Nocturnal Motility Research Articles

Green Synthesis Iron Oxide Nanoparticles (Fe@AV NPs) Induce Developmental Toxicity and Anxiety-Like Behavior in Zebrafish Embryo-Larvae

The synthesis of nanoparticles and the usage areas of these nanoparticles show a rapid increase. In addition to the beneficial use of nanoparticles, their toxic effects cannot be ignored. In our study, iron oxide nanoparticle (Fe@AV NPs) (mean size: 20.852 nm) was synthesized from Aloe vera plant and the developmental toxicity of zebrafish was investigated. Zebrafish embryo-larvae were treated with different concentrations of Fe@AV NPs (1, 10, and 50 mg/L) starting at 4 hours after fertilization and continuing until 96 hours, and different developmental parameters (such as survival rate, hatchability rates, malformations, and behavior) were examined. In our study, it was determined that Fe@AV NPs caused developmental toxicity in zebrafish embryos depending on the dose increase. More than 60% died at 96 hours, especially in the highest (50 mg/L) application group. It was observed that Fe@AV NPs decreased and delayed the success of exiting the chorion depending on the dose increase, and caused various morphological abnormalities (like pericardial edema, tail deformation, and scoliosis) in all application groups except the lowest application group (1 mg/L). While 10 mg/L Fe@AV NPs caused sleep-like behaviors during the daytime by decreasing the daytime motility of the larvae, it caused hyperactivity by increasing their nocturnal motility. The results of thigmotaxis, which is an anxiety parameter, were found to increase anxiety at 10 mg/L Fe@AV NPs exposure.Our findings showed that Fe@AV NPs synthesized from Aloe vera plant have in vivo toxicity and their use at concentrations lower than 1 mg/L can be safe in environmental and medical applications.

Cytological diagnosis of microfilariae in subcutaneous nodule

Microfilariaemia presenting with subcutaneous nodule is rare. We report a case of a 22-year-old female patient who presented with a subcutaneous nodule on right forearm. Fine-needle aspiration cytology from the nodule showed many sheathed motile microfilaria on wet mount preparation during day time. Wuchereria loa loa is known to be associated with soft tissue swellings as reported earlier. Nocturnal motility and cytomorphological features differentiate Wuchereria bancrofti from Wuchereria loa loa .

Subcutaneous filariasis: An unusual case report

<i>Wuchereria bancrofti </i> presented in subcutaneous nodule is a very rare presentation. <i> Wuchereria bancrofti </i> first reported by Bancrofti in Brisbane in 1876 and the name filaria Bancrofti was given in 1877 and the generic name was given in 1878. A 15-year-old male patient's known case of pulmonary Koch's with incidentally detected subcutaneous nodule on right arm pit, cytology from the nodule shows many sheathed microfilaria along with segment of an adult female worm. Wet mount peripheral blood smear shows nocturnal motile microfilaria. The <i> Wuchereria bancrofti </i> is known to be associated with pulmonary Koch's. Nocturnal motility and cytomorphological features differentiate <i> Wuchereria bancrofti </i> from <i> Wuchereria loa loa</i> . After giving diethyl carbamazine (DEC 6 mg/kg) for 21 days without disturbing anti Koch's treatment schedule and microfilaria disappeared from peripheral blood.

Migrating motor complex and sleep in health and irritable bowel syndrome

The human migrating motor complex (MMC) and sleep cycle have a similar periodicity, and there is some contention as to whether these biorhythms are linked. In irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), episodes of intestinal dysmotility have been described almost exclusively during wakefulness, but IRS patients often complain of poor sleep, and it has been suggested that IBS patients have increased rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. This study sought to identify any associations between sleep stage and small intestinal motility and any objective sleep abnormalities in IBS. Nocturnal motility was recorded from six small intestinal sensors mounted on a fine nasoenteric catheter in eight IBS patients and 10 healthy volunteers. Polysomnography to determine sleep stage was recorded simultaneously. The proportions of time awake, in non-REM and REM sleep was similar in controls and IBS. REM latency did not differ between the two groups despite increased depression in the IBS patients (Hamilton Depression Rating of 8.3 +/- 1.7 in IBS, 3.0 +/- 0.7 in controls, P < 0.01). Nocturnal motility was similar, with phase I occupying most of the MMC cycles. There was no temporal association between MMCs and sleep stage, with no synchrony of phase III for REM episodes. The mean motility index of 4.5 +/- 0.4 during wakefulness was greater than during all sleep stages (P < 0.05). During non-REM sleep stages 1 and 2, motility index of 3.2 +/- 0.3 was greater than 2.3 +/- 0.2 during stages 3 and 4 (P < 0.05), but similar to motility index of 3.3 +/- 0.4 during REM sleep. This sleep architecture and nocturnal small intestinal motility are normal in IBS.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

A Focal Cryogenic Brain Lesion Does Not Reduce the Minimum Alveolar Concentration for Halothane in Rats

A focal cortical cryogenic brain injury has been reported to reduce the brain pentobarbital concentrations needed to prevent movement in response to pain in rats. This occurred despite any apparent behavioral changes in the awake animals. To determine whether this was true with other anesthetics, the authors determined the minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) for halothane in normothermic, normocarbic ventilated Sprague-Dawley rats previously subjected to a freezing injury of the parietal cortex. Injury was produced in halothane-anesthetized rats by applying a cold (-70 degrees C), 4-mm-diameter brass rod to the exposed dura for 5 or 15 s. Animals then were studied 3 days after injury, a time when cerebral metabolism in the ipsilateral hemisphere reaches a minimum. Minimum alveolar concentration was determined using a tail-clamp stimulus, combined with end-tidal anesthetic sampling. In addition, exploratory activity was measured by the open field test just before MAC determination, and spontaneous nocturnal motility was monitored by an electronic motion sensor during the night before testing. In normal animals subjected only to preparatory surgery, MAC was 1.10 +/- 0.07% (mean +/- SD). Almost identical values were found in rats subjected to 5- and 15-s cryogenic injuries (1.11 +/- 0.07% and 1.08 +/- 0.06%, respectively). There were no intergroup differences in open field test results or in spontaneous nocturnal activity. These results indicate that a focal cortical brain injury that has no obvious neurologic or behavioral effects in the awake rat does not alter halothane requirements.

