Sleep Deprivation Research Articles

Adherence to Mediterranean diet in Moroccan school-age adolescents: sociodemographic, socioeconomic and lifestyle determinants

BackgroundDespite its benefits, the Mediterranean diet (MD) is abandoned or not adopted by the younger generations in most Mediterranean countries.ObjectiveThe aim here was to examine some factors determining adherence to MD in Moroccan school-age adolescents.Material and methodsA cross-sectional survey was conducted in a school setting among 386 students (148 boys and 238 girls), aged 14 to 18 years, randomly selected and from different socioeconomic strata. A structured questionnaire was used to collect sociodemographic, socioeconomic and lifestyle data. Physical activity was assessed using the short French version of the IPAQ questionnaire. The KIDMED test was used to assess adherence to the Mediterranean diet. Weight, height and waist circumference were measured according to WHO standards. Body mass index (BMI) and waist�to-height ratio (WHtR) were calculated. Statistical ANOVA test was used for to compare multiple means, Student’s t-test for independent samples, <i>Chi</i><sup>2</sup> test for categorical variables and multinomial logistic regression analysis to identify factors associated with adherence to the MD amongst adolescents sample.ResultsAdherence to the MD in this population was very low, with nearly 53% having poor adherence and only 7.7% reporting optimal adherence. Multinomial regression analyses showed that poor adherence is correlated with female gender (p=0.042), low paternal education (p=0.004), limited number of meals (p=0.006), advanced age (p=0.005) and inadequate sleep duration (p=0.027). In contrast, better adherence appears to be correlated with a high number of meals per day (p<0.001) and a better socio-professional class of the father (p<0.001).ConclusionsThis study revealed a low prevalence of good adherence to MD confirming a transition of the study adolescents towards a Westernized diet. Targeted nutritional intervention programs should be implemented to improve adherence to the MD among Moroccan adolescents, by promoting healthy eating habits.

The Impact of Sleep Deprivation on Video Head Impulse Test Results.

To investigate the association between sleep deprivation and vestibular dysfunction by Video Head Impulse Test (vHIT). This prospective clinical trial explores the impact of acute sleep deprivation on the vestibular-ocular reflex (VOR) in medical residents. The study involved healthy physicians from diverse medical disciplines. Participants underwent vHIT assessments before and after a 26-h shift. The examinations focused solely on the right lateral semicircular canal. Participants further completed a demographics and fatigue questionnaire, including the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) questionnaire and a Visual Analog Fatigue Score (VAFS). The study involved 30 medical residents. Participants experienced a statistically significant decrease in VOR gain in the right horizontal semicircular canal during a 26-h shift (p < 0.01). While the FSS and VAFS questionnaires showed no significant difference before and after the shift, the analysis of ∆VOR gain indicated a statistically significant increase associated with decreased sleep time during the shift (p = 0.018, 95% Confidence Interval [0.08, 0.68]). The most substantial increase in ∆VOR occurred between 22-26 h of sleep deprivation. No significant differences were observed in ∆VOR between genders, ages, disciplines, department shifts versus emergency room shifts, or years of residency. vHIT can be used as an objective, reliable screening tool for severe sleep deprivation among physicians. The decrease in the VOR gain may indicate that vestibular function is influenced by sleep deprivation. The clinical significance of these findings is still questioned, more studies may help to assess this effect. 3 Laryngoscope, 2024.

Medical and health benefits of noise reduction at Intensive Care Units

Introduction: The presence of excessive noise poses a significant risk to the overall well-being and health of individuals. The presence of elevated noise levels within Intensive Care Units (ICUs) has the potential to exert detrimental effects on both the well-being of patients and the healthcare personnel. The aim of this study: This study aims to gather knowledge about the effects of noise pollution on patient’s wellbeing within Intensive Care Units, analyze various investigations around the world and discuss the possible preventive methods of reducing noise and thus sleep disturbances. Materials and methods: This review was based on available data collected in the PubMed database and Google Scholar web search engine using the key words Intensive Care Unit, sleep deprivation, noise pollution Conclusions: Intensive Care Unit noise disrupts patient’s sleep, communication, and increases stress, potentially leading to medical errors and longer recovery times. Addressing this issue is vital, aligning with patient-centered care and holistic therapy trends. Solutions include architectural changes, quieter equipment, staff education, clinical guidelines, and providing earplugs and eye masks for patient comfort. Noise negatively impacts sleep, causing circadian disruptions, cognitive impairments, and health issues. Identifying and mitigating noise sources can significantly enhance patient well-being and treatment outcomes.

