An olfactory stimulus modifies nighttime sleep in young men and women

Aromatherapy is an anecdotal method for modifying sleep and mood. However, whether olfactory exposure to essential oils affects night-time objective sleep remains untested. Previous studies also demonstrate superior olfactory abilities in women. Therefore, this study investigated the effects of an olfactory stimulus on subsequent sleep and assessed gender differences in such effects. Thirty-one young healthy sleepers (16 men and 15 women, aged 18 to 30 yr, mean±SD, 20.5±2.4 yr) completed 3 consecutive overnight sessions in a sleep laboratory: one adaptation, one stimulus, and one control night (the latter 2 nights in counterbalanced order). Subjects received an intermittent presentation (first 2 min of each 10 min interval) of an olfactory (lavender oil) or a control (distilled water) stimulus between 23:10 and 23:40 h. Standard polysomnographic sleep and self-rated sleepiness and mood data were collected. Lavender increased the percentage of deep or slow-wave sleep (SWS) in men and women. All subjects reported higher vigor the morning after lavender exposure, corroborating the restorative SWS increase. Lavender also increased stage 2 (light) sleep, and decreased rapid-eye movement (REM) sleep and the amount of time to reach wake after first falling asleep (wake after sleep onset latency) in women, with opposite effects in men. Thus, lavender serves as a mild sedative and has practical applications as a novel, nonphotic method for promoting deep sleep in young men and women and for producing gender-dependent sleep effects.     

Gender Differences in Polysomnographic Sleep in Young Healthy Sleepers

Middle‐aged and elderly populations exhibit gender differences in polysomnographic (PSG) sleep; however, whether young men and women also show such differences remains unclear. Thirty‐one young healthy sleepers (16 men and 15 women, aged 18 to 30 yr, mean±SD, 20.5±2.4 yr) completed 3 consecutive overnight sessions in a sleep laboratory, after maintaining a stable sleep‐wake cycle for 1 wk before study entry. Standard PSG sleep and self‐rated sleepiness data were collected each night. Across nights, women showed better sleep quality than men: they fell asleep faster (shorter sleep onset latency) and had better sleep efficiency, with more time asleep and less time awake (all differences showed large effect sizes, d=0.98 to 1.12). By contrast, men were sleepier than women across nights. Both men and women demonstrated poorer overall sleep quality on the first night compared with the subsequent 2 nights of study. We conclude young adult healthy sleepers show robust gender differences in PSG sleep, like older populations, with better sleep quality in women than in men. These results highlight the importance of gender in sleep and circadian rhythm research studies employing young subjects and have broader implications for women's health issues relating to these topics.     

Olfactory Discrimination and Transient Mood Change in Young Men and Women: Variation by Season,Mood State,and Time of Day

Odor performance varies by clinical state and gender, though little is known about its variation by season or time of day. Many odors, including lavender, induce transient mood changes. This study explored discrimination differences between various lavender oil blends and their effects on transient mood in the morning and evening in depressed and nondepressed adults. We also determined seasonal influences on these measures. A total of 169 subjects, 98 women and 71 men (mean age ± SD, 19.3 ± 1.6 y) participated, with different subjects studied at different times of the year. The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) classified subjects as depressed (score ≥10; N = 57) or nondepressed (score <10; N = 112). In the discrimination test, subjects compared pairs of two different lavender oil blends or a control. Transient change in mood was assessed by the Profile of Mood States (POMS) after each trial of five lavender blends interspersed by three control odors. Tests were conducted in the morning (08:00–10:00 h) and evening (18:00–20:00 h). In all subjects, discrimination was significantly better for some odor pairs than for others, thus demonstrating test specificity. Discrimination was better overall in the fall than winter/spring and better in depressed than nondepressed subjects for specific odor pairs. No significant gender or time-of-day differences in discriminability were detected. There were, however, significant group differences in transient mood profiles. Current depressed state affected mood response, with lavender increasing anger in depressed subjects only. In addition, depressed subjects and men, whether or not depressed, exhibited diurnal mood variation, with better mood in the evening; the former group also showed more evening energy. All subjects were more confused in the morning than evening. Season also affected transient mood; winter/spring-tested subjects reported more vigor than fall-tested subjects. In addition, summer-tested subjects showed more tension in the morning, whereas fall-tested subjects showed the opposite pattern in the evening. In all subjects, lavender increased fatigue, tension, confusion, and total mood disturbance, and it decreased vigor. The study showed that both chronobiological (seasonal and time-of-day) and clinical factors modify discrimination and mood response to odors. Brief lavender odor presentation may serve as a nonphotic method for altering mood in young depressed and nondepressed adults particularly during the fall, a time of heightened discriminability.     

