You don’t lose if you snooze

Peer-Reviewed Publication

STOCKHOLM UNIVERSITY

 

IMAGE: TINA SUNDELIN’S RESEARCH AT STOCKHOLM UNIVERSITY SHOWS THAT SNOOZING MAY SUPPORT THE WAKING PROCESS FOR REGULAR SNOOZERS. PHOTO: HENRIK DUNÉR view more 

CREDIT: PHOTO: HENRIK DUNÉR

It is often claimed that using the snooze button can have negative effects on sleep and cognitive processes, but there has been no direct evidence to this effect. New research from the Department of Psychology at Stockholm University shows that snoozing may actually support the waking process for regular snoozers.

It's common to want to stay in bed, potentially even go back to sleep, when the alarm goes off in the morning. The snooze button has been a function in alarm clocks and cell phones for decades and is often claimed to have negative effects, both on sleep and the brain's ability to wake up. However, there has been no scientific research to support these claims. Researchers from Stockholm University have now investigated how common snoozing is and what effects this behaviour has on sleep, sleepiness, mood and cognitive abilities.

– Our findings show that those who snooze on average sleep slightly shorter and feel more drowsy in the morning compared to those who never snooze. But there were no negative effects of snoozing on cortisol release, morning tiredness, mood, or sleep quality throughout the night, says Tina Sundelin, researcher at Stockholm University and lead author of the paper.

In the first study, 1732 individuals answered questions about their morning habits, including how often they use the snooze button. Many reported snoozing regularly. This behaviour is especially common among young adults and evening people. The most common reason for snoozing is feeling too tired to get out of bed when the alarm goes off.

In the second study, 31 regular snoozers spent two nights in a sleep lab in order to measure their sleep in more detail. One of the mornings they were allowed to snooze for 30 minutes and the other they had to get up right when the alarm went off. The results are calming for those who snooze. Even though participants' sleep was disturbed during the half hour of snoozing, most of them still got quite a lot of it – more than 20 minutes. This means that their total night's sleep was barely affected. Furthermore, in the snooze condition no one had to wake up from deep sleep, and the snoozers performed a bit better on cognitive tests right upon waking. Meanwhile, there were no clear effects of snoozing on mood, sleepiness, or the amount of cortisol in the saliva.

­ – Our study shows that half an hour of snoozing does not have negative effects on night sleep or sleep inertia, the feeling of not quite being alert in the morning. If anything, we saw some positive outcomes, such as a decreased likelihood of waking from deep sleep. When participants were allowed to snooze they were also a bit more quick-thinking right when they got up.

– It's of course important to remember that the study only included people who are regular snoozers and find it easy to go back to sleep after each alarm. Snoozing is most likely not for everyone, says Tina Sundelin.

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JOURNAL

Journal of Sleep Research

DOI

10.1111/JSR.14054 

METHOD OF RESEARCH

Experimental study

SUBJECT OF RESEARCH

People

ARTICLE TITLE

Is snoozing losing? Why intermittent morning alarms are used and how they affect sleep, cognition, cortisol, and mood

ARTICLE PUBLICATION DATE

18-Oct-2023

Is it ok to press the snooze button?

Peer-Reviewed Publication

WILEY

Snoozing, or using intermittent alarms to get in a few more minutes of sleep in the morning, may have benefits for some people, according to research published in the Journal of Sleep Research.

In a study of 1,732 adults who described their waking habits, 69% of participants reported using the snooze function or setting multiple alarms at least “sometimes.” In those who snoozed, the average time spent snoozing per morning was 22 minutes, ranging from 1 to 180 minutes. Snoozers tended to be younger than non-snoozers and were more likely to be evening types. Morning drowsiness and shorter sleep were also more common in those who snoozed.

In a second study of 31 habitual snoozers, 30 minutes of snoozing improved or did not affect performance on cognitive tests directly upon rising compared with waking up abruptly. Snoozing resulted in about 6 minutes of lost sleep, but it prevented awakening from slow-wave sleep. There were no clear effects of snoozing on stress hormone levels, morning sleepiness, mood, or overnight sleep structure.

“The findings indicate that there is no reason to stop snoozing in the morning if you enjoy it, at least not for snooze times around 30 minutes. In fact, it may even help those with morning drowsiness to be slightly more awake once they get up,” said corresponding author Tina Sundelin, PhD, of Stockholm University.

URL upon publication: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jsr.14054

 

Additional Information
NOTE: The information contained in this release is protected by copyright. Please include journal attribution in all coverage. For more information or to obtain a PDF of any study, please contact: Sara Henning-Stout, newsroom@wiley.com.

