Transcranial Electrical Stimulation targeting limbic cortex increases the duration of human deep sleep

BackgroundResearchers have proposed that impaired sleep may be a causal link in the progression from Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) to Alzheimer's Disease (AD). Several recent findings suggest that enhancing deep sleep (N3) may improve neurological health in persons with MCI, and buffer the risk for AD. Specifically, Transcranial Electrical Stimulation (TES) of frontal brain areas, the inferred source of the Slow Oscillations (SOs) of N3 sleep, can extend N3 sleep duration and improve declarative memory for recently learned information. Recent work in our laboratory using dense array Electroencephalography (dEEG) localized the sources of SOs to anterior limbic sites – suggesting that targeting these sites with TES may be more effective for enhancing N3.MethodsFor the present study, we recruited 13 healthy adults (M = 42 years) to participate in three all-night sleep EEG recordings where they received low level (0.5 mA) TES designed to target anterior limbic areas and a sham stimulation (placebo). We used a convolutional neural network, trained and tested on professionally scored EEG sleep staging, to predict sleep stages for each recording.ResultsWhen compared to the sham session, limbic-targeted TES significantly increased the duration of N3 sleep. TES also significantly increased spectral power in the 0.5–1 Hz frequency band (relative to pre-TES epochs) in left temporoparietal and left occipital scalp regions compared to sham.ConclusionThese results suggest that even low-level TES, when specifically targeting anterior limbic sites, can increase deep (N3) sleep and thereby contribute to healthy sleep quality.     

Using recreational cannabis to treat insomnia: Evidence from over-the-counter sleep aid sales in Colorado

This study seeks to understand whether people substitute between recreational cannabis and conventional over-the-counter (OTC) sleep medications. UPC-level grocery store scanner data in a multivariable panel regression design were used to compare the change in the monthly market share of sleep aids with varying dispensary-based recreational cannabis access (existence, sales, and count) in Colorado counties between 12/2013 and 12/2014. We measured annually-differenced market shares for sleep aids as a portion of the overall OTC medication market, thus accounting for store-level demand shifts in OTC medication markets and seasonality, and used the monthly changes in stores’ sleep aid market share to control for short-term trends. Relative to the overall OTC medication market, sleep aid market shares were growing prior to recreational cannabis availability. The trend reverses (a 236% decrease) with dispensary entry (−0.33 percentage points, 95% CI −0.43 to −0.24, p < 0.01) from a mean market share growth of 0.14 ± 0.97. The magnitude of the market share decline increases as more dispensaries enter a county and with higher county-level cannabis sales. The negative associations are driven by diphenhydramine- and doxylamine-based sleep aids rather than herbal sleep aids and melatonin. These findings support survey evidence that many individuals use cannabis to treat insomnia, although sleep disturbances are not a specific qualifying condition under any U.S. state-level medical cannabis law. Investigations designed to measure the relative effectiveness and side effect profiles of conventional OTC sleep aids and cannabis-based products are urgently needed to improve treatment of sleep disturbances while minimizing potentially serious negative side effects.     

The effect of short or long sleep duration on quality of life and depression: an internet-based survey in Japan

BackgroundTo date, no previous studies have evaluated the relationship between sleep duration and quality of life (QOL) or depression in the general population after controlling for daytime sleepiness and sleep disturbances.MethodsA web-based cross-sectional survey was conducted with 8698 subjects aged 20–69 years. We examined the relationships between weekday sleep duration and daytime sleepiness, sleep disturbance, QOL and depression, using the Epworth Sleepiness Scale, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (without the item for sleep duration), 8-item Short Form and Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D).ResultsDaytime sleepiness tended to increase in proportion to shorter weekday sleep durations. Sleep disturbances, physical and mental QOL, and CES-D scores were worse in both the shorter and longer sleep groups compared with the group with 7–8 h of sleep. Hierarchical logistic regression analyses revealed that short sleep duration but not long sleep duration was significantly associated with reduction of both physical and mental QOL, even after controlling for the presence of daytime sleepiness and sleep disturbance. Both short and long sleep duration were independently and significantly correlated with depression after controlling for daytime sleepiness; however, there was no statistically significant association after adjusting for the effects of sleep disturbance.ConclusionsThe results suggested adverse effects of short sleep but not long sleep on both physical and mental QOL. In addition, the negative impact of specific types of sleep disturbance on depression may be greater than the impact of shortening of sleep duration.     

The effect of Benson’s relaxation response on sleep quality and anorexia in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy: A randomized controlled trial

Background and objectivesPatients with cancer experience many side effects due to its nature and usual treatments. Sleep disorders and anorexia are the most commonly reported symptoms in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of Benson's Relaxation Response (BRR) on sleep quality and anorexia in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.Methodology and participantsIn the present clinical trial, a total of 84 patients were enrolled and randomly divided into two groups of experimental and control. Benson's relaxation response was administered to the experimental group twice a day over 5 consecutive days. Data was collected using St. Mary's Hospital Sleep Questionnaire (SMHSQ) and anorexia questionnaire with Visual Analog Scale (VAS).ResultsThe results of our study showed a significant improvement in the sleep quality in the experimental group at 24 (p = 0.02) and 48 (p = 0.001) hours after the intervention compared to the control group. Benson's relaxation response (BRR) also had a significant effect on the anorexia in the experimental group at 24 (7.5 ± 1.6) and 48 (6.9 ± 2.1) hours after the intervention compared to the control group. No side effects were reported during the study and follow-up period.ConclusionBenson's relaxation response as a complementary method may improve sleep quality and anorexia in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Further studies with greater sample size and longer follow-up period are needed to confirm the current findings.     

