Inconsistent sleep schedules and daytime behavioral difficulties in school-aged children.

Objectives: Current recommendations for healthy sleep in school-aged children are predominantly focused on optimal sleep duration (9-11h). However, given the importance of routine for circadian health, the stability of sleep/wake schedules may also be important, especially for daytime behavioral functioning. We examined the relationship between short sleep duration, sleep schedule instability and behavioral difficulties in a community sample of Australian children.

Auditory evoked potentials remain abnormal after CPAP treatment in patients with severe obstructive sleep apnoea.

Objective: To assess the effects of 3 months of optimal CPAP treatment on auditory event related potentials (AERP) in patients with severe obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) compared with healthy controls.

Methods: Auditory odd-ball related N1, P2, N2 and P3 AERP components were assessed in 9 severe OSA subjects and 9 healthy controls at baseline evaluation and at ∼3 months follow-up in both groups, with OSA subjects treated with continuous positive air-way pressure (CPAP) during this period.

Results: Severe OSA subjects showed significantly delayed, P2, N2 and P3 latencies, and significantly different P2 and P3 amplitudes compared to controls at baseline (group effect, all p<0.

Driving simulator performance remains impaired in patients with severe OSA after CPAP treatment.

Study Objectives: To assess the effectiveness of CPAP treatment in improving 90-minute driving simulator performance in severe OSA patients compared to age/gender matched controls.

Design: Driving simulator performance was assessed at baseline and 3 months later, with OSA patients treated with CPAP during the interval.

Setting: University Teaching Hospital.

Differences in parental attitudes towards sleep and associations with sleep-wake patterns in Caucasian and Southeast Asian school-aged children in Australia.

Caucasian (N = 47) and Southeast (SE) Asian (N = 36) families completed a questionnaire on their attitudes toward sleep, as well as a 7-day sleep diary for their children aged 5 to 11 years. Cultural differences were found in the perceived importance of sleep, particularly compared to homework and belief of how much sleep a child needs. Differences were also found in sleep-wake behaviors and amount of time spent on homework, with SE Asian children reporting a shift in sleep timing and increased homework load compared to Caucasian counterparts.

Differences in the association between obesity and obstructive sleep apnea among children and adolescents.

Study Objectives: Overweight and obesity are thought to increase the risk of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) among children. However, previous results have been inconsistent and appear to be confounded by both ethnicity and the different ages of children studied. To determine whether the association between excess weight and OSAS varies with age across childhood, we assessed polysomnographic data from a series of Caucasian children and adolescents referred for clinical evaluation of snoring.

Adenotonsillectomy and neurocognitive deficits in children with Sleep Disordered Breathing.

Background: Sleep Disordered Breathing (SDB) is a common childhood disorder that encompasses a range of sleep-related upper airway obstruction. Children with SDB demonstrate significant neurocognitive deficits. Adenotonsillectomy is the first line of treatment for SDB and whilst this improves respiratory disturbance, it remains to be established whether neurocognitive gains also result.

Effects of alcohol and sleep restriction on simulated driving performance in untreated patients with obstructive sleep apnea.

Background: Because of previous sleep disturbance and sleep hypoxia, patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) might be more vulnerable to the effects of alcohol and sleep restriction than healthy persons.

Objective: To compare the effects of sleep restriction and alcohol on driving simulator performance in patients with OSA and age-matched control participants.

Design: Driving simulator assessments in 2 groups under 3 different conditions presented in random order.

Is there a clear link between overweight/obesity and sleep disordered breathing in children?

The proportion of children who are overweight or obese has risen steadily in recent decades and approaches a quarter of all children in Western countries. This global epidemic of excess weight and adiposity in humans is associated with increased morbidity and mortality, especially related to diabetes and poor cardiovascular health. It would appear that obesity is also generally accepted to be an important risk factor in the development of sleep disordered breathing (SDB), in children as well as adults.

Melatonin as a hypnotic: con.

The physiological roles of melatonin are still unclear despite almost 50 years of research. Elevated melatonin levels from either endogenous nocturnal production or exogenous daytime administration are associated in humans with effects including increased sleepiness, reduced core temperature, increased heat loss and other generally anabolic physiological changes. This supports the idea that endogenous melatonin increases nocturnal sleep propensity, either directly or indirectly via physiological processes associated with sleep.

Thermoregulation as a sleep signalling system.

Temperature and sleep are interrelated processes. Under normal environmental conditions, the rhythms of core body temperature Tc and sleep propensity vary inversely across the day and night in healthy young adults. Although this relationship has drawn considerable interest, particularly in recent years, it is still not known whether this relationship is causative or merely coincidental.

Comparison of digital infrared thermal imaging (DITI) with contact thermometry: pilot data from a sleep research laboratory.

Body temperature regulation is associated with changes in sleep propensity; therefore, sleep research often necessitates concomitant assessment of core and skin surface temperatures. Attachment to thermistors may limit the range of movement and comfort, introducing a potential confound that may prolong sleep initiation or increase wakefulness after sleep onset. It has been suggested that contact thermometry may artificially increase temperatures due to insulation.

Chronobiology and insomnia: pathophysiology and treatment of circadian rhythm sleep disorders.

This review summarizes current knowledge of sleep disorders with a chronobiological basis, including: delayed sleep phase syndrome, advanced sleep phase syndrome, non24 h sleep-wake syndrome and irregular sleep-wake pattern disorder. These circadian rhythm sleep disorders are characterized by a misalignment between the timing of the sleep period with respect to the day-night cycle and as a consequence of patients attempting to maintain 'normal' social hours, reduced sleep quality. In addition to the specific circadian rhythm sleep disorders, this review will also examine current drug (e.