Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) embrace a diverse set of neurodevelopmental diseases with a multi... more Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) embrace a diverse set of neurodevelopmental diseases with a multifaceted genetic basis. Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) are among putative loci with critical participation in the development of ASD. Expression of some lncRNAs, namely RP11-466P24.2, SYP-AS1, STXBP5-AS1, and IFNG-AS1 has been decreased in ASD, while AK128569, CTD-2516F10.2, MSNP1AS, RPS10P2-AS1, LINC00693, LINC00689, NEAT1, TUG1, and Shank2-AS lncRNAs have been over-expressed in ASD. Expression of several miRNAs which are implicated in the immunological developmental, immune responses, and protein synthesis as well as those participating in the regulation of PI3K/Akt/mTOR and EGFR signaling pathways is dysregulated in the context of ASD. In the present article, we describe investigations which appraised the role of lncRNAs, miRNAs, and circRNAs in the pathobiology of ASD.
Up to 25% of ovulating women suffer from primary dysmenorrhea, a condition associated with pain a... more Up to 25% of ovulating women suffer from primary dysmenorrhea, a condition associated with pain and transient-reduced quality of life, along with greater irritability and impaired sleep. In the present study, we asked whether and if so to what extent melatonin and meloxicam can improve subjective and objective sleep and reduce pain among women with primary dysmenorrhea (PD). To this end, we conducted a double-blind cross-over clinical trial lasting for three menstrual cycles. A total of 14 women (mean age M = 27.5 years) with primary dysmenorrhea took part in the study. At baseline, that is, during the first menstruation, they completed a visual analogue scale to rate pain; sleep continuity was assessed via actigraphs, and overall sleep quality was assessed with the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Next, participants were randomly assigned to one of two conditions, either melatonin during the second, and meloxicam during the third menstruation, or meloxicam during the second, and melatonin during the third menstruation. Neither participants nor investigators were aware of participants’ study assignment. During the second and third menstruations, the assessments described above were repeated. At baseline, sleep assessed both objectively and subjectively was impaired, and pain was high. Subjective sleep improved and pain decreased during the second and third menstruations irrespective of whether melatonin or meloxicam was administered first or second. Likewise, objective sleep efficiency increased and objective sleep latency shortened. The efficacy of melatonin was superior to that of meloxicam. The present pattern of results suggests that both melatonin and meloxicam are suitable to treat pain and PD-related sleep complaints among women with primary dysmenorrhea.
World Journal of Biological Psychiatry, Mar 1, 2010
Sleep is crucial for psychological functioning and daily performance. Both lay and scientific opi... more Sleep is crucial for psychological functioning and daily performance. Both lay and scientific opinion hold that physical activity encourages restorative sleep. However, research on this in adolescence is limited. The aim of the present study was to compare sleep-EEG patterns of vigorous exercisers and controls. Twelve adolescent male football players (14 h of vigorous exercise per week) and 12 controls (1.5 h of vigorous exercise per week) matched for gender, age (about 16 years), and educational level, took part in the study. Sleep-EEG registration was performed following a day without exercise. Sleep-EEG analyses revealed that, compared to controls, the football players showed greater sleep efficiency, shortened sleep onset latency, less awakenings after sleep onset, more stage 4, and less REM sleep. Importantly, this pattern of results emerged following a day without exercise. Moreover, vigorous football players reported better daily performance and displayed less weeknight (Sunday to Thursday) to weekend night (Friday and Saturday nights) variation. Findings suggest that for the football players, vigorous exercise seemed to lead to longer-lasting electrophysiological change in brain activity irrespective of acute bouts of exercise.
Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) embrace a diverse set of neurodevelopmental diseases with a multi... more Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) embrace a diverse set of neurodevelopmental diseases with a multifaceted genetic basis. Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) are among putative loci with critical participation in the development of ASD. Expression of some lncRNAs, namely RP11-466P24.2, SYP-AS1, STXBP5-AS1, and IFNG-AS1 has been decreased in ASD, while AK128569, CTD-2516F10.2, MSNP1AS, RPS10P2-AS1, LINC00693, LINC00689, NEAT1, TUG1, and Shank2-AS lncRNAs have been over-expressed in ASD. Expression of several miRNAs which are implicated in the immunological developmental, immune responses, and protein synthesis as well as those participating in the regulation of PI3K/Akt/mTOR and EGFR signaling pathways is dysregulated in the context of ASD. In the present article, we describe investigations which appraised the role of lncRNAs, miRNAs, and circRNAs in the pathobiology of ASD.
Up to 25% of ovulating women suffer from primary dysmenorrhea, a condition associated with pain a... more Up to 25% of ovulating women suffer from primary dysmenorrhea, a condition associated with pain and transient-reduced quality of life, along with greater irritability and impaired sleep. In the present study, we asked whether and if so to what extent melatonin and meloxicam can improve subjective and objective sleep and reduce pain among women with primary dysmenorrhea (PD). To this end, we conducted a double-blind cross-over clinical trial lasting for three menstrual cycles. A total of 14 women (mean age M = 27.5 years) with primary dysmenorrhea took part in the study. At baseline, that is, during the first menstruation, they completed a visual analogue scale to rate pain; sleep continuity was assessed via actigraphs, and overall sleep quality was assessed with the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Next, participants were randomly assigned to one of two conditions, either melatonin during the second, and meloxicam during the third menstruation, or meloxicam during the second, and melatonin during the third menstruation. Neither participants nor investigators were aware of participants’ study assignment. During the second and third menstruations, the assessments described above were repeated. At baseline, sleep assessed both objectively and subjectively was impaired, and pain was high. Subjective sleep improved and pain decreased during the second and third menstruations irrespective of whether melatonin or meloxicam was administered first or second. Likewise, objective sleep efficiency increased and objective sleep latency shortened. The efficacy of melatonin was superior to that of meloxicam. The present pattern of results suggests that both melatonin and meloxicam are suitable to treat pain and PD-related sleep complaints among women with primary dysmenorrhea.
World Journal of Biological Psychiatry, Mar 1, 2010
Sleep is crucial for psychological functioning and daily performance. Both lay and scientific opi... more Sleep is crucial for psychological functioning and daily performance. Both lay and scientific opinion hold that physical activity encourages restorative sleep. However, research on this in adolescence is limited. The aim of the present study was to compare sleep-EEG patterns of vigorous exercisers and controls. Twelve adolescent male football players (14 h of vigorous exercise per week) and 12 controls (1.5 h of vigorous exercise per week) matched for gender, age (about 16 years), and educational level, took part in the study. Sleep-EEG registration was performed following a day without exercise. Sleep-EEG analyses revealed that, compared to controls, the football players showed greater sleep efficiency, shortened sleep onset latency, less awakenings after sleep onset, more stage 4, and less REM sleep. Importantly, this pattern of results emerged following a day without exercise. Moreover, vigorous football players reported better daily performance and displayed less weeknight (Sunday to Thursday) to weekend night (Friday and Saturday nights) variation. Findings suggest that for the football players, vigorous exercise seemed to lead to longer-lasting electrophysiological change in brain activity irrespective of acute bouts of exercise.
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