Investigation of the effect of circadian rhythm on the performances of NBA teams

Professional athletes competing in the NBA are frequently exposed to time-zone-shifting travels. These time zone changes may cause circadian rhythm (CR) phase shifts and these shifts affect sportive performance. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of CR phase shifts on the performance of NBA teams. 25016 regular season games across 21 consecutive seasons were included in the CR phase shift calculations. To examine the CR phase shift effect on team performance, teams were divided into three groups regarding Coordinated Universal Time (UTC): the same internal UTC as the local UTC (LS); the internal UTC ahead of the local UTC (LA); and the internal UTC behind the local UTC (LB). With a different approach, teams were divided into another three categories: the same internal UTC as its opponent's internal UTC (OS); the internal UTC ahead of its opponent's internal UTC (OA); and the internal UTC behind its opponent's internal UTC (OB). 24985 game data were used to compare these groups in terms of 25 variables. Statistical analyses were conducted separately for home and away teams. For home games, it was found that LA and OA are the most and LB is the least successful group in winning and scoring performances. For away games, it was determined that LS is the most advantageous group with the best winning percentage. These results revealed that teams from more west may have a CR advantage in regular season home games. However, it is thought that the performance of away teams depends more on travel fatigue than CR phase shifts.

The impact of shift-work light conditions on tissue-specific circadian rhythms of canonical clock genes: insights from a mouse model study

Background: The natural day-night cycle synchronizes our circadian rhythms, but modern work practices like night shifts disrupt this pattern, leading to increased exposure to nighttime light. This exposure is linked to various health issues. While some studies have explored the effects of night shifts on human circadian rhythms, there is limited research on the consequences of long-term exposure to shift-work light conditions. Rodents can provide valuable insights into these effects. This study aimed to examine how short- or long-term exposure to rotating shifts and chronic jetlag affects the core circadian oscillators in the liver and skin of mammals. Methods: C57BL/6J male mice were subjected to simulated shift-work light conditions, including short-term or long-term rotating shifts and chronic jet-lag conditions. Liver and skin samples were collected every four hours over a 24-hour period on the second day of constant darkness. RNA was extracted and qRT-PCR analysis was conducted to measure the circadian gene expression in liver and skin tissues. Circadian rhythm analysis using CircaCompare compared the control group to mice exposed to shift-work light conditions. Results: The liver's circadian clock is significantly altered in mice under long-term rotating shift conditions, with a lesser but still noticeable impact in mice experiencing chronic jetlag. However, short-term rotating shift conditions do not significantly affect the liver's circadian clock. Conversely, all three simulated shift conditions affect the skin's circadian clock, indicating that the skin clock is more sensitive to shift-work light conditions than the liver clock. Compared to the liver, the skin's circadian clock is greatly affected by long-term rotating shift conditions. Conclusions: The study findings indicate more pronounced disturbances in the canonical clock genes of the skin compared to the liver under simulated shift-work light conditions. These results suggest that the skin clock is more vulnerable to the effects of shift-work.

Aripiprazole disrupts cellular synchrony in the suprachiasmatic nucleus and enhances entrainment to environmental light-dark cycles in mice

Many patients with psychiatric conditions, such as bipolar disorder and major depressive disorder, frequently experience disruptions in their sleep-wake cycles. Several case studies and clinical trials have shown that the administration of aripiprazole, a commonly prescribed antipsychotic drug, alleviates the symptoms of circadian sleep disorders in these patients. This improvement may be attributed to the effects of aripiprazole on the circadian central clock, specifically the hypothalamic suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), which regulates various circadian physiological rhythms, including the sleep-wake cycle, in mammals. To examine whether aripiprazole facilitates adaptation to changes in the light-dark cycle, we orally administered aripiprazole to mice and subjected them to jet-lag experiments. Mice receiving aripiprazole were more rapidly entrained to 6 h advanced light-dark cycles. Moreover, we examined the effect of aripiprazole on the cellular rhythms of SCN slice cultures and found that aripiprazole disrupted cellular synchronization in the SCN, thereby accelerating the damping of the SCN rhythm at the population level. Adenosine 3'5' monophosphate (cAMP) assay using a bioluminescence indicator revealed that intracellular cAMP level in the SCN increased following aripiprazole treatment. However, this increase was blocked by pre-treatment with the serotonin 1A receptor (5-HT1AR) antagonist. Based on these findings, we propose that aripiprazole modulates intracellular signaling, including 5-HT1AR-mediated cAMP signaling, and desynchronizes SCN neurons, ultimately leading to enhanced entrainment to phase advanced light-dark cycles in mice. These findings indicate that the improvement in sleep symptoms reported in patients with psychiatric disorders receiving aripiprazole may be due to modulation of the circadian clock. Our study provides novel insights into the potential clinical applications of aripiprazole in patients with various circadian sleep disorders.

