Efficacy Assessment of Probiotics in Improving Sleep Indices

The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) is a self-rated inventory that assesses sleep quality over the past 1-month. The measure consists of 19 individual items, creating 7 components that produce one global score. It takes 5-10 minutes to complete.The maximum global score is 21. A higher score reflects more poor sleep quality.

The Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) is designed as a brief screening tool for insomnia. The seven-item questionnaire asks respondents to rate the nature and symptoms of their sleep problems using a 5-Likert scale. Responses can range from 0 to 4, where higher scores indicate more acute symptoms of insomnia.The maximum total score is 28.

The Beck Depression Inventory-Second Edition (BDI-II) is a 21-item, self-rated inventory that evaluates key symptoms of depression. It rated on a 4-point scale ranging from 0 to 3 based on severity of each item. The maximum total score is 63. A higher score reflects greater symptoms of depression.

The Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) is a 21-item, self-rated inventory that evaluates anxiety levels. It rated on a scale from 0 to 3. Each item is descriptive of subjective, somatic, or panic-related anxious symptoms.The maximum total score is 63. A higher score reflects greater symptoms of anxiety.

Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) consists of a line, 10 cm in length. Individuals point to or mark a spot on the line where they feel indicates their current their emotion, fatigue level and sleep quality. The score of emotion level is from 0cm (very nervous) to 10 cm (very relaxing). The score of fatigue level is from 0 cm (very energetic) to 10 cm (very sleepy). The score of sleep quality is from 0 cm (poor) to 10 cm (sleep well). The maximum total score is 100% (equal 10cm).

The Epworth Sleepiness Scale is widely used in the field of sleep medicine as a subjective measure of sleepiness. It is a list of eight situations in which you rate your tendency to become sleepy. Each item is rated on the scale from 0, no chance of dozing, to 3, high chance of dozing.

The Stanford Sleepiness Scale (SSS) is a 7-point Likert inventory to evaluate a respondent's sleepiness at the time when it is completed.

Visual Analogue Scale for GI symptoms, VAS-GI (visual analogue scale, VAS 0-10) was designed to measure the response of symptoms and well-being in respondents before and after taking PS150 or Placebo.

pg/ml of melatonin in saliva measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Cortisol is a steroid hormone that is produced by the adrenal glands which sit on top of each kidney. When released into the bloodstream, cortisol can act on many different parts of the body and can help:

body respond to stress or danger increase your body's metabolism of glucose control your blood pressure reduce inflammation. Cortisol is also needed for the fight or flight response which is a healthy, natural response to perceived threats. The amount of cortisol produced is highly regulated by your body to ensure the balance is correct.

Unstimulated saliva (2 mL) were obtained after oral rinse with room-temperature water. It was be stored in sterile collection tubes that were labeled at - 80°C. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays were used to quantify IL-6 amount (ng/mL).

Unstimulated saliva (2 mL) were obtained after oral rinse with room-temperature water. It was be stored in sterile collection tubes that were labeled at - 80°C. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays were used to quantify TAC amount (nmol/mL).

Unstimulated saliva (2 mL) were obtained after oral rinse with room-temperature water. It was be stored in sterile collection tubes that were labeled at - 80°C. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays were used to quantify serotonin amount (ng/mL).

Unstimulated saliva (2 mL) were obtained after oral rinse with room-temperature water. It was be stored in sterile collection tubes that were labeled at - 80°C. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays were used to quantify GABA amount (pg/mL).

Unstimulated saliva (2 mL) were obtained after oral rinse with room-temperature water. It was be stored in sterile collection tubes that were labeled at - 80°C. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays were used to quantify Orexin amount.

In order to determine the levels of 6-sulphatoxymelatonin from patients in the experimental and control groups, urine samples will be taken between between 21:00 to 23:00 at night. A urine sample will be taken into a sample container containing 10-15 ml of 6 M hydrochloric acid (HCl) and stored at -80 degrees for analysis in the biochemistry laboratory.

In order to determine the levels of norepinephrine from patients in the experimental and control groups, urine samples will be taken between between 21:00 to 23:00 at night. A urine sample will be taken into a sample container containing 10-15 ml of 6 M hydrochloric acid (HCl) and stored at -80 degrees for analysis in the biochemistry laboratory.

Actigraph will be placed on the non-dominant wrist and activities will be monitored continuously and recorded at one minute intervals during wakefulness and sleep.

The times of wakefulness and sleep will be determined individually through a diary kept by the participants, together with the times calculated by the actigraph monitor.

The participants will keep the device for a period of 7 days before and the last 7-day of training session. The device will be removed only at bath time and replaced to the wrist immediately after.

The sleep diary is a daily self-reported 12-item form within 30 minutes after wake up. It assesses respondent's time taken to fall asleep (sleep onset latency), wake after sleep onset, total sleep, total time in bed, and sleep efficiency, etc.