Elevation of Salivary Melatonin Levels by Viewing a Humorous Film in Patients with Atopic Eczema

Introduction

Patients with atopic eczema (AE) frequently suffer from sleep disturbance generated by itching and/or mental stress [1]. Although melatonin is involved in sleep, only one study has reported about reduction of plasma melatonin levels in adults with AE [2]. However, there were no reports on melatonin regulation in children with AE.

Melatonin production is reduced by stress, while IFN-γ increases melatonin production [3] [4]. In AE patients, IFN-γ production was low compared to those in healthy subjects. Stress further decreased the IFN-γ production, while viewing humorous film counteracted stress-induced decrease in IFN-γ production [5] [6]. It was reported that salivary melatonin levels were correlated with plasma melatonin levels [7]. Therefore, we studied the effect of viewing humorous film on salivary melatonin and IFN-γ levels, and sleep disturbance in children with AE.

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