[Prevalence of sleep-related breathing disorders of inpatients with psychiatric disorders]. / Prävalenz schlafbezogener Atmungsstörungen bei stationären Patienten mit psychischen Erkrankungen.

BACKGROUND: Sleep-related breathing disorders seriously impair well-being and increase the risk for relevant somatic and psychiatric disorders. Moreover, risk factors for sleep-related breathing disorders are highly prevalent in psychiatric patients. The aim of this study was for the first time in Germany to study the prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) as the most common form of sleep-related breathing disorder in patients with psychiatric disorders. METHODS: In 10 psychiatric hospitals in Germany and 1 hospital in Switzerland, a total of 249 inpatients underwent an 8­channel sleep polygraphy to investigate the prevalence of sleep apnea in this group of patients. RESULTS: With a conspicuous screening result of 23.7% of the subjects, a high prevalence of sleep-related breathing disorders was found to occur among this group of patients. Male gender, higher age and high body mass index (BMI) were identified as positive risk factors for the detection of OSAS. DISCUSSION: The high prevalence indicates that sleep apnea is a common sleep disorder among psychiatric patients. Although OSAS can lead to substantial disorders of the mental state and when untreated is accompanied by serious somatic health problems, screening procedures are not part of the routine work-up in psychiatric hospitals; therefore, sleep apnea is presumably underdiagnosed in psychiatric patients. In view of the results of this and previous studies, this topic complex should be the subject of further research studies.

Sleep after intranasal progesterone vs. zolpidem and placebo in postmenopausal women - A randomized, double-blind cross over study.

CONTEXT: The loss of progesterone during menopause is linked to sleep complaints of the affected women. Previously we demonstrated sleep promoting effects of oral progesterone replacement in postmenopausal women. The oral administration of progesterone, however, is compromised by individual differences in bioavailability and metabolism of the steroid. OBJECTIVE: We compared the sleep-endocrine effects after intranasal progesterone (MPP22), zolpidem and placebo in healthy postmenopausal women. DESIGN: This was a randomized double-blind cross-over study. SETTING: German monocentric study PARTICIPANTS: Participants were 12 healthy postmenopausal women. INTERVENTIONS: Subjects received in randomized order four treatments, 2 doses of intranasal progesterone (4.5 mg and 9 mg of MPP22), 10 mg of zolpidem and placebo. OUTCOME MEASURES: Main outcome were conventional and quantitative sleep-EEG variables. Secondary outcomes were the subjective sleep variables and the sleep related concentrations of cortisol, growth hormone (GH), melatonin and progesterone. RESULTS: Sleep promoting effects were found after the higher dosage of MPP22 and after zolpidem. Zolpidem prompted benzodiazepine-like effects on quantitative sleep EEG as expected, whereas no such changes were found after the two dosages of MP22. Nocturnal progesterone levels increased after 9.0 mg MPP22. No other changes of hormone secretion were found. CONCLUSIONS: Our study shows sleep promoting effects after intranasal progesterone. The spectral signature of intranasal progesterone did not resemble the sleep-EEG alterations induced by GABA active compounds. Progesterone levels were elevated after 9.0 mg MPP22. No other endocrine effects were observed.

Added Value from Secondary Use of Person Generated Health Data in Consumer Health Informatics.

Introduction: Various health-related data, subsequently called Person Generated Health Data (PGHD), is being collected by patients or presumably healthy individuals as well as about them as much as they become available as measurable properties in their work, home, and other environments. Despite that such data was originally just collected and used for dedicated predefined purposes, more recently it is regarded as untapped resources that call for secondary use. Method: Since the secondary use of PGHD is still at its early evolving stage, we have chosen, in this paper, to produce an outline of best practices, as opposed to a systematic review. To this end, we identified key directions of secondary use and invited protagonists of each of these directions to present their takes on the primary and secondary use of PGHD in their sub-fields. We then put secondary use in a wider perspective of overarching themes such as privacy, interpretability, interoperability, utility, and ethics. Results: We present the primary and secondary use of PGHD in four focus areas: (1) making sense of PGHD in augmented Shared Care Plans for care coordination across multiple conditions; (2) making sense of PGHD from patient-held sensors to inform cancer care; (3) fitting situational use of PGHD to evaluate personal informatics tools in adaptive concurrent trials; (4) making sense of environment risk exposure data in an integrated context with clinical and omics-data for biomedical research. Discussion: Fast technological progress in all the four focus areas calls for a societal debate and decision-making process on a multitude of challenges: how emerging or foreseeable results transform privacy; how new data modalities can be interpreted in light of clinical data and vice versa; how the sheer mass and partially abstract mathematical properties of the achieved insights can be interpreted to a broad public and can consequently facilitate the development of patient-centered services; and how the remaining risks and uncertainties can be evaluated against new benefits. This paper is an initial summary of the status quo of the challenges and proposals that address these issues. The opportunities and barriers identified can serve as action items individuals can bring to their organizations when facing challenges to add value from the secondary use of patient-generated health data.

