Chronoecoepidemiology of "strain": infradian chronomics of urinary cortisol and catecholamines during nightly exposure to noise

The Correlation between Serum Cortisol Concentration in Mammals and the Level of Global Seismic Activity

A positive correlation was found between the level of global seismic activity and dynamics of cortisol concentration in blood serum of male rabbits (r=0.33, p=0.01) and Campbell's dwarf hamsters (r=0.38, p=0.04). For a small group of healthy volunteers (n=5), we also found a positive correlation between cortisol levels and the number of major earthquakes, excluding aftershocks (r=0.36, p=0.009) and a negative correlation with IL-18 levels (r=-0.28, p=0.04). The body response to earthquakes is not delayed, and the numerous aftershocks do not seem to affect the biological indicators under study. These facts showed that the earthquakes themselves do not affect the cortisol level via the changes of the environmental parameters. In contrast, the underlying biotropic factor is an unknown trigger responsible for an increase in the number of potent earthquakes. Evidently, it is important to take into account the level of global seismicity as a marker of this trigger provoking the rise of glucocorticoid hormones.

Intensity of 40K Decay Fluctuations an Indicator of an Environmental Factor Determining Infradian Rhythms of Mouse Motor Activity, Circulating Cortisol in Rabbits, and Proliferation of L-929 Cultured Cells

The multi-day dynamics of the intensity of 40K decay fluctuations was compared with motor activity of laboratory mice, circulating cortisol in rabbits, and proliferation of fibroblast-like cultured cells L-929. A positive correlation was established between the intensity of decay fluctuations on the one hand, and total daily motor activity in mice and plasma cortisol level in rabbits, on the other hand. In addition, a negative correlation was observed between 40K decay fluctuations and proliferative activity of the cultured cells. Interestingly, these close correlations were observed not only against the background 4-day rhythm, but also in the time when any rhythmicity was absent. Thus, the intensity of 40K decay fluctuations is an indicator of a biotropic environmental factor that augments motor activity and raises the circulating cortisol in animals and down-regulates proliferation of cultured cells.

About 4-day rhythm of proliferative activity of fibroblast-like cell cultures isn't endogenous and don't depend from the variations of Earth's magnetic field

A study of the 4-day rhythm of the proliferative activity of the embryonic fibroblast-like cells in the logarithmic growth phase was carried out. It was shown that in cell cultures obtained on different days from embryos of different ages, the phase of the 4-day rhythm coincides. In vitro the maxima of the proliferative activity were consistent with the minima of the motor activity of mice. Freezing the culture for 2 or 6 days does not cause a shift in the phase of the 4-day rhythm of cell proliferative activity compare with the unfreezing culture. That indicates the existence of an external synchronizer, which determines the 4-day infradian rhythm of the proliferative activity of embryonic cells. Then we daily thawed samples of single L929 culture of mice fibroblast-like cells for 22 and 17 days and researched the dynamics of its proliferative activity. We also showed 4-day rhythm of the simultaneous increase in the number of cells for all thawed samples. Taking into account that deep freezing of a culture leads to the cessation of all life processes, the fact we obtained indicates an exogenous mechanism of the formation of about a 4-day rhythm of the proliferative activity of cell culture. Variations of the Earth's magnetic field could be one of the external synchronizers of the infradian rhythm. We studied the increase in number of L929 cell in conditions of a magnetic permalloy screen and showed that the magnetic shielding no affect the parameters of the infradian rhythm of L929 cell proliferative activity. So further searches of the external synchronizers are need.

Association of Infradian Rhythms of Motor Activity, Concentration of Glucocorticoid Hormones, and One-Minute-Step Oscillations of Body Temperature with Intensity of Fluctuations of Secondary Cosmic Rays

The study compared the daily mean intensity of one-minute-step fluctuations in intensity of the secondary cosmic rays reflected by neutron count rate and dynamics of body temperature, motor activity, as well as concentration of glucocorticoid hormones in birds and rodents. A positive correlation was established between body temperature oscillations and neutron count rate fluctuations. A similar correlation was observed between physical parameter (neutron count rate), on the one hand, and daily mean motor activity and concentration of glucocorticoid hormones in the animals. The periods and phases of these processes presented in synchronous time series coincided. The facts of simultaneous variations or disturbances of the periods in dynamics of biological and physical parameters attest to their relationships. The study concluded that the infradian rhythms with the periods of 3-5 days depend on some external environmental factor related to fluctuations in intensity of secondary cosmic rays.

