• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.14-19
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• 2015

Objectives The purpose of this study is to find the cephalometric variables which are significantly correlated with the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) in suspected Korean obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patients. Methods We examined lateral cephalogram and attended-full night laboratory polysomnography of the 40 participants who complained of OSA symptoms. The correlation analysis was conducted to find the cephalometric variables which are significantly correlated with the AHI. Results The correlation analysis showed that the higher AHI was associated with the longer distance between hyoid and mandibular plane (p = 0.023), the longer distance between C3 and hyoid (p = 0.014), the longer tongue length (p = 0.003), the larger inferior tongue area (p = 0.008), the larger anterior displacement of the hyoid bone (p = 0.024), the longer distance between posterior nasal spine and the tip of the soft palate (p = 0.021), and the larger cross-sectional area of soft palate (p = 0.001) of cephalogram in erect position. The higher AHI was correlated with the longer distance between hyoid and mandibular plane (p = 0.008), the longer tongue length (p = 0.037), the larger inferior tongue area (p = 0.013), the thicker uvula (p = 0.004), the longer distance between retrognathion and hyoid (p = 0.025), and larger cross-sectional area of soft palate (p = 0.001) of cephalogram in supine position. Conclusions The present preliminary results showed the candidate measurements of cephalogram which are significantly correlated with the AHI in suspected OSA.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.40
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• pp.33.1-33.11
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• 2018

Background: Bimaxillary orthognathic surgery with maxillomandibular setback is often accompanied by changes in airway space. We analyzed the changes in airway space before and after surgery and assessed their association with obstructive sleep apnea. Methods: This study is based on the cohort of 13 adult patients (9 males, 4 females, average age 23.85 years) who underwent bimaxillary orthognathic surgery with maxillomandibular setback. We performed computed tomography and portable polysomnography before and after the surgery to assess changes in airway space and Apnea-Hypopnea Index (AHI) values (total, supine, non-supine). Results: The oropharyngeal airway volume decreased by 29% after the surgery, which was statistically significant (p < .05). The upper airway volume and hypopharyngeal airway volume were decreased, but not significantly (4 and 19%, respectively). The changes in airway surface area were statistically significant at all levels examined (p < .05). Changes in the maximum anteroposterior width of the airway were also significant at all levels (p < .05). However, the changes in maximum lateral width were only statistically significant at C2 level (p < .05). AHI values were increased after the surgery but not significantly at any position. Conclusions: Although bimaxillary surgery with maxillomandibular setback significantly reduces the airway space, it does not affect AHI values or induce obstructive sleep apnea.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.67 no.3
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• pp.183-190
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• 2009

Background: Repeated arousals during sleep have been known to be associated with excessive daytime sleepiness and cardiovascular complications. We investigated the relationship between arousal indices and clinical parameters. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed medical records of 41 patients who performed polysomnography for a diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. We defined total arousal index (TAI) as the number of arousals per hour and respiratory arousal index (RAI) as the number of arousals associated with apnea or hypopnea per hour. Results: There were significant positive correlations between arousal indices and apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) (RAI vs. AHI, r=0.958, p<0.001; TAI vs. AHI, r=0.840, p<0.001). RAI and mean oxygen saturation showed a significant negative correlation with each other (r=-0.460, p=0.002). TAI revealed a significant positive correlation with mean systolic blood pressure (MSBP) and mean diastolic blood pressure (MDBP) (TAI vs. MSBP, r=0.389, p=0.014; TAI vs. MDBP, r=0.373, p=0.019). There was no significant correlation between arousal indices and parameters of sleepiness. RAI had a significant positive correlation with body mass index (BMI) and neck circumference (NC) (RAI vs. BMI, r=0.371, p=0.017; RAI vs. NC, r=0.444, p=0.004). When partial correlation analysis was performed to adjust for other variables, there was significant correlation between RAI and AHI (r=0.935, p<0.001). Conclusion: This study shows that respiratory arousal index could be a useful index reflecting of severity of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. Arousal during sleep would be concerned in the development of cardiovascular complication of obstructive sleep apnea. And some anthropometric factors would contribute to the development of arousals during sleep. Further studies are needed to clarify any cause-effect relationship.

• The korean journal of orthodontics
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• v.36 no.3 s.116
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• pp.228-236
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• 2006

To evaluate the cephalometric and dental characteristics of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patients, 23 OSA patients and 15 control, non-OSA, patients who visited the Sleep Disorder Clinic Center, Keimyung University were investigated. Patients who suffered from apnea-hypopnea episodes over 10times per hour were diagnosed as having OSA after polysomnograph testing, Impressions were taken with alginate. Cephalometric radiographs were taken at maximum intercuspation. The dental cast measurements, including transpalatal width, intercanine width, intermolar width and palatal depth did not differ between the control and OAS groups and did not have a positive correlation with the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI). Upper airway width was statistically narrower than the control group. Upper airway width had a low negative correlation with AHI, but, lower airway width had a low positive correlation, and, the higher the AHI score, the longer the mandibular border to hyoid distance.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.106-110
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• 2014

Obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea (OSAH) is known to be related to nocturnal blood pressure (BP) and hypertension. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of hypertension according to the apnea-hypopnea grading. A total of 2,210 adults with snoring and obstructive sleep apnea were referred to our sleep center from July 2009 to May 2013. Clinical blood pressure (BP) was measured before sleeping (bedtime BP) and immediately after waking up in the next morning (morning BP). Subjects were classified into four groups based on the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) from PSG as follows: control group (n=470) simple snoring and with AHI<5; mild group (n=577) with $AHI{\geq}5$ and <15; moderate group (n=508) $AHI{\geq}15$ and <30; and severe group (n=655) with $AHI{\geq}30$. The differences and correlations between BP and PSG parameters according to the AHI groups were analyzed. Patient's were classified as nomentensive (blood pressure <120/90 mmHg, n=700), prehypertensive (blood pressure < $140-120{\leq}mmHg$, n=1297) hypertensive (blood pressure ${\geq}140/90mmHg$, n=214) according to the office blood pressure measurements. The comparison of sleep parameters showed that OSA groups had a significantly higher stage N1 (control group vs. moderate OSA, severe OSA; $66.4{\pm}30.7$ vs. $85.5{\pm}36.6$, $128.4{\pm}57.3$, p<0.001) and total arousal number (control vs. moderate OSA, severe OSA; $110.7{\pm}47.7$ vs. $150.8{\pm}56.6$, $236.6{\pm}95.8$, p<0.001) compared to control group. The comparison of sleep parameters showed that OSA groups had a significantly lower stage N2 (control group vs. moderate OSA, severe OSA; $172.6{\pm}47.2$ vs. $150.7{\pm}50.5$, $120.3{\pm}57.4$, p<0.001), stage N3 (control group vs. moderate OSA, severe OSA; $38.4{\pm}33.4$ vs. $27.4{\pm}26.0$, $56.1{\pm}27.5$, p<0.001), REM (control group vs. moderate OSA, severe OSA; $64.3{\pm}25.5$ vs. $56.1{\pm}27.5$, $47.3{\pm}25.9$, p<0.001) and mean SaO2% (control group vs. moderate OSA, severe OSA; $90.0{\pm}3.5$ vs. $82.5{\pm}5.5$, $70.0{\pm}8.8$, p<0.001) compared to control group. The Apnea-hypopnea index was significantly higher in OSA groups, increased systolic and diastolic blood pressure than in the nomentensive group (bed time systolic pressure vs. AHI; <120 vs. 120-139, 140-159, >159; $17.5{\pm}18.6$ vs. $24.9{\pm}21.0$, $31.0{\pm}25.7$, $42.3{\pm}31.7$, p<0.001), (bed time diastolic pressure vs. AHI; 60-79 vs. 80-89, 90-99, >99; $19.3{\pm}19.7$ vs. $22.4{\pm}20.3$, $29.8{\pm}23.3$, $38.8{\pm}28.5$, p<0.001). AHI was positively correlated with morning systolic pressure, diastolic pressure, bed time systolic pressure and diastolic pressure (r=0.314, 0.279, 0.233 and 0.200, respectively, p<0.001). We conclude that BMI, Age, neck circumference and AHI increase with the blood pressure.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.56 no.4
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• pp.364-373
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• 2004

Background : Obstructive sleep apnea is a contributory factor of hypertension, arrhythmia, ischemic heart disease and other cardiovascular diseases. However, the pathophysiology underlying this relationship is unclear. Recent reports have shown that the soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1(sICAM-1) and vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) are involved in the initiation and progression of atherosclerosis, and some reports state that increased levels of these cytokines are found in patients with obstructive sleep apnea. In this study, the levels of sICAM-1 and VEGF were measured in patients with obstructive sleep apnea in order to determine if obstructive sleep apnea is involved in the pathophysiology of cardiovascular diseases. Methods : Thirty-seven patients were chosen amongst a population who visited the Sleep Disorders Clinic of St. Paul's Hospital in Seoul, Korea for a diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea and who had subsequently undergone an overnight polysomnography at the clinic. The sera from these patients were retrieved after an overnight polysomnography session and the samples were kept at $-70^{\circ}C$. The cytokine levels were determined with ELISA and the relationships between the serum levels of sICAM-1 and VEGF along with polysomnography parameters were analyzed. Results : No statistically significant correlation was observed between the sICAM-1 levels and the apnea-hypopnea index(r=0.27, P>0.05). Positive correlations were found between the apnea-hypopnea index and serum VEGF levels (r=0.50, P<0.01), the apnea index and the serum sICAM-1 levels (r=0.31, P<0.01), and the apnea index and the serum VEGF levels (r=0.45, P<0.01). Conclusions : Obstructive apnea or hypopnea leads to an increase in the sICAM-1 and VEGF levels. Such an increase in the cytokine levels most likely leads to the higher incidence of cardiovascular diseases observed in patients with obstructive sleep apnea.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.84-88
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• 2004

