Summary: Introduction: Sleep deprivation (SD) impairs neurocognitive functions. Assuming that this effect is mediated by reduced cerebral glucose supply due to prolonged wakefulness inducing a progressive depletion of cerebral glycogen stores, we hypothesized that short-term sleep loss amplifies the deteriorating effects of acute hypoglycemia on neurocognitive functions.Methods: Seven healthy men were tested in a randomized and balanced order on 3 different conditions spaced 2 weeks apart. After a night of total SD (total SD), 4.5h of sleep (partial SD) and a night with 7h of regular sleep (regular sleep), subjects were exposed to a stepwise hypoglycemic clamp experiment. Reaction time (RT) and auditory evoked brain potentials (AEP) were assessed during a euglycemic baseline period and at ...MedWorm Message: Get the very latest Swine Flu news via the MedWorm Swine Flu RSS news feed - updated hourly from thousands of authoritative health and news sources.

The authors regret to inform that several errors have been found in their article “Intra-individual variability in sleep duration and fragmentation: Associations with stress.” In Table 1, the mean, standard deviation (SD), and range values for the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale are incorrect. The correct values are: mean=5.3, SD=6.2, range=0–27. In Table 3, there are six incorrect β and p values. The correct values for Negative Affect as a predictor of variability in sleep duration are β=.13, p=.08, and for variability in sleep fragmentation: β=.15, p=.03. The correct values for the Stressful Life Events×Negative Affect interaction as a predictor of variability in sleep duration are β=.05, p=.52, and for variability in sleep fragmentation: β=.24, p=.001. Th...

Conclusions: These results suggested that self-perceived good sleep quality, total hours slept of 7 or greater, and self-perceived higher levels of physical activity in the home environment could be positively related to positive stress endocrine outcomes seen as steep diurnal cortisol patterns in outpatients with major depressive disorder. (Source: Psychoneuroendocrinology)

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — A good night’s sleep has long been the intention of millions of people suffering from sleep disorders around the world. However, this objective is scarcely met with ease. The reality of this scenario is that many will... (Source: SUNY Upstate Medical)

Conclusion: Obese children with SDB had larger palatine tonsils than did normal-weight children with SDB. This finding suggests that larger palatine tonsils may have a greater effect on upper airway obstruction in obese than in normal-weight children with SDB. (Source: Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery)

Conclusion: CT images including the tongue base allow precise measurement of LTT thickness. LTT > 2.7 mm was not identified in patients without OSAHS or LPR. The mean LTT for patients with LPR and/or OSAHS was significantly greater than for patients without either disease. (Source: Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery)MedWorm Message: Get the very latest Swine Flu news via the MedWorm Swine Flu RSS news feed - updated hourly from thousands of authoritative health and news sources.

Conclusion: Intra-rater and inter-rater reliability coefficients are very high for determination of presence or absence of any obstruction, presence or absence of a retropalatal obstruction, presence or absence of a retroglossal obstruction, presence or absence of a swallow, and duration of obstruction from Sleep MRI sequences in OSAS patients. (Source: Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery)

Conclusions: Neither the Berlin questionnaire nor the OSAHS score alone was both highly sensitive and specific for diagnosing OSAHS. By incorporating subjective and objective metrics into a single predictive equation, sensitivity and specificity were maximized, and 82.5 percent of diagnoses were accurately predicted. (Source: Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery)

WASHINGTON (MedPage Today) -- The FDA approved doxepin (Silenor) for use in patients with long or short term insomnia and sleep maintenance difficulty. (Source: MedPage Today Product Alert)

(Source: Psychiatr News)

Bottom-line conclusion: A paucity of evidence underpins present licensing law; current rulings would be difficult to defend if legally challenged. The law may be penalising people with pure sleep-related epilepsy without increased risk of awake seizures, while failing to identify subgroups at unacceptable risk of an awake seizure at the wheel. (Source: Neurological Conditions Specialist Library)MedWorm Message: Get the very latest Swine Flu news via the MedWorm Swine Flu RSS news feed - updated hourly from thousands of authoritative health and news sources.

