Relationship between ODI and sleep structure of obstructive sleep apnea and cardiac remodeling.

PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the quantitative relationship between Oxygen Desaturation Index (ODI) and sleep structure of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and cardiac remodeling. METHODS: In this study, patients were enrolled from January 2015 to October 2022, and were divided into 3 groups according to AHI: patients with AHI < 15, patients with 15 ≤ AHI < 30, and 260 patients with AHI ≥ 30. Stratified linear regression was used to analyze independent risk factors for cardiac remodeling in OSA. RESULTS: A total of 479 patients were enrolled. We found that compared with AHI < 15 group (n = 120), the group with AHI > 30 (n = 260) had increased left atrial anteroposterior diameter, left ventricular end-diastolic internal diameter, left ventricular posterior wall thickness, right ventricular anteroposterior diameter, and interventricular septal thickness (P < 0.05). The group with 15 ≤ AHI ≤ 30 (n = 99) had increased left atrial anteroposterior diameter (P < 0.05). Multivariate linear regression revealed that N2 sleep was an independent risk factor for left ventricular posterior wall thickness, with positive correlation (p < 0.05). N3 sleep was an independent risk factor for transverse right atrial diameter and right ventricular anteroposterior diameter, with negative correlation (P < 0.05). ODI was an independent risk factor for interventricular septal thickness, with positive correlation (P < 0.05). The arousal index was an independent risk factor for increased left atrial anteroposterior diameter, with positive correlation (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Increased ODI is an independent risk factor for interventricular septal thickness, while decreased slow wave sleep is an independent risk factor for right heart remodeling in OSA.

The value of circadian heart rate variability for the estimation of obstructive sleep apnea severity in adult males.

OBJECTIVES: Heart rate variability (HRV) is becoming more prevalent as a measurable parameter in wearable sleep-monitoring devices, which are simple and effective instruments for illness evaluation. Currently, most studies on investigating OSA severity and HRV have measured heart rates during wakefulness or sleep. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the circadian rhythm of HRV in male patients with OSA and its value for the estimation of OSA severity using group-based trajectory modeling. METHODS: Patients with complaints of snoring were enrolled from the Sleep Center of Shandong Qianfoshan Hospital. Patients were divided into 3 groups according to apnea hypopnea index (AHI in events/h), as follows: (<15, 15≤AHI<30, and ≥30). HRV parameters were calculated using 24 h Holter monitoring, which included time-domain and frequency-domain indices. Circadian differences in the standard deviation of normal to normal (SDNN) were evaluated for OSA severity using analysis of variance, trajectory analysis, and multinomial logistic regression. RESULTS: A total of 228 patients were enrolled, 47 with mild OSA, 48 moderate, and 133 severe. Patients with severe OSA exhibited reduced triangular index and higher very low frequency than those in the other groups. Circadian HRV showed that nocturnal SDNN was considerably higher than daytime SDNN in patients with severe OSA. The difference among the OSA groups was significant at 23, 24, 2, and 3 o'clock sharp between the severe and moderate OSA groups (all P<0.05). The heterogeneity of circadian HRV trajectories in OSA was strongly associated with OSA severity, including sleep structure and hypoxia-related parameters. Among the low-to-low, low-to-high, high-to-low, and high-to-high groups, OSA severity in the low-to-high group was the most severe, especially compared with the low-to-low and high-to-low SDNN groups, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Circadian HRV in patients with OSA emerged as low daytime and high nocturnal in SDNN, particularly in men with severe OSA. The heterogeneity of circadian HRV revealed that trajectories with low daytime and significantly high nighttime were more strongly associated with severe OSA. Thus, circadian HRV trajectories may be useful to identify the severity of OSA.

[Research Progress in the Correlation Between Dopamine and Clinical Characterization of Narcolepsy].

Dopamine,a neurotransmitter ubiquitous in the body fluids,blood,and urine of mammals and humans,is responsible for regulating their functions and metabolism.The dopamine system is involved in the neurobiological mechanisms of narcolepsy in animals and humans.However,researchers have drawn different or even opposite conclusions when measuring the dopamine level in the cerebrospinal fluid of narcolepsy patients.Studies have confirmed that the occurrence of narcolepsy is related to the irreversible loss of orexins.The autoimmune reaction caused by the interactions of environmental factors with genetic factors destroys the hypothalamic orexin neurons and reduces orexin secretion,thereby lowering the level of arousal.We introduce the research progress and current status of dopamine and clinical characterization of narcolepsy by reviewing more than 40 articles published from 1982 to 2023,aiming to provide a reference for studying the relationship between the dopamine level and clinical characterization of narcolepsy and searching for the biomarkers of type 2 narcolepsy.

