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Wang RR, Hao Y, Chen J, Wang MQ, Zheng RY, Shi LS, He J. Sex differences in the effects of the moon on ischemic stroke incidence: new findings from Beijing, China. Chronobiol Int 2020; 37:935-945. [PMID: 32654529 DOI: 10.1080/07420528.2019.1696811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Stroke is a major cause of death and disability in China, and no therapies have proven effective to prevent it. Popular belief holds that the lunar cycle affects human physiology, behavior, and health. The aim of our study is to determine whether the lunar cycle impacts the incidence of stroke subtypes [intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), transient ischemic attack (TIA) and ischemic stroke (IS)]. We retrospectively extracted the discharge registry data of all patients with first-ever acute stroke hospitalized in the affiliated hospital of Beijing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine during 2002-2015. The onset times of stroke were assigned to four primary lunar phases based on NASA definitions. Chi-square tests and multiple logistic regression analyses were used to estimate the association between the lunar cycle and stroke incidence with adjustment for age, sex and season. A total of 5,965 patients with stroke (4,909 admissions for ischemic stroke IS, 754 admissions for ICH, and 302 admissions for TIA) were evaluated in our study. Subgroup analysis indicated that the admission rates of different sexes for IS tended to have opposite variation during the four moon phases. More female patients were admitted during the new moon than in the first and third quarters, while fewer male patients were admitted during the new moon than in the first and third quarters (χ2 = 15.589, P = .001). Multiple logistic regression analyses revealed that men were more likely to be admitted for IS in the first quarter than during the new moon (odds ratio [OR] = 1.252, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.076-1.456) (P = .004), and a corresponding trend was also identified for the third quarter (OR = 1.235, 95% CI = 1.062-1.437) (P = .006). No significant gender differences were shown in ICH or TIA. No sex difference is obvious during the full moon. Moon phases seem to affect both genders, but in very different ways. It seems that the new moon is a protective factor for male ischemic stroke patients and a risk factor for female ones. Woman tends to be more vulnerable than ever at the new moon, so deserves more attention and care. The mechanisms underlying this observation are worth studying further.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ran-Ran Wang
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine , Beijing, China
| | - Yu Hao
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine , Beijing, China
| | - Jian Chen
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine , Beijing, China
| | - Meng-Qi Wang
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine , Beijing, China
| | - Ruo-Yun Zheng
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine , Beijing, China
| | - Ling-Sheng Shi
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine , Beijing, China
| | - Juan He
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine , Beijing, China
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Andreatta G, Tessmar-Raible K. The Still Dark Side of the Moon: Molecular Mechanisms of Lunar-Controlled Rhythms and Clocks. J Mol Biol 2020; 432:3525-3546. [PMID: 32198116 PMCID: PMC7322537 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2020.03.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2019] [Revised: 02/18/2020] [Accepted: 03/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Starting with the beginning of the last century, a multitude of scientific studies has documented that the lunar cycle times behaviors and physiology in many organisms. It is plausible that even the first life forms adapted to the different rhythms controlled by the moon. Consistently, many marine species exhibit lunar rhythms, and also the number of documented "lunar-rhythmic" terrestrial species is increasing. Organisms follow diverse lunar geophysical/astronomical rhythms, which differ significantly in terms of period length: from hours (circalunidian and circatidal rhythms) to days (circasemilunar and circalunar cycles). Evidence for internal circatital and circalunar oscillators exists for a range of species based on past behavioral studies, but those species with well-documented behaviorally free-running lunar rhythms are not typically used for molecular studies. Thus, the underlying molecular mechanisms are largely obscure: the dark side of the moon. Here we review findings that start to connect molecular pathways with moon-controlled physiology and behaviors. The present data indicate connections between metabolic/endocrine pathways and moon-controlled rhythms, as well as interactions between circadian and circatidal/circalunar rhythms. Moreover, recent high-throughput analyses provide useful leads toward pathways, as well as molecular markers. However, for each interpretation, it is important to carefully consider the, partly substantially differing, conditions used in each experimental paradigm. In the future, it will be important to use lab experiments to delineate the specific mechanisms of the different solar- and lunar-controlled rhythms, but to also start integrating them together, as life has evolved equally long under rhythms of both sun and moon.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriele Andreatta
- Max Perutz Labs, University of Vienna, Vienna BioCenter, Dr. Bohr-Gasse 9/4, A-1030 Vienna, Austria; Research Platform "Rhythms of Life", University of Vienna, Vienna BioCenter, Dr. Bohr-Gasse 9/4, A-1030 Vienna, Austria
| | - Kristin Tessmar-Raible
- Max Perutz Labs, University of Vienna, Vienna BioCenter, Dr. Bohr-Gasse 9/4, A-1030 Vienna, Austria; Research Platform "Rhythms of Life", University of Vienna, Vienna BioCenter, Dr. Bohr-Gasse 9/4, A-1030 Vienna, Austria.