Moderated mediation role of trust in authorities by the Kahramanmaras earthquake survivors

ABSTRACT This article examines the moderated mediation role of trust in authorities in the direct and indirect effects of earthquake exposure on psychological distress symptoms (depressive, anxiety and stress symptoms) through somatic fear (sleep loss and increased heart rates). Convenience and snowball sampling methods were used to collect survey data from 552 adult participants (221 men, 331 women) living in the earthquake zone. The independent variable is earthquake exposure, the mediating variable is somatic fear, and the moderating variable is trust in authorities (emergency plans and strategies, government policies, and media information). Factor analysis using structural equation modelling confirmed one factor for fear of earthquake and trust in authorities and three factors for symptoms of psychological distress. Regression results showed that disaster survivors had low trust in authorities in Turkiye. Mediation and moderated mediation results based on the bootstrap method showed that somatic fear mediated the effect of earthquake exposure on depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms and stress symptoms, and trust in authorities moderated the indirect effects of earthquake exposure on stress symptoms through somatic fear. Increased trust in authorities in Turkiye would alleviate psychological distress symptoms among the Kahramanmaras earthquake survivors.

Relationship of chronic low back pain intensity with functional activity, stress and quality of life in working-age adults

Background. Low back pain (LBP) is a global problem in the modern world. A detailed study of the relationship between pain intensity and the indicators with which it may be associated will allow optimising approaches to the treatment and rehabilitation of patients with chronic LBP. The purpose was to eva­luate the relationship between the intensity of chronic LBP and indicators of functional activity, stress and quality of life in subjects of working age. Materials and methods. A survey was conducted among 159 persons aged 18-65 years with LBP lasting more than 3 months. Using a Google-form, the participants were given a questionnaire that included socio-demographic, anthropometric characteristics, lifestyle data, bad habits, physical activity (PhA) and stress levels, quality of life, and impairment. The intensity of pain was measured at the first visit to a PhRM doctor using a visual analogue scale (VAS). Results. The study involved 159 patients, 65.7 % women and 34.3 % men, with a mean VAS pain intensity of 46.5 ± 18.6 mm. A weak positive correlation was found between pain intensity and age (r = 0.30, p &lt; 0.001), but no significant relationship was found between pain intensity and anthropometric parameters. Subjects who smoke, have insufficient PhA and sleep disturbance had higher pain intensity scores (57.6 ± 15.2 mm (p = 0.04), 49.0 ± 18.8 mm (p = 0.12), 49.7 ± 19.9 mm (p = 0.002), respectively). Sitting time more than 6 hours had significant associations with pain intensity (p &lt; 0.001). A weak positive correlation was found between pain intensity on the VAS scale and stress le­vel (r = 0.24, p = 0.002), a moderate positive correlation between pain intensity and impairment (r = 0.36, p &lt; 0.001) and a mo­derate negative correlation between quality of life and pain intensity. ­Conclusions. There was a significant association between pain intensity and age, smoking, sleep disturbance, sedentary work for more than 6 hours, higher stress levels, impaired functioning and lower quality of life.

Acute caffeine supplementation offsets the impairment in 10-km running performance following one night of partial sleep deprivation: a randomized controlled crossover trial

Acute caffeine supplementation offsets the impairment in 10-km running performance following one night of partial sleep deprivation: a randomized controlled crossover trial

Environmental Justice and Sustainable Development: Cumulative Environmental Exposures and All-Cause Mortality in Colorado Counties

