The effect of circadian preference and sleep disturbances on depression in children 6 to 12 years of age.

Circadian rhythm and sleep disruption have been associated with depressive symptoms in children. This study was conducted to determine sleep disturbances and circadian preferences and their possible associations with depression in healthy children 6 to 12 years of age. A total of 111 healthy children (mean age 7.5 years; 62.2% male) were included. Sleep disturbances and depression were determined by the Sleep Disturbance Scale for Children (SDSC) and the Children's Depression Inventory (CDI), respectively. Circadian preference was evaluated by the Morningness - Eveningness Stability Scale improved (MESSi). SDSC was correlated with CDI (r = 0.396, p < 0.001). Morning affect was inversely correlated with CDI (r = -0.405, p < 0.001), SDSC (r = -0.348, p < 0.001), and three subdimensions of SDSC, i.e. disorders of initiating and maintaining sleep (DIMS, r = -0.317, p = 0.001), disorders of arousal (DA, r = -0.375, p < 0.001) and disorders of excessive somnolence (DOES, r = -0.303, p = 0.001). Distinctness was inversely correlated with CDI (r = -0.402, p < 0.001) and SDSC (r = -0.274, p < 0.001). Increased use of electronic devices was associated with higher CDI (p = 0.003), while decreased duration of physical activity with higher SDSC (p = 0.017). Our findings support the recommendations addressing sleep and circadian preferences as lifestyle modifications in reducing depression in children.

Associations between sleep characteristics and glycemic variability in youth with type 1 diabetes.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine sleep characteristics and their associations with glycemic variability in youth with type 1 diabetes (T1D). MATERIAL AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study conducted at two pediatric diabetes centers in Istanbul, Turkey, included 84 children with T1D (mean age 10.5 years). Sleep characteristics and glycemic variability were determined by actigraphy, DSM-5 Level 2-Sleep Disturbance Scale Short Form and continuous glucose monitoring. Circadian preference was evaluated by the Children's Chronotype Questionnaire. Sleep disturbances were assessed by the. The sleep quality was determined by actigraphy-derived sleep measures. RESULTS: Eighty-eight percent of participants had insufficient age-appropriate total sleep time (TST) (<9 h for 6-13-year-olds and <8 h for 14-17-year-olds). Chronotype was classified as intermediate in 50%, evening in 45.2%, and morning in 4.8%. A higher chronotype score indicating a stronger eveningness preference was associated with more time spent in hypoglycemia (ß = 0.433, p = 0.002). On nights when participants had lower sleep efficiency and longer sleep onset latency, they had significantly higher overnight glycemic variability (ß = -0.343, p = 0.016, ß = 0.129, p = 0.017, respectively). Prolonged nocturnal wake duration was significantly associated with more time spent in daytime hypoglycemia (ß = 0.037, p = 0.046) and higher overnight glycemic variability (J index, ß = 0.300, p = 0.015). The associations between TST and glycemic variability indices were not significant. CONCLUSIONS: Sleep quality rather than TST was significantly associated with glycemic variability in children with T1D. Eveningness preference might contribute to an increased risk of hypoglycemia. Addressing sleep patterns and chronotypes can be crucial in management plans for youth with T1D.

Polycaprolactone/silk fibroin electrospun nanofibers-based lateral flow test strip for quick and facile determination of bisphenol A in breast milk.

This study aimed to develop a sensitive lateral flow test strip for the detection of bisphenol A (BPA) in breast milk. Conventional nitrocellulose test membrane was coated with the coaxial nanofiber, consisting of the inner polycaprolactone (PCL) and the outer PCL/silk fibroin (SF) mixture, to decrease the flow rate of the breast milk in the lateral flow assay (LFA). The nanofiber was prepared by using coaxial electrospinning, and BPA antibody was immobilized physically to the nanofiber. This nanofiber was used as a test membrane in the LFA. Color changes on the test membrane were evaluated as the signal intensity of the BPA. Breast milk creates a background on surfaces due to its structural properties. This background was detected by comparing the signal intensity with the signal intensity of water. The higher signal intensity was found in water samples when compared to breast milk samples. Although the detection limit is 2 ng/ml in both coaxial PCL/SF nanofiber and nitrocellulose (NC) test membranes, the color intensity increased with the increasing BPA concentration in the coaxial PCL/SF nanofiber. As a new dimension, the coaxial PCL/SF nanofiber provided higher color intensity than the NC membrane. In conclusion, a sensitive onsite method was developed for the detection of BPA in breast milk by using new coaxial PCL/SF nanofiber as a test membrane in LFA.

Effect of Freezing Time on Tissue Factor Activity and Macronutrients of Human Milk.

Human milk proteins are known as vital molecules for infant development and growth. Tissue factor is one of these human milk proteins that its role in human milk has not been cleared yet. Therefore, the first aim of this study was to detect the tissue factor activity of human milk and also was to investigate the effect of extended freezer storage on the milk tissue factor activity. The relationship between the tissue factor activity and macronutrient content and pH of milk was also investigated in this study. Under this aim, mature human milk samples were obtained from 8 healthy women. Collected human milk samples were pooled and divided into aliquots that were stored at - 20 °C until the day to be analyzed. Milk tissue factor activity, protein, fat, lactose, energy, water, density, and pH levels were determined for up to six months. By two months from the freezing, tissue factor activity did not significantly change but significantly decreased at the end of the six months. From the first month to six months from freezing, lactose, protein, fat, and energy levels showed a significant decline. Milk pH did not change with freezing at the end of 6 months. In conclusion, TF activity maintained its first-day activity until the second month after being pumped. The increased interest in breast milk leads us to believe that the gap existing in the knowledge of breast milk bioactive components like TF will be complemented with new research data.