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According to the United Nations, by 2050, one in six individuals will be over age 65 globally, and one in four people would be aged 65 and older in western countries. The unprecedented growth of the aging population is associated with increased age-related disorders like Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Mild cognitive impairment (MCI). To date, no cure is known for AD, thus lifestyle interventions including calorie restriction (CR) and time-restricted eating (TRE) are proposed as potential approach to delay the onset and progression of the disease. Sleep disturbances are common in people with MCI and AD. Moreover, accumulating data indicates that pro-inflammatory cytokines including tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-6, IL-8 and IL-10 increase in individuals with AD and MCI versus healthy subjects. Thus, the purpose of the present review is to describe the potential effects of TRE on sleep, cognition decline, and neuroinflammatory markers in humans. Preliminary evidence suggests that TRE may produce neuroprotective effects on cognition and reduce neuroinflammatory markers related to AD in humans. To date, no studies investigated the effects of TRE on sleep disturbances and patients with AD. Thereby, the impact of TRE on cognition in individuals with cognitive decline and AD needs to be investigated further in randomized controlled trials (RCTs).

More than any other infectious disease epidemic, the COVID-19 pandemic has been characterized by the generation of large volumes of viral genomic data at an incredible pace due to recent advances in high-throughput sequencing technologies, the rapid global spread of SARS-CoV-2, and its persistent threat to public health. However, distinguishing the most epidemiologically relevant information encoded in these vast amounts of data requires substantial effort across the research and public health communities. Studies of SARS-CoV-2 genomes have been critical in tracking the spread of variants and understanding its epidemic dynamics, and may prove crucial for controlling future epidemics and alleviating significant public health burdens. Together, genomic data and bioinformatics methods enable broad-scale investigations of the spread of SARS-CoV-2 at the local, national, and global scales and allow researchers the ability to efficiently track the emergence of novel variants, reconstruct epidemic dynamics, and provide important insights into drug and vaccine development and disease control. Here, we discuss the tremendous opportunities that genomics offers to unlock the effective use of SARS-CoV-2 genomic data for efficient public health surveillance and guiding timely responses to COVID-19.

Introduction Neonatal abstinence syndrome is a collection of postnatal withdrawal symptoms caused by in-utero exposure to opioids. Despite the high association with prematurity, there is a lack of research informing proper identification of neonatal abstinence syndrome in preterm newborns. Objective To delineate contrast in clinical manifestations of neonatal abstinence syndrome between preterm and full-term newborns, and to explain how common morbidities of prematurity may be responsible for the identified differences. Methods A literature search was undertaken in PubMed, Google Scholar, and PsychInfo. Results Five research studies, discussing neonatal abstinence syndrome symptomatology related to gestational age or morbidities of prematurity, were reviewed. Conclusion Preterm newborns with neonatal abstinence syndrome present in ways that are distinct from full-term newborns and untraceable by diagnostic assessment tool currently available. A better understanding of pathophysiology of neonatal abstinence syndrome in the context of prematurity is necessary in order to improve assessment and intervention outcomes.

Introduction Sleepiness in obstructive sleep apnoea is associated with cardiovascular risk; however, the biological mechanisms are not known. This study explored whether those with subjective sleepiness have increased plasma tumour necrosis factor-related protein 1 (C1qTNF1), a novel adipose-derived hormone (adipokine), and 24-h ambulatory blood pressure (ABP) compared to those without sleepiness in newly diagnosed, treatment-naïve participants with obstructive sleep apnoea. Methods Overall, 94 participants were included in the analysis. Participants completed the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), 24-h ABP was monitored, and plasma C1qTNF1 was measured. Sleepy participants were defined as ESS≥10 and nonsleepy as ESS, Excessive sleepiness experienced by treatment-naïve patients with obstructive sleep apnoea is associated with inflammation, higher daily systolic ambulatory blood pressure and higher 24 h mean arterial pressure https://bit.ly/3goeqGD

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) provides access to healthy food for low-income individuals and households. Food security, however, does not necessarily achieve higher diet quality for beneficiaries. Diet quality is an important consideration for the development and management of chronic illness, a significant public health concern. In this study, we review incentives and disincentives implemented to improve the diet quality, the evidence on SNAP including benefits, challenges, and the politics of funding. New interventions and policies will be needed in order to improve the overall diet quality of SNAP households. SNAP should align with nutritional science to meet national public health goals. Nurses are trusted advocates for patients and the public and are uniquely positioned to aid in this effort. Informed by evidence, nurses willing to leverage their influence, can lead this needed change.

