Malalties respiratòries i sistèmiques

Research group in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS), using as animal model the brachiocephalic breed, Boxer (English and French) is constituted by Drs. Juan Lorente Guerrero (UAB Lecturer, Hospital de la Vall d’Hebron), Santiago Lavin González (Professor), Rafaela Cuenca Valera (Lecturer), Josep Pastor Milán (Lecturer), Roser Velarde Nieto (Specialized Technician in Research Support) and Marta Planellas Bachs (Associate
Professor at the Hospital Clínico Veterinario de la UAB.).

The main objective of this investigation is to define similarities and differences between human patients and animals regarding this particular disease  in order to, if that were the case, use brachiocephalic breed as animal models in the options of treatment for the human disease.

The specific objectives of this research line are the following ones:

1. Defining histopathological and immunohistochemical changes regarding myosin fiber distribution of type I and II,  that produce soft palate in brachiocephalic dogs affected by upper airway obstruction syndrome,  regarding dogs without this pathology which have been euthanize for different reasons.

2. Establishing existing similarities and differences between soft palates in brachiocephalic dogs affected by upper airway obstruction syndrome and uvula of human patients with OSAS.

3. Determining correlation between degree of injuries observed at histopathological and immunohistochemical level and the clinics presented in each patient, firstly in each specie alone and afterwards comparing them.

4. Determining levels of canine acute-phase proteins (C-reactive protein, haptoglobin), as inflation indicators, and levels of cardiac troponin I, as myocardial damage indicator, in animals affected by upper airway obstruction syndrome to compare them afterwards with those that present dogs that are not affected by this pathology.

5. Evaluating surgical treatment efficacy as therapeutic alternative, in dogs affected by upper airway obstruction syndromes, through a clinical monitoring, supported by complementary diagnostic tests.

In this project, we are working on the patients collection phase. Currently we have 5 patients.

OBJECTIVES of this study are:

1. Validating sentinel ganglion diagnostic accuracy in carcinoma pharyngolaryngeal T1-2 N0 as staging tool, through a SPECT-CT lymphoscintigraphy the day before surgery and surgical location of sentinel ganglion using a probe during surgery.

2. Studying and identifying lymphatic drainage of these tumors.

3. Comparing its usefulness versus conventional staging in clinics and CT.

4. Avoiding overtreatment of patients, eliminating VCG in N0 when Sentinel Ganglion is negative (once validated this technique).

Different studies suggest the association between gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and OSAS, but GERD prevalence in OSAS and the severity influence of OSAS upon  GERD are not known yet.

OBJECTIVES:

The main objective of this study is to determine the prevalence of GERD in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome using conventional polygraphic sleep. Wiht this study we also want to assess the efficacy of a symptom questionnaire in the diagnosis of gastroesophageal reflux in these patients.

PURPOSE:

Identifying patients with gastroesophageal reflux among patients affected by obstructive sleep apnea, in order to establish therapeutic measures to prevent GERD complications.