The "island sign" on diffusion-weighted imaging predicts early neurological deterioration in penetrating artery territory infarctions: a retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Early neurological deterioration (END) sometimes occurs in patients with penetrating artery territory infarction (PATI) and leads to poor prognosis. In this study, we analyzed clinical and neuroimaging characteristics of PATI, and focused on the infarct patterns on diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI). We tried to investigate whether the "island sign" pattern is associated with END. METHODS: We enrolled consecutive patients admitted with acute PATI within 48 h after onset from May 2020 to July 2022. They were divided into with and without the "island sign" pattern on DWI. According to infarct location, all the patients were classified into two groups: the territories of the lenticulostriate arteries (LSA) and paramedian pontine arteries (PPA). The patients in each group were further divided into two groups according to whether they developed END or not. Through analyzing the clinical and neuroimaging characteristics of the patients, we tried to identify the factors that might associated with the "island sign" pattern and the potential predictors of END within the LSA and PPA groups. RESULTS: Out of the 113 patients enrolled in this study, END was found in 17 patients (27.9%) in the LSA group and 20 patients (38.5%) in the PPA group. The "island sign" was found in 26 (23%) patients. In the multivariate analysis, the independent predictors of END in the LSA group were the "island sign" (OR 4.88 95% CI 1.03-23.2 P = 0.045) and high initial National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) (OR 1.79 95% CI 1.08-2.98 P = 0.024) and in the PPA group was the presence of lesions extending to the ventral pontine surface (OR 7.53 95% CI 1.75-32.37 P = 0.007). CONCLUSIONS: The predictive factors for END were different in the LSA and PPA groups. The "island sign" was particularly associated with END in the LSA group.

SLC20A2-related primary familial brain calcification with purely acute psychiatric symptoms: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Primary familial brain calcification (PFBC) is a rare inherited neurological disorder characterized by bilateral basal ganglia calcification with a series of motor and nonmotor symptoms. Mutations in the SLC20A2 gene, encoding the PiT2 protein, are the major cause of the disease. Here, we report a Chinese PFBC family carrying a SLC20A2 gene mutation, and the proband presented with purely acute psychiatric symptoms, which has been rarely reported in this disease. CASE PRESENTATION: A 38-year-old woman was hospitalized due to disorganized speech; disordered thought contents; disorganized behaviour; emotional instability and lability; and grandiose words, actions and facial expressions. Brain computerized tomography (CT) revealed calcification in the basal ganglia; cerebellar dentate nuclei; and subcortical, periventricular, and deep white matter regions in she and her family members. Through mutation analysis, a heterozygous truncating mutation, c.1723G > T, p.(Glu575*), was identified in the SLC20A2 gene in this family. Thus, this patient was diagnosed with genetically confirmed PFBC, and she responded well to a low dose of antipsychotic drugs. The penetrance of the disease in this family was only 33%, which was significantly lower than that in most families carrying SLC20A2 gene mutations. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with SLC20A2-related PFBC might present with psychiatric symptoms alone, and the penetrance of the disease may be quite low, which adds to the clinical heterogeneity of the disease.

[Research Progress on Insomnia and Microarousal].

Insomnia is a subjective experience of difficulty in falling asleep and/or maintaining sleep accompanied by the impairment of daytime social functioning due to insufficient sleep quality or quantity to meet normal physiological needs.It has chronic damage to all the human body systems and is the most common sleep disorder.The main mechanism for the occurrence and maintenance of insomnia is the hyperarousal hypothesis,and microarousal,as a cortical arousal,is also involved in the formation of the hyperarousal mechanism.The mechanism and clinical significance of microarousal were reviewed and summarized in this paper in order to guide the clinical work.

Clinical manifestations and AR gene mutations in Kennedy's disease.

