Sleep time and sleep-related symptoms across two generations – results of the community-based RHINE and RHINESSA studies

Study objectivesTo analyze the association between sleep-related symptoms and sleep length in parents and their children in relation to other risk factors in both generations.MethodThe participants were parents (n = 5,855, age 54.3 ± 6.5 years, 45.2% men) who participated in the community-based Respiratory Health in Northern Europe (RHINE) study and one random member of their adult offspring (n = 5,855, age 30.2 ± 7.7 years, 41.5% men) who participated in the Respiratory Health in Northern Europe, Spain and Australia (RHINESSA) study. Both generations responded to identical questionnaires on sleep symptoms, including difficulty initiating sleep (DIS), difficulty maintaining sleep (DMS), early morning awakening (EMA), snoring, nocturnal sweating, nocturnal gastroesophageal reflux (nGER), sleep time and excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS). Insomnia was defined as either, or both, DIS and DMS in combination with EDS.ResultsAll sleep variables except nocturnal sweating were more common in offspring whose parents had reported the same symptom. After adjusting for age, gender, BMI, smoking, physical activity, education, center and parents' total number of children, there were independent associations between sleep symptoms in parents and offspring for DIS (adj. OR, 95% CI: 1.52, 1.20–1.93), DMS (1.34, 1.15–1.56), snoring (1.45, 1.15,1.83), nGER (1.65, 1.15–2.37), insomnia (1.39, 1.13–1.73), short sleep time (<6 h/night) (2.51, 1.72–3.68) and EDS (1.48, 1.26,1.72). There were no independent relationships between symptoms in parents and offspring for EMA, nocturnal sweating or long sleep time (>9 h/night).ConclusionThe familiar aggregation of many sleep disturbances was not explained by investigated lifestyle and environmental factors. This supports a heritable factor in sleep problems.     

A nationwide survey of excessive daytime sleepiness in Parkinson's disease in France

To determine the prevalence of excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) and that of dozing and sudden onset of sleep episodes (SOS) while driving in ambulatory patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) in France, a national sample of private and public neurologists was asked to recruit the first 10 consecutive nondemented PD patients. Each patient completed a questionnaire including the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) and the likelihood of dozing off and experiencing SOS episodes behind the wheel. Clinical and demographic data were collected. One thousand six hundred and twenty‐five patients with PD were included in the survey. Twenty‐nine percent of the patients suffered from EDS (ESS score ≥10) but only 0.8% declared a high chance of dozing while driving and 0.5% reported totally unpredictable SOS episodes while driving. Risk factors for EDS were male gender, reduced activity of daily living, and a high daily levodopa equivalent dosage. Risk factors for SOS episodes while driving were an ESS score ≥10, male gender, and low Hoehn and Yahr staging. EDS is common in ambulatory patients with PD and is a major risk factor for dozing and for SOS episodes behind the wheel in patients who drive. © 2007 Movement Disorder Society     

Excessive daytime somnolence in Japanese patients with Parkinson''s disease

To investigate the prevalence and severity of excessive daytime somnolence (EDS) in Japanese patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) and to examine the main cause of EDS. Fifty-three Japanese patients with PD (PDs: 32 females and 21 males) and 17 controls (10 females and seven males) were evaluated using the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS). The severity of the disease was evaluated by Unified Parkinson's disease Rating Scale (UPDRS), and information about quality and quantity of medications was collected. The correlations amongst EDS and age, severity of PD, duration of illness and medications were analyzed. The mean ESS score was significantly higher in advanced PDs than in controls, and correlated with the UPDRS score (r(s) = 0.743, P < 0.0001). Age, duration of illness and the dose of levodopa weakly correlated with ESS score. The intake of dopamine agonists did not affect the severity of EDS. The mean ESS score in PDs was lower than that reported in PD in European and American studies. EDS in Japanese patients with PD was milder compared with Caucasian patients, which might be due to the lower doses of the medications used in Japan. The results suggest that EDS in PD is mainly because of neuropathological changes of the disease itself.     

提高H2O2/甲酸体系选择性氧化抽提脱硫效率的研究

为了降低焦化蜡油(CGO)-甲酸／H2O2选择性氧化体系中H2O2的无效分解速度，屏蔽重金属离子对H2O2分解的催化效应，考察了造纸行业中常用的硅酸钠、硅酸镁和乙二胺四乙酸(EDTA)等稳定剂和螯合剂的加入对有机溶剂抽提后CGO中含硫量的影响。实验结果表明，EDTA可以很好地和重金属离子螯合，氧化后CGO抽余油中硫含量大幅降低。     

Computer simulations and the use of radiolabelled sulphur colloid to measure the efficiency of the mononuclear phagocyte system

Technique are described whereby the clearance of the radiolabelled blood borne colloid can be continuously and reproducibly measured non-invasively from the same animal in vivo or from the isolated perfused intact liver in vitro. Using these techniques, the rate of removal of radiolabelled sulphur colloid by the mononuclear phagocytes in vivo and in vitro was shown to be biexponential. The pattern of clearance of colloid and the factors contributing to this were analysed with the aid of a computer program which mimicked the in vitro liver perfusion.     

