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Performance of machine learning-based models to screen obstructive sleep apnea in pregnancy
The purpose of this study is to improve the performance of existing OSA screening tools for pregnant women with machine learning algorithms. A total of 296 pregnant women who complained of snoring OSA were recruited to complete four traditional OSA screening questionnaires: Berlin, STOP, STOP-Bang questionnaires, and Epworth Sleepiness Scale. OSA status was confirmed using an overnight type III home sleep test. 76 of the participants repeated the procedure at different trimesters, generating a total of 402 records. The participants were randomly split into a training set (n = 207) and a test set (n = 89) in a 7:3 ratio. We applied a logistic regression model to build Mixture of Models for OSA screen (MoMOSA) based on demographic data and selected questions from all the questionnaires. Finally, we transformed the MoMOSA into a new questionnaire with a nomogram. MoMOSA, with 13 features, achieved the highest performance among the traditional questionnaires and built models.
Circadian rhythms in cardiovascular (dys)function: approaches for future therapeutics
The circadian clock is an evolutionarily conserved time-keeper that regulates physiological processes across 24 h. In the cardiovascular system, several parameters, such as blood pressure, heart rate, and metabolism, exhibit time-of-day variations. These features are in part driven by the circadian clock. Chronic perturbation of diurnal rhythmicity due to shift work or irregular social schedules has been associated with an increased risk of hypertension, arrhythmias, and myocardial infarction. This review discusses the impact of circadian rhythms on human cardiovascular health and the effect of clock disruption on the occurrence of adverse cardiac events. Additionally, we discuss how the main risk factors of cardiovascular diseases, such as obesity, sleep disorders, and aging, affect circadian rhythms. Finally, we elaborate on chronotherapy as well as on targeting the clock and highlight novel approaches to translate our scientific understanding of the circadian clock into clinical practice.
Circadian disruption by simulated shift work aggravates periodontitis via orchestrating BMAL1 and GSDMD-mediated pyroptosis
Approximately 20% to 30% of the global workforce is engaged in shift work. As a significant cause of circadian disruption, shift work is closely associated with an increased risk for periodontitis. Nevertheless, how shift work-related circadian disruption functions in periodontitis remains unknown. Herein, we employed a simulated shift work model constructed by controlling the environmental light-dark cycles and revealed that shift work-related circadian disruption exacerbated the progression of experimental periodontitis. RNA sequencing and in vitro experiments indicated that downregulation of the core circadian protein brain and muscle ARNT-like protein 1 (BMAL1) and activation of the Gasdermin D (GSDMD)-mediated pyroptosis were involved in the pathogenesis of that. Mechanically, BMAL1 regulated GSDMD-mediated pyroptosis by suppressing NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome signaling through modulating nuclear receptor subfamily 1 group D member 1 (NR1D1), and inhibiting Gsdmd transcription via directly binding to the E-box elements in its promoter. GSDMD-mediated pyroptosis accelerated periodontitis progression, whereas downregulated BMAL1 under circadian disruption further aggravated periodontal destruction by increasing GSDMD activity. And restoring the level of BMAL1 by circadian recovery and SR8278 injection alleviated simulated shift work-exacerbated periodontitis via lessening GSDMD-mediated pyroptosis. These findings provide new evidence and potential interventional targets for circadian disruption-accelerated periodontitis.
A prospective study to investigate circadian rhythms as health indicator in women’s aging
The circadian clock plays a crucial role in regulating the timing of numerous physiological processes. Its dysregulation has severe implications for the organism’s homeostasis and is among the main characteristics of aging. As women age and transition through menopause, disruptions in circadian rhythms may occur, leading to symptoms such as insomnia, mood changes, or altered energy levels. In this prospective non-randomized cohort study, we seek to characterize and better understand circadian clock alterations in women across various stages of their reproductive cycle, both with and without daily routine alterations (e.g., specific diet, light exposure). Understanding the intricate relationship between circadian rhythms and female health during the aging process is essential for developing targeted interventions to mitigate symptoms and promote overall well-being in menopausal women. Findings from this study will be used to devise tailored circadian rhythm assessments and interventions for women, facilitating the alleviation of menopause-related symptoms and promoting healthy aging.
Dissecting the complexity of local and systemic circadian communication in plants
The plant circadian clock regulates daily and seasonal rhythms of key biological processes, from growth and development to metabolism and physiology. Recent circadian research is moving beyond whole plants to specific cells, tissues, and organs. In this review, we summarize our understanding of circadian organization in plants, with a focus on communication and synchronization between circadian oscillators, also known as circadian coupling. We describe the different strengths of intercellular coupling and highlight recent advances supporting interorgan communication. Experimental and mathematical evidence suggests that plants precisely balance both the circadian autonomy of individual cellular clocks and synchronization between neighboring cells and across distal tissues and organs. This complex organization has probably evolved to optimize the specific functions of each cell type, tissue, or organ while sustaining global circadian coordination. Circadian coordination may be essential for proper regulation of growth, development, and responses to specific environmental conditions.
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