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This page shows you the latest news and research items in this category.

Narcolepsy with Cataplexy Mimicry: The Strange Case of Two Sisters
We report on two sisters, 17 and 12 years of age, with clinical features suggesting narcolepsy with cataplexy (NC): daytime sleepiness, spontaneous and emotionally triggered sudden falls to the ground, and overweight/obesity. MSLT showed borderline sleep latency, with 1 and 0 sleep onset REM periods. HLA typing disclosed the DQB1*0602 allele. Video-polygraphy of the spells ruled out NC diagnosis by demonstrating their easy elicitation by suggestion, with wake EEG, electromyo-graphic persistence of muscle tone, and stable presence of tendon reflexes (i.e., pseudo-cataplexy), together with normal cerebrospinal hypocretin-1 l...
Source: Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine : JCSM - June 18, 2013 Category: Sleep Medicine Source Type: research

Prevailing effectiveness of the 2009 influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 vaccine during the 2010/11 season in Sweden.
Abstract Sixty per cent of the Swedish population received the monovalent AS03-adjuvanted pandemic influenza vaccine in the autumn of 2009. We assessed the age-specific effectiveness of this pandemic vaccine against hospitalisation with laboratory-confirmed influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 during the season 2010/11, in the age group from six months to 64 years in Sweden. The screening method was applied to available surveillance data. Our results suggest a prevailing effectiveness of 72% (95% confidence interval (CI): 63–80%) with the highest effectiveness among children, six months to nine years-old (92%, 95%CI: 80–97%)...
Source: Euro Surveill - June 17, 2013 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Widgren K, Magnusson M, Hagstam P, Widerström M, Örtqvist Å, Einemo IM, Follin P, Lindblom A, Mäkitalo S, Wik O, Österlund A, Grünewald M, Uhnoo I, Linde A Tags: Euro Surveill Source Type: research

The future of robotics: in a transhuman world, the disabled will be the ones without prosthetic limbs
Bertolt Meyer's amazing bionic hand controlled by an iPhone app is a glimpse of the advances being made in prosthetics. But in years to come, will everyone want one?Bertolt Meyer is used to being viewed as not fully human. Born with a stump where his left hand should have been, he spent his childhood wearing a hook connected to an elaborate pulley and harness. "To open the hook and grasp things I had to flex my shoulders like this," he says, striking a he-man pose. "The harness was very uncomfortable. To stop it chafing my skin, I had to wear a shirt underneath it at all times. I was always sweating."Even when, at the age ...
Source: Guardian Unlimited Science - June 15, 2013 Category: Science Authors: Mark Honigsbaum Tags: Robots Sport Disability sport Society FutureFest Drugs in sport Technology Editorial The Observer Science Source Type: news

Surprising Narcolepsy Findings Have Therapeutic PotentialSurprising Narcolepsy Findings Have Therapeutic Potential
A small study finds an increased number of histaminergic neurons in patients with narcolepsy, suggesting that histamine signaling may be a novel therapeutic target. Medscape Medical News (Source: Medscape Today Headlines)
Source: Medscape Today Headlines - June 12, 2013 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Neurology & Neurosurgery News Source Type: news

Narcolepsy Tied to Many More Illnesses (CME/CE)
BALTIMORE (MedPage Today) -- Individuals diagnosed with narcolepsy appear to have more comorbidities -- psychiatric and nonpsychiatric -- than controls, analysis of a large database showed. (Source: MedPage Today Endocrinology)
Source: MedPage Today Endocrinology - June 6, 2013 Category: Endocrinology Source Type: news

Increase In Neurons That Produce Histamine Discovered In Narcolepsy Patients
A new study provides surprising evidence that people with narcolepsy have an increased number of neurons that produce histamine, suggesting that histamine signaling may be a novel therapeutic target for this potentially disabling sleep disorder. "The orexin/hypocretin neuropeptides promote wakefulness, and researchers have known for 13 years that narcolepsy is caused by loss of the orexin/hypocretin neurons in the hypothalamus," said principal investigator Thomas Scammell, MD, professor of Neurology at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, Mass... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)
Source: Health News from Medical News Today - June 5, 2013 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Sleep / Sleep Disorders / Insomnia Source Type: news

