A swine flu vaccine is in the hot seat for reportedly rendering some rare and dangerous sleep disorder. Pandermix from GlaxoSmithKline is now undergoing testing by the European Medicines Agency after cases of narcolepsy came up.

Pandermix was used in the UK sometime last year to address the H1N1 epidemic that came out last year. The cases of narcolepsy, in which a person to fall asleep suddenly and unexpectedly, have been reported largely in Sweden and Finland.

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On a scientific note, the trigger behind the dreaded Narcolepsy has been discovered by some Swiss scientists. Apparently it was all traced to the protein called Trib2, something that is produced by neurones that also secrete the substance which helps keeps people awake.

The researcher team concluded that narcolepsy was the result of an attack by the body’s own immune system, after they found high levels of Trib2 antibodies amongst a sample of 120 narcoleptic patients. The antibodies end up destroying the hypocretic neurones.

(Source) AFP

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Sleepwalking is normally expected from adults but for a 3 year old? Well she is from Britain and she has been the subject of a documentary. This sleepwalking problem has been plaguing the family for 2 years and Jess has been living a practical double life. During the day she is like any jolly little girl but at night she goes into a trance acting out elaborate scenes and is unable or unwilling to communicate.

No one knows if she’s awake or asleep. And while these things may seem fascinating, her health is at risk. Sleep is still essential for brain development and of course her young age. To this day, there has been no cure and the specialists seem to be left speechless.

(Source) Mirror

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For sure some of us have had some episodes on wanting to get up from bed but fail to do so? Why is that? Some say it is the inability to move certain parts of the body which many relate to sleep paralysis. Apparently some people have had their experiences and if you want a scientific explanation from it, you may want to associate it with Rapid Eye Movement (REM). REM sleep intrudes into wakefulness, so if you don’t immediately click out of REM sleep and wake up, then you may continue to have this paralysis.

Hence it would be best to get some special help regarding this condition. Apparently you will be frightened about being temporarily paralyzed. There are explanations but to remedy it, sleep experts are the best people to teach you how.

(Source) Stuff

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We see some people who suddenly get sleepy even if they have claimed that they have had a good night’s sleep. While this may be debatable, assuming that his claims are true, one has to wonder why a person would still be sleepy despite a full sleep taken.

But thanks to some researchers in Japan, it has been discovered that Narcolepsy and genes known as singe nucleotide polymorphisms or SNP. SNP is a DNA sequence variation between members of a species.

During the research, researchers discovered a genetically mutated fragment of chromosome 22 which increased subjects’ vulnerability to the disease by 1.8 times. Researchers also discovered that the mutation causes a malfunction of the gene CPT1B, which is linked to sleep. Researchers also found that a link between the genetic mutation and narcolepsy was also found in South Koreans.

(Source) Top News

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Raising one child is one thing but to take care of 6 is another. We are all aware that new mothers have that problem with adjusting to their new sleeping habits so you can just imagine how it would be like to take care of 6 babies, which includes twins, at night.

No other than sensational actress Angelina Jolie can attest to the fact that she is suffering from sleep deprivation but you will not hear her complaining. Something that is perhaps least expected from a hyperactive and on the go celebrity seems to be setting its toll as reported by one UK tabloid on the Lara Croft star.

“She’s in tears up to three times a day and so tired that Brad’s found her collapsed asleep in the bath twice, the UK gossip magazine Now reports, citing a source.

“She’s been working around the clock, breast-feeding the babies and trying to get them to sleep. But as soon as one of them drops off, the other wakes up for another feed.

“She’s also not eating very much right now and blames that on being busy. The doctor says that she needs more calories to gain strength and ensure that her breast milk is healthy.”

(Source) The Improper

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Apparently, some scientists from Wake Forest University have been able to determine another area of sleep deprivation. This largely deals with the brain secretions called Orexin-A. Whenever we are asleep, it usually follows that there are certain internal human body processes that occur and from the looks of it, this identified secretion of hypocretin-1 may yet help solve the growing issue of sleep deprivation and narcolepsy.

(Source) Orexin-A, also known as hypocretin-1, is a naturally occurring peptide produced in the brain that regulates sleep. It’s secreted by a small number of neurons but affects many brain regions during the day and people who have normal amounts of orexin-A are able to maintain wakefulness. When people or animals are sleep-deprived, the brain attempts to produce more orexin-A, but often without enough success to achieve alertness past the normal day-night cycle.

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At least this is what the sleeping drug is showing as far as progress for Vanda Pharmaceuticals is concerned.

Vanda Pharmaceuticals Inc. will continue human testing of its experimental treatment for a sleep disorder, even though the drug showed little difference from a placebo in a recent study.

Vanda, based in Rockville, said late Tuesday that VSF-173, its treatment candidate for excessive sleepiness related to conditions including narcolepsy and sleep apnea, had failed to meet its primary goal in a Phase II trial.

Read more: Vanda’s sleep drug suffers setback

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Provigil has been found to be harmful rather than helpful for sleep deprived patients. Serious skin problems and psychiatric issues have been found to suffice.

A warning is being added to Cephalon Inc’s (CEPH.O: Quote, Profile, Research) drug Provigil for excessive sleepiness because of the risk of serious skin rash and psychiatric symptoms, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said on Wednesday.

Provigil is used to treat adults with narcolepsy and obstructive sleep apnea who have difficulty staying awake. Provigil is one of Cephalon’s biggest-selling products with global sales of $415 million in the first half of 2007.

Read more: FDA adds warning to Cephalon’s Provigil sleep drug

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Ordinarily, people who tend to fall asleep during the day would be immediately associated with Narcolepsy. But wait, there is more to this than the usual sleep disorder we might deem it to be. Body framework such as our spine may also have something to do with the whole issue as discovered by a study on the low levels of cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) for some people today.

People suffering from this illness called cataplexy are more likely to have issues with regards for people who can control on their ability to stay awake and sleep as well.

The study can be viewed in full here – Spinal Fluid Holds Clues to Rare Sleep Disorder

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Getting enough sleep is something that will always vary, especially dependent on the person seeking quality rest at most times. Some say the recommended sleeping time is 8 hours. Some would say it would be 6 hours. Between the two, the longer hour of sleep which is 8 hours is of course the more desired. Sleeping at 6 hours is perhaps something that would best fit people who are always in a hurry, with special mention to working professionals who are always on the go.

Realistically though, taking sleep for granted may come back at some point later on in the life of a person and collect its dues. Health is still a concern to be considered. It is not all about eating the right food and taking in vitamins and health supplements. The natural way of living and resting the human body is still the best way to keep a healthy body.

Thus, it all boils down on how long a person would sleep. It is indeed a fact that most people must always be on the go. But making wise career moves also has to consider making wise health moves as well. Ignore one and the whole purpose is defeated.

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The picture of a person or animal suffering from narcolepsy is not at all comforting. People who want to stay awake yet are deprived to do so find themselves sleeping at the most inappropriate moment. Just take a look at this poodle who is suffering from this dreaded narcolepsy syndrome.

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