The association between sleep pattern and nutrients intake pattern in healthy overweight and obese adults

Few studies have investigated the association between sleep pattern and nutrient intake pattern. This study was conducted to examine the associations between patterns of nutrient intake and sleep pattern. 108 overweight and obese individuals were recruited to participate in the present cross-sectional study. Participant underwent sleep evaluation through ActiGraph. A 3-day food dietary record was obtained to estimate food intake for each participant. The average of total sleep duration was 7.07 h, average of wake after sleep onset was 0.43 h, average of sleep latency was 0.14 h, and finally, average of sleep efficacy was 93.66%. Moreover, based on principal component analysis, six nutrient intake patterns were identified: the first and second patterns accounting for 53.88% of the total variance and the third and fourth patterns made up 13.6% of the total variance. Totally, the six patterns constitute 74.8% of the total variance. Our results showed that the second nutrient pattern had a negative correlation with total sleep time (P = 0.03); it was positively correlated with sleep latency (P = 0.004). The sixth nutrient pattern was negatively associated with total sleep time (P = 0.007). It was observed that higher intake of the fourth pattern had a negative correlation with total sleep time (P = 0.03). Higher intake of the fifth pattern was positively associated with sleep latency (P = 0.05). In summary, we found that nutrient patterns are correlated with sleep pattern.

     

Inbreeding depression is high in a self‐incompatible perennial herb population but absent in a self‐compatible population showing mixed mating

High inbreeding depression is thought to be one of the major factors preventing evolutionary transitions in hermaphroditic plants from self‐incompatibility (SI) and outcrossing toward self‐compatibility (SC) and selfing. However, when selfing does evolve, inbreeding depression can be quickly purged, allowing the evolution of complete self‐fertilization. In contrast, populations that show intermediate selfing rates (a mixed‐mating system) typically show levels of inbreeding depression similar to those in outcrossing species, suggesting that selection against inbreeding might be responsible for preventing the transition toward complete self‐fertilization. By implication, crosses among populations should reveal patterns of heterosis for mixed‐mating populations that are similar to those expected for outcrossing populations. Using hand‐pollination crosses, we compared levels of inbreeding depression and heterosis between populations of Linaria cavanillesii (Plantaginaceae), a perennial herb showing contrasting mating systems. The SI population showed high inbreeding depression, whereas the SC population displaying mixed mating showed no inbreeding depression. In contrast, we found that heterosis based on between‐population crosses was similar for SI and SC populations. Our results are consistent with the rapid purging of inbreeding depression in the derived SC population, despite the persistence of mixed mating. However, the maintenance of outcrossing after a transition to SC is inconsistent with the prediction that populations that have purged their inbreeding depression should evolve toward complete selfing, suggesting that the transition to SC in L. cavanillesii has been recent. SC in L. cavanillesii thus exemplifies a situation in which the mating system is likely not at an equilibrium with inbreeding depression.     

The prosthetic need WHO index: a comparison between self‐perception and professional assessment in an elderly population

The purpose of this study was to consider the criteria for establishing the need for prosthesis, by comparing the need perceived subjectively by a patient (self‐perception) with that assessed by an examiner according to the WHO diagnosis criteria. The proposed domiciliary sample comprised 270 elderly (aged 60 years or older) residents in a municipality in southern Brazil. The interviews and oral examinations were conducted by two dentists following a period of training and calibration. The criteria used conformed to the WHO and FDI standards. Statistical treatment of data included bivariate and multivariate analysis using SPSS 10.0. Only five patients identified the need for a prosthesis when not identified by the examiner. In the case of 172 elderly subjects, there was agreement in the self‐perceived and observed treatment needs. The need for prosthesis was found in 93 elderly subjects who did not perceive any need for prosthetic treatment. The multivariate analysis showed that the variables age, gender, residential area and form of service most sought after during their lives were significantly associated with a better self‐perception of oral health. The professional criteria based on WHO guidelines differed from the self‐perceived need. Elderly male subjects who lived in a rural area and were 70 years of age or more, who did not participate in third age groups, and who had not sought dental services for most of their lives were the least likely to perceive the need for prosthetic treatment, thereby underestimating their oral health needs.     