(1) Background: Colorado’s (CO) Environmental Justice mapping tool, CO EnviroScreen, quantifies environmental injustices through “EnviroScreen Scores”, highlighting areas likely affected by environmental health disparities. Identifying the specific scores most strongly associated with mortality could help prioritize interventions and allocate resources to address these issues. This study contributes to sustainable development goals by examining the relationship between environmental justice indicators and population health outcomes. By utilizing the CO EnviroScreen tool, we assess how cumulative environmental exposures and vulnerabilities impact mortality rates, providing insights for sustainable planning and public health policies. (2) Methods: We assessed the cross-sectional association between county-level all-cause mortality rates in CO, using 2019 data from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, and three county-level component scores obtained from CO EnviroScreen: sensitive populations (i.e., health-related outcomes), environmental exposures (e.g., from air, water, noise), and climate vulnerability (i.e., risk of drought, flood, extreme heat, wildfire). A quasi-Poisson generalized linear model was utilized, incorporating covariates (county-level metrics for insufficient sleep, alcohol overconsumption, physical inactivity, and smoking) to explore associations adjusted for behavioral risk factors (n = 64 counties). (3) Results: The analysis revealed that a 10% increase in the “Environmental Exposures” component score was associated with a 3% higher all-cause mortality rate (95% CI: 1.00, 1.05), highlighting the importance of addressing environmental determinants for sustainable community health. No significant associations were observed for the “Sensitive Populations” or “Climate Vulnerability” component scores. (4) Conclusions: This study provides novel evidence of an association between the CO EnviroScreen score, particularly the environmental exposure component, and all-cause mortality rates at the county level in Colorado in 2019. The findings suggest that cumulative environmental exposures may contribute to geographic disparities in mortality risk, even after adjusting for key behavioral risk factors. These results underscore the importance of integrating environmental justice considerations into sustainable development strategies to promote equitable health outcomes and resilient communities. While our study demonstrates the utility of CO EnviroScreen in identifying areas at risk due to environmental factors, it does not establish a direct link to broader environmental justice outcomes. Further research is needed to explore specific environmental exposures and their direct impacts on health disparities to provide a more complete picture of environmental justice in Colorado.

Sleep restriction exacerbates cardiac dysfunction in diabetic mice by causing cardiomyocyte death and fibrosis through mitochondrial damage.

Diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a cardiovascular complication of diabetes mellitus with a poor prognosis and is the leading cause of death in diabetic patients. Sleep deficiency is not only recognized as an important risk factor for the development of type 2 DM, but is also associated with increased morbidity and mortality of cardiovascular disease. The underlying role and mechanisms of sleep restriction (SR) in DCM are far from clear. The KK/Upj-Ay mouse model of T2 DM was used as a study subject, and the small animal ultrasound imaging system was used to detect the function of the heart; immunopathological staining was used to clarify the histo-structural pathological alterations of the heart; and TUNEL staining, qPCR, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and ELISA kits were used to detect apoptosis, oxidative stress, inflammation, and mitochondrial damage, and related molecular alterations. SR led to a significant increase in mortality, cardiac hypertrophy, necrosis, glycogen deposition and fibrosis further deteriorated in DM KK mice. SR increased cardiomyocyte death in KK mice through the Bax/Bcl2 pathway. In addition to this, SR not only exacerbated the inflammatory response, but also aggravated mitochondrial damage and promoted oxidative stress in KK mice through the PRDM16-PGC-1α pathway. Overall, SR exacerbates structural alterations and dysfunction through inflammation, oxidative stress, and apoptosis in DM KK mice, increasing the risk of death. Clinicians and diabetic patients are prompted to pay attention to sleep habits to avoid accelerating the transition of DCM to heart failure and inducing death due to poor sleep habits.

Secular trends in blood pressure among university students in Japan over the last two decades.

