小学生学校动态绘画与学业成绩

目的:初步了解国内小学生学校动态绘画指标的特点,探讨小学生学校动态绘画与学业成绩的关系.方法:选取广州市某小学五年级学生82名施测学校动态绘画.以人物尺寸、人物距离、朋友数量、人物顺序等为绘画指标,以学生绘画前最近一次语文、数学、英语三科考试成绩的平均值作为学业成绩标准.将学业成绩排在82名同学中前27％的被试作为高学业成绩组(n=22),排名后27％的作为低学业成绩组(n=22).结果:样本学生绘画的教师像尺寸大于西方小学生[(65.7±28.3) mm vs.(54.3±25.3) mm,P＜0.05],师生距离小于西方小学生[(56.1 ±41.2) mm vs.(90.0±79.5) mm,P＜0.01];师生距离[(56.1±41.2) mm vs.(98.8±55.9) mm]、同伴距离[(34.9±33.2) mm vs.(53.2 ±30.8)mm]和朋友数量[(1.4±0.7)vs.(2.4±1.2)]小于日本小学生(均P＜0.01).高学业成绩组学生的自画像尺寸大于低学业成绩组[(59.2±20.9) mm vs.(44.0±23.5) mm; P＜0.05],同伴距离小于低学业成绩组[(22.6± 14.0) mmvs.(42.7±40.3) mm; P＜0.05].自画像尺寸(r=0.22,P＜0.05)、教师像尺寸(r=0.24,P＜0.05)与学业成绩呈正相关;朋友顺序与学业成绩呈负相关(r=-0.23,P＜0.05).结论:国内小学生的学校动态绘画指标可能与西方、日本小学生存在差异,动态绘画的某些指标与学业成绩存在相关性.     

失眠症患者状态-特质焦虑与睡眠结构的关系

目的:探讨失眠症患者睡眠结构改变与状态焦虑和特质焦虑的关系.方法:对31例失眠症患者和20例正常对照者进行状态-特质焦虑问卷调查和整夜多导睡眠图描记,失眠症组于症状缓解出院后3~4月回访时重复检查.结果:(1)在睡眠结构上,与对照组相比,失眠症组呈现睡眠时间减少[(333.71±84.33)min vs.(403.65±19.29)min]、睡眠效率下降[(70.41±17.35) % vs.(83.45±4.42) %]、睡眠潜伏期[(39.48±24.24) min vs.(19.65±8.57) min]和快速眼动睡眠潜伏期延长[(106.60±42.89) min vs.(86.80±12.25) min],S_1睡眠时间比例增加[( 25.36±14.22) %vs.(8.86±1.77) %]、觉醒次数增多[(4.45±2.51) vs.(1.75±1.07)].S_(3+4)睡眠[(7.38±9.70)% vs.(13.78±4.24)%]和快速眼动睡眠时间比例[( 14.54±5.61) %vs.(19.18±2.14) %]减少 (Ps<0.05).(2)在状态-特质焦虑问卷评分上,失眠症组状态焦虑[(47.94 ±8.96) vs.(39.15±4.51)]和特质焦虑[(49.94 ±8.90) vs.(42.05±7.13)]得分均高于对照组(Ps<0.05).状态焦虑与睡眠潜伏期、快眼动睡眠潜伏期、觉醒次数和S_1睡眠时间比例均呈正相关(r=0.25~0.44,Ps<0.05),而与快眼动睡眠时间比例呈负相关(r=-0.41,P<0.01);特质焦虑与睡眠潜伏期和觉醒次数正相关(r=0.37,0.29;均Ps<0.05).(3)回访时患者睡眠结构改善,状态焦虑得分下降,特质焦虑无明显变化.结论:失眠症患者有明显的睡眠结构改变和较高的状态焦虑和特质焦虑,其睡眠结构改变与状态焦虑和特质焦虑相关.     