Corticotropin-releasing hormone induces depression-like changes of sleep electroencephalogram in healthy women.

We reported previously that repetitive intravenous injections of corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) around sleep onset prompt depression-like changes in certain sleep and endocrine activity parameters (e.g. decrease of slow-wave sleep during the second half of the night, blunted growth hormone peak, elevated cortisol concentration during the first half of the night). Furthermore a sexual dimorphism of the sleep-endocrine effects of the hormones growth hormone-releasing hormone and ghrelin was observed. In the present placebo-controlled study we investigated the effect of pulsatile administration of 4×50µg CRH on sleep electroencephalogram (EEG) and nocturnal cortisol and GH concentration in young healthy women. After CRH compared to placebo, intermittent wakefulness increased during the total night and the sleep efficiency index decreased. During the first third of the night, REM sleep and stage 2 sleep increased and sleep stage 3 decreased. Cortisol concentration was elevated throughout the night and during the first and second third of the night. GH secretion remained unchanged. Our data suggest that after CRH some sleep and endocrine activity parameters show also depression-like changes in healthy women. These changes are more distinct in women than in men.

Neurology and psychiatry: waking up to opportunities of sleep. : State of the art and clinical/research priorities for the next decade.

In recent years, evidence has emerged for a bidirectional relationship between sleep and neurological and psychiatric disorders. First, sleep-wake disorders (SWDs) are very common and may be the first/main manifestation of underlying neurological and psychiatric disorders. Secondly, SWDs may represent an independent risk factor for neuropsychiatric morbidities. Thirdly, sleep-wake function (SWF) may influence the course and outcome of neurological and psychiatric disorders. This review summarizes the most important research and clinical findings in the fields of neuropsychiatric sleep and circadian research and medicine, and discusses the promise they bear for the next decade. The findings herein summarize discussions conducted in a workshop with 26 European experts in these fields, and formulate specific future priorities for clinical practice and translational research. More generally, the conclusion emerging from this workshop is the recognition of a tremendous opportunity offered by our knowledge of SWF and SWDs that has unfortunately not yet entered as an important key factor in clinical practice, particularly in Europe. Strengthening pre-graduate and postgraduate teaching, creating academic multidisciplinary sleep-wake centres and simplifying diagnostic approaches of SWDs coupled with targeted treatment strategies yield enormous clinical benefits for these diseases.

Engaging Patients through Mobile Phones: Demonstrator Services, Success Factors, and Future Opportunities in Low and Middle-income Countries.

OBJECTIVES: Evolving technology and infrastructure can benefit patients even in the poorest countries through mobile health (mHealth). Yet, what makes mobile-phone-based services succeed in low and middle-income countries (LMIC) and what opportunities does the future hold that still need to be studied. We showcase demonstrator services that leverage mobile phones in the hands of patients to promote health and facilitate health care. METHODS: We surveyed the recent biomedical literature for demonstrator services that illustrate well-considered examples of mobile phone interventions for consumer health. We draw upon those examples to discuss enabling factors, scalability, reach, and potential of mHealth as well as obstacles in LMIC. RESULTS: Among the 227 articles returned by a PubMed search, we identified 55 articles that describe services targeting health consumers equipped with mobile phones. From those articles, we showcase 19 as demonstrator services across clinical care, prevention, infectious diseases, and population health. Services range from education, reminders, reporting, and peer support, to epidemiologic reporting, and care management with phone communication and messages. Key achievements include timely adherence to treatment and appointments, clinical effectiveness of treatment reminders, increased vaccination coverage and uptake of screening, and capacity for efficient disease surveillance. We discuss methodologies of delivery and evaluation of mobile-phone-based mHealth in LMIC, including service design, social context, and environmental factors to success. CONCLUSION: Demonstrated promises using mobile phones in the poorest countries encourage a future in which IMIA takes a lead role in leveraging mHealth for citizen empowerment through Consumer Health Informatics.