Sleep and Circadian Rhythms in Spousally Bereaved Seniors

A laboratory study of sleep and circadian rhythms was undertaken in 28 spousally bereaved seniors (≥60 yrs) at least four months after the loss event. Measures taken included two nights of polysomnography (second night used), ～36 h of continuous core body temperature monitoring, and four assessments of mood and alertness throughout a day. Preceding the laboratory study, two‐week diaries were completed, allowing the assessment of lifestyle regularity using the 17‐item Social Rhythm Metric (SRM) and the timing of sleep using the Pittsburgh Sleep Diary (PghSD). Also completed were questionnaires assessing level of grief (Texas Revised Inventory of Grief [TRIG] and Index of Complicated Grief [ICG]), subjective sleep quality (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index [PSQI]), morningness‐eveningness (Composite Scale of Morningness [CSM]), and clinical interview yielding a Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) score. Grief was still present, as indicated by an average TRIG score of about 60. On average, the bereaved seniors habitually slept between ～23:00 and ～06:40 h, achieving ～6 h of sleep with a sleep efficiency of ～80%. They took about 30 min to fall asleep, and had their first REM episode after 75 min. About 20% of their sleep was in Stage REM, and about 3% in Stages 3 or 4 (slow wave sleep). Their mean PSQI score was 6.4. Their circadian temperature rhythms showed the usual classic shape with a trough at ～01:00 h, a fairly steep rise through the morning hours, and a more gradual rise to mid‐evening, with an amplitude of ～0.8°C. In terms of lifestyle regularity, the mean regularity (SRM) score was 3.65 (slightly lower than that usually seen in seniors). Mood and alertness showed time‐of‐day variation with peak alertness in the late morning and peak mood in the afternoon. Correlations between outcome sleep/circadian variables and level of grief (TRIG score) were calculated; there was a slight trend for higher grief to be associated with less time spent asleep (p=0.07) and reduced alertness at 20:00 h (p=0.05). Depression score was not correlated with TRIG score (p>0.20). When subjects were divided into groups by the nature of their late spouse's death (expected/after a long‐term chronic illness [n=18] versus unexpected [n=10]), no differences emerged in any of the variables. In conclusion, when studied at least four months after the loss event, there appears to be some sleep disruption in spousally bereaved seniors. However, this disruption does not appear to be due to bereavement‐related disruptions in the circadian system.     

Aircrew fatigue in trans-Atlantic morning and evening flights

The aim of the investigation was to compare sleepiness and sleep on westward morning and evening flights. Seven morning-crew pilots and seven evening-crew pilots participated. Data were collected before, during, and after outward-bound (westward) and homeward-bound (eastward) flights across six time zones. A sleep/wake diary (with repeated sleepiness and performance ratings) and wrist actigraphy were used for data collection. Maximum sleep was obtained after return and minimum sleep before the outward-bound flights. Actigraphy measures and sleep efficiency over the course of the study showed no significant differences between the morning and evening crews. There was a trend for a significant effect of morning vs. evening flight for time with heavy eyelids, with the homeward-bound flight showing more time with heavy eyelids. There were no significant differences between morning and evening crews with regard to napping during the flight. The duration of wakefulness was longer for the evening flight crew. There were significant interactions for Karolinska sleepiness scale (KSS) self-ratings on both the outward-bound and homeward-bound flights, and KSS was elevated during a considerable portion of the evening flights. Rated performance showed a significant time effect, but there was no difference in self-ratings between morning and evening crews. Evening flights involve higher levels of sleepiness than morning flights, presumably because of the close proximity in time to the circadian trough of alertness.     

