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Background: The number of prehypertension patients will always be higher than hypertension patients; this is supported by the prevalence of prehypertension being 48.40% according to JNC 7, and hypertension being 34.10% according to Basic Health Research in 2018. Coffee consumption and sleep quality were risk factors that are closely related to the lifestyle of students, this is also reinforced by the number of 24-hour coffee outlets that are open around Universitas Airlangga. Purpose: This aim of this study is to analyze the relationship between coffee consumption and sleep quality on the incidence of prehypertension in final year Universitas Airlangga students. Methods: This type of research is a quantitative study with a cross-sectional study design and uses the Chi-square test. The samples consisted of 146 people, which were taken using a simple random sampling method. Data collection was carried out through an online questionnaire. This study involved coffee consumption and sleep quality as independent variables and the incidence of prehypertension in final year Universitas Airlangga students as the dependent variable. Results: There is a correlation between coffee consumption (p=0.00) and sleep quality (p=0.01) with prehypertension in final year Universitas Airlangga students. Coffee consumption has a 2,47 times greater risk and sleep quality has a 2,09 times greater risk of prehypertension in final year Universitas Airlangga students. Conclusion: Poor coffee consumption and sleep quality are related with prehypertension in final year Universitas Airlangga students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction The World Health Organization (WHO) defines probiotics as "live microorganisms that, when administered in adequate amounts, confer health benefits to the host." A number of scientific reports show that their effects extend beyond the immune and gastrointestinal systems, and that poor sleep quality and insomnia are an increasingly important social problem. Studies indicate that 30-50% of adults experience sleep problems. Sleep deficiencies are associated with higher rates of obesity, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, mental health disorders and increased risk of death. One promising way to help treat sleep problems is through the use of probiotics. Interaction through the gut-brain axis suggests that altering the gut microbiota may become a useful tool for improving sleep quality. Aim of the study The purpose of this study was to investigate the potential effectiveness of probiotics in improving sleep quality and treating insomnia. Materials and Methodology PubMed and Google Scholar databases were analyzed. Articles were searched in English using the following keywords: probiotics; sleep quality. Results Probiotics resulted in a favorable cumulative effect on sleep quality as measured by the PSQI global questionnaire and a statistically significant positive effect on at least one of the components characterizing sleep quality (i.e., sleep latency, sleep length, sleep disturbance, daytime sleepiness). They allow to maintain a high percentage of slow-wave sleep, despite stressors, and indirectly affect sleep quality in athletes by reducing muscle soreness. Conclusion The results of studies to date indicate that probiotics are an effective, safe and clinically sound adjunctive method for improving sleep quality and treating insomnia. However, these studies are at an early stage and require further efforts using larger research groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has affected human beings worldwide. After recovery from the disease, the pulmonary function and physiological characteristics of COVID-19 patients are not well documented. The current study aims to assess post-COVID-19 lung function, anxiety, depression, and sleep quality within three months after recovery from the disease. Materials and Methods: Ninety-seven patients (21 outpatients and 76 inpatients) with COVID-19 were followed three months after recovery. They were divided into two groups according to the severity of the disease. The spirometric parameters included FEV1, FVC, and FEV1/FVC. A 6-minute walk test (6-MWT) was recorded. Besides, sleep quality using Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and mood status in two dimensions of anxiety and depression using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) were compared between the groups. Results: More than 70% of the studied population presented at least one of the COVID-19 infection-related symptoms within three months after recovery. spirometric measurements revealed non-significant differences between the patients with severe versus non-severe COVID-19 in terms of FVC (P=0.805), FEV1 (P=0.948), FEV1/FVC (P=0.616), and 6MWT (P=0.409). Based on PSQI, sleep quality was significantly associated with the severity of disease (P=0.031), but HADS assessments were not significant (P>0.05). Conclusion: This study demonstrated that a significant proportion of COVID-19 patients have corona symptoms and abnormal pulmonary function tests three months after recovery. Besides, sleep quality was considerably affected by the severity of the disease and was directly associated with the post-COVID-19 mood of the patients. It seems necessary to consider and control the long-term consequences of this infection regardless of the disease severity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction During the COVID-19 pandemic, health workers represented a group particularly vulnerable to work-related stress, but prevention and management of psychiatric symptoms are still under evaluation. Neurofeedback is a safe and non-invasive neuromodulation technique with the target of training participants in the self-regulation of neural substrates underlying specific psychiatric disorders. Protocols based on the increase of alpha frequencies, associated with the process of relaxation, are used for the treatment of stress, anxiety and sleep disturbances. Objectives The aim of the present study was to assess the effectiveness of an alpha-increase NF protocol for the treatment of stress in healthcare workers exposed to the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods Eighteen medical doctors belonging to the Sacco Hospital were recruited during the COVID-19 health emergency and underwent a 10 sessions NF alpha-increase protocol during two consecutive weeks. The level of stress was assessed at the beginning (T0) and at the end (T1) of the protocol through the following questionnaires: Severity of Acute Symptoms Stress (SASS), Copenhagen Burnout Inventory (CBI), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Brief-COPE. Statistical analyses were performed with Paired Samples t-Test for continuous variables, setting significance at p < 0.05. Results A significant increase in alpha waves mean values between T0 and T1 was observed. In addition, a significant reduction in the PSQI test score between T0 and T1 was observed. Conclusions Alpha-increase protocol showed promising results in terms of stress modulation, sleep quality improvement and safety profile in a pilot sample of health-care workers. Larger controlled studies are warranted to confirm present results.

Introduction: During the COVID-19 pandemic, health workers represented a group particularly vulnerable to work-related stress, but prevention and management of psychiatric symptoms are still under evaluation. Neurofeedback is a safe and noninvasive neuromodulation technique with the target of training participants in the self-regulation of neural substrates underlying specific psychiatric disorders. Protocols based on the increase of alpha frequencies, associated with the process of relaxation, are used for the treatment of stress, anxiety and sleep disturbances. Objectives: The aim of the present study was to assess the effectiveness of an alpha-increase NF protocol for the treatment of stress in healthcare workers exposed to the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Eighteen medical doctors belonging to the Sacco Hospital were recruited during the COVID-19 health emergency and underwent a 10 sessions NF alpha-increase protocol during two consecutive weeks. The level of stress was assessed at the beginning (T0) and at the end (T1) of the protocol through the following questionnaires: Severity of Acute Symptoms Stress (SASS), Copenhagen Burnout Inventory (CBI), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Brief-COPE. Statistical analyses were performed with Paired Samples t-Test for continuous variables, setting significance at p < 0.05. Results: A significant increase in alpha waves mean values between T0 and T1 was observed. In addition, a significant reduction in the PSQI test score between T0 and T1 was observed. Conclusions: Alpha-increase protocol showed promising results in terms of stress modulation, sleep quality improvement and safety profile in a pilot sample of health-care workers. Larger controlled studies are warranted to confirm present results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]