Sleep disorders are common in Parkinson\'s disease (PD) and include alterations in sleep-related EEG oscillations.
This case-control study tested the hypothesis that patients with PD would have a lower density of Scalp-Slow Wave (SW) oscillations and higher slow-to-fast frequencies ratio in rapid eye movement (REM) sleep than non-PD controls. Other sleep-related quantitative EEG (qEEG) features were also examined, including SW morphology, sleep spindles, and Scalp-SW spindle phase-amplitude coupling.
Polysomnography (PSG)-derived sleep EEG was compared between PD participants (n = 56) and non-PD controls (n = 30). Following artifact rejection, sleep qEEG analysis was performed in frontal and central leads. Measures included SW density and morphological features of SW and sleep spindles, SW-spindle phase-amplitude coupling, and spectral power analysis in Non-REM (NREM) and REM. Differences in qEEG features between PD and non-PD controls were compared using two-tailed Welch\'s t-tests, and correction for multiple comparisons was performed per the Benjamini-Hochberg method.
SW density was lower in PD than in non-PD controls (F = 13.5, p\' = 0.003). The PD group also exhibited higher ratio of slow REM EEG frequencies (F = 4.23, p\' = 0.013), higher slow spindle peak frequency (F = 24.7, p\' < 0.002), and greater SW-spindle coupling angle distribution non-uniformity (strength) (F = 7.30, p\' = 0.034).
This study comprehensively evaluates sleep qEEG including SW-spindle phase amplitude coupling in PD compared to non-PD controls. These findings provide novel insights into how neurodegenerative disease disrupts electrophysiological sleep rhythms. Considering the role of sleep oscillatory activity on neural plasticity, future studies should investigate the influence of these qEEG markers on cognition in PD.

Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) is a very rare neurodegenerative disorder that usually presents as rapidly progressive dementia with an extremely poor prognosis. The diagnosis of CJD can be extremely challenging due to its rarity, manifestation with non-specific neurological symptoms, associated broad differentials, and a need for extensive workup. Awareness of disease-specific biomarkers, radiological signs, and diagnostic criteria are crucial for timely diagnosis. Here, we report a case of CJD, which presented as an atypical movement disorder that progressed to dementia and failure to thrive within a few weeks of presentation.

Background: Major depressive disorders are strongly correlated with alterations in sleep pattern and architecture, including changes in the Rapid Eye Movement (REM) phase. However, it is still unknown whether sleep alterations precede other depression-related symptoms, particularly in patients with recurrent depressive episodes at relapse risk. Case Presentation: We initiated a study aimed at examining the value of ambulatory sleep monitoring using a WatchPAT device, in predicting recurrence of Major depression. Depression was assessed monthly with the Beck Depression Inventory version II (BDI-II). Here we present the case of a 63 years old woman, with a history of recurrent depressive episodes. AT the time of recruitment, she was asymptomatic, she experienced recurrence of Major depression 3 months into the study. We observed a significant reduction of the Rem Latency parameters 5 weeks prior to BDI-II score increase, reflecting major depressive episode recurrence. Conclusion: Though our results are preliminary, they suggest that ambulatory sleep monitoring can be used as a simple and accessible tool, predicting recurrence of Major Depressive episodes in patients at high risk, thus enabling early treatment intervention.

BACKGROUND: Patients with sleep-related painful erections (SRPEs) have deep penile pain during nocturnal erection that wakes them up and disturbs their nights of sleep. This rare parasomnia is poorly recognized by general practitioners and by urologists and sexologists.
OBJECTIVE: To gain more insight into diagnostics and therapeutic options.
METHODS: Data from a series of 24 consecutive patients who presented with SRPEs at the outpatient clinic from 1996 to 2015 were retrospectively analyzed. Additional questionnaires were completed to complement data and to obtain information about follow-up. Long-term treatment efficacy of baclofen was assessed using the Wilcoxon signed rank test.
RESULTS: SRPEs were not associated with urologic, surgical, or psychiatric history or with serum testosterone levels. The mean doctors\' delay was 3.5 years. 14 of the 24 patients were treated with baclofen (10-75 mg). In 11 of them, complete remission was observed within a few weeks. 2 of the 3 remaining patients noticed a slight improvement of SPRE symptoms and only 1 patient experienced no effect at all. After an average follow-up of 4.5 years, only 41.6% of patients who had used baclofen were satisfied with their SRPEs. The others (58.4%) were dissatisfied, mostly owing to relapse of symptoms after the discontinuation of baclofen. Other treatment forms were applied sporadically, with strongly varying results.
CONCLUSIONS: This overview of SRPE contributes to a better clinical understanding and recognition of the phenomenon and provides new, more constructed advice about therapeutic implications, especially concerning the use of baclofen.
UNASSIGNED: This study provides a systematic overview of a relatively large series of patients with SRPE, which provides substantiated treatment advice. However, treatment efficacy was based mainly on the patients\' subjective perception and it was not possible to compare the results of baclofen with other forms of pharmacologic treatment, because these alternative drugs were applied only sporadically. Nevertheless, this study is directional for future research.
CONCLUSIONS: This study confirmed a long doctors\' delay in patients with SRPE. There was no association between SRPEs and comorbidity and total serum testosterone levels. Treatment with baclofen proved successful and safe in the short term. Long-term feasibility needs further investigation. Vreugdenhil S, Weidenaar AC, de Jong IJ, van Driel MF. Sleep-Related Painful Erections-A Case Series of 24 Patients Regarding Diagnostics and Treatment Options. Sex Med 2017;5:e237-e243.

OBJECTIVE: To study sleep aspects and parameters in cirrhotic patients and assess the role of liver dysfunction severity in polysomnographic results.
METHODS: This was a case-control study. Patients with a diagnosis of liver cirrhosis were consecutively enrolled in the study. Clinical examinations and laboratory liver tests were performed in all patients, and disease severity was assessed using the Child-Pugh score. The control group consisted of age- and gender-matched healthy volunteers. All individuals answered a questionnaire about habits, behaviors, and complaints related to sleep and were submitted to polysomnography. Sleep parameters were compared between the two groups, and separate analyses were performed among classes of Child-Pugh classification in the cirrhotic group.
RESULTS: Forty-two cirrhotic patients and forty-two controls were enrolled. Compared to the control group, the cirrhotic group exhibited lower sleep efficiency (mean ± SD: 73.89% ± 14.99% vs 84.43% ± 8.55%, P < 0.01), increased latency (151.27 ± 93.24 min vs 90.62 ± 54.74 min, P < 0.01) and a lower percentage of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep (14.04% ± 5.64% vs 20.71% ± 6.77%, P < 0.05) as well as a higher frequency of periodic limb movements (10.56 ± 2.85/h vs 2.79 ± 0.61/h, P < 0.01). The comparison of sleep parameters among Child A, B and C cirrhotic patients revealed a significant reduction of REM sleep stage occurrence in individuals with severe liver disease (Child C patients) compared to Child A/B patients (polysomnography percentage of REM sleep stage of patients Child A: 16.1% ± 1.2%; Child B: 14.9% ± 1.2%; Child C: 8.6% ± 1.6%, P < 0.05).
CONCLUSIONS: Cirrhosis was associated with shorter sleep time, reduced sleep efficiency, increased sleep latency, increased REM latency and reduced REM sleep. Additionally, disease severity influences sleep parameters.