The ability to identify and track T cell receptor (TCR) sequences from patient samples is becoming central to the field of cancer research and immunotherapy. Tracking genetically engineered T cells expressing TCRs that target specific tumor antigens is important to determine the persistence of these cells and quantify tumor responses. The available high-throughput method to profile T cell receptor repertoires is generally referred to as TCR sequencing (TCR-Seq). However, the available TCR-Seq data is limited compared to RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq). In this paper, we have benchmarked the ability of RNA-Seq-based methods to profile TCR repertoires by examining 19 bulk RNA-Seq samples across four cancer cohorts including both T cell rich and poor tissue types. We have performed a comprehensive evaluation of the existing RNA-Seq-based repertoire profiling methods using targeted TCR-Seq as the gold standard. We also highlighted scenarios under which the RNA-Seq approach is suitable and can provide comparable accuracy to the TCR-Seq approach. Our results show that RNA-Seq-based methods are able to effectively capture the clonotypes and estimate the diversity of TCR repertoires, as well as to provide relative frequencies of clonotypes in T cell rich tissues and monoclonal repertoires. However, RNA-Seq-based TCR profiling methods have limited power in T cell poor tissues, especially in polyclonal repertoires of T cell poor tissues. The results of our benchmarking provide an additional appealing argument to incorporate the RNA-Seq into immune repertoire screening of cancer patients as it offers broader knowledge into the transcriptomic changes that exceed the limited information provided by TCR-Seq.

African Americans (AA)s have worse inflammation, worse sleep, and a greater incidence of Alzheimer's disease (AD) compared to whites; however, no studies have examined associations between biomarkers, sleep, and cognition, and differences by race.Seventy-six cognitively normal, middle aged (45-65 years) adults with a parental history of AD were included in this study. Associations between biomarkers (tumor necrosis factor-α [TNF-α], interleukin-10 [IL-10], intercellular adhesion molecule-1 [ICAM-1],, and C-reactive protein [CRP]) and self-reported sleep or cognition measures, were assessed.Average sleep duration was significantly lower for AA versus whites (average[SD]) in hours: 6.02(1.18) versus 7.23(0.91),Longer sleep duration is positively associated with plasma IL-10 levels irrespective of race. Sleep quality was positively associated with CSF ICAM-1 only in African Americans.

Long COVID is defined as the continuation of symptoms for four or more weeks after initial contraction of the virus. This review article examines the role of four select micronutrients (zinc, vitamins C, D and polyphenols) for their anti-inflammatory and therapeutic potential to improve sleep-related symptoms in persons with long COVID.Evidence suggests a link between long COVID and increased inflammation. There are currently no therapeutic interventions for common sleep-related symptoms associated with long COVID. Micronutrients, due to their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, may have a role in the treatment of sleep-related symptoms in the context of long COVID.A narrative literature review was conducted and guided by the PRISMA checklist.All articles were screened from PubMed, ScienceDirect, NCBI or Google Scholar and were limited to human studies. The following keywords were used: 'COVID-19', 'sleep symptoms', 'zinc', 'vitamin C', 'vitamin D', 'polyphenols' and 'micronutrients'.There are currently no studies that examine the usage of micronutrients and its impacts on long-term, sleep-related symptoms post-COVID-19 infection. We focussed our review on prior studies that examined micronutrients in the context of sleep symptoms and inflammation, while exploring the potential for micronutrients to help improve sleep-related symptoms associated with long COVID.There is evidence to suggest that sleep-related symptoms associated with long COVID, such as fatigue and poor sleep quality, are associated with inflammation. Zinc, vitamins C, D and polyphenols all have the potential to improve both inflammation and sleep quality to alleviate symptoms. Future research should further examine these micronutrients in the context of long COVID to improve sleep and quality of life.This article provides implications for clinicians to be at the forefront of research on the usage of micronutrients to improve sleep-related symptoms in persons with long COVID.

Over 6 million older Americans live with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias; Black American older adults’ prevalence is more than twice that of non-Hispanic White older adults. The Black American dementia caregiving experience can be encapsulated within the Black Family Socioecological Context Model, which provides a conceptual basis for examining social determinants of health at individual, family, community, and societal levels with careful consideration for how the intersection of race, gender, and class of Black American dementia caregivers influences the multiple dimensions of their caregiving experiences. Family dynamics, community setting, and health care systems have a potentially bidirectional influence on these caregivers, which is shaped by historical and ongoing systemic and institutional racism and general disenfranchisement. This Forum article outlines how the Social Cognitive Theory offers ways for Black American dementia caregivers to achieve a sense of mastery within the complicated and fraught ecology within which their caregiving occurs. We propose a research agenda to create programs and interventions for enhancing a sense of mastery among Black American dementia caregivers. Two concepts in particular, “constraints” and “efficacy expectations,” provide ways to create a systematic approach to developing successful coping strategies for the constraints perceived by individuals as they undertake and function in the caregiving role. The recognition of the complexity of the caregiving ecosystem and intersectionality of caregivers’ experience and identity emphasize the importance of individualization: Each caregiver’s experience of this ecosystem—and therefore each Black American dementia caregiver’s way to mastery within it—will be uniquely shaped and experienced.