About the Journal
The Journal of Sleep Research, owned by the European Sleep Research Society, is an international journal dedicated to basic and clinical sleep research. reflecting the progress in this rapidly expanding field, promoting the exchange of ideas between scientists at a global level.

About Wiley
Wiley is a knowledge company and a global leader in research, publishing, and knowledge solutions. Dedicated to the creation and application of knowledge, Wiley serves the world’s researchers, learners, innovators, and leaders, helping them achieve their goals and solve the world's most important challenges. For more than two centuries, Wiley has been delivering on its timeless mission to unlock human potential. Visit us at Wiley.com. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram.

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JOURNAL

Journal of Sleep Research

DOI

10.1111/jsr.14054 

ARTICLE TITLE

Is snoozing losing? Why intermittent morning alarms are used and how they affect sleep, cognition, cortisol, and mood

ARTICLE PUBLICATION DATE

18-Oct-2023

 

Majority of cancer patients interested in complementary therapies for treatment

Support growing for integrative oncology, but access limited by lack of communication, staffing and funding, new survey finds

Reports and Proceedings

THE REIS GROUP

WASHINGTON (Oct. 12, 2023) – Patients and oncologists are supportive of complementary therapies, such as nutrition counseling, exercise, massage, and mediation, for cancer treatment, according to a new survey conducted on behalf of the Healing Works Foundation. However, a disconnect exists between this growing interest and oncologists’ perceptions of patient support. One-third of oncologists said their patients lack interest in these therapies, but only 13% of cancer patients cite lack of interest when asked about barriers.

“Navigating a cancer diagnosis is about treating the whole person, not just the disease,” said Wayne Jonas, MD, President of Healing Works, a non-profit dedicated to the integration of healing and curing in routine health care delivery. “Oncologists are the single most influential factor in patient treatment decisions, and doctors must be educating themselves to help drive patient outcomes and treatment satisfaction. They need to understand that patients increasingly want to hear directly about all possible support during and after treatment of the cancer.”

More than 60% of cancer patients strongly believe in complementary therapies, and 71% want their health systems to offer them, according to the survey of more than 1,000 patients and 150 oncologists conducted in June and July. In fact, 55% of patients would have chosen a health system with more complementary therapies if they could go back in time, up substantially from 40% a year ago.

Among oncologists, most (57%) believe that complementary therapies are effective at managing the side effects of treatments, while a third (33%) indicate that they improve overall survival.

Yet, when asked about usage, perceptions differed. Sixty-four percent of cancer patients report using at least one complementary therapy, yet most of them never informed their oncologists. As a result, oncologists think only 40% of patients use one of these approaches.

“A communication gap — not an interest gap — appears to be one of the biggest barriers between patients and oncologists when exploring complementary options to support overall treatment,” said Jonas. “Clinicians need to be proactive and talk to their patients about evidence-based integrative health options early in the process, before patients go exploring on their own, and possibly getting into trouble.”

Patients also noted additional barriers to adoption, including the need for education about the benefits, reimbursement or other funding help, and a lack of guidance from their oncologist. Oncologists agree that insurance reimbursement is a major barrier, but also report that health systems do not have enough physical therapists, psychologists, and pain specialists to offer these therapies.

Patient usage of complementary therapies also varied among demographic groups:

• Hispanic (92%) and African American (83%) patients report the highest usage of complementary therapies and are interested in learning more about them.
• Seventy percent of female patients support the use of complementary therapies, while actual usage is nearly equal between men (62%) and women (66%).
• Younger patients (ages 18-50) are more likely to use a range of complementary therapies, especially mental health support/therapy, nutrition counseling and meditation or mindfulness.

More information on the survey findings and the Healing Works Foundation can be found at www.HealingWorksFoundation.org/CancerSurvey2023.

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About The Healing Works Foundation

The Healing Works Foundation’s mission is to make whole person, integrative care regular and routine. Led by Wayne Jonas, MD, HWF partners with a diverse group of wellbeing innovators. It creates platforms, processes, programs, tools and services to support and magnify insights and innovations in healing and whole person care principally in primary care and oncology.

Survey Method:

The survey was conducted online within the United States from June 14 – July 5, 2023, among 153 oncologists and from June 7 – June 30, 2023, among 1,004 patients diagnosed with cancer within the past two years. For complete survey methodology, including weighting variables and subgroup sample sizes, please contact Stacy Skelly at sskelly@TheReisGroup.com.

 

Commonly prescribed hypertension drug, amlodipine, not actually dangerous

Peer-Reviewed Publication

OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS USA

A new paper in the journal Function, published by Oxford Univetrsity Press, finds that a widely prescribed drug for treating hypertension, amlodipine, is not dangerous for patients, despite recent concerns from researchers and clinicians that taking amlodipine may have risks. 

