[Effect of vitamin B12 on sleep quality and performance of shift workers]. / Einfluss von Vitamin B12 auf die Schlafqualität und Leistungsfähigkeit bei Schichtarbeitern.

In modern industry shift systems are important for optimal economic utilization of high-grade working plants. The implementation of shift systems, however, goes along with far-reaching social and health responsibilities of these organizations. This study plores, to what extent the intake of vitamin B12 before the beginning of a day shift has a stabilizing influence on the quality of sleep and the subjective estimate of the performance of the volunteers. The study was performed on 10 healthy, male staff members of a Tyrolean industrial plant with a mean age of 35 years, who work in a 12/12-h shift system as doormen. In a single blind placebo-verum-order all volunteers received first of all placebo for 2 weeks, then vitamin B12 (Methylcobal, 3 mg) for 3 weeks, at the morning before the day shift. By means of modified sleep-onset- and wake-up- records we studied the morning and evening state, the estimates of sleep time / -quality as well as the subjective judgement of the performance. The statements about periods of rest and activity were compared with the objective data of the wrist actimetry. Vitamin B12--concentrations in the serum were prepared for baseline and verum trials for each individual. In the whole group there were no significant differences in sleep-onset and wake-up ratings, nor in the subjective judgement of performance between placebo and verum. There were no significant particularities with respect to the weekdays or the time of day of activity. There was a tendency for the total sleep time in the verum trial to be shorter. The mean estimate of sleep quality under verum in significantly higher than under placebo in all volunteers.

[Epileptic prodromal manifestations and episodic affective symptoms: nonspecific complaints or non-convulsive status epilepticus?]. / Epileptische Prodromi und episodische Verstimmungen: unspezifische Beschwerdebilder oder Status epilepticus non convulsivus?

Subjective unspecific complaints presage in some patients with epilepsy a following overt epileptic seizure. It has to be considered whether these epileptic prodromal states are simple partial seizures (epileptic aura) or a status epilepticus non convulsivus. Three patients with epilepsy of different classification and etiology were studied. Their interictally occurring unspezific complaints, the clinical examination and EEG with simultaneous videorecording were documented. In these three cases the results led to the conclusion that the epileptic prodromal states were the expression of a status epilepticus non convulsivus. The management and possible therapeutic intervention are discussed.