Projects / Programmes
Nervous control and neurological disorders of breathing
| Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
| 3.03.00 |
Medical sciences |
Neurobiology |
|
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| B640 |
Biomedical sciences |
Neurology, neuropsychology, neurophysiology |
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| 3.02 |
Medical and Health Sciences |
Clinical medicine |
respiratory disorders, neural control of respiration, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, obstructive sleep apnea syndrome
Researchers (27)
Organisations (1)
Abstract
2. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects upper and lower motor neurons (UMN, LMN) and thus impairs movement dexterity and causes muscle weakness. Respiratory insufficiency is generally attributed to the LMN lesion. Possible contribution of the UMNs to it is not known. They are active only during breath holding, speech, but not during quiet automatic breathing. Expiration is mostly passive, muscles being activated only during strong reflex or voluntary exhalations. There is no validated method for the assessment of the UMN function in respiration. Our aim is to explore whether the so called movement-related cortical potentials can be used as such. They precede the onset of self-paced movements, reflect functioning of the cortical motor areas, and are generated by the pyramidal cortical neurones that are affected by ALS.
We will study healthy subjects and ALS patients. They will be assessed clinically and by inspiration-, expiration- and finger flexion-related cortical potentials. We shall use sniffing and expirations through the nose because nasal pressures are known to correlate well with the decline in the respiratory muscle strength.
3. Conduction studies in the phrenic nerves are used in patients in whom the respiratory complaints are thought to be due to the peripheral nervous system disease. In our EMG laboratory such studies were standardized. Normative values of the parameters used in the studies were obtained. In our routine EMG practice we aim to differentiate between the patients with respiratory insufficiency in whom the cause is neuromuscular dysfunction and those in whom it is not. The proposed project will concentrate on the later group of patients in order investigate whether the primary pulmonary pathology may cause any secondary neuromuscular affection. We have chosen patients with the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease as their diaphragms are exposed to the rather pronounced and long lasting work load, what may possibly affect their functioning. There is no published literature on this.
4. Obstructive sleep apneas (OSAS) are short breathing stops during sleep, and are frequently found in adults. OSAS presents risk factor for cardiovascular disorders, accidents and sudden death. SOAS is the consequence of blockade in upper airway. Electromyography (EMG) of upper airway muscles has shown that muscle activity is diminished during sleep. Some studies suggest miopathic, while other neuropathic changes. The purpose of our study is to explore genioglossus muscle in OSA patients. The quantitative EMG of different muscles will be used (geniogglosus, vastus lateralis). As OSAS diagnosis can only be made by night polysomnography, all patients will be diagnosed with the classical PSG. Computer flow analysis will be used on the basis of computer tomography and will help us for dynamic model of breathing disorder during sleep. The results of this dynamic model are important for better understanding of the disease and planning of the therapy and future preventive procedures.
Significance for science
Breathing disorders (in sleep and/or in wakefulness) have been demonstrated as symptoms as well as - in other cases - causes of various pathologic conditions. Being a serious threat to health and/or well-being of an individual human being as well as society, breathing disorders have attracted much attention of their researchers. Excessive daytime sleepiness either caused by sleep disorders-related sleeplessness or by other pathology has been recognized as the cause of many accidents at work and in traffic. With the project, we have introduced innovative approach to the research on sleep in health and disease and, more importantly, contributed to international professional community our own results and knowledge of physiology and pathophysiolgy of sleep.
Significance for the country
Reports on our research project have attracted international attention and thus joined Slovenia to the countries that are leading in this research field. International co-operation has been started, aiming at gathering new basic as well as applicable knowledge on sleep which is expected to result also in better and more efficient treatment of sleep disorders.
Most important scientific results
Annual report
2011,
2012,
2013,
final report,
complete report on dLib.si
Most important socioeconomically and culturally relevant results
Annual report
2011,
2012,
2013,
final report,
complete report on dLib.si