Approximately 700,000 Americans die from hypertension each year and researchers believe some 116 million Americans (and one in five adults worldwide) have the disease, which is responsible for 7.6 million deaths per year. If untreated, hypertension significantly increases the risk of premature death through heart attack, stroke, or kidney disease. 

One widely prescribed drug for treating hypertension is amlodipine, now taken regularly in pill form by over 70 million Americans. Amlodipine inhibits a type of calcium channel that is found on blood vessels. When the calcium channel opens, calcium enters the muscle and causes it to constrict, increasing blood pressure. Amlodipine prevents calcium from coming in, leading to vessel relaxation and a decrease in blood pressure. 

Recently some researchers have questioned the benefit of amlodipine for treating hypertension. Studies suggested that amlodipine may activate a different type of calcium channel, resulting in changes to blood vessels and an increase in heart failure in patients. Removing amlodipine as a prescribed anti-hypertensive medication carries significant health implications, since hypertension is such a common health condition.

A new study by research teams from National Institutes of Health and Glasgow University finds that taking amlodipine is unlikely to result in an increase in heart failure in patients. The researchers found that amlodipine appears to have unique chemical properties that caused the drug to mimic the calcium channel activation, without in fact opening the channels as clinicians worried. When the study’s authors controlled for these chemical properties, they found that amlodipine did not activate calcium channels. A meta-analysis combining clinical trials and a prospective real-world analysis both showed that amlodipine was not associated with increased heart failure or other cardiovascular problems.

“Removal of amlodipine as a front-line therapy would most likely increase deaths from hypertension dramatically,” said Anant Parekh, one of the study’s authors. “The study recommends that amlodipine remain a first-line treatment for high blood pressure.”

The paper, “A reappraisal of the effects of L-type Ca2+ channel blockers on store-operated Ca2+ entry and heart failure,” is available (at midnight on October 12th) at: https://doi.org/10.1093/function/zqad047.

To request a copy of the study, please contact:
Daniel Luzer 
daniel.luzer@oup.com

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JOURNAL

Function

DOI

10.1093/function/zqad047 

METHOD OF RESEARCH

Randomized controlled/clinical trial

SUBJECT OF RESEARCH

People

ARTICLE TITLE

A reappraisal of the effects of L-type Ca2+ channel blockers on store-operated Ca2+ entry and heart failure

 

Virtual driving assessment predicts risk of crashing for newly licensed teen drivers

CHOP findings move the science closer to precision crash prevention, targeted strategies to improve student drivers’ skills

Peer-Reviewed Publication

CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF PHILADELPHIA

Philadelphia, October 16, 2023 – New research published today by the journal Pediatrics found that driving skills measured at the time of licensure on a virtual driving assessment (VDA), which exposes drivers to common serious crash scenarios, helps predict crash risk in newly licensed young drivers.

This study, conducted by the Center for Injury Research and Prevention (CIRP) at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) with colleagues at the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Michigan, brings the research community one step closer to identifying which skill deficits put young new drivers at higher risk for crashes. With this cutting-edge information, more personalized interventions can be developed to improve the driving skills that prevent crashes.

While drivers between the ages of 15 and 20 only make up about 5% of all drivers on the road, they are involved in approximately 12% of all vehicle crashes and 8.5% of fatal crashes. The time of greatest crash risk is in the months right after these young drivers receive their license, largely due to deficits in driving skills.

However, many of these newly licensed drivers do avoid crashes. The challenge for policymakers, clinicians, and families has been identifying which drivers are at increased risk of crashing during the learning phase before they drive on their own. Early identification of at-risk drivers offers the opportunity to intervene with training and other resources known to help prevent crashes, making the roads safer for everyone.

Over the past two decades, CIRP researchers have systematically determined the primary reason for novice driver crashes – inadequate driving skills, such as speed management – and conducted studies that informed the development and validation of a self-guided VDA that measures performance of these driving skills in common serious crash scenarios that cannot be evaluated with on-road testing. The VDA utilizes the Ready-Assess™ platform developed by Diagnostic Driving, Inc., an AI-driven virtual driving assessment that provides the driver with the insights and tools to improve.

In this study, researchers examined the ability of the VDA, delivered at the time of the licensing road test, to predict crash risk in the first year after obtaining licensure in the state of Ohio. Using a unique study design, the results of the VDA were linked to police-reported crash records for the first year after obtaining a license.

“Our previous research showed that performance on the VDA predicted actual on-road driving performance, as measured by failure on the licensing road test. This new study went further to determine whether VDA performance could identify unsafe driving performance predictive of future crash risk,” said lead study author Elizabeth Walshe, PhD, a cognitive neuroscientist and clinical researcher who directs the Neuroscience of Driving team at CIRP. “We found that drivers categorized by their performance as having major issues with dangerous behavior were at higher risk of crashing than average new drivers.”

