Persistence of synchronization of the daily rhythms of body temperature and sleep‐wake in college students

Abstract

Bedtime, risetime, and body temperature of college students exposed to a regular 24‐h life schedule were recorded for 22–25 consecutive days. Average bedtime was 1:37 am, average risetime was 8:53 am, and average temperature acrophase was 5:01 pm. There was no evidence of desynchronization of the body temperature and activity rhythms.     

Investigations of the Diurnal Activity of the Endocrine Dorsal bodies in Helix aspersa

Summary

The activity of the endocrine dorsal bodies (DB) of the adult land snail Helix aspersa living in the field shows striking fluctuations during a 24 hr cycle. Quantitative electron microscopical data revealed that the number of secretory granules, the volume of the Golgi apparatus and the number of Golgi saccules containing electron-dense material were maximal at 1 am and minimal at 1 pm. The use of tannic acid indicated the exocytosis of secretory material was intense around 1 pm and only moderate at 1 am. The results suggest that, under natural conditions, the DB have a diurnal rhythm of activity, packaging secretory material into secretory granules mainly during the night and releasing it during the afternoon.     

The effect of various degrees of foot posture on standing balance in a healthy adult population

Abstract

Purpose: Foot biomechanics plays a significant role in the quality of standing and walking. It has been believed that even minor biomechanical alterations in the foot support surface may influence strategies to maintain body standing balance. Hence, the aim of this study was to investigate the role of various degrees of foot posture on static and dynamic standing balance components in a healthy adult population.

Subjects and methods: A convenience sample of 41 healthy adult subjects with a mean age of 24.3?±?6.4 years and a body mass index (BMI) of 29?kg/m² participated in this study. On the basis of foot posture index (FPI), the participants were allocated into either group A or B. Group A included 16 subjects with an FPI range of 6–11 whereas group B included 25 subjects with an FPI range of 0–5. Standing balance components were analyzed using computerized dynamic posturography (CDP) by the Modified Clinical Test of Sensory Interaction on Balance (mCTSIB) and the limit of stability (LOS).

Results: Spearman’s correlation coefficient showed a significant correlation between the standing dynamic balance and FPI in group B but not in group A. Moreover, it also showed no significant correlation between the standing static balance component and FPI in either group A or B.

Conclusion: This study concluded that higher degrees of FPI might have an effect on standing dynamic balance in healthy subjects. These components may require extra attention during the preventive aspects of rehabilitation.     

Flight of the bluegreen aphid Acyrthosiphon kondoi Shinji (Homoptera: Aphididae) I. Flight periodicity and phenological relationships

Abstract

Seasonal flight patterns of the bluegreen aphid (BGA), Acyrthosiphon kondoi Shinji (Homoptera: Aphididae) were studied. BGA had flight peaks twice a year in spring and autumn, BGA flight appeared to be diurnal. The main period of activity extended from 5 am to 7.30 pm.

The accumulated spring and autumn flight peaks lasted 422 Degree Days (DD) and 351 DD (2.9 and 2.4 BGA generations) respectively. Accumulated DD between the median of spring and autumn flights, and the autumn and following spring flight, was 1667 and 1676 DD; this corresponds to 11.5 and 11.6 BGA generations respectively. The use of DD for predicting BGA flight is discussed.     

Somatosensory impairments in patients with multiple sclerosis: association with dynamic postural control and upper extremity motor function

Abstract

Purpose: We planned this study to bring attention to the somatosensory impairments in patients with multiple sclerosis (PwMS) and to investigate relationship of somatosensory impairments with dynamic postural stability and upper extremity motor function.

Methods: Seven males and 23 females, 30 patients with mean EDSS 2.9 (SD = 1.4), aged between 18 and 65 years (mean = 41.43?±?14.90 years) were included in this clinical study. Light touch sensorial assessment was made with Semmes Weinstein monofilament test and proprioception by distal proprioception test. Hand strength was measured by the Jamar dynamometer, fine motor skill was examined with nine-hole peg test, functional reach test in sitting and standing position was applied. Nottingham Extended Activities of Daily Living Scale (NEADLS) was used to measure everyday activities.

