Following the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 in China in late 2019, and the rapid expansion of the COVID19 pandemic in 2020, questions about viral evolution have come tumbling after. Did SARS-CoV-2 evolve to become better adapted to humans? More infectious or transmissible? More deadly? Virus mutations can rise in frequency due to natural selection, random genetic …

Mutation of Coronavirus Is Significantly Increasing Its Ability To Infect Read More »

The duration and nature of immunity generated in response to SARS-CoV-2 infection is unknown. Many public health responses and modeled scenarios for COVID-19 outbreaks caused by SARSCoV-2 assume that infection results in an immune response that protects individuals from future infections or illness for some amount of time. The timescale of protection is a critical …

What you need to know about antibody mediated immunity to corona viruses Read More »

In March 2020, the RECOVERY (Randomised Evaluation of COVid-19 thERapY) trial was established as a randomised clinical trial to test a range of potential treatments for COVID-19, including low-dose dexamethasone (a steroid treatment). Over 11,500 patients have been enrolled from over 175 NHS hospitals in the UK. On 8 June, recruitment to the dexamethasone arm …

Major study finds common steroid reduces deaths among patients with severe Covid-19 Read More »

Several population-based studies across various geographical regions and ethnic groups have established a high prevalence of OSA. This epidemic of OSA is closely related to the obesity epidemic—an important public health related condition facing adults globally. In the United States in 2004, the estimated prevalence of adult obesity, classified as a body mass index (BMI) …

Epidemiology of Obstructive Sleep Apnea: a Population-based Perspective Read More »

Compared with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), the prevalence of central sleep apnea (CSA) is low in the general population. However, in adults, CSA may be highly prevalent in certain conditions, most commonly among those with left ventricular systolic dysfunction, left ventricular diastolic dysfunction, atrial fibrillation, stroke, and opioid users (Javaheri S, et al. J Am …

Sleep Strategies Read More »

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The current review aims to summarize the state of research on cannabis and sleep up to 2014 and to review in detail the literature on cannabis and specific sleep disorders from 2014 to the time of publication. RECENT FINDINGS: Preliminary research into cannabis and insomnia suggests that cannabidiol (CBD) may have therapeutic …

Cannabis, Cannabinoids, and Sleep: a Review of the Literature. Read More »

The prescription of positive airway pressure is associated with reduced all-cause mortality, according to the results of a cohort study published in JAMA Otolaryngology–Head & Neck Surgery. The association becomes evident several years after positive airway pressure (PAP) initiation, according to the researchers. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is among the top 10 modifiable cardiovascular risk …

PAP may reduce mortality in patients with obesity and severe OSA Read More »

Patients who have risk factors for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) or who report symptoms of OSA should be screened for it, first with a complete sleep history and standardized questionnaire, and then by objective testing if indicated. The gold standard test for OSA is polysomnography performed overnight in a sleep laboratory. Home testing is an …

Obstructive sleep apnea: Who should be tested, and how? Read More »

PURPOSE: Orofacial myofunctional therapy (OMT) is a modality of treatment for children and adults with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) to promote changes in the musculature of the upper airways. This review summarizes and discusses the effects of OMT on OSA, the therapeutic programs employed, and their possible mechanisms of action. METHODS: We conducted an online …

Obstructive sleep apnea: focus on myofunctional therapy Read More »

Insomnia remains one of the most common complaints among elderly patients. However, treatment options are not easily understood among primary care physicians. There are risks of overuse of sedatives without proper analysis of underlying risk factors for insomnia. Cognitive behavioral therapy remains a viable treatment option in addition to pharmacological therapy. This review article outlines …

Insomnia in the Elderly: A Review Read More »