The researchers analyzed a unique integrated dataset of individual results of VDA performance, collected in the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles before the licensing road test, linked to licensing and police-reported crash records in 16,914 first-time newly licensed drivers under the age of 25. Data were collected from applicants who completed the VDA between July 2017 and December 2019 on the day they passed the on-road licensing examination in Ohio. Researchers examined crash records up to mid-March 2020.

With the outcome of time-to-first crash after licensure, a Cox proportional hazard model was used to estimate the risk of crash as a function of VDA performance. The study found that the best performing novice drivers, described as having “No Issues” based on their pattern of driving performance on the VDA, had a 10% lower than average crash risk. However, users of the VDA who had “Major Issues with Dangerous Behavior” had an 11% higher than average crash risk. These results held when adjusting for a variety of variables such as age, sex, and socio-economic status.

“These findings are incredibly important because they provide us with quantitative evidence that we can approach young driver safety in a new way – by predicting crash risk and aiming resources to those who need them most,” said Flaura Winston, MD, PhD, co-scientific director of CIRP at CHOP and co-author of the study. “By providing this information before licensure, we can direct resources to those most at risk, and potentially prevent crashes from occurring when these teens first drive on their own.”

“Our mission is to enable teens to safely assume the roles and responsibilities that come with transitioning to adulthood, and learning to drive is a major step in that direction,” said study co-author Dan Romer, PhD, research director of the Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania and a partner with Winston and Walshe at CHOP to develop and test the VDA for teens. “Having an assessment that furthers this goal is an important achievement that we hope will lead to fewer injuries for teens as they first hit the road.”

Michael Elliott, PhD, professor of Biostatistics at the University of Michigan School of Public Health and research professor at the Institute for Social Research at U-M and study co-author, said the VDA is designed to take drivers through a variety of low to high risk, uniquely realistic virtual driving scenarios that can determine where skills are weakest. The driving behaviors are tracked in real time using several dozen measures.

"We know young novice drivers are at higher risk of crashing than more experienced drivers," Elliott said. "The novel VDA tool uses information about their behaviors, such as virtual braking, accelerating, steering, and crashing. That risk profile has now been shown to be predictive of their crash behavior during their first couple of years on the road. What's crucial to note is that most of these behaviors are amenable with additional driving training."

Dr. Winston is an inventor of a VDA. CHOP has licensed this VDA technology to Diagnostic Driving, for use on its Ready-Assess™ platform. Dr. Winston also has an ownership interest in Diagnostic Driving.

This study was supported by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant number 1R21HD099635-01; the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration through the Ohio Traffic Safety Office (NHTSA); the State of Ohio’s Department of Administrative Services, and the Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania. Additional support was provided by a gift from NJM Insurance Group. Data collection was financed by NHTSA and Ohio. Data management and analyses were supported by NICHD, Ohio, and NHTSA.

Walshe et al, “Driving Skills at Licensure Predict Time to First Crash in Newly Licensed Young Drivers.” Pediatrics. Online October 16, 2023. DOI: 10.1542/peds.2022-060817.

 

About Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia: A non-profit, charitable organization, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia was founded in 1855 as the nation’s first pediatric hospital. Through its long-standing commitment to providing exceptional patient care, training new generations of pediatric healthcare professionals, and pioneering major research initiatives, the 595-bed hospital has fostered many discoveries that have benefited children worldwide. Its pediatric research program is among the largest in the country. The institution has a well-established history of providing advanced pediatric care close to home through its CHOP Care Network, which includes more than 50 primary care practices, specialty care and surgical centers, urgent care centers, and community hospital alliances throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey, as well as an inpatient hospital campus with a dedicated pediatric emergency department in King of Prussia. In addition, its unique family-centered care and public service programs have brought Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia recognition as a leading advocate for children and adolescents. For more information, visit https://www.chop.edu. 

 

About the Annenberg Public Policy Center: Founded in 1993, the Annenberg Public Policy was established to educate the public and policy makers about communication’s role in advancing public understanding of political, science, and health issues at the local, state, and federal levels. The center is the home of FactCheck.org and its science fact-checking program, SciCheck. https://www.annenbergpublicpolicycenter.org/

 

About the University of Michigan

One of the nation’s top public universities, the University of Michigan has been a leader in research, learning and teaching for more than 200 years. With one of the highest research volumes of any public university in the country, U-M is advancing new solutions and knowledge in areas ranging from the COVID-19 pandemic to driverless vehicle technology, social justice and carbon neutrality. Its main campus in Ann Arbor comprises 19 schools and colleges; there are also regional campuses in Dearborn and Flint, and a nationally ranked health system, Michigan Medicine. The university also boasts a world-renowned intercollegiate athletics program and has been the site of many important events in U.S. history, including JFK’s announcement of the Peace Corps, LBJ’s “Great Society” speech, and the clinical trials of the Salk polio vaccine. U-M’s alumni body is one of the largest in the world and includes a U.S. president, scientists, actors, astronauts and inventors.

