Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index Research Articles

Prediction of half-marathon performance of male recreational marathon runners using nomogram.

Long-distance running is a popular competitive sport. We performed the current research as to develop an easily accessible and applicable model to predict half-marathon performance in male recreational half-marathon runners by nomogram. Male recreational half-marathon runners in Zhejiang Province, China were recruited. A set of literature-based and panel-reviewed questionnaires were used to assess the epidemiological conditions of the recruited runners. Descriptive and binary regression analyses were done for the profiling and identification of predictors related to higher half-marathon performance (completing time ≤ 105min). Participants were assigned to the training set (n = 141) and the testing set (n = 61) randomly. A nomogram was used to visually predict the half-marathon performance, and the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) was used to evaluate the predictive ability of the nomogram. A total of 202 participants (median age: 49 years; higher half-marathon performance: 33.7%) were included. After multivariate analysis, three variables remained as significant predictors: longer monthly running distance [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 0.992, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.988 to 0.996, p < 0.001], faster mean training pace (AOR = 2.151, 95% CI: 1.275 to 3.630, p < 0.001), and better sleep quality [the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), AOR = 2.390, 95% CI: 1.164 to 4.907, p = 0.018]. The AUC of the training and testing sets in nomogram were 0.750 and 0.743, respectively. Further ternary and linear regression analyses corroborated the primary findings. This study developed a nomogram with good potential to predict the half-marathon performance of recreational runners. Our results suggest that longer monthly running distance, faster mean training pace and better sleep quality notably contribute to better half-marathon performance.

Ethnic disparities in the prevalence of diabetes and its association with sleep disorder among older adults in rural southwest China.

This study aimed to examine ethnic disparities in the prevalence of diabetes and its association with sleep disorders among the older adults Han and ethnic minority (Bai, Ha Ni, and Dai) population in rural southwest China. A cross-sectional survey of 5,642 was conducted among the rural southwest population aged ≥60 years, consisting of a structured interview and measurement of fasting blood glucose, height, weight, and waist circumference. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) was used to assess sleep quality. The overall prevalence of diabetes and sleep disorder was 10.2% and 40.1%, respectively. Bai participants had the highest prevalence of diabetes (15.9%) and obesity (9.9%)(P < 0.01), while Ha Ni participants had the lowest prevalence of diabetes (5.1%) and obesity (3.4%)(P < 0.01). The highest prevalence of sleep disorder (48.4%) was recorded in Bai participants, while Dai participants had the lowest prevalence of sleep disorder (25.6%)(P < 0.01). In all four studied ethnicities, females had a higher prevalence of sleep disorder than males (P < 0.01), and the prevalence of sleep disorder increased with age (P < 0.01). The results of multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated older adults with sleep disorder had a risk of developing diabetes (P < 0.05). Moreover, the higher educational level, family history of diabetes, and obesity were the main risk factors for diabetes in participants (P < 0.01). There are stark ethnic disparities in the prevalence of diabetes and sleep disorders in southwest China. Future diabetes prevention and control strategies should be tailored to address ethnicity, and improving sleep quality may reduce the prevalence of diabetes.

The Relation of Sleep Characteristics and Cognitive Impairment in Community-Dwelling Middle-aged and Older Adults: Ardakan Cohort Study on Aging (ACSA)

Introduction: The rise in the elderly population has brought attention to mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Sleep disorders also affect many older adults, indicating an important area of research for disturbed sleep and faster brain aging. This population-based study aims to investigate the association of several sleep indicators with cognitive performance. Methods: This cross-sectional study focused on adults over 50 in the Ardakan Cohort Study on Aging (ACSA). MCI was evaluated using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and the Abbreviated Mental Test score (AMTS) in literate and illiterate individuals. Sleep characteristics were collected using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Epworth Sleepiness Scale, and Berlin questionnaire. The logistic regression models were used to analyze the data. Results: Overall, 3380 literate and 1558 illiterate individuals were included. In both groups, participants with MCI had a significantly higher PSQI global score (p&amp;lt;0.05). Also, among the literate individuals, a significantly higher risk of having sleep-disordered breathing and poor sleep quality was observed in participants with MCI (p&amp;lt;0.05). In illiterate individuals, higher sleep latency than 15 minutes increased odds of MCI (p&amp;lt;0.05). However, after adjusting for all variables, only literate individuals with a sleep duration of more than eight hours had 66 percent increased odds of having MCI (p=0.033). Conclusion: Sleep duration might be associated with cognitive function in the older Iranian population. Our findings underscore the importance of considering sleep patterns in relation to cognitive health.