Workplace accomodations for two workers with narcolepsy - Vico Garcerán B, Monzó Salas M, Cuenca Esteve F, Luis Domingo J.
We describe the case of two workers evaluated in our occupational health unit. The first worker was a kitchen aide; the second was a primary care physician. Both had been diagnosed with narcolepsy and had obvious disability.We assessed occupational hazards... (Source: SafetyLit: All (Unduplicated))
Source: SafetyLit: All (Unduplicated) - June 3, 2013 Category: Global & Universal Tags: Distraction, Fatigue, Chronobiology, Vigilance, Workload Source Type: news

Narcolepsy study finds surprising increase in neurons that produce histamine
(American Academy of Sleep Medicine) A new study provides surprising evidence that people with narcolepsy have an increased number of neurons that produce histamine, suggesting that histamine signaling may be a novel therapeutic target for this potentially disabling sleep disorder. (Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health)
Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health - June 2, 2013 Category: Global & Universal Source Type: news

Risk of Narcolepsy in Children and Young People Receiving AS03 Adjuvanted Pandemic A/H1N1 2009 Influenza Vaccine: Retrospective Analysis: Miller E, Andrews N, Stellitano L, et al. BMJ 2013;346:f794.
The objective of this study was to estimate the risk of narcolepsy among children and adolescents in England associated with receiving the ASO3 adjuvanted pandemic A/H1N1 2009 vaccine (Pandemrix; GlaxoSmithKline, Middlesex, UK). (Source: The Journal of Emergency Medicine)
Source: The Journal of Emergency Medicine - June 1, 2013 Category: Emergency Medicine Authors: Lauren M. Abbate Tags: Abstracts Source Type: research

Comorbidity and Mortality of Narcolepsy: A Controlled Retro- and Prospective National Study
Conclusions:Patients with narcolepsy present higher morbidity several years prior to diagnose and even higher thereafter. The mortality rate due to narcolepsy was slightly but not significantly higher.Citation:Jennum P; Ibsen R; Knudsen S; Kjellberg J. Comorbidity and mortality of narcolepsy: a controlled retro- and prospective national study. SLEEP 2013;36(6):835-840. (Source: Sleep)
Source: Sleep - May 31, 2013 Category: Sleep Medicine Source Type: research

Sleep 2013 Set to Get Underway in Baltimore
In just a few days, the national meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies - known as SLEEP 2013 - gets underway in Baltimore, Maryland. This promises to be an exciting time with education, new research revelations, and the unveiling of the latest sleep-related products. This 27th annual meeting is a joint affair between the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and the Sleep Research Society. There will be two keynote addresses. Gary Gibbons, M.D. will speak on the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and advances in sleep research as well as future opportunities. Thomas Roth, Ph.D. will speak on the evolution o...
Source: About Sleep Disorders - May 30, 2013 Category: Sleep Medicine Source Type: news

The autoimmune basis of narcolepsy.
Abstract Narcolepsy is a neurological disorder characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness, cataplexy, hypnagonic hallucinations, sleep paralysis, and disturbed nocturnal sleep patterns. Narcolepsy is caused by the loss of hypocretin (orexin)-producing neurons in the lateral hypothalamus. Evidence, such as a strong association with HLA DQB1*06:02, strongly suggests an autoimmune basis targeting hypocretin neurons. Genome-wide association studies have strengthened the association between narcolepsy and immune system gene polymorphisms, including the identification of polymorphisms in the T cell receptor alpha locu...
Source: Current Opinion in Neurobiology - May 29, 2013 Category: Neurology Authors: Mahlios J, De la Herrán-Arita AK, Mignot E Tags: Curr Opin Neurobiol Source Type: research

Glaxo Flu Shot May Raise Adult Narcolepsy RiskGlaxo Flu Shot May Raise Adult Narcolepsy Risk
GlaxoSmithKline's H1N1 pandemic flu shot may put adults at higher risk of developing narcolepsy, not only children as previous studies found. Reuters Health Information (Source: Medscape Today Headlines)
Source: Medscape Today Headlines - May 23, 2013 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Infectious Diseases News Source Type: news

Animal models of sleep disorders.
Abstract Problems with sleep affect a large part of the general population, with more than half of all people in the United States reporting difficulties with sleep or insufficient sleep at various times and about 40 million affected chronically. Sleep is a complex physiologic process that is influenced by many internal and environmental factors, and problems with sleep are often related to specific personal circumstances or are based on subjective reports from the affected person. Although human subjects are used widely in the study of sleep and sleep disorders, the study of animals has been invaluable in developi...
Source: Comparative Medicine - May 23, 2013 Category: Zoology Authors: Toth LA, Bhargava P Tags: Comp Med Source Type: research

