From the Cardiovascular Neurophysiology Laboratory, Cardiovascular
Division, Department of Internal Medicine (K.N., P.J.H.v.d.B., R.L.C., V.K.S.)
and the Department of Neurology (M.E.D.), University of Iowa College of
Medicine, Iowa City.
Correspondence to Virend Somers, MD, PhD, Cardiovascular Division, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa, 200 Hawkins Dr, Iowa City, IA 52242. E-mail virend-somers{at}uiowa.edu
Methods and ResultsWe measured MSNA in 25 healthy normal-weight
subjects and 30 healthy sedentary obese subjects. All subjects were
screened by history and examination to exclude subjects with OSA or
hypertension. OSA was further excluded by overnight polysomnographic
studies. Despite careful screening, polysomnography revealed that 1 of
25 normal-weight subjects and 9 of 30 obese subjects had occult OSA
(P=0.015). MSNA was similar in normal-weight subjects
(41±3 bursts per 100 heartbeats) and obese subjects without sleep
apnea (42±3 bursts per 100 heartbeats, P=0.99). MSNA in
the 9 obese subjects with occult OSA was 61±8 bursts per 100
heartbeats, which was higher than MSNA in normal-weight subjects
without sleep apnea (P=0.02) and higher than MSNA in
obese subjects without sleep apnea (P=0.02).
ConclusionsObesity alone, in the absence of OSA, is not
accompanied by increased sympathetic activity to muscle blood vessels.
In striking contrast, there is decreased activation of the sympathetic
nervous system in animal models of obesity.21 22
Increased sympathetic activation is accompanied by increased resting
metabolic rate and energy
expenditure.21 23 24 It has been proposed that
most experimental forms of obesity are low in sympathetic
activity25 and that low sympathetic nervous
activity may pose an increased risk for weight gain because of the
lower metabolic rate.18 23 There is
therefore a compelling discordance between these considerations and the
high levels of sympathetic nerve traffic reported in obese
humans.16 17 18 19 20
Obese subjects have a high prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA),
which may itself be accompanied by increased levels of
MSNA.26 27 28 None of the studies examining the
link between obesity and sympathetic nerve activity have adjusted for
the potential influence of OSA. Undiagnosed sleep-disordered breathing
is highly prevalent and has a wide range of severity among middle-aged
adults.29 30 A recent study on the frequency of
sleep apnea in a population of obese subjects has provided evidence
that even severely or morbidly obese men without a primary sleep
complaint are at very high risk for sleep-disordered
breathing.31 Thus, studies reporting high MSNA in
obese subjects may in fact reflect the high MSNA due not to obesity,
per se, but to OSA. The apparent relationship between obesity and high
MSNA might therefore be due to the inadvertent inclusion of
obese subjects with occult sleep-disordered breathing. We tested the
hypothesis that obesity, per se, in the absence of OSA is not
accompanied by increased MSNA. We measured sympathetic neural outflow
to skeletal muscle blood vessels in normal-weight and obese subjects
without any sleep-disordered breathing, which was confirmed by complete
overnight polysomnography.
We studied 25 normal-weight normal subjects (17 men and 8 women; mean
age, 38±2.8 years) and 30 normal sedentary obese subjects (19 men and
11 women; mean age, 40±2.2 years). All subjects were free of any
diseases and on no medications. Normal weight was defined as a BMI of
Measurements
Polysomnographic studies to determine whether subjects were free of
sleep-disordered breathing were carried out on a separate day, only
after daytime measurements of sympathetic nerve activity were obtained.
All subjects underwent complete overnight polysomnographic
recordings consisting of electroencephalogram,
electro-oculogram, electromyogram, ECG, chest wall movement, nasal and
oral air flow (measured by temperature-sensitive thermocouples), and
oxygen saturation. MSNA was not measured during polysomnographic
studies.
Severity of sleep apnea was defined on the basis of the apnea-hypopnea
index (AHI). Apnea refers to cessation of both nasal and oral airflow,
and hypopnea refers to a reduction in airflow to <50% of baseline in
association with oxygen desaturation. To be considered significant,
abnormal respiratory events had to persist for a minimum of 10 seconds
or had to occur in association with an arousal and/or a decrease in
oxygen saturation by
Statistical Analysis
Demographic data for normal-weight subjects and obese subjects without
sleep apnea and obese subjects with occult OSA are shown in the
Table
There was no difference in MSNA between normal-weight subjects (41±3
bursts per 100 heartbeats) and obese subjects (42±3 bursts per 100
heartbeats) without sleep apnea (P=0.99) (Figures 1
Whether expressed in bursts per 100 heartbeats or absolute burst
frequency, MSNA levels in obese subjects with occult OSA were greater
than the levels seen in either normal subjects or obese subjects
without sleep apnea (Table
Stepwise multiple linear regression analysis revealed that only
age was significantly correlated with MSNA in normal-weight subjects
without OSA (R2=0.26,
P=0.007). Mean arterial pressure, but not BMI or
age, was independently linked to MSNA in obese subjects without
sleep-disordered breathing (R2=0.17,
P=0.05).