Long-term health and socioeconomic outcome of obstructive sleep apnea in children and adolescents

BackgroundThere is limited information about the long-term outcome of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) diagnosed in children and adolescents for educational and social factors. Here, we estimate the long-term socioeconomic outcome and health care costs of OSA.MethodsThe historical case-control cohort study included Danish individuals with OSA diagnosed in childhood or adolescence between 1994 and 2015. Health care costs and socioeconomic data were obtained from nationwide administrative and health registers. A total of 5419 were diagnosed during this period; of these we traced 1004 patients who we compared with 4085 controls (mean index age, 10.2 years; Standard Deviation (SD), 5.6 years) until the age of 20 years. Controls were matched for age, gender, and residency.ResultsComparing the OSA patient and control groups at age 20 years we found: 1) lower parental educational level; 2) significantly lower educational level also after adjustment for parental educational level; 3) lower school grade-point averages; 4) lower employment rate and lower income, which was not fully compensated when transfer payments were considered; and 5) patients' initial health care costs were higher due to higher morbidity. Patients showed higher mortality rates than controls (Hazard Ratio (HR) = 7.63, 95% CI = 4.87–11.95, P < 0.001).ConclusionsOSA in children and adolescent is associated with a significant influence on morbidity, mortality, educational level, grading, social outcome, and welfare consequences.     

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.     

循经冥想训练干预大学生抑郁情绪的效果分析

背景　现有研究表明，抑郁是影响大学生心理健康的重要原因之一。因此，有必要采取有效的方法干预大学生抑郁情绪。目的　探究循经冥想训练干预大学生抑郁情绪的效果。方法　2018年4月，在以循经冥想课题组的名义招募的某大学本科生中，发放抑郁自评量表（SDS），筛选出自愿接受循经冥想训练的60人。根据受试者性别比例，采用随机数字表法随机分为循冥组和静息组。其中循冥组30人进行4周循经冥想训练，在开始循经冥想训练前和循经冥想训练结束后填写SDS并进行E-prime情绪图片评价任务。静息组30人进行静息训练，其余与循经冥想组相同。比较两组前测、后测及前后测差值有无差异。结果　两组前测积极、中性、消极情绪图片评分比较，差异均无统计学意义（P>0.05）；两组后测积极、中性、消极情绪图片评分比较，差异均无统计学意义（P>0.05）；两组积极、中性、消极情绪图片评分前测与后测差值比较，差异均无统计学意义（P>0.05）。静息组前测与后测积极、中性、消极情绪图片评分比较，差异均无统计学意义（P>0.05）。循冥组后测积极情绪图片评分低于前测、消极情绪图片评分高于前测（P<0.05）。两组前测SDS评分比较，差异无统计学意义（P>0.05）。循冥组后测SDS评分低于静息组，SDS评分前测与后测差值高于静息组（P<0.05）。循冥组和静息组后测SDS评分均低于前测（P<0.05）。结论　循经冥想能降低大学生抑郁水平，可能是由于其能够改变人的情绪认知评价和睡眠质量，使人变得平和。     

Influence of respiratory allergy and restless sleep on definite sleep bruxism: a cross-sectional clinical study

ObjectiveThis cross-sectional clinical study evaluated the associations between sociodemographic, occupational, clinical conditions, psychological and sleep quality variables on definite sleep bruxism (SB).MethodsAll records obtained from adults (aged 20–60 years) and the elderly (aged >60 years) who had undergone polysomnography (PSG) at a private medical outpatients’ clinic from July 2017 to February 2018 were reviewed. Data from a questionnaire, based on the criteria of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM), were also gathered. Definite SB data pattern distribution was analyzed, and multivariate Poisson regression with robust variance was used to assess the associations between definite SB diagnosis, determined via PSG recordings, and the independent variables. A significance level of 5% was adopted.ResultsA total of 240 individuals were included in the study and the SB prevalence was 7.08% (n = 17). The adjusted Poisson regression analysis revealed association between definitive SB and individuals with respiratory allergy (PR = 3.63; 95% CI:1.01–13; P = 0.047) and restless sleep (PR = 2.97; 95% CI:1.04–8.50; P = 0.042).ConclusionThis study found associations between definite SB and clinical conditions (respiratory allergy) and sleep behavior (restless sleep). Knowledge regarding factors associated with definite SB can contribute to decision making in the clinical setting and management strategies involving a multidisciplinary approach.     

Risks of androgen therapy

Elderly men with clinical and laboratory evidence of androgen deficiency are eligible for testosterone treatment.

With proper monitoring this is acceptably safe.

In the first year of testosterone treatment there should be a digital rectal examination of the prostate and measurement of prostate specific antigen every three months, thereafter yearly.

The rate of increase of prostate specific antigen (PSA) levels is more significant than its absolute values.

Levels of haemoglobin and the haematocrit should be monitored.     

A case of nocturnal fainting: supine vasovagal syncope.

Supine loss of consciousness is a relatively rare occurrence prompting investigations for underlying causes as diverse as cardiac arrhythmia, hypoglycaemia and nocturnal epilepsy. Neurally mediated syncope is rarely implicated as the cause of symptoms in supine loss of consciousness because of the absence of orthostatic stress and gravitational relative preservation of cerebral perfusion, but we report here on a case of recurrent, atypical and troublesome vasovagal syncope occurring at night while supine. Diagnosis aided by head-up tilt table testing and conservative management brought about complete resolution of symptoms.