A controlled comparison of self-rated sleep complaints in acute and chronic nightmare sufferers.

A cross-sectional study was performed to retrospectively assess self-rated sleep complaints in three groups of subjects: controls without nightmares (N = 77), acute nightmares sufferers (< 6 months duration, N = 36), and chronic nightmare sufferers (> 6 months duration, N = 128). Four specific complaints of sleep disturbance were categorically measured to ascertain the presence or absence of the symptom: fear of going to sleep; awakenings from sleep; difficulty returning to sleep; and fitful, restless sleep. Each of the four separate sleep complaints were significantly more common in the acute (p < .0001) and chronic (p < .0001) nightmare groups compared with controls. A summed aggregate score of the four sleep complaints was also higher in both the acute (p < .0001) and chronic groups (p < .0001) compared with controls. Ninety-one percent of all subjects with nightmares reported at least one sleep complaint. Between-group assessments, comparing acute and chronic nightmare sufferers for any of the four variables and the aggregate, demonstrated no statistically significant findings, although a few trends were noted. A dose-response relationship was not observed for nightmare frequency or chronicity for any of the four sleep variables or their aggregate. The relationship between nightmares and disturbed sleep is discussed.

Photoprotective effect of vitamins A and E on polyamine and oxygenated free radical metabolism in hairless mouse epidermis.

The purpose of this study was to confirm the photoprotective effect on skin of vitamins A and E, due to inhibition of polyamine synthesis and production of free radicals. These variables were measured in the lumbar epidermis of the female hairless mouse subjected to UVA + B irradiation. Polyamines were assayed in epidermal homogenate by HPLC, and production of oxygenated free radicals was determined by spectrofluorometric assay of malonyl dialdehyde. It was determined that butyl-hydroxy-toluene and vitamin E inhibited production of free radicals (56% and 60%, respectively) and caused a significant reduction in polyamine biosynthesis (P less than 0.01), whereas the inhibitory effect of malonyl dialdehyde induced by vitamin A (30%) had no associated effect on polyamine metabolism.