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this study aims to assess the reliability and validity of an Arabic version of the Sleep Hygiene Index (SHI).

A methodological study was carried out in four stages initial translation by 2 professional translators, evaluation and synthesis of the initial translation by project managers, back-translation and validation. The Arabic (SHI-AR) and English (SHI-ENG) versions of the SHI were administered across Lebanon as an anonymous online survey in April 2020. Internal consistency of the SHI-AR and inter-rater reliability were assessed by calculating Cronbach alpha (α) and Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) respectively. Inter-rater agreement for each item of the SHI was measured using Cohen’s Kappa coefficient. Construct validity was investigated by exploratory factor analysis (EFA).

363 participants were enrolled in the study (129 men, 234 women, mean age 30±11 years). read more There was no statistically significant difference between mean overall scores on the 2 versions of the SHI with mean scores of 19.16±7.4 and 19.25±7.6 on SHI-AR and SHI-ENG respectively (p=0.265). Internal consistency was satisfactory (α=0.749), and the inter-rater agreement for the total scores of the 2 versions of the SHI was excellent (ICC=0.980). All items of the SHI showed substantial to high level of agreement between the 2 versions. EFA established four factors underlying the questionnaire.

The Arabic version of the SHI is a valid tool to assess sleep hygiene in Arabic speaking populations.

The Arabic version of the SHI is a valid tool to assess sleep hygiene in Arabic speaking populations.

The efficacy of acupuncture for treating primary insomnia (PI) has been explored in several meta-analyses where the outcomes measures were based on subjective self-reported sleep rating scales. Sleep state misperception is common in PI and self-reports underestimate sleep duration and quality. No systematic reviews or meta-analyses have investigated the efficacy of acupuncture in improving objective sleep measures in PI.

To perform a systematic review to determine whether objective sleep parameters are improved by acupuncture in patients with PI.

Randomized controlled trials treating PI via verum-acupuncture versus sham-/placebo-acupuncture or waitlist control were searched for in English [MEDLINE (via PubMed), Sciverse ScienceDirect, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), AMED, Springer, EMBASE (Elsevier), Ebsco Medline, and PsycINFO (ProQuest)] and Chinese (SinoMed, CNKI, Wanfang and CQVIP) databases, from the dates of the databases’ inception to January 2020. The parameters of polyherapeutic threshold dosage (≥12 sessions) is recommended. Well-designed RCTs using PSG are required to clarify the influence of acupuncture on sleep architecture/structure and to promote better application of acupuncture as a treatment for PI.

Perceived environmental pollution may play a significant role in understanding environmentally induced health-related symptoms. This study aimed to determine whether perceived environmental pollution is associated with poor sleep quality.

We conducted a cross-sectional study using data from a nationwide sample of 162,797 individuals aged ≥19 years from the 2018 Korea Community Health Survey. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index was used for assessing sleep quality. Five types of perceived environmental pollutants involving air, water, soil, noise, and green space were assessed. We investigate the association between perceived environmental pollution and poor sleep quality. We also investigated whether an increasing number of perceived environmental pollutants magnified the odds of poor sleep quality.

The prevalence of poor sleep quality was 42.7% (n=69,554), and 15.6%, 10.1%, 11.9%, 23.0%, and 11.5% reported perceived environmental pollution concerning air, water, soil, noise, and green space, respectively. A perception of air, soil, or noise pollution was significantly associated with poor sleep quality. In addition, those perceiving a greater number of environmental pollutants had significantly higher odds of poor sleep quality. Notably, this association was magnified in individuals living in rural areas.

Perceived environmental pollution was significantly associated with poor sleep quality. Our results suggest that a more comprehensive exposure to environmental pollution may not only have a worse effect on health outcomes including sleep quality.

Perceived environmental pollution was significantly associated with poor sleep quality. Our results suggest that a more comprehensive exposure to environmental pollution may not only have a worse effect on health outcomes including sleep quality.

Although insufficient sleep among firefighters reduces work efficiency and increases the risk of injury, little is known about the sleep quality of French firefighters in the Loire department. The aim of the FIRESLEEP study was to evaluate sleep quality and sleep disturbances among professional and voluntary French firefighters.

A cross-sectional observational study was conducted between November 2018 and May 2019. Firefighters were invited to complete a questionnaire on a secure platform including clinical questions and validated questionnaires (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index [PSQI], Epworth sleepiness scale [ESS], Insomnia Severity Index [ISI] and the STOP-Bang score) during their periodic medical examination.

193 firefighters were included in this study, of which 29% were of professional status and 71% were volunteer firefighters. Among them, 26.9% had poor sleep quality, 27.7% showed excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS), 18.8% reported moderate-to-severe symptoms of insomnia, and 1.6% had moderate-to-high risk of obstructive sleep apnea. Subgroup analysis revealed that professional firefighters had poorer sleep quality and higher sleep disturbances than volunteer firefighters. The independent risk factors associated with poor sleep quality were known sleep disorder, treated anxiety/depression, night calls, and insomnia symptoms. Moreover, the independent risk factors associated with EDS were short sleep duration, taking a nap, and insomnia symptoms; while older age was a protective factor for EDS.