Infradian 4-Day Rhythm of Proliferative Activity of L-929 Mouse Fibroblast Culture in the Logarithmic Growth Phase Is Exogenous

We studied the dynamic of proliferative activity of cultured mouse transformed fibroblast-like L-929 cells in the logarithmic growth phase. During a long period (December 5-23, 2020), we revealed a 4-day rhythm of daily increase in the number of L-929 cells with an amplitude not lower than in a culture of embryonic fibroblast-like cells. Hence, the formation of the 4-day rhythm is not associated with the molecular mechanisms of inhibition of proliferation, which are absent in transformed cells. Daily thawing of samples of one culture over 17 days showed the presence of a 4-day rhythm synchronous between all thawed samples and the control cell culture. As deep freezing leads to the cessation of all life processes in cells, the formation of a 4-day rhythm of proliferative activity of cell culture is determined by an exogenous mechanism.

Infradian Modulation of Circadian Rhythm in Small Mammals and Birds under Constant Light

The study examined the infradian rhythms in total motor activity and the periods of "freerunning" circadian rhythm in male C57BL/6 mice and European greenfinch Chloris chloris exposed to constant light. In birds and mice, the motor activity was characterized with inphase 4-day-long rhythm. The periods of free-running circadian rhythms in birds and mice were 23 and 25 h, respectively, and they were modulated with 4-day-long periodicity. The maximal deviations in the period of free-running circadian rhythm from the individual mean levels coincided with the acrophase of 4-day-long rhythm of motor activity in both species.

Infradian Rhythm in Proliferative Activity of a Culture of Embryonic Fibroblast-Like Cells from C57BL/6 Mice

We studied daily dynamics of proliferative activity of embryonic fibroblast-like cells in culture during the logarithmic growth phase. Daily increase in cell count in the culture showed a 4-day rhythm that persisted over 3 weeks of culturing. In cultures from different animals, the phase of this rhythm was synchronous and did not depend on the moment of cell isolation. It can be hypothesized that the 4-day biorhythm of proliferative activity of embryonic fibroblast-like cells in culture is determined by external environmental factors, probably of electromagnetic nature.

Ultradian and Infradian Rhythms in the Dynamic of Testosterone Concentration in the Serum of the White-Breasted Hedgehog Erinaceus roumanicus

The aim of the study was to identify ultradian (intraday) and infradian (multi-day) rhythms in the dynamics of testosterone concentration in the blood serum of white-breasted hedgehogs. Blood sampling was performed from the femoral veins of 12 male hedgehogs. We found ultradian rhythms of testosterone on both sampling dates-March 7-8 (a day length of 11 hours and 15 minutes) and May 10-11 (a day length of 16 hours). An 8-hour rhythm of testosterone concentration has been established. The acrophases were at the same times in both photoperiods and thus independent of sunset times. The study of the infradian rhythms of testosterone was daily carried out on May 22-June 3, at 07:40 to 08:50 and from June 27 to July 7, at 16:15-16:50. It revealed an infradian rhythm of the testosterone concentration with a period of 4-days in both the morning and the evening sampling. According to our previous investigation, the infradian rhythms of testosterone among individual hedgehogs, rodents and primates have the same period. That indicates the common mechanisms for their formation. In case of experimental studies, the phase of ultradian and infradian biorhythms will need to be taken into account because the testosterone concentration in acrophase is 2-4 times higher than in bathyphase.

WHO Environmental Noise Guidelines for the European Region: A Systematic Review on Environmental Noise and Effects on Sleep

