Biological Rhythm Research

Chung, Ka-Fai; Kan, Katherine Ka-Ki; Yeung, Wing-Fai

doi: 10.1080/09291016.2012.656247pmid: N/A

The relationship between sleep duration and sleep–wake disturbances and body weight has been under-researched in adolescents. This is a cross-sectional school-based study of 327 adolescents with an average age of 14.5 years. Between-group, correlational, and hierarchical regression analyses were performed to investigate the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and sleep duration, sleep quality, daytime sleepiness, and sleep–wake schedule regularity. There was no significant difference between overweight/obese and normal weight adolescents in sleep quality, daytime sleepiness, sleep duration during the weekdays and weekend, and mean sleep duration; however, overweight/obese adolescents had significantly later bedtimes (average 25 min) during weekends than did normal weight subjects. After controlling for depression and sociodemographic and lifestyle factors, shorter mean time in bed and greater weekend delay in bedtime were independent predictors of higher BMI z-scores. The contribution of chronotype to sedentary lifestyle, eating behaviour, and body weight is worth further investigation.

Stolarski, Maciej; Ledzińska, Maria; Matthews, Gerald

doi: 10.1080/09291016.2012.656248pmid: N/A

The present study explores the relationship between Morningness–Eveningness and five personality dimensions for Time Perspective (TP), representing psychological attitudes toward time. Although these constructs are related to different time horizons (i.e., daytime vs. life-time horizon), existing empirical data regarding their personality and behavioral correlates allows for the prediction that some of the TP dimensions are significantly related to diurnal preference. A sample of 309 university students (30.1% male) aged between 19 and 26 completed the Polish adaptation of the morningness–eveningness questionnaire (MEQ) and the Zimbardo Time Perspective Inventory (ZTPI). Our research confirmed the main hypotheses, that Morningness is positively related to Future TP, whereas Eveningness correlates positively with Present-Hedonistic TP. Moreover, chronotype proved to be significantly related to other TP scales, as well as to the Deviation from Balanced Time Perspective (DBTP) coefficient, an indicator of a balanced time perspective, showing that Morning-types generally tend to express a more adaptive attitude toward psychological time. The possible mechanisms of the relationship, as well as implications for practice and theory are discussed in respect to the obtained data. The paper contributes to the knowledge about the relationship between circadian typology and personality in young adults.

Nikkhah, A.

doi: 10.1080/09291016.2012.656437pmid: N/A

Circadian rhythms of rumen, splanchnic, and peripheral metabolism may be synchronized with endogenous physiological rhythms to maximize ruminant efficiency. Such synchronies are largely led by circadian rhythms of feeding behavior. Post-feeding intake rhythms are important entities of ruminant feeding behavior. Environmental cues such as feeding timing and photoperiod alter feeding behavior by altering postprandial intake patterns. Feed ingestion and natural grazing have evolved to occur mainly around sunrise, afternoon, and sunset. As such, rumination has evolved to occur when no or little eating occurs or overnight. Manipulating feeding time in modern ruminants alters post-feeding rumen fermentation and peripheral metabolism rhythms. An evolutionary literature review on circadian rhythms of ingestion, rumination, digestion, and metabolism enables integration of the most recent discoveries with science of several past decades to develop insights on improving ruminant nutritional management. These serve as a model for other high-producing livestock and humans. A special descriptive emphasis is placed on how feeding timing affects chain physiological rhythms of ingestion, rumination, rumen fermentation, and portal, splanchnic, and peripheral metabolism. Innovative efforts in improving production efficiency in the twenty-first century will consider ruminant behavior in light of the endogenous physiological rhythms of rumen and host metabolism. This will ensure moving toward optimal rumen and animal physiology and health, farm economics, environmental quality, and safe and secure human food supply.

Taj, Saba; Choudhary, Vivek; Parganiha, Arti

doi: 10.1080/09291016.2012.667979pmid: N/A

Fifty-three cancer in-patients (37 males and 16 females) were randomly selected from the Regional Cancer Center, Pt. J.N.M. College, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Hospital, Raipur, India. Rhythms in physical activity (PA) and energy expenditure (EE) were studied non-invasively using Actical (Mini Mitter Co. Inc., USA) and compared with 24 apparently healthy subjects (11 males and 13 females). Data were gathered at 1-min epoch length for at least three to four consecutive days and were analyzed using several statistical techniques, such as Cosinor rhythmometry, ANOVA, Duncan's multiple-range test, and t-test. Most of the cancer in-patients and all control subjects exhibited a statistically significant circadian rhythm in PA and EE. However, the rhythm detection ratio was low among cancer in-patients. Patients had significantly lower 24-h average, lower amplitude, and an earlier acrophase in PA and EE rhythms. Further, significant effect of factor disease was discerned on total activity count (TAC) and total energy expenditure (TEE). TAC and TEE were significantly lower in cancer in-patients as compared to control subjects, irrespective of gender. In addition, a gradual decrement in PA intensity levels from sedentary to vigorous was validated in patients. From the present findings, it can be concluded that the factor disease might alter the temporal profiles of the PA and EE. However, further intensive studies involving more patients are required to reinforce the above conclusion.

