Amount Of Nighttime Sleep Research Articles

Sleep Problems—Autism Toolkit

Sleep Problems—Autism Toolkit

Hypnotic effects of a novel anti-insomnia formula on Drosophila insomnia model.

To assess the biological effects of the six-herb mixture Anti-Insomia Formula (AIF) extract using caffeine-induced insomnia Drosophila model and short-sleep mutants. Caffeineinduced insomnia wild-type Drosophila and short-sleep mutant flies minisleep (mns) and Hyperkinetic(Y) (Hk(Y)) were used to assess the hypnotic effects of the AIF in vivo. The night time activity, the amount of night time sleep and the number of sleep bouts were determined using Drosophila activity monitoring system. Sleep was defined as any period of uninterrupted behavioral immobility (0 count per minute) lasting > 5 min. Night time sleep was calculated by summing up the sleep time in the dark period. Number of sleep bouts was calculated by counting the number of sleep episodes in the dark period. AIF at the dosage of 50 mg/mL, effectively attenuated caffeine-induced wakefulness (P<0.01) in wild-type Canton-S flies as indicated by the reduction of the sleep bouts, night time activities and increase of the amount of night time sleep. AIF also significantly reduced sleeping time of short-sleep Hk(Y) mutant flies (P<0.01). However, AIF did not produce similar effect in mns mutants. AIF might be able to rescue the abnormal condition caused by mutated modulatory subunit of the tetrameric potassium channel, but not rescuing the abnormal nerve firing caused by Shaker gene mutation. This study provides the scientific evidence to support the use of AIF in Chinese medicine for promoting sleep quality in insomnia.

Activity-rest rhythm of term-born neonates exposed to nicotine during pregnancy

Activity-rest behaviour of 11 neonates whose mothers had smoked during pregnancy (s-group) and 11 neonates of non-smoking mothers (ns-group) born by Caesarean section (all born in the thirty-seventh to forty-second week of gestation) was monitored for six successive days starting in the first week of life. Actigraphy was used to record time patterns of activity and rest in neonates by using Actiwatch® actometers. In addition, a standardised diary was kept regularly. Amount of sleep time during daytime, night time, and 24 h, as well as sleep bouts during daytime and night time, were compared. Both groups showed a significant difference in amount of night time sleep vs. daytime sleep, with more sleep at night time. Many adverse effects of smoking during pregnancy are known. We could not, however, detect significant differences in the amount of night time sleep, daytime sleep, and 24h sleep time between the s- and ns-group neonates.

Factors Associated With Aggressive Behavior Among Nursing Home Residents With Dementia

In an attempt to more thoroughly describe aggressive behavior in nursing home residents with dementia, we examined background and proximal factors as guided by the Need-Driven Dementia-Compromised Behavior model. We used a multivariate cross-sectional survey with repeated measures; participants resided in nine randomly selected nursing homes within four midwestern counties. The Minimum Data Set (with verification by caregivers) identified participants. We used a disproportionate probability sample of 107 participants (51% with a history of aggressive behavior) to ensure variability. Videotaped care events included four of direct care (shower baths, meals, dressing, and undressing) and two of nondirect care (two randomly selected 20-minute time periods in the afternoon and evening). The majority of participants (75%) received three shower baths, for a total of 282 videotaped baths. Because the shower bath was the only care event significantly related to aggressive behavior (F = 6.9, p < .001), only those data are presented. Multilevel statistical modeling identified background factors (gender, mental status score, and lifelong history of less agreeableness) and a proximal factor (amount of nighttime sleep) as significant predictors (p < .05) of aggressive behavior during the shower bath. We found significant correlations between aggressive behavior and negative subject affect (r = .27) during the bath, and aggressive behavior and lifetime agreeableness level (r = -.192). We also found significant correlations between mental status and the amount of education (r = .212), and between negative caregiver affect and negative participant affect (r = .321). We identified three background and one proximal factor as significant risk factors for aggressive behavior in dementia. Data identify not only those persons most at risk for aggressive behavior during care, but also the care event most associated with aggressive behavior. Together these data inform both caregiving for persons with dementia as well as the design of intervention studies for aggressive behavior in dementia.

Actigraphic Recordings of Activity-Rest Rhythms of Neonates Born by Different Delivery Modes

Activity-rest behavior of 20 neonates born vaginally, 18 neonates born by medically planned Cesarean section (C-section), and 19 neonates born by medically required C-section after labor onset (all born in the thirty-seventh to forty-second week of gestation) was monitored for six successive days starting in the first week of life. Actigraphy was used to record and show time patterns of activity and rest in neonates by using small wristwatch-like Actiwatch® actometers. Nursing/feeding times were recorded by using the actometers’ integrated event marker button. Recordings in both C-section groups were performed in the hospital; for neonates born vaginally and for some born by C-section, recordings were carried out in the hospital and in their homes. In addition to the actigraphic recordings, a standardized diary was kept regularly. To assess periodic characteristics, frequency components of activity-rest behavior were analyzed using fast Fourier transformation. Amount of sleep time during daytime, nighttime, and 24 h, as well as sleep bouts during the daytime and nighttime, were compared. The majority of vaginally born neonates showed a distinct circadian frequency in their spectra. In contrast, both groups of neonates born by C-section showed significantly less distinct circadian frequencies in their spectra. All three groups showed a significant difference in amount of nighttime sleep vs. daytime sleep, with more sleep at nighttime. There were no differences in the amount of nighttime sleep, daytime sleep, and sleep time during 24 h between the groups born by different delivery modes.

The effects of evening light exposure on the sleep of elderly women expressing sleep complaints.

In order to address the typical phase advanced, disturbed sleep of the elderly, additional evening light was provided to elderly women by means of a "visor" which provides 2000 lux to each eye. The subjects wore the light visor for 30 min in the evening. The subjects were 10 community-residing women over the age of 65 (mean = 79.4 years; range, 67-87 years). Sleep was recorded in the home for 28 successive 24-hr periods: 7 days pretreatment, 14 days while using the light visor, and 7 days posttreatment. Thus, each subject served as her own control. Sleep was recorded using the Home Monitoring System (HMS), a nonintrusive procedure which does not require instrumentation of the subject. The subjects showed significant changes during and even after the intervention: there was a significant decrease in sleep latency over weeks, and a significant increase in sleep time and sleep efficiency. The subjects also reported less fatigue during treatment. The results suggest that additional light, provided for as little as 0.5 hr in the evening and at only 2000 lux, increases the amount of nighttime sleep and improves the quality of sleep in older women.