The Relationship Between Post-Earthquake Anxiety Status with Sleep Problems, Low Back and Neck Pain in Victims of the Kahramanmaraş-Centred Earthquakes

Background: This study aims to examine the relationship between the post-earthquake anxiety status of victims of the Kahramanmaraş-centered earthquake and sleep problems, low back and neck pain. Materials and Methods: Individuals with a mean age of 27.9±9.1 years who experienced the Kahramanmaraş-centered earthquake were included in the study. The individuals included in the study was evaluated with the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), the Neck Disability Index (NDI), and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Results: Of the participants, 67% were determined to have mild, moderate, and severe anxiety, and all of them had poor sleep quality (6.9±3.8). While the mean PSQI score of 57% of the participants sheltered in their own homes was 5 and above, this rate was 75% for those sheltered outside their homes. Of the individuals sheltered in their own homes, 27% and 37% of those sheltered outside their own homes had the ODI score percentages above 20%. A statistically moderate correlation was determined between the BAI score and the ODI score, the NDI score, and the PSQI score (r=0.511, r=0.604, r=0.539, respectively). Conclusions: Post-earthquake anxiety was revealed to be associated with sleep problems and low back and neck pain. Considering the relationship between the presence of anxiety, sleep problems, low back and neck pain in the support approaches to be adopted toward earthquake victims, approaches involving these parameters should be planned.

The consequence of 12 weeks of Pilates exercise on the quality of sleep and life of pregnant women

Aim: As one of the most critical periods in women's lives, pregnancy affects their physical, mental, and functional conditions. These changes can affect the quality of life and sleep of pregnant women. The main purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of Pilates exercises on 140 young pregnant women between the ages of 20-40. Methods: This randomized double-blind clinical trial study was done between September 2023 and March 2024, including 60 pregnant women in case group and 90 control subjects of similar age and body mass index (BMI). This study investigated the effect of 12 weeks of pilates exercises on the quality of women's sleep and life. Quality of life was measured by the short-form 36 (SF-36) and quality of sleep by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). People were randomly divided into intervention and control groups. Pregnant women in the intervention group were required to participate in two pilates sessions per week for 12 weeks from the 20th week of pregnancy. Results: Our results found that quality of life levels were statistically significant higher than case group after intervention compared to control group (p&lt;0.05; 67.19 vs. 54.94). Also, a statistically significant association between the case and control regarding quality of sleep (p&lt;0.05; 5.41 vs. 6.77). Conclusion: It is concluded that performing moderate-intensity pilates exercises for 12 weeks in the last months of pregnancy can increase sleep quality and life.

Understanding Mental Health Needs and Predictors of Anxiety in Emirati Female Students in Higher Education

The prevalence rates of depression, anxiety, and stress range between 5% to 70% globally. Many students experience these mental health conditions as they go through transitional periods in life, such as starting higher education. This study aimed to explore mental health concerns, specifically depression, anxiety, stress, and quality of sleep, in Emirati female university students, a topic that has been understudied in the Middle East. We used the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scales (DASS-21) and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) to assess 23 bilingual (Arabic/English) female adolescent Emirati students in the UAE. The data was analyzed using a multiple regression analysis. We found that most participants had normal levels of depression and stress, but over 60% of them had moderate to severe anxiety symptoms. Additionally, a substantial majority reported poor sleep quality. Stress was a significant predictor of anxiety, explaining 53.3% of the variance in anxiety scores. Although other factors influence anxiety, stress seems to be a substantial contributor. This study investigates the pervasive issue of anxiety among adolescent Emirati female students, with stress emerging as a major contributing factor. The preliminary findings underscore the imperative for additional research. Our exploration provides a roadmap for a comprehensive evaluation of mental health concerns within this population, offering valuable insights into potential preventive and intervention strategies that warrant further investigation.

