Night workers have lower levels of antioxidant defenses and higher levels of oxidative stress damage when compared to day workers

The prophylaxis and treatment potential of supplements for COVID-19

The global impact of the new coronavirus, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), infection that caused COVID-19 has been evident in the last few months from the unprecedented socioeconomic disruption to more than 600,000 deaths. The lack of vaccine and effective therapeutic agents for the disease prompted world-wide effort to test those antiviral therapeutics already in use for other diseases. Another interesting approach has been based on the pathological sequel of the disease that involve severe inflammatory reaction (or the cytokine storm) associated with pneumonia in critically ill patients. This article outlines the prophylaxis therapeutic potential of supplements vitamins and micronutrients in COVID-19. By ameliorating the inflammatory and oxidative stress associated with the disease and some direct antiviral effects, the application of these agents as adjuvants and other alternative approaches are discussed. Available clinical trials including those currently registered on these supplements are scrutinized.

Sleep deprivation and endothelial function: reconciling seminal evidence with recent perspectives

Sleep is critical for the maintenance of physiological homeostasis and, as such, inadequate sleep beckons a myriad of pathologies. Sleep deprivation is a growing health concern in contemporary society since short sleep durations are associated with increased cardiovascular disease risk and atherosclerotic plaque development. Vascular endothelial dysfunction is an antecedent to atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease. Herein, we review seminal literature indicating that short sleep durations attenuate endothelial function and explore more recent evidence indicating that sleep deprivation perturbs autonomic balance and the circadian rhythmicity of peripheral vascular clock components. We further examine literature that indicates a mechanistic link between short sleep duration and endothelial dysfunction and subsequent morbidity. Understanding the mechanisms that regulate endothelial function in the context of sleep deprivation facilitates the development and optimization of interventions, such as exercise, that mitigate the ramifications of inadequate sleep on vascular function and cardiovascular health.Listen to this article's corresponding podcast at https://ajpheart.podbean.com/e/sleep-deprivation-and-endothelial-function/.

Circadian Rhythm in Adipose Tissue: Novel Antioxidant Target for Metabolic and Cardiovascular Diseases

Obesity is a major risk factor for most metabolic and cardiovascular disorders. Adipose tissue is an important endocrine organ that modulates metabolic and cardiovascular health by secreting signaling molecules. Oxidative stress is a common mechanism associated with metabolic and cardiovascular complications including obesity, type 2 diabetes, and hypertension. Oxidative stress can cause adipose tissue dysfunction. Accumulating data from both humans and experimental animal models suggest that adipose tissue function and oxidative stress have an innate connection with the intrinsic biological clock. Circadian clock orchestrates biological processes in adjusting to daily environmental changes according to internal or external cues. Recent studies have identified the genes and molecular pathways exhibiting circadian expression patterns in adipose tissue. Disruption of the circadian rhythmicity has been suggested to augment oxidative stress and aberrate adipose tissue function and metabolism. Therefore, circadian machinery in the adipose tissue may be a novel therapeutic target for the prevention and treatment of metabolic and cardiovascular diseases. In this review, we summarize recent findings on circadian rhythm and oxidative stress in adipose tissue, dissect the key components that play a role in regulating the clock rhythm, oxidative stress and adipose tissue function, and discuss the potential use of antioxidant treatment on metabolic and cardiovascular diseases by targeting the adipose clock.

Carotid intimal medial thickness in rotating night shift is related to IL1β/IL6 axis

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Sleep disturbances may promote glucose abnormalities and inflammatory burden among shift workers. Therefore, precocious subclinical atherosclerotic process might develop in healthy shift workers even without known metabolic and cardiovascular risk factors.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We measured anthropometric parameters, glucose, lipids, inflammation and common carotid Intimal Medial Thickness (cIMT) in rotating-night shift workers (r-NSW, n = 88, age = 40.3 ± 7.8 y) in comparison with former-night shift workers (f-NSW, n = 35, age = 44.2 ± 6.4 y) and with day-only workers (DW, n = 64, age = 44.1 ± 8.9 y). R-NSW and f-NSW showed significantly higher cIMT and high sensitivity C-Reactive Protein (hs-CRP) respect to DW (p = 0.043 and p = 0.025, respectively). IL-1β levels were higher in r-NSW than in DW and f-NSW (p = 0.043) and significantly correlated with IL6 (r = 0.365, p < 0.001). In addition, r-NSW and f-NSW had higher HbA1c levels in comparison with DW (p = 0.047). Carotid-IMT was significantly related to night shift work (p = 0.023), with age (p < 0.001), with HOMA IR (p = 0.009), with insulin (p = 0.006) with HbA1c (p = 0.002), with LDL cholesterol (p < 0.001), with diastolic BP (p < 0.001), with WBC (p = 0.002) and with IL6 (p = 0.004). After performing a multivariate analysis night shift work remained statistically related to cIMT (B = 2.633, 95%CI = 0.489-4.776, p = 0.016).

