Search

Purpose Oropharyngeal and tongue exercises (myofunctional therapy) have been shown to improve obstructive sleep apnea. However, to our knowledge, a systematic review has not been performed for snoring. The study objective is to perform a systematic review, with a meta-analysis, dedicated to snoring outcomes after myofunctional therapy. Methods PubMed/MEDLINE and three other databases were searched through November 25, 2017. Two authors independently searched the literature. Eligibility (1) patients: children or adults with snoring, (2) intervention: oropharyngeal and/or tongue exercises, (3) comparison: pre and post-treatment data for snoring, (4) outcomes: snoring frequency and snoring intensity, (5) study design: publications of all study designs. Results A total of 483 articles were screened, 56 were downloaded in their full text form, and nine studies reported outcomes related to snoring. There were a total of 211 patients (all adults) in these studies. The snoring intensity was reduced by 51% in 80 patients from pre-therapy to post-therapy visual analog scale values of 8.2 ± 2.1 (95% CI 7.7, 8.7) to 4.0 ± 3.7 (95% CI 3.2, 4.8). Berlin questionnaire snoring intensity reduced by 36% in 34 patients from 2.5 ± 1.0 (95% CI 2.2, 2.8) to 1.6 ± 0.8 (95% CI 1.3, 1.9). Finally, time spent snoring during sleep was reduced by 31% in 60 patients from 26.3 ± 18.7% (95% CI 21.6, 31.0) to 18.1 ± 20.5% (95% CI 12.9, 23.3) of total sleep time. Conclusions This systematic review demonstrated that myofunctional therapy has reduced snoring in adults based on both subjective questionnaires and objective sleep studies.

This study aims to provide an update on surgical modalities targeted specifically at the soft palate as treatment for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). OSA is an ever-changing field with advancements in not only medical management but also surgical interventions that continue to add to the plethora of treatment options. Though a multitude of surgical treatment modalities exist, the most commonly used technique involved remains the uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP). While over 100 articles were initially identified, many were excluded due to combination of other surgical techniques. Fewer than 20 studies evaluated surgery on the soft palate alone. This manuscript summarizes the techniques presented over the past 3 years. This review of the literature failed to identify any new developments improving consistency of efficacy of the surgical techniques directed towards the soft palate.

To examine outcomes in the intermediate term (1 to4 years), long term (4 to8 years), and very long term (≥8 years) for maxillomandibular advancement (MMA) as treatment for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).The Cochrane Library, Google Scholar, Embase, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health, and PubMed/MEDLINE.Three authors systematically reviewed the international literature through July 26, 2018.A total of 445 studies were screened, and 6 met criteria (120 patients). Thirty-one patients showed a reduction in apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) from a mean 48.3 events/h (95% CI, 42.1-54.5) pre-MMA to 8.4 (95% CI 5.6, 11.2) in the intermediate term. Fifty-four patients showed a reduction in AHI from a mean 65.8 events/h (95% CI, 58.8-72.8) pre-MMA to 7.7 (95% CI 5.9, 9.5) in the long term. Thirty-five showed a reduction in AHI from a mean 53.2 events/h (95% CI 45, 61.4) pre-MMA to 23.1 (95% CI 16.3, 29.9) in the very long term. Improvement in sleepiness was maintained at all follow-up periods. Lowest oxygen saturation improvement was maintained in the long term.The current international literature shows that patients with OSA who were treated with MMA maintained improvements in AHI, sleepiness, and lowest oxygen saturation in the long term; however, the mean AHI increased to moderate OSA in the very long term. Definitive generalizations cannot be made, and additional research providing individual patient data for the intermediate term, long term, and very long term is needed.

Objectives/Hypothesis The primary objective was to determine if sleep study variables (e.g., apnea-hypopnea index [AHI] and lowest oxygen saturation) and quantitative sleepiness data improve following isolated hyoid surgery for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Study Design Systematic review and meta-analysis. Methods Nine databases, including PubMed, were searched through September 5, 2015. Results Four hundred ninety-eight studies were screened, 64 were reviewed, and nine studies met inclusion criteria. A total of 101 patients were identified who underwent hyoid surgery alone for treatment of OSA. Subanalyses were performed for: 1) type of surgery, 2) primary versus secondary hyoid surgery, 3) positional versus nonpositional OSA, 4) age, and 5) body mass index. In patients undergoing isolated hyoid surgery, the AHI decreased from a mean ± standard deviation of 37.3 ± 21.1 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 33.1, 41.5) to 23.0 ± 18.6 (95% CI: 19.3, 26.7) events/hour, which correspond to a 38.3% reduction (P < .0001). AHI reduced by 38.3% for hyoid myotomy with suspension, by 50.7% for hyothyroidopexy, and by 7.1% for hyoid expansion. The Epworth Sleepiness Scale decreased by 3.2 points from 10.3 ± 4.9 (95% CI: 8.8, 11.8) to 7.1 ± 4.2 (95% CI: 5.8, 8.4; P = .0027). Conclusions Isolated hyoid surgery has reduced OSA severity and improved sleepiness in adults. Hyothyroidopexy provided a 50.7% reduction in AHI, followed by hyoid myotomy with suspension (38.3% reduction in AHI) and hyoid expansion (7.1% reduction in AHI). The current literature lacks high-quality evidence with regard to hyoid surgery, and additional studies are needed to further elucidate the effect of hyoid surgery in OSA. Level of Evidence NA Laryngoscope, 2015

Some studies have indicated a relationship between the development of Alzheimers Disease (AD) and having obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), while others argue that AD itself leads to sleep disturbances and sleep disordered breathing. Whether peripheral due to the direct effects of abnormal protein aggregation or central due to the systemic effects of Beta - A aggregation in functionally important areas of the central nervous system, there seems to be an association between misfolded protein and sleep disordered breathing. These findings from studies into another proteopathy lends further credence to the revelations reported from the prion related research and brings us closer to understanding the disease mechanism behind both OSA and protein misfolding. The conglomeration of findings from studies into proteopathies clearly provides significant impetus into continuing research in proteopathies to improve our understanding of not only sleep disordered breathing but the enigma that is proteopathy.

Prions normally exist as cellular membrane proteins. In humans, 209 amino acids with one disulfide bond form a primarily alpha-helical prion protein structure with a molecular mass of 35 to 36 kDa. The specific role and function of the prion protein elude research efforts and remains a controversial topic. Misfolding of the native prion protein leads to a protein structure with increased proportion of alpha-helices to beta-sheets. Advancing our understanding of the role of the prion protein as it relates to sleep and sleep disturbances presents an appealing avenue into diagnosing and more effectively treating a devastating and debilitating disease. New research into multiple system atrophy further validates evidence of a direct association between the prion protein and sleep. This reinforces previous observations regarding changes in sleep patterns noted with patients affected by Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease and Fatal Familial Insomnia. From these earlier studies, a more focused approach to identifying and defining the role of the prion protein appears possible. A clearer understanding of the functional prion protein in its native role within the cell membrane allows identification of the potential signaling pathways and the aberration that likely occurs that leads to misfolding at the thermodynamic level. This discovery holds the greater, global potential of elucidating the mystery of proteopathies.