Objective To investigate influences of nasal continuous positive airway pressure to sleep architecture of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome and the reason of daytime sleepiness. Methods 34 patients with severe OSAS were monitored with polysomnography (PSG) before and after nCPAP treatment. Results Apnea hypoventilation index (AHI) decreased and the lowest SaO2 increased and sleep architecture was improved in all patients. Conclusion The nCPAP therapy can effectively improve the disturbances of sleep architecture and respiratory parameters.

Objective To explore the role of matrix metalloproteinase 9(MMP-9)and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1(TIMP-1)in patients with acute exacerbation of severe chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (AECOPD)treated with glucocorticoids.Methods The serum levels of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 were measured by ELISA in 41 patients with AECOPD before and after treatment with glucocorticoids and in 40 patients with regular methods(control group).Results ①After treatment with glucocorticoids,the serum levels of MMP-9(189.25±52.38)μg/L、TIMP-1(198.38±43.45)μg/L,ratio of MMP-9/TIMP-1(0.92±0.37)were decreased significantly than before((246.10±68.64)μg/L,(217.63±62.34)μg/L,(1.09±0.23))(P<0.01,P<0.05,P<0.05);but there were no differences(P>0.05)in regular methods(control group);② After treatment with glucoeorticoids, FEV_1、FEV_1%((0.83±0.35)L,(46±17)%)were impmved than before((0.72±0.48)L,(34±15)%)(P<0.05).Conclusions After treatment with glucocorticoids,the serum levels of MMP-9、TIMP-1、ratio of MMP-9/TIMP-1 from patients with COPD were decreased significandy,and FEV_1、FEV_1%were improved significant;Glucocorticoids can alleviate severs AECOPD to some degrees,which might be related to improving the imbalance of MMP-9/TIMP-1.