Results: We found a negative and moderate correlation between FRT in standing and light touch of the middle of the heel (right: –0.515), metatarsal bone (right r: 0.453, left r: –0.426), and medial of the foot (right r: –0.462). There was a negative and moderate correlation between NEADLS and light touch of the metatarsal bone (right r: –0.564, left r: –0.472), medial of the foot (right r: –0.531, left r: –0.479), and lateral of the foot (right r: –0.526). We found a positive and moderate correlation between proprioception of the ankle (right r: 0.421 left r: 0.588) and NEADLS.

Conclusions: We found impairment in light touch and proprioception and, associations between sensorial functions and dynamic postural stability in PwMS. Also impaired sensorial functions cause dependent patients in daily living activities. In the assessment of balance and falling risk, independency in daily living activities; foot light touch and proprioception sense should be taken into account, hence it may provide guidance in planning rehabilitation programmes.

Abbreviations: MS: multiple sclerosis; PwMS: patients with multiple sclerosis; VAS: visual analogue scale; FRT: functional reach test; 9-HPT: Nine-hole peg test; EDSS: The Expanded Disability Status Scale; NEADLS: Nottingham Extended Activities of Daily Living Scale     

The Clinical Significance of Interleukin–1 Receptor Antagonist +2018 Polymorphism in Rheumatoid Arthritis

ObjectiveInterleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra) acts as an inhibitor of IL-1; which is one of the culprit cytokines in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Although +2018 polymorphism of IL-1Ra has been implicated in the pathogenesis of RA, its importance remains poorly understood. Hence, the purpose of this study was to determine the clinical significance of interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra) +2018 polymorphism in RA.MethodsPolymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequencing were used to determine the genotypes of the IL-1Ra +2018 for 77 RA patients and 18 healthy controls. All RA patients were assessed for the disease activity score that includes 28 joints (DAS28) and radiographic disease damage based on Modified Sharp Score (MSS).ResultsThe frequency of the T/T and C/T genotypes did not differ significantly (p = 0.893) between the RA patients and the controls. The C/T genotype had significantly higher mean disease activity (DAS 28) and disease damage (MSS) scores with p values of 0.017 and 0.004, respectively. Additionally, the ESR (erythrocyte sedimentation rate), CRP (C-reactive protein), the number of swollen and tender joints were higher for the C/T individuals. On multivariate analysis the CRP, swollen joint count and MSS remained significant with the following p values i.e. 0.045, 0.046 and less than 0.05.ConclusionsC/T genotype of IL-1Ra +2018 prognosticates more aggressive disease in RA.     

Sensitivity and Validity of Psychometric Tests for Assessing Driving Impairment: Effects of Sleep Deprivation

ObjectiveTo assess drug induced driving impairment, initial screening is needed. However, no consensus has been reached about which initial screening tools have to be used. The present study aims to determine the ability of a battery of psychometric tests to detect performance impairing effects of clinically relevant levels of drowsiness as induced by one night of sleep deprivation.MethodsTwenty four healthy volunteers participated in a 2-period crossover study in which the highway driving test was conducted twice: once after normal sleep and once after one night of sleep deprivation. The psychometric tests were conducted on 4 occasions: once after normal sleep (at 11 am) and three times during a single night of sleep deprivation (at 1 am, 5 am, and 11 am).ResultsOn-the-road driving performance was significantly impaired after sleep deprivation, as measured by an increase in Standard Deviation of Lateral Position (SDLP) of 3.1 cm compared to performance after a normal night of sleep. At 5 am, performance in most psychometric tests showed significant impairment. As expected, largest effect sizes were found on performance in the Psychomotor Vigilance Test (PVT). Large effects sizes were also found in the Divided Attention Test (DAT), the Attention Network Test (ANT), and the test for Useful Field of View (UFOV) at 5 and 11 am during sleep deprivation. Effects of sleep deprivation on SDLP correlated significantly with performance changes in the PVT and the DAT, but not with performance changes in the UFOV.ConclusionFrom the psychometric tests used in this study, the PVT and DAT seem most promising for initial evaluation of drug impairment based on sensitivity and correlations with driving impairment. Further studies are needed to assess the sensitivity and validity of these psychometric tests after benchmark sedative drug use.     