Circadian and Circannual Rhythms of Hormonal Variables in Elderly Men and Women

A group of fourteen men (73 ± 5 yr of age), and eighteen women (77 ± 7 yr of age) institutionalized at the Berceni Clinical Hospital, Bucharest, Romania, were studied over a 24-hr span once during each season (winter, spring, summer and fall). All subjects followed a diurnal activity pattern with rest at night and ate three meals per day with breakfast at about 0830, lunch at about 1300 and dinner at about 1830. The meals were similar, although not identical for all subjects during all seasons. On each day of sampling blood was collected at 4-hr intervals over a 24-hr span. Seventeen hormonal variables were determined by radioimmunoassay. Statistically significant circadian rhythms were detected and quantitated by population mean cosinor analysis in pooled data from all four seasons in both sexes for ACTH, aldosterone, Cortisol, C-peptide, dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate (DHEA-S), immunoreactive insulin, prolactin, 17-OH progesterone, testosterone, total T₄ and TSH. In women, estradiol and progesterone also were determined and showed a circadian rhythm during all seasons. Total T, and FSH showed circadian rhythm detection by cosinor analysis in the men only; LH showed no consistent circadian rhythm as group phenomenon in men or women.

A circannual rhythm was detected using the circadian means of each subject at each season as input for the population mean cosinor in the women for ACTH, C-peptide, DHEA-S, FSH, LH, progesterone, 17-OH progesterone and TSH. In the men, a circannual rhythm was detected for ACTH, FSH, insulin, LH, testosterone and T₃. There were phase differences between men and women in ACTH, FSH and LH. In those functions in which both the circadian and circannual rhythms were statistically significant, a comparison of the amplitudes showed in the women a higher circannual rather than circadian amplitude for DHEA-S. In 17-OH progesterone, TSH and C-peptide, the circadian amplitude in women was larger. In men, the circannual amplitude of T₃ was larger than the circadian amplitude and in insulin the circadian amplitude was larger than the circannual amplitude. There was no statistically significant difference between the circadian and circannual amplitudes in the women in ACTH and progesterone and in the men in ACTH and testosterone.     

Rest/Activity Rhythms and Cardiovascular Disease in Older Men

Prior studies have suggested an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD)-related mortality in older adults with disturbed circadian rest/activity rhythms (RARs). The objective goal of this study was to examine the association between disrupted RARs and risk of CVD events in older men. A total of 2968 men aged 67 yrs and older wore wrist actigraphs for 115?±?18 consecutive hours. RAR parameters were computed from wrist actigraphy data and expressed as quartiles (Q). CVD events consisted of a composite outcome of coronary heart disease (CHD), stroke, and peripheral vascular disease (PVD) events. Secondary analyses examined associations between RARs and individual components of the composite outcome (CHD, stroke, and PVD). There were 490 CVD events over an average of 4.0?±?1.2 yrs. Overall, reduced amplitude (HR?=?1.31, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.01–1.71 for Q2 vs. Q4) and greater minimum (HR?=?1.33, 95% CI 1.01–1.73 for Q4 vs. Q1) were associated with an increased risk of CVD events in multivariable-adjusted models. In secondary analyses, there was an independent association between reduced amplitude (HR?=?1.36, 95% CI 1.00–1.86) and greater minimum activity counts (HR?=?1.39, 95% CI 1.02–1.91) with increased risk of CHD events. Reduced F value (HR?=?2.88, 95% CI 1.41–5.87 for Q1 vs. Q4 and HR?=?2.71, 95% CI 1.34–5.48 for Q2 vs. Q4) and later occurring acrophase of the RAR (HR?=?1.65, 95% CI 1.04–2.63 for Q4 vs. Q2–3) were associated with an increased risk of PVD events. Results were similar in men without a history of CVD events. The findings revealed that among older men, measures of decreased circadian activity rhythm robustness (reduced amplitude and greater minimum activity) were associated with an increased risk of CVD events, primarily through increased risk of CHD or stroke events, whereas measures of reduced circadian activity rhythmicity were not associated with risk of CVD events overall, but were associated with an increased risk of PVD events. These results should be confirmed in other populations. (Author correspondence: E-mail: ames0047@umn.edu)     

A Reliability and Validity Study of the Bergen Shift Work Sleep Questionnaire in Nurses Working Three-Shift Rotations

