• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.45-51
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• 2006

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) syndrome disrupts normal sleep. However, there were few studies to evaluate the asymmetric distribution, the one of the important factors of normal sleep in OSA subjects. We hypothesized that asymmetry would be broken in OSA patients. 49 male subjects with the complaint of heavy snoring were studied with polysomnography. We divided them into two groups based on the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) fifteen: 13 simple snoring group (SSN, average AHI $5.9{\pm}4.4$) and 32 OSA group (average AHI $47.3{\pm}23.9$). We compared split sleep variables between the first half and the second half of sleep within each group with paired t-test for the evaluation of asymmetry. Changes of sleep architecture of OSA were higher stage 1 sleep% (S1), total arousal index (TAI), AHI, and mean heart rate (HR) and lower stage 2 sleep% (S2), REM sleep%, and mean arterial O2 saturation (SaO2) than SSN subjects. SWS and wake time after sleep onset (WASO) were not different between two groups. In split-night analysis, OSA subjects showed higher S2, slow wave sleep% (SWS), spontaneous arousal index (SAI), and mean HR in the first half, and higher REM sleep% and mean SaO2 in the second half. Those were same pattern as in SSN subjects. Mean apnea duration and longest apnea duration were higher in the second half only in the OSA. No differences of AHI, ODI, WASO, and S1 were found between the first and the second half of sleep in both groups. TAI was higher in the first half only in the SSN. SWS and WASO seemed to be influenced sensitively by simple snoring as well as OSA. Unlike our hypothesis, asymmetric distributions of major sleep architecture variables were preserved in OSA group. Losing asymmetry of TAI might be related to pathophysiology of OSA. We need more studies that include large number of subjects in the future.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.113-120
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• 2001

Objectives: Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome is common and may produce various symptoms and serious complications. A substantial number of research articles on obstructive sleep apnea syndrome have been published in Korea. However, we found such limitations as lack of sufficient sample size and lack of polysomnography-proven cases. Therefore, we aimed at studying clinical features and sleep structure in a sufficient number of Korean patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome diagnostically confirmed with polysomnography. Methods: We studied 801 subjects referred to the Division of Sleep Studies, Seoul National University Hospital, who were diagnosed as having obstructive sleep apnea syndrome with polysomnography. Subjects were excluded if they had central sleep apnea syndrome, periodic limb movement disorder, narcolepsy or REM sleep behavior disorder. Foreign patients were also excluded. First of all, we studied the clinical features of the subjects. Secondly, we compared sleep-related parameters of the study subjects with those of age/sex-matched normal values. Thirdly, correlations of respiratory disturbance index (RDI) with each of the sleep-related parameters were calculated. Results: Among the 801 subjects, 668 were male subjects (83.4%) and 133 female subjects (16.4%). Their mean age was 46.6 years (${\pm}13.5$). The mean body mass index (BMI) was 25.8 (${\pm}3.8$) and subjects with BMI was over 28.0 accounted for 22.8% of the total. Fifty subjects (6.2%) were found to take benzodiazepines. Mean RDI and mean nocturnal oxygen saturation of all subjects was 31.2 (${\pm}24.4$) and 94.5% (${\pm}3.6$), respectively. In comparison with normal values, the subjects showed longer sleep latency, lower sleep efficiency, decreased total slow wave sleep % (TSWS %), and decreased total REM sleep % (TREM %)(p<0.01 in all). RDI had a negative correlation with each TSWS % and TREM % (p<0.01, p<0.01). However, RDI did not have significant correlation with either sleep latency or sleep efficiency. Conclusion: In this study, 6.2% of patients diagnosed as having obstructive sleep apnea syndrome were found to take benzodiazepines, although they are generally considered to be of litte benefit or even dangerous because of the respiratory suppressing effect. The proportion of obese subjects was only 22.8% and Korean patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome seem to be less obese than those described in foreign journals. This study also suggests that the severity of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome may have a more significant effect on sleep architecture defined as TSWS % and TREM % than on sleep efficiency.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.375-382
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• 2002

