Simple snoring is defined as the production of sound in the upper aerodigestive tract during sleep, not accompanied by other pathologies. Sleep bruxism (SB) refers to repetitive phasic, tonic, or mixed masticatory muscle activity during sleep. In this study, we investigated the relationship between simple snoring and SB in patients without obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). A total of 565 snoring subjects underwent polysomnography. After examination, individuals with OSA were excluded from the study group. Finally, 129 individuals were analyzed. The bruxism episode index was positively correlated with maximum snore intensity. Phasic bruxism was positively correlated with snore intensity in all sleep positions. Bruxers had a significantly decreased average and minimum heart rate compared with non-bruxers. Supine sleep position seemed to have a significant impact on snore intensity and SB. In summary, our study showed the relationship between SB, snore intensity, and body position. Phasic bruxism was positively correlated with snore intensity despite the body position, which is an interesting and novel finding.

Objective: The aim of this research was to assess the relationship between prevalence and severity of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and insulin resistance among patients with increased risk of OSA without diabetes mellitus. Method and materials: our study group involved 102 individuals with suspected OSA, mean age 53.02 ± 12.37 years. Data on medical history, medication usage, sleep habits, sleep quality and daytime sleepiness, were obtained using questionnaires. All patients underwent standardized full night polysomnography. Serum fasting insulin and glucose concentration were analyzed, the homeostatic model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) index was calculated. Results: polysomnographic study indicated that in the group with OSA mean values of apnea–hypopnea index (AHI), oxygen desaturation index (ODI), duration of SpO₂ < 90% and average desaturation drop were significantly higher compared to the group without OSA, while the minimum SpO2 was significantly lower. The carbohydrate metabolism parameters did not differ within those groups. Significantly higher fasting insulin concentration and HOMA-IR index were found in the group with AHI ≥ 15 compared to the group with AHI < 15 and in the group with AHI ≥ 30 compared to the group with AHI < 30. Higher AHI and ODI were independent risk factors for higher fasting insulin concentration and higher HOMA-IR index. Increased duration of SpO2 < 90% was an independent risk factor for higher fasting glucose concentration. Conclusions: Individuals with moderate to severe OSA without diabetes mellitus had a higher prevalence of insulin resistance.

We discussed the contemporary views on the effects of ionising radiation on living organisms and the process of estimating radiation doses in CT examinations and the definitions of the CTDI, CTDIvol, DLP, SSDE, ED. We reviewed the reports from large analyses on the radiation doses in CT examinations of the coronary arteries prior to TAVI procedures, including the CRESCENT, PROTECTION, German Cardiac CT Registry studies. These studies were carried out over the last 10 years and can help confront the daily practice of performing cardiovascular CT examinations in most centres. The reference dose levels for these examinations were also collected. The methods to optimise the radiation dose included tube voltage reduction, ECG-monitored tube current modulation, iterative and deep learning reconstruction techniques, a reduction in the scan range, prospective study protocols, automatic exposure control, heart rate control, rational use of the calcium score, multi-slices and dual-source and wide-field tomography. We also present the studies that indicated the need to raise the organ conversion factor for cardiovascular studies from the 0.014–0.017 mSv/mGy*cm used for chest studies to date to a value of 0.0264–0.03 mSv/mGy*cm.

Introduction: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a worldwide breathing disorder that has been diagnosed globally in almost 1 billion individuals aged 30–69 years. It is characterized by repeated upper airway collapses during sleep. Telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) is involved in the prevention of telomere shortening. This prospective, observational study aimed to investigate the relationship between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of TERT and the severity of OSA, taking into account hypertension and diabetes prevalence. Methods: A total of 149 patients with OSA were diagnosed using one-night video-polysomnography based on the American Academy of Sleep Medicine guidelines. The TERT SNPs and telomere length (TL) were detected using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Results: Statistical analysis showed that there is no relationship between the rs2853669 and rs2736100 polymorphisms of TERT, and the severity of OSA (p > 0.05). Moreover, no relationship between TL and the severity of OSA was observed. The G allele in the locus of rs2736100 TERT was associated with hypertension prevalence and was more prevalent in hypertensives patients (46.00% vs. 24.49%, p = 0.011). The prevalence of hypertension was higher in patients with the C allele in the locus of rs2853669 than in patients without this allele (50.79% vs. 30.23%, p = 0.010). Moreover, a lower prevalence of diabetes was observed in homozygotes of rs2736100 TERT than in heterozygotes (5.63% vs. 15.38%, p = 0.039). Conclusion: This study showed no relationship between OSA and TERT SNPs. However, SNPs of the TERT gene (rs2736100 and rs2853669) were found to affect arterial hypertension and diabetes prevalence.

Our study aimed to assess functional, structural changes of the right ventricular using strain parameters and sleep structure using polysomnography in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Our study group consisted of 43 patients, 29 men, 14 women. The mean age was 56.36 ± 14.77. All patients underwent full night polysomnography and transthoracic echocardiography. The right ventricular global longitudinal strain was measured by 2D speckle-tracking echocardiography. The prevalence of OSA (AHI ≥ 5) was 76.7% in the studied group. We observed a significant positive correlation between OAH and average free wall strain (r = 0.37), snore and mid-free wall strain (r = 0.34), average HR, and basal free wall strain (r = 0.34). Moreover, CSB was positively correlated with basal septal strain and mid septal strain (r = 0.36 and 0.42). In summary, among patients with sleep disorders, functional disorders of the right ventricle, assessed using the strain method, are partly observed.

The aim of the study was to assess the relationship between the presence of atherosclerotic lesions in the carotid arteries detected by ultrasound and the occurrence of atherosclerosis in the coronary arteries determined by computed tomography (CT) in patients with arterial hypertension (HTA). A total of 83 patients with HTA were qualified for the study (age: 71.3 ± 8.5 years). All subjects underwent carotid arteries ultrasound and coronary arteries CT. The carotid plaque score was assessed using ultrasound. The studied group was divided into two subgroups: a subgroup with the carotid plaque score ≤ 1 (A) and a subgroup with carotid plaque score ≥2 (B). Coronary arteries CT assessed coronary artery calcium score (CACS) and degree of coronary stenosis based on CAD-RADS. In subgroup B, a significantly higher CACS (411.3 ± 70.1 vs. 93.5 ± 31.8) and significantly higher grade in the CAD-RADS classification were demonstrated than in subgroup A (CAD-RADS ≥ 3: 21.8 vs. 6.0%). The regression analysis showed that carotid plaque score and age are independent risk factors for the severity of atherosclerotic lesions in the coronary arteries. In summary, ultrasound assessment of the carotid plaque score in patients with HTA could be considered as surrogate indicator of the risk and severity of atherosclerotic changes in the coronary arteries, but further studies are necessary to corroborate these results.