Recurrent sleep attacks associated with a craniopharyngioma

Symptomatic narcolepsy, once regarded as common, is now believed to be very rare. A 32-year-old man had a history of recurrent sleep attacks. A magnetic resonance imaging scan revealed a third ventricle tumor. The tumor was totally removed, and the histology was a craniopharyngioma. The symptoms ceased after the operation. The chronological correlation and the anatomical location of the tumor suggest that the patient had a symptomatic narcolepsy caused by the tumor. This is the first report that documents the cessation of narcolepsy attacks after tumor removal.     

阻塞性睡眠呼吸紊乱综合征有效治疗前后的心率变异性分析

目的通过观察OSAS患者经过有效治疗前后HRV的变化,评价患者的心率变异性变化情况。方法对51例OSAS病人在有效治疗前后同步进行PSG检查及动态心电监测,统计其HRV的时阈指标SDNN、rMSSD及频阈指标LF、HF及LF/HF,采用SPSS/PC统计软件中配对样本t检验进行处理。结果SDNN、LF、LF/HF等指标在治疗前后的差异有显著性(p<0·05),rMSSD、HF的变化无显著性差异(p>0·05)。结论有效治疗OSAS可使植物神经系统的功能得到恢复,降低心脏事件发生的危险性。     

Sleep complaints and their relation with drug treatment in patients suffering from Parkinson's disease.

The aim of this research was to quantify sleep problems in patients suffering from Parkinson's disease by means of the new Parkinson's Disease Sleep Scale (PDSS) and to correlate such problems with the possible influence of current drug treatment. A total of 70 patients (36 men and 34 women) with a diagnosis of Parkinson's disease were enrolled. Their mean age was 69.7 +/- 8.2 years, and duration of disease was 7.4 +/- 4.8 years. All patients completed the PDSS and the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS Parts I-IV). Drug consumption and doses were registered. The mean score on the PDSS scale was 109.23 +/- 19.75 and on the UPDRS III scale was 25.24 +/- 11.35. The lowest scores were obtained in Item 3 (sleep fragmentation): 5.53 (2.46); and in Item 8 (nocturia): 5.75 (2.91). There was a weak correlation between the PDSS and UPDRS III (cc = -0.355, P = 0.003), PDSS and UPDRS I (cc = -0.272, P = 0.02), and PDSS and UPDRS IV (cc = -0.416, P < 0.001). Motor conditions, mental state, and drug complications influence sleep quality. Although this effect was significant, it was not of a great magnitude. Dopaminergic drugs did not increase daytime sleepiness. As a whole, sleep quality in patients who took dopaminergic agonists did not differ from that of patients who took levodopa in monotherapy.     

Release of heat-loss responses in paradoxical sleep by thermal loads and by pontine tegmental lesions in cats

Thermoregulatory heat-loss responses at high ambient temperatures were studied in intact cats and those with bilateral electrolytic lesions in the pontine tegmentum during wakefulness (W), slow-wave sleep (SWS), paradoxical sleep (PS) and PS without atonia induced by the lesions. Panting (respiratory rate 90/min) was present W, SWS, and in some cases, during PS. The percentage of the PS episodes with panting was directly related ambient temperature. In intact cats at 30 °C, panting occurred in 8% of the PS episodes; at 35 °C, in 52%, and at 40 °C, in 77%. The percentage of PS episodes with panting higher in the pontine-lesioned cats (90% at 35 °C), probably another indication of the altered thermoregulation of such animals. Thermoregulatory responses to heat load, and thermoregulation in general, have previously been shown to be suppressed in PS. Because hypothalamic thermosensitive neurons lack thermal responses during PS, the partial activation of heat-loss responses observed here may depend upon the function of extrahypothalamic brainstem areas.     

高血压合并阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停的短期血压变异性研究

目的 比较高血压合并阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停患者的短期血压变异性。方法 将155例分为对照组、高血压组、高血压合并轻度或中重度阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停组，EE较患者不同活动状态的短期血压变异性。结果 高血压合并中重度阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停组患者睡眠期间和早晨血压变异系数分别为：收缩压18．69、21．32；舒张压19．41、23．61，明显高于其他各组。结论 夜间睡眠期间和早晨短期血压变异性增加，是高血压合并中重度阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停患者夜间和早晨心血管事件发生率增加的重要危险因素。     

Effects of metyrapone on hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and sleep in women with post-traumatic stress disorder.