孤独症谱系障碍儿童的睡眠行为

目的:探讨学前期和学龄期孤独症谱系障碍(autism spectrum disorders,ASD)儿童的睡眠行为的特点和差异。方法:选取符合美国精神障碍诊断与统计手册第4版(DSM-IV)诊断标准的ASD儿童84名和年龄性别匹配的正常儿童91名,使用儿童睡眠习惯问卷(CSHQ)和一周睡眠日记,由儿童主要照顾者记录儿童的睡眠情况。依据CSHQ总分大于41分为睡眠不良,以具体条目中睡眠行为发生频率超过2晚/周的标准界定睡眠行为问题,分3～5岁和6～12岁两个年龄段比较ASD与对照组儿童在睡眠行为和习惯上的差异。结果:3～5岁ASD组儿童CSHQ的睡眠潜伏期[(2.1±0.8)vs.(1.6±0.7)]、睡眠持续情况[(5.4±1.7)vs.(4.8±1.3)]得分高于对照组,入睡困难(77.6%vs.49.0%)、睡眠量不足(63.3%vs.42.9%)、夜醒哭闹(34.7%vs.12.2%)及日间疲乏(36.7%vs.10.2%)的比例较对照组高(均P0.05)。6～12岁ASD儿童平时睡眠总时长短于对照组[(8.68±0.76)h vs.(9.33±1.00)h],CSHQ的入睡抵触[(10.1±2.8)vs.(8.6±2.5)]、睡眠潜伏期[(1.7±0.7)vs.(1.4±0.6)]与睡眠焦虑[(5.4±2.0)vs.(4.5±1.9)]得分高于对照组,入睡困难(54.3%vs.31.0%)、睡眠量不足(60.0%vs.35.7%)、与父母同睡(65.7%vs.38.1%)、入睡需陪伴(68.6%vs.35.7%)的比例较对照组高(均P0.05)。结论:ASD儿童普遍存在睡眠总量少、入睡困难等问题,学龄前期以夜醒后哭闹和白天疲倦较为突出,而学龄期则以睡眠焦虑较为明显。     

睡眠信念与态度量表在失眠患者健康教育中的应用

目的: 采用睡眠个人信念与态度量表探索患者睡眠障碍与哪些歪曲的信念有关,针对歪曲的信念进行睡眠实践教育,达到促进睡眠的目的.方法: 连续收集62例以失眠为主诉的患者,随机分成试验组与对照组,各31例,两组均在药物治疗及心理治疗基础上进行睡眠健康教育.试验组针对患者自身存在的歪曲信念态度进行健康教育,而对照组只进行常规的健康宣教.入组前及入组后每周,应用睡眠个人信念与态度量表(Dysfunctional Beliefs and Attitudes about Sleep Scale,DBAS)、匹茨堡睡眠指数量表(Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index,PSQI)对两组进行测评,同时让患者评价睡眠时间、睡眠质量、睡眠效果和对健康教育接受程度.结果: 健康教育4周后试验组和对照组DBAS得分均高于人组时[(111.0±8.7)vs.(88.9±12.3)、(93.5±17.2)vs.(81.3±19.2),P:0.001、0.010],而PSQI得分均低于入组时[(5.5±2.1)vs.(10.9±4.4)、(9.0 ±2.1)vs.(11.5±3.6),均P=0.001];健康教育4周后对照组的DBAS得分低于实验组,而PSQI得分高于实验组.健康教育后试验组对睡眠时间、睡眠质量、睡眠效果满意的比例均明显提高,睡眠时间满意的比例由18/31到30/31,对睡眠质量满意比例由8/31变为23/31,对睡眠效果满意比例由8/31到21/31(均P＜0.05).试验组对睡眠时间满意的比例明显高于对照组(30/31 vs.14/31,P＜0.01),对健康教育的接受程度也明显高于对照组(18/31 vs.5/31,P＜0.05).结论: 试验组健康教育后患者的睡眠信念有了明显的改善,睡眠质量有了提高.     

