Recent News and Articles on the Keywords: heart + cuts + 8,540  Related to the article below (Last Update: 8/7/2008)

Overnight fire cuts at heart of Chicago's "Little Vietnam" Chicago Tribune, United States - "This is their heart and soul, where they spent most of the past 23 years." Although his father is now 82, Dang said his parents visited the store nearly ... Broccoli cuts diabetic risk of heart disease Scotsman, United Kingdom - Researchers believe a compound in the vegetable could reverse the negative effects of diabetes on the heart. While studies are at an early stage, ... Could OZ Find Its Heart? Wall Street Journal - ... 4969.10 in the first full trading session after the central bank left interest rates unchanged and indicated rate cuts might be coming as demand slowed. ...ASX:OZL Fish-heavy diet cuts heart-disease risk Indianapolis Star, United States - Aug 4, 2008 University of Pittsburgh researchers report that they may have finally solved the mystery of why the Japanese have such low levels of heart disease: It's ... Barbour answers media questions at Neshoba County Fair Newton Record, MS - When the end of the fiscal year came I said I would make those cuts, but there was a pending state court about this and the judge decided on July 10. ... Contract cuts make it tougher to smog cars, make copies Sacramento Bee,  USA - The Department of Public Health suspended contracts, many of them with the University of California, for various surveys and studies, including one on heart ... Former Muskegon boxer Lane dies of heart attack MLive.com, MI - Aug 5, 2008 He also lost two championship fights against Carlos Ortiz, when he was stopped on cuts in the second round of a 1959 lightweight bout at New York's Madison ... Democratic leaders need constitutional jolt Chicago Tribune, United States - Aug 5, 2008 Almost $600 million in Medicaid-related cuts, which will cause the loss of federal Medicaid funds, will "artificially" hold expenditures to last year's ... RBA lays ground for cut in interest rates The Australian, Australia - Aug 5, 2008 However, fears of job losses as consumer and business confidence slumps to levels last seen during recessions have forced a change of heart. ... LIVENEWS.com.au UPDATE 1-Australia home loans fall for fifth Hemscott, UK - Aug 5, 2008 ... there was growing scope for a cut in rates. One major reason for that change of heart has been a slump in borrowing both by households and businesses. ... Rate Cut Now Looks Like Happening next Month LIVENEWS.com.au all 757 news articles »

Heart failure: Acetazolamide cuts sleep apnea

Since sleep apnea is associated with heart failure, patients who take a single dose of Acetazolamide, a mild diuretic and respiratory stimulant, before going to bed exhibit less sleep apnea, improved blood oxygen levels and fewer daytime symptoms of sleepiness.

The results of the double-blind, placebo-controlled study are published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.

Shahrokh Javaheri, at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine in Cincinnati, Ohio, studied 12 male patients with stable heart failure who had more than 15 episodes per hour each night of sleep apnea ( breathing pauses during sleep lasting 10 seconds or more ).

In heart failure, the quantity of blood pumped each minute by the heart is insufficient to meet the requirements for oxygen and nutrients.

In the past, principal use of Acetazolamide has been to help treat breathing irregularities and sleep apneas occurring at high altitude.

According to the authors, the 12 patients with stable heart failure were randomized to a double-blind cross-over protocol with either Acetazolamide or placebo, taken one hour before bedtime over the course of six nights. There was a two-week washout period between the two study segments.

" An important finding of the double-blind study was the significant improvement in patient perception of improved sleep quality, waking up more refreshed, with less daytime fatigue and sleepiness while taking acetazolamide, compared with placebo," said Javaheri.

The average age of the patients was 66. There were no significant patient differences in body mass index levels, blood pressure or heart rate during the two phases of the study.

Each patient underwent a sleep test, an analysis of blood gases as well as a pH study ( a test of acidity or alkalinity ), a measurement of serum electrolytes, a pulmonary function test, plus other measurements at the start of the study and at the completion of each arm ( Acetazolamide and placebo ).

" We hypothesize that with long-term drug therapy, as sleep-related breathing disorders improve, it may be reflected in an improvement in cardiac function that will further improve periodic breathing, resulting in a positive feedback cycle," said Javaheri. " Improvement in sleep apnea may assist cardiac function by a variety of mechanisms such as improved oxygenation."

The author points out that since the short-term efficacy of the drug has been documented, more long-term studies are needed to measure patient cardiac function, quality of life and the levels of norepinephrine in the plasma and urine.

Source: American Thoracic Society, 2006