American journal of respiratory and critical care medicine
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Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. · Feb 2013
Reduced microRNA-150 is associated with poor survival in pulmonary arterial hypertension.
MicroRNAs (miRNAs or miRs) are implicated in the pathogenesis of various cardiovascular diseases, including pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). ⋯ Reduced circulating miR-150 levels are associated with poor survival in PAH.
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Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. · Feb 2013
Identification of the mechanism mediating genioglossus muscle suppression in REM sleep.
Inhibition of pharyngeal motoneurons accompanies REM sleep and is a cause of hypoventilation and obstructive sleep apnea in humans. One explanation posits that the neurotransmitters glycine and γ-aminobutyric acid are responsible for REM sleep motor inhibition. However, blockade of that mechanism at cranial motor nuclei increases motor activity in all sleep-wake states, and least of all in REM sleep, arguing against it as a major mechanism of REM sleep pharyngeal motor inhibition. ⋯ We identify a powerful cholinergic-GIRK channel mechanism operating at the hypoglossal motor pool that has its largest inhibitory influence in REM sleep and minimal or no effects in other sleep-wake states. This mechanism is the major cause of REM sleep inhibition at a pharyngeal motor pool critical for effective breathing.