The Relationship between Cyber Violence and Cyber Sex Crimes: Understanding the Perception of Cyber Sex Crimes as Systemic Issues.

This study examines the relationship between cyber violence and cyber sex crimes, specifically focusing on these crimes as systemic issues among adolescents. The research highlights the severe impact of cyber sex crimes, characterized by the non-consensual sharing of sexually explicit content. It examines various factors that may contribute to witnessing cyber sex crimes, including exposure to violent online content, personal experiences of cyber violence (either as a victim or perpetrator), and the role of parental and teacher interventions. Utilizing data from a nationwide survey conducted by the Korea Communications Commission, the study analyzes responses from 9016 adolescents in 2021 and 9693 in 2022. This analysis reveals significant predictors of witnessing cyber sex crimes and examines how perceptions of cyber violence and interventions of authoritative figures may influence adolescents' perception of cyber sex crimes as either systemic or individual issues. With females disproportionately affected, the findings underscore a gendered aspect of cyber violence. Furthermore, these insights suggest that perceiving cyber violence as a serious issue leads to viewing cyber sex crimes as systemic problems necessitating societal intervention. The study advocates for enhanced digital literacy education and systemic changes to protect adolescents from the widespread threats of cyber violence and sex crimes.

Commuting time, working time, and their link to insomnia symptoms among Korean employees: A cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: Although commuting time is an extension of working hours, few studies have examined the relationship between commuting time and insomnia symptoms in relation to working time. Thus, this study investigated the relationship between commuting time and working time and their link to sleep disturbance. METHODS: This study included employees with ≥35 weekly working hours (n = 30,458) using data from the Sixth Korean Working Conditions Survey conducted in Korea between October 2020 and April 2021. The association between commuting time (≤60, 61-120, and >120 minutes) and insomnia symptoms based on working hours (35-40, 41-52, and >52 h/wk) or shift work was investigated using survey-weighted logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Long commuting time (>120 min/d) combined with >52 working hours/week (OR: 7.88, 95% CI: 2.51-24.71) or combined with 41-52 h/wk (OR: 3.64, 95% CI: 2.15-6.14) was associated with a higher risk of insomnia symptoms compared with the reference group (working hours: 35-40 h/wk; daily commuting time: ≤60 minutes), after controlling for sex, age, socioeconomic factors, and work-related factors. Among shift workers, those with daily commuting time ≤60 minutes (OR: 1.71, 95% CI: 1.39-2.09), 61-120 minutes (OR: 2.63, 95% CI: 1.21-5.74), and >120 minutes (OR: 5.16, 95% CI: 2.14-12.44) had higher odds of insomnia symptoms than nonshift workers with ≤60 minutes daily commuting time. CONCLUSION: Long working hours and shift work are associated with greater risk of insomnia symptoms.

Discovery and Validation of Survival-Specific Genes in Papillary Renal Cell Carcinoma Using a Customized Next-Generation Sequencing Gene Panel.

PURPOSE: Papillary renal cell carcinoma (PRCC), the second most common kidney cancer, is morphologically, genetically, and molecularly heterogeneous with diverse clinical manifestations. Genetic variations of PRCC and their association with survival are not yet well-understood. This study aimed to identify and validate survival-specific genes in PRCC and explore their clinical utility. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using machine learning, 293 patients from the Cancer Genome Atlas-Kidney Renal Papillary Cell Carcinoma (TCGA-KIRP) database were analyzed to derive genes associated with survival. To validate these genes, DNAs were extracted from the tissues of 60 Korean PRCC patients. Next generation sequencing was conducted using a customized PRCC gene panel of 202 genes, including 171 survival-specific genes. Kaplan-Meier and Log-rank tests were used for survival analysis. Fisher's exact test was performed to assess the clinical utility of variant genes. RESULTS: A total of 40 survival-specific genes were identified in the TCGA-KIRP database through machine learning and statistical analysis. Of them, 10 (BAP1, BRAF, CFDP1, EGFR, ITM2B, JAK1, NODAL, PCSK2, SPATA13, and SYT5) were validated in the Korean-KIRP database. Among these survival gene signatures, three genes (BAP1, PCSK2, and SPATA13) showed survival specificity in both overall survival (OS) (p = 0.00004, p = 1.38 × 10-7, and p = 0.026, respectively) and disease-free survival (DFS) (p = 0.00002, p = 1.21 × 10-7, and p = 0.036, respectively). Notably, the PCSK2 mutation demonstrated survival specificity uniquely in both the TCGA-KIRP (OS: p = 0.010 and DFS: p = 0.301) and Korean-KIRP (OS: p = 1.38 × 10-7 and DFS: p = 1.21 × 10-7) databases. CONCLUSIONS: We discovered and verified genes specific for the survival of PRCC patients in the TCGA-KIRP and Korean-KIRP databases. The survival gene signature, including PCSK2 commonly obtained from the 40 gene signature of TCGA and the 10 gene signature of the Korean database, is expected to provide insight into predicting the survival of PRCC patients and developing new treatment.

