Polysomnographic characteristics of severe obstructive sleep apnea vary significantly between hypertensive and normotensive patients of both genders

Duration of respiratory events in obstructive sleep apnea: In search of paradoxical results

Research related to the duration of respiratory events in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) has been scarce, perhaps due to the dominant role played by the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) in the diagnosis and severity estimation of OSA. Lately, however, researchers and clinicians have started to acknowledge the importance of this overlooked parameter. Intuitively, 40-s-long apneas have more harmful physiological and health consequences than 10-s-long apneas. But is this the case? Here, we review the research-based evidence showing physiological, hemodynamic, clinical, sleep quality, and health consequences of long vs. short respiratory events. Most of the reviewed studies support the idea that longer respiratory events have more severe physiological and clinical consequences than shorter events, most probably due to the higher hypoxic burden associated with longer respiratory events. However, a few but highly qualified studies provide clear evidence that short respiratory events have also a deleterious effect on sleep and the physiological and clinical aspects of OSA. The somewhat paradoxical findings that short respiratory events are also associated with a high risk of all-cause mortality is a serious concern. From these results, it is therefore evident that the duration of respiratory events should be quantified when diagnosing and assessing the severity of OSA.

Association of Hypertension and Breast Cancer: Antihypertensive Drugs as an Effective Adjunctive in Breast Cancer Therapy

Breast cancer (BC) is the most common malignancy affecting women, and its incidence in younger women is rising worldwide. Early-onset of BC is a multi-step process involving various biological aggressive tumors such as triple negative and human epidermal growth factor 2 (HER2)-positive cancers. BC prevention is still arduous across the globe. A series of observational studies have established a conclusive non-genetic clinical link between hypertension (HTN) and the development of invasive BC. Those clinical associations have driven a pharmacological seek to use the anti-hypertension (AHTN) drugs as an effective adjunctive in BC therapy. The use of AHTN, especially beta-blockers and thiazides, has been recognized as a potent anti-tumor drug to mitigate BC progression, reduce the side effects of cancer treatment, and stop the reoccurrence of cancer in the survivors. Considering the dire need to disseminate the research on how AHTN drugs can be opted as the effective adjunctive therapy to cure the BC, the current review aimed to provide an update on novel understandings on association and mechanisms of AHTN-drugs against BC as an additional cancer therapy.