Kennedy's disease, resulted from the expansion of a CAG repeat in exon 1 of androgen receptor (AR) gene, is a motor neuron degenerative disease in the brainstem and spinal cord with the slow development of facial, bulbar, and limb muscle degeneration. To investigate the clinical manifestations and gene mutations in Han Chinese patients with Kennedy's disease. The clinical manifestations of 5 male Han Chinese patients including 2 probands and their relatives from 2 families and 1 sporadic case were retrospectively studied. The CAG repeats in the first exon of AR were screened in 5 Han Chinese people including 2 probands and their healthy relatives from 2 families and 1 sporadic case by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and direct sequencing. The average age at onset of Kennedy's disease was 48.20 ± 8.70 (mean ± SD) years and the average duration was 7.60 ± 5.32 years. All the patients showed slow onset and progressive weakness, wasting, and fasciculations of the whole body. Four patients demonstrated decreased fertility and 1 patient showed mild gynecomastia. Serum creatine kinase and testosterone levels were elevated mildly in 2 and 1 patients, respectively. The electromyogram showed neurogenic abnormalities. Muscle magnetic resonance demonstrated reduced muscle volume and fatty infiltration. Three different enlarged CAG domains were discovered in the 2 families and 1 sporadic patient with Kennedy's disease, and the CAG repeat number was 48, 43, and 44, respectively. The clinical manifestations of Kennedy's disease in Han Chinese middle-aged men were progressive weakness and atrophy in the bulbar and spinal muscles, occasionally demonstrating incomplete androgen insensitivity syndrome. These patients were also characterized with enlarged CAG repeat number in the first exon of AR, indicating that CAG number could be used in the diagnosis of Han Chinese patients with Kennedy's disease.

Effect of Selective 5-HT6R Agonist on Expression of 5-HT Receptor and Neurotransmitter in Vascular Dementia Rats.

BACKGROUND 5-HT6 receptor (5-HT6R) has pluripotent roles regulating secretion of neurotransmitters. However, whether 5-HT6R is involved in the development of vascular dementia (VD) remains unclear. To evaluate the role and mechanism of 5-HT6R in VD, this study established a rat VD model to evaluate the effect of selective 5-HT6R agonist on the expression of 5-HT6R mRNA and neurotransmitter. MATERIAL AND METHODS Eighty healthy male SD rats (7 weeks old) were randomly assigned to sham, model, 5-HT6R agonist, and placebo groups (N=20 each). A rat VD model was generated by permeant bilateral ligation of the common carotid artery. 5-HT6R agonist, placebo, or saline were given intraperitoneally for 4 weeks. The Morris water maze was utilized to test learning and memory function. Brains were extracted to separate the cortex and hippocampal tissues, in which glutamate and g-aminobutyric acid (GABA) levels were analyzed. mRNA and protein levels of 5-HT6R were determined by RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry (IHC), respectively. RESULTS Model rats had longer escape latency and fewer crossing platform times. Contents of DA, Glu, GABA, and Ach were lowered in cortical and hippocampal tissues, and 5-HT6R expression was suppressed (p<0.05). The application of 5-HT6R agonist shortened escape latency and increased the number of passing through the platform. It also improved hippocampal CA1 neuronal damage and elevated DA, Glu, GABA, and Ach contents and expression of 5-HT6R. Expression of 5-HT6R was not different from the placebo group. CONCLUSIONS Selective 5-HT6R agonist can alleviate learning deficit of VD rats, possibly via improving neurotransmitter levels in brain regions.

Correlation analysis between HLA-DQA1*0102/DQB1*0602 genotypes and narcolepsy patients in China.

Background and objective: At present, the etiology of narcolepsy is not fully understood, and it is generally believed to be an autoimmune reaction caused by interactions between environmental and genetic factors. Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class II genes are strongly associated with this gene, especially HLA-DQB1*0602/DQA1*0102. In this study, we mainly analyzed the correlation between different genotypes of HLA-DQB1*0602/DQA1*0102 and clinical manifestations in Chinese patients with narcolepsy. Experimental method: Narcolepsy patients who were treated at the Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University from January 2021 to September 2023 were selected. General information, sleep monitoring data, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) orexin levels, and human leukocyte antigen gene typing data were collected. The statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 26.0, and the graphs were drawn using GraphPad Prism 9.5. Main results: A total of 78 patients were included in this study. The DQA1 and DQB1 gene loci were detected in 54 patients, and only the DQB1 gene locus was detected in 24 narcoleptic patients. The most common allele at the HLA-DQB1 locus was *0602 (89.7%), and the most common genotype at this locus was *0602*0301 (19.2%), followed by *0602*0602 (17.9%). The most common phenotype of the HLA-DQA1 locus is *0102 (92.6%), and the most common genotype of this locus is *0102*0102 (27.8%), followed by *0102*0505 (14.8%). There were significant differences (p < 0.05) between HLA-DQB1*0602-positive and HLA-DQB1*0602-negative patients in terms of orexin-A levels, presence or absence of cataplexy, UNS, PSG sleep latency, REM sleep latency, N1 sleep percentage, oxygen depletion index, and average REM latency on the MSLT. The HLA-DQA1*0102-positive and HLA-DQA1*0102-negative patients showed significant differences (p < 0.05) in disease course, presence or absence of sudden onset, PSG REM sleep latency, N1 sleep percentage, and average REM latency on the MSLT. There were significant differences in the average REM latency of the MSLT between HLA-DQB1*0602/DQA1*0102 homozygous and heterozygous patients p < 0.05, and no differences were found in the baseline data, orexin-A levels, scale scores, or other sleep parameters. Conclusion: Different genotypes of HLA-DQA1*0102/DQB1*0602 are associated with symptoms of cataplexy in Chinese narcoleptic patients. Homozygous individuals have a shorter mean REM latency in the MSLT, greater genetic susceptibility, and relatively more severe sleepiness.

