BackgroundRecent research has found evidence of an association between motor vehicle accidents (MVAs) or near miss accidents (NMAs), and excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) or its main medical cause, Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). However, EDS can also be due to non-medical factors, such as sleep debt (SD), which is common among professional truck drivers. On the opposite side, rest breaks and naps are known to protect against accidents.Study ObjectivesTo investigate the association of OSA, SD, EDS, rest breaks and naps, with the occurrence of MVAs and NMAs in a large sample of truck drivers.Methods949 male truck drivers took part in a cross-sectional medical examination and were asked to complete a questionnaire about sleep and waking habits, risk factors for OSA and EDS.ResultsMVAs and NMAs were reported by 34.8% and 9.2% of participants, respectively. MVAs were significantly predicted by OSA (OR = 2.32 CI95% = 1.68–3.20), SD (OR = 1.45 CI95% = 1.29–1.63), EDS (OR = 1.73 CI95% = 1.15–2.61) and prevented by naps (OR = 0.59 CI95% = 0.44–0.79) or rest breaks (OR = 0.63 CI95% = 0.45–0.89). NMAs were significantly predicted by OSA (OR = 2.39 CI95% = 1.47–3.87) and SD (OR = 1.49 CI95% = 1.27–1.76) and prevented by naps (OR = 0.52 CI95% = 0.32–0.85) or rest breaks (OR = 0.49 CI95% = 0.29–0.82).ConclusionsWhen OSA, SD or EDS are present, the risk of MVAs or NMAs in truck drivers is severely increased. Taking a rest break or a nap appear to be protective against accidents.

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In children with achondroplasia, the cortical component of PTN-SEPs is more sensitive than the cortical component and central conduction time of MN-SEPs in detection of cervical spinal cord compression at early ages.

Headache is one of the most common health complaints in children and adolescents. The initial assessment of acute headache aims to recognize whether there is a secondary cause for headache. According to the literature, the secondary headaches due to non-life-threatening diseases are the most frequent ones in pediatrics. In particular, respiratory tract infections and minor head trauma represent the majority. In a small minority of patients, headache is secondary to serious life-threatening intracranial disorders. Meningitis is the most common cause of headache due to serious neurological condition. These patients do not constitute a diagnostic problem, as they usually have clear systemic and neurological signs of intracranial hypertension. Recent onset of headache attacks, occipital location of pain, patient's inability to describe headache characteristics seem frequently recur, together with neurological signs, in intracranial life-threatening conditions.