Polysomnography

About: Polysomnography is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 19527 publications have been published within this topic receiving 858718 citations. The topic is also known as: PSG & polysomnogram.

Melatonin as a therapy in REM sleep behavior disorder patients: an open-labeled pilot study on the possible influence of melatonin on REM-sleep regulation.

Abstract: REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD) is clinically impressive by virtue of its vigorous sleep behaviors usually accompanying vivid, striking dreams. The main feature of the disorder, REM sleep without muscle atonia, has been shown in a variety of diseases; therefore, the disorder might possibly be underestimated. In an open-labeled trial, we treated six consecutive RBD patients over a 6-week period with 3 mg melatonin given within 30 minutes before bedtime. There was a dramatic clinical improvement in five of the six patients within a week which extended beyond the end of treatment for weeks or months. A second polysomnogram performed 6 weeks after the beginning of treatment showed a significant tendency toward normalization of the percentage of REM sleep, a significant reduction of 30-second epochs, scored as REM sleep without muscle atonia, a significant reduction of stage-shifts in REM, and a significant reduction in epochs considered as movement time in REM. All other sleep parameters were not changed consistently. We hypothesize that internal desynchrony might be a part of the underlying pathophysiology in RBD. Our data might give first evidence to the hypothesis that exogenous melatonin, administered to patients with internal desynchrony at the time of the maximal rise of melatonin secretion, might increase the overall amplitude of the circadian pacemaker by reentraining the suprachiasmatic nucleus and thereby restore circadian driven rhythms, one of them being the circadian modulation of REM sleep.

C-reactive Protein is Associated With Sleep Disordered Breathing Independent of Adiposity

Abstract: Study Objectives: It is well established that medical conditions such as obesity and cardiovascular disease are associated with increased levels of inflammatory biomarkers such as C-reactive protein (CRP). Prior studies have produced inconsistent results regarding the association between sleep disordered breathing (SDB) and CRP, possibly due to the confounding effects of obesity or medical comorbidity. The present study examined the association between degree of SDB and level of CRP independent of prevalent medical conditions and obesity. Design: Cross-sectional study. Subjects and Setting: University-based clinical sample referred for diagnostic polysomnography. Measurements and Results: The study sample consisted of 69 men (mean age 40 years; mean BMI of 31.2 kg/m 2 ) free of prevalent medical conditions including hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and cardiovascular disease. Measurements of morning and evening CRP levels were performed along with full-montage polysomnography. Confounding due to obesity was assessed by adjustments for body mass index, waist circumference, and percent body fat. A strong association was found between degree of SDB and serum levels of CRP, with or without adjustment for age and several measures of adiposity. Between the lowest and highest quartiles of apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) the mean difference in adjusted level of CRP was 3.88 μg/ml (P < 0.001). Moreover, an independent association between serum CRP levels and nocturnal hypoxia was also observed, whereas no association was noted with parameters of sleep architecture. Conclusions: While more research is needed to elucidate causal pathways involving the effects of sleep-related hypoxia on low-grade systemic inflammation, the results of this study suggest that mechanisms other than adiposity per se could contribute to the inflammatory state seen in adults with SDB.

Sleep in normal late pregnancy.

Abstract: Twelve women in their third trimester of pregnancy and 10 age-matched nonpregnant controls underwent complete polysomnography for one night in the laboratory. Seven of the original women returned for a second study 3-5 months postpartum. During late pregnancy, women showed increased wake after sleep onset (WASO) and a lower sleep efficiency in comparison with the control group. The percentage of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep was significantly decreased and the percentage of stage 1 significantly increased compared to the nonpregnant group. At 3-5 months postpartum, a significant reduction in WASO and increased sleep efficiency were noted. However, only a slight increase was noted in REM sleep during the postpartum period compared to the prepartum period. The most frequent sleep complaints in the pregnant group were restless sleep, low back pain, leg cramps and frightening dreams. In summary, in accordance with their complaints, women in their third trimester demonstrated polysomnographic patterns of sleep maintenance insomnia.

Sleep and sleep disorders in older adults.

Abstract: Complaints of sleep disturbance increase with age. Objective sleep assessments using polysomnography reveal sleep impairments (increased wakefulness and arousal from sleep; decreased slow wave sleep) even in healthy seniors. Both polysomnographic sleep and subjective sleep worsen in the presence of health impairments related to drug use, pain, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, depression, or other emotional disorders. In addition to normal aging and chronic disease, sleep complaints can also result from poor sleep habits, specific occult disorders during sleep, or some combination of these factors. Occult disorders include sleep apnea syndrome, periodic leg movements, and restless legs syndrome during sleep. Diagnosis and treatment of these and other sleep disorders is discussed. Both pharmacological and nonpharmacological treatments are considered, with an emphasis on behavioral and educative treatment approaches.

Suicidality and sleep disturbances.

Abstract: STUDY OBJECTIVES: A growing body of research indicates that sleep disturbances may be specifically linked to suicidal behaviors. It remains unclear, however, whether this link is largely explained by depressive symptoms. The present study investigated the relationship between suicidality, depression, and sleep complaints in a clinical outpatient setting. DESIGN AND SETTING: Upon admission, 176 outpatients completed measures on sleep disturbances, suicidal symptoms, and depression. Several sleep disturbances were evaluated with regard to suicidal ideation, including insomnia, nightmares, and sleep-related breathing symptoms. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: Regression analyses revealed that insomnia and nightmare symptoms were associated with both depressive symptoms and suicidality. Sleep-related breathing symptoms were associated with depressive symptoms, but did not show an association with suicidal ideation. After controlling for depressive symptoms, only nightmares demonstrated an association with suicidal ideation. This relationship emerged as a nonsignificant trend (P = .06). Nightmares were particularly associated with suicidality among women compared with men. Posthoc analyses revealed that, after controlling for sex and depressive symptoms, nightmare symptoms were significantly associated with suicidality (P = .04). CONCLUSIONS: Although insomnia and nightmares were significantly associated with depressive and suicidal symptoms, after controlling for additional variables, such as depression and sex, only nightmares remained associated with suicidality. This association was slightly stronger among women compared with men. Language: en