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PubMed2026

The feasibility and efficacy of weighted blankets as a sleep intervention for people with behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia: a pilot randomised crossover trial.

Sleep disturbances contribute to disease progression in dementia and result in reduced quality of life. Non-pharmacological interventions are recommended for the management of sleep and other behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD), although these interventions can be challenging to implement. This pilot study assessed the feasibility and efficacy of weighted blankets as a sleep intervention for people with BPSD in a neurobehavioural unit. Fourteen residents, serving as their own control, slept two weeks with a weighted blanket and two weeks with usual bedding in a crossover trial. The primary outcomes were sleep duration and efficiency, measured via a Withing's sleep analyser and sleep disordered behaviours, measured by the sleep disorder inventory (SDI). Secondary outcomes included responsive behaviours, measured by the Neuropsychiatric index (NPI), falls incidents, restrictive practice incidents and use of pro re nata psychotropic medications. Generalised Estimation Equation (GEE) method was used for analysis. There was no statistical evidence that weighted blankets improved sleep or behavioural outcomes for people with BPSD, however fewer fall incidents, wakings and restrictive practices were reported during weighted blanket use. Weighted blankets were considered feasible and acceptable with high recruitment rates, nil participant withdrawals and no adverse outcomes, however there was variable compliance to the intervention protocol and the Withings did not adequately measure sleep. Whilst there is insufficient effectiveness evidence for further trials, weighted blankets can be offered to people living with dementia as a low risk sleep intervention option, with the caveat that there is currently no effectiveness evidence.

Behavioural Symptoms↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Exposure to low-frequency electromagnetic fields and pregnancy outcome: a review of the literature with particular attention to exposure to video terminals].

Exposure to extremely low frequency electromagnetic field (EMF) is very common and concern about its harmful effects has been raised. Video display terminals (VDT) in the office are among the most important sources of exposure. Animal studies have shown adverse effects on reproduction, but the role of EMF in human reproduction is not clear. Twelve papers considering the effects of VDT and other EMF exposure on pregnancy outcome are reviewed. Concerning VDT exposure, the pooled OR for spontaneous abortion was 1.0 (95% Confidence Interval, CI, 0.9-1.0). There was no significative trend in risk with exposure intensity. No significative risk emerged for low birth weight nor for congenital malformations. Regarding other sources of EMF (electric blankets, heated waterbeds, ceiling cable electric heat and power lines), some studies have suggested that spontaneous abortion, growth retardation and congenital defects are more frequent during the coldest month of the year (when the exposure to these EMF would have been higher). However, data on the issue are scanty.

Animals↗

PubMed1978

Effects of high ambient temperature on sleep in young men.

Each of 10 normal subjects had 4 nights of laboratory-monitored sleep, consisting of adjustment, baseline, high blanket temperature (HBT), and recovery nights. EEG-EOG recordings were made on each night; rectal temperature, heart rate, body weight, and ambient temperatures were monitored throughout the last 2 nights. On the HBT night, subjects had less total sleep time, more frequent and longer awakenings, greater shifting among sleep stages, decreased amounts of stage 1 REM and stages 3 + 4, and delayed onset of deep sleep (stages 3 and 4). Body temperature was elevated to a relatively constant level of 37 degrees C on the HBT night, but gradually decreased from 36 degrees C to 34.5 degrees C across the recovery night. Heart rate decreased at a linear rate on both the HBT and recovery nights, but was 15 beats/min faster on the former. Subjects experienced liquid loss of 1.25 kg on the HBT night, but had a full recovery by the following evening.

Adult↗

PubMed1977

A simple device for reducing insensible water loss in low-birth-weight infants.

Insensible water loss (IWL) was measured in five premature infants, 1 to 4 days old, by multiple weighings on an electronic balance inside an incubator. The babies were studied naked before and after being covered with a transparent thermal blanket. The use of the thermal blanket produced a mean reduction of 70% in IWL and a net caloric saving of 27 kcal/kg/day. There was minimal interference with nursing care. The important caloric saving achieved from reduced vaporization of water and evaporative heat loss may be an important determinant of intact survival in the high-risk infant.

