Exercise-with-melatonin therapy improves sleep disorder and motor dysfunction in a rat model of ischemic stroke

Exercise-with-melatonin therapy has complementary and synergistic effects on spinal cord injury and Alzheimer's disease,but its effect on stroke is still poorly understood.In this study,we established a rat model of ischemic stroke by occluding the middle cerebral artery for 60 minutes.We treated the rats with exercise and melatonin therapy for 7 consecutive days.Results showed that exercise-with-melatonin therapy significantly prolonged sleep duration in the model rats,increased delta power values,and regularized delta power rhythm.Additionally,exercise-with-melatonin therapy improved coordination,endurance,and grip strength,as well as learning and memory abilities.At the same time,it led to higher hippocampal CA1 neuron activity and postsynaptic density thickness and lower expression of glutamate receptor 2 than did exercise or melatonin therapy alone.These findings suggest that exercise-withmelatonin therapy can alleviate sleep disorder and motor dysfunction by increasing glutamate receptor 2 protein expression and regulating hippocampal CA1 synaptic plasticity.

Correlation between blepharospasm and psychological diseases:the anxiety,depression and sleep disorder study

AIM:To investigate the relationship between benign essential blepharospasm(BEB)symptoms and depression/anxiety/sleep disorder in a prospective manner and to determine whether treatment the BEB with botulinum toxin type A(BoNT/A)can impact psychological symptoms.METHODS:This prospective interventional case series recruited 61 adults with evidence of BEB.Patients were administered the Jankovic Rating Scale(JRS),the Blepharospasm Disability Index(BSDI),Personal Health Questionnaire Depression Scale(PHQ-8),Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item scale(GAD-7)and the Athens insomnia scale(AIS)to evaluate the severity of BEB symptoms,depression,anxiety and sleep disorder before and 1wk,1,3mo after the BoNTA treatment.Statistical analysis was performed to assess the relationships between changes in the survey scores.RESULTS:The mean score for JRS,BSDI,PHQ-8,and GAD-7 improved significantly(P<0.0001),respectively,compared to the initial visit at follow-up.At baseline,worse BSDI scores were correlated with worse GAD-7 and PHQ-8,but not with worse AIS.At 1mo follow-up visit,there was no correlation between change in BSDI and PHQ-8/AIS,the change in GAD-7 showed a mild association with change in BSDI.The change in BSDI was correlated with the change in both PHQ-8 and GAD-7 in the subgroup of patients without a prior diagnosis of depression or anxiety.Patient satisfaction with BoNT/A treatment reached the highest at 1mo of follow-up(83.6%,51/61).CONCLUSION:BEB may lead to psychological diseases.BoNT/A can significantly improve motor and non-motor symptoms of BEB,which emphasize the effectiveness of BoNT/A and therefore pave the way for its use in the field of psychiatry.However,further research is needed to confirm these findings and understand the underlying mechanisms.

Effects of serum inflammatory factors,health index and disease activity scores on ankylosing spondylitis patients with sleep disorder

BACKGROUND Patients with ankylosing spondylitis(AS)frequently suffer from comorbid sleep disorders,exacerbating the burden of the disease and affecting their quality of life.AIM To investigate the clinical significance of serum inflammatory factors,health index and disease activity scores in patients with AS complicated by sleep disorders.METHODS A total of 106 AS patients with comorbid sleep disorders were included in the study.The patients were grouped into the desirable and undesirable prognosis groups in accordance with their clinical outcomes.The serum levels of inflammatory factors,including C-reactive protein,erythrocyte sedimentation rate,interleukin(IL)-6,tumour necrosis factor-αand IL-1β,were measured.Disease activity scores,such as the Bath AS functional index,Bath AS disease activity index,Bath AS metrology index and AS disease activity score,were assessed.The health index was obtained through the Short Form-36 questionnaire.RESULTS The study found significant associations amongst serum inflammatory factors,health index and disease activity scores in AS patients with comorbid sleep disorders.Positive correlations were found between serum inflammatory factors and disease activity scores,indicating the influence of heightened systemic inflammation on disease severity and functional impairment.Conversely,negative correlations were found between disease activity scores and health index parameters,highlighting the effect of disease activity on various aspects of healthrelated quality of life.Logistic regression analysis further confirmed the predictive value of these factors on patient outcomes,underscoring their potential utility in risk assessment and prognostication.CONCLUSION The findings demonstrate the intricate interplay amongst disease activity,systemic inflammation and patientreported health outcomes in AS patients complicated by sleep disorders.The results emphasise the need for comprehensive care strategies that address the diverse needs and challenges faced by these patients and underscore the potential relevance of serum inflammatory factors,health index and disease activity scores as prognostic markers in this patient population.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and sleep disorders