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JOURNAL

PEDIATRICS

DOI

10.1542/peds.2022-060817 

METHOD OF RESEARCH

Data/statistical analysis

SUBJECT OF RESEARCH

People

ARTICLE TITLE

Driving Skills at Licensure Predict Time to First Crash in Newly Licensed Young Drivers

ARTICLE PUBLICATION DATE

16-Oct-2023

COI STATEMENT

Dr. Winston is an inventor of a VDA. CHOP has licensed this VDA technology to Diagnostic Driving, for use on its Ready-Assess™ platform. Dr. Winston also has an ownership interest in Diagnostic Driving.

 

Survey finds education is needed to identify lesser-known symptoms of breast cancer

The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center offers tips for taking action when breast changes are detected

Reports and Proceedings

OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY WEXNER MEDICAL CENTER

 

IMAGE: 

ASHLEY PARISER, MD, SPEAKS WITH A PATIENT AT THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY COMPREHENSIVE CANCER CENTER—ARTHUR G. JAMES CANCER HOSPITAL AND RICHARD J. SOLOVE RESEARCH INSTITUTE ABOUT THE SUBTLE AND LESSER-KNOWN SYMPTOMS OF BREAST CANCER THAT WOMEN SHOULD BE AWARE OF.

view more 

CREDIT: THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY COMPREHENSIVE CANCER CENTER

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- An overwhelming majority of adults (93%) recognize a lump as a symptom of breast cancer, but less than half recognize other common symptoms associated with the disease, according to a consumer survey commissioned by The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center - Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute (OSUCCC – James). 

Experts say this is very concerning, since most breast cancers do not present with a lump that can be detected by touch – and if they do, it often an indicates a fast-growing or advanced-stage cancer that is less treatable.

“Screening mammography is our No. 1 defense in detecting and addressing breast cancers at their earliest, most treatable stages, but it is also very important for people to be familiar with the look and feel of their own breast tissue so that sometimes subtle changes can be evaluated quickly to give us the best chance at early detection,” said Ashley Pariser, MD, a breast medical oncologist and director of breast cancer survivorship services at the OSUCCC – James. 

“We want people to feel empowered about their bodies and know what is normal for them. Many breast changes are the result of aging and childbirth; however, breast cancer can present in a number of ways,” said Pariser. “It is important that people feel safe to address these concerns in a timely way with their doctor. We have made great strides in detecting breast cancers in far earlier, more treatable stages.” 

These lesser-known symptoms of breast cancer include: 

• retracted, inverted or downward-pointing nipple
• breast puckering (an indentation that appears when you raise your arms)
• loss of feeling in part of the breast
• pitting/thickening of the skin on the breast
• nipple discharge

In this new survey, just 31% of survey respondents recognized a retracted, inverted or downward-pointing nipple as a symptom of breast cancer, and just 39% recognized breast puckering as a symptom. Less than half of survey respondents were aware of loss of breast feeling (41%), pitting/thickening of the breast skin (45%) or nipple charge (51%) as concerns worthy of medical attention. 

Confusion about breast cancer screening guidelines 
Pariser noted that screening mammography remains the No. 1 tool for early detection, yet new survey results show that a third of women say they are confused about recommendations for breast cancer screenings, particularly those under age 30 (44%). 

“The best way for us to find breast cancer early is for women to present as soon as they notice a change, ideally even before they see a change. So that's why we recommend screening mammograms for those who qualify if we want to find breast cancer early,” said Pariser, who also is an assistant professor in the College of Medicine and an affiliate member of the Cancer Control Program at the OSUCCC – James. 

The American College of Radiology and American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists recommend begin screening at age 40 for people of average risk. OSUCCC – James breast cancer experts encourage each person to talk with their physician about their personal cancer risk and family history to personalize their screening plan. 

Pariser notes that people with dense breast tissue should be closely monitored because they are at slightly higher risk and dense tissue can mask small tumors. Black and Ashkenazi Jewish people should also have a conversation about more intensive screening due to higher risk.  

‘Won’t happen to me’ mentality
According to the American Cancer Society, breast cancer remains the most common cancer diagnosed in women behind skin cancers, with just under 300,000 new cases and 43,000 deaths expected in 2023. This new consumer survey, however, shows that few believe they will get the disease, which afflicts about one in eight women. Among respondents, 75% of women and 91% of men don’t believe they will get breast cancer.

