Parents' presence at bedside found to decrease neonatal abstinence syndrome severity

New research suggests a key to easing the opioid withdrawal symptoms of neonatal abstinence syndrome is to ensure parents can spend plenty of time at the baby's bedside during treatment. NAS is an increasingly common condition infants develop after opioid exposure during pregnancy, with symptoms such as tremors, intense irritability, poor feeding, vomiting, diarrhea and poor sleep. It often requires weeks of hospitalization and pharmacologic treatment.

Originally published at https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/04/160430100230.htm

Salts in the brain control our sleep-wake cycle

A new epoch-making discovery has been made, which may prove decisive to future brain research. The level of salts in the brain plays a critical role in whether we are asleep or awake. This discovery may be of great importance to research on psychiatric diseases such as schizophrenia and convulsive fits from lack of sleep as well as post-anaesthetization confusion, according to experts.

Originally published at https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/04/160429095142.htm

Do bearded dragons dream? Reptiles share sleep patterns with mammals and birds

Brain sleep appeared early in vertebrate evolution. Researchers describe the existence of REM and slow-wave sleep in the Australian dragon, with many common features with mammalian sleep: a phase characterized by low frequency/high amplitude average brain activity and rare and bursty neuronal firing (slow-wave sleep); another characterized by awake-like brain activity and rapid eye movements.

Originally published at https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/04/160428152134.htm

Silent epidemic? Head injury may be linked to lasting sleep problems

People who have had a traumatic brain injury may still have sleep problems a year and a half after being injured, according to a study. In addition, people with TBI may also be unaware of just how much their sleep is disturbed.

Originally published at https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/04/160427221158.htm

Inspirational managers may harm workers' health

Managers who inspire their staff to perform above and beyond the call of duty may actually harm their employees' health over time, according to researchers. Transformational leadership has previously been associated with positive employee well-being, better sleep quality, fewer depressive symptoms and reduced general absenteeism in the short term.

Originally published at https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/04/160422075202.htm

Sleep loss detrimental to blood vessels

Getting too little sleep causes changes in the metabolism of cholesterol, demonstrates a new study. According to the results, long-term sleep loss may contribute to the development of cardiovascular disease.

Originally published at https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/04/160422075156.htm

DNA tests on 2m to revolutionise treatments for cancer epilepsy and diabetes

The British led project - which may eventually cost around £1.4billion - will research around two million genomes to help create treatments for life threatening diseases (file photo).

Read the rest at http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3552873/DNA-tests-two-million-revolutionise-smart-drug-treatments-diseases-including-cancer-epilepsy-diabetes.html?ITO=1490&ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490

Finding sleep's sweet spot

A new study shows that when it comes to promoting healthy hearts, it's not a matter of getting more sleep. It's a matter of getting adequate sleep at optimal times, say researchers.

Originally published at https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/04/160421113137.htm

Teen moms and infant sleep: Mother doesn't always know best

Sudden unexpected infant death, which includes sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), is the leading cause of death in infants 1 month to 1 year of age in the United States. Although the reason is unknown, maternal age less than 20 years is associated with an increased risk of SIDS. In a new study, researchers found that although teenage mothers know the recommendations in regards to safe sleeping practices, many deliberately do not follow those recommendations.

Originally published at https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/04/160421085212.htm

Moving electrically 'silent' source initiates brain waves

A traveling spike generator appears to move across the hippocampus and change direction while generating brain waves. The generator itself, however, produces no electrical signal. The speed of the waves most closely match those found in epilepsy and in healthy sleep and theta waves.

Originally published at https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/04/160420131541.htm

Could a cheap drug PREVENT type 1 diabetes? 'At risk' children will be given common treatment for disease to see if it stops it developing

University of Exeter Medical School experts want to find out if prescribing at-risk children the drug metformin, which lowers blood sugar levels, can prevent the disease occurring.

Read the rest at http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-3549978/Could-cheap-drug-PREVENT-type-1-diabetes-risk-children-given-common-treatment-disease-stops-developing.html?ITO=1490&ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490

Fatty diets lead to daytime sleepiness poor sleep

Men who consume diets high in fat are more likely to feel sleepy during the day, to report sleep problems at night, and are also more likely to suffer from sleep apnea, new research reveals.

Originally published at https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/04/160420102523.htm