http://www.rxpgnews.com/ Medical News and Information Thu, 21 Aug 2008 02:00:28 PST en-us http://www.rxpgnews.com/circardianrhythm/Computer_models_may_reveal_what_makes_human_body_c_4617_4617.shtml Circardian Rhythm Scientists at the University of Edinburgh are using digital technology to develop an artificial body clock which can tell them more about the causes of sleeplessness. The computer-designed clock, which mimics the workings of key genes and proteins in the brain, can shed new light on the complex biological processes which influence our internal rhythms. The study is part of major Europe-wide investigation into sleep disturbance, which is a growing problem in the EU where one in every five employees now works shifts. Tue, 04 Jul 2006 00:54:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/circardianrhythm/Computer_models_may_reveal_what_makes_human_body_c_4617_4617.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/circardianrhythm/New_fruit_fly_protein_JET_illuminates_circadian_re_4582_4582.shtml Circardian Rhythm Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine have identified a new protein required for the circadian response to light in fruit flies. The discovery of this protein – named JET – brings investigators one step closer to understanding the process by which the body's internal clock synchronizes to light. Understanding how light affects circadian (24-hour) rhythms will likely open doors to future treatments of jetlag. Fri, 30 Jun 2006 02:26:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/circardianrhythm/New_fruit_fly_protein_JET_illuminates_circadian_re_4582_4582.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/circardianrhythm/Children_with_fetal_alcohol_spectrum_disorders_exh_4261_4261.shtml Circardian Rhythm Children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) suffer from a variety of behavioral alterations. For example, they may exhibit alterations in sleeping and eating patterns, which may indicate that their circadian systems – which control biological rhythms – have been affected by alcohol exposure during development. A rodent study in the May issue of Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research confirms that alcohol exposure during a period equivalent to the third human trimester influences the ability to synchronize circadian rhythms to light cues. Sun, 07 May 2006 19:08:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/circardianrhythm/Children_with_fetal_alcohol_spectrum_disorders_exh_4261_4261.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/circardianrhythm/Body_clock_could_be_re-set_Research_3762_3762.shtml Circardian Rhythm The body clock that plays a major role in our metal and physical health could be re-set to help people working in swing shifts, experiencing jet lag or facing depression, says a new study. Thu, 23 Mar 2006 17:53:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/circardianrhythm/Body_clock_could_be_re-set_Research_3762_3762.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/circardianrhythm/Avoid_jet_lag_by_resetting_body_clock_2765_2765.shtml Circardian Rhythm A simple, at-home treatment -- a single light box and the over-the-counter drug melatonin -- allows travelers to avoid jet lag by resetting their circadian body clock before crossing several time zones, according to new research being published in The Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism. This treatment can also help those with delayed sleep phase syndrome (DSPS), a persistent condition that results from a misalignment between a person's internal biological clock and the external social environment. Wed, 02 Nov 2005 11:53:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/circardianrhythm/Avoid_jet_lag_by_resetting_body_clock_2765_2765.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/circardianrhythm/Clocking_in_Pillow_Time_without_the_Pillow_2139_2139.shtml Circardian Rhythm If you snooze, you lose those uncomely grayish-brown crescents below your eyes. If you don’t snooze, you lose a lot more. The body can’t fight off infection, the muscles can’t regenerate as quickly, the mind can’t learn new words, and the eyes can’t focus on the road. You also gain things: a bad mood and increased risk for diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart problems. Indeed, the effects of sleep deprivation can be so serious that some sleep scientists liken lifetime sleep debt to a heavy backpack: every sleep hour missed adds an extra pound to your pack until it weighs you down. Wed, 24 Aug 2005 04:10:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/circardianrhythm/Clocking_in_Pillow_Time_without_the_Pillow_2139_2139.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/circardianrhythm/Serotonin_appears_to_modulate_circardian_rhythm_1829_1829.shtml Circardian Rhythm Sun, 10 Jul 2005 15:41:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/circardianrhythm/Serotonin_appears_to_modulate_circardian_rhythm_1829_1829.shtml