Although considerable research highlights the interactions between obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) and cardiovascular diseases, the effect of mandibular advancement device (MAD) treatment on cardiovascular complications in OSAHS patients remains unclear. We evaluated the effect of OSAHS treatment with MADs on the myocardium. All methods in this study were in accordance with relevant guidelines and regulations of the medical ethics committee in Hospital of Stomatology, Hebei Medical University approved the work. Thirty New Zealand rabbits were randomized into three groups: the control group, Group OSAHS, and Group MAD. Hydrophilic polyacrylamide gel was injected into the soft palate of the rabbits to induce OSAHS. In Group MAD, a MAD was positioned after OSAHS induction. All animals were induced to sleep in a supine position for 4-6 h/day for 8 weeks. Echocardiography was used to determine the structure and function of the heart. The histological changes were detected by optical microscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The levels of ET-1(endothelin-1) and Ang II (Angiotensin II) in the plasma were measured by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The expression of ET-1 mRNA in heart tissue was detected by RT-PCR. Histological abnormalities, left ventricular hypertrophy, and left ventricular dysfunctions were demonstrated in Group OSAHS, and the abnormities were rescued with MAD treatment. Higher levels of plasma ET-1 and Ang II and elevated expression of ET-1 mRNA in cardiac tissue were detected in Group OSAHS compared with Group MAD and the control group. The blood oxygen saturation was negatively correlated with the levels of ET-1 and Ang II. OSAHS-induced elevated levels of ET-1 and Ang II may be attributed to myocardial structural abnormalities and dysfunction. Early treatment of MADs may play an important role in preventing myocardial damage in OSAHS rabbit model.
A modest association can be found between people with a schizophrenia spectrum diagnosis (psychosis) and perpetrating acts of violence. When a person with psychosis does engage in violence, it is their informal carers, when compared to those from the general population, who are more likely to be the targets, and violence will often occur within the family home. Despite the importance of carer support for improving patient outcomes, our understanding of how carers are impacted by patient initiated violence in psychosis remains limited. This paper reviews literature documenting the effects of patient-initiated violence in psychosis on carer functioning. The review comprised searches of Medline, PsychInfo, Embase, and Web of Science databases and the hand searches of reference lists from relevant published papers. The review was limited to English language publications from inception to 11th September 2017, and where carer experiences following reports of violence from patients with psychosis were specifically recorded. Data from 20 papers using mixed methodologies were reviewed. Patient violence in psychosis was linked to poorer carer outcomes, including carer reports of burden, trauma, fear, and helplessness. There is, however, a significant need for further studies to systematically quantify the impact and correlates of patient initiated violence on psychosis caregivers, and improve prevention.
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