沙利度胺联合甲氨喋呤与羟氯喹治疗类风湿关节炎的疗效分析

目的:探讨沙利度胺(THD)联合甲氨喋呤(MTX)、羟氯喹(HCQ)治疗类风湿关节炎(RA)的临床疗效。方法:82例RA患者随机分为观察组(n=41)与对照组(n=41),对照组给予MTX治疗,观察组在对照组基础上加用THD与HCQ,对比两组患者临床疗效。结果:观察组有效率为90.2%,显著高于对照组的70.7%(P0.05);治疗前、治疗后1个月两组患者肿胀关节数、压痛关节数、晨僵时间、ESR、CRP、RF、VAS比较差异无统计学意义(P0.05);治疗后2、3、4、5、6个月比较观察组各观察指标均显著优于对照组(P0.05);两组患者治疗过程中血细胞降低、消化道症状、呼吸道感染、月经紊乱、皮疹、ALT升高、头晕嗜睡、口腔溃疡等不良反应发生率比较无统计学差异(P0.05)。结论:沙利度胺联合甲氨喋呤、羟氯喹用于类风湿关节炎患者的治疗,能够有效延缓病情的进展、缓解患者痛苦,同时减少了药物的不良反应,为临床提供了新的治疗方法。     

The Virtues of Theory: How Some Academics Succeeded – Big Time – in Reaching Non-Academic Audiences

ABSTRACT

This is a short essay stimulated by Why Anthropologists Don’t Reach the Public: A Rumination on Books of Thomas Hylland Eriksen, by Gordon Mathews (DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00664677.2018.1502074).     

Ankle kinematics and kinetics during gait in healthy and rheumatoid arthritis post-menopausal women

Objective: In the literature, it is not clear whether rheumatoid arthritis (RA) post-menopausal women have different ankle biomechanical parameters than healthy post-menopausal women. This study aimed to compare the ankle kinematics and kinetics during the gait stance phase of RA post-menopausal women with age-matched healthy post-menopausal women.

Materials and methods: A three-dimensional motion analysis system (9 cameras; 200?Hz) synchronised with a force plate (1000?Hz) was used to assess ankle kinematics and kinetics during barefoot walking at a natural and self-selected speed. A biomechanical model was used to model body segments and joint centres (combined anthropometric measurements and the placement of 39 reflective markers). Thirty-six women (18 RA post-menopausal women and 18 age-matched healthy post-menopausal women) performed 14 valid trials (comprising seven left and seven right footsteps on a force plate). Lower limb muscle mass was evaluated by an octopolar bioimpedance analyser.

Results: RA post-menopausal women yielded a longer stance phase and controlled dorsiflexion sub-phase (p?<?0.001), higher dorsiflexion at the final controlled dorsiflexion sub-phase and lower plantar flexion at toe off (p?<?0.05), lower angular displacements (p?<?0.05), and lower ankle moment of force peak and ankle power peak (p?<?0.001). No intergroup differences were found in lower limb muscle mass.

Conclusions: RA post-menopausal women yielded changes in ankle kinematic and kinetic parameters during the gait stance phase, resulting in a lower capacity to produce ankle moment of force and ankle power during the propulsive gait phase.     

Balance control is impaired in adults with sickle cell anaemia

Abstract

Background: Musculoskeletal involvement and cerebrovascular disease are common in sickle cell anaemia (SCA). These changes are potentially important factors that modify the control of balance in this population.

Objective: To assess balance control in adults with SCA and investigate the associations among balance, posture and muscle function.

Methods: Twenty neurologically intact (i.e. without previous episodes of overt stroke or transient ischaemic attack) adults with SCA and 18 controls were evaluated. All participants underwent static balance measurement through stabilometry, postural evaluation through photogrammetry and assessment of muscle function through handgrip and respiratory muscle strength.

