Biomedical subjects

Judi Profant

Publications and source records attributed to Judi Profant.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2002

Nocturnal blood pressure dipping and beta-adrenergic receptor sensitivity.

BACKGROUND: Blunted nocturnal blood pressure (BP) dipping has been observed in patients with various cardiovascular pathophysiology. However, the mechanisms underlying relationships between blunted dipping and pathophysiologic end points remain unclear. This study examined relationships between beta-adrenergic receptor sensitivity and nocturnal BP dipping. METHODS: Ambulatory BP monitoring took place in each patient's home. On a separate occasion, beta-adrenergic receptor sensitivity was determined by response to isoproterenol infusion. RESULTS: Participants with less sensitive beta-adrenergic receptors had less nocturnal BP dipping across BP measures (all P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that beta-adrenergic receptor sensitivity may contribute to relationships between blunted nocturnal BP dipping and various cardiovascular end points.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Are there ethnic differences in sleep architecture?

The possibility of ethnic differences in sleep architecture was initially examined in conjunction with studies of sleep apnea (study 1). This possibility was then examined in another cohort of patients to determine whether the results might generalize (study 2). Polysomnography was obtained in both cohorts as part of larger protocols investigating sympathetic nervous system activity, blood pressure, and sleep. Sleep monitoring took place in an inpatient clinical research center of a university hospital. Study 1 focused on sleep apnea physiology and involved volunteers with sleep apnea who were otherwise healthy. Study 2 focused on differences in stress reactivity between American Black and White subjects and involved hypertensive and normotensive volunteers who were otherwise healthy. Analyses include 61 participants from study 1 and 35 participants from study 2. Ethnicity in both cohorts was determined by self-report. Participants in both studies were monitored during sleep with traditional polysomnography including electroencephalography (EEG), electromyography (EMG), electrooculography (EOG), and oximetry. In Study 1, Blacks had longer TST (P < 0.01), more REM sleep (P < 0.05), and less WASO (P < 0.05) than Whites. After controlling for RDI, Blacks had longer TST and spent a smaller percentage of time in deep sleep (P < 0.05). In study 2, Blacks had longer TST and REM sleep, lower percent deep sleep, and lower percent deep sleep controlling for RDI (P < 0.05). In two separate studies, Blacks had longer TST, more minutes of REM, and lower percentage deep sleep. These findings suggest possible ethnic differences in sleep architecture.

Black or African American↗

PubMedDate not supplied

A randomized, controlled trial of 1 week of continuous positive airway pressure treatment on quality of life.

BACKGROUND: This study examines the effect of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment on quality of life (QOL)in patients with obstructive sleep apnea. METHODS: Thirty-nine patients with sleep apnea were studied. Health-related quality of life was measured (HRQL) with the use of the Medical Outcomes Survey (MOS) instrument, before and after patients were randomized to receive either 1 week of CPAP or placebo-CPAP (CPAP administered at ineffective pressure). RESULTS: CPAP was not found to have a specific effect on QOL as compared with placebo-CPAP. However, several aspects of HRQL improved in both groups over time in this study. Time effects were found in the following subscales of the MOS: satisfaction with physical functioning; effects of pain; pain severity; cognitive functioning; mental health index I; psychological well-being I; depression/behavioral-emotional control; anxiety I; psychological distress I; positive affect II; mental health index II; psychological distress II; anxiety II; psychological well-being II; mental health index III; role limitations due to emotional problems; and physical/physiologic functioning. CONCLUSIONS: CPAP treatment does appear to improve several aspects of HRQL. However, this improvement may reflect a nonspecific response (ie, placebo) because comparable improvements were observed in both the active treatment group and the placebo treatment group. Additional study with placebo-CPAP designs is warranted.

Adult↗