0.001. Similarly, depression scores decreased from baseline (mean = 4.31, SD = 3.66) to follow-up (mean = 3.89, SD = 3.69), p < 0.001. Cohen’s d (0.19 and 0.18, respectively) indicated small effect sizes. Nesuparib concentration The reduction in anxiety scores did not depend on CPAP adherence (no interaction effect F(1, 466) = 0.422, p = 0.516), whereas the reduction in depression scores were seen only in the CPAP adherent group (interaction effect F(1, 466) = 7.738, p = 0.006).

We found a decrease in symptoms of anxiety and depression from baseline to follow-up of CPAP treatment. The improvement in symptoms of depression was depending on CPAP adherence. This underlines the importance of adherence for optimal effect of CPAP treatment.

We found a decrease in symptoms of anxiety and depression from baseline to follow-up of CPAP treatment. The improvement in symptoms of depression was depending on CPAP adherence. This underlines the importance of adherence for optimal effect of CPAP treatment.

To evaluate the performance of the NoSAS(neck, obesity, snoring, age, sex) score, the STOP-Bang(snoring, tiredness, observed apneas, blood pressure, body mass index, age, neck circumference, gender) questionnaire, and the Epworth sleepiness score (ESS) as a screening tool for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) severity based on the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) and the oxygen desaturation index (ODI).

Data from 235 patients who were monitored by ambulant polysomnography (PSG) were retrospectively analyzed. OSA severity was classified based on the AHI; similar classification categories were made based on the ODI. Discrimination was assessed by the area under the curve (AUC), while predictive parameters were calculated by four-grid contingency tables.

The NoSAS score and the STOP-Bang questionnaire were both equally adequate screening tools for the AHI and the ODI with AUC ranging from 0.695 to 0.767 and 0.684 to 0.767, respectively. Both questionnaires perform better when used as a continuous variable. The ESS did not show adequate discrimination for screening for OSA (AUC ranging from 0.450 to 0.525). Male gender, age, and BMI proved to be the strongest individual predictors in this cohort.

This is the first study to evaluate the predictive performance of three different screening instruments with respect to both the AHI and the ODI. This is important, due to increasing evidence that the ODI may have a higher reproducibility in the clinical setting. The NoSAS score and the STOP-Bang questionnaire proved to be equally adequate to predict OSA severity based on both the AHI and the ODI.

This is the first study to evaluate the predictive performance of three different screening instruments with respect to both the AHI and the ODI. This is important, due to increasing evidence that the ODI may have a higher reproducibility in the clinical setting. The NoSAS score and the STOP-Bang questionnaire proved to be equally adequate to predict OSA severity based on both the AHI and the ODI.

Decision support systems for mitral valve disease are an important step toward personalized surgery planning. A simulation of the mitral valve apparatus is required for decision support. Building a model of the chordae tendineae is an essential component of a mitral valve simulation. Due to image quality and artifacts, the chordae tendineae cannot be reliably detected in medical imaging.

Using the position-based dynamics framework, we are able to realistically simulate the opening and closing of the mitral valve. Here, we present a heuristic method for building an initial chordae model needed for a successful simulation. In addition to the heuristic, we present an interactive editor to refine the chordae model and to further improve pathology reproduction as well as geometric approximation of the closed valve.

For evaluation, five mitral valves were reconstructed based on image sequences of patients scheduled for mitral valve surgery. We evaluated the approximation of the closed valves using either just the heuristic chordae model or a manually refined model. Using the manually refined models, prolapse was correctly reproduced in four of the five cases compared to two of the five cases when using the heuristic. In addition, using the editor improved the approximation in four cases.

Our approach is suitable to create realistically parameterized mitral valve apparatus reconstructions for the simulation of normally and abnormally closing valves in a decision support system.

Our approach is suitable to create realistically parameterized mitral valve apparatus reconstructions for the simulation of normally and abnormally closing valves in a decision support system.Corticotrophs produce a hormone that stimulates the adrenal gland cortex to secrete glucocorticoids, which in turn have effects on carbohydrate and protein metabolism. Quantification, morphological characteristics, and distribution of corticotrophs in the anterior pituitary and changes in the number and shape of the cells during aging have been examined using immunohistochemical and morphometric methods. The material consisted of 14 anterior pituitaries taken from cadavers at routine autopsy. The tissue was processed by standard histological procedure and the obtained slices were stained by the monoclonal anti-ACTH antibody for corticotrophs identification. Digital images of stained histological sections were analyzed using the morphometric method with the Image J system. The volume density of ACTH positive cells was determined. The cases were classified into three age groups. One-way ANOVA showed that the volume density of the corticotrophs was significantly higher in the second and third group in relation to the first group.