L-serine restored lysosomal failure in cells derived from patients with BPAN reducing iron accumulation with eliminating lipofuscin.

Defective mitochondria and autophagy, as well as accumulation of lipid and iron in WDR45 mutant fibroblasts, is related to beta-propeller protein-associated neurodegeneration (BPAN). In this study, we found that enlarged lysosomes in cells derived from patients with BPAN had low enzyme activity, and most of the enlarged lysosomes had an accumulation of iron and oxidized lipid. Cryo-electron tomography revealed elongated lipid accumulation, and spectrometry-based elemental analysis showed that lysosomal iron and oxygen accumulation superimposed with lipid aggregates. Lysosomal lipid aggregates superimposed with autofluorescence as free radical generator, lipofuscin. To eliminate free radical stress by iron accumulation in cells derived from patients with BPAN, we investigated the effects of the iron chelator, 2,2'-bipyridine (bipyridyl, BIP). To study whether the defects in patient-derived cells can be rescued by an iron chelator BIP, we tested whether the level of iron and reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the cells and genes related to oxidative stress were rescued BIP treatment. Although BIP treatment decreased some iron accumulation in the cytoplasm and mitochondria, the accumulation of iron in the lysosomes and levels of cellular ROS were unaffected. In addition, the change of specific RNA levels related to free radical stress in patient fibroblasts was not rescued by BIP. To alleviate free radical stress, we investigated whether l-serine can regulate abnormal structures in cells derived from patients with BPAN through the regulation of free radical stress. l-serine treatment alleviated increase of enlarged lysosomes and iron accumulation and rescued impaired lysosomal activity by reducing oxidized lipid accumulation in the lysosomes of the cells. Lamellated lipids in the lysosomes of the cells were identified as lipofuscin through correlative light and electron microscopy, and l-serine treatment reduced the increase of lipofuscin. These data suggest that l-serine reduces oxidative stress-mediated lysosomal lipid oxidation and iron accumulation by rescuing lysosomal activity.

Vicarious punishment of moral violations in naturalistic drama narratives predicts cortical synchronization.

Punishment of moral norm violators is instrumental for human cooperation. Yet, social and affective neuroscience research has primarily focused on second- and third-party norm enforcement, neglecting the neural architecture underlying observed (vicarious) punishment of moral wrongdoers. We used naturalistic television drama as a sampling space for observing outcomes of morally-relevant behaviors to assess how individuals cognitively process dynamically evolving moral actions and their consequences. Drawing on Affective Disposition Theory, we derived hypotheses linking character morality with viewers' neural processing of characters' rewards and punishments. We used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to examine neural responses of 28 female participants while free-viewing 15 short story summary video clips of episodes from a popular US television soap opera. Each summary included a complete narrative structure, fully crossing main character behaviors (moral/immoral) and the consequences (reward/punishment) characters faced for their actions. Narrative engagement was examined via intersubject correlation and representational similarity analysis. Highest cortical synchronization in 9 specifically selected regions previously implicated in processing moral information was observed when characters who act immorally are punished for their actions with participants' empathy as an important moderator. The results advance our understanding of the moral brain and the role of normative considerations and character outcomes in viewers' engagement with popular narratives.

The Impact of COVID-19 and Exposure to Violent Media Content on Cyber Violence Victimization Among Adolescents in South Korea: National Population-Based Study.

