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These worms have rhythm

A team of researchers has discovered that the worm C. elegans uses a unique system to regulate its development, with a quartet of molecules working in concert to control gene expression. This process shares similarities with human circadian clocks, and understanding how it operates could provide insights into developmental biology.

SourceCold Spring Harbor Laboratory·JournalDevelopmental Cell·DateSep 8, 2023

Sahmyook University researchers identify genes associated with addiction to psychostimulant drugs

Sahmyook University researchers discovered a correlation between methamphetamine-induced behavior and the expression of specific genes in mice models lacking Period 2 gene. They identified 19 genes that were activated only in response to repeated doses of methamphetamine.

SourceSahmyook University·JournalProgress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 7, 2023

Aging alters pancreatic circadian rhythm

Researchers discovered that aging alters the pancreas's circadian rhythm by reorganizing its transcriptome. The study found that fibroblasts play a crucial role in regulating this reorganization, which affects the organ's resilience to aging-related pathologies.

SourceImpact Journals LLC·JournalAging-US·TypeObservational study·DateSep 5, 2023

Classic rock music can be recreated from recorded brain activity

Scientists successfully reconstructed recognizable versions of Pink Floyd's 'Another Brick in the Wall, Part 1' using nonlinear modeling to decode brain activity. The study identified a unique region in the Superior Temporal Gyrus (STG) responsible for rhythm perception, with electrodes from this region crucial for accurate reconstruct...

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Biology·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 15, 2023

Wearable monitor detects stress hormone levels across a full 24-hour day

A new wearable device can track adrenal steroid levels in real-time, providing insights into hormonal rhythms and revolutionizing endocrine disease diagnosis. The U-RHYTHM technology offers a more accurate picture of hormone balance than traditional tests taken at one point, enabling earlier treatment interventions.

SourceUniversity of Birmingham·JournalScience Translational Medicine·TypeObservational study·DateJun 21, 2023

Alcohol and smoking to blame for premature deaths among night owls, 37-year study suggests

A 37-year study in Finland found that evening types have a slightly increased risk of dying compared to morning types, primarily linked to smoking and drinking habits. The study tracked nearly 23,000 twins and found that lifestyle factors, such as alcohol consumption and smoking status, play a significant role in mortality rates.

SourceTaylor & Francis Group·JournalChronobiology International·TypeObservational study·DateJun 16, 2023

In sync? Malaria parasite and human time clocks do align

A study by Florida Atlantic University and Duke University reveals that the malaria parasite's biological clock is 'in sync' with its human host's circadian clock. The researchers discovered a 'coupling' mechanism between the parasite and its host, which could lead to new treatments for this deadly disease.

SourceFlorida Atlantic University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 7, 2023

Liver cells control our biological clock

Researchers from CNRS discover that liver cells control the biological clock in mammals, synchronizing peripheral clocks. This finding suggests a connection between liver health and overall metabolism, with potential implications for metabolic disease and sleep disorders.

SourceCNRS·JournalScience Advances·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 17, 2023

Dissecting the circadian clock in real time

Researchers at UC San Diego and UC Merced developed a high-throughput method to study the circadian clock in real time, shedding light on its internal functions. The study found that kinases play a crucial role in relaying the circadian rhythm from the core oscillator to gene expression.

SourceUniversity of California - San Diego·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 29, 2023

Women working rotating shifts especially likely to be frail, York study finds

A York University study found that rotating shift work is associated with an increased risk of frailty among middle-aged and older workers in Canada, especially for women. The research used a comprehensive approach to investigate the relationship between shift work and frailty, which may be linked to circadian rhythm disruptions.

SourceYork University·JournalJournal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine·TypeObservational study·DateMar 17, 2023

Human body proven to predict mealtimes

A recent study published in Current Biology found that the human body can predict regular mealtimes based on physiological changes. The research team discovered that daily blood glucose rhythms may be driven by both meal size and timing, suggesting a physiological drive for some people to eat at certain times.

SourceUniversity of Surrey·JournalCurrent Biology·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateFeb 22, 2023

Afternoon chemotherapy proved to deliver more desirable results for female lymphoma patients

Researchers found that female lymphoma patients who received afternoon chemotherapy had a 12.5 times reduced mortality rate and a 2.8 times decreased cancer recurrence rate compared to morning treatment. This is due to the body's natural circadian rhythm, which affects white blood cell counts and bone marrow proliferation.

SourceThe Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)·JournalJCI Insight·TypeMeta-analysis·DateJan 27, 2023

Chemotherapy in the afternoon dramatically improves treatment outcomes in female lymphoma patients

Researchers found that female patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma treated in the afternoon had reduced mortality rates and cancer recurrence compared to those treated in the morning. The study suggests that timing chemotherapy delivery according to an individual's circadian clock may improve treatment outcomes.

SourceInstitute for Basic Science·JournalJCI Insight·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateJan 24, 2023

New study on the circadian clock of the fruit fly

Researchers discovered a point mutation in the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster that leads to a temperature-dependent lengthening of circadian clock periods. The mutation affects the nuclear export signal of the PERIOD protein, resulting in its retention in the cell nucleus at higher temperatures.

SourceUniversity of Münster·JournalCurrent Biology·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 29, 2022

Casting light on, and through, your eyelids

Researchers at Osaka Metropolitan University found that closed-eye perception of brightness is remarkably stronger than previously reported, with values up to 10 times higher. The color of the light also affects perception, with red being perceived as brighter and blue as darker.

SourceOsaka Metropolitan University·JournalColor Research & Application·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 19, 2022

Fighting cancer is more efficient at dawn

Researchers at UNIGE and LMU discovered that immune system's anti-tumour activity peaks in the morning. Tumours implanted at night grew faster than those implanted in the afternoon. Administering immunotherapy treatments early morning significantly enhanced their effectiveness, suggesting a new strategy for cancer treatment.

SourceUniversité de Genève·JournalNature·TypeNews article·DateDec 6, 2022

The early bird may just get the worm

A new study from the University of Ottawa reveals that morning types tend to have superior verbal ability, contrary to previous research suggesting that evening types have an advantage. The study found that accounting for factors like bedtime and age, morning individuals outperformed their evening counterparts in verbal intelligence.

SourceUniversity of Ottawa·JournalCurrent Research in Behavioral Sciences·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateNov 4, 2022

Sleep Research Society position statement supports adoption of permanent standard time

The Sleep Research Society advocates for the elimination of daylight saving time and adoption of permanent standard time due to its association with acute sleep loss and chronic circadian misalignment. This can lead to stress, altered metabolism, and inflammation, ultimately resulting in adverse health consequences.

SourceAmerican Academy of Sleep Medicine·JournalSLEEP·TypeCommentary/editorial·DateNov 1, 2022

Time of day might not matter for COVID-19 vaccination

A recent study published in Journal of Biological Rhythms found no association between the time of day when COVID-19 vaccine was received and antibody response. The researchers recruited 332 Japanese participants and measured antibody titers against SARS-CoV-2, with age-specific decreases observed.

SourceHokkaido University·JournalJournal of Biological Rhythms·DateOct 11, 2022