Bedding and Linens↗

PubMed1977

An anesthetized dog heatstroke model.

This study was undertaken to develop an anesthetized dog heatstroke model. Forty-six animals were anesthetized with pentobarbital sodium (25 mg/kg) intravenously, and maintained at an ambient temperature of (42-46 degrees C) with a water-heated blanket over 2.5-3.0 h until rectal temperatures rose to 43.0-44.5 degrees C. Animals then cooled passively until death occurred or until 18 h elapsed, and were prepared for autopsy. Liver, kidney, and brain temperature, mean weighted skin temperature, mean weighted surface heat loss, and metabolic rates were obtained. There were no significant differences between liver, kidney, brain, and rectal temperatures during the heating and cooling periods. Cardiac output rose to 127% of initial value, and dropped rapidly to zero at 43.4 degrees C rectal temperature. The rapid decline was accompanied by a doubling of heart rate and a rapid drop in blood pressure and respiratory rate. Cheyne-Stokes respiration and apnea preceded bradycardia followed by asystole or ventricular fibrillation. Certain serum constituents demonstrated modest elevations suggestive of widespread tissue damage. Autopsy did not reveal a clear pattern of heat injury, with the exception of consistent congestion of the major organs and karyorrhexis of lymphocytes. These data are in agreement with similar data from human heatstroke victims and other heatstroke modeling in dogs, and support the concept that the anesthetized dog can in many respects provide an adequate model for human heatstroke.

Anesthesia, Intravenous↗

PubMed1979

Resting oxygen consumption of premature infants covered with a plastic thermal blanket.

Premature infants in single-wall incubators covered with "thermal blankets" made of plastic packing material have large reductions in insensible water loss (IWL) compared with naked infants. We postulated that such reductions inevaporative heat loss would not result in decreases in caloric expenditure if body temperature were maintained by a servocontrolled heat source. Using an open-circuit technique, we measured oxygen consumption (VO2), carbon dioxide production (VCO2), heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR), and abdominal skin (Tabd), cheek, thigh, rectal, incubator air, wall, and room air temperatures in ten infants less than 37 weeks gestational age and from 2 to 24 days of age both naked and covered with a plastic thermal blanket. Tabd temperature was maintained between 36.2 and 36.8 C and rectal temperature between 36.8 and 37.2 C in each environment by manual or automatic servocontrol. A "resting state" was defined by using a combination of subjective and objective criteria. The mean values of VO2 during the "resting state" were 7.31 and 7.59 cc/kg of body weight per minute for naked and covered infants, respectively. There were no significant differences between mean values of VCO2, respiratory quotient, HR, RR, abdominal, cheek, thigh, or rectal temperatures in the two environments. Operant temperatures averaged 0.5 C lower when the infants were covered. These data support the hypothesis that decreases in insensible water loss do not necessarily imply reductions in caloric requirements in infants where Tabd is maintained by servocontrol.

Body Temperature Regulation↗

PubMed1979

[Does low-dosage heparin treatment require serial haematological controls? (author's transl)].

Blanket serial controls are not necessary in low-dosage heparin treatment. It would, in any case, be difficult under normal clinical conditions and would run counter to the whole conception of low-dose heparin treatment. However, in problem cases with an increased thrombo-embolic risk, sensitive methods for monitoring the heparin effect are recommended. A study on 150 patients has indicated that the most sensitive method is the use of chromogenic substrates. Thrombin time, using low-concentration thrombin solution of 1.5 NIH units/ml, thrombelastogram and activated partial thromboplastin time are less sensitive. Antithrombin III levels should be determined in all cases of increased heparin tolerance. With reduced antithrombin III levels and higher body weight an increase of the standard dose from 5000 U.S.P. units heparin t. i. d. subcutaneously to 7500 U.S.P. units t. i. d. should be considered.

Antithrombins↗