• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.10-14
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• 2014

Purpose: The aim of this study is to evaluate the difference between gustatory functions in a sleep disordered breathing (SDB) group and a control group. The pathogenesis of SDB has not been fully understood. Though the precise contributions of neuromuscular and anatomical factors on SDB pathogenesis are still debated, we hypothesized that the gustatory dysfunction could be predisposed to SDB. Methods: All patients were diagnosed as SDB by polysomnography (PSG). On the basis of PSG results, patients were divided into 3 groups: snoring, mixed, and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The control group comprised healthy volunteers who were the same age as those of the SDB group and whose breathing was verified as normal using a portable sleep monitor device. The patient group and the control group were evaluated for gustatory functions with an electrogustometry (EGM). The electrical taste thresholds were measured in the anterior, midlateral, and posterior sides of the tongue and soft palatal regions, both sides. To find out the difference in EGM scores, statistical analysis was performed using the Kruskal-wallis and Mann-Whitney U test with 95% confidence interval and p<0.05 significance level. Results: The patients with SDB had higher EGM scores than the control group at all spots tested, except for the right midlateral of the tongue, and there was a statistical significance in the comparison between the control group and the divided SDB groups, respectively. Among the divided SDB groups, the snoring group had the most significant differences in the number of the measured spots, but there was no difference among the snoring, mixed, and OSA groups. Conclusions: These results may suggest that neurologic alterations with sleep disordered breathing could be associated with gustatory dysfunction. In the future, further systemic studies will be needed to confirm this study.

• 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.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.31-34
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• 2013

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the differences in patients with positional dependent sleep apnea according to their non-supine apnea-hypopnea index (AHI, ${\geq}5$ vs. <5). Methods: 92 patients with positional sleep apnea were evaluated. The patients were divided into two groups : group I was non-supine AHI having ${\geq}5$ ; group II was non-supine AHI having less than 5. Statistical analysis was performed to find the difference between two groups. Results: In 92 patients, the number of group I patients was 11 (12%) and the number of group II patients was 81 (88%). In the severe AHI group, percentage of group I was dominated (70%) and showing a significant difference compared with the mild and moderate AHI groups (p<.05). In the severe body mass index (BMI) group, percentage of group I was dominated (54.5%) and showing a significant difference compared with of the mild and moderate BMI groups (p<.05). The percentage of group I was significantly higher than group II (p<.05) in the AHI, supine AHI, non-supine AHI and snore time. Conclusions: In patients with positional sleep apnea, severe OSA and high BMI are more common in patients with non-supine AHI${\geq}5$ than non-supine AHI<5.

• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.54-58
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• 2009

Background: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is associated with several cardiovascular diseases. However, the mechanisms are not completely understood. The measure of common carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT) has been extensively used as an early marker of atherosclerosis. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that early signs of atherosclerosis are present in patients with OSA and correlate with OSA severity Methods: Eleven male patients with OSA were studied by using full standard overnight polysomnography and high-definition echo-tracking device to measure intima-media thickness and carotid artery diameter. Eight healthy volunteers matched for age and sex were studied by portable respiratory monitoring device. All participants were free of hypertension, diabetes, and were not on any medications. Patients with OSA were naive to treatment. Results: All patients and normal controls were male. There was no significant difference of age between patients and controls ($48.4{\pm}8.85$ and $48.0{\pm}9.77$). Significant differences existed between control subjects and patients with mild to moderate and severe OSA (apnea-hypopnea index, $1.51{\pm}1.15$ and $38.51{\pm}19.13$ respectively) in intima-media thickness ($0.59{\pm}0.064$ and $0.93{\pm}0.16$; P=0.0023), and carotid diameter ($5.79{\pm}0.44$ and $6.47{\pm}0.51$; P=0.0227). Multivariate analyses showed that the apnea-hypopnea index correlated independently with intima-media thickness and carotid diameter (r=0.79, P=0.0008, and r=0.47, P=0.0482). Conclusions: Middle-aged patients with OSA who are free of overt cardiovascular diseases have early signs of atherosclerosis, which further supports the hypothesis that OSA plays an independent role in atherosclerosis progression.