The environment and the internal clocks: The study of their relationships from prehistoric to modern times.

The origin of biological rhythms goes back to the very beginning of life. They are observed in the animal and plant world at all levels of organization, from cells to ecosystems. As early as the 18th century, plant scientists were the first to explain the relationship between flowering cycles and environmental cycles, emphasizing the importance of daily light-dark cycles and the seasons.

Decreased Immune Response in Alexithymic Women: A One-Year Longitudinal Study.

Although previous cross-sectional studies suggested significantly dysregulated immune response in alexithymia, there is a lack of longitudinal studies. We sought to determine the reliability of the reported relationship between alexithymia and decreased immune response in a longitudinal study. Thirty-eight healthy women who had participated in a cross-sectional study were recontacted 1-year later.

Decreased immune response in alexithymic women: a cross-sectional study.

It has been reported in a few studies that alexithymia is associated with impaired immune response but results are still contradictory. The present study investigates whether alexithymia is associated with lower cell-mediated (Th-1) immune response. Fifty-one healthy 18-27-year-old women were selected from healthy subjects on the basis of high or low cut-off scores on the 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20).

Modifications of circadian and circannual rhythms with aging.

Whereas biological rhythms are now fairly well documented in young healthy adults, reports in elderly are relatively few for obvious reasons, including the difficulty of setting groups matched in age, sociological and professional background, medical history, and not in need of specific medication. Aging may modify one or several parameters characterizing biological rhythms. The modifications are different from one function to the next, and great care should be given not to mistake changes attributable to the aging process with those resulting from physical and physiological impairment caused by passed environmental aggressions and diseases.

[Chronobiological approach of aging].

Ageing is a complex, multifactorial phenomenon. The existence of biologic rhythms as well as the study of their modifications or their alteration in the aged are useful and pertinent to understand the biologic age. These modifications, if any, may be interpreted as a change in the adaptability of aged subjects to environmental factors.

Effects of a two-hour early awakening and of bright light exposure on plasma patterns of cortisol, melatonin, prolactin and testosterone in man.

Bright light is a synchronizing agent that entrains human circadian rhythms and modifies various endocrine and neuroendocrine functions. The aim of the present study was to determine whether and how the exposure to a bright light stimulus during the 2 h following a 2 h earlier awakening could modify the disturbance induced by the the sleep deprivation on the plasma patterns of hormones whose secretion is sensitive to light and/or sleep, namely melatonin, prolactin, cortisol and testosterone. Six healthy and synchronized (lights on: 07.

Effect of shift work on the night-time secretory patterns of melatonin, prolactin, cortisol and testosterone.

In a study of the internal desynchronization of circadian rhythms in 12 shift workers, 4 of them, aged 25-34 years, agreed to be sampled every 2 h during their night shift (0000 hours to 0800 hours). They were oil refinery operators with a fast rotating shift system (every 3-4 days). We found marked changes in the secretory profiles of melatonin, prolactin and testosterone.

Psychophysiological effects of early morning bright light exposure in young adults.

The effects of bright light on circadian rhythms in man are well documented. Nevertheless the theoretical basis and the rules for the practical utilization of light exposure as therapy need still to be better defined. The present study determined to what extent a 2-hr bright light exposure (0500-0700 h) improved the adjustment to an early rising in normal adults.

Circadian and seasonal variations of electrolytes in aging humans.

The circadian and seasonal variations of a set of routinely determined variables (chloride, sodium, potassium, calcium, inorganic phosphorus, magnesium, creatinine, urea and urate) were documented in young men (mean age +/- SD: 24.0 +/- 3.9 yr) and in healthy elderly men (75.

Activity of melatonin and other pineal indoles on the in vitro synthesis of cortisol, cortisone, and adrenal androgens.

The in vitro effects of 13 indole compounds on the synthesis of glucocorticoids and of adrenal androgens in sheep adrenal glands has been studied from 11-deoxycortisol as a precursor. This work demonstrates the activating effect of some indole compounds on 11 beta-hydroxylase and 17,20-desmolase and the inhibitory effect of most of them on 11 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase. Three categories could be distinguished: 1) compounds without any effect (5-hydroxytryptophan, 5-hydroxytryptamine); 2) compounds moderately increasing (10-30% as compared with controls) cortisol yields (tryptamine, melatonin, 6-hydroxymelatonin, 5-methoxytryptophol, indomethacin); and 3) compounds markedly increasing (80-100%) cortisol yields (5-methoxyindole acetic acid, 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid, 2-methylindole, 5-hydroxytryptophol, N-acetyl-5-hydroxytryptamine).

Prevalence of magnesium and potassium deficiencies in the elderly.

