Self-Reported Sleep Latency in Postmenopausal Women

The ain of this study was to access how self-reported sleep latency (SRSL) was affected by sleep habits, mood, and circadian rhythm in postmenopausal women. Subjects (n=384, 67.9±7.7 yr) completed sleep and mood questionnaires, sleep log and actigraphic data. The major urinary melatonin metabolite (6-sulphatoxymelatonin, aMT6s) was assayed in fractional urine specimens for two 24-hr intervals. Although SRSL (26.5±24.4 min) and actigraphic sleep latency (ASL; 27.8±20.0 min) were correlated (rs=0.361, p<0.001), the short SRSLs tended to be underestimated whereas the long SRSLs tended to be overestimated as compared to ASL. SRSL was positively correlated with the scales of insomnia, mood and hot flash, hypertension, use of anti-hypertensive drugs and the acrophase and the offset of aMT6s. SRSL was negatively correlated with the global assessment of functioning scale in DSM-IV (GAF scale), and light exposure and wrist activity. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that the best-fit model to predict SRSL was light exposure, GAF scale, and use of anti-hypertensive drugs. SRSL may be determined by psychophysiological factors as well as circadian rhythm function. Therapeutic approaches suggested for trouble falling asleep might include increased daylight exposure, improvements in general health, and modification of anti-hypertensive pharmacotherapy

Ethnicity, sleep, mood, and illumination in postmenopausal women

BACKGROUND: This study examined how ethnic differences in sleep and depression were related to environmental illumination and circadian rhythms. METHODS: In an ancillary study to the Women's Health Initiative, 459 postmenopausal women were recorded for one week in their homes, using wrist monitors. Sleep and illumination experience were estimated. Depression was self-rated with a brief adjective check list. Affective diagnoses were made using the SCID interview. Sleep disordered breathing was monitored with home pulse oximetry. RESULTS: Hispanic and African-American women slept less than European-American women, according to both objective recordings and their own sleep logs. Non-European-American women had more blood oxygen desaturations during sleep, which accounted for 26% of sleep duration variance associated with ethnicity. Hispanic women were much more depressed. Hispanic, African-American and Native-American women experienced less daily illumination. Less daily illumination experience was associated with poorer global functioning, longer but more disturbed sleep, and more depression. CONCLUSIONS: Curtailed sleep and poor mood were related to ethnicity. Sleep disordered breathing was a factor in the curtailed sleep of minority women. Less illumination was experienced by non-European-American women, but illumination accounted for little of the contrasts between ethnic groups in sleep and mood. Social factors may be involved

Prevalence of Tuberculosis in Eskimos Having Blood Group B Gene

Differential prevalence of clinical tuberculosis is demonstrated among Eskimos for the ABO, but not for MN blood-group system. In the ABO system, types AB and B individuals have more tuberculosis than the other two types and the prevalence rate of moderate and far-advanced disease is more than threefold greater for type B and AB than for types A and O. In the MN system, type MM individuals have more clinical tuberculosis than the other two genotypes, and they also show greater prevalence rates of moderate and far-advanced disease compared with the MM and NN genotypes, but the differences are not statistically significant

Family Expectations and Arthritis Patient Compliance to a Hand Resting Splint Regimen

The present study reveals that perceived family expectations are strongly related to arthritis patients\u27 use of hand resting splints, both in terms of statistical significance and magnitude of use. That is, there is a difference in the use of the splint when it is perceived that one\u27s family expects him to use it as opposed to when such expectation is lacking. Females were found to comply a greater average per cent of the time than males, older persons used it more than younger ones, and in this instance the lower social class subjects complied more than the middle and upper social class groupings. Physicians and therapists who prescribe and provide such service should consider in the total treatment process how their patients perceive family expectation of health care procedures. Further research in the area should emphasize the controlled experimental approach rather than surveys. Trials are now needed to determine the degree to which patients\u27 participation and response to treatment can be accomplished through motivations of the family unit

Periodic Leg Movements During Sleep and Sleep Disturbances in Elders

Background. Periodic limb movements in sleep (PLMS) are an increasingly pervasive disturbance for aging adults. The aims of this experiment were: (a) to describe the index of periodic limb movements in sleep (myoclonus index [MI] in elderly subjects with complaints of poor sleep or depression (N = 22; 68 ± 5.5 SD years); and (b) to correlate MI with sleep history, depression scores, and objective and subjective indices of sleep. Method. Sleep and leg movements were assessed for 5 consecutive nights. Between-subjects, nonparametric corre-lations were examined between mean MI and sleep history, depression scores, and objective and subjective sleep char-acteristics. Associations among within-subject night-to-night variabilities of MI, objective, and subjective variables were examined with repeated measures ANCOVA, entering MI as a covariate. Results. A remarkably high level of MI was found (median 25.8 events per hour; 86 % of subjects&gt; 5). Neverthe-less, no associations were found between MI and sleep disturbance measures. Conclusion. These results extend previous reports that PLMS are remarkably persuasive in elderly volunteers and support other reports questioning whether there is a distinct PLMS syndrome. PERIODIC limb movements during sleep (PLMS ornocturnal myoclonus) become increasingly prevalent as people age. Some estimates suggest that PLMS occur in 30-45 % of adults aged 60 years and older (1,2) and i