Multimodal in-vehicle lighting system increases daytime light exposure and alertness in truck drivers under Arctic winter conditions.

Drowsiness while driving negatively impacts road safety, especially in truck drivers. The present study investigated the feasibility and alerting effects of a daylight-supplementing in-truck lighting system (DS) providing short-wavelength enriched light before, during, and after driving. In a within-participants design, eight truck drivers drove a fully-loaded truck under wintry Scandinavian conditions (low daylight levels) with a DS or placebo system for five days.

Oxidative Stress Reaction to Hypobaric-Hyperoxic Civilian Flight Conditions.

Background: In military flight operations, during flights, fighter pilots constantly work under hyperoxic breathing conditions with supplemental oxygen in varying hypobaric environments. These conditions are suspected to cause oxidative stress to neuronal organ tissues. For civilian flight operations, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) also recommends supplemental oxygen for flying under hypobaric conditions equivalent to higher than 3048 m altitude, and has made it mandatory for conditions equivalent to more than 3657 m altitude.

Prospective analyses of alertness, sleep, and fitness to drive one year after de novo multiple sclerosis diagnosis.

Background: The prevalence and functional burden of the chronic demyelinating disease multiple sclerosis (MS) are well documented; however, little is known about the initial clinical course of alertness, sleep, cognitive, and psychological symptoms.

Objectives: This exploratory, prospective, longitudinal study multidimensionally investigated the development and progression of alertness, sleep, fitness to drive, and psychological symptoms in the first year after de novo MS diagnosis.

Methods: Twenty-five people with MS (pwMS) were assessed cognitively, psychologically, and using polysomnography soon after diagnosis and one year later, with outcomes compared to matched healthy controls.

[Sleep and sleep disorders in old age].

The increasing interruptions of night sleep with normal ageing must be distinguished from sleep disorders. Somatic and psychiatric morbidity as well as medication have a huge impact on sleep. Furthermore, the relationship between sleep and morbidity is mutual.

Assessment of sleep and sleep disorders in geriatric patients.

Sufficient and refreshing sleep is important for good health, physical and cognitive functioning as well as quality of life. An assessment of sleep quality and sleep disorders is therefore mandatory in geriatric patients. Despite a variety of clinical assessment tools for screening and diagnosing sleep disorders, only some of them have been validated in older subjects and nearly none in geriatric patients or in individuals with dementia.

Daytime sleepiness versus fatigue in patients with multiple sclerosis: A systematic review on the Epworth sleepiness scale as an assessment tool.

Fatigue is a frequent and distressing symptom in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). In contrast, sleepiness, characterized by difficulties to stay awake and alert during the day, seems to be less prevalent in MS; however, exact studies are lacking. In addition, there is a semantic confusion of the concepts of "fatigue" and "sleepiness", which are often used interchangeably.

Impact of overnight traffic noise on sleep quality, sleepiness, and vigilant attention in long-haul truck drivers: Results of a pilot study.

This study aimed to evaluate the impact of traffic noise along the motorway on sleep quality, sleepiness, and vigilant attention in long-haul truck drivers. This was a randomized, crossover, within-subject controlled study. Healthy long-haul truck drivers spent 6 consecutive nights in a real truck berth with full sleep laboratory equipment.

The effect of partial sleep deprivation on computer-based measures of fitness to drive.

Purpose: Using a partial sleep deprivation paradigm, the aim of the study was to investigate the sensitivity of a computer-based test battery of fitness to drive to detect impairments related to sleepiness.

Methods: Forty-seven healthy subjects (34 females, mean age 26.0 ± 6.

Impaired vigilance is associated with erectile dysfunction in patients with sleep apnea.

Introduction: Erectile dysfunction (ED) is frequent in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and may act as a surrogate of endothelial dysfunction. Furthermore, impairments of vigilance and sustained attention are also commonly associated with OSA.

Aim: The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether there is an association between ED and sustained attention deficits.

Regensburg Insomnia Scale (RIS): a new short rating scale for the assessment of psychological symptoms and sleep in insomnia; study design: development and validation of a new short self-rating scale in a sample of 218 patients suffering from insomnia and 94 healthy controls.