Souissi, Nefaa; Chtourou, Hamdi; Zouita, Amira; Dziri, Catherine; Souissi, Nizar

doi: 10.1080/09291016.2012.667980pmid: N/A

The present study was designed to evaluate Ramadan intermittent fasting (RIF) effects on postural control in judo athletes. In a counterbalanced order, 11 male judokas (22.5 ± 2.8 yrs, 173.8 ± 6.9 cm and 70.3 ± 4.4 kg; mean ± standard deviation) were asked to perform three protocols of postural control one week before and during the second week of RIF. The sway velocity was measured during the unipodal (on the right and left foot) and the bipodal (on a firm and an unstable surface) stance with the eyes opened and then with the eyes closed. In addition, the percentage of body weight borne during the weight-bearing squat test by each leg was measured with the judoka standing at 0° (erect position), 30°, 60° and 90° of knee flexion. The results of the present study showed that the sway velocity during bipodal and unipodal stance and the percentages of the body weight were significantly lower during RIF in comparison with that before RIF (p < 0.05). In conclusion, RIF may negatively affect the postural control of judo athletes, which might affect their performances during competitions scheduled in this month. In fact, equilibrium was worthy during RIF in comparison with that before RIF.

Souissi, Mohamed; Chtourou, Hamdi; Hdidar, Rihab; Azaeiz, Rached; Dogui, Mohamed; Souissi, Nizar; Tabka, Zouhair

doi: 10.1080/09291016.2012.667981pmid: N/A

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of three types of chronobiotics on anaerobic performances and their diurnal fluctuations. Twelve physical education students have performed the vertical jump (i.e. squat jump (SJ) and counter movement jump (CMJ)) and the Wingate tests during three consecutive days. They have taken one of three types of sleeping pills (i.e. promethazine (PRO), diazepam (DZP), or phenobarbital (PHE)) or a placebo (PLA) for three successive nights. For each medication, subjects performed four test sessions as follows: at 08:00 h following the first two nights and at 08:00 h and at 17:00 h after the last night. Anaerobic performances during the SJ, CMJ, and the Wingate test were significantly lower after the PRO, DZP, and PHE protocols than PLA at 08:00 h test sessions. However, negative effect of these hypnotics was significantly lower during the PRO test sessions. In addition, the results showed that the three medications have no effect on the diurnal rhythm of short-term maximal performances. In conclusion, PRO may be the appropriate solution for athletes in facing a sleep deprivation induced by anxiety or stress during competition or transmeridian flights by amending the sleep–wake cycle disorders.

Li, Shiping; Hou, Wang; Wang, Yuhui; Cheng, Shuting; Jiang, Zhou; Liu, Yanyou; Xiao, Jing; Guo, Huiling; Wang, Zhengrong

doi: 10.1080/09291016.2012.668006pmid: N/A

It has been widely studied and demonstrated that circadian rhythm, as well as circadian clock genes, plays an important role in many physiological and pathological processes. Period1 (Per1) gene is a core gene in the circadian clock system that is involved in cell differentiation and apoptosis. To verify the role of PER1 on the proliferation of normal cells, we chose NIH3T3 cells to have their PER1 up-regulated by transfecting a Per1 expression plasmid and determining their proliferation rates. Previous studies demonstrated that cell migration could be regulated by matrix metallopeptidase 2 (MMP2), and this MMP2 protein had a relation with the circadian system. To investigate the function of PER1 on tumor cell migration, Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC) cells were chosen to have their PER1 up-regulated, and the MMP2 level and the migration of LLC cells were tested. Our study showed that PER1 overexpression led to MMP2 down regulation in both NIH3T3 and CCL cells and inhibited the proliferation rate in NIH3T3. Migration of LLC cells could also be suppressed by the overexpression of PER1, probably by the down-regulation effect of PER1 on MMP2.