Mapping structural determinants within third intracellular loop that direct signaling specificity of type 1 corticotropin-releasing hormone receptor.

The type 1 corticotropin-releasing hormone receptor (CRH-R1) influences biological responses important for adaptation to stressful stimuli, through activation of multiple downstream effectors. The structural motifs within CRH-R1 that mediate G protein activation and signaling selectivity are unknown. The aim of this study was to gain insights about important structural determinants within the third intracellular loop (IC3) of the human CRH-R1α important for cAMP and ERK1/2 pathways activation and selectivity. We investigated the role of the juxtamembrane regions of IC3 by mutating amino acid cassettes or specific residues to alanine. Although simultaneous tandem alanine mutations of both juxtamembrane regions Arg(292)-Met(295) and Lys(311)-Lys(314) reduced ligand binding and impaired signaling, all other mutant receptors retained high affinity binding, indistinguishable from wild-type receptor. Agonist-activated receptors with tandem mutations at the proximal or distal terminal segments enhanced activation of adenylyl cyclase by 50-75% and diminished activation of inositol trisphosphate and ERK1/2 by 60-80%. Single Ala mutations identified Arg(292), Lys(297), Arg(310), Lys(311), and Lys(314) as important residues for the enhanced activation of adenylyl cyclase, partly due to reduced inhibition of adenylyl cyclase activity by pertussis toxin-sensitive G proteins. In contrast, mutation of Arg(299) reduced receptor signaling activity and cAMP response. Basic as well as aliphatic amino acids within both juxtamembrane regions were identified as important for ERK1/2 phosphorylation through activation of pertussis toxin-sensitive G proteins as well as G(q) proteins. These data uncovered unexpected roles for key amino acids within the highly conserved hydrophobic N- and C-terminal microdomains of IC3 in the coordination of CRH-R1 signaling activity.

Effects of new hypnotic drugs on cognition: A systematic review and network meta-analysis.

Background: Insomnia is a common disease, and the application of various types of sleeping pills for cognitive impairment is controversial, especially as different doses can lead to different effects. Therefore, it is necessary to evaluate the cognitive impairment caused by different sleeping pills to provide a theoretical basis for guiding clinicians in the selection of medication regimens. Objective: To evaluate whether various different doses (low, medium and high) of anti-insomnia drugs, such as the dual-orexin receptor antagonist (DORA), zopiclone, eszopiclone and zolpidem, induce cognitive impairment. Methods: The PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar databases were searched from inception to September 20th, 2022 for keywords in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to evaluate the therapeutic effects of DORA, eszopiclone, zopiclone and zolpidem on sleep and cognitive function. The primary outcomes were indicators related to cognitive characteristics, including scores on the Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST) and daytime alertness. The secondary outcomes were the indicators associated with sleep and adverse events. Continuous variables were expressed as the standard mean difference (SMD). Data were obtained through GetData 2.26 and analyzed by Stata v.15.0. Results: A total of 8702 subjects were included in 29 studies. Eszopiclonehigh significantly increased the daytime alertness score (SMD = 3.00, 95 % CI: 1.86 to 4.13) compared with the placebo, and eszopiclonehigh significantly increased the daytime alertness score (SMD = 4.21, 95 % CI: 1.65 to 6.77; SMD = 3.95, 95 % CI: 1.38 to 6.51; SMD = 3.26, 95 % CI: 0.38 to 6.15; and SMD = 3.23, 95 % CI: 0.34 to 6.11) compared with zolpidemlow, zolpidemhigh, DORAlow, and eszopiclonemid, respectively. Compared with the placebo, zopiclone, zolpidemmid, and eszopiclonehigh, DORA significantly increased the TST (SMD = 2.39, 95 % CI: 1.11 to 3.67; SMD = 6.00, 95 % CI: 2.73 to 9.27; SMD = 1.89, 95 % CI: 0.90 to 2.88; and SMD = 1.70, 95 % CI: 0.42 to 2.99, respectively). Conclusion: We recommend DORA as the best intervention for insomnia because it was highly effective in inducing and maintaining sleep without impairing cognition. Although zolpidem had a more pronounced effect on sleep maintenance, this drug is better for short-term use. Eszopiclone and zopiclone improved sleep, but their cognitive effects have yet to be verified.

