BackgroundDue to the significant role of dyslipidemia, cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are very common in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Nontraditional lipid indices are considered to be a better predictive index for cardiovascular risk. Nevertheless, the association between nontraditional lipid profiles and the severity of OSA is not clear.MethodsA retrospective study was proceeded on 635 patients. Subjects were diagnosed with OSA through polysomnography (PSG). The association between severe OSA and nontraditional lipid profiles [triglyceride (TG)/high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL‐C) ratio, total cholesterol (TC)/HDL‐C ratio, low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL‐C)/HDL‐C ratio, non‐high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (non‐HDL‐C), atherogenic index (AI), and lipoprotein combine index (LCI)] was examined by utilizing the restricted cubic spline and multivariate logistic regression analysis.ResultsAll nontraditional lipid indices had positive relationships with the severity of OSA. By multivariable adjustment, the per SD increment of the TG/HDL‐C, TC/ HDL‐C, LDL‐C/HDL‐C, non‐HDL‐C, AI, and LCI were significantly associated with 88%, 50%, 42%, 40%, 50%, and 125% higher risk for severe OSA respectively. Compared with the lowest tertiles, the adjusted ORs (95% CI) were 2.42 (1.57–3.75), 2.39 (1.53–3.73), 2.35 (1.52–3.64), 1.86 (1.21–2.86), 2.39 (1.53–3.73), and 2.23 (1.43–3.48) for the top tertiles of TG/HDL‐C, TC/ HDL‐C, LDL‐C/HDL‐C, non‐HDL‐C, AI, and LCI respectively.ConclusionAll nontraditional lipid indices had positive relationship with the severity of OSA. In addition, TG/HDL‐C, TC/HDL‐C, and AI had better performance than the other nontraditional lipid indices for predicting severe OSA. These findings could help to determine the risk of cardiovascular diseases and improve the dyslipidemia management of OSA patients.

Background: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and/or gastroesophageal reflux (GER) may be the contributors to chronic cough in patients with OSA and concomitant GER. This study aimed to explore whether continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), antireflux treatment and lifestyle modifications improve chronic cough in patients with OSA and concomitant GER. Methods: Patients with OSA and concomitant GER who also experienced chronic cough were enrolled, and were divided into two groups. Patients who were treated with general treatment (antireflux treatment and lifestyle modifications) as the control group, and patients who were treated with CPAP and general treatment as the treatment group. Effects of different treatments on chronic cough were assessed, and the association among chronic cough, GER and OSA was evaluated by Pearson's correlation analysis. Results: The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and Epworth Sleepiness Scale were better in the treatment group after 1 week of treatment; further, the improvement became stronger with the duration of therapy. The gastroesophageal reflux disease questionnaire, visual analog scale (VAS) for cough, and daytime and nighttime cough symptom scores significantly improved in both groups after treatment, whereas this improvement was more significant in the treatment group. Significant associations between the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) and VAS, weak acid reflux and VAS, and weak acid reflux and AHI were observed. Conclusion: CPAP improved the symptoms of chronic cough and GER in patients with OSA and concomitant GER. AHI and weak acid reflux may be important factors affecting the therapeutic effect of chronic cough in patients with OSA and concomitant GER.

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Background The death rate of lung cancer (LC) ranks first in the world. Changes of DNA methylation in peripheral blood may be related to malignant tumors. It is necessary to explore blood-based biomarkers of methylation to detect LC. Methods Mass spectrometry assays were conducted to measure DNA methylation levels of seven CpG sites within FUT7 gene in the peripheral blood of 428 patients with LC, 233 patients with benign pulmonary nodule (BPN) and 862 normal controls (NC). The odds ratios (ORs) of all CpG sites were evaluated for their risk to LC using per SD change and tertiles analyses by logistic regression. The predictive ability of the seven FUT7 CpG sites and risk factors were evaluated by receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC). Results The methylation levels of seven CpG sites of FUT7 in LC were significantly lower than that in NC (P < 0.05). The per SD decrement of methylation level in CpG_1-7 was significantly associated with 65%, 38%, 59%, 46%, 23%, 20% and 68% higher risk for LC versus NC, respectively, and the adjusted ORs (95% CI) were 2.92 (2.17–3.96), 1.76 (1.29–2.38), 2.83 (2.09–3.82), 3.00 (2.17–4.16), 1.81 (1.35–2.43), 1.48 (1.11–1.97) and 3.04 (2.23–4.16) for the lowest tertiles of methylation level in CpG_1-7 compared with the top tertiles, respectively. The area under the curve (AUC) of FUT7_CpG_1-7 was 0.659 (CI 0.626–0.693), 0.792 (CI 0.736–0.848) and 0.729 (CI 0.665–0.792) in distinguishing LC versus NC, LUSC versus NC and LUSC versus BPN. Conclusions Our study revealed an association between FUT7 hypomethylation and LC, especially for LUSC, which provides novel support for the blood-based methylation signatures as potential marker for assessing lung cancer risk.

Background Intermittent hypoxia induces increased ventilatory responses in a 5-HT-dependent manner. This study aimed to explore that effect of raphe magnus serotonin 1A receptor (5-HT1A) receptor on the increased ventilatory responses induced by intermittent hypoxia. Methods Stereotaxic surgery was performed in adult male rats, and acute and chronic intermittent hypoxia models were established after recovery from surgery. The experimental group received microinjections of 5-HT1A receptor agonist 8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin (8-OH-DPAT) into the raphe magnus nucleus (RMg). Meanwhile, the control group received microinjections of artificial cerebrospinal fluid instead of 8-OH-DPAT. Ventilatory responses were compared among the different groups of oxygen status. 5-HT expressions in the RMg region were assessed by immunohistochemistry after chronic intermittent hypoxia. Results Compared with the normoxia group, the acute intermittent hypoxia group exhibited higher ventilatory responses (e.g., shorter inspiratory time and higher tidal volume, frequency of breathing, minute ventilation, and mean inspiratory flow) (P < 0.05). 8-OH-DPAT microinjection partly weakened these changes in the acute intermittent hypoxia group. Further, compared with the acute intermittent hypoxia group, rats in chronic intermittent hypoxia group exhibited higher measures of ventilatory responses after 1 day of intermittent hypoxia (P < 0.05). These effects peaked after 3 days of intermittent hypoxia treatment and then decreased gradually. Moreover, these changes were diminished in the experimental group. 5-HT expression in the RMg region increased after chronic intermittent hypoxia, which was consistent with the changing trend of ventilatory responses. While activation of the 5-HT1A receptor in the RMg region alleviated this phenomenon. Conclusions The results indicate that RMg 5-HT1A receptor, via changing the expression level of 5-HT in the RMg region, is involved in the modulation of the increased ventilatory responses induced by intermittent hypoxia.