Effects Of Jet Lag Research Articles

Exposure to jet lag aggravates depression-like behaviors and age-related phenotypes in rats subject to chronic corticosterone.

Our previous finding demonstrated that chronic corticosterone (CORT) may be involved in mediating the pathophysiology of premature aging in rats. Frequent jet lag increases the risk for many diseases, including obesity and type 2 diabetes, and is associated with the aging processes. However, the effect of jet lag on CORT-induced depression and its association with aging phenotypes remain unclear. In this study, the rats were exposed to both CORT and jet lag treatment, and the differences were analyzed and compared to rats with single CORT treatment. Our results showed that jet lag treatment aggravated CORT-induced depression-like behavior evidenced by sucrose intake test, forced swimming test, and open field test. Additionally, this treatment aggravated the shortening of telomeres, which possibly resulted in decreased telomerase activity, and downregulated the expression of telomere-binding factor 2 (TRF2) and telomerase reverse transcriptase compared to that in CORT rats, as revealed by quantitative real-time-polymerase chain reaction and western blot analysis, respectively. The shortening of telomeres may have been caused by increased oxidative stress, which was associated with the inhibition of sirtuin 3. Exposure to jet lag also aggravated the degeneration of mitochondrial functions, as shown by the decreases in the mRNA expression of COX1, ND1, and Tfam. Our findings provide physiological evidence that jet lag exposure may worsen stress-induced depression and age-related abnormalities.

Lagging Behind – The Emerging Influence of Jet Lag Symptoms on Road Safety

Road traffic accidents are the leading cause of death in international travelers. With the growth of international travel, the number of visitors who rent a vehicle upon arrival at their destination by air or by sea is expected to increase. Jet lag is a well-recognized maladaptation to international travel across multiple time zones. Little is known about the possible influence of jet lag symptoms on the risk of road traffic collisions. Lack of awareness or failure to recognize the debilitating effects of jet lag and driving immediately after a long-haul flight put the driver at risk of a fatal road traffic accident. This article summarizes the available evidence and suggests reasonable approaches which may serve to minimize the risk of jet lag-induced driver fatigue leading to road injuries and deaths. The future research agenda should focus on routinely recording whether jet lag was a co-factor in road traffic accidents, analyzing the effectiveness of public awareness campaigns to highlight this neglected issue, and investigating the impact of jet lag on pedestrian road safety.

Enhanced melatonin production via aralkylamine N-acetyltransferase overexpression enhances NaCl resistance in transgenic Chlamydomonas reinhardtii (Volvocales, Chlorophyceae)

ABSTRACTThe hormone melatonin (MT) is produced by the pineal gland in animals and can also be found in plants and algae. MT regulates not only sleep, reduces the effects of jet lag, and has anti-aging properties in animals, but also eliminates intracellular reactive oxygen species and promotes vegetative growth in plants. However, research on its biological function in microalgae is still rare. The present study involved the construction of the Chlamydomonas reinhardtii expression vector pDBle-AANAT, which harbours the gene of one of the enzymes of the MT synthesis pathway, aralkylamine N-acetyltransferase (AANAT). The AANAT gene was introduced into the genome of the model microalga C. reinhardtii via glass bead transformation. The AANAT transgenic algal strain was identified by resistance screening, culture, and molecular biology methods. Changes in MT content between transformed algal strain and nontransformed algal strains were detected and the antioxidant capacity of the AANAT overexpressing algal strain was analysed under salt stress. The results showed that genetically engineered algae can increase the content of MT in algal cells by overexpressing AANAT. Under salt stress conditions, this can help to improve the enzymatic activity of the antioxidant system of algal cells and reduce membrane damage to counteract the adverse external stress. This enhances the self-protection ability of C. reinhardtii. This study reveals the effects of MT overproduction on the physiological functions of C. reinhardtii. Additionally, the potential functions of MT in the response of C. reinhardtii to stress have been elucidated, thus broadening the functional scope of MT in plants.

The elite athlete as a special risk traveler and the jet lag's effect: lessons learned from the past and how to be prepared for the next Olympic Games 2020 Tokyo.

