Catheter Ablation Is Associated With a Decrease in Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events and All-Cause Mortality in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation and Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Bidaoui G, Massad C, Abi-Rached J, Abdelmaksoud A, Toraih E, Abou-Khalil M, Bsoul M, Atasi M, Pandey A, Marrouche N, , Menassa Y, Feng H, Rao S, Lim C, Assaf A and Younes H
Catheter Ablation Is Associated With a Decrease in Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events and All-Cause Mortality in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation and Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Bidaoui G, Massad C, Abi-Rached J, Abdelmaksoud A, Toraih E, Abou-Khalil M, Bsoul M, Atasi M, Pandey A, Marrouche N, , Menassa Y, Feng H, Rao S, Lim C, Assaf A and Younes H
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common risk factor for the development and progression of atrial fibrillation (AF). Whether catheter ablation for AF management in patients with coexisting OSA yields survival benefit remains unclear. This study aimed to assess the association of catheter ablation with the incidence of major cardiovascular events (MACE) and all-cause mortality in patients with AF and OSA.
Burnout among Korean Neurosurgeons Following a National Trainee Withdrawal during 2024-2025 Medical Crisis in Korea
Kim HG, Cho WC and Ahn S
Burnout among Korean Neurosurgeons Following a National Trainee Withdrawal during 2024-2025 Medical Crisis in Korea
Kim HG, Cho WC and Ahn S
The 2024-2025 medical crisis in the Republic of Korea, triggered by mass trainee departures, caused severe staffing shortages in tertiary hospitals. The impact of this disruption on neurosurgeons' workload, lifestyle, and mental health has not been evaluated. In this study, we aimed to determine the prevalence of burnout among neurosurgeons during the crisis, assess associated changes in workload and lifestyle, and identify key factors linked to burnout severity.
Physical Activity, Sleep Quality, and Musculoskeletal Pain in University Students: A Comparison of Academic and Exam Periods
Yaylaci SS, Demirdel S, Deniz ME and Yapici D
Physical Activity, Sleep Quality, and Musculoskeletal Pain in University Students: A Comparison of Academic and Exam Periods
Yaylaci SS, Demirdel S, Deniz ME and Yapici D
PurposeThis study aimed to examine physical activity levels, sleep quality, and musculoskeletal discomfort in university students during the academic and exam periods.Approach or DesignA cross-sectional comparative design was used.SettingThe study was conducted at a University.ParticipantsA total of 227 ( = 199 female) undergraduate students participated.MethodData were collected face-to-face using the Cornell Musculoskeletal Discomfort Questionnaire, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form (IPAQ-SF) during both periods. Daily sitting durations and preferred study postures were also recorded. Data were analyzed using paired t-tests, with significance set at < 0.05.ResultsDuring the exam period, musculoskeletal discomfort was highest in the back, lower back, and neck regions. PSQI scores showed worse subjective sleep quality, longer sleep latency, shorter duration, and increased disturbances during exams ( < 0.05). IPAQ-SF results indicated reduced physical activity and significantly increased daily sitting time in the exam period ( < 0.05).ConclusionUniversity students experience more musculoskeletal discomfort, poorer sleep quality, and decreased physical activity during exams. These findings highlight the need for preventive strategies during high-stress academic periods.
The Influence of Mobile Technologies on the Quality of Sleep
Slezáková Z, Baláž J, Wimmerová S and Valachovičová M
The Influence of Mobile Technologies on the Quality of Sleep
Slezáková Z, Baláž J, Wimmerová S and Valachovičová M
The extensive usage of mobile phones across all age brackets, including children and teenagers, leads to significant exposure to Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields (RF-EMF). This exposure raises concerns about potential adverse effects on sleep. The current study aimed to explore the influence of mobile phone-emitted RF-EMFs on the duration and quality of sleep in a cohort of medical students. Participants alternated between sleeping with and without a mobile phone for two-week intervals, while their sleep patterns were monitored using smartwatches. The study results indicated no statistically significant disparities in sleep quality between sleeping with and without a mobile phone. However, exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields had a notable impact on the minimum and average blood oxygen saturation levels.
Posterior pillar hypertrophy as a novel anatomical predictor of surgical success in obstructive sleep apnea
Jeong Y, Park JJ, Rha MS and Cho HJ
Posterior pillar hypertrophy as a novel anatomical predictor of surgical success in obstructive sleep apnea
Jeong Y, Park JJ, Rha MS and Cho HJ
Sleep apnea surgery is effective only for selecting patients, making it crucial to identify those who will benefit. This study aimed to introduce a novel anatomical index for selecting patients with favorable surgical outcomes.