“So, although we are making great strides in terms of detection and treatment, unfortunately we live in a world where breast cancer is still a serious concern for people,” said Pariser. “Although the disease is less common in men, 1% of breast cancers occur in men. These cancers typically present as nipple changes, so it is also important that men feel empowered to seek medical attention for concerning symptoms, especially if they have a strong family history of breast cancer.” 

Study results and methodology
This study was conducted on behalf of The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center/OSUCCC – James by SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS) on its Opinion Panel Omnibus platform. The SSRS Opinion Panel Omnibus is a national, twice-per-month, probability-based survey. Data collection was conducted from Sept. 22-24 among a sample of 1,004 respondents. The survey was conducted via web (n=974) and telephone (n=30) and administered in English. The margin of error for total respondents is +/- 3.5 percentage points at the 95% confidence level. All SSRS Opinion Panel Omnibus data are weighted to represent the target population of U.S. adults ages 18 or older.

Breast cancer screening is available at more than a dozen locations across Columbus and the surrounding communities. To learn more about breast cancer treatment and research at the OSUCCC – James, visit cancer.osu.edu/breastcancer or call 1-800-293-5066. 

 

Most women know that a lump in the breast is cause for concern, but a new survey by The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center—Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute finds education is needed about the lesser-known symptoms of breast cancer to help flag concerns, identify breast cancer as early as possible and initiate treatment.

CREDIT

The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center

METHOD OF RESEARCH

Survey

SUBJECT OF RESEARCH

People

 

Golf, walking and Nordic walking may enhance cognitive function in older adults

Peer-Reviewed Publication

UNIVERSITY OF EASTERN FINLAND

Playing a single 18-hole round of golf or completing 6 km of either Nordic walking or regular walking may significantly improve immediate cognitive function in older individuals, according to a recent study published in BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine.

An international team of researchers from the University of Eastern Finland, the University of Edinburgh and ETH Zürich aimed to explore the immediate effects of three distinct cognitively demanding aerobic exercises on cognition and related biological responses in older, healthy adults.

The study involved 25 healthy older golfers, aged 65 and above, who participated in three different acute bouts of aerobic exercise: an 18-hole golf round, a 6 km Nordic walking session, and a 6 km regular walking session. Each exercise was conducted in a real-life environment, with participants maintaining their typical pace, corresponding to brisk walking.

Cognitive function was assessed using the Trail-Making Test (TMT) A and B, a widely used tool for evaluating cognitive function in older adults. The TMT-A test measures lower cognitive functions, such as attention and processing speed, while the TMT-B test measures more demanding executive functions such as task-switching ability. Additionally, blood samples were collected to measure brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and cathepsin B (CTSB) levels. Both have been suggested to reflect the benefits of exercise in the brain. Participants also wore fitness monitoring devices to record exercise-specific data like distance, duration, pace, energy expenditure and steps. An ECG sensor with a chest strap was used to monitor heart rate.

The study showed that a single session of any of the three exercises —18 holes of golf, 6 km of Nordic walking or 6 km of regular walking— improved lower cognitive functions measured with the TMT-A test in older adults, although no significant effects were seen on the levels of BDNF and CTSB. Furthermore, Nordic walking and regular walking were associated with enhanced executive functions measured with the TMT-B test.

Previous research has indicated the potential cognitive benefits of acute bouts of aerobic exercise, with factors like exercise intensity, duration and type influencing the extent of improvement.

“These findings underscore the value of age-appropriate aerobic exercise, such as golf, Nordic walking and regular walking, in maintaining and enhancing cognitive function among older adults. Previous research has shown that exercise also holds promise as a potential strategy for those experiencing cognitive decline,” says Julia Kettinen, the first author of the article and a Doctoral Researcher in Sports and Exercise Medicine at the Institute of Biomedicine, University of Eastern Finland.

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JOURNAL

BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine

DOI

10.1136/bmjsem-2023-001629 

ARTICLE TITLE

Cognitive and biomarker responses in healthy older adults to a 18-hole golf round and different walking types: a randomised cross-over study

ARTICLE PUBLICATION DATE

12-Oct-2023

 

Boosting weak immune system: scientists find an unusual weapon against virus

Peer-Reviewed Publication

TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITÄT DRESDEN

 

IMAGE: 

AN OVERVIEW OF HOW THE METHOD PROPOSED BY THE SIEWEKE GROUP BOOSTS WEAK IMMUNE SYSTEM. (A) M-CSF CYTOKINE WORKS IN THE BONE MARROW TO PROMOTE GENERATION OF MONOCYTES AND MACROPHAGES, WITHOUT DISTURBING THE FORMATION OF OTHER IMMUNE CELLS; (B) MONOCYTES AND MACROPHAGES ACTIVATE NATURAL KILLER CELLS TO ENABLE THEM TO TARGET VIRUS-INFECTED CELLS AND KILL THEM THROUGH CELL–CELL CONTACT AND THE RELEASE OF TOXIC AGENTS.
SOURCE: MACROPHAGE COLONY-STIMULATING FACTOR AS A WEAPON AGAINST CYTOMEGALOVIRUS. ERIC SOLARY, EMBO MOL MED. E18319 (2023).