IntroductionAlthough a considerable proportion of Asians in the USA experience depression, anxiety and poor sleep, these health issues have been underestimated due to the model minority myth about Asians, the stigma associated with mental illness, lower rates of treatment seeking and a shortage of culturally tailored mental health services. Indeed, despite emerging evidence of links between psychosocial risk factors, the gut microbiome and depression, anxiety and sleep quality, very few studies have examined how these factors are related in Chinese and Korean immigrants in the USA. The purpose of this pilot study was to address this issue by (a) testing the usability and feasibility of the study’s multilingual survey measures and biospecimen collection procedure among Chinese and Korean immigrants in the USA and (b) examining how stress, discrimination, acculturation and the gut microbiome are associated with depression, anxiety and sleep quality in this population.Method and analysisThis is a cross-sectional pilot study among first and second generations of adult Chinese and Korean immigrants in the greater Atlanta area (Georgia, USA). We collected (a) gut microbiome samples and (b) data on psychosocial risk factors, depression, anxiety and sleep disturbance using validated, online surveys in English, Chinese and Korean. We aim to recruit 60 participants (30 Chinese, 30 Korean). We will profile participants’ gut microbiome using 16S rRNA V3-V4 sequencing data, which will be analysed by QIIME 2. Associations of the gut microbiome and psychosocial factors with depression, anxiety and sleep disturbance will be analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics, including linear regression.Ethics and disseminationThis study has been approved by the Institutional Review Board at Emory University (IRB ID: STUDY00000935). Results will be made available to Chinese and Korean community members, the funder and other researchers and the broader scientific community.

Excessive daytime sleepiness is a debilitating symptom of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) linked to cardiovascular disease, and metabolomic mechanisms underlying this relationship remain unknown. We examine whether metabolites from inflammatory and oxidative stress-related pathways that were identified in our prior work could be involved in connecting the two phenomena.This study included 57 sleepy (Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) ≥ 10) and 37 non-sleepy (ESS 10) participants newly diagnosed and untreated for OSA that completed an overnight in-lab or at home sleep study who were recruited from the Emory Mechanisms of Sleepiness Symptoms Study (EMOSS). Differences in fasting blood samples of metabolites were explored in participants with sleepiness versus those without and multiple linear regression models were utilized to examine the association between metabolites and mean arterial pressure (MAP).The 24-h MAP was higher in sleepy 92.8 mmHg (8.4) as compared to non-sleepy 88.8 mmHg (8.1) individuals (P = 0.03). Although targeted metabolites were not significantly associated with MAP, when we stratified by sleepiness group, we found that sphinganine is significantly associated with MAP (Estimate = 8.7, SE = 3.7, P = 0.045) in non-sleepy patients when controlling for age, BMI, smoking status, and apnea-hypopnea index (AHI).This is the first study to evaluate the relationship of inflammation and oxidative stress related metabolites in sleepy versus non-sleepy participants with newly diagnosed OSA and their association with 24-h MAP. Our study suggests that Sphinganine is associated with 24 hour MAP in the non-sleepy participants with OSA.

OBJECTIVE: Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy reduces circulating intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) in adults with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). ICAM-1 levels may affect the daytime sleepiness and elevated blood pressure associated with OSA. We evaluated the association of changes frombaselineinICAM-1withchanges of objective and subjective measures of sleepiness, as well as 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) measures, following 4 months of CPAP treatment. METHODS: The study sample included adults with newly diagnosed OSA. Plasma ICAM-1, 24-h ABPM, Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), and psychomotor vigilance task (PVT) were obtained at baseline and following adequate CPAP treatment. The associations between changes in natural log ICAM-1 and changes in the number of lapses on PVT, ESS score, and 24-h mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) were assessed using multivariate regression models, controlling for a priori baseline covariates of age, sex, BMI, race, site, smoking status, physical activity, anti-hypertensive medications, AHI, and daily hours of CPAP use. RESULTS: Among 140 adults (83% men), mean (± SD) body mass index (BMI) was 31.5 ± 4.2 kg/m(2), and apnea-hyopnea index (AHI) was 36.8 ± 15.3 events/h. Sleepiness measures, although not ICAM-1 or ABPM measures, improved significantly following CPAP treatment. We observed no statistically significant associations between the change in ICAM-1 and changes in sleepiness, MAP, or other ABPM measures. CONCLUSION: Changes in ICAM-1 levels were not related to changes in sleepiness or ABPM following CPAP treatment of adults with OSA. Future work should explore whether or not other biomarkers may have a role inmediating these treatment outcomes in adults with OSA.

Purpose. Sleep disturbances are prevalent among patients with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), even those who are being treated on Antiretroviral Therapy. It is important to understand the mechanism behind sleep disturbances among HIV patients and its potential link to metabolomics. Methods. A review of recent literature was performed to provide an update on metabolomics, sleep disorders and HIV. Results. There are a lack of studies examining this association, we review 2 studies in the area of metabolomics, sleep disorders and HIV. Conclusion: This paper reviews common sleep disorders in HIV, the existing metabolomics studies that may explain the relationship, and implications for future research. Understanding the role of metabolomics and sleep disorders in HIV will help to elucidate a mechanistic link to improve patient outcomes.