Perivascular space diffusivity and brain microstructural measures are associated with circadian time and sleep quality.

The glymphatic system is centred around brain cerebrospinal fluid flow and is enhanced during sleep, and the synaptic homeostasis hypothesis proposes that sleep acts on brain microstructure by selective synaptic downscaling. While so far primarily studied in animals, we here examine in humans if brain diffusivity and microstructure is related to time of day, sleep quality and cognitive performance. We use diffusion weighted images from 916 young healthy individuals, aged between 22 and 37 years, collected as part of the Human Connectome Project to assess diffusion tensor image analysis along the perivascular space index, white matter fractional anisotropy, intra-neurite volume fraction and extra-neurite mean diffusivity. Next, we examine if these measures are associated with circadian time of acquisition, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (high scores correspond to low sleep quality) and age-adjusted cognitive function total composite score. Consistent with expectations, we find that diffusion tensor image analysis along the perivascular space index and orbitofrontal grey matter extra-neurite mean diffusivity are negatively and white matter fractional anisotropy positively correlated with circadian time. Further, we find that grey matter intra-neurite volume fraction correlates positively with Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and that this correlation is driven by sleep duration. Finally, we find positive correlations between grey matter intra-neurite volume fraction and cognitive function total composite score, as well as negative interaction effects between cognitive function total composite score and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index on grey matter intra-neurite volume fraction. Our findings propose that perivascular flow is under circadian control and that sleep downregulates the intra-neurite volume in healthy adults with positive impact on cognitive function.

Open-label observational study of effectiveness and tolerability of ipidacrine in treatment of patients with diabetic polyneuropathy (DIAMANT study)

Diabetic polyneuropathy (DPN) is one of the most common complications of diabetes mellitus, leading to the development of flaccid paresis, neuropathic pain syndrome, sensitive ataxia, as well as trophic disorders in the distal parts of the lower extremities.The purpose of the randomized, open-label, comparative, prospective study was to evaluate the effectiveness and tolerability of ipidacrine in the complex treatment of patients with DPN.Materials and methods. Patients with DPN (n = 60) were randomized into 2 groups. Both groups received basic therapy (alpha-lipoic acid, B vitamins, gabapentin); in the treatment of patients of the main group (n = 30), in addition, ipidacrine was used (Ipidacrine-SZ, North Star Co., Russia). We have analyzed the intensity of pain syndrome (VAS-P), the average daily dosage of gabapentin, and the results of the neuropathic dysfunctional scale (modified version, NDSm), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, PSQI), Global Rating of Change Scale (GROC), the results of electroneuromyography (ENMG). The total duration of the observation and treatment period was 2 months.Results. After 2 months of therapy in the main group of patients, compared with the control group, there was significantly more complete pain control (VAS-P: 3.0 ± 0.9 vs 3.6 ± 0.8), a decrease in the average daily dosage of gabapentin (390 vs 500 mg/day), reduction in the severity of clinical manifestations of polyneuropathic syndrome (NDSm: 4.4 ± 1.0 vs 4.9 ± 1.0 points) and improvement in sleep quality (PSQI: 6.8 ± 1.3 vs 7.9 ± 1.7). According to ENMG data, patients in the main group showed a significant improvement in the neurophysiological parameters of both motor and sensory fibers, which was significantly more pronounced compared to the control group. A significantly larger proportion of patients in the main group assessed the improvement from the therapy as ‘pronounced’ (GROC: 10/33.3 % vs 6/20.0 %).Conclusions. The use of ipidacrine in complex therapy of patients with DPN can significantly reduce the clinical manifestations of disease and improve the neurophysiological parameters of the peripheral nerves of the lower extremities. Ipidacrine can be considered as a basic drug for the treatment of patients with neurological complications of diabetes mellitus.