Studies have shown that non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD)may be associated with sleep disorders.In order to explore the explicit relationship between the two,we systematically reviewed the effects of sleep disorders,especially obstructive sleep apnea(OSA),on the incidence of NAFLD,and analyzed the possible mechanisms after adjusting for confounding factors.NAFLD is independently associated with sleep disorders.Different sleep disorders may be the cause of the onset and aggravation of NAFLD.An excessive or insufficient sleep duration,poor sleep quality,insomnia,sleep-wake disorders,and OSA may increase the incidence of NAFLD.Despite that some research suggests a unidirectional causal link between the two,specifically,the onset of NAFLD is identified as a result of changes in sleep characteristics,and the reverse relationship does not hold true.Nevertheless,there is still a lack of specific research elucidating the reasons behind the higher risk of developing sleep disorders in individuals with NAFLD.Further research is needed to establish a clear relationship between NAFLD and sleep disorders.This will lay the groundwork for earlier identification of potential patients,which is crucial for earlier monitoring,diagnosis,effective prevention,and treatment of NAFLD.

Lack of a causal relationship between tea intake and sleep disorders: a two-sample Mendelian randomization study

Background:The relationship between tea intake(TI)and sleep disorders(SDs)has been a topic of interest for some time,but there remains a lack of data showing a causal relationship.We aimed to use a two-sample Mendelian randomization study to determine whether there is a causal link between TI and SDs.Methods:We collected data regarding TI,with a focus on green tea intake(GTI),herbal tea intake(HTI),and rooibos tea intake(RTI);and data regarding SDs and insomnia from genome-wide association studies.We analyzed these data using an inverse variance-weighted two-sample Mendelian randomization study,by means of the TwoSampleMR package in R4.2.3 software.Results:We found no genetic causal relationships of TI,GTI,HTI,or RTI with insomnia.The odds ratios(ORs)for these relationships were as follows:TI:OR=0.61,95%confidence interval(CI):0.29–1.28;GTI:OR=1.04,95%CI:0.95–1.14;HTI:OR=0.98,95%CI:0.82–1.17;and RTI:OR=1.04,95%CI:0.99–1.09.In addition,there were no genetic causal relationships of TI,GTI,HTI,or RTI with SDs.The OR values for these relationships were as follows:TI:OR=0.6,95%CI:0.34–1.06;GTI:OR=1,95%CI:0.93–1.07;HTI:OR=0.89,95%CI:0.66–1.2;and RTI:OR=1.02,95%CI:0.98–1.06.Conclusion:We found no causal relationships of TI with SDs or insomnia,irrespective of the type of tea consumed.However,additional Mendelian randomization studies are required to further explore the relationships of the timing and quantity of tea consumption with SDs and insomnia.

Sleep Disorders among Professional Oil Tanker Drivers in Ouagadougou Burkina Faso

Introduction: Sleep disorders among professional drivers are a major road safety problem. They cause fatigue and drowsiness at the wheel, which can lead to road traffic accidents and even accidents at work. The aim of this study was to assess sleep disorders among professional drivers of oil tankers in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. Methods: This was a descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study carried out from 11 April 2020 to 11 September 2020 in the national hydrocarbon company’s fuel depot. All the drivers present at the time were included and accomplished a questionnaire incorporating the commonly scales using to assess sleep disorders, sleep quality and sleep apnoea. Data analysis using R 3.6.1 software enabled to perform univariate and multivariate analyses to identify associated factors. Adjusted odd ratios were used to measure the strength of association. The significance level chosen was p ≤ 0.05. Results: All the 339 respondents were male. A proportion of 33.6% suffered from insomnia, including 12.7% with moderate to severe insomnia, and 18.58% were at risk of sleep apnoea. On the Epworth scale, 26.6% of drivers showed sleep debt and 4.1% excessive daytime sleepiness. The risk factors associated with insomnia were the use of psychostimulants. A history of diabetes and insomnia were risk factors associated with sleep apnoea syndrome. Conclusion: The prevalence of sleep disturbance and insomnia among the respondents were 52.2% and 33.6% respectively. Use of psychostimulants was the identified risk factor. The prevalence of SAS was 4.72%, with diabetes and insomnia as associated factors.