Results: Compared to the controls, the adults with SCA exhibited greater displacement of the centre of mass, particularly in the mediolateral direction. Moreover, the adults with SCA exhibited greater postural deviations for the following variables: angles of the right and left hip, horizontal asymmetry of the scapula in relation to T3, angles of the right and left leg-heel and horizontal alignment of the pelvis. Handgrip strength, respiratory muscle strength and haemoglobin (Hb) levels were significantly correlated with postural balance measurements. Significant correlations between balance and posture were only observed between the variables of balance and the postural parameters that involved the angulations calculated from the vertical alignment of the pelvis, hip and ankle.

Conclusions: Neurologically intact adults with SCA exhibit damage in static balance, particularly in the mediolateral direction. These patients present postural deviations due to changes in the hip and ankle joints. In addition, balance control is related to posture, Hb level and muscle function.     

Effect of laterality discrimination on joint position sense and cervical range of motion in patients with chronic neck pain: a randomized single-blind clinical trial

Purpose: The main objective of the present study was to evaluate the effects of laterality discrimination training on neck joint position sense and cervical range of motion (ROM) in patients with chronic non-specific neck pain (NSCNP).

Materials and methods: Forty-eight patients with NSCNP were randomly assigned to the neck group (NG) that observed neck images or the foot group (FG) that observed foot images. Response time, response accuracy, cervical ROM, and joint position error (JPE) were the main variables. The secondary outcome measures included psychosocial variables.

Results: Differences between groups in the cervical ROM for flexion (p?=?.043) were obtained, being NG group the one which obtained greater values. NG showed an improvement in right rotation (p?=?.018) and a decrease in flexion was found in the FG (p?=?.039). In JPE, differences between groups were obtained in the left rotation (p?=?.021) and significant changes were found in the NG for flexion, extension, and left rotation movements (p?<?.05). Moderate associations were found between left and right accuracy regarding to post-intervention flexion and right rotation (r?=?0.46, r?=?0.41; p?<?.05) in NG.

Conclusion: Improvements in cervical range of motion and joint position sense are obtained after the performance of the laterality discrimination task of images of the neck but not the feet. Visualization of images of the painful region presents moderate correlations with the accuracy and response time in the movements of flexion and right rotation.     

Using Bedtime (pm) and early Morning (am) urine cortisol/creatinine ratios to evaluate pituitary-adrenal function in an office practice

ObjectiveTo evaluate the use of cortisol/creatinine ratios in urine specimens collected at bedtime (pm) and the following morning (am) in a general endocrine practice as a means of assessing pituitary-adrenal function in normal volunteers, outpatients with symptoms but no clinical endocrine dysfunction, patients with Cushing syndrome, and patients with known hypopituitarism.MethodsDouble-voided pm and am urine samples were collected from 26 healthy control subjects and 131 outpatients who had complaints of fatigue and malaise, inability to lose weight, or nonspecific concerns about potential underlying problems with their metabolism. The findings on physical examination and laboratory studies were normal in each of these outpatients. Urine was assayed for free cortisol and creatinine and expressed as ng of cortisol/mg of creatinine. Eleven patients with documented Cushing syndrome also collected urine specimens, and data for 11 patients with known hypopituitarism were also studied.ResultsA clear diurnal pattern of low cortisol excretion at night that increased some 7-fold in the morning (P < .0001) was reproducibly identified in healthy control subjects and those outpatients with no clinical endocrine disease. In the healthy control subjects, the mean PM urine cortisol/creatinine ratio was 15.8 (95% confidence interval [CI], 12.5 to 19.0); the mean AM cortisol/creatinine was 91.5 (95% CI, 65.0 to 118.0). The mean AM/pm ratio was 6.9, and the mean difference in AM - pm was 75.7. In the outpatients, there was no significant difference in pm, AM, AM/ pm, and AM - pm values in comparison with those in healthy control subjects, and no significant difference was noted in these variables among the 3 groups of outpatients (those with fatigue, weight gain, and metabolism concerns). In 11 patients with Cushing syndrome, the mean pm urine cortisol/creatinine ratio was 127.0 (95% CI, 87.0 to 166.0), and there was loss of diurnal variation with the AM/pm ratio of 1.16 (95% CI, 0.98 to 1.35). Patients with hypopituitarism had little to no increase in am urine cortisol/creatinine in comparison with pm urine cortisol/creatinine.ConclusionDetermination of pm and am urine cortisol/creatinine ratios offers a convenient method for assessing pituitary-adrenal function. (Endocr Pract. 2011;17: 591-597)     

Comparing the prognostic performance of ASSIST to interleukin-6 and procalcitonin in patients with severe sepsis or septic shock

Abstract

Context: We recently derived and validated a multi-biomarker-based model (ASSIST) to stratify patients with sepsis based on initial mortality risk.

