title: Correlation between endothelial dysfunction, Rho-associated protein kinase activity, C-reactive protein and obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome in male patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study investigated the association between obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS) and flow-mediated dilatation (FMD), Rho-associated protein kinase (ROCK) activity, and C-reactive protein (CRP) concentrations in male patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Consecutive patients with symptoms suggestive of OSAS were recruited and divided into non-OSAS (n = 18) and OSAS (n = 32) groups. FMD was measured in the brachial artery; blood samples were taken to measure ROCK activity and CRP concentrations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  ROCK activity and CRP concentrations were significantly higher, and FMD was significantly lower, in the OSAS group than in the non-OSAS group. There was a correlation between ROCK activity and FMD. In stepwise multiple regression analyses, the proportion of sleep time spent with an oxygen saturation < 90% was a significant determinant of ROCK activity, while body mass index was the only significant determinant of CRP concentration. The oxygen desaturation index was a significant determinant of FMD.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  OSAS increased ROCK activity and was a major determinant of endothelial dysfunction.
authors: Department of Neurology, Changzheng Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China.
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Zhang
authors: J-H
authors: JH
authors: Zhuang
authors: H
authors: H
authors: Peng
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Huang
authors: L-Q
authors: LQ
authors: Huang
authors: Z-X
authors: ZX
authors: Zhao
mesh_terms: D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D001794:Blood Pressure; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001916:Brachial Artery / Q000378:metabolism; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D017286:Polysomnography; D012891:Sleep Apnea Syndromes / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism*; D054460:rho-Associated Kinases / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D054460:rho-Associated Kinases; D010100:Oxygen