Concentrations of magnesium and potassium in erythrocytes and plasma were determined in a population of 381 unselected elderly men and women, most of them in their eighties. The effects of biological factors (age, sex, weight) and a large set of pathological conditions, malignant or not, were examined. Analyses of variance showed a relation between age and concentrations of plasma potassium and between weight and concentrations of plasma magnesium.

Decreased nocturnal plasma melatonin peak in patients with a functional alteration of the retina in relation with uveitis.

A functional alteration of the retina is present in patients suffering from uveitis. Because of the relation between the pineal gland and the retina we documented possible modifications of melatonin secretion in patients with uveitis. Plasma melatonin was assayed in 19 patients and 16 age-matched controls.

Differences between young and elderly subjects in seasonal and circadian variations of total plasma proteins and blood volume as reflected by hemoglobin, hematocrit, and erythrocyte counts.

Circadian and seasonal rhythms in total plasma proteins were documented in healthy young men (around 24 years old), and in elderly subjects (both sexes), including senile-dementia patients in their eighties. The concentration of plasma proteins within a given group changed predictably (7-13%), depending on the hour of sampling and the season. Concentrations decreased noticeably around 04:00 h, then peaked around 08:00 h (shortly after waking).

Age-related changes in both circadian and seasonal rhythms of rectal temperature with special reference to senile dementia of Alzheimer type.

The biological rhythms of rectal temperature were documented in young (circadian variations) and elderly (circadian and seasonal variations) human subjects either in apparent good health or suffering from senile dementia of Alzheimer type (SDAT). All the subjects were synchronized. Data obtained showed a decrease of the body core temperature rhythm amplitude in the healthy elderly for each documented season but not in patients with SDAT.

Patterns of plasma melatonin with ageing and mental condition: stability of nyctohemeral rhythms and differences in seasonal variations.

Effects of ageing and mental condition on the nyctohemeral and seasonal rhythms of plasma melatonin in human subjects were investigated. Four groups of subjects were formed for a transverse study: 7 healthy young men (24 years), 6 elderly women, 6 elderly men and 6 elderly patients (2 men and 4 women) suffering from senile dementia (70-80 years). The subjects were synchronized.

Alterations in circadian rhythmicity in calcium oxalate renal stone formers.

The circadian (circannual for oxalic acid) variations of 13 urinary variables (volume, creatinine, calcium, oxalic acid, glycolic acid, 17-ketosteroids, 17-hydroxycorticosteroids, phosphates, urea, uric acid, chloride, sodium, and potassium) have been documented in 7 calcium oxalate renal stone formers and 7 healthy men (control group). Urine was collected every 4 h over a period of 24 h. All subjects had the same synchronization: diurnal activity from 07(00) to 23(00) +/- 1 h and nocturnal rest; meals were given at fixed clock hours (08(00), 12(30) and 20(00) +/- 1 h).

Adrenal circadian system in young and elderly human subjects: a comparative study.

Circadian changes in plasma 18-hydroxy-11-deoxycorticosterone (18-OH-DOC), total and unbound cortisol were studied in four groups: seven healthy young men, six elderly men, six elderly women and six elderly demented patients of both sexes. The daily activities of the subjects were synchronous; blood samples were taken every 4 h and 4 hourly urine samples were collected only from the young men. A circadian rhythm was defined for plasma 18-OH-DOC, total and unbound cortisol in all groups; the secretory patterns of these steroids were parallel, as were the profiles of urinary 18-OH-DOC and unconjugated cortisol.

Age- and mental health-related circadian rhythms of plasma levels of melatonin, prolactin, luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone in man.

Circadian changes in plasma levels of melatonin, prolactin, LH and FSH were studied in four groups: seven healthy young men, six elderly men, six elderly women and six elderly demented patients (two men and four women). The daily activities of the subjects were synchronous and blood samples were taken every 4 h. The 24-h mean concentrations of prolactin in plasma were the same in all groups, whereas those of LH and FSh were twice as high in the elderly as in the young men and eight and 23 times higher respectively in the elderly women.

Clinical chronopharmacology of ACTH 1-17. II. Effects on plasma testosterone, plasma aldosterone, plasma and urinary electrolytes (K, Na, Ca and Mg).

The aim of the investigation was to study the effects of ACTH 1-17 on plasma testosterone, plasma aldosterone as well as on both plasma and urinary electrolytes (K, Na, Mg and Ca) in healthy young adult males with regard to the time (clock hours) at which this polypeptide was injected. Eight healthy adults (males from 28 to 30 years) volunteered for the study. The were synchronized with a diurnal activity from 0700 to midnight and a nocturnal rest.

Serum magnesium circadian rhythm in human adults with respect to age, sex and mental status.

25 subjects volunteered to document circadian changes in serum magnesium. 4 groups were formed: 7 healthy young males (24.0 years +/- 3.