High blood pressure (BP) increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, not only among middle-aged and older adults, but also in young adults. Early interventions for high BP may prevent future organ damage. Therefore, it is essential to monitor BP trends in young adults to support this approach. During the COVID-19 pandemic, a trend of increasing BP was observed worldwide. However, young adults have not been fully evaluated. Therefore, this study examined BP trends among university students (n = 106,691) over two decades, every 5 years from 2003 to 2023, including the period before and after the COVID-19 pandemic. From 2003 to 2018, there were no notable changes in BP. However, following the COVID-19 pandemic, increased BP was observed in both men and women, with systolic BP increasing from 118.1 (SD, 14.2) mmHg in 2018 to 120.6 (SD, 12.5) mmHg in 2023 among men, and from 104.6 (SD, 11.8) mmHg to 105.1 (SD, 11.7) mmHg among women. These trends were particularly pronounced among students with normal and underweight somatotypes and among first- and second-year students. The results of the lifestyle survey showed a decrease in smoking and drinking habits, insufficient sleep, mental stress, consumption of fast food and snacks, and an increase in exercise habits. Although contributing factors to the recent increase in BP were not identified, there was an upward trend in BP among Japanese university students. It is important to carefully observe how BP trends change over the long term following the end of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Transcutaneous Tibial Nerve Stimulation for Quality-of-Life Improvement and Sleep Deficiency in Women with Primary Dysmenorrhea: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Background: Primary dysmenorrhea is a leading cause of chronic cyclic pelvic pain, contributing to a reduced quality of life and sleep disturbances in women. The objective of this study was to assess the effectiveness of transcutaneous tibial nerve stimulation (TTNS) in improving the quality of life, sleep, and overall health perceptions of participants compared to a control group of women with dysmenorrhea over short-term, medium-term, and long-term periods. Methods: A single-blind, controlled clinical trial was conducted, with participants randomly assigned to an experimental group (receiving TTNS) or a control group (receiving sham TTNS). Both groups underwent 12, weekly 30 min sessions using the NeuroTrac™ PelviTone electrostimulation device. Outcomes related to quality of life, sleep deficiency, and overall improvement were evaluated at three time points: short-term (post-treatment), medium-term (1-3 months), and long-term (6 months). Results: Of the 61 participants initially randomized (31 in the experimental group and 30 in the control group), 55 completed the study and were included in the final analysis. A statistically significant improvement was observed in the experimental group in both physical and mental health components, as measured by the SF-36v2® questionnaire, following 12 weeks of intervention, compared to the control group, persisting 6 months after the intervention. Additionally, statistically significant differences in overall improvement were noted between the two groups, as measured by the PGIC questionnaire at the end of treatment (p = 0.0103) and 6 months post-treatment (p = 0.0432). Conclusions: TTNS appears to be a safe and effective strategy for enhancing quality of life and overall health in women with PD, potentially reducing the reliance on pharmacological treatments or more invasive methods.

Assessment of the quality of life of GPs in situations of high epidemic risk

The purpose is to assess the characteristics of the decrease in the quality of life of GPs working in a specialized COVID-19 hospital, a multidisciplinary hospital, and a poly clinic during the pandemic of the novel coronavirus infection COVID-19, as well as early diagnosis, prediction, and prevention of a decrease in the quality of life in this category of medical workers. Material and research methods. The study was carried out on the basis of the Department of Occupational Diseases and Clinical Pharmacology named after honored scientist of the Russian Federation professor V. V. Kosarev, FSBEI HE Samara State Medical University of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, and the Department of Occupational Pathology, Regional Center for Occupational Pathology of the Samara City Hospital No. 5. The study was carried out within the framework of a complex theme «Systematic ap proach to early diagnosis, prevention, and prediction of the impact of low-intensity pro duction factors on workers’ health» of the Department of Occupational Diseases and Clinical Pharmacology named after honored scientist of the Russian Federation profes sor V. V. Kosarev, FSBEI HE Samara State Medical University (state registration number AAAA-A18‑118122190069‑6, registration date — December 21, 2018). The study was approved by the local ethics committee of the FSBEI HE Samara State Medical University of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation on November 23, 2021. The study included the following groups of examined medical workers: group 1 consisted of physicians of internal medicine working in a COVID hospital (in the «red zone») (n = 111); group 2 included GPs working in a multidisciplinary hospital (n = 106); group 3 consisted of GPs working in a polyclinic (n = 102); group 4 was the control group (n = 190) comprising employees of engineering, technical, and economic specialties not relat ed to work in medical organizations (healthy). To assess the psychophysiological state and quality of life of medical workers during the pandemic of the novel coronavirus infection COVID-19, the SF-36 questionnaire [J. E. Ware, 1993], designed to study all components of the quality of life, was used. The obtained data were processed using the Statistica package from StatSoft (USA). Results. The professional activities of GPs providing medical care in the «red zone», mul  tidisciplinary hospitals, and clinics are associated with the exposure of physicians to a number of risk factors in the working environment and the labor process, related to the provision of regular or occasional care to infected COVID-19 patients, which, under con ditions of exposure to an increased level of occupational stress, leads to a decrease in the quality of life in these categories of health workers. The decrease in the quality of life among medical workers in medical institutions of various profiles during the pandemic of the novel coronavirus infection COVID-19 is due to the fact that health workers faced many additional difficulties during this period: sleep deprivation, stress, strain, and chronic fa tigue. Chronic fatigue can affect behavior, communication, learning, and decision-making, which overall leads to a decrease in the qualit y of life of medical workers. Conclusion. Thus, the obtained data indicate that when identifying risk factors for a de crease in the quality of life in medical workers working in situations of high epidemic risk, there is the need to use specialized rehabilitation measures with relaxation techniques, art therapy, as well as professional adaptation programs, physiotherapeutic techniques, such as electrosleep and reflexology, and, if possible, resort treatment in health care centers, local sanatoriums, etc. with visits to psychotherapy offices, as well as psychopharmaco logical medications.