Puerarin alleviates sleep disorders in aged mice related to repairing intestinal mucosal barrier

More and more evidence suggests that puerarin,a potential remedy for gut inflammation,may have an ameliorative effect on sleep disturbances.However,the relationship between puerarin and sleep disruption has not been extensively researched.This study aims to explore the role and mechanisms of puerarin in improving sleep disorders.We established a light-induced sleep disorder model in mice and assessed the effects of puerarin on cognitive behavior using open field and water maze tests.Pathological detection demonstrated that sleep disturbances resulted in observable damage to the liver,lung,and kidney.Puerarin reversed multi-organ damage and inflammation.Further,puerarin activated paneth cells,resulting in increased lysozyme and TGF-βproduction,and stimulating intestinal stem cell proliferation.Puerarin also effectively inhibited the expression of F4/80,iNOS,TNF-α,and IL-1βin the small intestine,while it increased Chil3,CD206,and Arg-1 levels.Moreover,puerarin treatment significantly decreased P-P65,TLR4,Bcl-xl,and cleaved caspase-3 protein levels while increasing barrier protein levels,including ZO-1,Occludin,Claudin 1 and E-cadherin suggesting a reduction in inflammation and apoptosis in the gut.Overall,puerarin diminished systemic inflammation,particularly intestinal inflammation,and enhanced intestinal barrier integrity in mice with sleep disorders.Our findings suggest a potential new therapeutic pathway for sleep disorders.

Objective and subjective measures for sleep disorders

Subjective and objective measures of sleep structure or quality could help to characterize the chronic sleep disturbances, with relation to patients＇ risk factor profiles and co-morbidities. Studies have shown that discrepancies can occur between subjective data regarding sleep disturbances and the impact of insomnia and objective assays, and surrogate markers of sleep and sleep disturbances. Both objective and subjective measures should be incorporated into clinic studies. It seems likely that sleep quality is represented by a combination of more than one subjective sleep parameter. Objective and subjective assessments of sleep quality may relate to different parameters. Future studies incorporated both subjective and objective measures could help to address the sleep disorders.

Relationship between acute stress and sleep disorder in grass-root military personnel:Mediating effect of social support

Background: To explore the relationship between acute stress, social support and sleep disorder in grass-root military personnel, and construct the relational model through structural equation modeling. Methods: A total of 2,411 grass-root military personnel were randomly selected by cluster sampling, and administered the Chinese Military Personnel Sleep Disorder Scale, Military Acute Stress Scale and Social Support Rating Scale.Results: The total score of acute stress scale was positively correlated with the total score and factor scores of sleep disorder scale(r=0.209~0.465, P【0.01); The total score of social support scale was positively correlated with the total score of acute stress scale and the total score and factor scores of sleep disorder scale(r=0.356~0.537, P【0.01). The analysis of mediating effects showed that lack of social support partially mediated between acute stress and the factors of sleep disorder. The analysis of structural equation model showed that acute stress not only had a direct effect on sleep disorder(the path coefficient was 0.29, P=0.000), but also on lack of social support(the path coefficient was 0.39, P=0.000); lack of social support had a direct effect on sleep disorder(the path coefficient was 0.48, P=0.000).Conclusions: Acute stress and lack of social support are two significant factors of sleep disorder in grass-root military personnel. Well-established social support could alleviate sleep disorder induced by acute stress. Lack of social support was a partial mediator between acute stress and sleep disorder.

Sleep disorders in Alzheimer’s disease:the predictive roles and potential mechanisms

Sleep disorders are common in patients with Alzheimer’s disease,and can even occur in patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment,which appears before Alzheimer’s disease.Sleep disorders further impair cognitive function and accelerate the accumulation of amyloid-βand tau in patients with Alzheimer’s disease.At present,sleep disorders are considered as a risk factor for,and may be a predictor of,Alzheimer’s disease development.Given that sleep disorders are encountered in other types of dementia and psychiatric conditions,sleep-related biomarkers to predict Alzheimer’s disease need to have high specificity and sensitivity.Here,we summarize the major Alzheimer’s disease-specific sleep changes,including abnormal non-rapid eye movement sleep,sleep fragmentation,and sleep-disordered breathing,and describe their ability to predict the onset of Alzheimer’s disease at its earliest stages.Understanding the mechanisms underlying these sleep changes is also crucial if we are to clarify the role of sleep in Alzheimer’s disease.This paper therefore explores some potential mechanisms that may contribute to sleep disorders,including dysregulation of the orexinergic,glutamatergic,andγ-aminobutyric acid systems and the circadian rhythm,together with amyloid-βaccumulation.This review could provide a theoretical basis for the development of drugs to treat Alzheimer’s disease based on sleep disorders in future work.