The “Bergen Shift Work Sleep Questionnaire” (BSWSQ) was developed to systematically assess discrete sleep problems related to different work shifts (day, evening, night shifts) and rest days. In this study, we assessed the psychometric properties of the BSWSQ using a sample of 760 nurses, all working in a three-shift rotation schedule: day, evening, and night shifts. BSWSQ measures insomnia symptoms using seven questions: >30-min sleep onset latency, >30-min wake after sleep onset, >30-min premature awakenings, nonrestorative sleep, being tired/sleepy at work, during free time on work days, and when not working/on vacation. Symptoms are assessed separately for each work shift and rest days, as “never,” “rarely,” “sometimes,” “often,” “always,” or “not applicable.” We investigated the BSWSQ model fit, reliability (test-retest of a subsample, n?=?234), and convergent and discriminant validity between the BSWSQ and Epworth Sleepiness Scale, Fatigue Questionnaire, and Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale. We also investigated differences in mean scores between the different insomnia symptoms with respect to different work shifts and rest days. BSWSQ demonstrated an adequate model fit using structural equation modeling: root mean square error of approximation?=?.071 (90% confidence interval [CI]?=?.066–.076), comparative fit index?=?.91, and chi-square/degrees of freedom?=?4.41. The BSWSQ demonstrated good reliability (test-retest coefficients p?<?.001). We found good convergent and discriminant validity between BSWSQ and the other scales (all coefficients p?<?.001). There were significant differences between the overall/composite scores of the various work shifts. Night shift showed the highest score compared to day and evening shifts as well as to rest days (all post hoc comparisons p?<?.001). Mean scores of different symptoms also varied significantly within the individual work shifts. We conclude that the BSWSQ meets the necessary psychometric standards, enabling systematic study of discrete insomnia symptoms in different work shifts. (Author correspondence: elisabeth.flo@psykp.uib.no)     

Asymmetries in the Friendship Preferences and Social Styles of Men and Women

Several hypotheses on the form and function of sex differences in social behaviors were tested. The results suggest that friendship preferences in both sexes can be understood in terms of perceived reciprocity potential—capacity and willingness to engage in a mutually beneficial relationship. Divergent social styles may in turn reflect trade-offs between behaviors selected to maintain large, functional coalitions in men and intimate, secure relationships in women. The findings are interpreted from a broad socio-relational framework of the types of behaviors that facilitate selective advertisement and investment of reciprocity potential across individuals and within groups of men and women.

Circadian Characteristics of Urinary Epinephrine and Norepinephrine from Healthy Young Women in Japan and USA

Clinically healthy diurnally active young adult women were studied during the same season (March) at the Universities of Kyushu (Fukuoka City, Japan) and of Minnesota (Minneapolis, USA), under comparable conditions, except that the habitual diets were not changed. The subjects (20 Japanese and 16 Americans of mixed Caucasian background) were studied over a single 24-hr span. Urine was collected at 4-hr intervals. A circadian rhythm in total urinary norepinephrine excretion showed similar characteristics in Japanese and Americans. In epinephrine excretion, the Japanese women showed a statistically significantly higher amplitude with higher peak values, but no statistically significant difference in the rhythm-adjusted mean. This intergroup difference is strictly time dependent; it does not come to the fore in urine samples covering the nocturnal rest span of the subjects.     

Dim Light Melatonin Onset in Alcohol-Dependent Men and Women Compared with Healthy Controls

