Association between children's exposure to a violent event and objectively and subjectively measured sleep characteristics: a pilot longitudinal study

Although sleep disturbances are commonly reported among children exposed to violence, objective evidence of such disturbances is rare. This longitudinal, home‐based study assessed the effects of a known community‐ or family‐violence incident on both actigraphy‐derived and subjectively reported sleep outcomes of an ethnically mixed, urban sample of children aged 8–16 years. We hypothesized that increased event severity (child physical assault, witnessed homicide) would be associated with lower sleep duration and poorer sleep quality both at baseline and at 3‐month follow‐up. Covariate‐adjusted analyses based on a generalized estimating equations approach showed that children physically assaulted during the event showed lower sleep duration and sleep efficiency and greater wake after sleep onset than those not physically assaulted. Physically assaulted children were more likely to have a later bedtime than non‐assaulted children, but this difference decreased at 3 months. Children witnessing a homicide showed greater wake after sleep onset at baseline and reported greater sleep problems than those witnessing a non‐homicide event, but these differences decreased at 3 months. They were also somewhat more likely to have greater nightly variation in sleep duration. Collectively, results suggest that violence exposure influences children's sleep, but that specific dimensions of sleep may exhibit different susceptibility to different characteristics of violence, especially over time.     

Association between depression and insomnia subtypes: a longitudinal study on the elderly in Japan

Design:Cross-sectional and longitudinal study.Setting:Community dwellers in Japan.Participants:Nationally representative samples of adults aged 65 and over (total N = 4,997) were selected by a multistage stratified random sampling method in 1999 and were interviewed face-to-face in 1999, 2001, 2003, and 2006. Those who responded to the 3rd survey conducted in 2003 and the 4th survey conducted in 2006 were used in this study.Conclusion:The longitudinal study revealed a statistically significant relationship, controlling for other relevant factors, between DIS and the presence of depression three years later, but not between EMA or DMS and depression. Based on our findings, we recommend that the association between insomnia subtypes and depression be studied longitudinally in clinical settings.Citation:Yokoyama E; Kaneita Y; Saito Y; Uchiyama M; Matsuzaki Y; Tamaki T; Munezawa T; Ohida T. Association between depression and insomnia subtypes: a longitudinal study on the elderly in Japan. SLEEP 2010;33(12):1693-1702.     

Hot flushes during the menopause transition: a longitudinal study in Australian-born women

OBJECTIVE: To investigate factors associated with the presence, severity, and frequency of hot flushes. DESIGN: A 9-year prospective study of 438 Australian-born women, aged 45 to 55 years and menstruating at baseline. Annual fasting blood collection, physical measurements, and interviews including questions about bothersome hot flushes in previous 2 weeks were performed. A "hot flush index" score was calculated from the product of the severity and frequency data. Data were analyzed using random-effects time-series regression models. RESULTS: A total of 381 women supplied complete data over the follow-up years. A total of 350 women experienced the menopause transition, of whom 60 (17%) never reported bothersome hot flushes. At baseline, women who reported hot flushes were significantly more likely to have higher negative moods, not be in full- or part-time paid work, smoke, and not report exercising every day. Over the 9-year period of the study, variables significantly associated with reporting bothersome hot flushes were relatively young age (P < 0.001), low exercise levels (P < 0.05), low estradiol levels (P < 0.001), high follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels (P < 0.001), smoking (P < 0.01), being in the late menopause transition (P < 0.001), or being postmenopausal (P < 0.001). In women reporting hot flushes, the hot flush index score increased as their FSH levels increased (P < 0.01), as they entered the late stage of the menopause transition (P < 0.001), and as they became postmenopausal (P < 0.05), and decreased with as their age (P < 0.001) and exercise level (P < 0.05) increased. Between-women analyses found that the hot flush index score was greater in women with higher average FSH levels over time (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Menopause status, FSH and estradiol levels, age, exercise level, and smoking status all contributed to the experience of bothersome hot flushes.     

Association between latitude and allergic diseases: a longitudinal study from childhood to middle-age

BackgroundWorldwide variations in allergy prevalence suggest that geographic factors may contribute to asthma. Ecologic studies have suggested that latitude, a marker of UV-B exposure and allergen exposures, may be related to clinical allergies.ObjectiveTo examine the relationship between latitude or UV-B based on self-reported geolocation and allergic sensitization and disease prevalence in Australia.MethodsThe Tasmanian Longitudinal Health Study is a population-based study of respiratory disease spanning childhood to adulthood. The most recent follow-up included a postal survey of 5,729 participants and a clinical substudy of 1,396 participants. Participants' residential addresses were coded for latitude and linked with the UV-B data from satellite-based observations of atmospheric ozone. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to estimate the associations between latitude or UV-B and allergic diseases.ResultsMost northerly latitude, that is, latitude closest to the Equator, and high current UV-B exposure were associated with increased odds of hay fever, food allergy, and skin sensitization to house dust mites and molds. More northerly latitude and higher UV-B exposure were associated with increased odds of current asthma among atopic individuals contrasting with a reduced odds of current asthma among nonatopic individuals.ConclusionThis is the first study, to our knowledge, to demonstrate a differential effect of atopic status on the relationship between latitude and current asthma. Our study demonstrates in a genetically and culturally similar group of individuals that geographic factors may a play role in the development of allergic disease.     