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Raible F, Takekata H, Tessmar-Raible K. An Overview of Monthly Rhythms and Clocks. Front Neurol 2017; 8:189. [PMID: 28553258 PMCID: PMC5428424 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2017.00189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2017] [Accepted: 04/20/2017] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Organisms have evolved to cope with geophysical cycles of different period lengths. In this review, we focus on the adaptations of animals to the lunar cycle, specifically, on the occurrence of biological rhythms with monthly (circalunar) or semi-monthly (circasemilunar) period lengths. Systematic experimental investigation, starting in the early twentieth century, has allowed scientists to distinguish between mythological belief and scientific facts concerning the influence of the lunar cycle on animals. These studies revealed that marine animals of various taxa exhibit circalunar or circasemilunar reproductive rhythms. Some of these rely on endogenous oscillators (circalunar or circasemilunar clocks), whereas others are directly driven by external cues, such as the changes in nocturnal illuminance. We review current insight in the molecular and cellular mechanisms involved in circalunar rhythms, focusing on recent work in corals, annelid worms, midges, and fishes. In several of these model systems, the transcript levels of some core circadian clock genes are affected by both light and endogenous circalunar oscillations. How these and other molecular changes relate to the changes in physiology or behavior over the lunar cycle remains to be determined. We further review the possible relevance of circalunar rhythms for terrestrial species, with a particular focus on mammalian reproduction. Studies on circalunar rhythms of conception or birth rates extend to humans, where the lunar cycle was suggested to also affect sleep and mental health. While these reports remain controversial, factors like the increase in "light pollution" by artificial light might contribute to discrepancies between studies. We finally discuss the existence of circalunar oscillations in mammalian physiology. We speculate that these oscillations could be the remnant of ancient circalunar oscillators that were secondarily uncoupled from a natural entrainment mechanism, but still maintained relevance for structuring the timing of reproduction or physiology. The analysis and comparison of circalunar rhythms and clocks are currently challenging due to the heterogeneity of samples concerning species diversity, environmental conditions, and chronobiological conditions. We suggest that future research will benefit from the development of standardized experimental paradigms, and common principles for recording and reporting environmental conditions, especially light spectra and intensities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florian Raible
- Max Perutz Laboratories, University of Vienna, Vienna Biocenter, Vienna, Austria
- Research Platform “Rhythms of Life”, University of Vienna, Vienna Biocenter, Vienna, Austria
| | - Hiroki Takekata
- Max Perutz Laboratories, University of Vienna, Vienna Biocenter, Vienna, Austria
- Research Platform “Rhythms of Life”, University of Vienna, Vienna Biocenter, Vienna, Austria
| | - Kristin Tessmar-Raible
- Max Perutz Laboratories, University of Vienna, Vienna Biocenter, Vienna, Austria
- Research Platform “Rhythms of Life”, University of Vienna, Vienna Biocenter, Vienna, Austria
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Hou B, Fu Y, Weng C, Liu W, Zhao C, Yin ZQ. Homeostatic Plasticity Mediated by Rod-Cone Gap Junction Coupling in Retinal Degenerative Dystrophic RCS Rats. Front Cell Neurosci 2017; 11:98. [PMID: 28473754 PMCID: PMC5397418 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2017.00098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2017] [Accepted: 03/22/2017] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Rod-cone gap junctions open at night to allow rod signals to pass to cones and activate the cone-bipolar pathway. This enhances the ability to detect large, dim objects at night. This electrical synaptic switch is governed by the circadian clock and represents a novel form of homeostatic plasticity that regulates retinal excitability according to network activity. We used tracer labeling and ERG recording in the retinae of control and retinal degenerative dystrophic RCS rats. We found that in the control animals, rod-cone gap junction coupling was regulated by the circadian clock via the modulation of the phosphorylation of the melatonin synthetic enzyme arylalkylamine N-acetyltransferase (AANAT). However, in dystrophic RCS rats, AANAT was constitutively