Jelassi, Raja; Ayari-Akkari, Amel; Bohli-Abderrazak, Dhouha; Nasri-Ammar, Karima

doi: 10.1080/09291016.2012.681845pmid: N/A

Samples of fresh adults of two sympatric species, Orchestia montagui and Orchestia gammarellus, from the supralittoral zone of Bizerte lagoon (Northern of Tunisia) at Menzel Jmil (37°13′8″N 09°55′1″E) were housed in a controlled environment cabinet. Locomotor activity rhythms were recorded in individual animals in spring, at a constant temperature of 18 ± 1°C; firstly, under light–dark (LD) cycle and constant darkness (DD), and secondly, under continuous light with high (140 lux) and low (5 lux) luminous intensities during the first and second week, respectively. Results showed that whatever the regimen imposed and species studied, periodogram analysis indicated a circadian rhythm with the presence of ultradian component close to 12 h. Double plotted actograms and wave forms highlighted two different locomotor behaviors; in fact, individuals of O. montagui are active during photophase when placed under LD cycle whereas, individuals of O. gammarellus concentrated their activity during the scotophase. The comparison of rhythm characteristics showed that the highest rhythmicity was observed under entraining condition both for O. montagui and O. gammarellus with 77% and 60%, respectively. Moreover, the most important stability and activity time were better defined under continuous light with high luminous intensity for O. montagui and entraining conditions for O. gammarellus. On the other hand, results showed a highly standard deviation explaining the important intraspecific variation. We concluded thus the presence of diurnal and nocturnal trends adopted by these two talitrids. This strategy allowed these concurrent species to minimize their interactions. These two sympatric species, which have the same food preferences, do not share the same temporal niche. This is a strategy to allow the diminution of interspecific competition intensity. This result is discussed in this paper.

Pradhan, R.K.; Mishra, Rashmi; Nag, Chaynika

doi: 10.1080/09291016.2012.681846pmid: N/A

Sickle cell disease (HbSS) is the most common variant of β-globin gene, resulting from the replacement of glutamic acid by valine at position 6 in the β chain. Under the action of certain factors, such as cold, fever, dehydration, and infections, sickle cell crisis is usually precipitated. The crisis predisposes to aggregation of sickle cells, which may produce vaso-occlusion of capillaries, resulting in pain, swelling, and infarction. In response to inflammation, the liver releases a variety of acute phase proteins. C-reactive protein (CRP) is pentameric hepatocyte protein and is the measure marker of the “acute phase response,” or the formation of plasma proteins in response to an inflammatory stimulus in human. This study is an attempt to document diurnal variations in the level of CRP in sickle cell disease (SCD) patients in steady or crisis state. Saliva samples from SCD, sickle cell trait (SCT), and control subjects were collected continuously over a period of three days. C-reactive protein level was detected using RHELAX CRP Latex kit with the sensitivity of 0.6 mg/dl. When pooled data were subjected for Cosinor rhythmometry, it failed to detect sinusoidality among SCD patients suggesting a constant elevated level of CRP level due to inflammation. However, a statistically significant circadian variation among control and SCT in CRP levels was discerned. Result suggests that although the level of CRP in SCT is comparatively higher than the normal individuals, the CRP contents significantly fluctuate in the absence of chronic inflammation among traits. The rhythm-adjusted mean was found to be significantly higher in SCD (p ≤ 0.005) patients when compared to control and trait subjects. A constant higher level of CRP can also be an indicator of future cardiac complications in SCD patients.

Putilov, Arcady A.; Verevkin, Evgeniy G.; Donskaya, Olga G.

doi: 10.1080/09291016.2012.681847pmid: N/A

The aim of this study was to evaluate the general and specific overlaps between the self-perceived traits of sleep–wake adaptability and personality. The traits were assessed using multi-dimensional emic inventories, the 72-item Sleep–Wake Pattern Assessment Questionnaire and the 148-word Spherical Cube Inventory of Personality Structure. Additionally, 130 of 265 respondents self-reported their sleep history and alertness/sleepiness in the course of total sleep deprivation. The results of the canonical correlation analysis indicated that a set of trait scorings in one domain significantly accounted for trait variation in another domain, but an amount of explained variance did not exceed 10%. The results of correlation and linear regression analyses suggested that lateness traits (chronotype) correlated more weakly with personality traits than either sleepability or wakeability traits (somnotype and trototype, respectively). We also proposed a theoretically grounded approach to classification, generalisation and explanation of the findings of numerous studies on personality correlates of chronotype.