The Effect of a Cognitive Dual Task on Gait Parameters among Healthy Young Adults with Good and Poor Sleep Quality: A Cross-Sectional Analysis.

Background: Sleep quality is known to affect automatic and executive brain functions such as gait control and cognitive processing. This study aimed to investigate the effect of dual tasks on gait spatiotemporal parameters among young adults with good and poor sleep quality. Methods: In total, 65 young adults with a mean age of 21.1 ± 2.5 were assessed for gait analysis during single-task and dual-task conditions. The participants' sleep quality was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and gait was assessed using the BTS Gaitlab System. The participants were asked to walk at natural speed as a single-task condition, followed by walking while performing a cognitive task as a dual-task condition. The parameters assessed included the gait velocity (m/s), cadence (steps/min), step width (m), and stride length (m). The dual-task cost (DTC) on each gait parameter was calculated. The Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare the differences in the DTC on gait variables between the good and poor sleep quality groups and the Spearman correlation test was used to assess the correlation between total PSQI scores and the DTC. Results: At a significance level of p < 0.05, a significant difference in cadence between the two sleep quality groups was observed, in addition to a positive correlation between sleep quality and the DTC effect on gait mean velocity, cadence, and stride length. Our findings also revealed a greater DTC in participants with poorer sleep quality. Conclusions: These findings contribute to our perception of the significance of sleep quality in gait performance while multitasking in younger populations.

TO ASSESS SLEEP DISTURBANCE AND INTOLERANCE OF UNCERTAINTY MEDIATED BY EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE AMONG YOUNG ADULTS DURING A PANDEMIC OUTBREAK

Covid-19 Pandemic has created a lot of uncertainty in young adults. Daily lifestyle has changed a lot because of this uncertain situation especially sleep pattern has been disturbed. Hence, this study aims to examine the Sleep disturbance (improper sleep pattern) and Intolerance of uncertainty mediated (viewing uncertainty as negative) by Emotional intelligence (having awareness and regulating of one’s and others’ emotions) among young adults during a pandemic outbreak. An online questionnaire, including socio-demographics, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale (IUS), and Emotional Intelligence Scale (EIS), was administered to young adults (n=200). There is a significant positive correlation between sleep disturbance and intolerance of uncertainty (.367**), a significant negative correlation between sleep disturbance and emotional intelligence (-.329**), and Intolerance of uncertainty and emotional intelligence is negatively correlated (-.450**). On mediational analysis is revealed that emotional intelligence is partially mediating between Sleep disturbance and Intolerance of uncertainty. On Chi-square, it was seen that there is an association between Sleep disturbance and domicile and person’s tested, covid positive in the past 1 year. Emotional intelligence has an association with family type. Sleep disturbance and Intolerance to uncertainty can be improved by enhancing Emotional intelligence. KEYWORDS: Covid-19 Pandemic, Young adults, Sleep disturbance, Intolerance to uncertainty, and Emotional intelligence.

Assessment of Sleep Disorders in Patients with CVID.

Inborn errors of immunity have been associated with reduced health-related quality of life and increased fatigue. Sleep disorders, which have been shown to contribute to fatigue and other health concerns, are prevalent in the general population, but there are limited studies evaluating these conditions in patients with common variable immunodeficiency (CVID). Our aim was to evaluate the prevalence of fatigue, sleep disturbances, and sleep-disordered breathing in adults with CVID. Patients completed 4 validated, self-administered questionnaires and a 1-night disposable home sleep apnea test. Our results demonstrated increased median Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System fatigue scores of 58.7 in patients with CVID in addition to clinically significant fatigue as measured by Fatigue Severity Scale score (median, 5.2) and overall poor sleep quality based on global Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index score (median, 9.0). For CVID patients who completed the home sleep apnea test, 76.9% met criteria for sleep-disordered breathing with an Apnea-Hypopnea Index score of 5 or greater. The results of our study indicate that patients with CVID may have increased rates of undiagnosed sleep disorders that may contribute to increased fatigue and reduced health-related quality of life.