Sleep disturbances in alcohol-dependent (AD) individuals may persist despite abstinence from alcohol and can influence the course of the disorder. Although the mechanisms of sleep disturbances of AD are not well understood and some evidence suggests dysregulation of circadian rhythms, dim light melatonin onset (DLMO) has not previously been assessed in AD versus healthy control (HC) individuals in a sample that varied by sex and race. The authors assessed 52 AD participants (mean?±?SD age: 36.0?±?11.0 yrs of age, 10 women) who were 3–12 wks since their last drink (abstinence: 57.9?±?19.3 d) and 19 age- and sex-matched HCs (34.4?±?10.6 yrs, 5 women). Following a 23:00–06:00?h at-home sleep schedule for at least 5 d and screening/baseline nights in the sleep laboratory, participants underwent a 3-h extension of wakefulness (02:00?h bedtime) during which salivary melatonin samples were collected every 30?min beginning at 19:30?h. The time of DLMO was the primary measure of circadian physiology and was assessed with two commonly used methodologies. There was a slower rate of rise and lower maximal amplitude of the melatonin rhythm in the AD group. DLMO varied by the method used to derive it. Using 3 pg/mL as threshold, no significant differences were found between the AD and HC groups. Using 2 standard deviations above the mean of the first three samples, the DLMO in AD occurred significantly later, 21:02?±?00:41?h, than in HC, 20:44?±?00:21?h (t?=??2.4, p?=?.02). Although melatonin in the AD group appears to have a slower rate of rise, using well-established criteria to assess the salivary DLMO did not reveal differences between AD and HC participants. Only when capturing melatonin when it is already rising was DLMO found to be significantly delayed by a mean 18?min in AD participants. Future circadian analyses on alcoholics should account for these methodological caveats. (Author correspondence: daconroy@med.umich.edu)     

Effects of Sleep Loss and Circadian Rhythm on Executive Inhibitory Control in the Stroop and Simon Tasks

This study assessed the influence of sleep loss and circadian rhythm on executive inhibitory control (i.e., the ability to inhibit conflicting response tendencies due to irrelevant information). Twelve ordinarily diurnally active, healthy young male participants performed the Stroop and the Simon task every 3?h in a 40-h constant routine protocol that comprised constant wakefulness under controlled behavioral and environmental conditions. In both tasks, overall performance showed clear circadian rhythm and sleep-loss effects. However, both Stroop and Simon interference remained unchanged across the 40?h of wakefulness, suggesting that neither cumulative sleep loss nor the circadian clock affects executive inhibitory control. The present findings challenge the widely held view that executive functions are especially vulnerable to the influence of sleep loss and circadian rhythm. (Author correspondence: daniel.bratzke@uni-tuebingen.de)     

Sleep and Rhythm Changes at the Time of Trypanosoma brucei Invasion of the Brain Parenchyma in the Rat

Human African trypanosomiasis (HAT), or sleeping sickness, is a severe disease caused by Trypanosoma brucei (T.b.). The disease hallmark is sleep alterations. Brain involvement in HAT is a crucial pathogenetic step for disease diagnosis and therapy. In this study, a rat model of African trypanosomiasis was used to assess changes of sleep-wake, rest-activity, and body temperature rhythms in the time window previously shown as crucial for brain parenchyma invasion by T.b. to determine potential biomarkers of this event. Chronic radiotelemetric monitoring in Sprague-Dawley rats was used to continuously record electroencephalogram, electromyogram, rest-activity, and body temperature in the same animals before (baseline recording) and after infection. Rats were infected with T.b. brucei. Data were acquired from 1 to 20 d after infection (parasite neuroinvasion initiates at 11–13 d post-infection in this model), and were compared to baseline values. Sleep parameters were manually scored from electroencephalographic-electromyographic tracings. Circadian rhythms of sleep time, slow-wave activity, rest-activity, and body temperature were studied using cosinor rhythmometry. Results revealed alterations of most of the analyzed parameters. In particular, sleep pattern and sleep-wake organization plus rest-activity and body temperature rhythms exhibited early quantitative and qualitative alterations, which became marked around the time interval crucial for parasite neuroinvasion or shortly after. Data derived from actigrams showed close correspondence with those from hypnograms, suggesting that rest-activity could be useful to monitor sleep-wake alterations in African trypanosomiasis. (Author correspondence: giuseppe.bertini@univr.it)     

