ABSTRACT
In lung cancer patients, two complementary abnormalities were found that can cause disruption of the mitochondrial network: increased fusion and impaired fission, manifested by reduced levels of FIS1, a mitochondrial division regulator, and increased expression of MFN1, a mitochondrial fusion mediator. Immunoexpression studies of MFN1 and FIS1 proteins were performed in serum samples obtained from 47 patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and 21 controls. In the NSCLC patients, the immunoexpression of the MFN1 protein was significantly higher, and the FIS1 protein level was significantly lower than in the control group (p < 0.01; p < 0.001; UMW test). Patients with early, operable lung cancer had significantly lower levels of MFN1 immunoexpression compared to patients with advanced, metastatic lung cancer (p < 0.05; UMW test). This suggests that early stages of the disease are characterized by greater fragmentation of damaged mitochondria and apoptosis. In contrast, lower FIS1 protein levels were associated with a worse prognosis. Increased mitochondrial fusion in the blood of lung cancer patients may suggest an increase in protective and repair mechanisms. This opens up questions about why these mechanisms fail in the context of existing advanced cancer disease and is a starting point for further research into why protective mechanisms fail in lung cancer patients.
ABSTRACT
Morning headache is considered to be a symptom of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). Despite not being as common as excessive daytime sleepiness or unrefreshing sleep, it can similarly impair everyday activities. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the prevalence of and factors associated with morning headaches (MH) among patients referred for polysomnography due to suspected OSAS. This is a retrospective study on 1131 patients who underwent polysomnography between 2013 and 2015. Morning headaches (MH) were reported in 29% of them. In a logistic regression model, a rise in the n probability of MH was associated with female sex (odds ratio, OR, 1.38, 95% confidence interval, CI, 1.08-1.75), history of hypertension (OR 1.25, 95% CI 1.06-1.46), complaint on unrefreshing sleep (OR 1.42, 95% CI 1.19-1.70), choking at night (OR 1.25, 95% CI 1.05-1.49), and fall in total sleep time (OR 0.872 per each hour, 95% CI 0.76-0.99). The risk between MH and apnea-hypopnea index, blood oxygen saturation parameters or arousal index was found to be statistically insignificant. There is a lack of evidence that MH is associated with the severity of OSAS or nocturnal hypoxemia.