Objective: The objective of this study was to compare the performance of ASSIST to interleukin-6 (IL6) and procalcitonin (PCT).

Methods: The area-under-the-receiver operating characteristic curve for predicting 28-d mortality using ASSIST was compared with that of IL6 (n?=?452) and PCT (n?=?235).

Results: The area under the curve for ASSIST was greater than that of IL6 and PCT.

Conclusions: ASSIST estimated the probability of mortality more reliably than IL6 and PCT in this cohort of patients with sepsis.     

Lack of exposure to natural light in the workspace is associated with physiological,sleep and depressive symptoms

The diurnal light cycle has a crucial influence on all life on earth. Unfortunately, modern society has modified this life-governing cycle by stressing maximum production and by giving insufficient attention to the ecological balance and homeostasis of the human metabolism. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of exposure or lack of exposure to natural light in a rest/activity rhythm on cortisol and melatonin levels, as well as on psychological variables in humans under natural conditions. This is a cross-sectional study. The subjects were allocated split into two groups according to their workspace (10 employees in the “with window” group and 10 in the “without window” group). All participants were women and wore anactigraph (Actiwatch 2, Philips Respironics), which measures activity and ambient light exposure, for seven days. Concentrations of melatonin and cortisol were measured from the saliva samples. Participants were instructed to collect saliva during the last day of use of the actigraph at 08:00 am, 4:00 pm and 10:00 pm. The subjects answered the Self-Reporting Questionnaire-20 (SRQ-20) to measure the presence of minor psychiatric disorders; the Montgomery-Asberg (MA) scale was used to measure depression symptoms, and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index questionnaire (PSQI) was used to evaluate the quality of sleep. The Rayleigh analysis indicates that the two groups, “with window” an d “without window”, exhibited similar activities and light acrophases. In relation to light exposure, the mesor was significantly higher (t?=??2.651, p?=?0.023) in t he “with window” group (191.04?±?133.36) than in the “without window” group (73.8?±?42.05). Additionally, the “with window” group presented the highest amplitude of light exposure (298.07?±?222.97). Cortisol levels were significantly different between the groups at 10:00 pm (t?=?3.009, p?=?0.008; “without window” (4.01?±?0.91) “with window” (3.10?±?0.30)). In terms of the melatonin levels, the groups differed at two different times of day: 08:00 am (t?=?2.593, p?=?0.018) and 10:00 pm (t?=??2.939, p?=?0.009). The “with window” group had a lower melatonin level at 08:00 am (3.54?±?0.60) but a higher level at 10:00 pm (24.74?±?4.22) than the “without window” group. Higher cortisol levels were positively correlated with minor psychiatric disorders and depressive symptoms (MA) at 10:00 pm. Lower melatonin levels at 10:00 pm were correlated with depressive symptoms and poor quality of sleep (PSQI). Our study demonstrated that not only may light pollution affect human physiology but also lack of exposure to natural light is related to high levels of cortisol and lower levels of melatonin at night, and these, in turn, are related to depressive symptoms and poor quality of sleep.     

DIURNAL VARIATION IN THE VOLATILE TERPENOIDS OF JUNIPERUS SCOPULORUM (CUPRESSACEAE)

The volatile oils of four trees of Juniperus scopulorum were examined at 9 am, 12 noon, 3 pm, 6 pm, 10 pm, 2 am, and 6 am on consecutive days with a temperature range of 64 F and 88.5 F daily. Three-way analysis of variance of 37 compounds revealed 36 with significant differences among trees, 11 with significant differences between days, 13 compounds with significant diurnal variation and 9 compounds which showed some significant interaction term differences. Most of the variation occurred among trees. Oxygenated terpenes and sesquiterpenes tended to increase during the day while sabinene decreased until late evening and increased during the early morning. Correlations with temperature appeared to lag and did not match the pattern in three species of Juniperus reported by other investigators. The effect of diurnal variations on chemosystematic classifications was estimated by using numerical taxonomy and principal coordinate analysis. Diurnal effects were not found to be important sources of error for chemosystematics in J. scopulorum if character weighting were used to maximize the genotype differences. However, this may not be true for work involving population sampling of other species over large regions.     