阿戈美拉汀联合舍曲林治疗抑郁症伴失眠的疗效及对睡眠质量评分、多导睡眠监测参数和血清神经递质的影响

摘要 目的：观察阿戈美拉汀联合舍曲林治疗抑郁症伴失眠的疗效及对睡眠质量评分、多导睡眠（PSG）监测参数和血清神经递质的影响。方法：选取2020年4月~2021年12月期间来贵州省第二人民医院就诊的80例抑郁症伴失眠患者作为观察对象,采用随机数字表法分为实验组和对照组各40例,对照组患者接受舍曲林治疗,实验组患者接受阿戈美拉汀联合舍曲林治疗,对比两组疗效、匹兹堡睡眠质量指数（PQSI）评分、PSG相关指标参数、汉密尔顿抑郁量表（HAMD）评分、血清神经递质水平变化,记录两组治疗期间不良反应发生情况。结果：实验组的临床总有效率为90.00%（36/40）,高于对照组的67.50%（27/40）,差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）。两组治疗8周后PSQI、HAMD评分均下降,且实验组的变化程度大于对照组（P<0.05）。两组治疗8周后睡眠总时间（TST）、睡眠效率（SE）、非快速眼动睡眠阶段3+4的百分比（SWS）、快速眼动睡眠阶段睡眠时间（RT）增加,非快速眼动睡眠阶段1的百分比（S1）、非快速眼动睡眠阶段2的百分比（S2）减少,且实验组的变化程度大于对照组（P<0.05）。两组治疗8周后去甲肾上腺素（NE）、5-羟色胺（5-HT）水平均升高,且实验组的升高程度大于对照组（P<0.05）。两组不良反应发生率组间对比未见差异（P>0.05）。结论：阿戈美拉汀联合舍曲林治疗抑郁症伴失眠,可有效改善抑郁和失眠症状,同时还可调节血清神经递质水平,是一个较为安全可靠的治疗方案。     

Older Poor-Sleeping Women Display a Smaller Evening Increase in Melatonin Secretion and Lower Values of Melatonin and Core Body Temperature Than Good Sleepers

Melatonin concentration and core body temperature (CBT) follow endogenous circadian biological rhythms. In the evening, melatonin level increases and CBT decreases. These changes are involved in the regulation of the sleep-wake cycle. Therefore, the authors hypothesized that age-related changes in these rhythms affect sleep quality in older people. In a cross-sectional study design, 11 older poor-sleeping women (aged 62–72 yrs) and 9 older good-sleeping women (60–82 yrs) were compared with 10 younger good-sleeping women (23–28 yrs). The older groups were matched by age and body mass index. Sleep quality was assessed by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index questionnaire. As an indicator of CBT, oral temperature was measured at 1-h intervals from 17:00 to 24:00?h. At the same time points, saliva samples were collected for determining melatonin levels by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The dim light melatonin onset (DLMO), characterizing the onset of melatonin production, was calculated. Evening changes in melatonin and CBT levels were tested by the Friedman test. Group comparisons were performed with independent samples tests. Predictors of sleep-onset latency (SOL) were assessed by regression analysis. Results show that the mean CBT decreased in the evening from 17:00 to 24:00?h in both young women (from 36.57°C to 36.25°C, p < .001) and older women (from 36.58°C to 35.88°C, p < .001), being lowest in the older poor sleepers (p < .05). During the same time period, mean melatonin levels increased in young women (from 16.2 to 54.1 pg/mL, p < .001) and older women (from 10.0 to 23.5 pg/mL, p < .001), being lowest among the older poor sleepers (from 20:00 to 24:00?h, p < .05 vs. young women). Older poor sleepers also showed a smaller increase in melatonin level from 17:00 to 24:00?h than older good sleepers (mean?±?SD: 7.0?±?9.63 pg/mL vs. 15.6?±?24.1 pg/mL, p = .013). Accordingly, the DLMO occurred at similar times in young (20:10?h) and older (19:57?h) good-sleeping women, but was delayed ～50?min in older poor-sleeping women (20:47?h). Older poor sleepers showed a shorter phase angle between DLMO and sleep onset, but a longer phase angle between CBT peak and sleep onset than young good sleepers, whereas older good sleepers had intermediate phase angles (insignificant). Regression analysis showed that the DLMO was a significant predictor of SOL in the older women (R²?=?0.64, p < .001), but not in the younger women. This indicates that melatonin production started later in those older women who needed more time to fall asleep. In conclusion, changes in melatonin level and CBT were intact in older poor sleepers in that evening melatonin increased and CBT decreased. However, poor sleepers showed a weaker evening increase in melatonin level, and their DLMO was delayed compared with good sleepers, suggesting that it is not primarily the absolute level of endogenous melatonin, but rather the timing of the circadian rhythm in evening melatonin secretion that might be related to disturbances in the sleep-wake cycle in older people. (Author correspondence: mdittmar@zoologie.uni-kiel.de)     

