Chronobiology International最新文献

The exaggerated inflammatory response in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is under circadian rhythm control and peaks at night. We therefore hypothesized that intravenous infliximab would be more effective when administered before peak inflammatory response. This retrospective, proof-of-concept study assessed clinical (hospitalization/surgery) and biochemical (CRP, albumin) outcomes in 113 adult IBD patients who received inpatient infliximab, grouped into "late" (18:00 h-00:00 h) and "early" (12:00 h-18:00 h) administration. Demographics and disease characteristics were similar between groups. While the "late" group had only marginally higher 30 d surgery and readmission rates (9.38% versus 7.41% and 9.38% versus 8.64% respectively), the difference was more notable for women (15.38% versus 11.11% and 15.38% versus 8.33% respectively). "Early" had higher 72 h CRP response (83% versus 71%) and significant improvement in 40 d CRP compared to "late" (p = 0.0006). Albumin worsened in "late" versus "early" at 7 d (-17% versus +8%) but improved in both at 30 d (+16% versus +29%) compared to baseline. Therefore, "early" infliximab appears to be associated with 1) lower 30 d surgery/readmission rates, 2) higher 72 h CRP response, 3) improved 40 d CRP trend, and 4) favorable change in albumin at 7 d and 30 d compared to "late," suggesting that administration pre-peak inflammatory response (i.e. before 18:00 h) might enhance inflammatory control with improved outcomes.

There is a lack of research in the literature regarding the relationship between chronotype and autistic traits. This study aimed to examine the associations between chronotype, psychiatric symptoms, and autistic traits in children and adolescents diagnosed with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). A total of 97 children and adolescents with ADHD, aged between 8 and 17 years, were included in the study. Parents completed the Social Responsiveness Scale, Conners' Parent Rating Scale-Revised: Short Form, and the Childhood Chronotype Questionnaire. Children and adolescents completed the Revised Child Anxiety and Depression Scale - Child Version. No significant differences in chronotype preferences were found between groups with high and low levels of autistic traits. Chronotype was significantly and positively correlated with depressive symptoms, social phobia, separation anxiety, and ADHD subdimensions. In the hierarchical regression analysis, the third model, which included psychiatric symptoms and autistic traits, explained 26.2% of the variance in chronotype preferences. In this model, depressive symptoms and oppositional behaviors related to ADHD significantly predicted chronotype preferences. The current study may contribute to understanding the etiological mechanisms linking chronotype with psychopathology and may help improve the clinical management of children with ADHD.

Pterostilbene (PTE) has emerged as a metabolic regulator with anti-obesity properties. However, the precise mechanism underlying these anti-obesity effects remains unclear. Given that the circadian clock machinery controls various biological processes, including metabolism, it remains unclear whether PTE impedes obesity by influencing the circadian clock. In the current study, an obese mouse model was established using a high-fat diet induction method, and the obese mice were treated with PTE. PTE was found to effectively improve dysregulated blood glucose, insulin, and lipid levels in obese mice. Moreover, PTE treatment mitigated lipid accumulation in the liver and peritesticular fat tissues of obese mice. Notably, qPCR results revealed that the disrupted phasic expression of circadian clock genes in obese mice was efficiently rescued by PTE consumption. These observations suggest that PTE partially inhibits obesity by normalizing the circadian clock. Our findings suggest a possible mechanism for the anti-obesity effect of PTE, highlighting its potential as a therapeutic agent to combat obesity.

Wearable technology is widely applied to rehabilitative assessment and care for patients with stroke. However, there is little information available on circadian rest-activity rhythm (RAR) parameters estimated from the data of wearable devices. To clarify the characteristics of RAR patterns in chronic stroke and specify factors associated with clinical assessments. Participants were recruited from stroke patients admitted to the convalescent ward of Nakadori Rehabilitation Hospital and elderly community-dwellers living in Akita Prefecture, Japan. The participants were instructed to wear the Actiwatch Spectrum Plus on the wrist of the non-paralyzed upper limb in the patient group or on the wrist of the non-dominant hand in the control group for 7 consecutive days. The nonparametric RAR parameters were calculated using the data from wearable devices, consisting of interdaily stability (IS), intradaily variability (IV), and relative amplitude (RA). The functional independence measure (FIM), clinical dementia rating (CDR), and oral function and nutritional assessment were used to evaluate clinical status in the patient group. Fifty-four participants were included for analysis, divided into the control group (n = 27) and the patient group (n = 27). As a result of binomial regression analysis, patients with chronic stroke were significantly associated with the IS × 100 value (odds ratio [OR] = 0.63; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 0.42 to 0.95; p = 0.026), the IV × 100 value (OR = 1.04; 95% CI, 1.02 to 1.07; p = 0.001), and the RA × 100 value (OR = 0.88; 95% CI, 0.82 to 0.95; p < 0.001). Additionally, the IV value correlated with oral function and nutrition (r = -0.41, p < 0.05) within the patient group. Our results provide clinical characteristics of nonparametric RAR patterns in inpatients with chronic stroke. In light of the RAR characteristics in chronic stroke, oral function and nutritional status might have a potential impact on therapeutic interventions.