BACKGROUND: Because of the COVID-19 pandemic and consequent stay-at-home mandates, adolescents faced isolation and a decline in mental health. With increased online activity during this period, concerns arose regarding exposure to violent media content and cyber victimization among adolescents. Yet, the precise influence of pandemic-related measures on experiences of cyber violence remains unclear. Hence, it is pertinent to investigate whether the pandemic altered the dynamics of cyber violence victimization for individuals. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to investigate the effects of COVID-19 and exposure to violent media content on cyber violence victimization among adolescents in South Korea. METHODS: We used national survey data from 2019 (n=4779) and 2020 (n=4958) to investigate the potential impact of COVID-19 on the prevalence of cyber violence among young adolescents. The data encompassed responses from elementary fourth-grade students to senior high school students, probing their exposure to violent media content, average internet use, as well as experiences of victimization and perpetration. RESULTS: The analysis revealed a noteworthy decline in cyber victimization during 2020 compared with 2019 (B=-0.12, t=-3.45, P<.001). Furthermore, being a perpetrator significantly contributed to cyber victimization (B=0.57, t=48.36, P<.001). Additionally, younger adolescents (ß=-.06, t=-6.09, P<.001), those spending more time online (ß=.18, t=13.83, P<.001), and those exposed to violent media (ß=.14, t=13.89, P<.001) were found to be more susceptible to victimization. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the widespread belief that cyber violence among adolescents surged during COVID-19 due to increased online activity, the study findings counter this assumption. Surprisingly, COVID-19 did not exacerbate cyber victimization; rather, it decreased it. Given the strong correlation between cyber victimization and offline victimization, our attention should be directed toward implementing real-life interventions aimed at curbing violence originating from in-person violence at school.

Chiral plasmonic sensing: From the perspective of light-matter interaction.

Molecular chirality is represented as broken mirror symmetry in the structural orientation of constituent atoms and plays a pivotal role at every scale of nature. Since the discovery of the chiroptic property of chiral molecules, the characterization of molecular chirality is important in the fields of biology, physics, and chemistry. Over the centuries, the field of optical chiral sensing was based on chiral light-matter interactions between chiral molecules and polarized light. Starting from simple optics-based sensing, the utilization of plasmonic materials that could control local chiral light-matter interactions by squeezing light into molecules successfully facilitated chiral sensing into noninvasive, ultrasensitive, and accurate detection. In this Review, the importance of plasmonic materials and their engineering in chiral sensing are discussed based on the principle of chiral light-matter interactions and the theory of optical chirality and chiral perturbation; thus, this Review can serve as a milestone for the proper design and utilization of plasmonic nanostructures for improved chiral sensing.

Nox4-SH3YL1 complex is involved in diabetic nephropathy.

Nox4-derived H2O2 generation plays an important role in the pathogenesis of chronic kidney diseases (CKDs) such as diabetic nephropathy (DN). Here, we showed that SH3 domain-containing Ysc84-like 1 (SH3YL1), a Nox4 cytosolic activator, regulated DN. Streptozotocin (STZ)-induced type Ⅰ diabetic models in SH3YL1 whole-body knockout (KO) mice and podocyte-specific SH3YL1 conditional KO (Nphs2-Cre/SH3YL1fl/fl) mice were established to investigate the function of SH3YL1 in DN. The expression of fibrosis markers and inflammatory cytokines, the generation of oxidative stress, and the loss of podocytes were suppressed in diabetic SH3YL1 KO and Nphs2-Cre/SH3YL1fl/fl mice, compared to diabetic control mice. To extrapolate the observations derived from diabetic mice to clinical implication, we measured the protein level of SH3YL1 in patients DN. In fact, the SH3YL1 level was increased in patients DN. Overall, the SH3YL1-Nox4 complex was identified to play an important role in renal inflammation and fibrosis, resulting in the development of DN.

A Composite Blood Biomarker Including AKR1B10 and Cytokeratin 18 for Progressive Types of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease.