Eating Behaviors and Indexes of Body Composition in Men and Women from the Québec Family Study

Objective: To put into relationship the dietary and anthropometric profile of men and women with their eating behaviors (cognitive dietary restraint, disinhibition, and susceptibility to hunger) and to assess whether gender and obesity status influence these associations. Research Methods and Procedures: Anthropometric measurements (including visceral adipose tissue accumulation), dietary profile (3‐day food record), and eating behaviors (Three‐Factor Eating Questionnaire) were determined in a sample of 244 men and 352 women. Results: Women had significantly higher cognitive dietary restraint and disinhibition scores than men (p < 0.0001). In both genders, scores for disinhibition and susceptibility to hunger, but not for cognitive dietary restraint, were higher in obese subjects than in overweight and nonobese subjects (p < 0.05). Positive correlations were observed between rigid restraint and most of the anthropometric variables studied (0.12 ≤ r ≤ 0.16). Moreover, in women, flexible restraint was negatively associated with body fat and waist circumference (r = ?0.11). Cognitive dietary restraint and rigid restraint were positively related to BMI among nonobese women (0.19 ≤ r ≤ 0.20), whereas in obese men, cognitive dietary restraint and flexible restraint tended to be negatively correlated with BMI (?0.20 ≤ r ≤ ?0.22; p = 0.10). Discussion: Gender could mediate associations observed between eating behaviors and anthropometric profile. It was also found that disinhibition and susceptibility to hunger are positively associated with the level of obesity. On the other hand, cognitive dietary restraint is not consistently related to body weight and adiposity, whereas rigid and flexible restraint are oppositely associated to obesity status, which suggests that it is important to differentiate the subscales of cognitive dietary restraint. Finally, counseling aimed at coping with disinhibition and susceptibility to hunger could be of benefit for the long‐term treatment of obesity.     

Sleep Biological Rhythms in Normal Infants and those at High Risk for SIDS

The focus of this study was on daytime and nighttime sleep and wakefulness during the peak age for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), two to four months, to determine whether there are differences between at‐risk for SIDS (R) and control (C) infants. Such differences may provide insight on the frequent occurrence of SIDS in the early morning hours, when most babies are asleep. This is the only study in which R and C infants were continuously monitored for long periods of time (24–48 h) and then followed and recorded at monthly intervals until the age of 4–6 months. Data analyses indicate that ultradian REM/NREM cyclicity becomes stabilized into a regular pattern at three months of age. Infants at this age convert from a polyphasic sleep/wakefulness pattern to a circadian one. Among the changes that occur is a lengthening of short sleep periods that consolidate at night and wake periods that consolidate in the daytime. The most striking effects are related to sleep state and vary according to age and sex. The lengthening of single sleep and wakeful periods is coupled with the maturation of the brain. The development of the central nervous system facilitates the synchronization of sleeping patterns with external light input and social entrainment. One or more biological clocks or oscillators may be responsible for these REM/NREM patterns and circadian cycles. These differences during the early morning hours, when the occurrence of SIDS peaks, may have important implications for understanding the pathophysiological mechanism of SIDS.     

Emotions in the Diary and REM Dreams of Young and Late Adulthood Women and Their Relation to Life Satisfaction.

Expanding on studies of the incidence and valence of emotions in dreams and their relationship with waking life satisfaction, home and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep dreams were collected from 30 late adulthood and 28 young women who had filled out a life satisfaction scale. Four positive and 4 negative dream emotions were self-rated. Both groups reported more emotions, with greater intensity, in home dreams than in REM dreams, particularly the older group. Regardless of age, intensity of negative emotions was lower in laboratory dreams than in home dreams, but there was no difference for positive emotions. The older women's home dreams had fewer negative emotions, with lower intensity, than did the young women's. Life satisfaction did not differ between age groups and was not significantly related to dream emotions. These results reinforce the distinction between home and laboratory dreams and question the relation between dream emotions and life satisfaction. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)