[Sleep medicine differential diagnostics in psychiatry and psychotherapy]. / Schlafmedizinische Differenzialdiagnostik in Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie.

Complaints about disturbed sleep or increased daytime sleepiness are among the most frequent symptoms reported to psychiatrists by patients. Such complaints can be symptoms of an underlying psychiatric disorder or indicative of a separate or comorbid sleep disorder. Hence, basic knowledge in the differential diagnosis of sleep medicine pathologies is pivotal for psychiatrists and psychotherapists. In the present overview following a description of the diagnostic methods, the diagnostic work-up according to the major symptomatic clusters, namely disturbances in initiating and maintaining sleep, abnormal nocturnal movements and excessive daytime sleepiness will be presented.

[Hypnotics--state of the science]. / Hypnotika--Stand der Forschung.

This article provides an overview of the indications and effects of sleep-inducing drugs. Pharmacological treatment should only be considered in cases of insufficient response to non-pharmacological interventions. Benzodiazepines and benzodiazepine receptor agonists are indicated for the short-term treatment of acute insomnia. Due to the risk of tolerance and dependency, sedative antihistamines and antidepressants are widely used as long-term hypnotics. Other substances, including herbal compounds and melatonin have few side effects; however, the therapeutic efficacy is very limited. Currently, long-term data on the efficacy and tolerability of sleep-inducing substances are lacking. Specifically in cases of non-response to first line treatment, extended psychiatric and somatic evaluation and treatment of associated disorders are recommended.

The neural correlates and temporal sequence of the relationship between shock exposure, disturbed sleep and impaired consolidation of fear extinction.

Consolidation of extinction learning is a primary mechanism disrupted in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), associated with hypoactivity of the ventromedial prefrontal cortex and hippocampus. A role for rapid eye movement (REM) sleep disturbances in this failure to consolidate extinction learning has been proposed. We performed functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) with simultaneous skin conductance response (SCR) measurements in 16 healthy participants during conditioning/extinction and later recall of extinction. The visual stimuli were basic geometric forms and electrical shocks functioned as the unconditioned stimulus. Between the conditioning/extinction and recall sessions, participants received a 90-min sleep window in the sleep laboratory. This daytime sleep was polysomnographically recorded and scored by professionals blind to the study design. Only seven out of 16 participants had REM sleep; participants without REM sleep had a significantly slower decline of both SCR and neural activity of the laterodorsal tegmentum in response to electrical shocks during conditioning. At recall of fear extinction, participants with preceding REM sleep had a reduced SCR and stronger activation of the left ventromedial prefrontal cortex and bilateral lingual gyrus in response to the extinguished stimulus than participants lacking REM sleep. This study indicates that trait-like differences in shock reactivity/habituation (mediated by the brainstem) are predictive of REM sleep disruption, which in turn is associated with impaired consolidation of extinction (mediated by the ventromedial prefrontal cortex). These findings help understand the neurobiological basis and the temporal sequence of the relationship between shock exposure, disturbed sleep and impaired consolidation of extinction, as observed in PTSD.

Assessment of data quality of and staff satisfaction with an electronic health record system in a developing country (Uganda): a qualitative and quantitative comparative study.

OBJECTIVES: To assess if electronic health record systems in developing countries can improve on timeliness, availability and accuracy of routine health reports and staff satisfaction after introducing the electronic system, compared to the paper-based alternative. METHODS: The research was conducted with hospital staff of Tororo District Hospital in Uganda. A comparative intervention study with qualitative and quantitative methods was used to compare the paper-based (pre-test) to the electronic system (post-test) focusing on accuracy, availability and timeliness of monthly routine reports about mothers visiting the hospital; and staff satisfaction with the electronic system as outcome measures. RESULTS: Timeliness: pre-test 13 of 19 months delivered to the district timely, delivery dates for six months could not be established; post-test 100%. AVAILABILITY: pre-test 79% of reports were present at the district health office; post-test 100%. Accuracy: pre-test 73.2% of selected reports could be independently confirmed as correct; post-test 71.2%. Difficulties were encountered in finding enough mothers through direct follow up to inquire on accuracy of information recorded about them. Staff interviews showed that the electronic system is appreciated by the majority of the hospital staff. Remaining obstacles include staff workload, power shortages, network breakdowns and parallel data entry (paper-based and electronic). CONCLUSION: While timeliness and availability improved, improvement of accuracy could not be established. Better approaches to ascertaining accuracy have to be devised, e.g. evaluation of intended use. For success, organizational, managerial and social challenges must be addressed beyond technical aspects.