Correlations between sleep patterns and cardiovascular diseases in a Chinese middle-aged population

Epidemiological and animal studies have suggested an association between habitual sleep patterns and cardiovascular (CV) disease, but the results are still controversial. Therefore, the aims of this study are to investigate the relationships between habitual sleep patterns and CV disease based on Prospective Urban Rural Epidemiology (PURE) China study. PURE China study recruited 46 285 participants, aged 35–70, from 12 provinces and 115 communities in China. Habitual sleep patterns and CV disease were self-reported. Multilevel logistic regression was used in our analysis. In this study, 39 515 participants were eligible in our analysis, including 23 345 (59.1%) women and 16 170 (40.9%) men. Sleeping ≥9 h per day was associated with increased odds of CV disease (OR = 1.16, 95% CI: 1.01–1.32, p = 0.033) compared with sleeping 7–8 h per day. Taking daytime naps was also associated with an increased odds of CV disease, and the CV odds increased with increasing napping duration (p for trend < 0.001). For the sleeping < 6 h per day, we only found an association with coronary artery disease (CAD) (OR = 1.58, 95% CI: 1.01–2.48, p = 0.046). Participants with only 7–8 h sleep per night had lowest prevalence of CV disease (OR = 0.77, 95% CI: 0.65–0.90, p = 0.001) compared with other sleep patterns. Napping, long and short duration of habitual sleep may increase the odds of CV disease. Only participants sleeping 7–8 hours at night are recommended in this study, and large longitudinal studies are needed to confirm these results.     

No association between INSIG2 Gene rs7566605 polymorphism and being overweight in Japanese population

Obesity is a complex trait reflecting numerous genetic and environmental factors. Recently, a common genetic polymorphism (rs7566605) associated with a higher BMI was found in proximity to the insulin induced protein 2 (INSIG2 ) gene, with replication in four unrelated populations living in Western countries. We investigated the susceptibility to the polymorphism amongst the general Japanese population (n = 1976). The frequency of appearance of the single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the Japanese (G allele; 0.652, C allele; 0.348) was not different from that found in subjects of European origin as reported previously. However, the BMI levels in each of these genotypes did not differ significantly (GG; 23 +/- 3, GC; 24 +/- 3, CC; 24 +/- 3 kg/m(2), P = 0.906). In a separate analysis according to sex (male; P = 0.462, female; P = 0.879), age decade (40s; P = 0.057, 50s; P = 0.998, 60s; P = 0.622, 70s; 0.425, respectively), and tertiles of the BMI (1st; P = 0.409, 2nd; P = 0.088, 3rd; P = 0.780), the differences did not achieve statistical significance. The frequency of obesity did not differ among the genotypes (25 kg/m(2); 30.3, 30.8, 28.2%, P = 0.729, 30 kg/m(2); 2.9, 3.8, 2.8%, P = 0.549). No associations were also observed for related plasma markers; high-molecular weight (HMW) adiponectin (P = 0.510), high-sensitive C-reactive protein (P = 0.788), resistin (P = 0.937) and homeostasis of minimal assessment of insulin resistance (P = 0.634). These results indicate a lack of association between SNP rs7566605 and being overweight among the Japanese (in the middle-aged and elderly population).     

Recent selection for self‐compatibility in a population of Leavenworthia alabamica

The evolution of self‐compatibility (SC) is the first step in the evolutionary transition in plants from outcrossing enforced by self‐incompatibility (SI) to self‐fertilization. In the Brassicaceae, SI is controlled by alleles of two tightly linked genes at the S‐locus. Despite permitting inbreeding, mutations at the S‐locus leading to SC may be selected if they provide reproductive assurance and/or gain a transmission advantage in a population when SC plants self‐ and outcross. Positive selection can leave a genomic signature in the regions physically linked to the focus of selection when selection has occurred recently. From an SC population of Leavenworthia alabamica with a known nonfunctional mutation at the S‐locus, we collected sequence data from a ～690 Kb region surrounding the S‐locus, as well as from regions not linked to the S‐locus. To test for recent positive selection acting at the S‐locus, we examined polymorphism and the site‐frequency spectra. Using forward simulations, we demonstrate that recent selection of the strength expected for SC at a locus formerly under balancing selection can generate patterns similar to those seen in our empirical data.     

