Background and Purpose
This study aimed to determine the long-term effects of vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) on sleep-disordered breathing (SDB), daytime sleepiness, and sleep quality in patients with drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE). It also investigated the relationships among these main effects, clinical characteristics, and VNS parameters.
Methods
Twenty-four patients were recruited. Paired
t
-tests and multiple linear regression analyses were performed to determine how the demographic and clinical characteristics of the patients influenced the variables that changed significantly after VNS treatment.
Results
After VNS, the patients showed significant increases in the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), respiratory disturbance index (RDI), apnea index, hypopnea index, and oxygen desaturation index (ODI), as well as a significant decrease in the lowest arterial oxygen saturation (SaO
2
nadir) (
p
<0.05). The multiple linear regression analyses demonstrated that the predictor of larger increases in AHI and RDI was being older at baseline, and that the predictor of a larger increase in apnea index was a longer epilepsy duration. The strongest predictor of a larger increase in ODI was a higher frequency of aura episodes at baseline, followed by a longer epilepsy duration. The strongest predictor of a larger decrease in SaO
2
nadir was a higher frequency of aura episodes at baseline, followed by a longer epilepsy duration.
Conclusions
This study has confirmed that VNS improves seizure control in patients with DRE, whereas it increases obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Furthermore, the increase in OSA is affected by age and the duration of epilepsy. Therefore, careful observation and monitoring of SDB is recommended in patients who undergo VNS.
Massive peptide sharing between the Zika virus polyprotein and host tissue proteins could elicit significant host-pathogen interactions
and cross-reactions leading to autoimmune diseases. This study found similarities in the Zika V proteins and human nerve tissue
proteins. 63 human nerve proteins were screened for similarities with the Zika V of which Neuromodulin, Nestin, Galanin, Bombesin,
Calcium-binding protein were found to have similarities to the Zika V poly protein C at different sequence regions. These sequence
similarities could be significant in regulating pathogenic interactions/autoimmunity, as Polyprotein C is known to be a virulent factor.
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