Elite athletes have to travel long-haul distances and cross multiple meridians; thus, a unique syndrome named as jet-lag is induced. Furthermore, traveler athletes are submitted to several factors negatively affecting their well-being and athletic performance. This qualitative descriptive study aims to promote safely and future promising participations of elite athletes in great events, such as the next Olympic Games 2020 Tokyo, based on the chronobiology of jet-lag, factors affecting the traveler athlete and previous experiences from the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil, the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia and the Olympic Games Rio 2016. A narrative review of the literature across a broad cross-section of the chronobiology of jet-lag and factors affecting the traveler athlete was undertaken. In addition, a general analysis based on the past sport events aforementioned is also included. The jet-lag disorder may occur after transmeridian travel over more than three time-zones and the resynchronization is dependent on the direction and number of the time-zones crossed and the availability and the intensity of local circadian time cues. Also the athlete's ability to sleep, eat, get hydrated and train, are essential, as well as, others individual tolerance differences, such as age, gender, chronotype and ethnic differences. Athletes should arrive a number of days before the competition according to the number of time-zone transitions experienced. Jet-lag is usually benign and self-limited, but can occasionally have serious consequences for the athlete's mental and physical health and performance. A good plan concerning the athlete's traveling schedule, sleeping, eating and training before and after travelling is mandatory.

Evolutionary optimization of jet lag in the abrasive water jet machining

One of the main characteristics of abrasive water jet machining (AWJM) is jet lag effect. In this case, by controlling basic machining parameters (water pressure, cutting speed, and abrasive mass flow rate), evolutionary algorithm is used for modeling and optimization of trajectory curvature in AWJM process. Based on experimental investigation, genetic programming was used as the main exploration tool for generating function of the jet lag depending on the machining conditions and as a potential way in the AWJM simulation. Judging by the output, the genetic programming yielded impressive results and has proven to be very practical for modeling of the abrasive water jet trajectory curvature. In the sequel, the optimization of AWJM process is used approximate optimal control problem which leads to the best solution for the jet lag considering the machining parameters. With this action, we can say that different access has been made to find precise dependence of AWJM process parameters with the trajectory curvature to obtain high productivity and quality results.

Approaches to the Pharmacological Management of Jet Lag.

For many years now a treatment mitigating the debilitating effects of jet lag has been sought. Rapid travel across time zones leads, in most people, to temporary symptoms, in particular poor sleep, daytime alertness and poor performance. Mis-timed circadian rhythms are considered to be the main factor underlying jet-lag symptoms, together with the sleep deprivation from long haul flights. Virtually all aspects of physiology are rhythmic, from cells to systems, and circadian rhythms are coordinated by a central pacemaker or clock in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) of the hypothalamus. The SCN adapts slowly to changes in time zone, and peripheral clocks or oscillators adapt at different rates, such that the organism is in a state of desynchrony from the external environment and internally. Light exposure is the main factor controlling the circadian system and needs to be considered together with any pharmacological interventions. This review covers the relatively new chronobiotic drugs, which can hasten adaptation of the circadian system, together with drugs directly affecting alertness and sleep propensity. No current treatment can instantly shift circadian phase to a new time zone; however, adaptation can be hastened. The melatoninergic drugs are promising but larger trials in real-life situations are needed. For short stopovers it is recommended to preserve sleep and alertness without necessarily modifying the circadian system. New research suggests that modification of clock function via genetic manipulation may one day have clinical applications.

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MATLAB-based Searching Algorithm for International Meeting Location

The organizations of international meeting are associated with a variety of complexities and uncertainties. Determining suitable meeting location with high productivity and low costs are problems to be solved. Moreover, participants have to experience the effects of jet lag, which dramatically affect their efficiency in the meeting. Therefore, a MATLAB-based searching algorithm (MSA) is proposed in this study to determine the meeting location for the international meeting. In MSA, two criterions including satisfaction of overall productivity of the meeting and the total costs are set up to choose the suitable cities. Three indexes including time-zone, average temperature and average precipitation are selected to represent the satisfaction of productivity. The total cost of the meeting contains the costs for flight and living. The list of recommended cities can be generated by searching a database established in the algorithm though MATLAB.

Circadian rhythms of micturition during jet lag.