The recent report of the National Commission on Sleep Disorders
suggested that 40 million Americans suffer from sleep disorders and
that the vast majority of these patients remain
undiagnosed.34 Among specific sleep disorders,
the most serious in terms of cardiovascular morbidity
and mortality is OSA.35 36 Population-based data
from the Wisconsin Sleep Cohort Study29 indicate
that 9% of middle-aged men have
Previous studies examining the effects of BMI on MSNA suggested that
sympathetic overactivity might constitute a mechanism by which obesity
predisposes to cardiovascular
disease.16 20 A significant positive correlation
between body fat and MSNA has been
reported.16 18 19 Other
studies17 20 found that obese subjects had
significantly higher rates of sympathetic discharge to skeletal muscle
tissue compared with normal-weight subjects. That human obesity should
be associated with increased sympathetic activity is in conflict with
animal models of obesity, which show low sympathetic
activity.21 22 Furthermore, sympathetic
activation, by increasing energy expenditure, would be expected to
oppose the development and maintenance of
obesity.21 23 24 25
Previous studies of direct or indirect measurement of sympathetic
activity in obese human subjects did not address the potential
influence of sleep apnea in their
populations.16 17 18 19 20 Thus, those studies are likely
to have been influenced by the inclusion of significant numbers of
subjects with OSA in the obese study populations. Given the high
prevalence of OSA in obese subjects and the lack of reliable screening
tests for the disorder, our study was designed to assess MSNA in obese
subjects in whom sleep-disordered breathing was ruled out by complete
overnight polysomnographic evaluation. In the present study,
despite careful screening by history to exclude subjects with OSA, 30%
of our obese subjects were found on overnight polysomnography to have
occult OSA.
Our data show that MSNA is not increased in obese subjects without
sleep apnea. Whether the analyses were carried out on
unadjusted data, after adjustment for mean arterial
pressure, or separately for men, the normal-weight control subjects and
obese subjects without sleep apnea had comparable mean values of MSNA.
MSNA was high even in obese subjects with mild occult sleep apnea.
Thus, even low levels of severity of occult OSA in obese subjects may
help explain the previously reported associations between obesity and
high sympathetic neural activity. However, all subjects in our study
were screened to exclude those with a history suggestive of
sleep-disordered breathing. Thus, the criteria used to select obese
subjects for our study do not allow us to demonstrate definitively that
inclusion of subjects with occult OSA in unselected obese populations
explains the high MSNA.
Increased sympathetic drive may be independently implicated in
atherosclerotic vascular disease and adverse
cardiovascular events.40 In our
study, high levels of sympathetic nerve traffic were evident even in
subjects with mild OSA. These findings are consistent with
epidemiological studies examining the relationship between blood
pressure and mild sleep apnea. Young et al41 have
shown that subjects with even very mild sleep apnea (AHI between 5 and
15 events per hour) have ambulatory daytime systolic and
diastolic blood pressures 10 and 5 mm Hg higher than
blood pressures recorded in normal subjects without sleep
apnea.
The mechanism underlying the increased MSNA in obese subjects with
occult OSA is not known. Differences in oxygen saturation during
wakefulness do not explain our findings of higher MSNA in these
subjects. There were no apneic or hypopneic events during daytime
recordings. Oxygen saturation averaged 98.3±0.3% in
normal-weight control subjects, 97.5±0.3% in obese subjects without
sleep apnea, and 96.8±0.4% in obese subjects with sleep-disordered
breathing. We have previously shown that in free-breathing subjects,
decreases in oxygen saturation to 91% are insufficient to elicit
increases in MSNA.42
The strengths of our study include complete overnight polysomnographic
recordings in both normal-weight and obese subjects. One of the
limitations was that the diagnosis of sleep apnea was provided by a
study based on a single night in a sleep laboratory. However, this is
the standard procedure followed for the diagnosis of sleep apnea in the
clinical setting.
In conclusion, our findings show that obesity alone, in the absence of
OSA, is not accompanied by increased sympathetic activity to muscle
blood vessels. Other investigators have shown that OSA is accompanied
by increased cardiovascular morbidity and
mortality.35 36 Since studies of
cardiovascular risk associated with obesity have not
taken into account the possible influence of OSA, our data provide a
precedent for the concept that unrecognized OSA may contribute, in
part, to the metabolic and cardiovascular
derangements that are thought to be linked to obesity and to the
association between obesity and cardiovascular
risk.
Received February 19, 1998;
revision received May 1, 1998;
accepted May 10, 1998.
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Regional sympathetic nervous activity and oxygen consumption in obese
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Leimbach WN, Wallin BG, Victor RG, Aylward PE, Sundlof
G, Mark AL. Direct evidence from intraneural recordings for
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Schobel HP, Fisher T, Heuszer K, Geiger H, Schmieder
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Sundlof G, Wallin BG. Human muscle nerve sympathetic
activity at rest: relationship to blood pressure and age. J
Physiol (Lond). 1978;274:621637.
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Scherrer U, Randin D, Tappy L, Vollenweider P,
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Vollenweider P, Randin D, Tappy L, Jéquier E,
Nicol P, Scherrer U. Impaired insulin-induced sympathetic neural
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Spraul M, Ravussin E, Fontvieille AM, Rising R, Larson
DE, Anderson EA. Reduced sympathetic nervous activity: a potential
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Spraul M, Anderson EA, Bogardus C, Ravussin E. Muscle
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Grassi G, Seravalle G, Cattaneo BM, Bolla GB,
Lanfranchi A, Colombo M, Giannattasio C, Brunani A, Cavagnini F, Mancia
G. Sympathetic activation in obese normotensive subjects.
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Bray GA, York DA, Fisler JS. Experimental obesity: a
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Young JB, Landsberg L. Diminished sympathetic nervous
system activity in genetically obese (ob/ob) mouse. Am J
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Ravussin E. Low resting metabolic rate as a
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42.