腰椎间盘突出症患者术前焦虑与术后恢复的关系

目的:探讨腰椎间盘突出症患者术前焦虑情绪与术后疼痛、术后恢复的关系.方法:用医院焦虑抑郁量表(hospital anxiety and depression scale,HADS)评估行腰椎间盘手术的54例患者的焦虑情绪,以≥8分判为有焦虑情绪;用疼痛量表评估患者的疼痛程度,并记录病情恢复情况.用卡方检验,t检验比较焦虑组和非焦虑组的差异情况.结果:54例患者中有25例有焦虑;睡眠情况、对手术的认知程度、手术费用的承受能力与焦虑水平相关(OR=0.495,0.657,1.485).在术后6小时、2天、5天时,焦虑组的疼痛得分高于非焦虑组的疼痛得分[(9.0±4.1)vs.(6.0±3.4),(12.5±4.2)vs.(10.0±3.5),(4.5±1.6 )vs.(2.5±1.2);均P＜0.05].焦虑组患者的住院时间长于非焦虑组患者[(12.5±2.3)d vs.(9.7±2.1)d,P=0.008],排尿困难发生率高于非焦虑组患者(32% vs.17%,P=0.006).腰腿疼在术后第2天、第5天、1个月时焦虑组评分高于非焦虑组[(14.0±3.7)vs.(11.5±3.5),(9.5±4.2)vs.(6.5±3.3),(7.0±4.3)vs.(4.5±2.8);P＜0.05].结论:术前焦虑情绪影响术后刀口疼痛,术前焦虑与术后恢复有关.     

睡眠剥夺影响执行控制的功能磁共振成像研究

目的: 探讨完全睡眠剥夺(total sleep deprivation,TSD)对大脑执行控制功能的影响.方法: 采用自身前后对照设计.以13名健康男性大学生作为被试,进行两次Go/No-go测验,同时进行功能磁共振成像(functional magnetic resonance imaging,fMRI)扫描,第一次在正常睡眠后12小时完成,第2次间隔3周在睡眠剥夺36小时后完成.结果: 与睡眠后的Co/No-go测试成绩相比,睡眠剥夺后被试的正确击中率下降[(0.99±0.01)vs.(0.97±0.04),P＜0.05)],错误反应率增高[(0.04±0.04)vs.(0.10±0.08),P＜0.05].fMRI结果显示前扣带回皮质活动降低[(-0.391±0.003)vs.0;P＜0.05],前额叶皮质活动明显增强[(0.653±0.003)vs.0;P＜0.05].结论: 睡眠剥夺36小时导致执行抑制功能的显著下降,前额叶皮质出现功能代偿是维持认知作业的重要特征.     

澳门特别行政区初三学生的睡眠质量、睡眠模式与抑郁、焦虑情绪

目的:了解澳门特别行政区初三年级学生的睡眠质量、模式与抑郁、焦虑情绪的关系。方法:抽取澳门535名初中三年级学生,用匹兹堡睡眠质量指数量表(PSQI)评估睡眠质量,爱泼沃斯思睡量表(ESS)以及清晨型和夜晚型量表(MEQ)调查白天思睡与睡眠模式,用贝克抑郁量表(BDI)、状态-特质焦虑量表(STAI)调查抑郁、焦虑状况。结果:PSQI和ESS得分分别为(5.2±2.6)和(8.4±4.7),女生PSQI[(5.5±2.5)vs.(4.8±2.6)]和ESS[(8.9±4.6)vs.(8.0±4.8)]得分高于男生(均P0.05)。MEQ平均得分(13.3±3.1),女生得分低于男生[(12.8±3.0)vs.(13.7±3.2),P0.01]。学生周末和假日的总睡眠时间长于平日总睡眠时间[(608±106)min,(605±109)min vs.(457±75)min],女生周末[(628±110)min vs.(590±97)min]和假期[(631±109)min vs.(581±103)min]平均睡眠时间长于男生(均P0.01)。BDI和STAI得分分别为(13.5±10.3)、(78.9±17)。睡眠质量差和白天思睡者MEQ得分、上学日睡眠时间低于睡眠质量好和无白天思睡者MEQ得分,而睡眠质量差和白天思睡者BDI得分高于睡眠质量好和无白天思睡者BDI得分(均P0.05)。PSQI分别与ESS、BDI,以及STAI中的TAI分呈正相关(r=0.27、0.37、0.12,均P0.05),而与M EQ和上学日总睡眠时间呈负相关(r=-0.30、-0.30,均P0.05)。结论:睡眠质量差和白天思睡在澳门初三学生中较为普遍,他们在上学日的平均睡眠时间不足,但在周末和假日则延长睡眠时间以作补充,其中女生更易出现上述睡眠模式。大部分学生有轻度抑郁,睡眠质量差可能与其抑郁、焦虑状况相关。     