Effects of myofascial trigger point injection on the disease activity in patients with comorbidity of fibromyalgia and cervical myofascial pain syndrome

Aims: To investigate the effect of myofascial trigger point injection on the disease activity of FS in patients with myofascial trigger points in the coexistence of fibromyalgia syndrome (FS) and chronic cervical myofascial pain syndrome (MAS). Methods: 30 consenting patients between the ages of 18-60 who has had FS for at least for 3 months and also MPS in trapezius, levator skapula, splenius capitis, and multifidus muscles in cervical region and 15 patients with FS but without MPS were included in the present study. Patients newly diagnosed with FS, were evaluted for the presence of MPS and FS, disease activity was evaluated before administering treatment and after administration of trigger point injection tretament for cervical MPS. In the group with only FS, cervical region tender point injection was carried out. Patients were evaluated before injection and one month after injection. Severity of pain was evaluated with VAS (visual analog scale), pressure pain threshold was measured with algometer, total myalgic score (TMS) , fibromiyalgia impact questionnaire (FIQ), Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) , Beck depression inventory (BDI), Beck anxiety inventory (BAI), fatique severity scale (FSS) results were evaluated prior to and after treatment. Results: When patients were evaluted at 1st month after myofacial trigger point and cervical tender point injections statistically significant decrease was found in VAS, TMS, PSQI, FIQ, FSS, BAI and BAI scores and the number of trigger points in both FS and FS+MAS groups. (for all parameters p&lt;;0,005). However, this decrease was more evident in FS+MPS group. Conclusion: In conclusion, in the concomitance of MPS and FS, which is one of the most common causes of widespread musculoskletal pain, the treatment of MPS with trigger point injection has been shown to exert positive effects on the severity of FS, affective disorders, sleep and fatique. In the treatment of FS, thetreatment of MPS, which is one of the periheral pain generators, should be given priority.

Sleep quality, PIU in adolescents with ADHD. Is there a relationship between sleep quality and problematic internet use in adolescents with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder?

AbstractThis research aimed to compare the sleep quality and problematic internet use (PIU) of adolescents diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) compared to the group of healthy control. There were 53 ADHD-diagnosed individuals (19 ADHD- combined type, 34 ADHD- inattentive type) in the research population, ages 12 to 18, and 53 healthy adolescents in the control group. A child psychiatrist applied the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Age Children-Present and Lifetime Version (K-SADS-PL) to each case, and sociodemographic information was collected. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and the Internet Addiction Test (IAT) were also applied to all the cases. The Turgay DSM-IV-Based Disruptive Behaviour Disorders, Child and Adolescent Evaluation and Screening Scale (T-DSM-IV-S) was completed by the parents of all the adolescents. The ADHD group's IAT and PSQI total points were found to be statistically significantly higher than those of the healthy control group (p &lt; 0.001). The results of the covariance analysis showed a significant positive correlation between the T-DSM-IV-S subscales and the IAT mood points in the ADHD patients. The T-DSM-IV-S attention deficit points were found to be significantly higher in the ADHD children with PIU (independently of age and gender) compared to those without PIU. The results of the study showed that adolescents with ADHD had greater rates of poor sleep quality and PIU than the control group. The study results also suggested that the severity of the inattentive subtype of ADHD could play a potential role in the development of PIU in children diagnosed with ADHD. Based on this foundation, it is crucial to acknowledge and address poor sleep quality and PIU in adolescents with ADHD.

Effect of acupuncture combined with Ningshen mixture on climacteric insomnia: A randomized controlled trial.