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CREDIT: EMBO, LICENSED UNDER CC BY 4.0 (HTTP://CREATIVECOMMONS.ORG/LICENSES/BY/4.0)

Some viruses can be dormant throughout a person’s life and cause no harm but become dangerous when the immune system is weakened. One of such viruses is human cytomegalovirus (CMV). Harmless to the general public but life-threatening to patients with a supressed immune system.

“Patients undergoing bone marrow transplantations have their blood and immune system fully replaced by that of the donor. In the first months after transplantation they are defenseless. They can either catch CMV or have virus reactivated that was dormant in the patient. At the moment, there is no ideal treatment. The available ones work in a limited way or can cause severe side effects such as kidney failure, liver failure, deafness, sepsis, and others,” explains Dr. Julien Subburayalu, a clinical scientist in the Sieweke group at the Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden (CRTD), one of the leading authors of the study.

The Unusual Approach: Boosting Immune System

Teaming up with Dr. Marc Dalod, an expert on CMV immunity, the researchers led by Prof. Sieweke took an unusual approach. Instead of targeting the virus with antiviral treatments, they focused on strengthening the immune system to fight the virus on its own.

“So far, antiviral treatments focused on targeting specific viruses, either through vaccination or by drugs that work on viral molecular machinery,” mentions Dr. Marc Dalod, group leader at the Centre d’Immunologie de Marseille-Luminy (CIML) and author of the study. “Our method intervenes at the level of patient’s blood stem cells to boosts general antiviral defenses. It’s ideal as a prophylactic or a general intervention strategy in immunosuppressed individuals,” says Prof. Michael Sieweke, Alexander von Humboldt Professor and research group leader at the CRTD and CIML.

Cytokine: Small but Mighty Molecule

The new approach focuses on the cytokine known as macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF, CSF1). It’s a small signaling molecule that works as a messenger and activator for the immune system. “The cytokine boosts the production of specific white blood cells, mainly monocytes and macrophages,” says Dr. Prashanth Kumar Kandalla, one of the leading authors of the study.

Although normally monocytes and macrophages were not known as the primary defense force against viruses, the authors found that they activated other immune cells, so-called natural killer cells, that help fight the virus. “In case of immunocompromised patients, the number of white blood cells is very low. This is why their body is defenseless against infections. M-CSF treatment would boost the immune system by triggering the production of new white blood cells and restore the patient’s ability to fight the pathogen,” explains Dr. Kandalla.

The team could show that M-CSF boosted production of white blood cells in immunocompromised mice and in such a way protected them from an otherwise lethal CMV infection without affecting bone marrow transplantation.

Clinical Trials Are Needed

The study showed that the concept worked in mice and in human cells in a culture dish. “We are keen to expand our findings and support them with data derived from patients in the clinic. For example, we would like to test our cytokine approach as a prophylactic intervention following bone marrow transplantation to prevent CMV reactivation. For this, clinical trials are necessary. We are now looking for partners who could help us finance such trials,” concludes Prof. Sieweke.

Because of its unique ability to boost the immune defence, the new approach is not limited to CMV or bone marrow transplantation patients. The authors expect that it could also be useful to treat other viral infections, and help other patients with a weakened immune system, for example after sepsis or chemotherapy.

Original Publication
Prashanth K. Kandalla, Julien Subburayalu, Clément Cocita, Bérengére de Laval, Elena Tomasello, Johanna Iacono, Jessica Nitsche, Maria M. Canali, Wilfried Cathou, Gilles Bessou, Noushin Mossadegh-Keller, Caroline Huber, Guy Mouchiroud, Roland P. Bourette , Marie-France Grasset, Martin Bornhäuser, Sandrine Sarrazin, Marc Dalod and Michael H. Sieweke: M-CSF directs myeloid and NK cell differentiation to protect from CMV after hematopoietic cell transplantation. EMBO Molecular Medicine
Link: https://doi.org/10.15252/emmm.202317694