Micturition behavior follows regular day/night fluctuations, and unwanted increase in micturition could occur during night in jet lag condition. To clarify the effect of jet lag on micturition behavior, we simultaneously detected circadian micturition patterns and locomotor activity rhythms of mice under experimental jet lag conditions, by applying the improved automated Voided Stain on Paper (aVSOP) method. When wild-type (WT) mice were phase-advanced for 8 hours, day-night variation of micturition was disrupted suddenly, and this irregular daily micturition continued until 8 days, although their activity rhythms entrained gradually day by day until 8 days. We also examined how jet lag induced changes of micturition in Per-null mice lacking Per1, Per2 and Per3 genes, whose endogenous clock is completely disrupted. We found both micturition and locomotor activity of Per-null mice promptly entrained to the new LD cycle. These findings suggest that the irregular micturition during jet lag is caused along with the gradual shift of the endogenous clock, and paradoxically, jet lag-associated abnormality was absent when endogenous circadian oscillations were genetically disrupted.

Jet lag: Heuristics and therapeutics

Jet lag is one of those common medical problems, to which most people don’t give a serious thought. However, it is intricately intertwined with our normal circadian rhythm. It is classified as a sleep disorder. There is also a dearth of good scientific literature, not to mention clinical trials on the subject. Slowly but steadily, the scientific community is realizing the various deleterious health effects of jet lag and is devising innovative methods to counter them. This narrative review touches upon the etiopathogenesis, clinical manifestations and therapeutic strategies effective against the nagging problem of jet lag.

Rescheduling of meals may ease the effects of jet lag.

Altering mealtimes could be a drug-free way to deal with the effects of jet lag and shift work.

How jet lag impairs Major League Baseball performance

Laboratory studies have demonstrated that circadian clocks align physiology and behavior to 24-h environmental cycles. Examination of athletic performance has been used to discern the functions of these clocks in humans outside of controlled settings. Here, we examined the effects of jet lag, that is, travel that shifts the alignment of 24-h environmental cycles relative to the endogenous circadian clock, on specific performance metrics in Major League Baseball. Accounting for potential differences in home and away performance, travel direction, and team confounding variables, we observed that jet-lag effects were largely evident after eastward travel with very limited effects after westward travel, consistent with the >24-h period length of the human circadian clock. Surprisingly, we found that jet lag impaired major parameters of home-team offensive performance, for example, slugging percentage, but did not similarly affect away-team offensive performance. On the other hand, jet lag impacted both home and away defensive performance. Remarkably, the vast majority of these effects for both home and away teams could be explained by a single measure, home runs allowed. Rather than uniform effects, these results reveal surprisingly specific effects of circadian misalignment on athletic performance under natural conditions.

Does melatonin have a meaningful role as a sleep aid for jet lag recovery?

Does melatonin have a meaningful role as a sleep aid for jet lag recovery?

The global sleep crisis

Sleep A new smartphone app reveals societal influences on sleep habits worldwide. App users tracked light exposure and jet lag effects to see the personalized impact of sleep duration. Taking advantage of the accumulated data, Walch et al. applied mathematical modeling to assess the impact of social

Assessing sleep, travelling habits and jet lag in kite surfers according to competition level

This study evaluated sleep duration, travelling habits and jet lag effects in kite surfers according to their competition level. Ninety-four male kite surfers (34.3 ± 8.8 years) were evaluated through an online questionnaire in order to collect information on training volume, clinical history, anthropometric profile, sleep habits, fluid and fruit intake and jet lag effects on athletic performance. Mean sleep duration was 07 h 19 min ± 01 h 12 min on weekdays with 82.3% sleeping less than 8 h/night. Sleep duration was less on weekdays (p = 0.002) and weekends (p = 0.011) in kite surfers‘ squad members (SM) compared to no squad members (NoSM). Greater jet lag symptoms were reported following west-to-east flights. Kite surfers with SM arrived earlier at the competition destination (p = 0.019), were more likely to implement strategies to minimize travel effects (p = 0.003), but reported more symptoms of jet lag than did NoSM (p = 0.041). Travel effects were positively correlated with the distance travelled and negatively correlated with sleep duration on weekdays and water intake during travel to an international kite surfing competition. Jet lag negatively influenced kite surfers’ athletic performance with greater symptoms following west-to-east travel in both SM and NoSM.