Introduction Sleepiness and cardiovascular disease share common molecular pathways; thus, genetic risk factors for sleepiness may also predict cardiovascular disease risk. This study explored the associations between subjective sleepiness and single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in candidate genes within oxidative stress, inflammatory, and neuronal pathways, which may contribute to sleepiness and downstream cardiovascular disease risk: Cytochrome B-245, Alpha Polypeptide (CYBA), Cytochrome B-245, Beta Polypeptide (CYBB), Neutrophil Cytosolic Factor (NCF2), Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha (TNFA), and Phosphodiesterase 4D (PDE4D). Methods Adults (N = 918) from the general population who were a part of the Sao Paulo Epidemiologic Sleep Study (EPISONO) in Sao Paulo, Brazil, were genotyped using Human Omni Express BeadChip array. The average age was 42 ± 14.5 years, subjects had a mean body mass index (BMI) of 26.9 ± 5.4 kg/m2, and 44% were male. Based on the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), subjects were classified as having sleepiness (ESS ≥ 10) or no sleepiness (ESS Results We observed a novel association between the C allele of the rs12522161 SNP on PDE4D and a decreased likelihood of sleepiness, controlling for covariates and ancestry [OR (95% CI) = 0.64 (0.50, 0.81); p = 0.0002]. Conclusion We present data for a novel genetic association with sleepiness for an SNP on the PDE4D gene, rs12522161.

Introduction Leptin and adiponectin are cytokines produced by adipocytes. Leptin is involved in the pathogenesis of obesity and adiponectin is cardioprotective. Previous studies in adults with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) assessing the effect of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) on these cytokines are conflicting, and whether obesity modifies the effect remains unknown. We examined the baseline and follow up levels of changes in plasma leptin and adiponectin following 4 months of CPAP treatment among obese (BMI>30) and non-obese (BMI≤30) participants. Methods We evaluated 221 adults (84.6% males) in the Penn Icelandic Sleep Apnea (PISA) Study, with mean (±SD) body mass index (BMI) 31.7±4.9 kg/m2 and apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) 35.7±15.6 events/hour. Associations between changes in natural log of the biomarkers in obese and non-obese participants were evaluated, controlling for a priori baseline covariates of age, baseline BMI, race, sex, site, and current smoking status. Results The mean proportional change (from baseline to follow-up) in log-transformed adiponectin and leptin in CPAP adherent participants was not significantly different between BMI groups. The baseline to follow up change in leptin post-CPAP was 1.01 (95% CI 0.95–1.08) in obese participants and 1.05 (95% CI 0.96–1.14) in non-obese participants. For adiponectin, the change post-CPAP was 1.04 (95% CI 0.95–1.15) in obese participants and 1.08 (95% CI 0.96–1.22) in non-obese participants. Conclusion CPAP treatment did not have an impact on leptin or adiponectin levels. We also find no evidence for obesity modifying the effect of four months of CPAP on leptin or adiponectin. Support (if any) 1P01-1HL094307

Victoria M Pak,1,2 S-Hakki Onen,3,4 Nalaka S Gooneratne,4 Bruno Falissard,5 Fannie Onen4–6 1Center for Sleep and Circadian Neurobiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 2Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA; 3CHU Lyon, Hôpital Edouard Herriot, Geriatric Sleep Medicine Center, Lyon, France; 4Division of Geriatric Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA; 5CHU Bichat Claude Bernard, Gériatrie, APHP, Paris, 6CESP, INSERM 1018 & 1178, Université Paris Sud, Paris, France Introduction: There is no established reference standard for subjective measures of sleepiness in older adults. Methods: This study compares the Observation and Interview-based Diurnal Sleepiness Inventory (ODSI) with two existing instruments for measurement of sleepiness and daily functioning, the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) and Functional Outcomes of Sleep Questionnaire (FOSQ). Results: A total of 125 study participants were included in this study and were administered the ODSI, ESS and FOSQ; subjects had a mean age of 70.9 ± 5.27years, mean Apnea–Hypopnea Index of 31.9 ± 27.9 events/hour and normal cognitive functioning (Mini-Mental State Examination score > 24). The ODSI showed a significant association with the ESS (Spearman’s ρ: 0.67, P < 0.001) and with the FOSQ (Spearman’s ρ: –0.52, P < 0.001). The ODSI 1 item (assessing sleepiness in active situations) was borderline significantly correlated with the ESS (β = 0.14; 95% confidence interval [CI], –0.01 to 0.29; P = 0.069). ODSI 2 item (sleepiness in passive situations) was correlated with the ESS (β = 1.65; 95% CI, 1.32 to 1.98; P < 0.001). Both ODSI 1 (β= –0.15; 95% CI, –0.24 to –0.07; P < 0.001) and ODSI 2 (β = –0.35; 95% CI, –0.55 to 0.16; P < 0.001) were significantly correlated with the FOSQ. Conclusion: The ODSI is a suitable measure of sleepiness and is appropriate for usage in clinical care in older adults. Keywords: excessive daytime sleepiness, functional status, sleep disorders, questionnaires

Although the mechanism is unclear, daytime sleepiness, a common sequela of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), has been found to be correlated with a adverse cardiovascular outcomes. Reviewing metabolomics mechanisms of sleep disturbances and cardiovascular disease may help to explain this correlation. This review examines the current literature on the relationships between sleepiness, sleep duration, and metabolites in sleep apnea. Although there is a lack of comprehensive literature in this emerging area, existing studies point to a variety of metabolites in different pathways that are associated with sleepiness and sleep duration. Advancing metabolomics research in sleep apnea will guide symptom research and provide alternate and novel opportunities for effective treatment for patients with OSA.

