Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to R Massetani.
The existence of sleep disorders was investigated in 643 healthy children of ages ranging from 3 to 14 years, resident in Latina, city of the central part of Italy.
Nocturnal sleep was poligraphycally recorded in three male patients aged 54-67, with progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP). All patients suffered from insomnia. In case 1 REM sleep was markedly reduced and spindles were less numerous than in normal subjects. In cases 2 and 3, EEG patterns were not distinguishable from those observed when the patients were awake. Sleep, therefore, was recognized only by constant observation of the patients. As seen in the literature EEG changes during sleep can be correlated to the severity of the clinical picture and the stage of evolution of the disease. EEG patterns of sleep in PSP are similar to those reported in patients with presenile dementia.
Determination of plasma prolactin concentration every 2 h in twelve healthy elderly subjects, aged between 62 and 78, indicates that the secretory rhythm is not modified with age and that it remains synchronized with the sleep-wake cycle. The increase of awake time during the night in old age does not change substantially the rise of nocturnal prolactin levels. The 24-h profile of growth hormone is characterized by a frequent decrease or absence of sleep-related peaks in elderly subjects. This reduction of growth hormone nocturnal secretion does not seem secondary to an alteration in sleep structure.