The Rest-q Recovery-stress State To Quantify The Effect Of Jet Lag In Travelling Athletes

PURPOSE: International rugby tournaments require high-performance players to travel long distances from different global locations and over various time zones. The complex effects of intense training programs, rapid environmental changes, jet lag adaptation periods, and fatigue on performance outcomes are relevant concerns. The physical and mental impact of these effects on athlete stress and recovery rates may be considered a key factor in performance. METHODS: In order to assess the jet lag effect, a pilot study was initiated following 5 rugby players during an International Rugby Tournament over a 6 week period after crossing 10 time zones from west to east in order to compete. The Recovery-Stress-Questionnaire for Athletes (RESTQ-Sport), a validated assessment tool in recognising physiological and psychological markers of the recovery-stress state in athletes, was completed 6 times, one week apart: at baseline, before and after each of the four games played and on return. RESULTS: The rugby team lost their first match, which was scheduled during the first week of arrival at their destination. For the group of 5 players the total stress score had an escalating trend, and the total recovery score a declining trend during week 1, week 2 and week 3 respectively. Total recovery-stress state gradually improved towards week 6 compared to week 1 to 3. Individually, the 5 players were influenced differently and adapted differently over different periods of time. The REST-Q response results clearly indicated that the main period for jet lag adjustment and adaptation was quantifiable in the first 2 weeks after travel. CONCLUSIONS: Intense training programs, stress, environmental changes, adaptation to jet lag and fatigue may influence personal and team performance outcomes. Stress and, to an extent, travel adaptation to jet lag is very much an individual mechanism closely related to personality. Athletes are rushed from one peak performance to the other and the recovery phases become too short in the limits of human performance, which may generate a high level of perceived fatigue and general stress. This study showed that the first two weeks of adaption is the most crucial, and special management strategies should be put in place to alleviate the detrimental effects of jet lag.

The Effect of Jet Lag on Postural Stability

Crossing time zones can disrupt our body clock and lead to jet lag. Some studies reported that jet lag affects human physical and cognitive functions. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, none of these studies examined the effects of jet lag on postural stability. Twenty-two healthy young adult males between 23 and 36 years of age who had a round trip flight planned between the United States and Saudi Arabia were recruited. Participants attended one preflight assessment and three post-flight assessments (within 24, 48, and 72 h). Participants were put into two groups, those who did not sleep and those that slept prior to 1st post-test assessment. Participant’s postural stability was assessed using NeuroCom® VSR™ Sport computerized dynamic posturography (CDP). Significant improvements in postural stability were observed in Group 2 during the 2nd post-flight assessments p < 0.05). There was no significant impact on participant’s postural stability while flying westward crossing more than ten time zones.

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Differential activation of the default mode network in jet lagged individuals

Long-term exposure to transmeridian flights has been shown to impact cognitive functioning. Nevertheless, the immediate effects of jet lag in the activation of specific brain networks have not been investigated. We analyzed the impact of short-term jet lag on the activation of the default mode network (DMN). A group of individuals who were on a transmeridian flight and a control group went through a functional magnetic resonance imaging acquisition. Statistical analysis was performed to test for differences in the DMN activation between groups. Participants from the jet lag group presented decreased activation in the anterior nodes of the DMN, specifically in bilateral medial prefrontal and anterior cingulate cortex. No areas of increased activation were observed for the jet lag group. These results may be suggestive of a negative impact of jet lag on important cognitive functions such as introspection, emotional regulation and decision making in a few days after individuals arrive at their destination.

DOES JET LAG CREATE A PROFITABLE OPPORTUNITY FOR NFL BETTORS?

Traveling across multiple time zones, especially from east-to-west so that hours are “lost”, has documented negative effects on athletic performance. Nichols (2012) finds mixed evidence that sports betting markets fail to account for these effects. We reconsider, for the 2005-2010 NFL regular seasons, the “jet lag” hypothesis with more direct methods. We find that closing lines of NFL contests are set irrationally such that the jet lag effect is not appreciated. More importantly, we are the first to document that betting against potential jet lag teams proves to be markedly profitable. This profitability is statistically significant, which is a standard very rarely encountered throughout the literature. Consistent with our conjectures, we find these results to be even stronger when only afternoon games are kept in the sample and when division games are omitted from the sample.