The objective of the current research was to examine the impact of 26 h of sustained wakefulness on endurance performance, cognitive abilities, and psychological state in young recreational runners. Thirteen male physical education students participated, in a randomized sequence, in two test sessions, following either a regular sleep night or complete sleep deprivation. During each session, participants took part in a 3-km running test on a 400-meter outdoor track. Cognitive assessments, including attention and reaction time tasks, as well as psychological evaluations (Feeling Scale and Hooper), were carried out before and after the run. Results indicated that sleep deprivation significantly increased the time to complete the 3-km run by 4.8% (p < 0.001). In addition, attention and reaction time were reduced by 14% (p < 0.001) and 15.3% (p < 0.05), respectively. Psychological measures also showed notable changes, with a 62.5% decrease in well-being (p < 0.01), a 31.5% increase in sleepiness (p < 0.001), a 16.5% rise in stress (p < 0.01), and a 12.7% increase in pain sensation (p < 0.05). In conclusion, 26 h of continuous wakefulness led to declines in attention, alertness, and psychological state, ultimately resulting in impaired 3-km running performance in young recreational runners.

Artificial light at night (ALAN) can disrupt daily rhythms of wildlife, yet little is known about its effects on African rodents. We investigated the diel activity rhythms of the Angoni vlei rat (Otomys angoniensis), a species with an inconclusive temporal niche. We exposed wild-caught vlei rats to three treatments: (1) standard laboratory light-dark cycle; (2) laboratory light-dark cycle with low-intensity ALAN (2 Lux); and (3) natural ambient light and temperature fluctuations. Activity was recorded via infrared sensors, and the activity rhythm was quantified using Cosinor analysis. Activity was predominantly nocturnal across all treatments. However, rhythm amplitude, MESOR and robustness were nearly three-times higher under natural conditions than in both laboratory treatments. ALAN did not significantly suppress activity, suggesting minimal masking effects (unlike strictly nocturnal animals) and possible flexibility in the temporal niche. In nature, O. angoniensis occupies dense grass habitats, and therefore, its predominantly nocturnal activity in captivity could be due to the lack of adequate cover during experiments. Moreover, the greater activity under natural conditions could be a consequence of brighter daytime light and natural temperature cycles. We suggest that although O. angoniensis displays nocturnal activity in the laboratory, it may be more diurnal in its natural habitat. Our findings demonstrate that the temporal activity of O. angoniensis is shaped by environmental context, with implications for contextualising circadian flexibility in species inhabiting human-altered landscapes.

Spaceflight presents a multitude of challenges that disrupt astronauts' circadian rhythms, frequently leading to disturbed sleep and impaired cognitive functioning. This systematic review, conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines, synthesizes findings from 65 studies (including 47 included in the quantitative synthesis) to examine the multifactorial causes and consequences of circadian and sleep disturbances in space environments. Environmental stressors such as microgravity, radiation, confined spaces, noise, and altered light-dark cycles are critically evaluated alongside biological mechanisms including metabolic alterations, reduced melatonin secretion, and dysregulation of key circadian clock genes (PER2, BMAL1). These disruptions contribute to sleep disorders such as insomnia, sleep fragmentation, and reduced sleep efficiency. The resulting sleep deficits are shown to negatively impact cognitive domains including attention, decision-making, memory, spatial awareness, and problem-solving. This review further highlights the need for effective, evidence-based countermeasures to mitigate sleep disturbances and preserve cognitive performance during long-duration missions.