Somers VK, Mark AL, Zavala DC, Abboud FM. Influence of
ventilation and hypocapnia on sympathetic nerve responses
to hypoxia in normal humans. J Appl Physiol. 1989;67:20952100.We examined whether muscle sympathetic nerve
activity (MSNA) was increased in obese humans, independent of the
presence of obstructive sleep apnea. Despite careful screening, 9 of 30
apparently normal obese subjects had occult sleep apnea on
polysomnographic testing. MSNA in these 9 subjects was 61±8 bursts per
100 heartbeats, which was higher (P=0.02) than that in
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and in normal-weight subjects (41±3 bursts per 100 heartbeats). Thus,
MSNA is not increased in obese subjects in the absence of sleep apnea.
© 1998 American Heart Association, Inc.
Clinical Investigation and Reports
Sympathetic Activity in Obese Subjects With and Without Obstructive Sleep Apnea
![]()
Abstract
Top
Abstract
Introduction
Methods
Results
Discussion
References
BackgroundObese humans are reported
to have increased muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA). Obstructive
sleep apnea (OSA) may also be accompanied by increased MSNA. Because
there is a high prevalence of OSA in obese humans, it is possible that
high MSNA reported in obese subjects may in fact reflect the presence
of OSA in these subjects. We tested the hypothesis that obesity, per
se, in the absence of OSA, is not accompanied by increased MSNA.
Key Words: obesity sleep nervous system, autonomic nervous system, sympathetic
![]()
Introduction
Top
Abstract
Introduction
Methods
Results
Discussion
References
The link between
obesity and cardiovascular disease is well
recognized.1 2 3 The sympathetic nervous system,
as an important contributor to the regulation of both the
cardiovascular system and energy expenditure, is widely
assumed to play a major role in the pathophysiology of
obesity.4 5 6 7 Numerous studies over the past 2
decades have compared sympathetic nervous system activity in
normal-weight and obese individuals. Studies based on
catecholamine levels produced conflicting
results,8 9 10 but the consensus favors increased
norepinephrine levels in obese
humans.11 Using studies of whole-body and
regional norepinephrine kinetics in humans, Vaz et
al12 found an increase in renal
norepinephrine spillover but a reduction in sympathetic
activity in the heart. Arterial plasma
norepinephrine and whole-body plasma
norepinephrine spillover were unrelated to body mass
index (BMI). In humans, direct intraneural measurements of sympathetic
nerve activity using microneurography have confirmed increased
sympathetic neural drive in conditions such as heart
failure,13 pregnancy-induced
hypertension,14 and
aging.15 Studies using microneurography have
consistently shown increased muscle sympathetic nerve activity
(MSNA) in obese Caucasian subjects.16 17 18 19 20 These
observations suggest that obesity in humans is associated with
increased sympathetic outflow and that body fat is a major determinant
of sympathetic neural discharge.
![]()
Methods
Top
Abstract
Introduction
Methods
Results
Discussion
References
Subjects
Normal-weight and obese subjects were recruited from the
University of Iowa and Iowa City community. Informed written consent
was obtained from all subjects. The study was approved by the
Institutional Human Subjects Review Committee.
24 kg/m2 for females and
25
kg/m2 for males.4 Obesity
was defined as a BMI of
30
kg/m2.4 The mean BMI,
calculated as the weight in kilograms divided by the square of the
height in meters, was 23±0.4 kg/m2 (range, 19 to
25 kg/m2) for the normal-weight subjects and
36±1.1 kg/m2 (range, 30 to 52
kg/m2) for the obese subjects. All subjects were
screened to exclude those with hypertension and those with a history
suggestive of sleep-disordered breathing (daytime somnolence, disturbed
sleep, and loud snoring).
Sympathetic activity was measured during the daytime, in the
morning or early afternoon, at least 3 hours after the last meal.
Sympathetic nerve activity was recorded continuously by obtaining
multiunit recordings of postganglionic sympathetic activity to
muscle, which was measured from a nerve fascicle in the peroneal nerve
with the use of tungsten microelectrodes (shaft diameter, 200
µm; tapering to an uninsulated tip of 1 to 5
µm).32 A subcutaneous reference electrode was
inserted 2 to 3 cm away from the recording electrode.
Sympathetic bursts were identified by inspection of the mean voltage
neurogram. Sympathetic activity was recorded with the subjects
awake during 10 minutes of undisturbed supine rest and was expressed as
bursts per minute and bursts per 100 heartbeats. Mean blood pressure
was measured with a Physio-Control Lifestat 200 sphygmomanometer. Heart
rate was measured by electrocardiography.
Continuous measurements of respiration and oxygen saturation were also
recorded. None of the subjects had apnea, hypopnea, or oxygen
desaturation during these daytime measurements.
3%.28 Obstruction was
confirmed by respiratory effort recorded by thoracic-abdominal
strain gauge and electromyogram. The AHI, indicating the number of
respiratory irregularities per sleep hour, was calculated as follows:
(total number of apneas+hypopneas)/(total sleep time in minutes)x60.