The purpose of this experiment was to examine influence of acute exercise on nocturnal sleep which had been disrupted by caffeine(400mg$\times$3) thought the daytime. Six healthy young males aged 21.0$\times$0.2 yr with a history of low caffeine use. Subjects completed three conditions in a within-subject. At three conditions Sleep EEG were investigated: (1) nocturnal following quiet rest, (2) nocturnal sleep following the consumption of 1200mg of caffeine (3) nocturnal sleep following cycling at 60 min of 60% V $O_{2peak}$ with 1200mg of caffeine consumption. Sleep data were calculated for REM sleep, REM latency, sleep onset latency, sleep efficiency, sleep stages, SWS. Those data were analyzed using repeated-measures ANOVA of change scores. A main effect to, drug(caffeine) indicated that caffeine elicited sleep disturbance that is, TST and sleep onset latency increase and sleep efficiency and stage 4 decrease. The effects of exercise on sleep following caffeine intake generally improve sleep that is, stage 2, 3 and SWS increase and sleep onset latency decrease. A condition effect for sleep indicated sleep improvement after exercise Therefore The data supported a restorative theory of slow-wave sleep and suggest that acute exercise may be useful in promoting sleep and reducing sleep disturbance elevated by a high dose of caffeine.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.163-171
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• 1994

Objectives: Symptoms of sleep apnea consisted of insomnia, excessive sleepiness during daytime, impaired cognitive functions and emotional disturbances. It was not so well known how these symptoms are correlated with various parameters of sleep and respiration, and what kind of psychophysiological processes are involved in development of these symptoms. Methods: In sixty patients with sleep apnea, sleep and respiration were studied by polysomnography of one night, also symptoms of sleep apnea were evaluated with the scales of insomnia, daytime sleepiness, emotional disturbance and cognitive impairment We studied correlations between apnea symptoms, and various parameters of sleep and respiration such as sleep efficiency, number severity of apnea, $O_2$ desaturation and number of snoring. Results: The result showing significant correlations are as follows. The patients with better sleep in insomnia scale showed more number of apnea, particularly more central type, and much more snoring in stage 3 sleep and mild desaturation of $O_2$. Excessive sleepiness during daytime correlated significantly with stage 1 sleep and its snoring, but correlated negatively with stage 2 sleep. However, no significant correlation was found with degree of $O_2$ desaturation. Emotional disturbance was more apparent in the patients with severe $O_2$ desaturation and smaller amounts of stage 4 sleep. Cognitive function was more impaired in cases of more REM sleep and less apnea. Conclusions: Symptoms of sleep apnea may occur through different causes and processes. The evaluation of apnea symptoms may be helpful to understand in some degree the condition of sleep and respiration during sleep in clinical setting.

• Journal of Power System Engineering
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.29-34
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• 2007

Existent researches about indoor thermal environment have been focused on to seek human's comfort in daytime. Also researches about thermal comfort during the sleeping time that is important for resting and recharging to modern people have been seldom existed. At present, as global warming phenomenon is being continued, most people are going through inconvenience by sultriness during the sleeping hours in sweltering summer night. Therefore we need another control method of an air conditioner to keep human's thermal comfort. Ambient temperature is a common factor of the environment, but analysis of its effect on human body physiology is still unknown. The effect of ambient temperature on human sleep has been increasingly studied in the last decade. This research investigated about optimal indoor temperature to maintain proper skin temperature and comfortable sleep when indoor air is cooled by an air conditioner in sweltering summer night.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.21-27
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• 2010

Objectives: It is well established that primary insomnia affects the activity of autonomic nervous system. We tried to know how the activity of autonomic nervous system during night sleep changes by analyzing correlation between heart rate variability (HRV) index and the variables related with sleep structure in primary insomnia. Methods: Thirty three subjects (mean age: $36.2{\pm}14.2$ years, male:female=15:18) who were diagnosed with primary insomnia were selected for the study. Nocturnal polysomnography (NPSG) was carried out on each subject and correlation was analyzed between high frequency/low frequency ratio (LF/HF ratio), one of HRV indices and the variables related with sleep structure which were calculated from NPSG. Results: When age and sex were controlled, LF/HF ratio showed negative correlations with slow wave sleep and stage 2 sleep, respectively ($r_p$=-0.43, p=0.01; $r_p$=-0.37, p=0.04). On the other hands LF/HF ratio showed a positive correlation with arousal index ($r_p$=0.65, p<0.001). The activity of autonomic nervous system responded differentially depending on the change of sleep structure in primary insomnia. Especially the increase of arousal index and the decrease of slow wave sleep and stage 2 sleep which are the components of non-REM sleep provoked hyperactivity of sympathetic nervous system. Conclusion: This study suggests that the typical change of sleep structure in primary insomnia can negatively impact on cardiovascular system.

