The sleep-wake cycle displays a characteristic 24-hour periodicity, providing an opportunity to dissect the endogenous circadian clock through the study of aberrant behaviour. This article surveys the properties of circadian clocks, with emphasis on mammals. Information was obtained from searches of peer-reviewed literature in the PUBMED database. Features that are highlighted include the known...

Metabolic syndrome (MS) patients exhibit sleep/wake disturbances and other circadian abnormalities, and these may be associated with more rapid weight increase and development of diabetes and atherosclerotic disease. On this basis, the successful management of MS may require an ideal drug that besides antagonizing the trigger factors of MS could also correct the disturbed sleep-wake rhythm. Mel...

The aim of this study was to examine the validity of activity-based monitoring (actigraphy) for the assessment of sleep-wake patterns during the 1st year of life. Forty-one infants were directly observed for sleep-wake state determination by trained observers. Concomitant activity data obtained by actigraphs attached to the infants’ ankles during the observation were matched on a minute-by-minu...

Pets living in urban agglomerations are subject to numerous risk factors that provoke health problems. One of these is a violation the “wakefulness-sleep” cycle. A sleep-deprived animal state serious stress, since this condition more difficult tolerate than food deprivation, making susceptible decline factors. Due problem, sleep hygiene plays an important role ensuring wellfare pet dogs. The ar...

The pineal hormone Melatonin plays an important role in the regulation of the circadian sleep/wake cycle, mood, and perhaps immune functions, carcinogensis and reproduction. The human circadian rhythm of melatonin release from the pineal gland is tightly synchronized with the habitual hours of sleep. Peri- and postmenopausal women often complain of difficulties initiating and/or maintaining sle...

A series of recent studies has established the orexin/hypocretin system as a critical regulator of sleep/wake states. Its deficiency results in the sleep disorder narcolepsy in humans, dogs, and rodents. These findings have brought about the possibility of novel therapies for sleep disorders including narcolepsy and insomnia. Moreover, accumulating evidence indicates that the orexin/hypocretin ...

PURPOSE The present study explored the effect of various lifestyle patterns and sleep-related factors on the sleep-related road risk. Sleep-related factors included daytime sleepiness, drowsy driving and quality/quantify of sleep. METHODS A sample of 1366 non-professional drivers aged 19-65 was selected from the broader Athens area of Greece, using stratified random sampling. The questionnair...