Role of Sleep in Depressive Disorders and the Potential Therapeutic Role of Short-Term Sleep Deprivation and Light Therapy: A Review

Role of Sleep in Depressive Disorders and the Potential Therapeutic Role of Short-Term Sleep Deprivation and Light Therapy: A Review

Intranasal administration of GRP78 protein (HSPA5) counteracts the neurodegeneration in the locus coeruleus in a model of chronic sleep restriction in rats

Chronic sleep restriction (sleep less than 6 hours per day) due to the workload and a decrease in sleep quality is an endemic disease in modern society. Chronic sleep deprivation causes serious neuropsychiatric disorders associated with irreversible neurodegenerative changes in the brain. The search for pharmacological agents that can reduce the risk of neurodegeneration as a result of chronic sleep loss is an urgent task issue for biomedicine. Intranasal administration of glucose-regulated 78 kDa heat shock protein (GRP78) has a neuroprotective effect in a rat model of Parkinson´s disease. The neuroprotective potential of intranasally administered GRP78 in chronic sleep deprivation has not been previously studied. The aim of the study is to find out whether preventive intranasal administration of GRP78 is able to weaken and/or stop the process of neurodegeneration in the locus coeruleus in the model of chronic sleep restriction (SR) in rats. The study was conducted on 6 months old male Wistar rats. For sleep deprivation, a validated method of a swinging platform was used in the mode: 3 hours of sleep deprivation and 1 hour of rest continuously for 5 days. Recombinant human protein GRP78 was administered intranasally two days before the start of SR and during 5 days of SR. Cellular and molecular changes in the locus coeruleus during SR and during the administration of GRP78 were studied using immunohistochemistry and Western blotting. It was shown that chronic SR leads to the degeneration of 30% of noradrenergic neurons in the locus coeruleus, that was associated with an increase in the levels of activated caspases-3 and 9. This indicates the development of apoptosis along the mitochondrial pathway. No signs of reactive microgliosis were found in the model of chronic SR in rats. We have demonstrated that intranasally administered GRP78 penetrates and accumulates in the neurons of the locus coeruleus, GRP78 counteracts the death of neurons along the path of apoptosis. The data obtained allows to consider GRP78 as a potential neuroprotective agent for the prevention of pathological consequences of chronic sleep deprivation.

Predictive Role of Emotion Regulation Flexibility in the Relationship between Self-Efficacy and Sleep Deprivation among Medical Students

The current study was carried out to evaluate the predictive function of emotion regulation flexibility in the association between self-efficacy and sleep deprivation among medical students. The current study also aimed to investigate the demographic differences in these variables. In the present study three instruments, the Emotion regulation questionnaire (ERQ; Gross &amp; John, 2003), the General self-efficacy scale (GSE; Schwarzer &amp; Jerusalem, 1995), and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PISQ; Buysse et al., 1989) were administered on a sample of 500 medical students along with demographic sheet. Study outcomes proved that emotion regulation flexibility has a substantial positive relationship with self-efficacy and both have a negative relationship with sleep deprivation. The results also showed that gender has non-significant differences in self-efficacy. In contrast, significant results in emotion regulation flexibility and sleep deprivation. In contrast, the institutional sector has substantial differences in emotion regulation flexibility and self-efficacy while non-significant differences in sleep deprivation. Results also concluded that social status has significant differences in self- efficacy and non-significant differences in emotion regulation flexibility and sleep deprivation. The results also demonstrate that the year of study has substantial differences in sleep deprivation while it has non-significant differences in emotion regulation flexibility and self-efficacy. The results also demonstrate that emotion regulation flexibility significantly predicts self-efficacy in a positive direction.

Sleeping on the edge: Adolescents living at moderate altitude report greater sleep need

PurposeResearch in adults suggests that altitude impacts the restorative properties of sleep and increases risk for mental health concerns. The aim of this study was to extend this research to an adolescent sample to examine how living at altitude may be associated with greater sleep need and mental health symptoms during a period of the life-span when risk for insufficient sleep and mental health difficulties is high. MethodsData were collected from 105 adolescents aged 10–17 years residing at moderate-high altitudes. Parents reported on sociodemographics and adolescent depressive and anxiety symptoms, and adolescents reported on their subjective sleep need and sleep duration. Altitude was calculated using U.S. Geological Survey data. ResultsAdjusting for age, sex, socioeconomic status, rurality, and sleep duration, living at higher altitude was associated with reports of greater sleep need. Altitude was unrelated to mental health symptoms. DiscussionThe majority of adolescents do not obtain the recommended amount of sleep. These findings suggest that adolescents living at moderate-high altitudes may be at further risk due increased sleep need at higher elevations.