睡眠剥夺对青年男性执行功能的影响

目的:应用事件相关脑电位(event related potential,ERP)技术探讨完全睡眠剥夺(totalsleep deprivation,TSD)对大脑执行功能的影响。方法:采用被试内两因素重复测量设计。14名健康男性硕士参加2次试验,第1次作为对照,正常睡眠;第2次接受36h睡眠剥夺。在每次试验中被试共进行5次Go/Nogo测验,同时记录事件相关脑电位N2、P3的波幅和潜伏期及行为学数据。结果:在测量时间水平上,Fz电极Nogo-N2的波幅与基线值相比,12h后减小[(-5.21±2.62)μV vs.(-6.66±3.19)μV]。Fz电极Nogo-P3的波幅和潜伏期与基线值相比,在24h后波幅下降,潜伏期延长[(8.51±7.34)μV vs.(11.80±6.70)μV;(376.36±38.68)ms vs.(364.10±39.97)ms]。在睡眠与否水平上,睡眠剥夺时Fz电极Nogo-N2、Nogo-P3的波幅低于正常睡眠值[(-4.91±3.27)μV vs.(-6.06±2.96)μV;(8.43±6.65)μV vs.(9.97±6.36)μV],Cz电极Nogo-P3的潜伏期长于正常睡眠值[(375.40±39.55)msvs.(364.96±39.17)ms]。结论:随着睡眠剥夺时间的延长,N2、P3呈现波幅逐渐减小潜伏期逐渐延长的趋势,提示睡眠剥夺可能损害大脑的执行功能。     

青少年的睡眠质量与负性生活事件、人格

目的:探讨青少年睡眠质量与负性生活事件、人格的关系,考察负性生活事件、人格特质与睡眠质量是否有交互作用.方法:本研究数据来自中国科学院心理研究所全国青少年心理健康数据库中2008年的调查数据,样本是用系统分层抽样方法抽取的4538名中小学生,采用匹兹堡睡眠质量指数(PSQI)、青少年负性生活事件自评问卷和艾森克人格问卷少年版(EPQ-Junior)评估青少年睡眠质量、负性生活事件和人格.结果:本样本PSQI总分为(5.1±2.8),26％的人有睡眠质量问题(PSQI≥7).11～14岁年龄组PSQI得分低于15 ～ 17岁年龄组,15～ 17岁年龄组PSQI得分低于18～20岁年龄组[(3.9±2.5)vs.(5.4±2.6)vs.(6.5±2.7),P＜0.01].PSQI总分与负性生活事件总分(r=0.32),EPQ-Jun-ior的神经质(r=0.54)、精神质维度(r=0.18)得分呈正相关(均P＜0.01),与内外倾维度得分呈负相关(r=-0.16,P＜0.01).二分logistic回归分析显示,负性生活事件得分(OR=1.56)与EPQ-Junior的神经质维度得分(OR=1.23)越高,PSQI得分可能越高(均P＜0.01).结论:同时存在神经质人格高分和经历负性生活事件多的青少年的睡眠质量可能更差.     