Background: We aimed to evaluate whether composite blood biomarkers including aldo-keto reductase family 1 member B10 (AKR1B10) and cytokeratin 18 (CK-18; a nonalcoholic steatohepatitis [NASH] marker) have clinically applicable performance for the diagnosis of NASH, advanced liver fibrosis, and high-risk NASH (NASH+significant fibrosis). Methods: A total of 116 subjects including healthy control subjects and patients with biopsy-proven nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) were analyzed to assess composite blood-based and imaging-based biomarkers either singly or in combination. Results: A composite blood biomarker comprised of AKR1B10, CK-18, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) showed excellent performance for the diagnosis of, NASH, advanced fibrosis, and high-risk NASH, with area under the receiver operating characteristic curve values of 0.934 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.888 to 0.981), 0.902 (95% CI, 0.832 to 0.971), and 0.918 (95% CI, 0.862 to 0.974), respectively. However, the performance of this blood composite biomarker was inferior to that various magnetic resonance (MR)-based composite biomarkers, such as proton density fat fraction/MR elastography- liver stiffness measurement (MRE-LSM)/ALT/AST for NASH, MRE-LSM+fibrosis-4 index for advanced fibrosis, and the known MR imaging-AST (MAST) score for high-risk NASH. Conclusion: Our blood composite biomarker can be useful to distinguish progressive forms of NAFLD as an initial noninvasive test when MR-based tools are not available.

Vutiglabridin Alleviates Cellular Senescence with Metabolic Regulation and Circadian Clock in Human Dermal Fibroblasts.

The process of cellular senescence, which is characterized by stable cell cycle arrest, is strongly associated with dysfunctional cellular metabolism and circadian rhythmicity, both of which are reported to result from and also be causal to cellular senescence. As a result, modifying any of them-senescence, metabolism, or the circadian clock-may affect all three simultaneously. Obesity accelerates aging by disrupting the homeostasis of reactive oxygen species (ROS) via an increased mitochondrial burden of fatty acid oxidation. As a result, if senescence, metabolism, and circadian rhythm are all linked, anti-obesity treatments may improve metabolic regulation while also alleviating senescence and circadian rhythm. Vutiglabridin is a small molecule in clinical trials that improves obesity by enhancing mitochondrial function. We found that chronic treatment of senescent primary human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs) with vutiglabridin alleviates all investigated markers of cellular senescence (SA-ß-gal, CDKN1A, CDKN2A) and dysfunctional cellular circadian rhythm (BMAL1) while remarkably preventing the alterations of mitochondrial function and structure that occur during the process of cellular senescence. Our results demonstrate the significant senescence-alleviating effects of vutiglabridin, specifically with the restoration of cellular circadian rhythmicity and metabolic regulation. These data support the potential development of vutiglabridin against aging-associated diseases and corroborate the intricate link between cellular senescence, metabolism, and the circadian clock.

Cutting Edge: STING Induces ACLY Activation and Metabolic Adaptations in Human Macrophages through TBK1.

The 2'3'-cyclic GMP-AMP (cGAMP) synthase (cGAS)-stimulator of IFN genes (STING) pathway can sense infection and cellular stress by detecting cytosolic DNA. Upon ligand binding, cGAS produces the cyclic dinucleotide messenger cGAMP, which triggers its receptor STING. Active STING initiates gene transcription through the transcription factors IFN regulatory factor 3 (IRF3) and NF-κB and induces autophagy, but whether STING can cause changes in the metabolism of macrophages is unknown. In this study, we report that STING signaling activates ATP-citrate lyase (ACLY) by phosphorylation in human macrophages. Using genetic and pharmacologic perturbation, we show that STING targets ACLY via its prime downstream signaling effector TANK (TRAF family member-associated NF-κB activator)-binding kinase 1 (TBK1). We further identify that TBK1 alters cellular metabolism upon cGAMP treatment. Our results suggest that STING-mediated metabolic reprogramming adjusts the cellular response to DNA sensing in addition to transcription factor activation and autophagy induction.

Association between social jetlag and self-rated health: Evidence from Korean representative working population.