Sleep difficulties in infants at risk for developmental delays: a longitudinal study

Objectives We compared the sleep of infants at risk forneuromotor delays to that of infants without such risks, andexamined the predictive validity of risk indicators to the developmentof sleep problems. Methods Conveniently recruitedinfants (n = 142) were assessed for neuromotor achievementsand sleep behaviors at 4–6 months and 10–12 monthsof age. Assessment tools were the Harris Infant Neuromotor Testand Morrell's Infant Sleep Questionnaire. Based on a cumulativerisk index, three groups were defined: higher risk (n = 28),lower risk (n = 42), and no risk (n = 72). Results Atboth ages, the sleep scores were similar among the groups. Inthe no risk and lower risk group, sleep difficulties decreasedwith age, while for infants in the higher risk group, more difficultieswere reported over time. Overall, the neuromotor attainmentswere not related to sleep fragmentation or settling difficulties. Conclusions Ina diverse sample of infants, with and without risks for developmentaldelays, overall, sleep patterns were similar. It appears thatthe neuromotor achievements are not associated with sleep-wakeregulation, as measured by caregivers’ report.     

A longitudinal study of the effects of menopause on sexuality

From an initial group of 39, 16 cycling peri-menopausal women completed a longitudinal study in which they recorded menstrual and sexual behavior daily and were interviewed at roughly 4-mth intervals until 1 yr or more without cycling. At each interview women gave 20-ml blood samples, completed sexuality questionnaires, and rated themselves for menopausal symptoms. As predicted, the difference in weekly rate of sexual intercourse before and after the cycle showed a significant decline (P less than 0.05). For each subject, mean weekly rates of sexual intercourse for 13-wk periods over the entire transition period were plotted and the slope of the line was calculated. Overall, the mean slope was negative, as predicted, and was significantly different from zero (P less than 0.05). The questionnaire data showed that compared with their pre-menopause data, the women had fewer sexual thoughts or fantasies (P less than 0.01), suffered more from lack of vaginal lubrication during sex (P less than 0.01), and were less satisfied with their partners as lovers (P less than 0.05) after menopause. While estradiol (E) and testosterone (T) levels showed significant declines (P less than 0.02), testosterone showed the most consistent association with coital frequency. The findings generally supported our initial hypothesis of a decline in sexual interest and coital frequency after menopause.     

The impact of hormonal therapy for infertility on the age at menopause

Objectives: To look for possible association between past history of ovulation induction and age at menopause. Design: Women attending our postmenopausal outpatient clinic were asked to fill questionnaires with demographic data, obstetrical history (including treatment for infertility), and medical details related to menopause. Patients: The study group (n=31) consisted of women with a history of ovulation induction, and a control group (n=200) included women who did not experience such intervention. Results: The age at the final menstrual bleeding was 46.4±5 in the study group, and 50±4 for the control group (P<0.001). This difference was most prominent for women who had induction of ovulation prior to age 35 years: they entered menopause at age 43.8±5 years. Smoking had a weak effect on the age at menopause (48.5±4 for current, vs. 49.9±4 for non- or past-smokers; P<0.03). Conclusions: This retrospective and preliminary study raises the question whether hormonal manipulations and ovarian over-stimulation during fertility treatments could be a risk factor for premature menopause.     

Association between family conflict resolution methods and depressive symptoms in South Korea: a longitudinal study

Archives of Women's Mental Health - We investigated the relationship between family conflict resolution and depression, focusing on each component of family conflict resolution to determine...     

Association of endometriosis-related infertility with age at menopause

Objective

The influence of past history of infertility, which is closely associated with reproductive factors, on menopause has not been clarified. The purpose of this study was to clarify the association of reproductive factors, including past history of infertility, with menopause in Japanese women.

Study design

This study was a cross-sectional analysis of the Japan Nurses’ Health Study (JNHS) baseline survey. The JNHS is a nationwide prospective cohort study on the health of Japanese women, and the baseline survey was conducted between 2001 and 2007.

Main outcome measure

We analyzed data for 24,153 pre- and postmenopausal women who were enrolled in the JNHS at the ages 40–59 years. The main outcome measure was menopause.