Psycho-cognitive behavioral problems in sleep disordered children

Sleep disturbances are common in childhood and adolescence. Sleep problems in early infants tend to be persistent and prominent in preschool and school-aged children. Chronic sleep disorders, especially in young children may lead to neurobehavioral problems and psycho-cognitive impairment. Sleep difficulties may be the result of underlying medical conditions, （breathing disorders） or psychological problems. Research studies have shown the association between sleep disorders and day time cognitive impairment, behavioral problems, poor school performance and inattention in children. Appropriate diagnosis and early management of sleep disorders in children lead to improvement of neurocognitive function and behavioral problems in these children.

Sleep disorders and chronic kidney disease

Sleep disorders have a profound and well-documented impact on overall health and quality of life in the general population. In patients with chronic disease, sleep disorders are more prevalent, with an additional morbidity and mortality burden. The complex and dynamic relationship between sleep disorders and chronic kidney disease(CKD) remain relatively little investigated. This article presents an overview of sleep disorders in patients with CKD, with emphasis on relevant pathophysiologic underpinnings and clinical presentations. Evidence-based interventions will be discussed, in the context of individual sleep disorders, namely sleep apnea, insomnia, restless leg syndrome and excessive daytime sleepiness. Limitations of the current knowledge as well as future research directions will be highlighted, with a final discussion of different conceptual frameworks of the relationship between sleep disorders and CKD.

Epidemiology of Sleep Disorders among Chronic Hemodialysis Patients in Senegal: A Multicentric Study

Introduction: Sleep disorders (SD) are common dialysis patients and can impact their quality of life. In previous studies, black ethnicity was associated with higher incidence of SD but a few data are available in African patients. This study aimed to describe prevalence and risk factors of SD among Senegalese dialysis patients. Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study between February 15th and April 30th 2012 including 127 patients (75 males and 52 females) aged 46.8 ± 16.9 (16 - 85 years) and dialysed since >6 months in three dialysis centres. For each patient, we assessed insomnia according to international definition, obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) with the Berlin questionnaire, restless leg syndrome (RLS) using abridged version of Cambridge-Hopkins RLS questionnaire, and excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) with Epworth sleepiness scale. Logistic multivariate regression was used to identify factors associated with different SD. Results: Overall prevalence of SD was 88% comprising: insomnia (64.3%), OSAS (49.1%), RLS (24.1%) and EDS (20.5%). Forty-two patients presented at least two disorders. No difference was noticed in prevalence of SD between genders (p = 0.14). Level of blood pressure were not different across patients with and without SD. Insomnia correlated with anemia, inflammation and EDS. OSAS was associated with age ≥50 years, EDS and neck circumference ≥25 cm. RLS correlated with anemia and EDS. Other parameters such as gender, dialysis vintage, KT/V, obesity, diabetes status and hypoalbuminemia were not associated with the different SD. The majority of patients had not been diagnosed before the survey and none of them was under treatment. Conclusions: Our findings are compatible with high prevalence of sleep disorders reported in other populations. Insomnia and OSAS are the most frequent SD but some patients combined many disorders. Nephrologists should be more aware of these SD in order to detect them early and provide efficient treatment.

Sleep Disorders in Older Adults and Elderly Following the Catastrophic Stressful Life Events