An index of <5 is considered normal.33
Results are expressed as mean±SEM. Statistical analysis
consisted of ANOVA and ANCOVA, followed by the Scheffé test for
multiple comparisons, to allow pairwise testing for significant
differences between the groups. The Fisher exact test was used to
compare frequency of occult OSA in normal-weight and obese subjects.
The determinants of sympathetic nerve activity were assessed by
stepwise multiple linear regression analyses, with MSNA as the
dependent variable and BMI, age, and mean blood pressure as the
independent variables.
![]()
Results
Top
Abstract
Introduction
Methods
Results
Discussion
References
Despite careful screening, of the 30 apparently normal obese
subjects, 9 were found to have OSA (AHI, 19±4 events per hour). Only 1
of the 25 normal-weight subjects had OSA (P=0.015 compared
with obese subjects).
. There were no significant differences in
systolic blood pressure or heart rate among the 3 groups.
Although all participants were normotensive, subjects with occult OSA
(n=9) had higher diastolic blood pressure (79±2
mm Hg) compared with normal-weight subjects without sleep apnea (n=24)
(64±2 mm Hg, P<0.01) but not compared with the obese
subjects without sleep apnea (n=21) (72±2 mm Hg,
P=0.18). Oxygen saturation levels during MSNA
recordings did not differ between obese subjects with occult
OSA (96.8±0.5%) and obese subjects without OSA (97.5±0.3%,
P=0.45) (Table
).
View this table:
[in a new window]
Table 1. Characteristics of Normal-Weight and Obese Subjects Without
OSA and Obese Subjects With Occult OSA
and 2
).
Almost identical results were obtained after adjustment for mean
arterial pressure (42±3 bursts per 100 heartbeats in
normal-weight control subjects and 41±3 bursts per 100 heartbeats in
obese subjects). MSNA in obese subjects was also similar to that in
normal-weight subjects when the analysis was repeated in a
subgroup that included only males (42±4 and 43±5 bursts per 100
heartbeats, respectively) or when values were expressed in bursts per
minute (28±2 and 25±2 bursts per minute, respectively).

View larger version (32K):
[in a new window]
Figure 1. Recordings of MSNA in normal-weight
subjects without sleep apnea, obese subjects without sleep apnea, and
subjects initially thought to be normal obese subjects but found on
polysomnography to have occult OSA. Each row of neurograms shows
measurements in subjects matched for age and sex. Increased MSNA was
evident in subjects with occult sleep apnea but not in obese subjects
without sleep apnea.

View larger version (30K):
[in a new window]
Figure 2. MSNA in normal-weight subjects without sleep apnea
(n=24), obese subjects without sleep apnea (n=21), and apparently
normal obese subjects found on overnight polysomnography to have occult
OSA (n=9). There was no significant difference in MSNA between
normal-weight and obese subjects without sleep apnea. MSNA in subjects
with occult OSA was higher than MSNA in normal-weight subjects without
sleep apnea and higher than MSNA in obese subjects without sleep apnea.
P values were obtained by pairwise comparison with the
use of the Scheffé test. Values are mean±SEM. In the single
normal-weight subjects with occult OSA (not shown in the figure), MSNA
was 88 bursts per 100 heartbeats.
, Figure 2
). In the only apparently normal
normal-weight subject (BMI, 24.7 kg/m2), who was
found on polysomnography to have OSA, AHI was 22 events per hour and
MSNA was 88 bursts per 100 heartbeats.
![]()
Discussion
Top
Abstract
Introduction
Methods
Results
Discussion
References
The novel and important finding of the present study is that
MSNA is not increased in obese subjects without OSA compared with
normal-weight subjects.
15 episodes of apnea and hypopnea
per hour of sleep. The prevalence of sleep-disordered breathing rises
dramatically in obese subjects. An increase of 1 SD in any measure of
body habitus is related to a 3-fold increase in the risk of undiagnosed
sleep-disordered breathing.29 Significant sleep
apnea has been reported in 40% of severely and morbidly obese men
without any primary sleep complaint.31
Furthermore, history and physical examination are of limited value as
screening tools for sleep apnea,37 and complete
overnight polysomnographic monitoring has been proposed as the "gold
standard" for diagnosing sleep apnea.38 39
![]()
Acknowledgments
Dr Narkiewicz, a visiting research scientist from the Department
of Hypertension and Diabetology, Medical School of Gdansk, Poland, is a
recipient of an International Research John E. Fogarty Fellowship (NIH
3F05 TW-05200) and a Perkins Memorial Award from the American
Physiological Society. These studies were also
supported by an American Heart Association Grant-in-Aid, NIH grant
HL-14388, and a Sleep Academic Award from the NIH (to Dr Somers). The
authors are indebted to Linda Bang for expert typing of this manuscript
and to Diane Davison, RN, for technical assistance. We thank Dr Allyn
L. Mark and Dr Francois M. Abboud for their helpful comments regarding
this manuscript.
![]()
References
Top
Abstract
Introduction
Methods
Results
Discussion
References
1.
Grundy SM, Greenland P, Herd A, Huebsch JA, Jones
RJ, Mitchell JH, Schlant RC. Cardiovascular and risk
factor evaluation of healthy American adults. Circulation. 1987;75:1340A1362A.