Around the world in 16 days: the effect of long-distance transmeridian travel on the sleep habits and behaviours of a professional Super Rugby team

There is a scarcity of research examining the effects of long-distance transmeridian travel (LDTT) on the sleep and match performance of team sport players. To address this, 37 elite male rugby union players from a Super Rugby team undertaking LDTT were recruited. The participants completed validated sleep questionnaires and wore a wrist-worn activity monitor (Readiband™) during a Super Rugby season (including during periods of LDTT crossing 5, 6, and 13 time-zones) to ascertain objective measures of sleep. Sleep measures were compared using mixed model analysis to ascertain the effects of competition and LDTT on sleep. Total sleep time (TST) increased in the days prior to matches, and decreased following matches (accompanied by a later time at sleep onset), particularly when next-day early-morning flights were required. TST was decreased when sleep was attempted during LDTT, except for in the last travel bout where players napped in addition to achieving night-time sleep. TST was also reduced for the night immediately following LDTT, except for in Condition 3 where players delayed wake time and also achieved naps. This study exemplifies the challenges that team-sport athletes face in obtaining regular sleep when LDTT is required.

Development of a Phytomelatonin-Rich Extract from Cultured Plants with Excellent Biochemical and Functional Properties as an Alternative to Synthetic Melatonin

Melatonin is a pleiotropic molecule with multiple and various functions. In recent years, there has been a considerable increase in the consumption of melatonin supplements for reasons other than those related with sleep (as an antioxidant, for anti-aging, and as a hunger regulator). Although the chemical synthesis of melatonin has recently been improved, several unwanted by-products of the chemical reactions involved occur as contaminants. Phytomelatonin, melatonin of plant origin, was discovered in several plants in 1995, and the possibility of using raw plant material as a source to obtain dietary supplements rich in phytomelatonin instead of synthetic melatonin, with its corresponding chemical by-products was raised. This work characterizes the phytomelatonin-rich extract obtained from selected plant material and determines the contents in phytomelatonin, phenols, flavonoids, and carotenoids. Additionally, the antioxidant activity was measured. Finally, a melatonin-specific bioassay in fish was carried out to demonstrate the excellent biological properties of the natural phytomelatonin-rich extract obtained.

The effect of jet-lag on serum concentrations of thyroid stimulating hormone and prolactin: A case report

Introduction

This case report is about the importance of sleeping status for analysis of thyroid hormone stimulating hormone (TSH) and prolactin (PRL) which arose from discordant results of a patient who was referred for serum TSH and PRL testing within 12-hour period after an intercontinental flight.

Case description

An adult male patient was admitted to our laboratory for serum TSH and PRL tests and came back questioning the accuracy of his previous results.

Further investigations

A new analysis with a new sample was offered. His new results were not consistent with his previous results.

What happened

It was revealed that the night before the first sampling, he travelled back to Turkey from The United States of America and came to testing within 12 hours after the arrival.

Discussion

Sleeping status is one of the factors that can affect laboratory results. Intercontinental flights causing jet-lag can alter the secretions of TSH and PRL which are predominantly modulated by thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH).

Main lesson

Travel history and sleeping status are important factors to be evaluated prior sampling for hormone analysis. Patients must be informed about the importance of sampling timing.

