Sleep
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(1) To assess the circadian and sleep-dependent regulation of the frequency and duration of awakenings in young and older people; (2) to determine whether age-related deterioration of sleep consolidation is related to an increase in the frequency or duration of awakenings; (3) to determine whether pre-awakening sleep structure is preferentially enriched by REM sleep or nonREM sleep and (4) to determine whether sleep structure prior to awakenings is affected by age. ⋯ At all circadian phases, the age-related reduction of sleep consolidation is primarily related to a reduction in the consolidation of nonREM sleep.
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To investigate whether in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) the systemic immunity is disturbed and whether it changes with nasal continuous positive airway pressure (NCPAP) therapy. ⋯ First-night NCPAP therapy reduced the CD4+ cell count after sleep, which recovered after one week of NCPAP. OSAS patients do not have immunological abnormalities.
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To collect and analyze reports of mental activity across sleep/wake states. ⋯ The use of the Nightcap sleep monitoring system along with waking experience sampling permits a more complete sampling and analysis of mental activity across the sleep/wake cycle than has been previously possible.
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Serotonin and serotoninergic drugs have significant effects on respiration, at many sites throughout the nervous system, and serotonin has been implicated in the pathogenesis of obstructive sleep apnea. Thus, understanding the serotoninergic mechanisms underlying respiratory control may help discover novel pharmacotherapies for sleep-disordered breathing. Ondansetron, a serotonin (5-HT) antagonist selective for the 5-HT3 receptor subtype has recently been shown to suppress sleep-related central apneas in rats, particularly in rapid-eye-movement (REM) sleep. ⋯ Ondansetron, however, had no effect on either sleep efficiency or sleep architecture, and there were no effects on either oxyhemoglobin saturation nadirs or on the sleep time with saturations <90%. Although a trend towards reduction in the latter measure of oxygenation was seen at the higher dose of ondansetron. These data suggest a therapeutic potential for ondansetron in obstructive sleep-disordered breathing, particularly REM sleep apnea.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Postoperative sleep disturbance: influences of opioids and pain in humans.
To test the hypothesis that opioids and pain contribute independently to postoperative sleep disturbance, 10 women undergoing surgery requiring a low abdominal incision for treatment of benign gynecologic conditions were randomized to receive either epidural opioid (fentanyl) (n=6) or epidural local anesthetic (bupivacaine) (n=4) for intraoperative and postoperative analgesia. ⋯ Postoperative patients suffer a profound sleep disturbance even when opioids are avoided and pain is well controlled.