Nocturnal motility, self-reported arousal, and quality of sleep

Nocturnal motility, self-reported arousal, and quality of sleep

The relationship between nocturnal motility and the enuresis alarm device

The mode of action of the enuresis alarm is not clear. Earlier work suggested that the wire mesh itself may alter sleep and in this way affect nocturnal enuresis. Seven healthy males have been studied within a two-period cross-over design in which their nocturnal motility, on and off an enuresis wire mesh, was recorded using a motility bed. There were no order, treatment or day effects in any of the variables studied. However, the mean hourly motility for each subject averaged over the three nights shows a substantial trend towards increased motility on the mesh. This lends some support to the hypothesis and merits further study.

Effects of bromide on behaviour of mice

Groups of mice, housed individually in standard cages placed in a frame especially designed for the recording of locomotive behaviour, were fed diets containing sodium bromide at a level of 0, 400, 1200, 3600 or 10,800 ppm for 36 days. A fully automated system was used to record and process measurements of the nocturnal motility of the mice, together with three other variables (evasion time, spontaneous treadmill performance and body weight), for a total of 128 days before, during and after administration of the test diets. The data obtained, analysed statistically by univariate and multivariate analysis of variance, indicated that for sodium bromide, the 'effect limit' based on behavioural variables and body weight lay for mice between 400 and 1200 ppm in the diet. The fact that the overall effect of the 10,800 ppm dietary level was not completely reversible seemed to be largely attributable to the effect of this level of sodium bromide administration on body weight.

Nocturnal actions and interactions of new-born monkeys

Video-films, recorded continuously, of a captive group of spot-nosed monkeys (Cercopithecus petaurista) were analysed with special respect to the behavior exhibited by newborn monkeys during the night. Nocturnal room illumination was consistently 0·5 lux. Particular action patterns could be distinguished. Until the 11th night, social interactions were restricted by the mother maintaining close bodily contact with the infant. Both frequency and duration of infants nocturnal motility periods showed a maximum value during their first night, and decreased later on. Analysis of the temporal ordering of particular action patterns provided evidence for regular recurrence cycles which could be explained by ultradian periodicities (cycle lengths: 10 s, 60 min., two and four hours).

Sleep patterns in obese patients during weight reduction.

Findings are presented, which support the evidence from previous studies of patients with disorders of weight and patients with psychiatric morbidity, that nutritional change is associated with change in sleep patterns independently of mood state. In this report, obese patients undergoing weight reduction have been investigated in respect of their sleep patterns using a sleep questionnaire, standardized measures of nocturnal motility and, in one instance, all-night EEG recordings.

Aspects of the relationship between psychiatric status, sleep, nocturnal motility and nutrition

To review the Tayside home phototherapy service, including numbers of patients treated, diagnoses and outcomes, side-effects and safety, cost-effectiveness and absolute costs. To consider why home or outpatient phototherapy is not available to all patients who might benefit and how this could be addressed.Observational and cost analysis.Analysis of the Tayside home phototherapy database 1998 and 2011, home phototherapy patient questionnaires, outcome data, costs and a comparison with outpatient phototherapy. Review of literature and current national guidelines for phototherapy, traditional systemic and biologic therapies for psoriasis.298 courses of home narrowband UVB (NB-UVB) phototherapy were undertaken by 212 patients between 1998 and 2011, five courses in 1998 increasing to 36 in 2011. The main diagnoses treated were psoriasis (72%), atopic dermatitis (8%), and desensitization of photodermatosis (7%). For psoriasis, 74.5% achieved clearance or minimal residual activity in a median of 30 exposures (range 10–60). The estimated costs to the hospital ranged from £229 to £314 per course (£307 to £422 per effective course for psoriasis), compared with £114 for out-patient therapy (£149 per effective course for psoriasis). The total cost to society (hospital and patient costs) is around £410 per course, compared to an estimated £550 for outpatient therapy for this group of patients. Treatment was well tolerated, erythema rates were similar to outpatient therapy, there were no complaints and the vast majority would choose home over outpatient phototherapy if required in the future.Hospital supervised home phototherapy appears as safe and effective as outpatient therapy and provides equality of access for patients who cannot attend for outpatient therapy. These patients may otherwise be inadequately treated or given more costly and higher risk systemic therapies, particularly for psoriasis. Commissioners and clinicians involved in dermatology services should provide accessible phototherapy for all patients who might benefit, utilizing home phototherapy where outpatient access is not possible.

The design of a motility bed including its calibration for the subject's weight.

The measurement of nocturnal motility as an index of sleep is discussed. Equipment is described which may be attached to a standard hospital bed for the measurement of motility. The apparatus proved reliable and easy to use. Weight change, common in psychiatric practice, was found to be an important factor influencing motility scores. Calibration of the bed for subject weight enabled a factor to be calculated which corrects the motility scores for changes and differences in weight.

The Effect of Barometric Pressure on Nocturnal Motility

1 We are indebted to Dr. C. O. Cheney and Dr. S. E. Katz for providing hospital facilities and subjects.