BACKGROUND: Social jetlag is a circadian misalignment that arises from a discrepancy between activity/sleep schedules on school/work days and free days. This study explored the correlation between social jetlag and self-rated health (SRH) in a representative sample of Korea. METHODS: This study included 8259 working population in the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2016-2018. Social jetlag was calculated as the difference between the midpoint of sleep time on work day and work-free day. Five-point Likert scale of SRH was used to assess subjective health perception on general health conditions. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to calculate the odds ratios (ORs) and 95 % confidence interval (CI) for poor SRH in the 1-2 h or longer than 2 h social jetlag groups compared to that in the reference group (less than 1 h), after adjusting for age, sex, marital status, occupation, household income, and weekly working hours. RESULTS: The proportions of those with <1 h, 1-2 h, >2 h of social jetlag were 63.80 %, 25.67 %, and 10.53 %, respectively. The risk of poor SRH increased as social jetlag increased. Greater social jetlag was significantly associated with an increased likelihood of reporting poor SRH. The adjusted ORs for the groups with social jetlag between 1 and <2 h, and >2 h were 1.100 (95 % CI = 0.935-1.295), and 1.503 (95 % CI = 1.097-1.727), respectively. Moreover, the OR trend was statistically significant (p for trend = 0.008). CONCLUSION: This study found that social jetlag and poor SRH were significantly related in the Korean working population.

CRISPR/Cas9-Mediated HY5 Gene Editing Reduces Growth Inhibition in Chinese Cabbage (Brassica rapa) under ER Stress.

Various stresses can affect the quality and yield of crops, including vegetables. In this study, CRISPR/Cas9 technology was employed to examine the role of the ELONGATED HYPOCOTYL 5 (HY5) gene in influencing the growth of Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa). Single guide RNAs (sgRNAs) were designed to target the HY5 gene, and deep-sequencing analysis confirmed the induction of mutations in the bZIP domain of the gene. To investigate the response of Chinese cabbage to endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, plants were treated with tunicamycin (TM). Both wild-type and hy5 mutant plants showed increased growth inhibition with increasing TM concentration. However, the hy5 mutant plants displayed less severe growth inhibition compared to the wild type. Using nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) and 3,3'-diaminobenzidine (DAB) staining methods, we determined the amount of reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced under ER stress conditions, and found that the hy5 mutant plants generated lower levels of ROS compared to the wild type. Under ER stress conditions, the hy5 mutant plants exhibited lower expression levels of UPR- and cell death-related genes than the wild type. These results indicate that CRISPR/Cas9-mediated editing of the HY5 gene can mitigate growth inhibition in Chinese cabbage under stresses, improving the quality and yield of crops.

Factors affecting female college students' intention to use digital technology in wearable devices to stimulate health monitoring.

In this study, we measured female college students' mental health and physical activities to identify factors that affect their intention to use wearable health-monitoring devices. Specifically, the study derived correlations between female students' health-related quality of life (HRQoL) including, physical activity, stress level, attitudes toward eating, and self-esteem. Using this information, we ascertained the relationship between female college students' use of wearable devices and physical activity and examined the requirements for smartphone applications for healthcare. We collected data from 308 female college students in the Republic of Korea over four months starting in July 2021 using an anonymous online survey. We then analyzed the data using descriptive statistics and linear regression. The results showed that the factors that caused stress in female college students during the past six months were fatigue, COVID-19, grades, worries about getting a full-time job, menstruation, and being overweight. This paper found a negative correlation between stress and self-esteem and a positive correlation between physical activity and self-esteem. People with experience using wearable devices reported a higher intensity in physical activity. More than half the participants recorded biometric information for their menstrual cycles and menstrual cramps regardless of whether they were using wearable devices. Currently, healthcare applications can suggest diets and track nutritional intake, menstrual cycles, and amount of exercise, which users want simultaneously. Therefore, there is a market demand for a mobile application linked with a wearable device and tailored for female college students that could combine and manage all these data. In the future, application developers should consider the needs of female college students.

Comparative heat stress responses of three hot pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) genotypes differing temperature sensitivity.