Introduction Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy may improve insulin sensitivity and glucose tolerance seen in individuals with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), however there is a lack of studies on whether obesity modifies the effect. We examined the baseline and follow-up levels of insulin and glucose following 4 months of CPAP treatment among participants with body mass index (BMI) Methods We identified 221 adults (84% males) with newly diagnosed OSA in the Penn Icelandic Sleep Apnea (PISA) Study, with a mean (±SD) BMI 31.7 +- 4.2 kg/m2 and apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) of 35.7+-15.6 events/hour. Associations between changes in natural log of the biomarkers within BMI groups were explored, controlling for a priori baseline covariates of age, baseline BMI, race, sex, site, and current smoking status. Results The mean proportional change (from baseline to follow-up) in log-transformed glucose in CPAP adherent participants was significantly larger in the BMI ≥35 and 30≤ BMI Conclusion Our findings show that obesity modifies the effect of four months of CPAP on glucose levels. Support (if any) 1P01-1HL094307

Introduction Previous studies have shown that continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy of adults with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) reduces circulating levels of intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1). ICAM-1 levels may affect daytime sleepiness and elevated blood pressure associated with OSA. Our goals were to explore associations between changes in ICAM-1 and objective and subjective measures of sleepiness, as well as 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitor (ABPM) parameters in adults with OSA following 4 months of CPAP treatment. Methods We identified 140 adults with newly diagnosed OSA in the Penn Icelandic Sleep Apnea (PISA) Study, with a mean (±SD) body mass index (BMI) of 31.5±4.2 kg/m2 and apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) of 36.8±15.3 events/hour; 83.3% were males. Plasma ICAM-1 levels, 24-hour ABPM, Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), and Psychomotor Vigilance Task (PVT) measures were obtained at baseline and after 4 months of CPAP treatment. Associations between changes in natural log ICAM-1 and both sleepiness and 24-hour mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) were assessed using multivariate regression models, controlling for a priori baseline covariates of age, sex, BMI, race, site, smoking status, physical activity, use of anti-hypertensive medications, AHI and hours/night of CPAP usage. Results Overall, there was no significant change in ICAM-1 from baseline to follow-up among all participants after 4 months (0.027 ng/ml, p=0.52). There were no statistically significant associations between the change in ICAM-1 and change in sleepiness measures (all p>0.05) or 24-hour MAP (1.124 mm Hg, p=0.07). A nominal association between increased ICAM-1 and increased daytime MAP after 4 months was observed (1.39 mm Hg, p=0.033), although this result was not significant after correction for multiple comparisons. Conclusion Our results do not support changes in ICAM-1 as the biological pathway linking changes in sleepiness or ABPM following CPAP treatment of adults with OSA. Support P01-HL094307 (NHLBI, PI: Pack AI)

STUDY OBJECTIVES Little is known about the effect of lead exposure on children's sleep. This study examined the association between blood lead levels (BLL) and sleep problems in a longitudinal study of children. SETTING Four community-based elementary schools in Jintan City, China. PARTICIPANTS 1,419 Chinese children. MEASUREMENT AND RESULTS BLL were measured when children were aged 3-5 y, and sleep was assessed at ages 9-13 y. Sleep was assessed by both parents' report, using the Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ), and children's report, using an adolescent sleep questionnaire. A total of 665 children with complete data on BLL and sleep at both ages were included in the current study. Mean age of the sample at BLL assessment was 4.74 y (standard deviation [SD] = 0.89) and at sleep assessment was 11.05 y (SD = 0.88). Mean BLL was 6.26 μg/dL (SD = 2.54). There were significant positive correlations between BLL and 3 CSHQ subscales: Sleep onset delay (r = 0.113, P < 0.01), sleep duration (r = 0.139, P < 0.001), and night waking (r = 0.089, P < 0.05). Excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) (26.1% versus 9.0%, P < 0.001) and use of sleeping pills (6.5% versus 1.8%, P = 0.03) were more prevalent in children BLL ≥ 10.0 μg/dL than in those children BLL < 10.0 μg/dL. After adjusting for demographics, BLL ≥ 10.0 μg/dL was significantly associated with increased risk for insomnia symptoms (odds ratio [OR] = 2.01, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.03-3.95) and EDS (OR = 2.90, 95% CI = 1.27-6.61). CONCLUSION The findings indicate that elevated blood lead levels in early childhood are associated with increased risk for sleep problems and excessive daytime sleepiness in later childhood.

Sleepiness and cardiovascular disease share common molecular pathways; thus, metabolic risk factors for sleepiness may also predict cardiovascular disease risk. Daytime sleepiness predicts mortality and cardiovascular disease, although the mechanism is unidentified. This study explored the associations between subjective sleepiness and metabolite concentrations in human blood plasma within the oxidative and inflammatory pathways, in order to identify mechanisms that may contribute to sleepiness and cardiovascular disease risk. METHODS: An exploratory case-control sample of 36 subjects, categorized based on the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) questionnaire as sleepy (ESS≥10) or non-sleepy (ESS

More research is needed to understand possible occupational reproductive risks for cosmetologists, specifically hairdressers and nail technicians, two occupations that often share workspace and exposure to hair dyes and nail polish. Cosmetologists are predominantly females of reproductive age; thus, they may be at higher risk for the effects of exposure to reproductive toxins. The purpose of this article is to inform nurses and public health professionals about occupational exposures for cosmetologists and discuss interventions to reduce the risks of reproductive disorders among susceptible worker populations.