Knowledge, attitude, and practice toward sleep hygiene and cardiovascular health: a cross-sectional survey among healthcare workers.

Healthcare workers grapple with distinct challenges, inherent to their profession, making them susceptible to irregular sleep patterns and insufficient sleep, which may further impact their cardiovascular health. This study aimed to investigate the knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) of healthcare workers concerning sleep hygiene and cardiovascular health. A cross-sectional survey was conducted at Yancheng TCM Hospital Affiliated with Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine between July, 2023 and September, 2023. Demographic characteristics, KAP scores, sleep health awareness and habits, and sleep quality were assessed through the questionnaires. A total of 423 valid questionnaires were included in the study. Among these, 215 (50.83%) were aged 35 or below, and 128 (30.26%) reported suffering from chronic insomnia. The mean knowledge, attitude, and practice scores were 43.23 ± 5.67 (possible range: 10-50), 24.53 ± 4.59 (possible range: 9-45), and 20.22 ± 4.46 (possible range: 6-30), respectively. Multivariate analyses indicated that attitude score (OR = 0.890, 95% CI: [0.807-0.981], p = 0.019), sleep health awareness & habits score (OR = 1.847, 95% CI: [1.284-2.656], p = 0.001), experienced chest tightness or heart palpitations (OR = 6.084, 95% CI: [2.172-17.042], p = 0.001), and the presence of chronic insomnia (OR = 5.017, 95% CI: [2.428-10.368], p < 0.001) were independently associated with sleep quality. Healthcare workers had adequate knowledge, negative attitude and moderate practice toward sleep hygiene and cardiovascular health. The findings highlight the need for targeted interventions to address the observed gaps in attitudes and practices, aiming to enhance overall awareness and promote healthier sleep habits among healthcare professionals.

Impact of sleep deprivation on aperiodic activity: a resting-state EEG study.

Sleep deprivation (SD) has been shown to have a negative impact on alertness, as evidenced by behavioral and electroencephalographic studies. Nevertheless, conventional fixed-bandwidth spectral analysis confused the aperiodic and periodic components, and ignored some important periodic parameters (i.e., center frequency, bandwidth). Here, based on a large open access dataset of SD, we employed a standardized process for multiple electrode analysis and group inference. We found that, compared to SC, the aperiodic offset shifted overall after SD, primarily in the occipital region. And this shift was associated with a reduction in subjective alertness. For periodic component, we did not found any power change in alpha rhythm, but there is an increase in bandwidth of alpha. And the increased regions distributed in the occipital and temporal lobes. These findings highlight the potential significance and value of aperiodic parameters in behavioral and electrophysiological researches.

Maternal total sleep deprivation causes oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction in oocytes associated with fertility decline in mice.

Previous studies have shown sleep deprivation is increasingly reported as one of the causes of female infertility. However, how and by what relevant mechanisms it affects female fertility remains unclear. In this study, female mice underwent 72 hours of total sleep deprivation (TSD) caused by rotating wheel or 2 different controls: a stationary wheel, or forced movement at night. Even though, there was no significant difference in the number of eggs ovulated by the TSD mice compared to the control groups. Overall levels of estrogen and FSH were lower throughout the estrus cycle. A total of 42 genes showed significant differential expression in GV oocytes after TSD by RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq). These included genes were enriched in gene ontology terms of mitochondrial protein complex, oxidoreductase activity, cell division, cell cycle G1/S phase transition, as well as others. The increased concentrations of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in germinal vesicle (GV) and metaphase II (MII) oocytes from TSD mice were observed, which might be induced by impaired mitochondrial function caused by TSD. The GV oocytes displayed increased mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) copy number and a significant transient increase in inner mitochondrial membrane potential (Δψm) from the TSD mice probably due to compensatory effect. In contrast, MII oocytes in the TSD group showed a decrease in the mtDNA copy number and a lower Δψm compared with the controls. Furthermore, abnormal distribution of mitochondria in the GV and MII oocytes was also observed in TSD mice, suggesting mitochondrial dysfunction. In addition, abnormal spindle and abnormal arrangement of chromosomes in MII oocytes were markedly increased in the TSD mice compared with the control mice. In conclusion, our results suggest that TSD significantly alters the oocyte transcriptome, contributing to oxidative stress and disrupted mitochondrial function, which then resulted in oocyte defects and impaired early embryo development in female mice.