The association between overweight/obesity and psychological distress: A population based cross-sectional study in Saudi Arabia

ObjectivesThe objective of this study was to compare the association between mental well-being between obese (classes 1 and 2), over-weight and non-obese population-based individualsMethodsA population-based cross-sectional study was conducted in Al-Kharj, Saudi Arabia. A total of 1019 Saudi nationals aged ≥ 18 years participated in the survey. BMI scores were used to categorize participants into three groups: Obese, overweighted and non-obese/non-overweight. Mental well-being was evaluated by using the validated Arabic version of the General Health Questionnaire version 12 (GHQ-12).ResultsWe used total GHQ score (Mean=12; SD=5.23) to compare mental well-being between the four BMI class categories. The overall one-way ANOVA model was statistically significant (F = 7.018, d = 6, P < 0.001). In multivariate analysis, after adjusting for sociodemographic variables, diabetes and smoking statuses we found that higher psychological distress (as evident by a higher total GHQ score) was associated with higher BMI. The unstandardized Beta regression coefficient = 2.627; P = 0.034). Females were more likely to have higher psychological distress than males (unstandardized Beta = 1.466, P = 0.003). Job status whether being unemployed or ‘civilian’ (civil worker) was significantly associated with higher psychological distress (unstandardized Beta = 1.405, P = 0.041). Being diabetic has a 1.6 times higher risk of psychological distress (unstandardized Beta = 1.604, P = 0.027).ConclusionThe study highlights the public health implications of psychological distress amongst individuals with overweight and obesity in Saudi Arabia. Future longitudinal studies should explore the temporality of this relationship.     

The influence of subjective sleep quality on the association between eveningness and depressive symptoms

Increasing evidence suggests that eveningness is associated with increased risk for depression. Eveningness, however, is also associated with poor sleep quality and the unique role of eveningness in depressive symptomatology remains to be elucidated. The goal of the current study, therefore, was to examine the inter-relationships between eveningness, subjective sleep quality and depressive symptoms in healthy participants free of current or previous depression and sleep disorder. Here, 167 healthy participants (mean age 24.16, 129/38 females/males) completed the reduced Morningness–Eveningness Questionnaire (rMEQ), the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and the Centre for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). Bootstrap mediation analysis for a simple mediation model including rMEQ, PSQI and CES-D was applied. Eveningness was associated with increased depressive symptoms and mediation analysis showed that this relationship was partly mediated by sleep quality. Our results suggest that indicators of depression observed in evening-type individuals cannot be attributed exclusively to disturbed sleep. We suggest that interventions that target both sleep quality and dysfunctional cognitive styles would be optimal to promote well-being in evening-type individuals.     

Genome‐wide association study for pigmentation traits in Chinese Holstein population

With the Illumina BovineSNP50K BeadChip, we performed a genome‐wide association study (GWAS) for two pigmentation traits in a Chinese Holstein population: proportion of black (PB) and teat colour (TC). A case–control design was used. Cases were the cows with PB <0.30 (n = 129) and TC <2 points (n = 140); controls were those with PB >0.90 (n = 58) and TC >4 points (n = 281). The RM test of roadtrips (version 1.2) was applied to detect SNPs for the two traits with 42 883 and 42 741 SNPs respectively. A total of nine and 12 genome‐wide significant (P < 0.05) SNPs associated with PB and TC respectively were identified. Of these, two SNPs for PB were located within the KIT and IGFBP7 genes, and the other four SNPs were 23~212 kb away from the PDGFRA gene on BTA6; nine SNPs associated with TC were located within or 21~78.8 kb away from known genes on chromosomes 4, 11, 22, 23 and 24. By combing through our GWAS results and the biological functions of the genes, we suggest that the KIT, IGFBP7, PDGFRA, MITF, ING3 and WNT16 genes are promising candidates for PB and TC in Holstein cattle, providing a basis for further investigation on the genetic mechanism of pigmentation formation.     

No association between leptin levels and sleep duration or quality in obese adults

Previous research in lean subjects has found lower leptin levels associated with shorter sleep duration. Since leptin levels are higher and some of the actions of leptin are impaired in obese individuals, one cannot assume that sleep will be similarly associated with leptin in obese individuals. The aim of this paper was to examine the cross-sectional association between habitual sleep duration and quality and plasma leptin levels in a sample of 80 obese men and premenopausal women aged 18-50 years. Leptin levels (ng/ml) were assayed on a fasting blood sample taken in the morning. We calculated a relative leptin level by dividing leptin by body fat percentage. Sleep duration and sleep efficiency were measured by 2 weeks of wrist actigraphy and respiratory disturbance index (RDI), a measure of sleep disordered breathing, was assessed by a portable screening device on a single night. Mean leptin levels and body fat percentage were higher in women than men (P < 0.001), however, mean RDI was higher in men (P = 0.01). There were no significant associations between relative leptin level and any of the sleep measures, including sleep duration, sleep efficiency, and sleep disordered breathing. There was also no difference between men and women in the association between sleep and leptin. In conclusion, contrary to what has been reported in other studies, measures of sleep duration and quality were not associated with leptin levels in our sample of obese adults.     