Study Objectives: The primary objective of this study was to describe characteristics of sleep across the three domains of sleep quality, daytime sleepiness, and behavioral alertness in community-dwelling adults with heart failure. The secondary objective was to identify modifiable factors associated with behavioral alertness. Methods: A sample of 280 adults with chronic heart failure was enrolled. Widely used, validated, and sensitive measures of sleep quality ( Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index ), daytime sleepiness ( Epworth Sleepiness Scale, Stanford Sleepiness Scale ), and behavioral alertness ( Psychomotor Vigilance Test [PVT] ) were collected at baseline, 3 and 6 months. Sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, including exercise, were measured at baseline. Results: Participants were primarily male and functionally compromised with a mean left ventricular ejection fraction of 35 percent. The majority of the sample ( 73% ) reported poor sleep quality. The mean ( ± SD ) Epworth Sleepiness Scale score was low ( 7.0 ± 4.6 ), indicating they did not perceive daytime sleepiness. In contrast, behavioral alertness was relatively poor as evidenced by a slow PVT mean response time ( 3.09 ± 0.76 ). Participants who reported exercising at least one hour in the past week were more alert and had faster response times than those reporting no exercise. Conclusions: Although sleep quality was poor and behavioral alertness was compromised, these heart failure patients did not feel sleepy. Exercise may help to promote behavioral alertness and reduce daytime sleepiness in adults with heart failure.

Existing research has demonstrated associations between sleep duration and obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and mortality. Sleep disorders research has shown that sleep apnoea, insomnia and other sleep disorders confer risk for cardiometabolic disease, particularly in the presence of reduced sleep duration. The aim of the present study was to examine the associations between general sleep disturbance, operationalized as 'difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or sleeping too much' as measured in a large, nationally representative sample, and self-reported history of myocardial infarction, stroke, coronary artery disease, diabetes and obesity. Data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System were analysed. Complete data were available for 138,201 individuals. A hierarchical logistic regression analysis examined associations before and after adjustment for demographic, socioeconomic, medical and psychological factors. After adjusting for demographic, socioeconomic and health risk factors, sleep duration was associated with obesity [odds ratio (OR)=1.18, P

High levels of exposure to phthalates have been associated with an increased risk for adverse male fetal reproductive development. Although animal studies have consistently demonstrated reproductive health effects, additional human epidemiological studies are needed to fully understand the potential harm to humans. Recent findings reported for humans have demonstrated endocrine-disrupting action similar to that associated with phthalate exposures in animals. As a result, phthalate exposure is an emerging public health concern that warrants further review. This article explores the state of the science on phthalate exposure, reviews the literature, and provides recommendations occupational health nurses can use to optimize the health of susceptible populations.

The attacks on the World Trade Center in 2001 resulted in hazardous environmental exposures of enormous magnitude, bringing about persistent respiratory and psychological problems among survivors. Approximately 40,000 men and women worked at Ground Zero, the former site of the World Trade Center in New York City, and at the Staten Island landfill, the main wreckage depository, in the days, weeks, and months following 9/11. First responders such as firefighters and police, construction workers, and utility and public sector workers were involved. These individuals were at high risk for injury, respiratory complications, and psychological distress from the traumatic event. This article highlights the controversy surrounding 9/11 research and reports, identifies populations at high risk for exposure, and examines the health effects. Occupational health nurses should not only be empowered to provide the best care for workers affiliated with 9/11, but also contribute to research to protect worker health in future disaster responses.

The attacks on the World Trade Center in 2001 resulted in hazardous environmental exposures of enormous magnitude, bringing about persistent respiratory and psychological problems among survivors. Approximately 40,000 men and women worked at Ground Zero, the former site of the World Trade Center in New York City, and at the Staten Island landfill, the main wreckage depository, in the days, weeks, and months following 9/11. First responders such as firefighters and police, construction workers, and utility and public sector workers were involved. These individuals were at high risk for injury, respiratory complications, and psychological distress from the traumatic event. This article highlights the controversy surrounding 9/11 research and reports, identifies populations at high risk for exposure, and examines the health effects. Occupational health nurses should not only be empowered to provide the best care for workers affiliated with 9/11, but also contribute to research to protect worker health in future disaster responses.

This article presents a review of extant literature that informs our current understanding of the effects of di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) exposure on neonates. Phthalates such as DEHP add flexibility to plastics. DEHP is a major component in the manufacturing of polyvinyl chloride devices commonly used in the healthcare setting. Premature and critically ill neonates and infants in the NICU are exposed to DEHP and may be at an increased risk for adverse health outcomes as a result. DEHP has been shown to be a developmental and endocrine disrupting toxicant and is a major component in polyvinyl chloride plastics, which are commonly found in medical equipment used in the NICU. Potential toxicities to infants in the NICU are a concern because infants' small body size and compromised physical condition necessitate a multitude of medical interventions, each increasing exposure levels. Expanding nurses' knowledge regarding DEHP research is important for implementing a precautionary approach to reduce DEHP exposure among NICU patients.

