Sleep
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To describe the semiological features of NREM arousal parasomnias in detail and identify features that can be used to reliably distinguish parasomnias from nocturnal frontal lobe epilepsy (NFLE). ⋯ Our results broadly support the concept of confusion arousals, somnambulism and night terrors as prototypical behavior patterns of NREM parasomnias, but as a hierarchical continuum rather than distinct entities. Our observations provide an evidence base to assist in the clinical diagnosis of NREM parasomnias, and their distinction from NFLE seizures, on semiological grounds.
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Abdominal obesity, particularly common in centrally obese males, may have a negative impact on upper airway (UA) function during sleep. For example, cranial displacement of the diaphragm with raised intra-abdominal pressure may reduce axial tension exerted on the UA by intrathoracic structures and increase UA collapsibility during sleep. ⋯ Abdominal compression negatively impacts on UA collapsibility during sleep and this effect may help explain strong associations between central obesity and obstructive sleep apnea.
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Sleep terrors and sleepwalking are described as arousals from slow wave sleep with no or poor mental recollection. ⋯ Short, unpleasant dreamlike mentations may occur during sleepwalking/sleep terrors episodes, suggesting that a complex mental activity takes place during slow wave sleep. Sleepwalking may thus represent acting out of the corresponding dreamlike mentation.
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Controlled Clinical Trial
A compromise circadian phase position for permanent night work improves mood, fatigue, and performance.
To assess night shift improvements in mood, fatigue, and performance when the misalignment between circadian rhythms and a night shift, day sleep schedule is reduced. ⋯ Partial re-entrainment to a permanent night shift schedule, which can be produced by feasible, inexpensive interventions, is associated with greatly reduced impairments during night shifts.
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To investigate and explain sex differences in subjective and actigraphic sleep parameters in community-dwelling elderly persons. ⋯ If assessed by diary or interview, elderly women consistently reported shorter and poorer sleep than elderly men. In contrast, actigraphic sleep measures showed poorer sleep in men. These discrepancies are partly explained by determinants of sleep duration, such as sleep medication use and alcohol consumption.