Associations Between Sleep Disorders and Treatment Response in Service Members With Post-traumatic Stress Symptoms: A Secondary Outcome Analysis

ABSTRACT Introduction Compared with the civilian population, a higher rate of reported sleep apnea exists among military service members resulting in inadequate sleep. Those who experience chronic sleep deprivation may suffer from debilitating problems that may compromise military mission readiness and unit safety. The purpose of the study on which this secondary outcome analysis was based was to evaluate the effect of manual standardized stress acupuncture as an adjunct therapy to an abbreviated form of cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia for sleep disturbances in post-deployment service members. The aim of this secondary outcome analysis was 2-fold: (1) to assess the relationship between sleep disorder symptoms and post-traumatic stress symptoms (PSS) and (2) to determine if the presence of sleep disorder symptoms influenced the effects of acupuncture and cognitive behavioral therapy as compared to cognitive behavior therapy only on PSS) in post-deployment military service members. Materials and Methods The study was a 2-arm, single-center, randomized controlled trial approved by the Naval Medical Center San Diego and the Vanderbilt University Institutional Review Board. It was conducted at the U.S. Naval Hospital in Okinawa, Japan. Participants were active duty service members from all military branches who were stationed in Okinawa. Two measures were used to analyze the data: the Global Sleep Assessment Questionnaire (GSAQ) and the Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist. A Pearson correlation coefficient was calculated to determine the relationship between sleep disorder symptoms (i.e., 11 pre-intervention GSAQ symptoms) and PSS treatment outcomes (i.e., PCL and PTSD clusters). Results Results indicated associations between the GSAQ components and PCL total and PTSD cluster scores. Findings showed that the presence of sleep disorder symptoms influenced PSS treatment response in post-deployment military service members. Conclusions Results from this secondary outcome analysis showed associations between GSAQ components (i.e., excessive daytime sleepiness, working conditions causing inadequate sleep, involuntary movements in sleep, and sadness or anxiousness) and PCL total and PTSD cluster scores (i.e., avoidance, negative cognition and mood, avoidance, and hyperarousal). Furthermore, sleep disorder symptoms such as having stressful working conditions (e.g., shift work), probable obstructive sleep apnea, insomnia, anxiety, and depression influenced PSS treatment responses. This study provided information on the major contribution of sleep disorder symptoms in the treatment of PSS through self-report. Future researchers should consider the use of physiologic measures to further understand the mechanisms of how sleep disorder symptoms affect treatment responses in service members with PSS. Implications for this study may assist clinicians in determining effective PSS treatments for those with OSA and insomnia.

Decoding Ultramarathon: Muscle Damage as the Main Impediment to Performance.

The biological determinants of performance have been well described for running races up to and including the marathon (42.2km). Ultramarathon is more complex. Events range from 50 to 5000km in single or multiple stages, are contested in various environments and terrains, and force athletes to contend with diverse performance-limiting issues such as fueling, hydrating, gastrointestinal distress, muscle damage, and sleep deprivation. Ultramarathons are not simply "long marathons." Nevertheless, scientific developments over the past decade have inched us toward a more complete picture of the psychophysiological factors underpinning performance. In this Current Opinion, we argue that muscle damage and associated fatigue is the main impediment to performance in long ultramarathons; more performance-limiting than aerobic capacity, running economy, or gastrointestinal distress. To assess an athlete's tolerance to ultramarathon-specific muscle damage and fatigue, we propose a lab-based protocol comprising downhill running with pre- to post-exercise measures of muscle contractile function following electrical or magnetic stimulation of the quadriceps muscles or their central nerves, muscle damage biomarkers (e.g., creatine kinase, lactate dehydrogenase, and myoglobin), and muscle morphology via imaging techniques. We close by offering training and racing advice on mitigating the deleterious effects of muscle damage. The twofold aims of this paper are (i) to enable athletes and their teams to better prepare for races and (ii) to help medical personnel identify the physiological milieu most likely to afflict the ultrarunner.