Personal care items including lotions, perfumes, deodorants, shampoos, and cosmetics are sources of phthalate exposure. Women of childbearing age, children, and beauty salon workers are at greater risk for exposure. Occupational health nurses are in an ideal position to rally support for improved regulatory laws and for funding of evidence-based research that will reduce phthalate exposures and improve client health. Occupational health nurses must support the establishment and implementation of procedures for workplace safety inspections among susceptible populations. Information regarding reduction of overall phthalate exposure must be available for clients. Resources like phthalate-free product lists can be valuable tools in helping clients make informed decisions about alternatives to phthalates.

We aimed to develop a new three-item assessment tool for daytime sleepiness in older adults, the Observation and interview-based Diurnal Sleepiness Inventory (ODSI) and determine its validity, internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and optimal cutoff score.A total of 133 elderly subjects including 73 patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) (mean age, 79 y) and 60 controls (mean age, 80 y) were consecutively enrolled and answered all questionnaires. The ODSI questionnaire was validated using the Epworth Sleepiness Scale considered as a gold standard. Reliability, validity, and cut-points were tested.The ODSI has acceptable validity, internal consistency, and test-retest reliability properties. The ODSI has internal consistency and a reliability coefficient (Pearson rho) of 0.70 for its three items, which suggests strong reliability. The estimated sensitivity and specificity were 0.842 with 95% confidence interval [0.624; 0.945] and 0.851 [0.761; 0.911], respectively. The consistency of summated scale scores during test and retest sessions was high (r = 0.970, 95% bootstrap confidence interval [0.898; 0.991]). Receiver operating characteristic analysis suggests that a cut-point of 6 is effective for identifying older adults with excessive levels of daytime sleepiness.The ODSI is a brief, valid, easy-to-administer three-item assessment that can screen for excessive daytime sleepiness among elderly patients with OSA.

Objectif La somnolence diurne excessive augmente le risque d’accident et de chute, altere les performances au quotidien, impacte l’etat cognitif et perturbe la qualite de vie des patients apneiques âges. Un questionnaire a 3-items (ODSI) base sur entretiens et observations a ete developpe et valide chez le sujet âge de 70 ans et plus qui presente un SAHS obstructif. Methodes Au total, 133 sujets âges dont 73 avec SAHS (moyen d’âge 79) et 60 controles (moyen d’âge 80) ont ete enroles consecutivement et invite a repondre aux questionnaires. L’ODSI a ete compare au questionnaire d’Epworth. La fidelite de mesure, la validite, et le score seuil du questionnaire ONSI ont ete testes. Resultats Le questionnaire ODSI reunit tous les criteres de validite, de consistance interne et de fidelite test-retest. La consistance interne et le coefficient de fidelite sont tres eleves avec un score de 0,70 (Pearson rho). Pour un intervalle de confiance a 95 %, la sensibilite et la specificite sont respectivement de 0,84 [0,624 ; 0,945] et de 0,85 [0,761 ; 0,911]. La stabilite temporelle des scores totaux etait egalement tres elevee pour les sessions de test et de retest, soit (r = 0,970, 95 % bootstrap intervalle de confiance [0,898 ; 0,991]). L’analyse de la courbe ROC suggere un seuil pathologique a 6. Ce score permet d’identifier les sujets âges avec somnolence diurne excessive. Conclusion Le questionnaire ODSI est un outil valide, simple et facile a utiliser pour evaluer la somnolence diurne excessive chez les sujets âges avec SAHS.

Background Elevated levels of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) may contribute to cardiovascular disease and are associated with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and obesity. The relationship between OSA and obesity in determining ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 levels, and the effect of treatment, is unclear. Objective Our aim was to study whether positive airway pressure (PAP) usage resulted in changes in ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 after 2 years within 309 OSA patients from the Icelandic Sleep Apnea Cohort, and determine how obesity affected such changes. Subjects/Methods The mean body mass index (BMI) was 32.4±5.1 kg/m2; subjects had moderate-to-severe OSA (apnea-hypopnea index = 45.0±20.2) and 79% were male. There were 177 full PAP users (≥4 hours/night and ≥20 of last 28 nights), 44 partial (

Occupational health nurses should be cognizant of the myriad exposures that can result in dermal reactions among health care workers.

Occupational health nurses should be cognizant of the myriad exposures that can result in dermal reactions among health care workers.

Habitual sleep duration has been associated with cardiometabolic disease, via several mechanistic pathways, but few have been thoroughly explored. One hypothesis is that short and/or long sleep duration is associated with a proinflammatory state, which could increase risk for cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. This hypothesis has been largely explored in the context of experimental sleep deprivation studies which have attempted to demonstrate changes in proinflammatory markers following acute sleep loss in the laboratory. Despite the controlled environment available in these studies, samples tend to lack generalization to the population at large and acute sleep deprivation may not be a perfect analog for short sleep. To address these limitations, population based studies have explored associations between proinflammatory markers and habitual sleep duration. This review summarizes what is known from experimental and cross-sectional studies about the association between sleep duration, cardiovascular disease, and proinflammatory biomarkers. First, the association between sleep duration with both morbidity and mortality, with a focus on cardiovascular disease, is reviewed. Then, a brief review of the potential role of proinflammatory markers in cardiovascular disease is presented. The majority of this review details specific findings related to specific molecules, including tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukins-1, -6, and -17, C-reactive protein, coagulation molecules, cellular adhesion molecules, and visfatin. Finally, a discussion of the limitations of current studies and future directions is provided.