GSK flu shot may raise adult narcolepsy risk: Finnish scientists
HELSINKI/LONDON (Reuters) - GlaxoSmithKline Plc's H1N1 pandemic flu shot may put adults at higher risk of developing narcolepsy, not only children as previous studies found, Finland's National Institute for Health and Welfare said on Thursday. (Source: Reuters: Health)
Source: Reuters: Health - May 23, 2013 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: healthNews Source Type: news

Nocturnal Temazepam in the Treatment of Narcolepsy
Narcolepsy is characterized by fragmented nighttime sleep and frequent arousals. One treatment approach to improve daytime symptoms is to consolidate nighttime sleep through decreasing arousals. Sodium oxybate is the first FDA-approved medication that follows this approach. Benzodiazepines are known to also decrease arousals at night and have been proposed to help with sleep fragmentation. In one report, clonazepam was shown to improve cataplexy in 10 of 14 patients with narcolepsy although no improvement in daytime sleepiness was reported. The purpose of this case review was to share our experience of nocturnal temazepam ...
Source: Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine : JCSM - May 17, 2013 Category: Sleep Medicine Source Type: research

Amphetamine, past and present - a pharmacological and clinical perspective
Amphetamine was discovered over 100 years ago. Since then, it has transformed from a drug that was freely available without prescription as a panacea for a broad range of disorders into a highly restricted Controlled Drug with therapeutic applications restricted to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and narcolepsy. This review describes the relationship between chemical structure and pharmacology of amphetamine and its congeners. Amphetamine’s diverse pharmacological actions translate not only into therapeutic efficacy, but also into the production of adverse events and liability for recreational abuse. ...
Source: Journal of Psychopharmacology - May 16, 2013 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Heal, D. J., Smith, S. L., Gosden, J., Nutt, D. J. Tags: Review Source Type: research

The Maintenance of Wakefulness Test in Pediatric Narcolepsy
This study reviewed the charts of children with narcolepsy who had an MWT performed between January 2008 and June 2012. A cutoff was used for mean sleep latency: 20 minutes to indicate adequate control on medications. Thirteen tests were performed on 10 children (median age 15.8 years, range 8.7-20.3 years) with narcolepsy, of which six had cataplexy and three were boys. Comorbid conditions included Prader-Willi syndrome, bipolar affective disorder, and epilepsy (n = 1 each). The median mean sleep latency for all studies was 16 minutes (range 5.8-40 minutes). Sleep-onset rapid eye movement sleep events were seen in three...
Source: Pediatric Neurology - May 15, 2013 Category: Neurology Authors: Stephanie Zandieh, Sriram Ramgopal, Umakanth Khatwa, Michelle SanGiuliano, Michael Gunnuscio, Marcin Zarowski, Sanjeev V. Kothare Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research

Orexin deficiency and narcolepsy.
Abstract Orexin deficiency results in the sleep disorder narcolepsy in many mammalian species, including mice, dogs, and humans, suggesting that the orexin system is particularly important for normal regulation of sleep/wakefulness states, and especially for maintenance of wakefulness. This review discusses animal models of narcolepsy; the contribution of each orexin receptor subtype to the narcoleptic phenotypes; and the etiology of orexin neuronal death. It also raises the possibility of novel therapies targeting the orexin system for sleep disorders including insomia and narcolepsy-cataplexy. PMID: 23663890 ...
Source: Current Opinion in Neurobiology - May 7, 2013 Category: Neurology Authors: Sakurai T Tags: Curr Opin Neurobiol Source Type: research

Hypocretin (orexin) neuropeptide precursor gene, HCRT, polymorphisms in early-onset narcolepsy with cataplexy
Conclusions: Sequencing of a large number of early-onset narcolepsy subjects revealed three novel nonsynonymous substitutions within the preprohypocretin protein, two of which were only found in patients with early-onset narcolepsy but are not likely to be functionally significant, especially in heterozygote subjects. (Source: Sleep Medicine)
Source: Sleep Medicine - May 6, 2013 Category: Sleep Medicine Authors: Xiao Song Dong, Su Fang Ma, Chun Wei Cao, Jing Li, Pei An, Long Zhao, Nan Y. Liu, Han Yan, Qing Tao Hu, Emmanuel Mignot, Kingman P. Strohl, Zhan C. Gao, Changqing Zeng, Fang Han Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research