Results

Reproductive factors influencing the onset of natural menopause were past history of infertility [relative risk (RR) (age-adjusted odds ratio and 95% confidence interval): 1.28 (1.10–1.48)], past history of endometriosis: 1.32 (1.07–1.64), age at menarche: 0.919 (0.886–0.953) and number of pregnancies: 0.943 (0.911–0.976). Endometriosis as the cause of infertility was significantly associated with earlier onset of menopause (3.43 [2.17–5.44]) after adjustment for age. The strong association of past history of infertility related to endometriosis was still significant after multivariate adjustment.

Conclusion

Menopause in women who have a past history of infertility, especially in those who have suffered from endometriosis, is significantly earlier than that in women without such a history.     

Timing of mother and child depression in a longitudinal study of children at risk

Temporal associations of diagnoses in mothers and children were examined in a 3-year longitudinal study of unipolar, bipolar, and comparison women and their 8- to 16-year-old offspring. There was a significant temporal association between mother and child diagnoses, especially in unipolar families, and most children who experienced a major depressive episode did so in close proximity to maternal depression. Regression analyses indicated that children's own stressful life events, maternal disorder, and the interaction of the two significantly predicted children's changes in depression. Children exposed to high stress but with nonsymptomatic mothers were significantly less depressed subsequent to stressors than those who also had symptomatic mothers. The results are discussed in terms of the reciprocal, interpersonal context of depression.     

Association between PON1 activity and coronary heart disease risk: a meta-analysis based on 43 studies

Paraoxonase 1 (PON1) is reported to have antioxidant and cardioprotective properties. The relationship between PON1 activity and coronary heart disease (CHD) risk in humans has been reported among various ethnic populations in the past decade. However, these studies have yielded contradictory results. To investigate this inconsistency, we conducted a meta-analysis of 43 studies involving a total of 20,629 subjects to evaluate the effect of PON1 activity on susceptibility for CHD. We also systematically explored potential sources of heterogeneity using subgroup analysis and meta-regression. Significant decreases paraoxonase activity of PON1 were observed in CHD patients compared with non-CHD controls with SMD of -0.78 (95% CI: -0.98, -0.57; P<0.001). Similar results were also found for arylesterase activity of PON1 with SMD of -0.50 (95% CI: -0.64, -0.36; P<0.001). In the subgroup analysis by ethnicity, CHD phenotype, sample size, source of controls, mean age and BMI of cases, significantly increased risks were also found. In addition, our analyses detected a possibility of publication bias with an overestimate of the true association by smaller studies. This meta-analysis demonstrated that decreasing in PON1 activity is a risk factor associated with increased CHD susceptibility. However, additional very large-scale studies are warranted to provide conclusive evidence on the effects of PON1 activity on risk of CHD.     

Association between interleukin-17 gene polymorphisms and risk of coronary artery disease

We conducted a case-control study to estimate the association between IL-17A rs2275913, rs3819025 and rs3748067 polymorphisms and development of coronary artery disease. A total of 415 patients with coronary artery disease and 448 health controls were recruited during the period of March 2013 and October 2014. Genotyping of IL-17A rs2275913, rs3819025 and rs3748067 were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction coupled with restriction fragment length polymorphism. By logistic regression analysis, we found that individuals with the AA genotype (OR, 2.18; 95% CI, 1.35-3.56) and the GA+AA genotype (OR, 1.39, 95% CI, 1.06-1.84) of rs2275913 were associated with an increased risk of coronary artery disease when compared with the GG genotype. Individuals carrying the GA+AA genotype of rs2275913 were more likely to have a higher risk of coronary artery disease in those with hypertension and smoking habit, and the adjusted ORs (95% CI) were 3.92 (2.13-6.82) and 2.74 (1.71-4.40). In conclusion, we suggest that individuals with the AA genotype and the GA+AA genotype of rs2275913 are associated with an increased risk of coronary artery disease, especially in those with hypertension and smoking habit.     

Association between HLA-G genotype and risk of pre-eclampsia: a case-control study using family triads

Pre-eclampsia affects 2-7% of all pregnancies with varying severity and is a leading cause of maternal and fetal mortality and morbidity. The aetiology involves almost certainly a combination of genetic predisposition with maternal and fetal contributions and environmental factors. Research points towards pathologies in the placenta as the triggering factor which leads to systemic endothelial dysfunction in the mother, probably as the result of interaction with released placental factors circulating in the maternal blood. One prominent hypothesis regarding the aetiology of pre-eclampsia suggests that it is caused by immune- maladaptation. The MHC class Ib gene, HLA-G, is expressed in the placenta and seems to have immunomodulatory functions. Aberrant HLA-G mRNA and protein expression in pre-eclamptic placentas have been reported. Here, we have investigated detailed HLA-G genotypes in a case-control study of 155 family triads of mother, father and newborn. Among primiparas, an overrepresentation of a homozygous HLA-G genotype was detected in the 40 pre-eclamptic offspring compared to the 70 controls [P = 0.002, Fisher's exact test; odds ratio 5.57 (95% CI 1.79-17.31)]. Further analyses suggested that the differences between pre-eclamptic cases and controls primarily were accomplished by a different transmission from the father of a 14 bp deletion/insertion polymorphism in exon 8 (P = 0.006, Fisher's exact test), which previously has been linked to differences in the levels of HLA-G expression and in HLA-G mRNA splicing. The results may also indicate that combined mother-child HLA-G genotypes could influence the risk of developing pre-eclampsia. Overall, the study suggests that HLA-G genotypes and expression might have a significant influence on development of pre-eclampsia.     