Over 20 years of evidence indicates a strong association between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and cardiovascular disease. Although inflammatory processes have been heavily implicated as an important link between the two, the mechanism for this has not been conclusively established. Atherosclerosis may be one of the mechanisms linking OSA to cardiovascular morbidity. This review addresses the role of circulating adhesion molecules in patients with OSA, and how these may be part of the link between cardiovascular disease and OSA. There is evidence for the role of adhesion molecules in cardiovascular disease risk. Some studies, albeit with small sample sizes, also show higher levels of adhesion molecules in patients with OSA compared to controls. There are also studies that show that levels of adhesion molecules diminish with continuous positive airway pressure therapy. Limitations of these studies include small sample sizes, cross-sectional sampling, and inconsistent control for confounding variables known to influence adhesion molecule levels. There are potential novel therapies to reduce circulating adhesion molecules in patients with OSA to diminish cardiovascular disease. Understanding the role of cell adhesion molecules generated in OSA will help elucidate one mechanistic link to cardiovascular disease in patients with OSA.

In this article we provide nurses with information on the importance of studying environmental exposures during fetal, infant, and childhood development in the National Children's Study. Nurses should be aware of this study to aid in mitigating the complex health problems that arise from environment–health interactions. Nurses may help to educate the public, patients, and caregivers and are in an ideal position to be strong advocates for policy change and regulatory monitoring and enforcement.

Existing research has demonstrated associations between sleep duration and obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and mortality. Sleep disorders research has shown that sleep apnoea, insomnia and other sleep disorders confer risk for cardiometabolic disease, particularly in the presence of reduced sleep duration. The aim of the present study was to examine the associations between general sleep disturbance, operationalized as ‘difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or sleeping too much’ as measured in a large, nationally representative sample, and self-reported history of myocardial infarction, stroke, coronary artery disease, diabetes and obesity. Data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System were analysed. Complete data were available for 138 201 individuals. A hierarchical logistic regression analysis examined associations before and after adjustment for demographic, socioeconomic, medical and psychological factors. After adjusting for demographic, socioeconomic and health risk factors, sleep duration was associated with obesity [odds ratio (OR) = 1.18, P < 0.0005), diabetes (OR = 1.18, P < 0.005), myocardial infarction (OR = 1.36, P < 0.0005), stroke (OR = 1.22, P < 0.05) and coronary artery disease (OR = 1.59, P < 0.0005). In fully adjusted models that included physical health, significant relationships remained for obesity (OR = 1.14, P < 0.0005), myocardial infarction (OR = 1.23, P < 0.005) and coronary artery disease (OR = 1.43, P < 0.0005). Sleep disturbance is a significant risk factor for obesity, diabetes, myocardial infarction, stroke and coronary artery disease, and effects for obesity, myocardial infarction and coronary artery disease are the most robust after adjustment. This study demonstrates that sleep disturbance is a novel risk factor that is potentially modifiable. Future research should determine whether sleep intervention could reduce the cardiometabolic consequences of sleep disturbance.

High levels of exposure to phthalates have been associated with an increased risk for adverse male fetal reproductive development. Although animal studies have consistently demonstrated reproductive health effects, additional human epidemiological studies are needed to fully understand the potential harm to humans. Recent findings reported for humans have demonstrated endocrine-disrupting action similar to that associated with phthalate exposures in animals. As a result, phthalate exposure is an emerging public health concern that warrants further review. This article explores the state of the science on phthalate exposure, reviews the literature, and provides recommendations occupational health nurses can use to optimize the health of susceptible populations.

Buccal cells are becoming a widely used tissue source for monitoring human exposure to occupational and environmental genotoxicants. A variety of methods exist for collecting buccal cells from the oral cavity, including rinsing with saline, mouthwash, or scraping the oral cavity. Buccal cells are also routinely cryopreserved with dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), then examined later for DNA damage by the comet assay. The effects of these different sampling procedures on the integrity of buccal cells for measuring DNA damage are unknown. This study examined the influence of the collection and cryopreservation of buccal cells on cell survival and DNA integrity. In individuals who rinsed with Hank's balanced salt solution (HBSS), the viability of leukocytes (90%) was significantly (p

IN THEIR EFFORTS TO IMPROVE THE health outcomes of neonates and infants in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), neonatal nurses should understand the potential for harm that plastic medical devices pose to infants. Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) is a plasticizer used to soften polyvinylchloride (PVC) that can leach from the plastic into the fluid or gas being delivered to the neonate. DEHP can harm the developing reproductive system. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a public health notification recommendation that DEHP- free devices be considered for use in NICU patients.1 There are alternatives available. The purpose of this column is to inform neonatal nurses of the risk of DEHP exposure among infants and to make it simpler for them to implement change in reducing DEHP in their institution.