Obstructive sleep apnea: from neurochemistry to clinical care. A tale of translational science and a vlog.
The October 2011 issue of Anesthesiology contained five primary data papers (Brummett et al., Gauthier et al., Pick et al., Pillay et al., and Solt et al.) emphasizing the relevance of sleep study for anesthesia. In that same issue, the editorial announcing the ASA Presidential Scholar Award noted sleep as one research area of G.A. Mashour, the award recipient. At ANESTHESIOLOGY 2011, the John W. Severinghaus Lecture given by Giulio Tononi was titled “Sleep, Anesthesia, and Consciousness.” Furthermore, October 2011 marked the inaugural meeting for the Society of Anesthesia and Sleep Medicine.
We appreciate the invitation to contribute to Page 2. Our contribution provides another perspective on research devoted to the interface between sleep and anesthesia. “Buprenorphine Disrupts Sleep and Decreases Adenosine Concentrations in Sleep-regulating Brain Regions of Sprague Dawley Rat,” the study by Gauthier et al., addressed the issue that virtually every drug used to treat pain disrupts normal sleep. This is a clinically significant problem because sleep fragmentation and sleep deprivation enhance pain, diminish cognitive function, and compromise the immune system.
Davidson`s editorial, “Translational Research: What Does It Mean?,” featured in the November 2011 issue of Anesthesiology, inspired us to point out that sleep research and anesthesiology research are translational. To demonstrate this point, filmmaker Emily Nine and I have created a video blog (also known as a “vlog”) entitled “Obstructive Sleep Apnea: From Neurochemistry to Clinical Care.” The title and the video frame the Gauthier et al. paper in a broader translational context. Our chairman, Kevin Tremper, has fostered an environment that encourages a viable and enjoyable interaction between pre-clinical and clinical research. This, in our opinion, is the sine qua non of translational science.