Following the deaths of two teenagers in the U.K. apparently from mephedrone over the last week, the Guardian has posted  a long discussion regarding the drug, its effects, and the current state of its regulation in Britain.  As TPR reported in January, mephedrone — sometimes called meow-meow because it is related to Khat – is a strong sympathomimetic with intense vasoconstriction properties.  Users describe anxiety, panic attacks, paranoia, and the inability to sleep.  Hallucinations induced by mephedrone have been reported.  The two recent deaths in the U.K. add to the list of fatalities associated with the drug. (Source: The Poison Review)

"A good night's sleep" has long been the intention of millions of people suffering from sleep disorders around the world. However, this objective is scarcely met with ease. The reality of this scenario is that many will not seek the professional help to address the serious sleep disorders that plague them, resulting in numerous health consequences. The World Association of Sleep Medicine (WASM) will be holding the third annual World Sleep Day on Friday, March 19, 2010... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

"A good night's sleep" has long been the intention of millions of people suffering from sleep disorders around the world. However, this objective is scarcely met with ease. The reality of this scenario is that many will not seek the professional help to address the serious sleep disorders that plague them, resulting in numerous health consequences... (Source: Public Health News From Medical News Today)

This article was amended on 19 March 2010. Genes undergo random mutations, rather than cause them (ninth paragraph). This has been corrected in the online version.EvolutionBiologyOliver Burkemanguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds (Source: Guardian Unlimited Science)

It may seem a little strange to consider, but would you actually pay money to have the opportunity to sleep? In a sense, there are probably millions of people suffering from insomnia who would respond with a resounding "Yes!" The piles of money spent on sleeping pills such as Ambien, Trazodone, Sonata, and Lunesta would add support to the assertion. However, not everyone struggles to sleep -- but for a want of space. Nearly everyone at some point in their life has probably paid money to sleep overnight in a motel or hotel. You are, quite simplly, paying money to have a comfortable, safe place to rest (okay, and probably shower in the morning). However, would you pay to have a place to take a nap in the day? In New York City you can pay to visit a boutique spa that actually provides you ...MedWorm Message: Get the very latest Swine Flu news via the MedWorm Swine Flu RSS news feed - updated hourly from thousands of authoritative health and news sources.

Attention deficit disorder is not just a childhood disorder. Adults can be diagnosed with attention deficit disorder (ADHD) as well. Sometimes this is a result of the person’s childhood ADHD progressing into adulthood (up to 70 percent of children will continue to struggle with ADHD as adults). Other times, an adult can either simply never been diagnosed as a child, or develop the disorder later on in life. Adult attention deficit disorder looks a lot like childhood attention deficit disorder. That shouldn’t come as a surprise, since the symptoms are largely the same. If you answer “Yes” to six or more of the below symptoms, you may have adult ADHD: Often fails to give close attention to details or makes careless mistakes in course work, work, or other activities ...

People with bipolar disorder experience episodes of both mania (an exceptionally elevated, irritable, or energetic mood) and depression. These episodes may be separate or depressed and manic symptoms may occur at the same time. The frequency of episodes varies. At least four depressive, manic, hypomanic (mild form of mania) or mixed episodes within a year is known as rapid-cycling bipolar disorder. During the early stages of a manic episode, people can be very happy, productive and creative. They have less need for sleep and don’t feel tired. There is some evidence that many well-known creative people suffer or have suffered from bipolar disorder. But this link may be caused by an unknown third factor, such as temperament. Bipolar disorder has been slightly romanticized by its assoc...

There is a new weapon in the war on insomnia, and one which does not appear to have the drug dependence and the nasty side-effects associated with many other sleep aids.  Somaxon Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: SOMX) announced this morning that the FDA has approved the New Drug Application for Silenor as a treatment of insomnia characterized by difficulty with sleep maintenance.  Somaxon calls this the “First and Only Prescription Sleep Aid to Provide a Full Night’s Sleep Without Abuse Potential.” The company said it will focus on seeking a U.S. commercial partnership and will then build a U.S. commercial presence and will prepare to launch Silenor in the second half of 2010. Silenor binds with high affinity to histamine (H1) receptors, which is believed to be the mechanism ...

Just when you think you have heard it all, along comes Mo'Nique! Here is what she says about her marriage to Sid -- "Could Sid have sex outside of his marriage with me? Yes. That's not a deal-breaker," she says. "That's not something that would make us say, 'Pack your things and let's end the marriage.'"And according to US.Magazine.com she says "she wouldn't call it quits even if he had numerous flings."We are sorry Mo'Nique but you are sending a terrible message to those who are married - to those who are in love. Trust us when we say this - you are plain wrong and your message is not supported by any research on successful marriage!We have interviewed successfully married couples in over 40 countries of the world for 27+ years. And here's the deal - we find absolutely no support for her ...