Chrononutritional interventions, such as time-restricted feeding (TRF), have been extensively studied with an emphasis on metabolism. However, the evidence regarding the effects of TRF on sleep health remains fragmented and inconclusive. To add to the information in this area and given the potential connections between sleep and metabolic health and the diversity of TRF interventions, a meta-analysis of the effect of TRF on sleep will help to increase the level of evidence available on this topic. This meta-analysis presents the effects of TRF, including a specific type of TRF (Ramadan), on sleep, measured by subjective and objective methods. The review was conducted according to the PRISMA 2020 guidelines and registered in the PROSPERO database (CRD42020181264). The search was conducted in the databases MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, EMBASE, LILACS and Cochrane CENTRAL until March 2024. The article selection process was conducted in two stages: first, the titles and abstracts were screened, and then the full texts were analyzed. The outcomes evaluated were self-reported total sleep time (TST), subjective sleep quality measured by the global score on the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and objective TST measured by polysomnography or actimetry. The final sample included 51 articles from 17 countries, published between 2001 and 2023. The results showed that TRF decreased self-reported TST and impaired subjective sleep quality, as evidenced by an increase in the global score of the PSQI. Ramadan fasting significantly decreased TST and non-Ramadan TRF studies showed an overall increase in TST, suggesting that the timing and structure of dietary interventions play a crucial role in sleep health. Regarding PSQI, Ramadan fasting increased the global score, indicating poor subjective sleep quality. There was no statistically significant difference in the global PSQI score between the TRF and control groups in non-Ramadan fasting studies. Our results suggest that TRF has an effect on self-reported sleep duration and quality that depends on the type and duration of dietary restriction. Further randomized and controlled intervention studies are needed to better understand this relationship.

Subjective memory complaints (SMCs) are commonly observed among community-dwelling older adults. This study aimed to investigate the association of sleep and circadian rest-activity rhythm (RAR) in elderly individuals with coexisting frailty or pre-frailty alongside SMC. Participants aged 75 y and older were recruited from community settings in Akita Prefecture. Data collection was conducted between April 2023 and August 2025. RAR parameters were derived from wrist-worn Actiwatch Spectrum Plus devices, worn on the non-dominant wrist for 7 to 14 consecutive days. A total of 95 participants were included in the final analysis and categorized into four groups: robust (n = 36), SMC only (n = 28), SMC plus pre-frailty (n = 27), and SMC plus frailty (n = 4). Multiple logistic regression analyses were performed to examine associations between group status and clinical variables. In the final model, adjusted for age, gender, education, grip strength, Trail Making Test version A (TMT-A), and M10/100, the presence of SMC was significantly associated with higher scores on the Geriatric Depression Scale-15 (GDS-15) (odds ratio [OR] = 1.55; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.19-2.03; p = 0.001). Similarly, the SMC coexisting pre-frailty status was significantly associated with GDS-15 scores (OR = 1.73; 95% CI: 1.30-2.31; p = 0.0002), and a significant association was also observed with IV × 100 (OR = 1.04; 95% CI: 1.00-1.09; p = 0.044). The co-occurrence of SMC and pre-frailty appears to be associated with elevated depressive symptoms and fragmented RAR patterns in individuals aged 75 y and older. Further research is warranted to clarify the relationship between disrupted RAR and the combined presence of SMC and frailty.

Birds have a complex system of interacting central clocks, including SCN, pineal gland and retina. The pineal gland and retina possess the functions of sensing light, generating circadian oscillation, and secreting melatonin, making them crucial components for regulating circadian rhythms in birds. BMAL1 and CLOCK proteins form a heterodimer, playing a central role in regulating melatonin secretion and other downstream genes. However, the effect of monochromatic light on the expression of BMAL1 and CLOCK in the chick retina and melatonin, and whether the effect of monochromatic light on the retinal circadian clock depends on the regulation of the pineal gland have yet to be clarified. The present study raised newly hatched chicks under monochromatic white, red, green, and blue light for 14 days, with LD12:12 photoperiod, while the pinealectomy and sham operation were performed on the fourth day. ELISA, Western blot, immunohistochemistry, and immunofluorescence experiments were performed. The results showed that under different monochromatic lights, pinealectomy did not have any significant effect on the expression levels of BMAL1 and CLOCK proteins in the chick retina, neither altered the presence or absence of circadian rhythms of plasma melatonin, but significantly reduced the plasma melatonin levels. Monochromatic green light promotes the circadian expression of BMAL1 and the daily average expression level of CLOCK, as well as the secretion of melatonin. The BMAL1 and CLOCK proteins are mainly expressed in the photoreceptors of the retina. Therefore, chick retina is a circadian pacemaker that is relatively independent from the pineal gland, and monochromatic green light promotes the synthesis and secretion of melatonin by promoting the expression of the retinal BMAL1 and CLOCK in chicks.