发作性睡病患者的快速眼球运动密度特征

目的:比较快速眼球运动(REM)密度在发作性睡病患者和特发性嗜睡患者中的特点,探讨REM密度作为发作性睡病诊断的生物标志物的可能性。方法:回顾分析以嗜睡(不可抗拒的入睡)为主诉住院且完成整夜多导睡眠监测(nPSG)以及次日多次睡眠潜伏期试验(MSLT)患者40例。以临床诊断为发作性睡病以及MSLT结果平均潜伏期≤8 min且出现≥2次睡眠始发REM睡眠现象(SOREMPs)为发作性睡病组(25例),其他为特发性嗜睡组(15例)。比较两组人口学资料,nPSG以及MSLT各项指标结果。结果:与特发性嗜睡组相比,发作性睡病组在MSLT中睡眠潜伏期减少[(9.1±5.9) min vs.(3.8±3.3) min,P<0.001],SOREMPs次数增加[(0.3±0.5) vs.(3.9±1.1),P<0.001],REM密度增加[(3.1±1.2) vs.(4.2±1.6),P<0.05]。结论:与特发性嗜睡患者相比,发作性睡病患者快速眼球运动密度增加,作为发作性睡病辅助诊断的生物标志物可能有意义。     

Quantitative trait loci approach to the genetics of sleep in recombinant inbred mice

Sleep is a complex trait controlled by many genes, the environment, and probably by gene–environment interactions. Among different approaches to the genetics of sleep, analysis of quantitative traits (QTL) has the advantage of being able to detect, along with major genes, minor and/or modifier genes influencing different quantitative aspects of sleep. We have used QTL analysis in two different sets of recombinant inbred (RI) strains and sought for confirmation of several localizations in eight histocompatibility congenic strains. Several QTLs were identified which influenced the amount of vigilance states. In a first RI series (seven strains) the only QTLs identified were those affecting paradoxical sleep (PS), whereas analysis in a second RI series (25 strains) revealed QTLs influencing PS, slow-wave sleep, and total sleep. Among these, a single QTL on chromosome 5 was associated with all vigilance states, suggesting the presence of a major gene influencing a basic aspect of sleep amount. Search for candidate genes around the identified QTLs indicated several immune related genes that have been implicated in sleep regulation. Transgenic animals carrying loss-of-function and/or gain-of-function mutations affecting these candidate genes should confirm these findings.     

Sleep organization in the first year of life: developmental trends in the quiet sleep-paradoxical sleep cycle

The night sleep of 48 healthy drug-free infants, aged 1-54 weeks, was recorded and analysed in order to show how cycles contribute to sleep episode organization and how the balance among different sleep states (i.e. quiet sleep, paradoxical sleep and ambiguous sleep) within cycles changes as a function of age. A greater proportion of time spent in cycles (TCT) on total sleep time (TST), as a result of the lengthening of sleep cycles, was found in older infants, whereas sleep out of cycles decreases with age. The internal structure of the sleep cycles also changes with age, because of the increase in the proportion of quiet sleep (QS), the appearance of slow wave sleep (SWS) from the 21st week onwards, and the decrease in ambiguous sleep. The proportion of paradoxical sleep (PS), however, remains stable throughout the first year of age. The improvement of sleep organization across the first year of life is paralleled by an internal restructuring of the cycle, involving mainly changes in QS. We may speculate that both changes, one involving the lengthening of cycle and the other involving the increase in QS component, contribute to the improvement of biological and psychological sleep functions during development.     

Short-term homeostasis of REM sleep assessed in an intermittent REM sleep deprivation protocol in the rat

An intermittent rapid eye movement (REM) sleep deprivation protocol was applied to determine whether an increase in REM sleep propensity occurs throughout an interval without REM sleep comparable with the spontaneous sleep cycle of the rat. Seven chronically implanted rats under a 12 : 12 light-dark schedule were subjected to an intermittent REM sleep deprivation protocol that started at hour 6 after lights-on and lasted for 3 h. It consisted of six instances of a 10-min REM sleep permission window alternating with a 20-min REM sleep deprivation window. REM sleep increased throughout the protocol, so that total REM sleep in the two REM sleep permission windows of the third hour became comparable with that expected in the corresponding baseline hour. Attempted REM sleep transitions were already increased in the second deprivation window. Attempted transitions to REM sleep were more frequent in the second than in the first half of any 20-min deprivation window. From one deprivation window to the next, transitions to REM sleep changed in correspondence to the amount of REM sleep in the permission window in-between. Our results suggest that: (i) REM sleep pressure increases throughout a time segment similar in duration to a spontaneous interval without REM sleep; (ii) it diminishes during REM sleep occurrence; and (iii) that drop is proportional to the intervening amount of REM sleep. These results are consistent with a homeostatic REM sleep regulatory mechanism that operates in the time scale of spontaneous sleep cycle.     