To evaluate the quality of available evidence on the effects of environmental noise exposure on sleep a systematic review was conducted. The databases PSYCINFO, PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus, Web of Science and the TNO Repository were searched for non-laboratory studies on the effects of environmental noise on sleep with measured or predicted noise levels and published in or after the year 2000. The quality of the evidence was assessed using GRADE criteria. Seventy four studies predominately conducted between 2000 and 2015 were included in the review. A meta-analysis of surveys linking road, rail, and aircraft noise exposure to self-reports of sleep disturbance was conducted. The odds ratio for the percent highly sleep disturbed for a 10 dB increase in Lnight was significant for aircraft (1.94; 95% CI 1.61-2.3), road (2.13; 95% CI 1.82-2.48), and rail (3.06; 95% CI 2.38-3.93) noise when the question referred to noise, but non-significant for aircraft (1.17; 95% CI 0.54-2.53), road (1.09; 95% CI 0.94-1.27), and rail (1.27; 95% CI 0.89-1.81) noise when the question did not refer to noise. A pooled analysis of polysomnographic studies on the acute effects of transportation noise on sleep was also conducted and the unadjusted odds ratio for the probability of awakening for a 10 dBA increase in the indoor Lmax was significant for aircraft (1.35; 95% CI 1.22-1.50), road (1.36; 95% CI 1.19-1.55), and rail (1.35; 95% CI 1.21-1.52) noise. Due to a limited number of studies and the use of different outcome measures, a narrative review only was conducted for motility, cardiac and blood pressure outcomes, and for children's sleep. The effect of wind turbine and hospital noise on sleep was also assessed. Based on the available evidence, transportation noise affects objectively measured sleep physiology and subjectively assessed sleep disturbance in adults. For other outcome measures and noise sources the examined evidence was conflicting or only emerging. According to GRADE criteria, the quality of the evidence was moderate for cortical awakenings and self-reported sleep disturbance (for questions that referred to noise) induced by traffic noise, low for motility measures of traffic noise induced sleep disturbance, and very low for all other noise sources and investigated sleep outcomes.

Cause-effect relations between 55 kD soluble TNF receptor concentrations and specific and unspecific symptoms in a patient with mild SLE disease activity: an exploratory time series analysis study

BACKGROUND

This integrative single-case study investigated the 12 h-to-12 h cause-effect relations between 55 kD soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor type 1 (sTNF-R55) and specific and unspecific symptoms in a 52-year-old Caucasian woman with mild systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) disease activity.

METHODS

The patient collected her entire urine for 56 days in 12 h-intervals to determine sTNF-R55/creatinine and protein/creatinine levels (ELISA, HPLC). Additionally, twice a day, she took notes on oral ulceration and facial rash; answered questionnaires (VAS) on fatigue, weakness, and joint pain; and measured body temperature orally. Time series analysis consisted of ARIMA modeling and cross-correlational analyses (significance level = p < 0.05).

RESULTS

Time series analysis revealed both a circadian and a circasemiseptan rhythm in the urinary sTNF-R55 data. Moreover, several significant lagged correlations between urinary sTNF-R55 concentrations and SLE symptoms in both directions of effect were identified. Specifically, increased urinary sTNF-R55 concentrations preceded decreased urinary protein levels by 36-48 h (r = -0.213) and, in the opposite direction of effect, increased protein levels preceded increased sTNF-R55 concentrations by 24-36 h (r = +0.202). In addition, increased urinary sTNF-R55 levels preceded increased oral ulcers by 36-48 h (r = +0.277) and, conversely, increased oral ulceration preceded decreased sTNF-R55 levels by 36-48 h (r = -0.313). Moreover, increased urinary sTNF-R55 levels preceded decreased facial rash by 36-48 h (r = -0.223) and followed increased body temperature after 36-48 h (r = +0.209). Weakness, fatigue and joint pain were not significantly correlated with urinary sTNF-R55 levels.

CONCLUSIONS

This study gathered first evidence of real-life, long-term feedback loops between cytokines and SLE symptoms in mild SLE disease activity. Such insights into the potential role of sTNF-R55 in SLE would not have been possible had we applied a pre-post design group study. These findings require replication before firm conclusions can be drawn.

Infradian biorhythms of mitotic activity esophageal epithelium in male Wistar rats

Infradian rhythms of esophageal epithelium mitotic activity were studied in male Wistar rats of two age groups: 35-45 days (prepubertal) and 3-4 months (adults). Studies of the time course of esophageal epithelium mitotic indexes in adult males showed 4- and 12-day biorhythms, while prepubertal rats exhibited only 4-day infradian biorhythms of this parameter. Studies of the mitotic activity over long periods (3 years) showed 4.058- and 12.175-day periodicity of infradian biorhythms for this parameter, presumably due to external exposures synchronizing the biorhythms. Studies of the mean daily values of the Bz component of interplanetary magnetic field during the period of our research (2012-2013) showed rhythmicities analogous to changes in the mitotic activity of the epithelium. The minimum mitotic indexes were detected on the days of the most pronounced negative values of the interplanetary magnetic field Bz component.

