Effects of night shifts in bipolar disorders and extreme morningness.

Background: Night work and shift work scenarios are increasing in modern society. Instability in the sleep-wake rhythm is an important risk factor for triggering episodes of bipolar disorder. Extreme chronotype has negative effects on shift work ("shift-worker syndrome").

Daytime impairment and neurodegeneration in OSAS.

Controversy surrounds the pathogenesis of neurocognitive daytime dysfunction exhibited by patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). Underlying brain dysfunctions and damage have long been suspected as a cause of some of this impairment. Neuroimaging has enabled scientists to test these long-held theories.

Blue light improves cognitive performance.

A newly discovered system of photoreceptors for circadian rhythms works non-visual and responds to blue light (460 nm). We report a longitudinal study in 44 adults, showing that a significant increase in alertness and speed of information processing could be achieved by blue light as compared to normal light.

[The reliability of the german version of the barthel-index and the development of a postal and telephone version for the application on stroke patients].

Background And Purposes: Aim of the study was to translate the original version of the Barthel-Index (BI) into German and to investigate the reliability of the German version. In addition, a German version of the BI for postal and telephone use was developed.

Methods: Data were collected in four neurological hospitals in Germany.