Combining phosphate and bacteria removal on chemically active filter membranes allows prolonged storage of drinking water.

A chemically active filtration membrane with incorporated lanthanum oxide nanoparticles enables the removal of bacteria and phosphate at the same time and thus provides a simple device for preparation of drinking water and subsequent safe storage without using any kind of disinfectants.

Effect of benzodiazepine hypnotics on all-night sleep EEG spectra.

The effect of a single, oral bedtime dose of the benzodiazepine hypnotics flunitrazepam (FR; 2 mg), flurazepam (FR; 30 mg), and triazolam (TR; 0.5 mg) on the sleep stages and the sleep EEG was investigated in eight healthy, young subjects. In comparison to the placebo night, all drugs reduced the percentage of stage 1 and REM sleep, increased stage 2, and decreased the number of stage shifts. For FN and FR, some of these changes persisted in the postdrug night. All-night spectral analysis of the EEG showed a reduction of low-frequency activity (0.25-10.0 Hz) in stages 2, 3 + 4 and REM sleep, changes that persisted for all three drugs in the post-drug night. In the drug nights, activity in the spindle frequency range (11-14 Hz) was enhanced particularly in stage 2 and 3 + 4, activity in the high frequency range (17-25 Hz) particularly in REM sleep and stage 1. In the first third of the drug night, the depression of low-frequency activity in stage 2 was either absent (FR) or less prominent (FN, TR) than in the following part of the night. The results demonstrate that benzodiazepine hypnotics induce specific changes in the EEG spectra which reflect the immediate and residual drug effects more sensitively than conventional sleep scores.

All-night spectral analysis of the sleep EEG in untreated depressives and normal controls.

Sleep was recorded in nine drug-free depressive patients and nine age- and sex-matched normal control subjects. All-night spectral analysis of the sleep electroencephalogram (EEG) showed a significantly reduced power density in the 0.25-2.50 Hz band in the depressive group. Power density values integrated over the entire frequency range (0.25-25.0 Hz) exhibited for both groups a decreasing trend over the first three non-REM/REM sleep cycles. In each cycle depressives had lower values than controls. The results are consistent with hypothesis that the build-up of a sleep-dependent process is deficient in the sleep regulation of depressive patients.

Hypnotic action and residual effects of a single bedtime dose of temazepam.

The hypnotic action and residual effects of a single bedtime dose of 7-chloro-3-hydroxy-1-methyl-5-phenyl-1H-1,4-benzodiazepin-2(3H)one (temazepam, Planum) were investigated in young, healthy adults. Two different doses of the drug (20 or 30 mg) or placebo were administered as soft-gelatin capsules 30 min before bedtime. Motor activity was recorded by a wrist-worn activity monitor. In comparison to placebo both doses of temazepam reduced night-time motor activity, an effect that was significant only for the first half of the night. After temazepam subjects rated their sleep as deeper and more quiet. A dose of 30 mg caused increased ratings of "grogginess" in the morning and at noon. There was no evidence for rebound insomnia in the 3 nights following drug intake. The results indicate that temazepam 20 mg in young adults has a reliable hypnotic effect without significant residual sequelae.

A single dose of benzodiazepine hypnotics alters the sleep EEG in the subsequent drug-free night.

All-night spectral analysis of the sleep EEG was used to study the effect and after-effect of a single bedtime dose of flunitrazepam (2 mg), flurazepam (30 mg) or triazolam (0.5 mg) in healthy young males. In the night of drug treatment all 3 hypnotics reduced the EEG slow waves and enhanced the activity in the frequency range of sleep spindles. In the subsequent drug-free night, the latter changes were no longer present after triazolam, whereas the reduction of slow wave activity persisted after all compounds.

Midazolam and triazolam: hypnotic action and residual effects after a single bedtime dose.

The hypnotic action and residual effects of a single bedtime dose of 8-chloro-6(2-fluorophenyl)-1-methyl-4H-imidazo[1,5-a][1,4]benzodiazepine (midazolam, Ro 21-3981, Dormicum) (7.5 or 15 mg) or 8-chloro-6(o-chlorophenyl)-1-methyl-4H-S-triazolo[4,3-a] [1,4]benzodiazepine (triazolam) (0.25 or 0.5 mg) were investigated in young, healthy adults. Motor activity was continuously recorded by a wrist-worn activity monitor. In comparison to placebo, all compounds reduced night-time motor activity in the first half, but not in the second half of the night. Subjects rated their sleep as more quiet. Neither the spontaneous daytime motor activity nor the self-rated state in the morning and at noon was affected by drug intake in the preceding night. Performance in the morning as measured by a psychomotor test was significantly impaired only after triazolam 0.5 mg. There was no evidence for rebound insomnia in the 3 nights following drug intake. The results indicate that midazolam 15 mg and triazolam 0.25 mg have a reliable hypnotic action without significant residual sequelae.

Day-time residual effects and motor activity after three benzodiazepine hypnotics.

The benzodiazepine hypnotics triazolam (T) (0.25, 0.5 and 1.0 mg), nitrazepam (N) (10 mg) and flunitrazepam (F) (2.0 mg) were investigated with respect to night-time effects and day-time residual effects, in healthy, young subjects. Drug or placebo was taken orally at home before bed-time. Tests for residual drug effects were administered in the laboratory throughout the following day. They included multiple sleep latency tests, the digit cancellation test, questionnaires, self-ratings and experimenter ratings. In addition, motor activity was recorded with a wrist-worn activity monitor during the drug-night, the day following drug intake, and the two subsequent nights. Residual effects consisted of reduced day-time motor activity (T 0.5, F 2.0), enhanced self-rated day-time sleepiness (T 1.0, F 2.0), increased experimenter-rated tiredness (T 0.5, F 2.0), and impaired performance in the digit cancellation test (F 2.0). Grogginess was a common symptom in the morning after flunitrazepam. All drugs reduced motor activity during sleep, and increased subjective depth and quietness of sleep. Increased motor activity in the second post-drug night was observed after triazolam 0.5 mg. The results indicate that a small dose of a short-acting benzodiazepine may be appropriate for promoting sleep without subsequent day-time residual sequelae.