Chronobiologically Interpreted Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring in Health and Disease

To detect vascular variability anomalies (VVAs), a blood pressure and heart rate profile around the clock for at least 7 days is a start. As a minimum, measurement every 60 or preferably 30 minutes for a week is needed, to be continued if abnormality is found, to assess the about 24-hour (circadian) variability that exists in all individuals. As a first dividend, one then also obtains a glimpse of 2 of the very many longer-than-circadian periodicities, the biological half-week and week. Certainly if we can have sensors and computer chips in our cars that continuously monitor the pressure over a tire's life, we should be able to do the same job for ourselves for diagnostic and therapeutic decisions. Healthcare today emphasizes wellness with recommendations for exercise and a proper diet, yet these evaluations may not be adequate. BP may be measured at a visit to the doctor or before an exercise session, along with measuring body weight and performing a physical exam. The seeds of disease are planted long before they are visible, and what appears to be normal from a conventional point of view may in fact actually be abnormal. Hidden alterations of physiological function, masked by the body's remarkable adaptive capabilities, may become visible through a new diagnostic and therapeutic realm-chronobiology-that reveals hitherto unseen abnormalities. The tools of chronobiology may yield additional dividends, such as the detection of physiological "loads" related to stress and stress relief and the undesirable effcts of space weather upon personal events such as sudden cardiac death, societal events like terrorism and war, and natural disasters. Chronobiologi cally interpreted automatic ambulatory BP and heart rate (HR) monitoring (C-ABPM) may detect the antecedents of these types of events. C-ABPM is of interest in preventive cardiology, since it reveals new diagnoses as vascular variability anomalies (VVAs) and renders previous conventional diagnoses more reliable, such as that of an elevated BP. These VVAs include MESOR (midline-estimating statistic of rhythm)-hypertension, an elevation of the MESOR, which is diagnosed, like all other VVAs, only after I or preferably several replications of 7-day around-the-clock BP monitoring with available, affordable, and unobtrusive instrumentation. The recommendation for continuous C-ABPM recognizes several principles that constitute inseparably intertwined contributors to severe cardio-, cerebro- and renovascular diease. C-ABPM gauges wear and tear of genetics, physical loads, and in particular mental stress placed upon individuals from "womb to tomb" by daily life, including weather in extraterrestrial space as well as that on earth, as a continuous surveillance paradigm preventing us from flying blind to a change from less than 5% to near 100% in the risk of a stroke within 6 years.

Association between Cold Face Test-induced vagal inhibition and cortisol response to acute stress

Low vagal function is related to several disorders. One possible underlying mechanism linking the vagus nerve and disorders is the HPA axis. Thirty-three healthy male subjects participated in a stress task, while heart rate (HR), respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA), salivary cortisol, and mood were assessed. Vagal function was determined using baseline, stress-induced inhibition, and Cold Face Test (CFT)-induced stimulation. The stress task induced a significant increase in cortisol and HR, a decrease in RSA, and a worsening of mood. A linear regression model with the time from CFT onset until maximum bradycardia as the independent variable explained 17.9% of the total variance in cortisol in response to the stressor (mood: 36.5%). The results indicate that a faster CFT response is associated with reduced cortisol increase and enhanced mood after acute stress. Our data support an inverse relationship between vagal function and the HPA axis.

Transdisciplinary unifying implications of circadian findings in the 1950s

Afew puzzles relating to a small fraction of my endeavors in the 1950s are summarized herein, with answers to a few questions of the Editor-in-Chief, to suggest that the rules of variability in time complement the rules of genetics as a biological variability in space. I advocate to replace truisms such as a relative constancy or homeostasis, that have served bioscience very well for very long. They were never intended, however, to lower a curtain of ignorance over everyday physiology. In raising these curtains, we unveil a range of dynamics, resolvable in the data collection and as-one-goes analysis by computers built into smaller and smaller devices, for a continued self-surveillance of the normal and for an individualized detection of the abnormal. The current medical art based on spotchecks interpreted by reference to a time-unqualified normal range can become a science of time series with tests relating to the individual in inferential statistical terms. This is already doable for the case of blood pressure, but eventually should become possible for many other variables interpreted today only based on the quicksand of clinical trials on groups. These ignore individual differences and hence the individual's needs. Chronomics (mapping time structures) with the major aim of quantifying normalcy by dynamic reference values for detecting earliest risk elevation, also yields the dividend of allowing molecular biology to focus on the normal as well as on the grossly abnormal.