The genetic association between osteoprotegerin gene polymorphisms and fracture risk in Chinese Han population

This article put the genetic association exploration of osteoprotegerin (OPG) gene polymorphisms in promoter region (A-163G, T-245G) and fracture risk first and hoped to explain the ethology of fracture. The genotyping of OPG gene polymorphisms was conducted with the method of polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism in 125 fracture patients and 138 relative controls. The genotype frequencies of selected controls based on OPG gene polymorphisms were checked by the χ² test whether conformed to Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium (HWE). The relative risk was represented with odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) between gene polymorphism and disease. The linkage disequilibrium (LD) and haplotype were also analyzed. The genotypes distributions of selected controls in OPG polymorphisms conformed to HWE. The G allele of A-163G polymorphism carriers had the tendency to suffer from fracture in the same condition, compared with A allele carriers (OR = 1.63, 95% CI = 1.04–2.55). TG and TG/GG genotypes of OPG T-245G polymorphism also showed the increased risk of fracture development, but not TT genotype (OR = 2.22, 95% CI = 1.15–4.28; OR = 2.45, 95% CI = 1.28–4.68). Likely, the mutant allele G had an abnormally higher frequency in cases than controls (14.00% and 6.16%). These two polymorphisms existed the LD and the haplotype G _-163–G _-245 obviously increased the risk of fracture. OPG A-163G, T-245G polymorphisms were associated with the onset of fracture and both the independent risk factors.     

宽恕与睡眠质量关系的研究进展

近年来,国内外对宽恕的研究逐渐增多,但宽恕与睡眠质量关系的研究较少,本文通过综述现有的一些研究资料,分析二者之间的关系。分析表明,人际侵犯事件是影响宽恕的外部因素,其严重程度直接影响受害者的宽恕水平及睡眠质量;宽恕能够降低受害者的生理唤醒、情绪唤醒、及认知唤醒,从而改善睡眠质量,但之间的相互作用及具体的内在影响机制并不明确。同时,影响宽恕水平的宜人性、外倾等人格特质也会影响睡眠质量。最后分析了目前研究中存在的缺陷,并对宽恕与睡眠质量关系的研究前景进行了展望。     

宽恕与睡眠质量关系的研究进展

近年来,国内外对宽恕的研究逐渐增多,但宽恕与睡眠质量关系的研究较少,本文通过综述现有的一些研究资料,分析二者之间的关系。分析表明,人际侵犯事件是影响宽恕的外部因素,其严重程度直接影响受害者的宽恕水平及睡眠质量;宽恕能够降低受害者的生理唤醒、情绪唤醒、及认知唤醒,从而改善睡眠质量,但之间的相互作用及具体的内在影响机制并不明确。同时,影响宽恕水平的宜人性、外倾等人格特质也会影响睡眠质量。最后分析了目前研究中存在的缺陷,并对宽恕与睡眠质量关系的研究前景进行了展望。     

The association between stressors and telomeres in non‐human vertebrates: a meta‐analysis

Animal response to stressors such as harsh environmental conditions and demanding biological processes requires energy generated through increased mitochondrial activity. This results in the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). In vitro and some in vivo studies suggest that oxidative damage of DNA caused by ROS is responsible for telomere shortening. Since telomere length is correlated with survival in many vertebrates, telomere loss is hypothesised to trigger cellular ageing and/ or to reflect the harshness of the environment an individual has experienced. To improve our understanding of stress‐induced telomere dynamics in non‐human vertebrates, we analysed 109 relevant studies in a meta‐analytical framework. Overall, the exposure to possible stressors was associated with shorter telomeres or higher telomere shortening rate (average effect size = ?0.16 ± 0.03). This relationship was consistent for all phylogenetic classes and for all a priori‐selected stressor categories. It was stronger in the case of pathogen infection, competition, reproductive effort and high activity level, which emphasises their importance in explaining intraspecific telomere length variability and, potentially, lifespan variability. Interestingly, the association between stressor exposure and telomeres in one hand, and oxidative stress in the other hand, covaried, suggesting the implication of oxidative stress in telomere dynamics.