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neuroscientists

found that the neurotransmitters gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and glycine caused REM sleep paralysis in rats by "switching off" the specialized cells in the brain that allow muscles to be active

reversed earlier beliefs that glycine was a lone inhibitor of these motor neurons.

By identifying the neurotransmitters and receptors involved in sleep-related paralysis, this study points us to possible molecular targets for developing treatments for sleep-related motor disorders

Previous research suggested neurotransmitter receptors called ionotropic GABAA/glycine receptors in the motor neurons caused REM sleep paralysis

when the researchers blocked these receptors, REM sleep paralysis still occurred.

to prevent REM sleep paralysis, they had to block both the ionotropic receptors and metabotropic GABAB receptors, a different receptor system

when the motor cells were cut off from all sources of GABA and glycine, the paralysis did not occur

suggest the two neurotransmitters must both be present together to maintain motor control during sleep

finding could be especially helpful for those with REM sleep disorder, a disease that causes people to act out their dreams

Stimulation Therapy for Apnea Reduction (STAR) trial

conducted at 22 medical centers in the United States and Europe

OSA, which affects more than 8 million men and 4 million women in the U.S. and is twice as common in men

is characterized by repeated episodes of upper airway collapse during sleep, due to narrowing or blockage

Patients with OSA stop breathing, known as apnea, frequently during sleep, often for a minute or longer

Repeated episodes of apnea can lead to daytime fatigue, and increase a person's risk for heart attack, stroke, high blood pressure and even death.

Treatments for OSA include weight loss, upper airway surgeries, oral appliances, and continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), which is considered the primary treatment for OSA

CPAP is a successful treatment when used on a regular basis, as many as half of the patients who have been prescribed CPAP are unable to use it regularly

largely due to discomfort with the mask and/or the lack of desire to be tethered to a machine

Inspire UAS therapy

differs from other traditional sleep apnea devices and surgical procedures

targets the muscle tone of the throat rather than just the anatomy

Two thirds of patients using the Inspire UAS therapy device had successful control of their OSA

even more reported improvement in snoring, daytime sleepiness and quality of life measures

Eighty-six percent of patients were still using the device every night at the one year mark, which compares very favorably to CPAP

From 724 candidates initially screened, the STAR trial implanted and prospectively evaluated 126 moderate-to-severe OSA patients who had difficulty using or adhering to CPAP therapy:

83 percent of the participants were men, the mean age was 54.5 years, and the mean body-mass index was 28.4.

All patients underwent surgery to implant the device.

The device stimulates the nerve of the tongue during sleep, thereby enlarging and stabilizing the airway and improving control of breathing.

Surgical implantation of the upper-airway stimulation system was performed by otolaryngologists at 22 academic and private centers

The device was implanted in three areas

stimulation electrode was placed on the hypoglossal nerve, which provides innervation to the muscles of the tongue

a sensing lead was placed between rib muscles to detect breathing effort

a neurostimulator was implanted in the upper right chest, just below the clavicle bone

Patients used a "controller" to turn on the device at night, so it is only used when the patient sleeps

device is designed to sense breathing patterns and deliver mild stimulation to a patient's airway muscles to keep the airway open during sleep.

various sleep-disorder measuring systems, patients were found to experience 68 to 70 percent fewer sleep-apnea episodes per hou