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R. M. Douglas and G. G. Haddad Can O2 Dysregulation Induce Premature Aging? Physiology, December 1, 2008; 23(6): 333 - 349. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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J. Tank, K. Heusser, A. Diedrich, D. Hering, F. C. Luft, A. Busjahn, K. Narkiewicz, and J. Jordan Influences of Gender on the Interaction between Sympathetic Nerve Traffic and Central Adiposity J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., December 1, 2008; 93(12): 4974 - 4978. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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A. V. Agapitov, M. L. d. G. Correia, C. A. Sinkey, and W. G. Haynes Dissociation Between Sympathetic Nerve Traffic and Sympathetically Mediated Vascular Tone in Normotensive Human Obesity Hypertension, October 1, 2008; 52(4): 687 - 695. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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V. K. Somers, D. P. White, R. Amin, W. T. Abraham, F. Costa, A. Culebras, S. Daniels, J. S. Floras, C. E. Hunt, L. J. Olson, et al. Sleep Apnea and Cardiovascular Disease: An American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology Foundation Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association Council for High Blood Pressure Research Professional Education Committee, Council on Clinical Cardiology, Stroke Council, and Council on Cardiovascular Nursing In Collaboration With the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute National Center on Sleep Disorders Research (National Institutes of Health) Circulation, September 2, 2008; 118(10): 1080 - 1111. [Full Text] [PDF] |
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T. E. Vanhecke, B. A. Franklin, K. C. Zalesin, R. B. Sangal, A. T. deJong, V. Agrawal, and P. A. McCullough Cardiorespiratory Fitness and Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome in Morbidly Obese Patients Chest, September 1, 2008; 134(3): 539 - 545. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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V. K. Somers, D. P. White, R. Amin, W. T. Abraham, F. Costa, A. Culebras, S. Daniels, J. S. Floras, C. E. Hunt, L. J. Olson, et al. Sleep Apnea and Cardiovascular Disease: An American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology Foundation Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association Council for High Blood Pressure Research Professional Education Committee, Council on Clinical Cardiology, Stroke Council, and Council on Cardiovascular Nursing In Collaboration With the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute National Center on Sleep Disorders Research (National Institutes of Health) J. Am. Coll. Cardiol., August 19, 2008; 52(8): 686 - 717. [Full Text] [PDF] |
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M. J. Joyner, N. Charkoudian, and B. G. Wallin A sympathetic view of the sympathetic nervous system and human blood pressure regulation Exp Physiol, June 1, 2008; 93(6): 715 - 724. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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S. Seicean, H. L. Kirchner, D. J. Gottlieb, N. M. Punjabi, H. Resnick, M. Sanders, R. Budhiraja, M. Singer, and S. Redline Sleep-Disordered Breathing and Impaired Glucose Metabolism in Normal-Weight and Overweight/Obese Individuals: The Sleep Heart Health Study Diabetes Care, May 1, 2008; 31(5): 1001 - 1006. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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E. D. Abel, S. E. Litwin, and G. Sweeney Cardiac Remodeling in Obesity Physiol Rev, April 1, 2008; 88(2): 389 - 419. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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F. Lopez-Jimenez, F. H. Sert Kuniyoshi, A. Gami, and V. K. Somers Obstructive Sleep Apnea: Implications for Cardiac and Vascular Disease Chest, March 1, 2008; 133(3): 793 - 804. [Full Text] [PDF] |
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E. Lambert, N. Straznicky, M. Schlaich, M. Esler, T. Dawood, E. Hotchkin, and G. Lambert Differing Pattern of Sympathoexcitation in Normal-Weight and Obesity-Related Hypertension Hypertension, November 1, 2007; 50(5): 862 - 868. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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J. Li, A. Nanayakkara, J. Jun, V. Savransky, and V. Y. Polotsky Effect of deficiency in SREBP cleavage-activating protein on lipid metabolism during intermittent hypoxia Physiol Genomics, October 19, 2007; 31(2): 273 - 280. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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G. Parati, C. Lombardi, and K. Narkiewicz Sleep apnea: epidemiology, pathophysiology, and relation to cardiovascular risk Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol, October 1, 2007; 293(4): R1671 - R1683. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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E. R. Chasens Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Daytime Sleepiness, and Type 2 Diabetes The Diabetes Educator, May 1, 2007; 33(3): 475 - 482. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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N. Iiyori, L. C. Alonso, J. Li, M. H. Sanders, A. Garcia-Ocana, R. M. O'Doherty, V. Y. Polotsky, and C. P. O'Donnell Intermittent Hypoxia Causes Insulin Resistance in Lean Mice Independent of Autonomic Activity Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., April 15, 2007; 175(8): 851 - 857. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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S. Ryan, S. Ward, C. Heneghan, and W. T. McNicholas Predictors of Decreased Spontaneous Baroreflex Sensitivity in Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome Chest, April 1, 2007; 131(4): 1100 - 1107. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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V. L. Cooper, M. W. Elliott, S. B. Pearson, C. M. Taylor, M. M. J. Mohammed, and R. Hainsworth Cardiovascular Control: Daytime variability of baroreflex function in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea: implications for hypertension Exp Physiol, March 1, 2007; 92(2): 391 - 398. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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G. Grassi, G. Seravalle, F. Quarti-Trevano, F. Scopelliti, R. Dell'Oro, G. Bolla, and G. Mancia Excessive Sympathetic Activation in Heart Failure With Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome: Characteristics and Mechanisms Hypertension, March 1, 2007; 49(3): 535 - 541. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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C. Shibao, A. Gamboa, A. Diedrich, A. C. Ertl, K. Y. Chen, D. W. Byrne, G. Farley, S. Y. Paranjape, S. N. Davis, and I. Biaggioni Autonomic Contribution to Blood Pressure and Metabolism in Obesity Hypertension, January 1, 2007; 49(1): 27 - 33. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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B. Najem, P. Unger, N. Preumont, J.-L. Jansens, A. Houssiere, A. Pathak, O. Xhaet, L. Gabriel, A. Friart, L. De Roy, et al. Sympathetic control after cardiac resynchronization therapy: responders versus nonresponders Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, December 1, 2006; 291(6): H2647 - H2652. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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M. Esler, N. Straznicky, N. Eikelis, K. Masuo, G. Lambert, and E. Lambert Mechanisms of Sympathetic Activation in Obesity-Related Hypertension Hypertension, November 1, 2006; 48(5): 787 - 796. [Full Text] [PDF] |
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S.-J. C. Lusina, P. M. Kennedy, J. T. Inglis, D. C. McKenzie, N. T. Ayas, and A. W. Sheel Long-term intermittent hypoxia increases sympathetic activity and chemosensitivity during acute hypoxia in humans J. Physiol., September 15, 2006; 575(3): 961 - 970. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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A. F. Mayer, C. Schroeder, K. Heusser, J. Tank, A. Diedrich, R. E. Schmieder, F. C. Luft, and J. Jordan Influences of Norepinephrine Transporter Function on the Distribution of Sympathetic Activity in Humans Hypertension, July 1, 2006; 48(1): 120 - 126. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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R. Mehra, E. J. Benjamin, E. Shahar, D. J. Gottlieb, R. Nawabit, H. L. Kirchner, J. Sahadevan, and S. Redline Association of Nocturnal Arrhythmias with Sleep-disordered Breathing: The Sleep Heart Health Study Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., April 15, 2006; 173(8): 910 - 916. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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J. Hedner, K. Bengtsson-Bostrom, Y. Peker, L. Grote, L. Rastam, and U. Lindblad Hypertension prevalence in obstructive sleep apnoea and sex: a population-based case-control study. Eur. Respir. J., March 1, 2006; 27(3): 564 - 570. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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P. Poirier, T. D. Giles, G. A. Bray, Y. Hong, J. S. Stern, F. X. Pi-Sunyer, and R. H. Eckel Obesity and Cardiovascular Disease: Pathophysiology, Evaluation, and Effect of Weight Loss: An Update of the 1997 American Heart Association Scientific Statement on Obesity and Heart Disease From the Obesity Committee of the Council on Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Metabolism Circulation, February 14, 2006; 113(6): 898 - 918. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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M. Esler and N. Eikelis Is obstructive sleep apnea the cause of sympathetic nervous activation in human obesity? J Appl Physiol, January 1, 2006; 100(1): 11 - 12. [Full Text] [PDF] |
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J. Spaak, Z. J. Egri, T. Kubo, E. Yu, S.-I. Ando, Y. Kaneko, K. Usui, T. D. Bradley, and J. S. Floras Muscle Sympathetic Nerve Activity During Wakefulness in Heart Failure Patients With and Without Sleep Apnea Hypertension, December 1, 2005; 46(6): 1327 - 1332. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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V. L Cooper, S. B Pearson, C. M Bowker, M. W Elliott, and R Hainsworth Interaction of chemoreceptor and baroreceptor reflexes by hypoxia and hypercapnia - a mechanism for promoting hypertension in obstructive sleep apnoea J. Physiol., October 15, 2005; 568(2): 677 - 687. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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M. E. Tschakovsky and K. E. Pyke Counterpoint: Flow-mediated dilation does not reflect nitric oxide-mediated endothelial function J Appl Physiol, September 1, 2005; 99(3): 1235 - 1237. [Full Text] [PDF] |
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N. Eikelis and M. Esler The neurobiology of human obesity Exp Physiol, September 1, 2005; 90(5): 673 - 682. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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G. Grassi, A. Facchini, F. Q. Trevano, R. Dell'Oro, F. Arenare, F. Tana, G. Bolla, A. Monzani, M. Robuschi, and G. Mancia Obstructive Sleep Apnea-Dependent and -Independent Adrenergic Activation in Obesity Hypertension, August 1, 2005; 46(2): 321 - 325. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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E. K. Larkin, C. L. Rosen, H. L. Kirchner, A. Storfer-Isser, J. L. Emancipator, N. L. Johnson, A. M. V. Zambito, R. P. Tracy, N. S. Jenny, and S. Redline Variation of C-Reactive Protein Levels in Adolescents: Association With Sleep-Disordered Breathing and Sleep Duration Circulation, April 19, 2005; 111(15): 1978 - 1984. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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K. Narkiewicz, B. G. Phillips, M. Kato, D. Hering, L. Bieniaszewski, and V. K. Somers Gender-Selective Interaction Between Aging, Blood Pressure, and Sympathetic Nerve Activity Hypertension, April 1, 2005; 45(4): 522 - 525. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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A. Svatikova, R. Wolk, M. J Magera, A. S Shamsuzzaman, B. G Phillips, and V. K Somers Plasma homocysteine in obstructive sleep apnoea Eur. Heart J., August 1, 2004; 25(15): 1325 - 1329. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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A. S. Gami, G. Pressman, S. M. Caples, R. Kanagala, J. J. Gard, D. E. Davison, J. F. Malouf, N. M. Ammash, P. A. Friedman, and V. K. Somers Association of Atrial Fibrillation and Obstructive Sleep Apnea Circulation, July 27, 2004; 110(4): 364 - 367. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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G. E. Alvarez, T. P. Ballard, S. D. Beske, and K. P. Davy Subcutaneous obesity is not associated with sympathetic neural activation Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, July 1, 2004; 287(1): H414 - H418. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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L. J. Palmer, S. G. Buxbaum, E. K. Larkin, S. R. Patel, R. C. Elston, P. V. Tishler, and S. Redline Whole Genome Scan for Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Obesity in African-American Families Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., June 15, 2004; 169(12): 1314 - 1321. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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N. Eikelis, G. Lambert, G. Wiesner, D. Kaye, M. Schlaich, M. Morris, J. Hastings, F. Socratous, and M. Esler Extra-adipocyte leptin release in human obesity and its relation to sympathoadrenal function Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab, May 1, 2004; 286(5): E744 - E752. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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T. L. Goodfriend and D. A. Calhoun Resistant Hypertension, Obesity, Sleep Apnea, and Aldosterone: Theory and Therapy Hypertension, March 1, 2004; 43(3): 518 - 524. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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J. Heitmann, K. Ehlenz, T. Penzel, H.F. Becker, L. Grote, K.H. Voigt, J. Hermann Peter, and C. Vogelmeier Sympathetic activity is reduced by nCPAP in hypertensive obstructive sleep apnoea patients Eur. Respir. J., February 1, 2004; 23(2): 255 - 262. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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R. Wolk, A. S.M. Shamsuzzaman, and V. K. Somers Obesity, Sleep Apnea, and Hypertension Hypertension, December 1, 2003; 42(6): 1067 - 1074. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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M. Esler and D. Kaye Is Very High Sympathetic Tone in Heart Failure a Result of Keeping Bad Company? Hypertension, November 1, 2003; 42(5): 870 - 872. [Full Text] [PDF] |
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A. S. M. Shamsuzzaman, B. J. Gersh, and V. K. Somers Obstructive Sleep Apnea: Implications for Cardiac and Vascular Disease JAMA, October 8, 2003; 290(14): 1906 - 1914. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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E. R. Chasens, T. E. Weaver, and M. G. Umlauf Insulin Resistance and Obstructive Sleep Apnea: Is Increased Sympathetic Stimulation the Link? Biol Res Nurs, October 1, 2003; 5(2): 87 - 96. [Abstract] [PDF] |
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I. C. Trombetta, L. T. Batalha, M. U. P. B. Rondon, M. C. Laterza, F. H. S. Kuniyoshi, M. M. G. Gowdak, A. C. P. Barretto, A. Halpern, S. M. F. Villares, and C. E. Negrao Weight loss improves neurovascular and muscle metaboreflex control in obesity Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, August 7, 2003; 285(3): H974 - H982. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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T. V. Cloward, J. M. Walker, R. J. Farney, and J. L. Anderson Left Ventricular Hypertrophy Is a Common Echocardiographic Abnormality in Severe Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Reverses With Nasal Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Chest, August 1, 2003; 124(2): 594 - 601. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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N. Eikelis, M. Schlaich, A. Aggarwal, D. Kaye, and M. Esler Interactions Between Leptin and the Human Sympathetic Nervous System Hypertension, May 1, 2003; 41(5): 1072 - 1079. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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P. Solin, D. M. Kaye, P. J. Little, P. Bergin, M. Richardson, and M. T. Naughton Impact of Sleep Apnea on Sympathetic Nervous System Activity in Heart Failure Chest, April 1, 2003; 123(4): 1119 - 1126. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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H. F. Becker, A. Jerrentrup, T. Ploch, L. Grote, T. Penzel, C. E. Sullivan, and J. H. Peter Effect of Nasal Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Treatment on Blood Pressure in Patients With Obstructive Sleep Apnea Circulation, January 7, 2003; 107(1): 68 - 73. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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G. E. Alvarez, S. D. Beske, T. P. Ballard, and K. P. Davy Sympathetic Neural Activation in Visceral Obesity Circulation, November 12, 2002; 106(20): 2533 - 2536. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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C. P. O'Donnell, L. Allan, P. Atkinson, and A. R. Schwartz The Effect of Upper Airway Obstruction and Arousal on Peripheral Arterial Tonometry in Obstructive Sleep Apnea Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., October 1, 2002; 166(7): 965 - 971. [Abstract] [Full Text] |