Psoriatic and psoriatic arthritis patients with and without jet-lag: does it matter for disease severity scores? Insights and implications from a pilot, prospective study

Background: Jet-lag may affect air-travelers crossing at least two time-zones and has several health-care implications. It occurs when the human biological rhythms are out of synch with respect to the day-night cycle at the country destination. Its effect in psoriasis is missing. We aimed to evaluate the effect of Jet-lag in psoriatic patients' management. Methods: This is a prospective observational study that enrolled psoriatic patients that underwent a flight: patients who experienced jet-lag were compared to patients who did not experience jet-lag. Before the flight, a dermatologist recorded clinical and demographical data with particular attention to Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI) and Disease Activity in Psoriatic Arthritis (DAPSA). Patients performed Self-Administered Psoriasis Area Severity Index (SAPASI), the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) and the pruritus Visual Analog Scale (VAS) scores. After the flight, patients completed the SAPASI, DLQI and pruritus-VAS scores. Results: The sample recruited comprised of 70 psoriatic patients aged 42.4 ± 9.7 years (median 42.5 years). Thirty (42.9%) were males, mean BMI was 25.5 ± 2.2 kg/m2. Average disease duration was 15.2 ± 7.1 years, and 20 (28.6%) subjects had developed PsA. Average hours of flight were 5.4 ± 3.5 (median 3.5 h), with 34 (48.6%) subjects reporting jet-lag. At the multivariate regression analysis, the change in the SAPASI score resulted correlated with jet-lag (regression coefficient 1.63, p = .0092), as well the change in the DLQI score (regression coefficient = 1.73, p = .0009), but no change on the pruritus VAS scale was found. Conclusions: The present study suggests that jet-lag may influence disease severity and DLQI scores, but not itch in psoriatic patients.

Impact of short- compared to long-haul international travel on the sleep and wellbeing of national wheelchair basketball athletes

Currently, very little is known about the impact of short- or long-haul air travel on the sleep and wellbeing of wheelchair basketball athletes. Eleven national wheelchair basketball athletes wore actigraphy monitors prior, during, and after air travel to the United Kingdom. Upon arrival, participants rated their subjective jet-lag, fatigue, and vigor. Individuals traveled to the United Kingdom from different locations in Australia, the United States, and Europe and were categorised according to travel length [LONG (up to 30.2 h) or SHORT (up to 6.5 h)]. Linear mixed models determined effects of travel length on sleep and subjective ratings of jet-lag, fatigue, and vigor. During competition, subjective fatigue and jet-lag were substantially higher (ES = 0.73; ±0.77) and (ES = 0.57; ±0.60), subjective vigor was lower (ES = 1.94; ±0.72), and get-up time was earlier (ES = 0.57; ±0.60) for LONG when compared to SHORT. Travelling greater distances by airplane had a larger effect on subjective ratings of jet-lag, fatigue and vigor, rather than sleep. Irrespective of travel group, sleep and subjective responses were compromised, reflecting the travel requirements, competition-mediated influences, and/or due to a change in environment.

Long-term wheel-running and acute 6-h advances alter glucose tolerance and insulin levels in TALLYHO/JngJ mice

Studies have shown a relationship between circadian rhythm disruptions and type-2 diabetes. This investigation examined the effects of circadian disruption (6-h phase advances) on the progression of diabetes in a type-2 diabetic mouse model -TALLYHO/JngJ - and whether wheel-running can alleviate the effects of the phase advances. 6-h advances alter fasting glucose, glucose tolerance and insulin production. Wheel-running reduced body mass, improved glucose tolerance and reduced insulin in TALLYHO/JngJ and alleviated some of the changes in diabetic symptoms due to 6-h advances. These results indicate that individuals with type-2 diabetes can benefit from physical activity and exercise can be a countermeasure to offset the effects of an acute phase advance.

The circadian timing system: a recent addition in the physiological mechanisms underlying pathological and aging processes

Experimental findings and clinical observations have strengthened the association between physio-pathologic aspects of several diseases, as well as aging process, with the occurrence and control of circadian rhythms. The circadian system is composed by a principal pacemaker in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SNC) which is in coordination with a number of peripheral circadian oscillators. Many pathological entities such as metabolic syndrome, cancer and cardiovascular events are strongly connected with a disruptive condition of the circadian cycle. Inadequate circadian physiology can be elicited by genetic defects (mutations in clock genes or circadian control genes) or physiological deficiencies (desynchronization between SCN and peripheral oscillators). In this review, we focus on the most recent experimental findings regarding molecular defects in the molecular circadian clock and the altered coordination in the circadian system that are related with clinical conditions such as metabolic diseases, cancer predisposition and physiological deficiencies associated to jet-lag and shiftwork schedules. Implications in the aging process will be also reviewed.