Background: The Regensburg Insomnia Scale (RIS) is a new self-rating scale to assess cognitive, emotional and behavioural aspects of psychophysiological insomnia (PI) with only ten items. A specific purpose of the new scale is the evaluation of the outcome of insomnia- specific cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT-I).

Methods: Internal consistency of the RIS has been validated in 218 patients with PI.

The assessment of vigilance: normative data on the Siesta sustained attention test.

Objective: In several modern society duties individuals have to maintain their attention or vigilance over prolonged periods of time, even if the monitoring task is monotonous. The aim of our study was to obtain reference data on the 60-minute monotonous Siesta sustained attention test.

Methods: Normative data were gathered in an age-stratified sample of 234 healthy participants (118 men; 116 women) between the ages of 20 and 79 years.

Shortened night sleep impairs facial responsiveness to emotional stimuli.

Sleep deprivation deteriorates mood, impairs the recognition of facial expressions, and affects the ability to regulate emotions. The present study investigated the effect of partial sleep deprivation on facial responses to emotional stimuli. Thirty-three healthy undergraduates were tested twice: after a night with (i) 8h and (ii) 4h sleep.

The Pupillographic SleepinessTest in adults: effect of age, gender, and time of day on pupillometric variables.

Objectives: The Pupillographic Sleepiness Test (PST) measures the level of alertness based on spontaneous oscillations in pupillary size. Reference data are available for male and female adults within the age range 20-60 years. The aim of the present multicenter study was to extend the age range for reference data from 20 to 79 years.

Insomnia symptoms influence CPAP compliance.

Purpose: The aim of this study is to determine parameters which influence 6-month compliance of continuous positive airway pressure therapy (CPAP) in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS).

Methods: This prospective study investigated 73 patients (24 females) with OSAS and medical indication for CPAP therapy: age 55.1 ± 11.

Determinants of depressive symptoms in narcoleptic patients with and without cataplexy.

The present prospective study assesses depressive symptoms in narcoleptic patients with (NC+) and without (NC-) cataplexy (46 women, 40 men) and age- and sex- matched healthy controls. Seventy patients were under treatment with stimulants and/or anticataplectics. All subjects completed the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), the Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS), the Global Impression of Severity of Depression (GSD), the Profile of Mood States (POMS) and Epworth Sleepiness Scale.

[Sleep and pain: a bi-directional relation?].

Objective: This review gives an overview about the consequences of sleep deprivation (SD) on pain perception and discusses the bi-directional relation between sleep and pain.

Methods: A MEDLINE research (16.7.

Reduced intra-cortical inhibition after sleep deprivation: a transcranial magnetic stimulation study.

Sleep deprivation has multiple effects on brain function. It increases the risk for epileptic seizures both in healthy individuals and in patients with epilepsy. Furthermore it represents an effective antidepressive intervention with rapid onset.

The influence of age and sex on sleep latency in the MSLT-30--a normative study.

Study Objectives: The Multiple Sleep Latency Test-30 (MSLT-30) is a variation of the Multiple Sleep Latency Test with a fixed duration of 30 minutes for each of 5 test sessions. It requires less effort for reliable recording and is not susceptible to on-line scoring errors. The aim of the study was to provide normative data for the clinical use of the MSLT-30 and to evaluate the influence of age, sex, and other sociodemographic variables.

Olfactometry in fMRI studies: odor presentation using nasal continuous positive airway pressure.

We describe a method for generating and presenting olfactory stimuli in functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies for humans. The olfactometer is based on principles of air dilution olfactometry and consists of a nasal mask and a nasal Continuous Positive Airway Pressure device, both normally used for patients suffering from obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. The system allows online monitoring and recording of the subject's breathing pattern.

Differential DNA binding of transcriptional regulator PcaU from Acinetobacter sp. strain ADP1.

Transcriptional regulator PcaU from Acinetobacter sp. strain ADP1 governs expression of genes for protocatechuate degradation (pca genes) as a repressor or an activator depending on the levels of the inducer protocatechuate and of its own gene. PcaU is a member of the IclR protein family.