A Pilot Randomised Controlled Trial of Sublingual Melatonin for Sleep Onset Insomnia in Children With Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD)
Chandler-Mather N, Shelton D, Donovan C, Till H, Theroux BM and Dawe S
A Pilot Randomised Controlled Trial of Sublingual Melatonin for Sleep Onset Insomnia in Children With Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD)
Chandler-Mather N, Shelton D, Donovan C, Till H, Theroux BM and Dawe S
Children with foetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) present with significant sleep disturbance. This pilot trial aimed to examine the feasibility of conducting a larger randomised controlled trial (RCT) in this population and the potential effectiveness of melatonin to treat onset insomnia.
Verbal fluency difficulties in Chinese insomnia patients: insights from semantic and phonemic tasks
Lyu Y, Lindsay S, Wang S and Zheng Y
Verbal fluency difficulties in Chinese insomnia patients: insights from semantic and phonemic tasks
Lyu Y, Lindsay S, Wang S and Zheng Y
Insomnia is a prevalent sleep disorder associated with cognitive difficulties, including reduced performance in executive control and semantic memory. This study explores the impact of insomnia on language retrieval processes using the Chinese Verbal Fluency Test (VFT), addressing the need for cognitive research beyond English-speaking populations. We hypothesised that insomnia-related difficulties in semantic memory and executive control would result in reduced VFT performance. Participants with insomnia (N=20) and matched healthy controls (N=20) were recruited from a community outpatient clinic in China to complete an online Chinese VFT, generating words for semantic categories (e.g., animals) and phonemic conditions (e.g., words beginning with "bai" [, "white"]). Compared with controls, the insomnia group produced fewer correct responses across both tasks; the between-group gap was larger for semantic correct responses. Clustering and switching analyses showed fewer switches in the semantic task for the insomnia group and a reduced phonemic mean cluster size, suggesting difficulties in executive control processes. Together, these convergent results indicate reduced efficiency in both semantic memory retrieval and control-guided search during word production. By employing a Chinese VFT and parallel semantic and phonemic tasks, the study extends current evidence beyond alphabetic languages and highlights how language-specific demands can shape fluency performance. Overall, the findings clarify how sleep disturbances may influence core components of language processing and support the value of process-level fluency measures in characterising cognitive difficulties linked to insomnia.
Effectiveness of Chinese herbal medicine on improving sleep and mental health in adults: Study protocol for a stepped-wedge cluster randomized trial
Tang HT, Wong HK, Luo J, Zhang J, Liu Q, Zhai L, Chan RNY, Wing YK, Li SX, Yeung WF, Yeung A, Recchia F, Cheung CH, Yang J, Yu DJ and Bian Z
Effectiveness of Chinese herbal medicine on improving sleep and mental health in adults: Study protocol for a stepped-wedge cluster randomized trial
Tang HT, Wong HK, Luo J, Zhang J, Liu Q, Zhai L, Chan RNY, Wing YK, Li SX, Yeung WF, Yeung A, Recchia F, Cheung CH, Yang J, Yu DJ and Bian Z
Depression, anxiety, and insomnia significantly impact global health and impose substantial health burdens worldwide. Conventional treatments including pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy face limitations in efficacy, side effects, and accessibility. Despite preliminary evidence suggesting the potential of Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) in managing these conditions, large-scale evaluations are lacking. This study aims to examine the effectiveness of CHM for the treatment of adults experiencing mild-to-moderate symptoms of depression, anxiety, and insomnia.
Proximal Jejunal Bypass with Sleeve Gastrectomy for Severe Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes: First Case Report in Japan
Nabekura T, Oshiro T and Wakamatsu K
Proximal Jejunal Bypass with Sleeve Gastrectomy for Severe Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes: First Case Report in Japan
Nabekura T, Oshiro T and Wakamatsu K
Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy is the most common metabolic bariatric surgery performed in Japan. Nevertheless, concerns persist regarding its long-term efficacy, which is considered inferior to that of procedures involving gastrointestinal bypass. In response to these concerns, a modified approach known as the "sleeve plus procedure" has been introduced and is now covered by insurance for patients with severe obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). We successfully performed proximal jejunal bypass with sleeve gastrectomy (PJB-SG), a variant of this approach, marking the first documented case of its kind in Japan. This report presents the clinical outcomes of this procedure along with a review of the relevant literature.
The effect of esketamine on perioperative neurocognitive dysfunction in elderly patients undergoing gastrointestinal tumor surgery: a randomized double-blind controlled study
Ma X, Qin J, Li M, Liu Y and Yu W
The effect of esketamine on perioperative neurocognitive dysfunction in elderly patients undergoing gastrointestinal tumor surgery: a randomized double-blind controlled study
Ma X, Qin J, Li M, Liu Y and Yu W
We aimed to whether esketamine induction and maintenance of general anesthesia could reduce the incidence of perioperative neurocognitive dysfunction (PND) in elderly patients undergoing gastrointestinal tumor surgery and explore the related mechanisms preliminarily.
