Impact of antenatal glucocorticoid therapy and risk of preterm delivery on intelligence in term-born children
Context: Women at risk of preterm delivery are routinely treated with synthetic glucocorticoids (sGCs). Although this therapy substantially reduces neonatal morbidity, concerns remain whether sGC excess may disrupt neurodevelopmental trajectories underlying cognitive functioning. Objective: The present study is the first to disentangle direct effects of antenatal sGC treatment on possible long-term cognitive disadvantages from those of pregnancy complications and prematurity. Design, Setting, and Participants: This cross-sectional study included a mixed-sex cohort of 222 term-born children (aged 6–11 years) consisting of three groups: children of mothers admitted to hospital for threatening…
The effects of post-awakening light exposure on the cortisol awakening response in healthy male individuals.
Abstract Background It is assumed that the expression of the cortisol awakening response (CAR) is modulated by light exposure during the peri-awakening period. While initial evidence supports this principal effect, the specific role of the spectral composition of light (brightness and wavelength) is still incompletely understood. Method Two counterbalanced within-subject experiments were conducted in a standardized sleep laboratory setting to investigate the effect of light intensity (study I; two days: dim vs. bright light) and spectral composition (study II; three days: red vs. blue vs. green light) on the CAR. Across studies, light exposure was conducted for one-hour post-awakening and t…
Morning and evening type: The cortisol awakening response in a sleep laboratory.
Abstract Background Earlier evidence indicated an association between chronotype and the cortisol awakening response (CAR). However, these earlier data were collected without objective control for participant compliance being available, which, following recent guidelines, is considered critical for ensuring data validity. Here, we are seeking to replicate these earlier findings within a well-controlled sleep laboratory set up. Methods The sample consisted of 103 young males, including 12 participants defined as ‘evening’ (MEQ 59) types. All participants slept for one night in a sleep laboratory and were wakened at 6:30 AM the next morning. Saliva samples for the assessment of the CAR were…