In recent years, the incidence of menopause insomnia has gradually increased, seriously affecting women's physical and mental health. Total 82 climacteric insomnia patients received from January 2021 to January 2023 were divided into 2 groups at random. In control group, 41 cases received conventional Western medicine, and in study group, 41 cases received acupuncture combined with Ningshen mixture. Clinical effectiveness of both groups was compared, neurotransmitter levels, TCM syndrome integral and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) were assessed in both groups. Meanwhile, the recurrence rate and safety were evaluated in 2 groups. The curative effect in study group was better than that in control group (P < .05). After treatment, the expressions of 5-hydroxytryptamine and β-endorphin (β-EP) in study group were higher than control group (P < .05); TCM syndrome scores and PSQI scores in study group were lower than control group (P < .05). The total recurrence rate in study group was obviously lower than control group at 3 months after treatment (P < .05). There were no serious adverse reactions in both group, and no distinct difference between 2 groups was found (P > .05). Acupuncture united with Ningshen mixture has a significant therapeutic effect and high safety in climacteric insomnia patients. It can effectively improve the neurotransmitter levels, clinical symptoms and sleep quality, and reduce the recurrence rate of climacteric insomnia patients, which has high clinical application value and is worthy of clinical promotion.

Impact of sleep disturbance in shift workers on hippocampal volume and psychomotor speed.

Shift work interferes with circadian rhythms, affecting sleep quality and cognitive function. Poor sleep quality in shift workers can impair psychomotor performance due to fatigue and sleepiness, increasing the risk of errors, accidents, and reduced productivity. Given the potential for atrophic changes in the hippocampus due to sleep disturbances, our study investigates how poor sleep quality correlates with hippocampal structural alterations and impacts psychomotor performance among shift workers. We recruited 100 shift workers, classifying them based on sleep quality into two groups: good sleep-SW group (n = 59) and poor sleep-SW group (n = 41). Sleep quality was assessed using both 7-day actigraphy for sleep efficiency and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. A control group of 106 non-shift workers without sleep problems (non-SW group) was also included for comparison. The outcome measures were psychomotor speed and hippocampal volumes, both total and by subfield. The poor sleep-SW group showed significantly smaller hippocampal volumes than both the good sleep-SW group (P<0.001) and the non-SW group (P=0.003). Longer shift work years correlated with greater reductions in hippocampal volume in this group (r=-0.42, P=0.009), unlike in the good sleep-SW group (r=0.08, P=0.541). Furthermore, they demonstrated declines in psychomotor speed relative to the non-SW group (P=0.006), which correlated with smaller hippocampal volumes (r=0.37, P=0.020). Shift workers with poor sleep quality exhibit significant hippocampal volume reductions and psychomotor speed decline, underscoring the importance of early intervention and support for sleep issues in this population.

Effects of intensity, frequency, and time window of exercise on sleep quality among community-dwelling adults aged 65–86 years

BackgroundAlthough the effects of exercise training (ET) on sleep problem have been reported, the effects according to the components of exercise, including intensity, frequency, and time window, are unknown. Thus, in this study, we aimed to assess the effects of ET on sleep quality in community-dwelling older adults with sleep problems. MethodsWe evaluated individuals aged ≥65 years whose Pittsburgh sleep quality index was >5 points at baseline. The participants were allocated to either the control group or the ET group and underwent interval walking training (IWT) for 5 months. Information regarding intensity, frequency, and time window of ET were obtained using a waist-worn accelerometer. ResultsOverall, 63 participants (24 men [mean ± standard deviation age: 75.1 ± 4.6 years] and 39 women [74.7 ± 5.2 years]) and 65 participants (24 men [75.2 ± 4.0 years] and 41 women [73.6 ± 4.2 years]) were included in the ET and control groups, respectively. The change in Pittsburgh sleep quality index was not significantly different between the two groups for both sexes. In the ET group, women who exercised 3–8 h before bedtime, men who did ET > 8 h before bedtime and more than 1 h after waking up, and men who did ET ≥ 5.05 days/week experienced significant improvements compared to the baseline. ConclusionsIWT does not significantly improve sleep quality. To obtain improvements in sleep quality, it might be necessary to consider the time window of performing ET for both sexes and ET frequency for men.

Confirmatory Factor Analysis of Sleep Quality among Grandparents Raising Grandchildren

This study examined the factor structure of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and the sleep quality of custodial grandparents during the Coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19). A convenience sample of custodial grandparents (N=102) between the ages of 31 and 78 completed the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) tool.