二氧化硫吸入对小鼠脾细胞凋亡的诱导作用

目的:探讨二氧化硫大剂量吸入对小鼠脾细胞凋亡和脾脏组织学结构的影响.方法:以不同浓度的二氧化硫分别对小鼠连续染毒7d,用透射电镜法、DNA琼脂糖凝胶电泳法和流式细胞技术观察小鼠脾脏组织学结构和细胞凋亡改变.结果:在二氧化硫染毒组小鼠脾脏的红髓区和白髓区均有典型的脾细胞凋亡发生,在边缘区可见大量核变形淋巴细胞,此外还可见巨噬细胞出现明显的凋亡改变和网状内皮细胞受损.168mg/m3二氧化硫染毒可引起小鼠脾细胞凋亡率增加.结论:大剂量二氧化硫吸入可引起小鼠脾脏超微结构改变,在一定剂量和时间范围内可引起脾细胞凋亡加速,从而对机体的免疫功能造成一定损伤.     

New multiple congenital anomalies: Mental retardation syndrome (MCA/MR) with facio-cutaneous-skeletal involvement

Five unrelated patients (a male and 4 females) were affected with a previously undefined multiple congenital anomalies/mental retardation syndrome which has been designated the facio-cutaneous-skeletal (FCS) syndrome and which includes mental retardation with specific sociable, humorous behavior, characteristic facial appearance, excessive generalized skin, postnatal growth failure, and skeletal involvement. Consanguinity was noted in 2 patients, thus autosomal recessive inheritance is suggested. © 1992 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Endometrial and subendometrial blood flow measured during early luteal phase by three-dimensional power Doppler ultrasound in excessive ovarian responders

BACKGROUND: Impaired implantation in assisted reproduction cycles with high serum estradiol (E(2)) concentrations may be related to suboptimal endometrial perfusion. Endometrial and subendometrial blood flow were compared between excessive responders (serum E(2) on the day of HCG >20 000 pmol/l) and moderate responders (E(2) < or =20 000 pmol/l). METHODS: Three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound examination with power Doppler was performed 2, 4 and 7 days after HCG in 32 patients who did not have embryo transfer in order to measure endometrial thickness, pulsatility index (PI)/resistance index (RI) of uterine vessels, and endometrial volume, vascularization index (VI)/flow index (FI)/vascularization flow index (VFI) of endometrial and subendometrial regions. RESULTS: Excessive responders tended to have lower endometrial and subendometrial VI/VFI on HCG +2 and more absent endometrial/subendometrial blood flow. They had significantly higher endometrial FI and subendometrial VFI than moderate responders on HCG +7. Only in the excessive responder group, uterine PI/RI declined significantly from HCG +2 to HCG +7 and endometrial VI/VFI increased significantly from HCG +4 to HCG +7. CONCLUSION: Changes in uterine Doppler flow indices, and endometrial and subendometrial 3D power Doppler flow indices during the early luteal phase were significantly different between moderate and excessive responders.     

Association of a Mediterranean Diet and Fruit and Vegetable Consumption with Subjective Well-Being among Adults with Overweight and Obesity

Recent evidence suggests that among behavioral-lifestyle factors, adherence to a healthy dietary pattern such as the Mediterranean Diet (MedDiet) is linked not only to better psychological health and mental positive status but also to increased subjective well-being (SWB). Nevertheless, this association has been unexplored among individuals with excessive weight. This study explored whether adherence to the MedDiet and the intake of healthy foods such as fruits and vegetables (FV) are associated with increased happiness and life satisfaction among Spanish adults with overweight or obesity when weight, body image, and body satisfaction are also considered. A convenience sample of adult individuals with excessive weight completed self-reports on the study variables, and weight and BMI were measured by bioimpedance. No evidence of a relationship with SWB indicators was obtained for MedDiet global indicators, probably due to the low adherence to a healthy diet by these individuals. In contrast, FV intake, as a powerful indicator of healthy eating, was associated with life satisfaction when BMI and body image dimensions were considered, among which body satisfaction had a key role. Moreover, life satisfaction fully mediated the relationship between FV consumption and happiness. Our findings are expected to make a relevant contribution to knowledge on the positive correlates or protective factors for overall well-being in obesity, including dietary habits and body appreciation. Our results may inform obesity management actions focused on inclusive, positive aesthetic models and promoting a healthy lifestyle for happiness in obesity.     

ET、CGRP对天麻钩藤饮治疗阴虚阳亢型原发性高血压疗效的评估

用天麻钩藤饮治疗阴虚阳亢型原发性高血压，观察治疗前后的血浆内皮素（ＥＴ）、降钙素基因相关肽（ＣＧＲＰ）水平。结果：ＥＴ、ＣＧＲＰ、ＥＴ／ＣＧＲＰ与血压呈相关性；与血压的改善同步。ＥＴ、ＣＧＲＰ对治疗效果具有评估价值