Poor sleep quality and sleep disturbances are highly frequent in French firefighters and underdiagnosed. Prevention through education and systematic screening could limit the impact of sleep disturbances on firefighters’ global health.

Poor sleep quality and sleep disturbances are highly frequent in French firefighters and underdiagnosed. Prevention through education and systematic screening could limit the impact of sleep disturbances on firefighters’ global health.

To identify chromosome deletions in 1q25, 1p36 and 1pTEL, and chromosome 17 ploidy status in oral epithelial dysplasia (OED) and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).

Samples from 57 OED and 63 OSCC were selected. FISH was performed using centromeric probes 17 and n LSIR 1p36/LSI 1q25 Dual Color Probe.

In OED, deletions were found only in 1pTEL region (29.8%). In OSCC, there was a higher frequency of deletion in 1pTEL (79.4%), followed by 1p36 (73.0%), and 1q25 (20.6%). Advanced TNM clinical stages (III/IV) showed all the deletions studied; at early clinical stages (I/II) of OSCC, deletions were observed only in 1pTEL. link2 The frequency of deletion in 1p36 was 17.0 times higher in OSCC at advanced clinical stages (PR 17.00). The median number of cell nuclei with chromosome 17 aneuploidy was higher in OSCC than in OED (P<0.001). Early clinical stages of OSCC showed lower median number nuclei with aneuploidy when compared to advanced tumors (P<0.05). Tumors harboring deletions in 1p36, 1q25 and 1pTEL revealed higher median numbers of trisomic/polysomic nuclei when compared to lesions exhibiting no abnormalities in chromosome 1 (P<0.05).

A higher prevalence of chromosomal abnormalities was found in OSCC than in OED, while in OSCC, higher abnormalities were present in lesions with higher TNM staging. 1pTEL deletion and monosomy of chromosome 17 are possible markers for progression of OED to OSCC. 1p36 deletion and trisomy/polysomy of chromosome 17 could be markers of worse prognosis of OSCC.

A higher prevalence of chromosomal abnormalities was found in OSCC than in OED, while in OSCC, higher abnormalities were present in lesions with higher TNM staging. 1pTEL deletion and monosomy of chromosome 17 are possible markers for progression of OED to OSCC. 1p36 deletion and trisomy/polysomy of chromosome 17 could be markers of worse prognosis of OSCC.Upon encountering an antigen, antibodies mature through various rounds of somatic mutations, resulting in higher affinities and specificities to the particular antigen. We review recent progress in four areas of antibody maturation studies. (1) Next-generation and single-cell sequencing have revolutionized the analysis of antibody repertoires by dramatically increasing the sequences available to study the state and evolution of the immune system. Computational methods, including machine learning tools, have been developed for reconstituting antibody clonal lineages and for general repertoire analysis. (2) The availability of X-ray structures, thermodynamic and kinetic data, and molecular dynamics simulations provide information on the biophysical mechanisms responsible for improved affinity. (3) In addition to improved binding to a specific antigen, providing affinity-independent diversity and self/nonself discrimination are fundamental functions of the immune system. Recent studies, including X-ray structures, yield improved understanding of both mechanisms. (4) Results from in vivo maturation help to develop methods of in vitro maturation to improve antibody properties for therapeutic applications, frequently combining computational and experimental approaches.

Diagnostic challenges exist in the presurgical evaluation of patients with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) negative cingulate epilepsy (CE) because of the heterogeneity in clinical semiology and lack of localizing findings on scalp electroencephalographic (EEG) recordings. We aimed to examine the neuroimaging characteristics in a consecutive cohort of patients with MRI-negative CE with a focus on two image post-processing methods, including the MRI post-processing morphometric analysis program (MAP) and

F-fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography-MRI (PET/MRI) co-registration.

Included in this retrospective study were patients with MRI-negative CE who met the following criteria negative on preoperative MRI, invasive EEG (iEEG) confirmed cingulate gyrus-onset seizures, surgical resection of the cingulate gyrus with/without adjacent cortex, and seizure-free for more than 12 months. MAP and PET/MRI co-registration were performed and investigated by comparison to ictal intracranial EEG findings. Othere results on conventional MRI, which can be otherwise challenging. More importantly, a combination of MRI post-processing and PET/MRI co-registration can greatly improve the identification of epileptic abnormalities, which can be used as surgical target. MAP and PET/MRI co-registration should be incorporated into the routine presurgical evaluation.

MAP and PET/MRI co-registration show promising results in identifying subtle FCD abnormalities in CE with negative results on conventional MRI, which can be otherwise challenging. link3 More importantly, a combination of MRI post-processing and PET/MRI co-registration can greatly improve the identification of epileptic abnormalities, which can be used as surgical target. MAP and PET/MRI co-registration should be incorporated into the routine presurgical evaluation.