Familiality of diabetes mellitus.

The aims of this study were to estimate relative risk for type 1 and type 2 diabetes in relatives of diabetic patients, and to test for excess relatedness among diabetic patients. Additionally, the difference in parental transmission of diabetes was investigated. This study used a unique Utah genealogical resource, linked to electronic medical records of the largest health provider in Utah. We identified 19,640 patients with a diagnosis of type 1 or type 2 diabetes. Relative Risks (RRs) for type 1 and type 2 diabetes were assessed for first-, second- and third-degree relatives of diabetic patients. The observed average relatedness of diabetic patients was compared to the expected relatedness using the Genealogical Index of Familiality (GIF). We observed significantly elevated RRs for type 1 diabetes in first-degree (RR=8.68; P<0.0001), second-degree (RR=1.93; P<0.0001) and third-degree relatives (RR=1.74; P<0.0001) of type 1 diabetic patients. RRs for type 2 diabetes were significantly increased in first-degree (RR=2.24; P<0.0001), second-degree (RR=1.36; P<0.0001) and third-degree relatives (RR=1.14; P<0.0001) of type 2 diabetic patients. Significantly increased RRs for type 1 diabetes were observed in the relatives of type 2 diabetic patients, and vice versa. The GIF analysis showed significant excess relatedness for type 1 diabetes cases, and independently for type 2 diabetes cases. Offspring of diabetic fathers were at significantly higher risk for type 1 diabetes than offspring of diabetic mothers (RR=9.73; P<0.0001 compared to RR=4.99; P<0.0001). No significant difference in parental transmission was observed for type 2 diabetes. Our results strongly support the existence of a genetic contribution to both type 1 and type 2 diabetes, and additionally suggest a relationship between both types of diabetes. Furthermore, our results suggest a significant difference in parental transmission of type 1 diabetes.

Association of auditory hallucinations and anticonvulsant hypersensitivity syndrome with carbamazepine treatment. A case report.

Carbamazepine is effective in the treatment of acute mania and in the prevention of episodes in bipolar disorder, and it may also be useful in depression, impulse-control disorder and withdrawal from alcohol and benzodiazepine dependence. A potentially life-threatening side effect is the anticonvulsant hypersensitivity syndrome. Here, we describe a patient who developed severe auditory hallucinations followed by a distinct hypersensitivity syndrome most likely induced by carbamazepine treatment.

CSI-ISC--Concepts for smooth integration of health care information system components into established processes of patient care.

OBJECTIVES: The introduction of information system components (ISCs) usually leads to a change in existing processes, e.g. processes of patient care. These processes might become even more complex and variable than before. An early participation of end users and a better understanding of human factors during design and introduction of ISCs are key factors for a successful introduction of ISCs in health care. Nonetheless no specialized methods have been developed until now to systematically support the integration of ISCs in existing processes of patient care while taking into account these requirements. In this paper, therefore, we introduce a procedure model to implement Concepts for Smooth Integration of ISCs (CSI-ISC). METHODS: Established theories from economics and social sciences have been applied in our model, among them the stress-strain-concept, the contrastive task analysis (KABA), and the phase model for the management of information systems. RESULTS: CSI-ISC is based on the fact that while introducing new information system components, users experience additional workload. One essential aim during the introduction process therefore should be to systematically identify, prioritize and ameliorate workloads that are being imposed on human beings by information technology in health care. To support this, CSI-ISC consists of a static part (workload framework) and a dynamic part (guideline for the introduction of information system components into existing processes of patient care). CONCLUSIONS: The application of CSI-ISC offers the potential to minimize additional workload caused by information system components systematically. CSI-ISC rationalizes decisions and supports the integration of the information system component into existing processes of patient care.

Brain activation and hypothalamic functional connectivity during human non-rapid eye movement sleep: an EEG/fMRI study.