About the Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden (CRTD)
The Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden (CRTD) of TUD Dresden University of Technology is an academic home for scientists from more than 30 nations. Their mission is to discover the principles of cell and tissue regeneration and leverage this for the recognition, treatment, and reversal of diseases. The CRTD links the bench to the clinic, scientists to clinicians to pool expertise in stem cells, developmental biology, gene-editing, and regeneration towards innovative therapies for neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease, hematological diseases such as leukemia, metabolic diseases such as diabetes, bone and retina diseases. The CRTD was founded in 2006 as a research center of the German Research Foundation (DFG) and funded until 2018 as a DFG Research Center, as well as a Cluster of Excellence. Since 2019, the CRTD is funded by the TU Dresden and the Free State of Saxony.
The CRTD is one of three institutes of the central scientific facility Center for Molecular and Cellular Bioengineering (CMCB) of the TU Dresden.
http://www.tud.de/crtd
http://www.tud/de/cmcb

About Center of Immunology of Marseille Luminy (CIML)
Founded in 1976, the Centre d’Immunologie de Marseille Luminy is a research institute internationally renowned in its discipline which has developed an organization and practices designed to foster the creativity and risk-taking of its researchers. From worm to man, from molecule to the whole organism, from the physiological to the pathological, the CIML addresses, over numerous models and scales, all fields of contemporary immunology: the genesis of different cell populations, their patterns of differentiation and activation, their implication in cancer, infectious and inflammatory diseases and the mechanisms of cell death.
Founding member of the cluster Marseille Immunopole, the CIML is a joint research unit of the CNRS, Inserm and Aix-Marseille Université. Directed by Dr. Philippe PIERRE it has 17 laboratories and a staff of 250 people.
http://www.ciml.univ-mrs.fr/

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JOURNAL

EMBO Molecular Medicine

DOI

10.15252/emmm.202317694 

 

Depression, anxiety common among college students

Study underscores role of building culture of belonging for minority students

Peer-Reviewed Publication

UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA

Depression and anxiety among college students is a growing public health problem. And new research from the University of Georgia suggests the problem may be worse for students who aren’t the same race as most of their peers.

The new study found that students who were not the majority race at a predominantly white college reported significantly higher rates of depression than their white peers.

At the mostly white university, more than half of the students who self-identified as races other than white reported feelings of mild depression. An additional 17% said they were experiencing moderate to severe depression.

Students at the predominantly white institution all reported similar levels of anxiety, regardless of race, with more than three in every five students saying they experience mild to severe levels of anxiety.

At the historically Black college, students who weren’t Black experienced higher rates of anxiety and depression as well.

“Our study adds to the evidence of how important the work around inclusivity and mental health is in the college environment,” said Janani Rajbhandari-Thapa, an associate professor in UGA’s College of Public Health. “It’s important to be mindful that not all students come with the same background, and we need to support them more.”

First-generation students more likely to suffer depression

More than 3,100 students participated in the study during the COVID-19 pandemic, answering questions about feelings of hopelessness, sleep issues and lack of energy, among other topics.

The researchers found that first-generation students were also significantly more likely to experience depression compared to students who weren’t the first to attend college in their families.

All first-generation students surveyed expressed that they had some level of depression, regardless of the institution. Most reported mild symptoms, but more than half at the predominantly white university said they had moderate to severe levels of depression.

“I was an international student myself and can relate to the stresses of settling in during the first semester in the U.S. a little bit” Rajbhandari-Thapa said. “Being a first-generation student and experiencing college for the first time in your family comes with its own set of challenges and opportunities, and it is important that university faculty and staff work towards addressing the challenges.

“There are trainings and workshops in the workplace, but we need to do more to help new college students feel at home.”

Socializing, sense of belonging helps safeguard against mental illness

The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted daily life for most Americans. College students were particularly hard hit.

Where they would normally be socializing and engaging in group activities, many were masked up and socially distanced, preventing some of that integral interaction that strengthens social bonds. The additional stressors likely led to increases in stress and anxiety, but the researchers suggest that not all groups were affected equally.

Female students, for example, were harder hit with depression and anxiety than their male counterparts, which reflects the larger social pattern of mental health problems hitting women more intensely.

But the researchers say investing in diversity, equity, and inclusion resources can help students feel more at home on campus, regardless of their race or first-generation status.

“Belonging is so important,” Rajbhandari-Thapa said. “I don’t think there is ever enough support for first-generation and minority students. Universities are starting to do this already, but it’s important that we provide as much support as possible.”

Published by the Journal of American College Health, the study was co-authored by Kathryn Chiang, Mitchell Chen Lee, Arial Treankler and Heather Padilla, of the University of Georgia. Additional co-authors include Drs. Emily Anne Vall at Resilient Georgia and Marion Ross Fedrick at the Albany State University.

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JOURNAL

Journal of American College Health

DOI

10.1080/07448481.2023.2230297 

ARTICLE TITLE

Depression and anxiety among college students at Historically Black and Predominantly White universities during the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional study