Benjamin Wiegand

Barrier Function and Water-Holding and Transport Properties of Infant Stratum Corneum Are Different from Adult and Continue to Develop through the First Year of Life

Skin water barrier development begins in utero and is believed to be complete by week 34 of gestational age. The goal of this investigation was to assess the dynamic transport and distribution of water of the stratum corneum of infants and compare it to those of adults. The interaction of water with the stratum corneum was assessed by measuring capacitance, transepidermal water loss (TEWL), rates of absorption-desorption as well as Raman spectra as a function of depth (a total of 124 infants (3-12 months) and 104 adults (14-73 years)). The results show that capacitance, TEWL, and absorption-desorption rates had larger values consistently for infant stratum corneum throughout the first year of life and showed greater variation than those of adults. The Raman spectra analyzed for water and for the components of natural moisturizing factor (NMF) showed the distribution of water to be higher and have a steeper gradient in infants than in adults; the concentration of NMF was significantly lower in infants. The results suggest that although the stratum corneum of infants may appear intact shortly after birth (<1 month), the way it stores and transports water becomes adult-like only after the first year of life.

Sleep and sleep ecology in the first 3 years: a web‐based study

This study was designed to provide data on sleep patterns during the first 3 years, based on a large US–Canada Internet sample, to assess the prevalence of parental interventions and related factors of infant sleep ecology and to evaluate the links between sleep ecology and sleep. Five thousand six parents completed a web‐based online questionnaire about their children, aged from birth to 36 months. The questionnaire included items pertaining to sleep patterns, sleep environment, sleep‐related parental interventions, sleep position, and demographic information. The results reflected clear sleep‐related developmental changes including a decrease in daytime sleep and total sleep time, as well as consolidation of sleep during the night, which was manifested in a decrease in night wakings and nocturnal wakefulness. Sleep ecology and parental behaviors significantly explained a portion of the variance in the child’s sleep patterns. Parental interventions that encourage independence and self‐soothing were associated with extended and more consolidated sleep, especially in comparison to more active interactions that were associated with shorter and more fragmented sleep. These findings provide parents and professionals reference data for assessing sleep in young children. Furthermore, the results provide information on specific ecological factors that are associated with increased risk for sleep problems.

Cross-cultural differences in infant and toddler sleep

BACKGROUND To characterize cross-cultural sleep patterns and sleep problems in a large sample of children ages birth to 36 months in multiple predominantly-Asian (P-A) and predominantly-Caucasian (P-C) countries. METHODS Parents of 29,287 infants and toddlers (predominantly-Asian countries/regions: China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Korea, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam; predominantly-Caucasian countries: Australia, Canada, New Zealand, United Kingdom, United States) completed an internet-based expanded version of the Brief Infant Sleep Questionnaire. RESULTS Overall, children from P-A countries had significantly later bedtimes, shorter total sleep times, increased parental perception of sleep problems, and were more likely to both bed-share and room-share than children from P-C countries, p<.001. Bedtimes ranged from 19:27 (New Zealand) to 22:17 (Hong Kong) and total sleep time from 11.6 (Japan) to 13.3 (New Zealand) hours, p<.0001. There were limited differences in daytime sleep. Bed-sharing with parents ranged from 5.8% in New Zealand to 83.2% in Vietnam. There was also a wide range in the percentage of parents who perceived that their child had a sleep problem (11% in Thailand to 76% in China). CONCLUSIONS Overall, children from predominantly-Asian countries had significantly later bedtimes, shorter total sleep times, increased parental perception of sleep problems, and were more likely to room-share than children from predominantly-Caucasian countries/regions. These results indicate substantial differences in sleep patterns in young children across culturally diverse countries/regions. Further studies are needed to understand the basis for and impact of these interesting differences.

Impact of a group mind/body intervention on pregnancy rates in IVF patients

OBJECTIVE To determine if women who were randomized to a mind/body program before starting their first IVF cycle would have higher pregnancy rates than control subjects. DESIGN Randomized, controlled, prospective study. SETTING Private academically affiliated infertility center. PATIENT(S) A total of 143 women aged≤40 years who were about to begin their first IVF cycle. INTERVENTION(S) Subjects were randomized to a ten-session mind/body program (MB) or a control group and followed for two IVF cycles. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S) Clinical pregnancy rate. RESULT(S) Only 9% of the MB participants had attended at least one-half of their sessions at cycle 1 start. Pregnancy rates for cycle 1 were 43% for all subjects; 76% of the MB subjects had attended at least one-half of their sessions at cycle 2 start. Pregnancy rates for cycle 2 were 52% for MB and 20% for control. CONCLUSION(S) MB participation was associated with increased pregnancy rates for cycle 2, prior to which most subjects had attended at least half of their sessions.

Efficacy of a comprehensive program for reducing stress in women: A prospective, randomized trial

Abstract Objective: This study evaluated the efficacy of a comprehensive stress management program in reducing perceived stress among women who reported moderate-to-high stress levels. Methods: A total of 562 highly motivated females, aged 25–45, with moderate to high stress levels, were enrolled in a 14-week study. Participants were randomized into one of three groups: Group 1 included Internet-based coaching focusing on behavior modification, daily use of proprietary olfactive-based personal care products, and periodic feedback reports; Group 2 consisted of only online coaching; and Group 3 had no active stress management program. Participants in the three groups filled out validated psychometric assessments at baseline and throughout the study period. Several outcomes including Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), Profile of Mood States (POMS), St Mary’s Hospital Sleep Questionnaire (SMS), the Trier Inventory of Chronic Stress (TICS), Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), Short-Form-36 (SF-36) and the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment (WPAI), were measured periodically to assess changes in subject-perceived stress, stress-related comorbidities, and sleep quality and to evaluate overall program efficacy. Ethical approval of protocols was conducted by the Allendale Investigational Review Board (AIRB). Voluntary informed consent was obtained from each subject. Results: At the end of the 14-week study period, subjects in Group 1 had statistically significant improvement in the PSS score vs. Group 3 (p < 0.01). There were statistically significant improvements in other efficacy outcomes such as POMS total mood disturbance, TICS work overload and social responsibility subscales, STAI and in the number of night awakenings, assessed by the SMS questionnaire (p < 0.05). Self-reported program efficacy was also significantly higher for Group 1 (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Despite study limitations, including reduction of stress in Group 3, this study demonstrates that this comprehensive stress management program is effective in reducing stress among women with moderate to high stress levels.