12 Clinical Trials for Various Conditions
The specific aim of this observational study is to characterize changes in bone turnover makers (BTMs), bone mineral density (BMD), and bone microarchitecture in a cohort of nurses during their first year of night compared to day shift work. The hypothesis is that night shift nurses will have poorer bone health indices at one year compared to day shift nurses.
This small intervention study will determine if simulated short-term night shift work (NSW) negatively alters bone metabolism. The specific aim of the study is to determine if NSW acutely uncouples bone turnover markers (BTMs), if sympathetic tone is a mechanism for this disruption and if a resumption of a normal sleep/wake pattern reverses BTM uncoupling. Our hypothesis is that NSW will reversibly uncouple BTMs via increased sympathetic nervous system (SNS) tone.
Particulate matter exposure during smoke inhalation provokes inflammatory immune responses in people exposed to burning biomass including fire fighters and civilians. Persistent occupational exposure to particulate matter represents a unique hazard for firefighters, underpinning a burgeoning research area. This trial will evaluate the effects of sleep deprivation and circadian rhythm disruption on the inflammatory response to woodsmoke associated particulate matter exposure. Participants will undergo 2 experimental trials in a randomized cross-over design. Participants will have either an 8-hour sleep opportunity or a 4-hour sleep opportunity prior to reporting to lab for a 45 minute simulated firefighting trial (wood smoke associated particulate matter filtered to 2.5 um at a concentration of 250 ug/m\^3, while exercising at a moderate intensity). The effects of sleep restriction and simulated firefighting will be measured.
The purpose of this study is to determine whether night time eating that coincides with elevated endogenous melatonin impairs glucose tolerance, particularly in carriers of the MTNR1B risk allele.
People who experience repeated bouts of circadian misalignment, such as shift workers, are at higher risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and Type 2 diabetes (T2D) compared to daytime workers. However, the mechanism(s) by which shift work and associated circadian misalignment increase CVD and T2D risk are unknown. This project will examine whether elevated plasma lipids are a mechanism by which circadian misalignment impairs vascular function, insulin sensitivity, glucose homeostasis and muscle lipid accumulation, which could be targeted to prevent and treat cardiometabolic disease in people who chronically experience circadian misalignment, which includes more than 20% of the US workforce.
The aim of the proposed study is to pilot test two behavioral sleep intervention strategies for improving insomnia among night shift working nurses.
Insufficient sleep and circadian misalignment are independent risk factors for the development of obesity and diabetes, yet few strategies exist to counter metabolic impairments when these behaviors are unavoidable. This project will examine whether avoiding food intake during the biological night can mitigate the impact of circadian misalignment on metabolic homeostasis in adults during simulated night shift work. Findings from this study could identify a translatable strategy to minimize metabolic diseases in populations that include anyone working nonstandard hours such as police, paramedics, firefighters, military personnel, pilots, doctors and nurses, truck drivers, and individuals with sleep disorders.
The aim of this study is to pilot test a comprehensive, personalized, media-augmented telehealth intervention ("SWISH") designed to improve sleep health among shift workers.
This study will compare eating behaviors and measures of hunger and fullness between day and night workers in order to better understand why night workers are at increased risk for obesity and related diseases.
Emergency Medicine (EM) requires 24/7 staff coverage resulting in healthcare workers' circadian rhythm disruptions that impair clinical and cognitive performance, physical recovery, and contribute to burnout. Multiple well-being surveys continue to highlight EM's challenges with sleep impairment due to the nature of the specialty. Despite evidence that lifestyle strategies effectively optimize performance and recovery, EM residents have variable lifestyle choices to prepare for overnight shifts. This prospective randomized controlled trial will examine whether a pre-shift personalized fatigue-mitigation lifestyle coaching (PFMLC) for EM residents on overnight shifts minimizes the effects of circadian rhythm disruptions on performance and recovery compared to those who receive one-time passive information on lifestyle practices. All participants will receive lifestyle strategy materials on fatigue mitigation to improve performance. Residents' self-reported and biometric data will inform PFMLC in the active arm. Performance and recovery from night shifts will be assessed by changes in sleep, heart rate variability, readiness/recovery, alertness, cognitive performance, and mental health using Fitbit and validated measures.
Insufficient sleep has both health and safety risks, but currently there are no quick, accurate and inexpensive ways to measure sleep deficiency. The current study aims to use a cutting-edge technology, small molecule analysis (e.g. metabolomics), to detect compounds in breath that reliably change with sleep-wake state and those whose levels vary by time of day.
Study investigators want to learn more about the underlying biological clock and to see if the timing of that clock can be estimated from a single blood sample.