Clinical Research Directory

Bruxism Induced by Obstructive Sleep Apnoea.

The relationship between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), sleep bruxism, and temporomandibular disorders is becoming clearer, but data on how upper airway volume affects bruxism due to OSA is limited. Recent studies have shown that Cone-Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) accurately images the upper airway, enabling analysis of its volume and its potential impact on bruxism. CBCT uses low radiation doses, significantly lower than harmful levels, making it a safe method for such assessments. Understanding these relationships can inform clinical practices for managing sleep bruxism, which affects 21% of the global population. The study aims to explore how upper airway volume influences the intensity of sleep bruxism related to OSA.

Botulinum Toxin in the Palatopharyngeal Muscle for the Treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is a sleep-related breathing disorder characterized by recurrent collapse of the upper airway during sleep, in which the palatopharyngeal muscle plays a key role in pathophysiology. Although continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) remains the standard treatment, adherence is often suboptimal. Botulinum toxin type A (BoNT-A), a peripheral neuromodulator, has been proposed as a potential therapeutic alternative by inducing chemodenervation and muscle volume reduction, thereby potentially increasing upper airway patency. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of BoNT-A injection into the palatopharyngeal muscle in patients with moderate to severe OSA. This is a prospective, single-arm, interventional clinical trial with pre- and post-intervention assessment. We hypothesize that the intervention will result in a significant reduction in the Apnea-Hypopnea Index (AHI), along with improvements in secondary outcomes such as excessive daytime sleepiness and oxygenation parameters.

A Cohort Study on Increasing Blood Pressure Benefits in Sleep Apnea Patients After CPAP Treatment

Research Title "Quadruple-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial of the Effect of CPAP on Blood Pressure in Patients with Sleep Apnea" Why are we conducting this study? * Sleep apnea (OSA) is very common, affecting approximately one in every eight adults. It makes it more difficult to control blood pressure. * Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) is the preferred treatment, but the effect on blood pressure varies from person to person. * We want to know: Which patients experience the greatest reduction in blood pressure with CPAP? Can adding a little sleep aid medication for those who have trouble sleeping or frequently wake up at night improve the effectiveness of CPAP and lead to better blood pressure control? Who will participate? * 18-70 years old, diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea, with snoring, gasping, or daytime sleepiness. * High blood pressure or newly diagnosed with mild hypertension, or taking 1-2 blood pressure-lowering medications but not reaching the target. * Able to wear the CPAP mask every night and willing to undergo 3-month follow-up. * Pregnant women, those already using CPAP, those with a history of heart disease/stroke in the last 3 months, those working night shifts ≥ 3 nights/week, or those participating in other intervention trials are not eligible. What will the study do? First, conduct a full-night sleep monitoring and 24-hour blood pressure monitoring to adjust the most suitable CPAP pressure for you. Wear the CPAP mask for ≥ 4 hours every night, for a total of ≥ 21 days per month, for approximately 3 months. If you often wake up at night or have insomnia, you can voluntarily join the "sleep aid medication" group: take trazodone (25-150 mg) or zolpidem (3.75-7.5 mg) before bedtime for 4 weeks. During this period, we will use questionnaires, a small wristwatch (actigraphy), and additional sleep monitoring to observe changes in sleep and blood pressure; we will also draw a small amount of blood and collect urine for routine safety checks. You can withdraw at any time without any penalty and it will not affect your regular medical treatment. Possible benefits * Free comprehensive assessment of sleep and blood pressure, one-on-one guidance from a doctor. * May lead to a reduction in blood pressure and improvement in nighttime sleep quality. * Help future patients like you receive better treatment. Possible discomfort or risks * CPAP: mask pressure marks, dry mouth and nose, feeling of suffocation, bloating; most people's symptoms are relieved after adjusting the humidifier or mask. * Sleep aid medication: next-day drowsiness, dry mouth, dizziness, nausea; rare cases may include persistent penile erection in men (immediate medical consultation required); the risk of dependency for zolpidem after continuous use for 4 weeks is very low, but it still requires monitoring by a doctor. * Check: wearing a blood pressure cuff and sleep monitoring device may cause slight inconvenience during sleep. * If there is any injury related to the study, Anzhen Hospital will provide necessary treatment and compensation in accordance with Chinese laws. Privacy and Costs * Sleep monitoring, dynamic blood pressure, medications, and tests required for the study are all free. * Your name and medical record will only be viewed by researchers and the ethics committee. Personal identity will not be disclosed when the article is published. Contact person * Research Question: Dr. Xie Jiang 010-64456528 (during working days) / 131-6198-5564 (at other times) * Rights and Benefits: Beijing Anzhen Hospital Ethics Committee 010-64456214 Voluntary Decision Whether to participate or not is completely voluntary. You can withdraw at any time without any reason, and it will not affect the medical care you are entitled to.