phosphorylated, causing rod-cone gap junctions to remain open. A further b/a-wave ratio analysis revealed that dystrophic RCS rats had stronger synaptic strength between photoreceptors and bipolar cells, possibly because rod-cone gap junctions remained open. This was despite the fact that a decrease was observed in the amplitude of both a- and b-waves as a result of the progressive loss of rods during early degenerative stages. These results suggest that electric synaptic strength is increased during the day to allow cone signals to pass to the remaining rods and to be propagated to rod bipolar cells, thereby partially compensating for the weak visual input caused by the loss of rods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Baoke Hou
- Southwest Hospital/Southwest Eye Hospital, Third Military Medical UniversityChongqing, China.,Department of Ophthalmology, Chinese PLA General HospitalBeijing, China
| | - Yan Fu
- Southwest Hospital/Southwest Eye Hospital, Third Military Medical UniversityChongqing, China.,Key Lab of Visual Damage and Regeneration and Restoration of ChongqingChongqing, China
| | - Chuanhuang Weng
- Southwest Hospital/Southwest Eye Hospital, Third Military Medical UniversityChongqing, China.,Key Lab of Visual Damage and Regeneration and Restoration of ChongqingChongqing, China
| | - Weiping Liu
- Southwest Hospital/Southwest Eye Hospital, Third Military Medical UniversityChongqing, China.,Key Lab of Visual Damage and Regeneration and Restoration of ChongqingChongqing, China
| | - Congjian Zhao
- Southwest Hospital/Southwest Eye Hospital, Third Military Medical UniversityChongqing, China.,Key Lab of Visual Damage and Regeneration and Restoration of ChongqingChongqing, China
| | - Zheng Qin Yin
- Southwest Hospital/Southwest Eye Hospital, Third Military Medical UniversityChongqing, China.,Key Lab of Visual Damage and Regeneration and Restoration of ChongqingChongqing, China
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Ikegami T, Maruyama Y, Doi H, Hattori A, Ando H. Ultradian oscillation in expression of four melatonin receptor subtype genes in the pineal gland of the grass puffer, a semilunar-synchronized spawner, under constant darkness. Front Neurosci 2015; 9:9. [PMID: 25688184 PMCID: PMC4311631 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2015.00009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2014] [Accepted: 01/09/2015] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Melatonin receptor gene expression as well as melatonin synthesis and secretion activities were examined in the pineal gland of the grass puffer, which exhibits unique lunar/tidal cycle-synchronized mass spawing: spawning occurs before high tide on the day of spring tide during spawing season. Melatonin synthesizing activity was assessed by the abundance of arylalkylamine N-acetyltransferase 2 (AANAT2) mRNA. The amount of aanat2 mRNA was low during light phase and initiated to increase after the light was turned off. The secretion of melatonin from primary pineal organ culture was stimulated after the light was turned off and ceased immediately after the light was turned on. The expression levels of four melatonin receptor subtype genes (mel 1a 1.4, mel 1a 1.7, mel1b, and mel1c) showed synchronous variations, and the levels tended to be high during the dark phase under light/dark conditions. These results suggest that the action of melatonin on the pineal gland is highly dependent on light and photoperiod, possibly with stronger action during night time. Under constant darkness, the expression of four melatonin receptor subtype genes showed unique ultradian oscillations with the period of 14.0-15.4 h, suggesting the presence of a circatidal oscillator in the pineal gland. The present results indicate that melatonin may serve local chronobiological functions in the pineal gland. These cyclic expressions of melatonin receptor genes in the pineal gland may be important in the control of the lunar/tidal cycle-synchronized mass spawning in the grass puffer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taro Ikegami
- Department of Chemistry, Biology, and Marine Science, Faculty of Science, University of the Ryukyus Okinawa, Japan
| | - Yusuke Maruyama
- Department of Biology, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University Ichikawa, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Doi
- Shimonoseki Marine Science Museum "Kaikyokan," Shimonoseki Academy of Marine Science Yamaguchi, Japan
| | - Atsuhiko Hattori
- Department of Biology, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University Ichikawa, Japan
| | - Hironori Ando
- Sado Marine Biological Station, Faculty of Science, Niigata University Sado, Japan
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