Regional differences in sleep EEG dynamics indicate that sleep-related brain activity involves local brain processes with sleep stage specific activity patterns of neuronal populations. Macroscopically, it is not fully understood which cerebral brain regions are involved in the successive discontinuation of wakefulness. We simultaneously used EEG and functional MRI on 9 subjects (6 female: mean = 24.1 years, 3 male: mean = 26.0 years) and analyzed local blood oxygenation level dependent signal changes linked to the transition from wakefulness to different non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep stages (according to Rechtschaffen and Kales) of the first sleep cycles after 36 h of total sleep deprivation. Several brain regions throughout the cortex, the limbic lobe, the thalamus, the caudate nucleus, as well as midbrain structures, such as the mammillary body/hypothalamus, showed reduced activity during NREM sleep across all sleep stages. Additionally, we found deactivation patterns specific to NREM sleep stages compared with wakefulness suggesting that a synchronized sleeping state can be established only if these regions interact in a well-balanced way. Sleep stage 2, which is usually linked to the loss of self-conscious awareness, is associated with signal decreases comprising thalamic and hypothalamic regions, the cingulate cortex, the right insula and adjacent regions of the temporal lobe, the inferior parietal lobule and the inferior/middle frontal gyri. The hypothalamic region known to be of particular importance in the regulation of the sleep-wake cycle shows specific temporally correlated network activity with the cortex while the system is in the sleeping state, but not during wakefulness. We describe a specific pattern of decreased brain activity during sleep and suggest that this pattern must be synchronized for establishing and maintaining sleep.

[Computer-based system for monitoring the course of intraocular inflammation]. / Computergestütztes System zur Verlaufskontrolle intraokularer Entzündungen.

BACKGROUND: Until now, there has been no consistent rating system for changes of intraocular inflammation. We present such a computer-based system. METHODS: This program is based on a FileMaker database. It is made of anterior and posterior uveitis scores on the basis of published evaluation guidelines of the International Ocular Inflammation Society (IOIS). An anterior uveitis score consisting of anterior chamber cells, flare, and perilimbal injection on the one hand and a posterior uveitis score consisting of vitreous haze, macula, and optic nerve head edema on the other hand are calculated. After adding visual acuity, intraocular pressure, and systemic dose of corticosteroids, all parameters can be visualized by a radar graph. RESULTS: This system of documentation is easy to handle and presents a simplified version of the disease course. The abstract visualization enables the patient to better understand the therapeutic management. CONCLUSIONS: The program presented here offers good opportunities for standardized monitoring of the disease course.

The International Partnership for Health Informatics Education: lessons learned from six years of experience.

OBJECTIVES: To inform the medical and health informatics community on the rational, goals, and the achievements of the International Partnership for Health Informatics Education--IPHIE, (I phi E), that was established at six universities in 1999. METHODS: We elaborate on the overall goals of I phi E and describe the current state of affairs: the activities undertaken and faculty and student experience related to these activities. In addition we outline the lessons we have learned over these past six years and our plans for the future. RESULTS: I phi E members first started to collaborate by supporting and encouraging the exchange of talented students and faculty and by establishing joint master classes for honors students. Following the success of these activities, new initiatives were undertaken such as the organization of student workshops at medical informatics conferences and a joint course on strategic information management in hospitals in Europe. CONCLUSIONS: International partnerships such as I phi E take time to establish, and, if they are to be successful, maintaining leadership continuity is critically important. We are convinced that I phi E promotes professionalism of future medical informatics specialists. There will be a continuing growth of globalization in higher education. It will therefore become increasingly important to offer educational programs with international components.

Introducing DoT-U2--an XML-based knowledge supported checklist software for documentation of a newborn clinical screening examination.

In a project concerning the German newborn screening examination "U2" we developed a software system called DoT-U2 for concurrent documentation at the point of care. Physicians can enter findings in(to) a tree structured protocol with management of logical dependencies. Additionally, all findings except free text annotations can be entered by speech recognition. The software system program is written in Java and uses separate XML-based modules both for knowledge and language representation. It can, therefore, easily be adapted to other languages and further documentation scenarios. We showed the high flexibility of the software system by integrating it in a completely new setting in Salt Lake City without major problems. We found that modular software development with platform independent Java and XML leads to highly flexible software which can be adapted to very different scenarios without knowing their requirements ahead of time.