Pupil staging and EEG measurement of sleepiness.

The goal of this multi-method study was to examine the validity (accuracy) of the pupillometric Alertness Level Test (ALT) as a physiologic measure of sleepiness. The study used a pooled-time series-correlation design with 16 untreated narcolepsy (8 F, 8 M), 16 untreated obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) (7 F, 9 M) and 16 healthy control (8 F, 8 M) subjects. Participants underwent EEG/polysomnography testing using standard Multiple Sleep Latency Test electrode placement concurrent with the 15 min pupillometric ALT.

The coronary artery bypass experience: gender differences.

Objective: The primary purpose of this study was to examine differences between women and men on physical, social and psychological domains of health quality of life before, 1 month after, and 3 months after coronary artery bypass surgery.

Design: A prospective, longitudinal design was used.

Setting: The study was conducted at a Midwestern, 500-bed community hospital with an ongoing cardiothoracic surgical program.

Critical thinking and clinical decision making in critical care nursing: a pilot study.

Objective: This pilot study examined the relationship of education level, years of critical care nursing experience, and critical thinking (CT) ability (skills and dispositions) to consistency in clinical decision making among critical care nurses. Consistency was defined as the degree to which intuitive and analytical decision processes resulted in similar selection of interventions in tasks of low and high complexity.

Design: The study was nonexperimental and correlational.

Efficacy and safety of herbal stimulants and sedatives in sleep disorders.

World-wide use of herbal medicines is increasing, following regulatory and manufacturing developments. Herbs are attractive alternative medications to many patients with sleep disorders, who may be averse to using conventional drugs. We review here the most common herbal stimulants and sedatives.