An Update on Kleine-Levin Syndrome.

Purpose of Review: Kleine-Levin syndrome (KLS) is a rare relapsing-remitting sleep disorder distinguished by recurrent periods of severe hypersomnia accompanied by cognitive, mood, and behavioral changes. This review focuses mainly on the most recent developments and articles concerning this illness in the preceding five years while attempting to provide a basic overview of KLS. Recent Findings: Genetic links were reported in some patients with KLS, like variation in TRANK1 in a worldwide case-control genome-wide association in patients with KLS, in addition to several uncommon variations in the LMOD3 gene, some of which are likely to be pathogenic, discovered by linkage analysis and exome sequencing in a sizable Saudi Arabian family with KLS and a European cohort of KLS patients. Additionally, recent data indicate that the amplitude of the circadian active/rest cycles significantly decreased during hypersomnia attacks, but during asymptomatic periods, it did not differ significantly from the controls. Moreover, patients with KLS are at a higher risk of developing emerging psychiatric disorders during follow-up. Recent data also points to possible discoveries of diagnostic-potential dysregulated proteomic patterns in KLS. Finally, new data suggest that functional imaging studies are often abnormal in KLS both during and between episodes. Summary: KLS is an uncommon, severe, and uniform illness. When it comes to the diagnosis and treatment of KLS, these characteristics offer both opportunities and challenges. Over the past five years, some promising work has appeared in genetics, functional imaging, and biomarker identification; nevertheless, these areas still need more focus to advance the detection and treatment of patients suffering from KLS.

Unusual case of central alveolar hypoventilation.

Central alveolar hypoventilation is rarely encountered. This case report describes a young woman who was recently diagnosed with hypertension and ischemic heart disease. She presented to the emergency room with hypercapnic respiratory failure, for which she was mechanically ventilated. This was preceded by an acute upper respiratory tract infection. She was initially suspected to have Guillain-Barré syndrome, but further investigations ruled out neuromuscular or autoimmune disorders. Sleep-related hypoventilation was suspected after she experienced recurrent apneas at night that resulted in re-intubation. Polysomnographic studies confirmed episodes of central apnea and hypopnea during sleep, with significant carbon dioxide retention and oxygen desaturations. She required nocturnal ventilation via a tracheostomy tube until a diaphragmatic pacer could be placed. Using bi-level positive airway pressure and average volume-assured pressure support together with the diaphragmatic pacer, adequate ventilation during sleep was achieved.

The effect of intermittent fasting during Ramadan on sleep, sleepiness, cognitive function, and circadian rhythm.

PURPOSE: Studies have shown that experimental fasting can affect cognitive function, sleep, and wakefulness patterns. However, the effects of experimental fasting cannot be generalized to fasting during Ramadan due to its unique characteristics. Therefore, there has been increased interest in studying the effects of fasting during Ramadan on sleep patterns, daytime sleepiness, cognitive function, sleep architecture, and circadian rhythm. METHOD: In this review, we critically discuss the current research findings in those areas during the month of Ramadan. RESULTS: Available data that controlled for sleep/wake schedule, sleep duration, light exposure, and energy expenditure do not support the notion that Ramadan intermittent fasting increases daytime sleepiness and alters cognitive function. Additionally, recent well-designed studies showed no effect of fasting on circadian rhythms. However, in non-constrained environments that do not control for lifestyle changes, studies have demonstrated sudden and significant delays in bedtime and wake time. CONCLUSIONS: Studies that controlled for environmental factors and sleep/wake schedule reported no significant disturbances in sleep architecture. Nevertheless, several studies have consistently reported that the main change in sleep architecture during fasting is a reduction in the proportion of REM sleep.