Objectives: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) syndrome is diagnosed through history, physical examination, imaging studies and polysomnography. Clinical examination of this condition may point to hypertrophic tonsils and crowded oropharynx. The objective of this study is to investigate the usefulness of modified Mallampati grade (MMG) and tonsil grade (TG) in predicting the severity of obstructive sleep apnea. Methods: MMG and TG were divided into 4 and 5 groups, respectively, according to their severity. Medical records were collected from 94 patients who had received polysomnography and otorhinolaryngologic examination for snoring and sleep apnea at Keimyung University Dongsan Medical Center from March 2002 through April 2004. Patients were divided into two groups according to the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI)：control (n=24), and patients with sleep apnea (n=70). Results: Patients with higher MMG and TG had higher AHI, and MMG and TG proved to have a statistically significant correlation with AHI (p<0.05) Conclusion: MMG and TG were reliable predictors of OSA and helpful parameters in deciding treatment method.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.12-18
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• 2014

Objectives: This was a retrospective case series about the clinical effect of integrated approach with behavior therapy for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Methods: Medical records of twelve patients with OSA who were treated with behavior modification including nasal breathing with oral appliances and sleep in lateral position, oral administration of herbal medicines and acupuncture treatment between January and September of 2013 were reviewed. Apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), day time sleepiness, apneas and hypopneas counts during sleep, risk indicator (RI), oxygen desaturation index, average saturation during sleep, lowest desaturation, lowest saturation, snoring events ratio and number of desaturations (%) were assessed before and after treatments with the ApneaLink device, which is a portable diagnostic apparatus for monitoring airflows of the patient's breath at home. Results: After an average 62.67 (SD 37.16) days of treatment, AHI (from 17.67, 12.79 to 8.75, 8.25, p=0.007), RI (from 22.00, 13.26 to 12.09, 8.03, p=0.004), oxygen desaturation index (from 17.33, 12.17 to 8.17, 7.86, p=0.005), and number of desaturations (from 7.00 times, 9.79 to 0.92 times, 1.39, p=0.044) showed significant improvement. Daytime sleepiness improved from 6.5 (3.2) to 3.8 (1.8) but there was no significant difference after treatment (p=0.17). No adverse events related to treatment were observed during participation in the treatment. Conclusion: From this case series, we found that behavior modification with herbal medication and acupuncture may be effective for improving sleep apnea without serious adverse events. Future randomized controlled trials with larger sample size will be necessary for concrete evidence on the benefit of this integrated treatment for OSA.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.32-37
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• 2017

Objectives: A supine sleep position increases sleep apneas compared to non-supine positions in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). However, supine position time (SPT) is not highly associated with apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) in OSAS. We evaluated the correlation among sleep-related variables and SPT in OSAS. Methods: A total of 365 men with OSAS were enrolled in this study. We analyzed how SPT was correlated with demographic data, sleep structure-related variables, OSAS-related variables and heart rate variability (HRV). Multiple linear regression analysis was conducted to investigate the factors that affected SPT. Results: SPT had the most significant correlation with total sleep time (TST ; r = 0.443, p < 0.001), followed by sleep efficiency (SE ; r = 0.300, p < 0.001). Snoring time (r = 0.238, p < 0.001), time at < 90% SpO2 (r = 0.188, p < 0.001), apnea-hypopnea index (AHI ; r = 0.180, p = 0.001) and oxygen desaturation index (ODI ; r = 0.149, p = 0.004) were significantly correlated with SPT. Multiple regression analysis revealed that TST (t = 7.781, p < 0.001), snoring time (t = 3.794, p < 0.001), AHI (t = 3.768, p < 0.001) and NN50 count (t = 1.993, p = 0.047) were associated with SPT. Conclusion: SPT was more highly associated with sleep structure-related parameters than OSAS-related variables. SPT was correlated with TST, SE, AHI, snoring time and NN50 count. This suggests that SPT is likely to be determined by sleep structure, HRV and the severity of OSAS.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.93-96
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• 2016

Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) has negative effects on health, including increased mortality, risk of cardiovascular disease, and neurocognitive difficulties. OSAS is common in obese patients and obesity is an important risk factor of OSAS. A 41-year-old female OSAS patient with severe obesity (body mass index [BMI] ${\geq}35$) who failed dietary weight loss underwent bariatric surgery. After surgery, there were improvements in BMI (from 36.9 to $31.7kg/m^2$) and polysomnographic data, including the apnea-hypopnea index (from 25.1 to 11.2 events/hr) and minimum SaO2 (from 69 to 82%). This case demonstrates that bariatric surgery may be an effective therapeutic option to reduce sleep-disordered breathing in severely obese patients with moderate OSAS. Bariatric surgery as a treatment option for OSAS should be considered in OSAS patients with severe obesity who failed dietary weight loss.