In this paper we will discuss on sleep disorders in older adults and aged people following the catastrophes and stressful life events, and then note very shortly some treatments. Sleep disorders, accompanied with headache, have been known throughout the history of humanity and traditional medicine. In our time, diverse psychosocial and environmental factors such as wars also some psycho-socio-political events, acts of terrorism and others have shocked the world with numerous material, human, damages and victims. Many of these catastrophic acts and stressful life events, with their pathological effects, can bring consequently anxiety and depression. Sleep disorders and insomnia resulting from anxiety and depression, are very common, underdiagnosed, and become a significant source of major pain complaints in older adults and geriatric population. Some modifications in sleep patterns, during normal ageing process, as well as in retired people, may not be considered a part of pathological process of ageing; however, some factors like psychosomatical problems, death of spouse or loss of a child or other dear member family etc. can be related to pathological processes, and produce disturbances in circadian rhythm and consequently lead to sleep disorder. Based on his teaching experiences and clinical observations at Mental Health Centres, as well as theoretical studies （particularly during these three last decades） the author presents the results of his clinical researches. Our studies and lectures in University Hospitals： （Ste Anne, Lariboisière and La Salpêtrière） have enriched this research. The experiences and researches have shown that anxiety and depression exert pathological effects, not only on the cognitive system as noted elsewhere and harmful influences on the cardiovascular system, but have also pathological effects on the pineal gland and its “melatonin” hormone secretion which is considered as stimulator system （pace-maker-like） to regulate the rhythm of wake-sleep. Major depression, anxiety and trauma, resulting of catastrophic stressful life event, such as wars, acts of terrorism or others, when accumulating and occurring together, can perturb not only the circadian rhythm system, but in some extreme situations （such as inability to cope with stress or suffering, facing economic crisis and failure etc.） in some cases as noted elsewhere, they can also engender behaviour and personality disorders and finally lead to suicide. Concerning current treatments, the efficacy of melatonin to improve the quality of sleep is well established however the author would propose if possible, to maximize the dosage.

Clinical Characteristics of Sleep Disorders in Patients with Parkinson's Disease

In order to investigate the sleep quality and influencing factors in patients with Parkinson＇s disease（PD）, 201 PD patients were enrolled and underwent extensive clinical evaluations. Subjective sleep evaluation was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index（PSQI）, and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale（ESS）. It was found that poor sleep quality（77.11%） and excessive daytime sleepiness（32.34%） were commonly seen in PD patients and positively correlated with disease severity. Then 70 out of the 201 PD patients and 70 age- and sex-matched controls underwent a polysomnographic recording. The parameters were compared between PD group and control group and the influencing factors of sleep in PD patients were analyzed. The results showed that sleep efficiency（SE） was significantly decreased（P〈0.01）, and sleep latency（SL） and the arousal index（AI） were increased（P〈0.05） in the PD group as compared with those in the control group. SE and total sleep time（TST） were positively correlated with the Hoehn and Yahr（H＆Y） stage. There was significant difference in the extent of hypopnea and hypoxemia between the PD group and the control group（P〈0.05）. Our results indicate that PD patients have an overall poor sleep quality and a high prevalence of sleep disorder, which may be correlated with the disease severity. Respiratory function and oxygen supply are also affected to a certain degree in PD patients.

Evaluation of Clinical Efficacy of Combined Use of Acupuncture and Medicine in Treating Sleep Disorder in Patients with Anxiety Disorder

[Objectives]To evaluate the clinical efficacy of combined acupuncture and medicine in the treatment of sleep disorders in patients with anxiety disorders.[Methods]A total of 300 anxiety patients with sleep disorders were randomly selected and divided into a research group and a control group,with 150 cases in each group.The control group was administered with western medicine,and the research group was treated with acupuncture and medicine to compare their clinical treatment effects.[Results]The total effective rate of treatment in the research group was significantly higher than that in the control group;after treatment,both the PSQI and SAS scores of the two groups were significantly reduced,and the reduction degree of the research group was higher than that of the control group,the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05).[Conclusions]Combined use of acupuncture and medicine to treat sleep disorders in patients with anxiety disorders has better curative effect and fewer adverse reactions,so it has high clinical application value.

Breath monitoring,sleep disorder detection,and tracking using thin-film acoustic waves and open-source electronics

Apnoea,a major sleep disorder,affects many adults and causes several issues,such as fatigue,high blood pressure,liver conditions,increased risk of type II diabetes,and heart problems.Therefore,advanced monitoring and diagnosing tools of apnoea disorders are needed to facilitate better treatment,with advantages such as accuracy,comfort of use,cost effectiveness,and embedded computation capabilities to recognise,store,process,and transmit time series data.In this work we present an adaptation of our apnoea-Pi open-source surface acoustic wave(SAW)platform(Apnoea-Pi)to monitor and recognise apnoea in patients.The platform is based on a thin-film SAW device using bimorph ZnO and Al structures,including those fabricated as Al foils or plates,to achieve breath tracking based on humidity and temperature changes.We applied open-source electronics and provided embedded computing characteristics for signal processing,data recognition,storage,and transmission of breath signals.We show that the thin-film SAW device out-performed standard and off-the-shelf capacitive electronic sensors in terms of their response and accuracy for human breath-tracking purposes.This in combination with embedded electronics makes a suitable platform for human breath monitoring and sleep disorder recognition.