Schooltime subjective sleepiness and performance in Italian primary school children

Despite its clinical importance, the issue of the diurnal time course of sleepiness and performance in children remains largely unexplored. The objective of this study is to draw a profile of daytime subjective sleepiness and performance, at simple and complex tasks, in a cohort of Italian primary school children.To this aim, a sample of 316 children (age range: 5–11 years; mean 8.2 ± 1.5) was recruited and sub-divided into three groups, according to age: Group 1 (5–7 years; N = 127), Group 2 (8–9 years; N = 108), Group 3 (10–11 years; N = 81). Subjective sleepiness and simple performance were evaluated, respectively, through the Pictorial Sleepiness Scale and the Simple Reaction Time Task. Executive functions were addressed by means of the “Go/No-Go Task.” Measurements were made in the children’s class three times a day, one day a week over a 3-week period in order to reliably reflect the habitual time course of sleepiness and performance, within the following time intervals: a) 8:30 am–10:30 am; b) 11 am–1 pm; c) 2 pm–4 pm.For the global sample, a significant increase of subjective sleepiness was found at the end of school day (2–4 pm), although at relatively low levels. No significant differences were observed in reaction times across the day, whereas a significant worsening was detected in performance at complex task already since mid-morning. Significant correlations were found between subjective sleepiness and complex performance at all points.Slight age-related differences were found in the time courses of subjective sleepiness: in fact, a significant overday reduction of vigilance levels, from mid-morning onwards, was observed in children aged 5–9 years, but not in the older children (10–11 years). However, the daily time course of both simple and complex performances did not differ among children of the three age groups. Our results show changes in vigilance and cognitive functions across a typical school day in childhood, as well as age-related differences in sleepiness profile, that we suggest to thoroughly consider when conceiving chronopsychological interventions in the school context.     

Investigations of Some Nucleic Acid Component Analogs

Abstract

Ab initio calculations of some nucleic acid bases analogs - 6 thioguanine, 4-thiouracil, 5- and 6-azacytosines, 6-azauracil, 5- and 6-fluorouraciles and 5azaC+Gua dimer had performed. 6-Thioguanine and 4-thiouracil were studied by experimental methods also. Total energies, geometries, charge distributions, entropies, heat capacities, vibrational spectra and solvent effects using high level ab initio methods were calculated.     

Use of a whole-slide imaging system to assess the presence and alteration of lymphatic vessels in joint sections of arthritic mice

Abstract

We investigated the presence and alteration of lymphatic vessels in joints of arthritic mice using a whole-slide imaging system. Joints and long bone sections were cut from paraffin blocks of two mouse models of arthritis: meniscal-ligamentous injury (MLI)-induced osteoarthritis (OA) and TNF transgene (TNF-Tg)-induced rheumatoid arthritis (RA). MLI-OA mice were fed a high fat diet to accelerate OA development. TNF-Tg mice were treated with lymphatic growth factor VEGF-C virus to stimulate lymphangiogenesis. Sections were double immunofluorescence stained with anti-podoplanin and alpha-smooth muscle actin antibodies. The area and number of lymphatic capillaries and mature lymphatic vessels were determined using a whole-slide imaging system and its associated software. Lymphatic vessels in joints were distributed in soft tissues mainly around the joint capsule, ligaments, fat pads and muscles. In long bones, enriched lymphatic vessels were present in the periosteal areas adjacent to the blood vessels. Occasionally, lymphatic vessels were observed in the cortical bone. Increased lymphatic capillaries, but decreased mature lymphatic vessels, were detected in both OA and RA joints. VEGF-C treatment increased lymphatic capillary and mature vessel formation in RA joints. Our findings suggest that the lymphatic system may play an important role in arthritis pathogenesis and treatment.