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M. R. Bonsignore, G. Parati, G. Insalaco, O. Marrone, P. Castiglioni, S. Romano, M. Di Rienzo, G. Mancia, and G. Bonsignore Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Treatment Improves Baroreflex Control of Heart Rate during Sleep in Severe Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., August 1, 2002; 166(3): 279 - 286. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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T. Young, P. E. Peppard, and D. J. Gottlieb Epidemiology of Obstructive Sleep Apnea: A Population Health Perspective Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., May 1, 2002; 165(9): 1217 - 1239. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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A. Elmasry, E. Lindberg, J. Hedner, C. Janson, and G. Boman Obstructive sleep apnoea and urine catecholamines in hypertensive males: a population-based study Eur. Respir. J., March 1, 2002; 19(3): 511 - 517. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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R. S. T. LEUNG and T. DOUGLAS BRADLEY Sleep Apnea and Cardiovascular Disease Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., December 15, 2001; 164(12): 2147 - 2165. [Full Text] [PDF] |
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N. I. Abate, Y. H. Mansour, M. Tuncel, D. Arbique, B. Chavoshan, A. Kizilbash, T. Howell-Stampley, W. Vongpatanasin, and R. G. Victor Overweight and Sympathetic Overactivity in Black Americans Hypertension, September 1, 2001; 38(3): 379 - 383. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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C. E. Negrao, I. C. Trombetta, L. T. Batalha, M. M. Ribeiro, M. U. P. B. Rondon, T. Tinucci, C. L. M. Forjaz, A. C. P. Barretto, A. Halpern, and S. M. F. Villares Muscle metaboreflex control is diminished in normotensive obese women Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, August 1, 2001; 281(2): H469 - H475. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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T. L. Clanton and P. F. Klawitter Physiological and Genomic Consequences of Intermittent Hypoxia: Invited Review: Adaptive responses of skeletal muscle to intermittent hypoxia: the known and the unknown J Appl Physiol, June 1, 2001; 90(6): 2476 - 2487. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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T. L. Clanton, V. P. Wright, P. J. Reiser, P. F. Klawitter, and N. R. Prabhakar Physiological and Genomic Consequences of Intermittent Hypoxia: Selected Contribution: Improved anoxic tolerance in rat diaphragm following intermittent hypoxia J Appl Physiol, June 1, 2001; 90(6): 2508 - 2513. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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M. NIROUMAND, R. KUPERSTEIN, Z. SASSON, and P. J. HANLY Impact of Obstructive Sleep Apnea on Left Ventricular Mass and Diastolic Function Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., June 1, 2001; 163(7): 1632 - 1636. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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H. Kraiczi, K. Caidahl, A. Samuelsson, Y. Peker, and J. Hedner Impairment of Vascular Endothelial Function and Left Ventricular Filling : Association With the Severity of Apnea-Induced Hypoxemia During Sleep Chest, April 1, 2001; 119(4): 1085 - 1091. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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M. Emdin, A. Gastaldelli, E. Muscelli, A. Macerata, A. Natali, S. Camastra, and E. Ferrannini Hyperinsulinemia and Autonomic Nervous System Dysfunction in Obesity : Effects of Weight Loss Circulation, January 30, 2001; 103(4): 513 - 519. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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E. SHAHAR, C. W. WHITNEY, S. REDLINE, E. T. LEE, A. B. NEWMAN, F. JAVIER NIETO, G. T. O'CONNOR, L. L. BOLAND, J. E. SCHWARTZ, and J. M. SAMET Sleep-disordered Breathing and Cardiovascular Disease . Cross-sectional Results of the Sleep Heart Health Study Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., January 1, 2001; 163(1): 19 - 25. [Abstract] [Full Text] |
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L. GROTE, H. KRAICZI, and J. HEDNER Reduced alpha - and beta 2-Adrenergic Vascular Response in Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., October 1, 2000; 162(4): 1480 - 1487. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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C. Weyer, R. E. Pratley, S. Snitker, M. Spraul, E. Ravussin, and P. A. Tataranni Ethnic Differences in Insulinemia and Sympathetic Tone as Links Between Obesity and Blood Pressure Hypertension, October 1, 2000; 36(4): 531 - 537. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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G. Grassi, G. Seravalle, R. Dell'Oro, C. Turri, G. B. Bolla, and G. Mancia Adrenergic and Reflex Abnormalities in Obesity-Related Hypertension Hypertension, October 1, 2000; 36(4): 538 - 542. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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J. M. Dekker, R. S. Crow, A. R. Folsom, P. J. Hannan, D. Liao, C. A. Swenne, and E. G. Schouten Low Heart Rate Variability in a 2-Minute Rhythm Strip Predicts Risk of Coronary Heart Disease and Mortality From Several Causes : The ARIC Study Circulation, September 12, 2000; 102(11): 1239 - 1244. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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J. ARGOD, J.-L. PÉPIN, R. P. SMITH, and P. LÉVY Comparison of Esophageal Pressure with Pulse Transit Time as a Measure of Respiratory Effort for Scoring Obstructive Nonapneic Respiratory Events Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., July 1, 2000; 162(1): 87 - 93. [Abstract] [Full Text] |
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H. KRAICZI, J. HEDNER, Y. PEKER, and L. GROTE Comparison of Atenolol, Amlodipine, Enalapril, Hydrochlorothiazide, and Losartan for Antihypertensive Treatment in Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., May 1, 2000; 161(5): 1423 - 1428. [Abstract] [Full Text] |
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K. Narkiewicz, M. Kato, B. G. Phillips, C. A. Pesek, D. E. Davison, and V. K. Somers Nocturnal Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Decreases Daytime Sympathetic Traffic in Obstructive Sleep Apnea Circulation, December 7, 1999; 100(23): 2332 - 2335. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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