Showing papers by "Joris C. Verster published in 2008"
TL;DR: This study shows that when performing a simple secondary task during driving, performance of the driving task and this secondary task are both unaffected, however, analysis of brain activity shows reduced cortical processing of irrelevant, potentially distracting stimuli from the secondarytask during driving.
88 citations
TL;DR: The present research on biological changes during alcohol hangovers suggests that alcohol hangover and dehydration are two independent phenomena.
Abstract: The alcohol hangover develops when blood alcohol concentration (BAC) returns to zero and is characterized by a feeling of general misery that may last more than 24 h. It comprises a variety of symptoms including drowsiness, concentration problems, dry mouth, dizziness, gastro-intestinal complaints, sweating, nausea, hyper-excitability, and anxiety. The alcohol hangover is an intriguing issue since it is unknown why these symptoms are present after alcohol and its metabolites are eliminated from the body.
Although numerous scientific papers cover the acute effects of alcohol consumption, researchers largely neglected the issue of alcohol hangover. This lack of scientific interest is remarkable, since almost everybody is familiar with the unpleasant hangover effects that may arise the day after an evening of excessive drinking, and with the ways these symptoms may affect performance of planned activities.
Many people favour the (unproven) popular belief that dehydration is the main cause of alcohol hangover symptoms. However, taking a closer look at the present research on biological changes during alcohol hangovers suggests otherwise. A limited number of experiments have studied biological changes that are present the day after excessive drinking (for a review, see Ylikahri and Huttunen, 1977). Significant changes were reported on endocrine parameters (increased concentrations of vasopressin, aldosterone, and renin) and metabolic acidosis (reduced blood pH values due to increased concentrations of lactate, ketone bodies, and free fatty acids). These effects are related to dehydration and cause symptoms such as dry mouth and thirst. In addition, changes in immune system parameters (increased concentrations of pro-inflammatory cytokine [IL-12] and interferon-gamma [IFNγ]) have been reported (Kim et al. , 2003). It is likely that these changes in immune system parameters cause the more ‘cognitive’ alcohol hangover effects such as memory impairment and mood changes. Moreover, these findings suggest that alcohol hangover and dehydration are two independent …
75 citations
01 Jan 2008
TL;DR: Sleep and quality of life in clinical medicine /, Sleep and quality-of-life in clinical Medicine /, کتابخانه دیجیتال شاپور اهواز
Abstract: Sleep and quality of life in clinical medicine / , Sleep and quality of life in clinical medicine / , کتابخانه دیجیتال جندی شاپور اهواز
69 citations
TL;DR: Among adults with ADHD, with a history of a positive clinical response to methylphenidates, methylphenidate significantly improves driving performance, as reflected by the standard deviation of lateral position.
Abstract: Although patients with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have reported improved driving performance on methylphenidate, limited evidence exists to support an effect of treatment on driving performance and some regions prohibit driving on methylphenidate. A randomized, crossover trial examining the effects of methylphenidate versus placebo on highway driving in 18 adults with ADHD was carried out. After three days of no treatment, patients received either their usual methylphenidate dose (mean: 14.7 mg; range: 10-30 mg) or placebo and then the opposite treatment after a six to seven days washout period. Patients performed a 100 km driving test during normal traffic, 1.5 h after treatment administration. Standard deviation of lateral position (SDLP), the weaving of the car, was the primary outcome measure. Secondary outcome measurements included the standard deviation of speed and patient reports of driving performance. Driving performance was significantly better in the methylphenidate than in the placebo condition, as reflected by the SDLP difference (2.3 cm, 95% CI = 0.8-3.8, P = 0.004). Variation in speed was similar on treatment and on placebo (-0.05 km/h, 95% CI = -0.4 to 0.2, P = 0.70). Among adults with ADHD, with a history of a positive clinical response to methylphenidate, methylphenidate significantly improves driving performance.
65 citations
TL;DR: On average, Dutch students have blood alcohol concentrations that are five-fold higher than allowed to participate in traffic and most of them travel home by bicycle after an evening of alcohol consumption, of great concern.
Abstract: Introduction: After an evening of alcohol consumption, blood alcohol concentration (BAC) may reach intoxica- tion levels above legal limits for operating a car or bicycle. In the Netherlands, legal limits for participating in traffic are 0.05% for experienced drivers and 0.02% for novice drivers. The purpose of this study was to determine bicycle accident risk of Dutch students after an evening of alcohol consumption. Methods: A survey was conducted among 800 University and college students in Utrecht, The Netherlands. The survey included retrospective questions concerning alcohol consumption on a typical night out and the start and end time of con- sumption. For those who travel home by bicycle, BAC was computed and relative risk of having a bicycle accident. Fi- nally, they reported the likelihood (0 - 100 %) that they would consume less alcohol when police controls for drunk bicy- cling were comparable to those for car drivers (with a similar chance of getting caught and a similar fine for driving when drunk). Results: 761 surveys (95.3 %) were eligible for statistical evaluation. 690 students reported going to the pub for a night out, on average 1.6 times per week. 445 students (64.5 %) reported traveling home by bicycle often or always. They re- ported drinking an average of 6.8 alcoholic drinks (Standardized drinks contain 12 gram alcohol) and their mean (SD) BAC when traveling home was 0.95 (0.9)%. The percentage of past year accidents or injury among those traveling home by bicycle often or always but consumed no alcohol (BAC=0%) was 2%. Alcohol consumption significantly increased the risk of bicycle accidents (Odds ratio: 6.8). Odds ratio of having a bicycle accident increased exponentially when having a higher BAC: 2.5 (BAC = 0-0.2%), 6.8 (BAC = 0.2-0.5%), 6.0 (BAC = 0.5-1.0%), 16.4 (BAC = 1.0-1.5%) and 11.1 (BAC > 1.5%). Logistic regression analysis revealed a significant (p<0.006) relationship between alcohol consumption and the risk of a bicycle accident. Students who travel home by bicycle report that there is a 41.9% chance that they will consume less alcohol on a night out when police controls for driving drunk are the same as for car drivers. This was not related to BAC levels. Conclusions: On average, students have blood alcohol concentrations that are five-fold higher than allowed to participate in traffic. Nevertheless, most of them travel home by bicycle after an evening of alcohol consumption. This is of great concern, since the risk of having a bicycle accident increases with higher BAC levels.