Alterations in the fecal microbiota of methamphetamine users with bad sleep quality during abstinence

BackgroundMethamphetamine (MA) abuse has resulted in a plethora of social issues. Sleep disturbance is a prominent issue about MA addiction, which serve as a risk factor for relapse, and the gut microbiota could play an important role in the pathophysiological mechanisms of sleep disturbances. Therefore, improving sleep quality can be beneficial for treating methamphetamine addiction, and interventions addressing the gut microbiota may represent a promising approach.MethodWe recruited 70 MA users to investigate the associations between sleep quality and fecal microbiota by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), which was divided into MA-GS (PSQI score < 7, MA users with good sleep quality, n = 49) and MA-BS group (PSQI score ≥ 7, MA users with bad sleep quality, n = 21). In addition, we compared the gut microbiota between the MA-GS and healthy control (HC, n = 38) groups. 16S rRNA sequencing was applied to identify the gut bacteria.ResultThe study revealed that the relative abundances of the Thermoanaerobacterales at the order level differed between the MA-GS and MA-BS groups. Additionally, a positive correlation was found between the relative abundance of the genus Sutterella and daytime dysfunction. Furthermore, comparisons between MA users and HCs revealed differences in beta diversity and relative abundances of various bacterial taxa.ConclusionIn conclusion, the study investigated alterations in the gut microbiota among MA users. Furthermore, we demonstrated that the genus Sutterella changes may be associated with daytime dysfunction, suggesting that the genus Sutterella may be a biomarker for bad sleep quality in MA users.

The psoriasis severity, dermatology life quality index and sleep quality: The role of itch intensity and depression

Aim of the studyTo better understand the origin of sleep quality impairment among psoriasis patients, we sought to examine whether the psoriasis severity, health related life quality, itch and depression are significant predictors of sleep disruption; and whether itch intensity and depression are mediators of the relationship between the health- related life quality and sleep problems.Subject or material and methods42 patients diagnosed with chronic plaque psoriasis, (female: 40.5%; mean age=44.48 years; SD=17.57, age range=21-82) completed Polish versions of: the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), the Centre for Epidemiological Studies - Depression scale (CES-D). The itch intensity was measured according to the 10-point visual analogue scale (VAS). The Severity of patient’s psoriasis was evaluated by using The Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI), health related life quality was assessed using the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) .ResultsThe stronger the negative effect of psoriasis on patients’ life as measured by Dermatology Life Quality Index, the greater the sleep disturbances.DiscussionThe results confirm that poor health- related quality of life may account for higher sleep ditrubances among psoriasis patients, and suggest that this negative effect reveals itself, through enhancing depression.ConclusionsIt seems that a greater therapeutic focus on health related quality of life in psoriasis patients may lead to an improvement in their sleep quality.

The effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the caregiving burden of individuals caring for patients with chronic neurological diseases.

Caring for neurological patients poses a serious burden on caregivers, even in normal times. It is likely that this burden has become even more painful post-COVID-19 pandemic. This study evaluates the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the care burden of those who care for patients with chronic neurological diseases. The study included 50 patients and 50 caregivers. All the tests were conducted twice, it was answered firstly, according to the pre-COVID-19 pandemic, and secondly, during the COVID-19 pandemic period. The depression levels of the patients and caregivers were assessed with the Beck Depression Scale, their sleep quality with the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, their quality of life was assessed with the RAND 36-Item Health Survey, and caregivers' burden of care was evaluated with the Zarit Caregiver Burden Scale. It was observed at the end of the study that the depression levels of patients (p = 0.00), and caregivers (p = 0.00) increased post-COVID-19 pandemic, the sleep quality of caregivers (p = 0.00), and patients (p = 0.02) decreased post-COVID-19 pandemic. On the other hand, it was determined that caregivers' burden of care increased (p = 0.00). Sub-parameters of the RAND 36-Item Health Survey, physical functioning (p = 0.02), role limitations due to physical health (p = 0.00), and role limitations due to emotional problems (p = 0.03) decreased for caregivers. In summary, we concluded that the well-being and psychological status of both patients and their caregivers were adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.