9 research outputs found
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Analysis of the Projections of Melanopsin Expressing Retinal Ganglion Cells to the SCN
Get PDFThe suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) of the hypothalamus is known as the master clock, which controls mammalian circadian rhythms. Located in the brain above the optic chiasm, the SCN entrains to daily environmental light cycles via innervations from the retina. Intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (mRGCs), which express the photopigment melanopsin, send axonal projections down the retinohypothalamic tract (RHT). Each mRGC communicates with neurons in the SCN via boutons, small swellings along its axonal length filled with vesicles containing neuropeptides. The SCN consists of two morphologically distinct regions where synaptic connections of the RHT deliver light information: the core and the shell. In this study we reconstructed the connectome of the mRGC network in the shell and core regions of the SCN using the electron microscopy tag APEX2, and characterized differences in the structures of the two SCN regions using IMOD software to reconstruct 3D images of neurons. Quantification of synaptic strength between mRGCs and the SCN was evaluated by measuring the bouton density and average volume of mRGC synapses. We found that the average bouton volume of the mRGC contacts in the SCN shell are significantly larger than those in the SCN core however, mRGCs make fewer connections in the shell than the core. Reconstruction of the neuronal connections is necessary for the understanding of the flow of information from the retina to the SCN, and this understanding may aid and expedite the development of therapies targeting disruptions in the mammalian circadian rhythms
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PROMIS Scores for Children with Unilateral Congenital Below Elbow Deficiency (UCBED)
Get PDF• Patients with unilateral congenital below elbow deficiency (UCBED) are born with a unilateral transverse deficiency at the level of the forearm.• Based on previous studies, these patients have been shown to have milder than expected disability and their impairment is not reduced by using a prosthesis.• This work resulted in changes in practice regarding prosthetic prescription for children with UCBED. However, it did not address the social stigma caused by this impairment, nor did it provide actionable information to improve the functional deficits that these children experience.• Although PROMIS discerns UE function in other congenital arm differences, results for children with UCBED are not known.• This study evaluates their responses to PROMIS Short Form Upper Extremity Function (UEF), Mobility, and Peer Relationships (PR) domains
Ten-Hour Time-Restricted Eating Reduces Weight, Blood Pressure, and Atherogenic Lipids in Patients with Metabolic Syndrome.
Get PDFIn animal models, time-restricted feeding (TRF) can prevent and reverse aspects of metabolic diseases. Time-restricted eating (TRE) in human pilot studies reduces the risks of metabolic diseases in otherwise healthy individuals. However, patients with diagnosed metabolic syndrome often undergo pharmacotherapy, and it has never been tested whether TRE can act synergistically with pharmacotherapy in animal models or humans. In a single-arm, paired-sample trial, 19 participants with metabolic syndrome and a baseline mean daily eating window of ≥14 h, the majority of whom were on a statin and/or antihypertensive therapy, underwent 10 h of TRE (all dietary intake within a consistent self-selected 10 h window) for 12 weeks. We found this TRE intervention improves cardiometabolic health for patients with metabolic syndrome receiving standard medical care including high rates of statin and anti-hypertensive use. TRE is a potentially powerful lifestyle intervention that can be added to standard medical practice to treat metabolic syndrome. VIDEO ABSTRACT
Ten-Hour Time-Restricted Eating Reduces Weight, Blood Pressure, and Atherogenic Lipids in Patients with Metabolic Syndrome
No full textProtocol for a randomised controlled trial on the feasibility and effects of 10-hour time-restricted eating on cardiometabolic disease risk among career firefighters doing 24-hour shift work: the Healthy Heroes Study
Get PDFIntroduction Career firefighters experience chronic circadian rhythm disruption, increasing their risk of cardiometabolic disease. The recent discovery that eating patterns regulate circadian rhythmicity in metabolic organs has raised the hypothesis that maintaining a consistent daily cycle of eating and fasting can support circadian rhythms and reduce disease risks. Preclinical animal studies and preliminary clinical trials have shown promising effects of time-restricted eating (TRE) to reduce disease risk without compromising physical performance. However, there is a lack of research on TRE in shift workers including firefighters. This study aims to investigate the feasibility and efficacy of 10-hour TRE on health parameters that contribute to cardiometabolic disease risks among career firefighters who work on a 24-hour shift schedule.Methods and analyses The Healthy Heroes Study is a randomised controlled parallel open-label clinical trial with 150 firefighters over 1 year. Firefighters are randomised with a 1:1 ratio to either the control or intervention group. The control group receives Mediterranean diet nutritional counselling (standard of care, ‘SOC’). The intervention group receives the same SOC and a self-selected 10-hour TRE window. After the 2-week baseline, participants enter a 3-month monitored intervention, followed by a 9-month self-guided period with follow-up assessments. The impact of TRE on blood glucose, body weight, body composition, biomarkers (neuroendocrine, inflammatory and metabolic), sleep and mood is evaluated. These assessments occur at baseline, at the end of intervention and at 6, 9 and 12-month follow-ups. Temporal calorie intake is monitored with the smartphone application myCircadianClock throughout the study. Continuous glucose monitors, wrist-worn actigraphy device and questionnaires are used to monitor glucose levels, activity, sleep and light exposure.Ethics and dissemination The study was approved by the Institutional Review Boards of the University of California San Diego and the Salk Institute for Biological Studies. Results will be disseminated through peer-reviewed manuscripts, reports and presentations.Trial registration number NCT03533023; Pre result
Feasibility of time-restricted eating and impacts on cardiometabolic health in 24-h shift workers: The Healthy Heroes randomized control trial.
No full textProtocol for a randomised controlled trial on the feasibility and effects of 10-hour time-restricted eating on cardiometabolic disease risk among career firefighters doing 24-hour shift work: the Healthy Heroes Study
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Feasibility of time-restricted eating and impacts on cardiometabolic health in 24-h shift workers: The Healthy Heroes randomized control trial.
Get PDFOver a quarter of the workforce in industrialized countries does shift work, which increases the risk for cardiometabolic disease. Yet shift workers are often excluded from lifestyle intervention studies to reduce this risk. In a randomized control trial with 137 firefighters who work 24-h shifts (23-59 years old, 9% female), 12 weeks of 10-h time-restricted eating (TRE) was feasible, with TRE participants decreasing their eating window (baseline, mean 14.13 h, 95% CI 13.78-14.47 h; intervention, 11.13 h, 95% CI 10.73-11.54 h, p = 3.29E-17) with no adverse effects, and improved quality of life assessed via SF-36 (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT03533023). Compared to the standard of care (SOC) arm, TRE significantly decreased VLDL particle size. In participants with elevated cardiometabolic risks at baseline, there were significant reductions in TRE compared to SOC in glycated hemoglobin A1C and diastolic blood pressure. For individuals working a 24-h shift schedule, TRE is feasible and can improve cardiometabolic health, especially for individuals with increased risk. VIDEO ABSTRACT