Pilot Study of Negative Pressure Neck Therapy (NPNT)

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a serious, chronic sleep-related breathing disease in which the upper airway repeatedly collapses during sleep, leading to intermittent oxygen deprivation. This pilot study will evaluate the Safety and Efficacy of Negative Pressure Neck Therapy (NPNT) in up to 10 healthy participants. Participants will undergo 2 separate home sleep apnea tests (HSAT) approximately 1 week apart and will be randomly assigned to wear the NPNT device at either night 1 or night 2 of HSAT. Participation will include 5 on-site visits and 1 phone call over approximately 1 month.

Actigraphy, Wearable EEG Band and Smartphone for Sleep Staging

This study aims to evaluate the viability of the combined use of wearable and portable technologies for sleep staging. The results will be compared with polysomnography, in order to achieve clinical and diagnostic validation. Three domains of devices will be used: Movement sensors, wearable EEG band and smartphones The project will be composed of two stages: In the first stage, the use of the combination of actigraphy and EEG will be used for sleep staging in a sample of 12 healthy volunteers from 20 to 80 years old, both genders and with no sleep disorders for each combination of ACT+EEG. Considering there will two of each (thus four combinations), the final sample will be composed of 48 individuals. Once recruited, evaluated according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria and consented with the terms of this study, the participants will be referred to the sleep lab, in which they will undergo a full night type-1 in lab polysomnography, following the setup recommended by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. Concomitantly with the polysomnography, the participants will also use the combination of ACT+EEG. In the second stage, the most successful combination tested in the first stage will be tested in a clinical sample, composed by 60 participants from both genders, from 20 to 80 years old and with at least one sleep disorder or complaint. Among these, at least 30% of the sample should have moderate to severe insomnia, 30% should have high risk to sleep apnea and 70% should have excessive sleepiness scale. All the procedures, including the polysomnography will be performed identically to the first step.

Sleep Apnea Triggers of Atrial Fibrillation: N-of-1 Randomized Control Trial (SPARTA):

A pilot N-of-1 randomized controlled trial evaluating the effectiveness of a personalized CPAP intervention in reducing atrial fibrillation (AF) burden and improving AF-related quality of life in patients with moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

Personalised Treatment for OSA

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a sleep disorder characterized by repetitive episodes of partial or complete obstruction of the upper airway during sleep. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is a method used as a first-line treatment for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). However, intolerance and resistance to CPAP can limit its long-term effectiveness. Alternative treatments are available, such as Mandibular Advancement Devices (MADs), positional therapy, upper airway surgery, and maxillomandibular osteotomy. However, often less efficient in reducing the apnea-hypopnea index, the higher tolerance of and compliance to alternative treatment has resulted in the adequate treatment of OSA in CPAP-intolerant patients. This paper describes the protocol of a prospective single-center cohort study including adult patients with moderate to severe OSA (15 events/h ≤ apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) \< 65 events/h) that failed to comply with CPAP therapy. Selected patients will be invited to the clinic to explore alternative treatment options where DISE will be a first step in further identifying upper airway collapse during sleep. By exploring alternative treatment options in CPAP-intolerant patients and systematically documenting their treatment paths, an algorithm can be defined to better guide patients towards personalized treatment for OSA. The follow-up is aimed at 5 years with an inclusion of 170 patients per year, including a drop-out rate of 15%. By leveraging a real-world database, this study aims to bridge the gap between research and clinical practice, facilitating the development of evidence-based guidelines and personalized treatment algorithms for CPAP-intolerant patients.

The SNORE-trial: Analysis of Alterations in Sleep Stages Following Anesthesia and Their Relation to the Severity of Obstructive Sleep Apnea in the First 3 Nights After Surgery

The goal of this observational study is to learn about the relationship between sleep alterations following anesthesia and their relationship to a potential increase of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) severity. Our main question is: Is there an increased severity of OSA on the third post-operative night compared to the first post-operative night and does this have a relation with REM sleep? Participants enrolled in this research are all diagnosed with OSA, with or without treament. All participants will be asked to wear a watchlike device called WATCHPAT to identify sleep paterns and register apneic (no breathing) and hypopneic (insufficient breathing) incidents. We ask our participants to wear this device for 8-10 hours a night when they are a sleep.