Study on the medication rules of traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of sleep disorder after stroke based on data mining

Objective:To explore the medication rule of Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM)in the treatment of sleep disorder after stroke by using data mining technology.Methods:A computer search was used to search the electronic database of clinical literature on the treatment of sleep disorders after stroke by TCM from January 2000 to January 2021.Excel was used to establish the database,and the prescription information was described and analyzed statistically.Using IBM SPSS Modeler 18.0 software,Apriori algorithm was used for TCM association analysis,and IBM SPSS 22.0 software was used for systematic cluster analysis of high-frequency TCM.Results:A total of 67 literatures were included,covering 131 traditional Chinese medicines.The medecines with a higher frequency of sodium use include Ziziphi Spinosae Semen(Suanzaoren),Angelicae Sinensis Radix(Danggui),Ligusticum(Chuanxiong),liquorice(Gancao),Poria cocos(Fuling),and so on.From the effect point of view,deficiency-tonifying medicine,sedative medicine and blood-activating and stasis-removing medicine are commonly used.The medicinal properties are mainly cold,mild and warm.The main medicine flavor are sweet and bitter.The medicines mostly belong to the liver,heart and spleen Meridian.Thirty-three association rules were obtained for medicine pairs and medicine groups from the correlation analysis,and the core combinations were"Ziziphi Spinosae Semen(Suanzaoren)-Tuber fleeceflower stem(Yejiaoteng)","Ziziphi Spinosae Semen(Suanzaoren)-Polygala(Yuanzhi)","Ziziphi Spinosae Semen(Suanzaoren)-Cortex albiziae(Hehuanpi)"and"Angelicae Sinensis Radix(Danggui)-Radix bupleuri(Chaihu)-Radix Paeoniae Alba(Baishao)"and so on.Seven medicine aggregation groups were obtained by medicine cluster analysis.Conclusion:In the treatment of sleep disorder after stroke by TCM,the main method is to calm the heart and mind.Meanwhile,according to different syndrome types,the treatment methods of tonifying the heart and spleen,nourishing the liver and kidney,soothing the liver and softening the liver,clearing heat and resolving phlegm,nourishing the blood and promoting blood circulation are selected,which provide certain reference for clinical treatment.

The Role of EEG in the Diagnosis and Management of Patients with Sleep Disorders

Sleep disorders affect an individual’s ability to sleep well on a regular and natural basis. Inadequate sleep can have adverse outcomes for health and safety. Electroencephalogram (EEG) has been presented as an authentic indicator to monitor brain activities. In this review paper, different procedures of EEG tests for recording and monitoring brain activity during sleep such as the EEG electrodes system and the Dreem headband (DH) have been introduced. Also, the processes of recording and analyzing the data have been discussed and compared with each other. The results of various stages of sleep from EEG tests help sleep specialists diagnose or evaluate sleep disorders accurately and choose appropriate strategies. Sleep disorder management is integral to provide patients with a safe sleeping environment.

ipRGCs: possible causation accounts for the higher prevalence of sleep disorders in glaucoma patients

Sleep accounts for a third of one＇s lifetime, partial or complete deprivation of sleep could elicit sever disorders of body function. Previous studies have reported the higher prevalence of sleep disorders in glaucoma patients, but the definite mechanism for this phenomenon is unknown. On the other hand, it is well known by us that the intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells（ip RGCs） serve additional ocular functions, called non-image-forming（NIF） functions, in the regulation of circadian rhythm, melatonin secretion, sleep, mood and others. Specifically, ip RGCs can directly or indirectly innervate the central areas such as suprachiasmatic nucleus（SCN）, downstream pineal gland（the origin of melatonin）, sleep and wake-inducing centers and mood regulation areas, making NIF functions of ip RGCs relate to sleep. The more interesting thing is that previous research showed glaucoma not only affected visual functions such as the degeneration of classical retinal ganglion cells（RGCs）, but also affected ip RGCs. Therefore, we hypothesize that higher prevalence of sleep disorders in glaucoma patients maybe result from the underlying glaucomatous injuries of ip RGCs leading to the abnormalities of diverse NIF functions corresponding to sleep.