CONCLUSIONS

Our result described a possible link bridging night shift work, inflammation and carotid Intimal Medial Thickness. Future studies are warranted to understand if carotid atherosclerosis process should be mainly driven by the IL1β/IL6 citokine axis connected to sleep disturbances.

Oxidative/Nitroxidative Stress and Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a multifactorial, central nervous system, immune-mediated disease characterized by inflammation, demyelination, and neurodegeneration. Evidence suggests a steady rise in MS prevalence over the past five decades in the United States and around the world. Even with increased understanding of immunology, the specific etiological trigger of MS remains unknown. Evidence suggests that oxidative/nitroxidative stress is an important contributor to MS etiology, progression, and clinical symptoms. A multifaceted treatment approach aimed at counteracting oxidative/nitroxidative stress including MS disease-modifying medications, Mediterranean style diet, stress-relieving activities, smoking and alcohol cessation, exercise, and peer support programs is the best way to treat the disease.

Can melatonin reduce the severity of COVID-19 pandemic?

The current COVID-19 pandemic is one of the most devastating events in recent history. The virus causes relatively minor damage to young, healthy populations, imposing life-threatening danger to the elderly and people with diseases of chronic inflammation. Therefore, if we could reduce the risk for vulnerable populations, it would make the COVID-19 pandemic more similar to other typical outbreaks. Children don't suffer from COVID-19 as much as their grandparents and have a much higher melatonin level. Bats are nocturnal animals possessing high levels of melatonin, which may contribute to their high anti-viral resistance. Viruses induce an explosion of inflammatory cytokines and reactive oxygen species, and melatonin is the best natural antioxidant that is lost with age. The programmed cell death coronaviruses cause, which can result in significant lung damage, is also inhibited by melatonin. Coronavirus causes inflammation in the lungs which requires inflammasome activity. Melatonin blocks these inflammasomes. General immunity is impaired by anxiety and sleep deprivation. Melatonin improves sleep habits, reduces anxiety and stimulates immunity. Fibrosis may be the most dangerous complication after COVID-19. Melatonin is known to prevent fibrosis. Mechanical ventilation may be necessary but yet imposes risks due to oxidative stress, which can be reduced by melatonin. Thus, by using the safe over-the-counter drug melatonin, we may be immediately able to prevent the development of severe disease symptoms in coronavirus patients, reduce the severity of their symptoms, and/or reduce the immuno-pathology of coronavirus infection on patients' health after the active phase of the infection is over.

Temporal control of responses to chemically induced oxidative stress in the gill mucosa of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar)

Molecular clocks are known to mediate cellular responses during oxidative stress. This important interplay is less understood in fish, particularly at mucosal surfaces. Here we report the coordinated modulation of the molecular clocks and antioxidant defence following chemically induced oxidative stress in the gill mucosa of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). A short-term gill explant (GE) culture was used as a model in a series of experiments aiming to demonstrate how photoperiod during culture, levels of environmental reactive oxygen species (ROS), time of oxidative stress induction, and the daily light-dark cycle affect the expression of molecular clocks and antioxidant genes in the gills. Photoperiod (either 12 light:12 dark cycle, LD or 0 light:24 dark cycle, DD) during explant culture affected the transcription of two clock genes, circadian locomotor output cycles kaput (clk) and period 1 (per1), as well as one antioxidant gene, glutathione peroxidase (gpx). When the GEs were exposed to two ROS-generating oxidants (i.e., peracetic acid, PAA and hydrogen peroxide, H₂O₂), photoperiod condition was demonstrated to have a significant impact on the transcription of the core genes. PAA significantly downregulated the expression of reverb alpha (reverbα) under LD, while per1 and per2 expression were significantly upregulated under DD. Nevertheless, there was no distinct pattern in the oxidant-induced expression of clock genes. On the other hand, photoperiod was shown to influence the antioxidant defence under increased ROS level, where significant transcriptional upregulation was a hallmark response under LD. Interestingly, no changes were identified under DD. Induction of oxidative stress either at ZT2 (2 h after lights on) or at ZT14 (2 h after lights off) revealed striking differences that highlighted the temporal sensitivity of the oxidative defence repertoire. Per1 was significantly modulated following time-dependent induction of oxidative stress among the clock genes. Inducing oxidative stress at ZT2 resulted in a significant upregulation of antioxidant genes; but when the same stimuli were given at ZT14, all antioxidant genes exhibited downregulation. It was further revealed that neither of the genes demonstrated daily rhythmicity in their expression in the GE cultures. Collectively, the study revealed the coordinated expression of the core elements in the molecular clock and antioxidant systems in the gill mucosa following oxidative stress. Furthermore, the results reveal that the time of day plays a crucial influence on how defences are mobilised during oxidative stress, adding new insights into the rhythms of oxidative stress response in mucosal tissues in fish.