Narcolepsy is complicated by high medical and psychiatric comorbidities: a comparison with the general population
Conclusions: Narcolepsy is associated with a high comorbidity of both medical conditions and psychiatric disorders that need to be addressed when developing a treatment plan. (Source: Sleep Medicine)
Source: Sleep Medicine - May 6, 2013 Category: Sleep Medicine Authors: Maurice M. Ohayon Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research

Modafinil alone and in combination with low dose amphetamine does not establish conditioned place preference in male sprague-dawley rats.
Modafinil is a novel wake-promoting drug with FDA approval for the treatment of narcolepsy, shift work sleep disorder, and sleep apnea. It is also prescribed for many off-label uses such as ADHD and it is currently being assessed as a treatment for psychostimulant dependence. Previous research assessing the abuse liability of modafinil in animals and humans suggests it is less potent and has a low abuse potential compared to traditional psychomotor stimulants. However, modafinil has not been carefully assessed in combination with other psychostimulant drugs. The current study used an unbiased place conditioning procedure s...
Source: Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology - May 6, 2013 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Quisenberry, Amanda J.; Prisinzano, Thomas E.; Baker, Lisa E. Source Type: research

Modafinil and fatigue
Novelist MJ Hyland found modafinil (which she describes as a neuroenhancer) helped her fatigue. She bought the drug online without a prescription. Following a European safety review, modafinil is only licensed for treating narcolepsy. Guardian Modafinil (Provigil) - A to Z of MS (Source: Multiple Sclerosis Trust)
Source: Multiple Sclerosis Trust - May 2, 2013 Category: Neurology Source Type: news

Hypothalamic hypocretinergic/orexinergic neurons projecting to the oral pontine rapid eye movement sleep inducing site in the cat.
Abstract The cat ventral oral pontine reticular nucleus (vRPO) is responsible for the generation and maintenance of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. Hypothalamic neurons containing the peptide hypocretin-1 (also called orexin-A) which will be herewith defined as orexinergic (Orx) neurons, occupy a pre-eminent place in the integration and stabilization of arousal networks as well as in the physiopathology of narcolepsy/cataplexy. In the previous investigations, low-volume and dose microinjections of hypocretin-1 in cat vRPO produced a specific and significant suppression of REM sleep. The aim of this study is to map ...
Source: Anatomical Record - May 1, 2013 Category: Anatomy Authors: García-García B, Reinoso-Suárez F, Rodrigo-Angulo ML Tags: Anat Rec (Hoboken) Source Type: research

A.D.H.D. and Sleep
A.D.H.D. symptoms include those consistent with sleep of insufficient duration or quality. Many children diagnosed with A.D.H.D. may have undiagnosed sleep problems, and treating the sleep problems may be productive in lessening the problems of attention, learning, memory, and behavior often seen in children assumed to have A.D.H.D.read more (Source: Psychology Today Parenting Center)
Source: Psychology Today Parenting Center - April 28, 2013 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Joseph A. Buckhalt, Ph.D. Tags: Child Development Parenting Psychiatry Sleep a.d.h.d. awakenings bed time child psychologists clinical psychologists daytime sleepiness ed piece narcolepsy New York Times new york times op ed nytimes pediatricians psychiatr Source Type: news

[Newsdesk] Implications of narcolepsy link with swine-influenza vaccine
Initial links between Pandemrix and narcolepsy seemed limited to Nordic countries, Kelly Morris takes a look at growing evidence for a further reaching effect. (Source: The Lancet Infectious Diseases)
Source: The Lancet Infectious Diseases - April 27, 2013 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Kelly Morris Tags: Newsdesk Source Type: research

A case of REM sleep behavior disorder, narcolepsy-cataplexy, parkinsonism and rheumatoid arthritis.
Abstract A patient is reported in whom signs and symptoms of REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD) and narcolepsy have been associated for almost two decades with a late development of parkinsonism and rheumatoid arthritis. A 78-year-old male patient in whom RBD was first diagnosed was followed-up by clinical examination, videopolysomnography, multiple sleep latency test, cerebral magnetic resonance imaging, and dopamine transporter imaging by single-photon emission computerized tomography. The patient was found to present for almost two decades, in addition to RBD, also narcolepsy. Moreover, a late development of park...
Source: Behavioural Neurology - April 25, 2013 Category: Neurology Authors: Cosentino FI, Distefano A, Plazzi G, Schenck CH, Ferri R Tags: Behav Neurol Source Type: research

Electroencephalogram paroxysmal theta characterizes cataplexy in mice and children
Astute control of brain activity states is critical for adaptive behaviours and survival. In mammals and birds, electroencephalographic recordings reveal alternating states of wakefulness, slow wave sleep and paradoxical sleep (or rapid eye movement sleep). This control is profoundly impaired in narcolepsy with cataplexy, a disease resulting from the loss of orexin/hypocretin neurotransmitter signalling in the brain. Narcolepsy with cataplexy is characterized by irresistible bouts of sleep during the day, sleep fragmentation during the night and episodes of cataplexy, a sudden loss of muscle tone while awake and experienci...
Source: Brain - April 24, 2013 Category: Neurology Authors: Vassalli, A., Dellepiane, J. M., Emmenegger, Y., Jimenez, S., Vandi, S., Plazzi, G., Franken, P., Tafti, M. Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research

Narcolepsy-Cataplexy: Is Streptococcal Infection a Trigger?
We report a case of an 8-year-old presenting with narcolepsy-cataplexy following a streptococcal infection. Autoimmune etiology for narcolepsy has been suggested. In our patient increased anti-streptolysin O and anti-DNAse B titers were noted. As suggested by recent cases, the streptococcal infection was likely a trigger for narcolepsy onset in this genetically predisposed child. The patient was initially diagnosed as having Sydenham chorea due to motor movements. However, these transient movements may be due to the narcolepsy onset. Narcolepsy in childhood may present with atypical symptoms; it might be difficult to obtai...
Source: Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine : JCSM - April 11, 2013 Category: Sleep Medicine Source Type: research

Impact of Obesity in Children with Narcolepsy.
CONCLUSION: Obesity affects more than 50% of narcoleptic children, mostly younger at disease onset, and has a deleterious impact on sleep quality as well as on school attendance. PMID: 23574649 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: CNS Neuroscience and Therapeutics)
Source: CNS Neuroscience and Therapeutics - April 10, 2013 Category: Neuroscience Authors: Inocente CO, Lavault S, Lecendreux M, Dauvilliers Y, Reimao R, Gustin MP, Castets S, Spiegel K, Lin JS, Arnulf I, Franco P Tags: CNS Neurosci Ther Source Type: research

Hypothalamic Hypocretinergic/Orexinergic Neurons Projecting to the Oral Pontine Rapid Eye Movement Sleep Inducing Site in the Cat
Abstract The cat ventral oral pontine reticular nucleus (vRPO) is responsible for the generation and maintenance of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. Hypothalamic neurons containing the peptide hypocretin‐1 (also called orexin‐A) which will be herewith defined as orexinergic (Orx) neurons, occupy a pre‐eminent place in the integration and stabilization of arousal networks as well as in the physiopathology of narcolepsy/cataplexy. In the previous investigations, low‐volume and dose microinjections of hypocretin‐1 in cat vRPO produced a specific and significant suppression of REM sleep. The aim of this study is to ma...
Source: The Anatomical Record Part A: Discoveries in Molecular, Cellular, and Evolutionary Biology - April 8, 2013 Category: Molecular Biology Authors: Berta García‐García, Fernando Reinoso‐Suárez, Margarita L. Rodrigo‐Angulo Tags: Full Length Article Source Type: research

Narcolepsy and pregnancy: a retrospective European evaluation of 249 pregnancies.
This study reports more obstetric complications in patients with narcolepsy-cataplexy during pregnancy; however, these were not severe. This group also had a higher BMI and higher incidence of impaired glucose metabolism during pregnancy. Caesarian section was conducted more frequently in narcolepsy-cataplexy patients, despite cataplexy being a rare event during delivery. Furthermore, symptoms of narcolepsy may render care of the infant more difficult. PMID: 23560595 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Journal of Sleep Research)
Source: Journal of Sleep Research - April 8, 2013 Category: Sleep Medicine Authors: Maurovich-Horvat E, Kemlink D, Högl B, Frauscher B, Ehrmann L, Geisler P, Ettenhuber K, Mayer G, Peraita-Adrados R, Calvo E, Lammers GJ, Van der Heide A, Ferini-Strambi L, Plazzi G, Poli F, Dauvilliers Y, Jennum P, Leonthin H, Mathis J, Wierzbicka A, Pue Tags: J Sleep Res Source Type: research

Narcolepsy and pregnancy: a retrospective European evaluation of 249 pregnancies
This study reports more obstetric complications in patients with narcolepsy–cataplexy during pregnancy; however, these were not severe. This group also had a higher BMI and higher incidence of impaired glucose metabolism during pregnancy. Caesarian section was conducted more frequently in narcolepsy–cataplexy patients, despite cataplexy being a rare event during delivery. Furthermore, symptoms of narcolepsy may render care of the infant more difficult. (Source: Journal of Sleep Research)
Source: Journal of Sleep Research - April 1, 2013 Category: Neurology Authors: Eszter Maurovich‐Horvat, David Kemlink, Birgit Högl, Birgit Frauscher, Laura Ehrmann, Peter Geisler, Katharina Ettenhuber, Geert Mayer, Rosa Peraita‐Adrados, Elena Calvo, Gert Jan Lammers, Astrid Heide, Luigi Ferini‐Strambi, Giuseppe Plazzi, France Tags: Regular Research Paper Source Type: research

Association between H1N1 vaccination and narcolepsy-cataplexy: Flu to sleep
After the beginning of the influenza A (H1N1 pdm09) pandemic in 2009, several monovalent pandemic H1N1 vaccines were licensed using fast track procedures, with limited safety data in children and adolescents.1 Nonadjuvant monovalent vaccines were used in the United States and Australia, and on a limited scale, in Europe (France, Spain) and other countries. Within the European Union (EU), 2 different vaccines with adjuvant were licensed, both containing a new generation of squalene-based adjuvant: Focetria (Novartis, Philadelphia, PA), with the MF59 adjuvant, and Pandemrix (GSK, Philadelphia, PA), containing AS03 (squalene ...
Source: Neurology - April 1, 2013 Category: Neurology Authors: Kothare, S. V., Wiznitzer, M. Tags: All Pediatric, Narcolepsy, Risk factors in epidemiology EDITORIALS Source Type: research

Increased childhood incidence of narcolepsy in western Sweden after H1N1 influenza vaccination
Conclusion: Pandemrix vaccination is a precipitating factor for narcolepsy, especially in combination with HLA-DQB1*0602. The incidence of narcolepsy was 25 times higher after the vaccination compared with the time period before. The children in the postvaccination group had a lower age at onset and a more sudden onset than that generally seen. (Source: Neurology)
Source: Neurology - April 1, 2013 Category: Neurology Authors: Szakacs, A., Darin, N., Hallbook, T. Tags: All Pediatric, Narcolepsy, Risk factors in epidemiology ARTICLE Source Type: research

Registry study confirms increased risk of narcolepsy after vaccination with Pandemrix in children and adolescents and shows an increased risk in young adults
A large Swedish registry study confirms the increased risk of narcolepsy after vaccination with Pandemrix in subjects 20 years and younger. The study also shows an increased risk in young adults (21-30 years). The risk declines gradually with increasing age. No associations with increased risks were concluded for any of the other studied neurological and immune related diseases. (Source: MPA RSS news -)
Source: MPA RSS news - - March 26, 2013 Category: Medical Equipment Authors: Medical Products Agency, Sweden Source Type: news

Well: From Sleep Study, Clues to Happiness
A brain chemical called hypocretin may help explain why we “fall down” with laughter, and why people with narcolepsy, who lack the substance, get depressed. But hypocretin’s effect on mood also raises concerns about new sleeping pills designed to block the substance. (Source: NYT Health)
Source: NYT Health - March 21, 2013 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: By ANAHAD O'CONNOR Tags: Mental Health and Disorders Narcolepsy Happiness Sleep Mind Featured Source Type: news

Novel mutation in the replication focus targeting sequence domain of DNMT1 causes hereditary sensory and autonomic neuropathy IE
We report a sporadic case in a Japanese patient with loss of pain and vibration sense, chronic osteomyelitis, autonomic system dysfunctions, hearing loss, and mild dementia, but without definite cerebellar ataxia. Electrophysiological studies revealed absent sensory nerve action potential with nearly normal motor nerve conduction studies. Brain magnetic resonance imaging revealed mild diffuse cerebral and cerebellar atrophy. Using a next‐generation sequencing system, 16 candidate genes were analyzed and a novel missense mutation, c.1706A>G (p.His569Arg), was identified in exon 21 of DNMT1. Our findings suggest that mu...
Source: Journal of the Peripheral Nervous System - March 21, 2013 Category: Neurology Authors: Junhui Yuan, Yujiro Higuchi, Tatsui Nagado, Satoshi Nozuma, Tomonori Nakamura, Eiji Matsuura, Akihiro Hashiguchi, Yusuke Sakiyama, Akiko Yoshimura, Hiroshi Takashima Tags: CASE REPORT Source Type: research

"Off-Label" Use of Anti-Drowsiness Drug Skyrockets
The number of Americans taking the narcolepsy and shift work sleep disorder drug modafinil has increased almost 10-fold over the past decade, according to a new study.Source: Reuters Health Related MedlinePlus Pages: Medicines, Sleep Disorders (Source: MedlinePlus Health News)
Source: MedlinePlus Health News - March 18, 2013 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news

Clinical, polysomnographic and genome-wide association analyses of narcolepsy with cataplexy: a European Narcolepsy Network study.
S, Geisler P, Wierzbicka A, Feketeova E, Pfister C, Khatami R, Baumann C, Tafti M, European Narcolepsy Network (EU-NN) Abstract The aim of this study was to describe the clinical and PSG characteristics of narcolepsy with cataplexy and their genetic predisposition by using the retrospective patient database of the European Narcolepsy Network (EU-NN). We have analysed retrospective data of 1099 patients with narcolepsy diagnosed according to International Classification of Sleep Disorders-2. Demographic and clinical characteristics, polysomnography and multiple sleep latency test data, hypocretin-1 levels, and genom...
Source: Journal of Sleep Research - March 18, 2013 Category: Sleep Medicine Authors: Luca G, Haba-Rubio J, Dauvilliers Y, Lammers GJ, Overeem S, Donjacour CE, Mayer G, Javidi S, Iranzo A, Santamaria J, Peraita-Adrados R, Hor H, Kutalik Z, Plazzi G, Poli F, Pizza F, Arnulf I, Lecendreux M, Bassetti C, Mathis J, Heinzer R, Jennum P, Knudsen Tags: J Sleep Res Source Type: research

Clinical, polysomnographic and genome‐wide association analyses of narcolepsy with cataplexy: a European Narcolepsy Network study
Summary The aim of this study was to describe the clinical and PSG characteristics of narcolepsy with cataplexy and their genetic predisposition by using the retrospective patient database of the European Narcolepsy Network (EU‐NN). We have analysed retrospective data of 1099 patients with narcolepsy diagnosed according to International Classification of Sleep Disorders‐2. Demographic and clinical characteristics, polysomnography and multiple sleep latency test data, hypocretin‐1 levels, and genome‐wide genotypes were available. We found a significantly lower age at sleepiness onset (men versus women: 23.74 ± 12...
Source: Journal of Sleep Research - March 17, 2013 Category: Neurology Authors: Gianina Luca, José Haba‐Rubio, Yves Dauvilliers, Gert‐Jan Lammers, Sebastiaan Overeem, Claire E. Donjacour, Geert Mayer, Sirous Javidi, Alex Iranzo, Joan Santamaria, Rosa Peraita‐Adrados, Hyun Hor, Zoltan Kutalik, Giuseppe Plazzi, Francesca Poli, F Tags: Regular Research Paper Source Type: research

Effects of long-term use of clonazepam on nonrapid eye movement sleep patterns in rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder
Conclusions: Our study confirms that clonazepam modifies some aspects of NREM sleep in iRBD participants with a decrease in its instability. Moreover, we also show that a complex modification of sleep chin atonia exists in these participants, which also involves NREM sleep; for iRBD more complex neuropathologic models encompassing REM sleep and NREM sleep mechanisms are needed. (Source: Sleep Medicine)
Source: Sleep Medicine - March 14, 2013 Category: Sleep Medicine Authors: Raffaele Ferri, Marco Zucconi, Sara Marelli, Giuseppe Plazzi, Carlos H. Schenck, Luigi Ferini-Strambi Tags: Original Papers Source Type: research

Genetic association, seasonal infections and autoimmune basis of narcolepsy.
Abstract In recent years, a growing number of potential autoimmune disorders affecting neurons in the central nervous system have been identified, including narcolepsy. Narcolepsy is a lifelong sleep disorder characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness with irresistible sleep attacks, cataplexy (sudden bilateral loss of muscle tone), hypnagogic hallucinations, and abnormalities of Rapid Eye Movement sleep. Narcolepsy is generally a sporadic disorder and is caused by the loss of hypocretin (orexin)-producing neurons in the hypothalamus region of the brain. Studies have established that more than 90% of patients ha...
Source: Journal of Autoimmunity - March 13, 2013 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: Singh AK, Mahlios J, Mignot E Tags: J Autoimmun Source Type: research

Treatment dilemmas in a young man presenting with narcolepsy and psychotic symptoms.
Authors: Fernandez V, Davies S, Walters N Abstract Psychotic features can be present in both narcolepsy and psychosis, which can result in challenges in diagnosis and management. The prevalence of both conditions is low and the reports in young people are scarce. Our report illustrates the relevance of a thorough differential diagnosis as well as the need to explore treatment avenues based on the evidence available for both narcolepsy and psychosis symptoms to try and maximise the therapeutic impact. PMID: 22937410 [PubMed] (Source: Case Reports in Psychiatry)
Source: Case Reports in Psychiatry - March 9, 2013 Category: Psychiatry Tags: Case Rep Psychiatry Source Type: research

Is this peptide a key to happiness?
What makes us happy? Family? Money? Love? How about a peptide? The neurochemical changes underlying human emotions and social behavior are largely unknown. Now though, for the first time in humans, scientists at UCLA have measured the release of a specific peptide, a neurotransmitter called hypocretin, that greatly increased when subjects were happy but decreased when they were sad. The finding suggests that boosting hypocretin could elevate both mood and alertness in humans, thus laying the foundation for possible future treatments of psychiatric disorders like depression by targeting measureable abnormaliti...
Source: UCLA Newsroom: Health Sciences - March 7, 2013 Category: Universities & Medical Training Source Type: news

Dream imagery, rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder, and hallucinations
Abstract Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behavior disorder (RBD) and hypnagogic hallucinations are salient symptoms of abnormal and dissociated REM sleep that are frequently associated in serious neurological diseases. RBD is a strong, independent risk factor for hallucinations in narcolepsy (odds ratio: 4.3) and in Parkinson's disease (odds ratio: 2.7). In Parkinson's disease, RBD also predicts incident hallucinations and psychosis in prospective cohorts. Status dissociatus (a mixture of hallucinations, RBD, and dissociated sleep–wake states) is observed in patients with Guillain‐Barré when hallucinating, but also in ...
Source: Sleep and Biological Rhythms - March 7, 2013 Category: Neurology Authors: Isabelle ARNULF Source Type: research

Influenza vaccine linked to narcolepsy in children in England
Researchers have found an increased risk for narcolepsy in children who received the swine flu vaccination in England. (Source: MedWire News - Infectious Diseases)
Source: MedWire News - Infectious Diseases - March 1, 2013 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: news

Study Again Finds Narcolepsy Risk With H1N1 Flu Vaccine Study Again Finds Narcolepsy Risk With H1N1 Flu Vaccine
A study from England finds an increased risk for narcolepsy in children who received adjuvanted pandemic H1N1 2009 flu vaccine, consistent with findings from Finland and Sweden. Medscape Medical News (Source: Medscape Today Headlines)
Source: Medscape Today Headlines - March 1, 2013 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Neurology & Neurosurgery News Source Type: news

Almorexant Promotes Sleep and Exacerbates Cataplexy in a Murine Model of Narcolepsy
Conclusions:These complex dose- and genotype-dependent interactions underscore the importance of effector mechanisms downstream from Hcrt receptors that regulate arousal state. Cataplexy promotion by ALM warrants cautious use of Hcrt antagonists in patient populations with Hcrt neurodegeneration, but may also facilitate the discovery of anticataplectic medications.Citation:Black SW; Morairty SR; Fisher SP; Chen TM; Warrier DR; Kilduff TS. Almorexant promotes sleep and exacerbates cataplexy in a murine model of narcolepsy. SLEEP 2013;36(3):325-336. (Source: Sleep)
Source: Sleep - March 1, 2013 Category: Sleep Medicine Source Type: research

NHS Choices "Behind the Headlines Assessment": Swine flu jab narcolepsy risk is very small
Source: NHS Choices Area: News The Behind the Headlines service from NHS Choices has featured a quality assessment of a study published in the BMJ and reported widely in the media. The study (designed as a retrospective analysis) found an increased risk of narcolepsy after vaccination with ASO3 adjuvanted pandemic A/H1N1 2009 vaccine (Pandemrix vaccine), thus suggesting a causal association. The NHS Choices assessment acknowledges that the media reports are underpinned by "a well-conducted, government-funded study that confirms findings of previous research from Finland". However, it also stresses that the risk...
Source: NeLM - News - February 28, 2013 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: news