• Korean Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2006

This study was performed to evaluate sleep efficiencies and conditions for comfortable sleep based on the analysis of EEGs and MST under four thermals conditions. Five female subjects who have similar life cycle and sleep patterns were participated for the sleep experiment. Their age was from 20 to 22 years old. They were healthy, and had regular sleep with consistent bed and wakeup time. It was checked whether they had a good sleep before the night of experiment. Experiments were performed in an environmental chamber of $4.1\times4.9\times2.7m$ size. EEGs were obtained from C3-A2 and C4-Al electrode sites. Sleep stages were classified, then TST, SWS latency and SWS/TST were calculated for the evaluation for sleep efficiencies on thermal conditions. As results, it was concluded that indoor thermal environments of $24\~26^{\circ}C$ was the best for comfortable and deep sleep.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.13-22
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• 1995

To provide the physician with adequate information to diagnose and treat sleepwalking and sleep terrors, the author reviewed clinical features, epidemiology, causative and precipitating factors, polysomnography, diagnosis, differential diagnosis, and treatment for these disorders. Sleepwalking and sleep terrors have been defined as disorders of arousal that occur early in the night and have their onset during stage 3 or 4 sleep. In both disorders, patients are difficult to arouse, and complete amnesia or minimal recall of the episode is frequent. Genetic, developmental, and psychological factors have been identified as causes of both sleepwalking and sleep terrors. Sleepwalking and sleep terrors typically begin in childhood or early adolescence and are usually outgrown by the end of adolescence. When sleepwalking or sleep terrors have a post-pubertal onset or continue to adulthood, psychopathology is a more significant causative factors. The behavior that occur from deep slow-wave sleep can be painful or dangerous to the individual and/or disturbing to those close to that individual. The assessment of patients suspected of having these conditions requires a thorough medical and sleep history. The most important consideration in managing patients with sleepwalking or sleep terrors episodes is protection from injury.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.82-86
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• 2008

Objectives: Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) not only causes respiratory disturbances during sleep but also decreases the quality of nocturnal sleep through sleep fragmentation and sleep structure change. We aimed at comparing the changes in sleep fragmentation and structure between baseline (diagnostic) nocturnal polysomnography (NPSG) and nCPAP (nasal continuous positive airway pressure) titration trial. Methods: One hundred and three patients with a baseline night of respiratory disturbance index (RDI) of 5 or greater and reduced RDI score during nCPAP titration night were retrospectively selected for the study. Sleep fragementation and sleep structure between baseline NPSG and the NPSG during nCPAP titration were compared. Sleep fragmentation index (SFI) was defined as the total number of awakenings and shifts to stage 1 sleep divided by the total sleep time in hour. SFI and other polysomnographic parameters were statistically compared between the two nights. Results: SFI during baseline NPSG and nCPAP titration nights were $29.0{\pm}13.8$ and $15.2{\pm}8.8$, respectively, indicating a significant SFI decrease during nCPAP titration (t=9.7, p<0.01). SFI showed significant negative correlations with sleep efficiency (r=-0.60, p<0.01) and total sleep time (r=-0.45, p<0.01) and a positive correlation with RDI (r=0.28, p<0.01). Conclusion: Use of nCPAP, even during the titration, significantly decreases sleep fragmentation and improves sleep structure in OSAS patients. We suggest that SFI may be utilized as a measure of assessing OSAS severity and nCPAP efficacy.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.33-38
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• 2008

Introduction: It has been proposed that narcolepsy and REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD) have overlapped symptom profile and pathophysiology. This study was aimed at measuring and comparing changes in EEG frequency band of REM sleep in narcolepsy and RBD, applying EEG spectral analysis method. Methods: Nine patients diagnosed as narcolepsy and the same number of RBD patients were studied. Spectral analysis of the REM sleep EEG was performed in each patient on 9 epochs selected evenly from the first, second, and third REM periods. Then, we compared frequency band percentages of REM sleep EEG in narcolepsy and RBD. Results: Narcolepsy patients had significantly higher delta frequency ratio than RBD ones (p=0.00). In alpha and beta2 frequency bands, RBD patients showed higher percentage than narcolepsy ones. Slow wave sleep was more prevalent in narcolepsy patients. But, no difference of REM sleep percentage was found between the two groups (p=0.93). Conclusion: Higher delta frequency ratio in REM sleep of narcolepsy patients than RBD ones reflects that sleep-promoting mechanism is more dominant in narcolepsy than in RBD.