Literature-based values of control subjects in sleep medicine

Summary Question of the Study To establish literature-based values of control subjects in sleep medicine. These data should give a range for the interpretation of polysomnographic results. Patients and methods We systematically collected and pooled data of control subjects in different sleep studies. We calculated the weighted arithmetical mean of these data, i. e. the mean of the means of multiple studies, with consideration being given to the number of the individual values concerned. Since the data in the literature were not presented uniformly, we were not able to establish standard deviations. Reported sleep stages were accepted only when the Rechtschaffen and Kales classification was applied. Arousals were accepted only if established in accordance with the criteria of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. Whenever possible we calculated data broken down for age groups. Results Usable data were obtained from studies of between 10 and 1023 control subjects. The age range extended from infancy to 85 years. Data on sleep stages, sleep latencies, arousals, oxygen saturation, partial pressure of carbon dioxide, apneas and hypopneas were processed. Sleep latency and proportion of sleep stages are influenced by the first-night effect. Conclusions The data reflect the current status. When more control data are published the tables will have to be updated.     

Concordance of actigraphy with polysomnography in children with and without attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder

This study sought to: (1) compare actigraphy‐derived estimated sleep variables to the same variables based on the gold‐standard of sleep assessment, polysomnography; (2) examine whether the correlations between the measures differ between children with attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder and typically developing children; and (3) determine whether these correlations are altered when children with attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder are treated with medication. Participants (24 attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder; 24 typically developing), aged 6–12 years, completed a 1‐week baseline assessment of typical sleep and daytime functioning. Following the baseline week, participants in the attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder group completed a 4‐week blinded randomized control trial of methylphenidate hydrochloride, including a 2‐week placebo and 2‐week methylphenidate hydrochloride treatment period. At the end of each observation (typically developing: baseline; attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder: baseline, placebo and methylphenidate hydrochloride treatment), all participants were invited to a sleep research laboratory, where overnight polysomnography and actigraphy were recorded concurrently. Findings from intra‐class correlations and Bland–Altman plots were consistent. Actigraphy was found to provide good estimates (e.g. intra‐class correlations >0.61) of polysomnography results for sleep duration for all groups and conditions, as well as for sleep‐onset latency and sleep efficiency for the typically developing group and attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder group while on medication, but not for the attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder group during baseline or placebo. Based on the Bland–Altman plots, actigraphy tended to underestimate for sleep duration (8.6–18.5 min), sleep efficiency (5.6–9.3%) and sleep‐onset latency, except for attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder during placebo in which actigraphy overestimated (?2.1 to 6.3 min). The results of the current study highlight the importance of utilizing a multimodal approach to sleep assessment in children with attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder.     

A 20-h recovery sleep after prolonged sleep restriction: some effects of competing in a world record-setting cinemarathon

SUMMARY  The recovery sleep of a 21-year-old normal woman was assessed after she had endured 11 1/2 days of sleep restriction in a world record-setting film-viewing marathon. An exceptional sleep debt was observed as indicated by an instanteous sleep onset, a high sleep efficiency, and a total sleep duration of over 20 hours. Other striking features of this recovery sleep were very short latencies to stages 3 and 4 sleep, return of Stage 4 sleep after 14.5 h, REM and SWS sleep rebound, and a linear increase in REM sleep efficiency across 14 consecutive REM-NREM episodes. Seven of nine home dreams reported after this recording contained competition themes, but none relating to the marathon films. Comparisons of the present results with those from subjects in previous record-setting events suggest possible explanations for the extremely long recovery sleep. Results also suggest that analyses of multiple consecutive sleep cycles may provide novel ways of assessing hypotheses about regulation of the REM-NREM cycle.     

The pendulum technique for paradoxical sleep deprivation in rats

A new technique for paradoxical sleep (PS) deprivation in rats is presented. Animals are prevented from entering into PS by allowing them to sleep for only brief periods of time. This is accomplished by an apparatus which moves the animals' cages backwards and forwards like a pendulum. At the extremes of the motion postural imbalance is produced in the animals forcing them to walk downwards to the other side of their cages. A minimal amount of PS and a moderate amount of slow wave sleep (SWS) were detected during a deprivation period of 72 hrs. Following the deprivation treatment the recovery of sleep was monitored for 3 hrs; at the beginning of the light period for one group and at the beginning of the dark period for a second group. The sleep-waking patterns of two baseline groups were established at the time when the recovery sleep was examined in the deprivation groups. The deprivation treatment resulted in a significant increase in the amount of PS and a significant decrease in the amount of SWS. The extent of PS increase was similar in both deprivation groups, in spite of a large difference in the amount of SWS. The decrease of SWS mainly occurred during recovery sleep in the light. It was observed that sleep in the dark differs from sleep in the light in behavioural aspects.     

Effect of sodium oxybate on disrupted nighttime sleep in patients with narcolepsy

This post hoc analysis evaluated the dose‐related effects of sodium oxybate on sleep continuity and nocturnal sleep quality in patients with narcolepsy–cataplexy. Polysomnography data, including shifts to Stage N1/Wake, were from a randomized, placebo‐controlled trial of sodium oxybate. Patients were ≥16 years old with a diagnosis of narcolepsy including symptoms of cataplexy and excessive daytime sleepiness. Treatment was for 8 weeks with placebo or sodium oxybate 4.5, 6 or 9 g administered as two equally divided nightly doses. Relative to baseline, significant dose‐dependent reductions in the number of shifts per hour from Stages N2/3/rapid eye movement and Stages N2/3 to Stage N1/Wake were observed at week 8 with sodium oxybate (P < 0.05); sodium oxybate 6‐ and 9‐g doses also resulted in similar reductions in shifts per hour of rapid eye movement to Stage N1/Wake (both P < 0.05). Across all shift categories, the shift reductions with sodium oxybate 9 g were significantly greater than those observed with placebo (P < 0.05). Improvements from baseline in reported sleep quality were significantly greater with sodium oxybate 4.5 and 9 g at week 8 (P < 0.05). Correlations between change from baseline in number of shifts per hour to Stage N1/Wake and cataplexy frequency, patient‐reported nocturnal sleep quality, and excessive daytime sleepiness assessed using the Epworth Sleepiness Scale were numerically highest for the sodium oxybate 9‐g dose across all sleep stage shift categories. In these patients with narcolepsy, sodium oxybate showed improvements in the sleep continuity and nocturnal sleep quality that are characteristic of disrupted nighttime sleep ( ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT00049803).     

Regional differences in NREM sleep slow-wave activity in mice with congenital callosal dysgenesis

Topographic differences in the sleep EEG have been repeatedly found in humans and rodents. A frontal predominance of EEG slow-wave activity (0.75-4 Hz; delta band) during non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep is particularly evident under conditions of increased sleep propensity. Local aspects of neuronal connectivity in the neocortex that are modified by specific neuronal stimulation may underlie these differences. To investigate the role of altered neuronal connectivity on anterior-posterior EEG topography, sleep was recorded in mice with congenital dysgenesis of the corpus callosum (B1 strain) during baseline and after 6 h sleep deprivation (SD). In these mice neuronal connections within a hemisphere are increased due to the longitudinal Probst bundle, a structure of re-routed callosal fibers. After SD the frequencies above 1.5 Hz within the delta band in NREM sleep were reduced in B1 mice compared with control C57BL/6 mice, a strain that has a normal corpus callosum, while power in the lowest frequency band (0.75-1.0 Hz) was enhanced in B1 mice. The differences between the strains subsided in the course of recovery. The redistribution of EEG power within the delta band in the frontal region in mice with a well developed Probst bundle, suggests a role of intracortical connectivity in local sleep regulation.