15 citations
TL;DR: The Dutch version of the Occupational Impact of Sleep Questionnaire (OISQ) is validated and is a suitable tool to examine the occupational impact of sleep.
Abstract: Sleep problems are often under-diagnosed, but may have a profound impact on work performance. The purpose of this study was to validate the Dutch version of the Occupational Impact of Sleep Questionnaire (OISQ). A total of 555 adults with a regular daytime job completed the OISQ. In addition, they also completed the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) and the SLEEP-50 questionnaire. 443 surveys were included in the analysis (220 men and 223 women). The Dutch OISQ had high reliability (Chronbach's alpha=0.96). OISQ scores correlated significantly with scores on the SLEEP-50 questionnaire, ESS, and PSQI (p<0.0001). Mean score on the OISQ was 14.0. Poor sleepers (OISQ score around 20) had approximately double the OISQ score as good sleepers (OISQ score around 10), irrespective of this classification was based on self-ratings, PSQI-scores or SLEEP-50 scores. The Dutch OISQ is a suitable tool to examine the occupational impact of sleep.
12 citations
TL;DR: The results of the first naturalistic driving study performed on a 100-km public highway circuit during normal traffic examining driving ability of patients with ADHD after treatment with methylphenidate or placebo are released.
Abstract: Attention-Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity (ADHD) has the core symptoms of inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity and is among the most prevalent disorders in childhood, affecting about 3-10% of U.S. school-aged children. In adults, the prevalence of ADHD is about 4%, present equally in men and women. With maturation, hyperactive symptoms often diminish in patients with ADHD; however, attention deficits and impulsivity often persist and can have a significant impact on functioning. Although the symptoms of inattention and impulsivity of those with ADHD apparently impair driving performance, use of methylphenidate appears to improve, and possibly normalize, the driving performance of those with ADHD. This issue features the results of the first naturalistic driving study performed on a 100-km public highway circuit during normal traffic examining driving ability of patients with ADHD after treatment with methylphenidate or placebo. The authors used objective measurements of driving performance including the weaving of the car and speed variability, whereas patients were instructed to drive at a constant speed and steady position within the right hand lane. Results from this work confirm actual outcomes of driving simulator studies: methylphenidate markedly improves driving performance of ADHD patients.
10 citations
TL;DR: The data suggest that moderate SAR symptoms do not impair driving ability, memory functioning and con- tinuous performance, however, given the small sample size future studies should confirm these findings.
Abstract: Background: Seasonal allergic rhinitis (SAR) has shown to affect quality of life and impair cognitive function- ing. Objective: The objective of this study was to compare driving ability, memory, and psychomotor performance during grass pollen season with winter season in untreated patients with SAR. Methods: Patients with SAR were trained and tested during the grass pollen season (summer) and winter. An on-the-road driving test during normal traffic conditions was performed. Primary parameter is the Standard Deviation of Lateral Posi- tion (SDLP), i.e. the weaving of the car. In addition, a word learning test and continuous performance test were performed and quality of life was assessed. Patients were included if in winter the Total 5-Symptoms Score (T5SS) was 3. Results: 70 patients were recruited of which 22 started the study. Fifteen patients completed the study of which 11 met the inclusion criteria. These 11 patients had a mean T5SS of 6.8 in summer and 0.6 in winter. Patient reported a significantly reduced overall quality of life during grass pollen season (p<0.0001). No significant effects were found on the driving test, except a significant (but not relevant) decrease in mean speed during the grass pollen season (p<0.035). No significant ef- fects were found on the word learning test and continuous performance test. Conclusion: Our data suggest that moderate SAR symptoms do not impair driving ability, memory functioning and con- tinuous performance. However, given the small sample size future studies should confirm these findings.
5 citations
01 Jan 2008
TL;DR: Tienda online donde Comprar Sleep and Quality of Life in Clinical Medicine al precio 174,81 € de Streiner, David, Pandi-Perumal, S.R.
Abstract: Tienda online donde Comprar Sleep and Quality of Life in Clinical Medicine al precio 174,81 € de Streiner, David | Pandi-Perumal, S.R. | Verster, Joris C., tienda de Libros de Medicina, Libros de Neurologia - Neurologia general
4 citations