BACKGROUND: Metyrapone blocks cortisol synthesis which results in removal of negative feedback, a stimulation of hypothalamic corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) and a reduction in delta sleep. We previously reported a diminished delta sleep and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) response to metyrapone in men with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In this study, we aimed to extend these findings to women. METHODS: Three nights of polysomnography were obtained in 17 women with PTSD and 16 controls. On day 3, metyrapone was administered throughout the day up until bedtime. Plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), cortisol, and 11-deoxycortisol were obtained the morning following sleep recordings the day before and after metyrapone administration. RESULTS: There were no significant between-group differences in hormone concentration and delta sleep at baseline. Relative to controls, women with PTSD had decreased ACTH and delta sleep responses to metyrapone. Decline in delta sleep was associated with the magnitude of increase in ACTH across groups. CONCLUSIONS: Similar to our previous findings in men, the ACTH and sleep electroencephalogram response to metyrapone is attenuated in women with PTSD. These results are consistent with a model of downregulation of CRF receptors in an environment of chronically increased CRF activity or with enhanced negative feedback regulation in PTSD.     

睡眠状态下人体生理信号模糊分析系统的研究

采用LabVIEW技术完成对心电、呼吸、无创血氧和无创血压信号的采集与处理,而后通过MATLAB模糊测量系统对采集的人体生理信号进行模糊预测分析。通过实验检验了人体生理信号检测、处理和模糊预测分析方法的可靠性。LabVIEW技术对人体生理信号的模糊预测分析是有效的,可用于检测阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停患者的生理状态信号。     

Atypical presentation of NREM arousal parasomnia with repetitive episodes

The case report describes a distinct variant of non-REM (Rapid Eye Movement) arousal parasomnia, sleepwalking type, featuring repetitive abrupt arousals, mostly from slow-wave sleep, and various automatisms and semi-purposeful behaviours. The frequency of events and distribution throughout the night presented as a continuous status of parasomnia (' status parasomnicus '). The patient responded well to treatment typically administered for adult NREM parasomnias, and after careful review of the clinical presentation, objective findings and treatment outcome, sleep-related epilepsy was ruled out in favour of parasomnia.     

Central serous chorioretinopathy and risk for obstructive sleep apnea

Patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), in comparison to controls, have increased levels of circulating epinephrine and norepinephrine, both of which are risk factors for the development of central serous chorioretinopathy (CSCR). The aim of this pilot study was to investigate the frequency of symptoms that suggest OSA in CSCR patients and normal controls. The Berlin Questionnaire, a validated research tool to assess risk for OSA, was administered to 29 patients who met the criteria for active, acute, non-steroid-induced CSCR and 29 controls matched for age and sex. In this retrospective case-controlled study, the main outcome measure was increased risk for OSA. The mean age of the patients was 47.8 years (range 29–72) and the mean age of controls was 47.3 years (range 25–70). Seventy-six percent (22) of both groups were men. Survey scores showed 58.6% (17) of patients with CSCR to be at an increased risk for OSA compared to 31.0% (nine) of controls. A conditional logistic regression analysis showed that the CSCR group had a higher proportion with an increased risk for OSA compared to the control group (odds ratio=3.67; 95% CI: 1.02, 13.14; P = 0.046). Patients with CSCR may be more likely than other adults to have OSA, and screening for this sleep disorder should be considered in this population. Further research is warranted to determine whether sleep apnea may contribute to the development of CSCR, and to assess whether treatment of sleep apnea might offer a new therapeutic option for some patients with CSCR.     

阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停综合征的临床研究

强调对阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停综合征的认识，以达到对该病的早期诊与治疗。方法应用Ａｕｔｏｓｅｔ诊疗系统及鼻持续正压通气治疗仪，对６６例ＯＳＡＳ患者进行确诊及序贯治疗。