Association between longitudinal changes in depressive symptoms and plasma fibrinogen levels in school teachers

Depression and anxiety previously predicted coronary artery disease (CAD) risk. Inflammation contributes to CAD and shows an association with depression. We followed 57 teachers (mean 49±8 years) over 21 months and investigated whether changes in depressive and anxiety symptoms relate to those in the CAD risk and inflammation marker fibrinogen and vice versa. Increase in depressive symptoms and in fibrinogen levels were significantly correlated. While controlling for baseline depression rendered the association between changes in depression and fibrinogen nonsignificant, taking into account baseline fibrinogen levels maintained the predictive value of fibrinogen change for depression change. Anxiety and fibrinogen changes were not significantly correlated. This dynamic relationship between depression and the inflammatory biomarker fibrinogen might advance our knowledge about psychobiological mechanisms underlying both CAD and sickness behavior.     

Association between NOD2/CARD15 polymorphisms and coronary artery disease: a case-control study

Inflammation and immune response play an important role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. In this prospective study we tested the hypothesis of whether polymorphic variations in the NOD2/CARD15 gene may influence the risk of developing clinically evident coronary artery disease (CAD). ARG702TRP, GLY908ARG, and Leu1007fsinsC NOD2/CARD15 polymorphisms were analyzed in 109 consecutive patients with angiographically documented CAD and in 109 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. The ARG702TRP, GLY908ARG, and Leu1007fsinsC polymorphisms were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction followed by restriction digestion. The prevalence of the Leu1007fsinsC polymorphism was significantly increased in CAD patients compared with controls (11.9% vs 1.8%; odds ratios (OR) 7.2, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.5-32.9; p = 0.01), especially in those presenting with an acute coronary syndrome (OR 5.7; 95% CI 1.1-39.7; p = 0.034 vs stable angina). In CAD patients the frequency of GLY908ARG polymorphism was significantly lower (1.8% vs 6.4% in controls; OR 0.05, 95% CI 0.01-0.69; p = 0.031, at multivariable analysis) and the prevalence of the ARG702TRP polymorphism was higher compared with controls (10.1% vs 3.7%; OR 2.9, 95% CI 0.91-9.6; p = 0.07). We report in a Caucasian population that NOD2/CARD15 polymorphisms influence the development of clinically evident and angiographically documented coronary artery disease. In particular, the Leu1007fsinsC polymorphism was associated with an increased risk of clinically evident and angiographically documented coronary atherosclerosis and clinical destabilization of coronary plaques, whereas the GLY908ARG polymorphism demonstrated a protective effect on coronary atherogenesis. These correlations were independent of cardiovascular risk factors at multivariable analysis. These findings may contribute to the identification of a novel genetic approach for the stratification of cardiovascular risk profile.     

Association between menopause status and central adiposity measured at different cutoffs of waist circumference and waist-to-hip ratio

OBJECTIVE: To assess the association between menopause status and central adiposity measured using two different cutoffs of waist circumference and waist-to-hip ratio, while controlling for body mass index and other confounding factors. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study of a representative population-based sample of 358 women from Passo Fundo, Southern Brazil. Medical students performed standardized interviews and anthropometric measurements under supervision. Menopause status was categorized as premenopausal for those with no change in menstrual frequency or flow; menopause transition for those who had these changes; and postmenopausal after 12 months of amenorrhea or bilateral oophorectomy. Obesity was defined by body mass index (BMI) equal or greater than 30 kg/m, whereas central adiposity was defined as a waist circumference equal or greater than 80 or 88 cm and a waist-to-hip-ratio equal or greater than 0.80 or 0.86. RESULTS: The anthropometric assessment showed that compared with postmenopausal women, premenopausal women were taller, had a thinner waist circumference, and had a lower waist-to-hip ratio. Postmenopausal women had five times the chance of having central adiposity than premenopausal women, even after controlling for BMI and other confounding factors. Women in the menopause transition had an increased BMI, but there was no independent association with central obesity. CONCLUSION: Postmenopausal women are at greater risk of central adiposity as detected by both waist circumference and waist-to-hip ratio.