The effect of obstructive sleep apnea on fatty liver disease may be obscured by alcohol consumption: An ordinal logistic regression analysis.

BACKGROUND: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is closely associated with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The current definition of NAFLD cannot exclude the involvement of alcohol consumption in the development of fatty liver disease (FLD), but alcohol can aggravate OSA and participate in steatosis. There is limited evidence on the relationship between OSA and alcohol and its effect on FLD severity. OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of OSA on FLD severity based on ordinal responses, and its relationship with alcohol consumption, in order to develop strategies for the prevention and treatment of FLD. METHODS: Patients with chief complaints of "snoring" who underwent polysomnography and abdominal ultrasound between January 2015 and October 2022 were selected. A total of 325 cases were divided into three groups according to abdominal ultrasound results: no FLD (n = 66), mild FLD (n = 116), and moderately severe FLD (n = 143) group. Patients were also categorized into alcoholic and nonalcoholic groups. Univariate analysis was used to examine the correlation between OSA and FLD severity. Multivariate ordinal logistic regression analysis was further used to identify the determinants of FLD severity and differences between the alcoholic and nonalcoholic groups. RESULTS: A higher proportion of moderately severe FLD was observed in the group with an apnea/hypopnea index (AHI) > 30 compared to the AHI<15 group in all participants and in the nonalcoholic population (all p < 0.05). There was no significant difference among these groups in the alcoholic population. Ordinal logistic regression analysis found that in all participants, age [OR = 0.966(0.947-0.986)], BMI [OR = 1.293 (1.205-1.394)], diabetes mellitus [OR = 1.932(1.132-3.343)], hyperlipidemia [OR = 2.432(1.355-4.464)], severe OSA [OR = 2.36(1.315-4.259)] (all p < 0.05) were the independent risk factors for more severe FLD. However, different risk factors applied according to alcohol consumption. In addition to age and BMI, the independent risk factors for the alcoholic group also included diabetes mellitus [OR = 3.323(1.494-7.834)] while in the non-alcoholic group risk factors included hyperlipidemia [OR = 4.094(1.639-11.137)], and severe OSA[OR = 2.956(1.334-6.664)] (all p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Severe OSA is an independent determinant for developing more severe NAFLD in nonalcoholic population, and alcohol consumption may obscure the effect of OSA on the progression of FLD.

Novel mutation of SPG4 gene in a Chinese family with hereditary spastic paraplegia: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP) is a group of neurogenetic diseases of the corticospinal tract, accompanied by distinct spasticity and weakness of the lower extremities. Mutations in the spastic paraplegia type 4 (SPG4) gene, encoding the spastin protein, are the major cause of the disease. This study reported a Chinese family with HSP caused by a novel mutation of the SPG4 gene. CASE SUMMARY: A 44-year-old male was admitted to our hospital for long-term right lower limb weakness, leg stiffness, and unstable walking. His symptoms gradually worsened, while no obvious muscle atrophy in the lower limbs was found. Neurological examinations revealed that the muscle strength of the lower limbs was normal, and knee reflex hyperreflexia and bilateral positive Babinski signs were detected. Members of his family also had the same symptoms. Using mutation analysis, a novel heterozygous duplication mutation, c.1053dupA, p. (Gln352Thrfs*15), was identified in the SPG4 gene in this family. CONCLUSION: A Chinese family with HSP had a novel mutation of the SPG4 gene, which is autosomal dominant and inherited as pure HSP. The age of onset, sex distribution, and clinical manifestations of all existing living patients in this family were analyzed. The findings may extend the current knowledge on the existing mutations in the SPG4 gene.

The Impact of Sleep Pattern in School/Work Performance During the COVID-19 Home Quarantine in Patients With Narcolepsy.

Objectives: Narcolepsy patients were observed improvements in their academic performance during the COVID-19 home quarantine. Therefore, we aim to investigate the influence of sleep behavioral changes on school/work performance in narcolepsy patients during the home quarantine. Methods: Patients admitted to Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital from Jan 1, 2017 to Jan 1, 2021 who were diagnosed with narcolepsy were studied by online questionnaires in two different periods (during and 1 year after the COVID-19 home quarantine), including five aspects: (1) changes in school/work performance (percentile ranking in class/Sheehan Disability Scale 1, SDS1); (2) daytime functions; (3) clinical symptoms; (4) psychological moods; (5) medication situations. Results: A total of 46 narcolepsy patients 34 (73.9%) narcolepsy type 1, 12 (26.1%) narcolepsy type 2 with average age of 20.76 ± 8.99 years and an equal number of age and gender matched control subjects were enrolled. During the COVID-19 home quarantine, the narcolepsy patients were found that they altered sleep patterns, including later get up time (P < 0.001), longer total sleep time (TST, P = 0.001), better sleep quality (PSQI, P = 0.001), and lower anxiety level (P = 0.005). Their school/work performance improved parallelly [with better percentile ranking (P = 0.001) and lower SDS1 scores (P = 0.002)]. The results of multiple linear stepwise regression analysis showed a linear regression relationship between TST [efficient (95%) -7.356 (-13.570 to 1.143)], SDS1 score [efficient (95%) 6.580 (2.346-10.815), P = 0.004] and the percentile ranking after adjusting for potential effects. Both the improvements of sleep behavior and school/work performance disappeared after the end of COVID-19 home quarantine. No similar fluctuation was found in the control group. Discussion: Changes in sleep pattern during the COVID-19 home quarantine, such as longer sleep time and later wake-up time, can reduce the degree of daytime sleepiness and increase the degree of daytime wakefulness of narcolepsy patients, which can alleviate the impact of the disease on school/work performance.

Orexin dual receptor antagonists, zolpidem, zopiclone, eszopiclone, and cognitive research: A comprehensive dose-response meta-analysis.

Background: About one-third of adults have trouble sleeping, ranging from occasional difficulty to chronic insomnia, along with difficulty maintaining sleep. Many studies reported that the long-term use of hypnotics can cause brain dysfunction and damage cognition. Objective: The objective of the study is to evaluate whether low, medium, and high doses of orexin dual receptor antagonists (DORA), zopiclone (ZOP), eszopiclone (ESZ), and zolpidem (ZST) can impair cognition. Methods: From the beginning through September 20, 2022, PubMed, Embase, Scopus, the Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar were searched. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing the therapeutic effects of DORA, eszopiclone, and zopiclone for sleep and cognitive function were included. The primary outcomes were indices related to the cognitive profile, including memory, alertness, execution and control function, and attention and orientation. The secondary outcomes were indices related to sleep and adverse events. The standard mean difference (SMD) was generated for continuous variables. Certain data were captured from figures by GetData 2.26 and analyzed using RStudio 4.2. Results: Finally, a total of 8,702 subjects were included in 29 studies. Compared with the placebo, the DSST (Digit Symbol Substitution Test) scores of low, medium, and high doses of DORA were SMD = 0.77; 95% CI: 0.33-1.20; SMD = 1.58; 95% CI: 1.11-2.05; and SMD = 0.85; 95% CI: 0.33-1.36, respectively. The DSST scores of zolpidem at low, medium, and high doses were SMD = -0.39; 95% CI: 0.85-0.07; SMD = -0.88, 95% CI: -2.34-0.58; and SMD = -0.12, 95% CI: -0.85-0.60, respectively. Zopiclone's DSST scale score was SMD = -0.18; 95% CI: -0.54-0.18. In addition, the total sleep time (TST) of low, medium, and high doses of DORA was SMD = 0.28, 95% CI: -0.15-0.70; SMD = 1.36, 95% CI: 0.87-1.86; and SMD = 2.59, 95% CI: 1.89-3.30, respectively. The TST of zolpidem with low, medium, and high doses was SMD = 1.01, 95% CI: 0.18-1.83; SMD = 1.94, 95% CI: 0.46-3.43; and SMD = 1.71, 95% CI: 0.86-2.56, respectively. The TST of low, medium, and high doses of eszopiclone was relatively SMD = 2.03, 95% CI: -0.21-4.27; SMD = 2.38, 95% CI: 1.35-3.42; and SMD = 1.71, 95% CI: 0.60-2.82. Zopiclone's TST was SMD = 2.47, 95% CI: 1.36-3.58. Conclusion: We recommend DORA as the best intervention for insomnia because it is highly effective in inducing and maintaining sleep without impairing cognition. Although zolpidem has a more pronounced effect on maintaining sleep, it is best to reduce its use because of its side effects. Eszopiclone and zopiclone improved sleep quality, but their safety in cognition remains to be verified.

Self-Reported Sleep Characteristics Associated with Cardiovascular Disease Among Older Adults Living in Rural Eastern China: A Population-Based Study.

Purpose: To investigate the cross-sectional associations of self-reported sleep characteristics with cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and cardiovascular multimorbidity in older adults living in rural Eastern China. Patients and Methods: This population-based study included 4618 participants (age ≥65 years; 56.5% women) living in rural Eastern China. In March-September 2018, data were collected through interviews, clinical examinations, neuropsychological testing, and laboratory tests. Sleep parameters were assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Epworth Sleepiness Score, and Berlin questionnaire. Coronary heart disease (CHD), heart failure (HF), and stroke were defined according to in-person interviews, clinical and neurological examinations, and electrocardiogram examination. Data were analyzed using logistic regression and restricted cubic spline regression. Results: CHD was diagnosed in 991 participants, HF in 135 participants, and stroke in 696 participants. The multivariable-adjusted odds ratio (OR) of CHD was 1.27 (95% CI, 1.09-1.49) for sleep duration ≤6 hours/night (vs >6-8 hours/night), 1.40 (1.20-1.62) for poor sleep quality, and 1.22 (1.04-1.43) for high risk for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The OR of HF was 2.16 (1.38-3.39) for sleep duration >8 hours/night, and 1.76 (1.22-2.54) for high risk for OSA. In addition, the OR of stroke was 1.23 (1.04-1.46) for poor sleep quality, 1.32 (1.01-1.72) for excessive daytime sleepiness, and 1.42 (1.19-1.70) for high risk for OSA. The associations of poor sleep with cardiovascular multimorbidity (≥2 CVDs) were stronger than that of sleep problems with a single CVD. Conclusion: Extreme sleep duration, high risk for OSA, and other sleep problems were associated with CVDs, especially cardiovascular multimorbidity.

Research on Low-Frequency Noise Control of Automobiles Based on Acoustic Metamaterial.

With the transformation of the trend of vehicle electrification, the overall noise level in the vehicle is gradually reduced. The problem of low-frequency noise in the vehicle, which was previously ignored, is becoming more and more prominent. To solve the vehicle low-frequency noise problem, a combination of real-vehicle tests and simulation analysis is carried out. During the test, the driver and passengers feel that there is a relatively obvious low-frequency roar noise in the car, which results from the structural radiation noise of the trunk door vibration. Therefore, to solve this problem, we design an acoustic metamaterial with lightweight and miniaturized features based on the local resonance principle of phononic crystals. Firstly, the selection of the resonant unit configuration and the design of the band gap are implemented. Then, the layout planning of the whole vehicle, the layout of the resonance unit and the design of the base frame are implemented. The actual vehicle test results show that: after attaching the designed acoustic metamaterial, the low-frequency noise sound pressure levels in the front and rear of the vehicle were reduced by 2.0 dB (A) and 2.3 dB (A), respectively, meanwhile, the interior noise sound quality was improved. The sound pressure level at the driver's right ear in the car has an abnormal peak of around 35Hz. In addition, the driver and passengers feel that there is a relatively obvious low-frequency roar noise in the car, and through low-pass filtering of the collected signals, it is confirmed that the peak frequency is the main cause of the low-frequency roar in the car. The low-frequency steady-state noise of the car is generally considered to be the low-frequency vibration of the body panel and the radiation occurs. Through the finite element simulation analysis (Grid Participation Analysis) of the abnormal peak frequency, the results show that the low-frequency roar is caused by the low-frequency vibration of the tailgate sheet metal, and the problem peak frequency is not coupled with the acoustic cavity mode. Facing the problem of the low-frequency roar radiated into the car by the vibration of the tailgate sheet metal parts, based on the local resonance band gap theory, we developed a design to suppress the 35 Hz vibration of the tailgate sheet metal parts and meet the characteristics of lightweight and miniaturization. By attaching the acoustic metamaterial to the tailgate and performing CAE simulation of the whole vehicle, it is determined that the structure can indeed reduce the 35 Hz noise in the car and the peak value of the tailgate sheet metal vibration.

Exploration of sleep function connection and classification strategies based on sub-period sleep stages.

Background: As a medium for developing brain-computer interface systems, EEG signals are complex and difficult to identify due to their complexity, weakness, and differences between subjects. At present, most of the current research on sleep EEG signals are single-channel and dual-channel, ignoring the research on the relationship between different brain regions. Brain functional connectivity is considered to be closely related to brain activity and can be used to study the interaction relationship between brain areas. Methods: Phase-locked value (PLV) is used to construct a functional connection network. The connection network is used to analyze the connection mechanism and brain interaction in different sleep stages. Firstly, the entire EEG signal is divided into multiple sub-periods. Secondly, Phase-locked value is used for feature extraction on the sub-periods. Thirdly, the PLV of multiple sub-periods is used for feature fusion. Fourthly, the classification performance optimization strategy is used to discuss the impact of different frequency bands on sleep stage classification performance and to find the optimal frequency band. Finally, the brain function network is constructed by using the average value of the fusion features to analyze the interaction of brain regions in different frequency bands during sleep stages. Results: The experimental results have shown that when the number of sub-periods is 30, the α (8-13 Hz) frequency band has the best classification effect, The classification result after 10-fold cross-validation reaches 92.59%. Conclusion: The proposed algorithm has good sleep staging performance, which can effectively promote the development and application of an EEG sleep staging system.

Clinical safety and outcome of recombinant tissue plasminogen activator in patients with stroke attributable to small artery occlusion: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Recent observations raised concern that the intravenous recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) may result in damage to stroke patients caused by small artery occlusion (SAO). Thus, we perform a protocol for meta-analysis to investigate the efficacy and safety of intravenous thrombolysis with rt-PA in SAO-patients. METHODS: The search-style electronic libraries, including Pubmed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Wanfang Data, VIP Chinese Journals, and China Biomedical Literature Service System are used for document retrieval in June 2021 with no restrictions on language. The risk of bias in include articles will be assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool. We perform the meta-analysis by Stata version 10.0 software and calculated the statistics using the inverse variance statistical method. Binary outcomes are presented as Mantel-Haenszel-style risk ratios with 95% confidence interval. Continuous outcomes are reported as mean differences. RESULTS: The results of the article will be shown in a peer-reviewed journal. CONCLUSION: Intravenous rt-PA may be effective and safe in SAO-patients.

Characterization of Fasciculation Potentials (FPs) in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and Peripheral Nerve Hyperexcitability Syndromes (PNH).

This study is aimed at investigating the features of fasciculation potentials (FPs) in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and peripheral nerve hyperexcitability syndromes (PNH). Needle electrophysiologic examination (EMG) was performed for 5-15 muscles in the ALS and PNH patients. The spontaneous activity of fasciculations and fibrillations/sharp-waves (fibs-sw) was recorded. The distribution, firing frequency, and waveform parameters of FPs in muscles were calculated and compared. In total, 361 muscles in ALS patients and 124 muscles in PNH patients were examined, with the FP detection rates of 45.1% and 53.2%. Moreover, the ALS patients with the upper limb onset had the highest FP detection rate. Fasciculations occurred more frequently in the upper limbs than in the lower limbs in ALS and PNH. The detection rate of fibs-sw in the bulbar muscle was relatively low, which could be elevated when combining fibs-sw and FPs. Benign FPs in PNH were of smaller amplitude, shorter duration, and fewer phases/turns, compared with malignant FPs in ALS. The FP area in PNH was significantly smaller than that in ALS. The incidence of polyphasic FPs in ALS was distinctly greater than that in PNH. The firing frequency of FPs in PNH was higher than that in ALS. There was no significant difference in the amplitude, duration, phases and turns, and area of FPs between groups with and without fibs-sw in the muscles of normal strength in ALS. Conclusively, it is necessary to detect the FPs in the thoracic and bulbar muscles of patients suspected having ALS. FP parameters in ALS are significantly different from PNH.