As global temperatures have steadily increased over past decades, studying of the impacts of heat stress on morpho-physiological traits and economic yields of horticultural crops have been increasingly gained attentions by many scientists and farmers. Hot pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) is an important vegetable crop mostly grown in open-fields in South Korea. In this study, the impacts of prolonged heat stress on three hot pepper genotypes differing by levels of stress susceptibility were evaluated. The study was conducted in two different temperature-controlled greenhouses for 75 days. 48 days old plants were grown in control and heat-treated greenhouses where the temperatures had been set at 30 °C and 35 °C during the day for 75 days, respectively. Morphological, physiological, and nutrient characteristics of three accessions were measured. All hot pepper accessions were enabled to recover from prolonged heat stress exposures within approximately a month. The phenomenon of recovery was observed in some significant morphological and physiological characteristics. For example, the plant growth rate and photosynthesis rate significantly increased after 40th days of heat treatment. The heat stress sensitivity varied between genotypes. The plants that produced more fruits over biomass at early stage of heat treatment had relatively slow recovery, resulting in the largest yield loss. This key morphological characteristic can be used for future breeding program to adapt the prolonged heat stress.

CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene editing to confer turnip mosaic virus (TuMV) resistance in Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa).

Genome editing approaches, particularly the CRISPR/Cas9 technology, are becoming state-of-the-art for trait development in numerous breeding programs. Significant advances in improving plant traits are enabled by this influential tool, especially for disease resistance, compared to traditional breeding. One of the potyviruses, the turnip mosaic virus (TuMV), is the most widespread and damaging virus that infects Brassica spp. worldwide. We generated the targeted mutation at the eIF(iso)4E gene in the TuMV-susceptible cultivar "Seoul" using CRISPR/Cas9 to develop TuMV-resistant Chinese cabbage. We detected several heritable indel mutations in the edited T0 plants and developed T1 through generational progression. It was indicated in the sequence analysis of the eIF(iso)4E-edited T1 plants that the mutations were transferred to succeeding generations. These edited T1 plants conferred resistance to TuMV. It was shown with ELISA analysis the lack of accumulation of viral particles. Furthermore, we found a strong negative correlation (r = -0.938) between TuMV resistance and the genome editing frequency of eIF(iso)4E. Consequently, it was revealed in this study that CRISPR/Cas9 technique can expedite the breeding process to improve traits in Chinese cabbage plants.

Association between social jetlag and chronic kidney disease among the Korean working population.

Social jetlag refers to the discrepancy between social time and the body's internal rhythm, which can lead to unfavorable health outcomes. However, no study has directly explored the relation between social jetlag and chronic kidney disease (CKD). This study aims to investigate the relationship between social jetlag and CKD in a representative population of South Korea. This study included 8259 currently economically active Korean population in the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Social jetlag was calculated as the difference between the midpoint of sleep time on weekdays and free days. The estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was calculated the by using the serum creatinine value according to the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) equation. Participants with an eGFR less than 60 ml/min/1.73 m2 were defined as CKD cases. The estimated glomerular filtration rate decreased as social jetlag increased. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that the adjusted odds ratio (95% confidence interval) of CKD for 1-2 h of social jetlag was 0.926 (0.660-1.299), while the odds ratio for more than 2 h was 2.042 (1.328-3.139) when less than 1 h was used as reference. This study found that social jetlag and risk of CKD were significantly related in the Korean working population.

Impact of reduced night work on shift workers' sleep using difference-in-difference estimation.

OBJECTIVES: We used a quasi-experimental design to investigate the impact of a change in the shift work system by reducing overnight work on the sleep health of workers. METHODS: A difference-in-difference (DID) analysis was used to investigate changes in sleep time and sleep quality between the experimental group (shift workers, N = 116 in 2007 and N = 118 in 2013) and the control group (regular day workers, N = 256 in 2007 and N = 185 in 2013) before and after a change in the shift system that eliminated overnight work. The sleep outcomes were measured using a questionnaire that inquired about sleep duration, mid-sleep awakenings, and subjective sleep quality. We used a generalized estimating equation model to investigate differences in the prevalence of sleep-related outcomes between baseline and post-intervention. RESULTS: In the DID models, the sleep time per day (+0.5 h), the prevalence of awakening during sleep (-13.9%), and self-reported poor sleep quality (-34.9%) were improved with statistical significance during evening shifts in the experimental group, but there was no significant change during day shifts in the experimental group compared to the control group after the implementation of the new shift system without overnight shift. CONCLUSIONS: Quitting overnight work improved sleep health of shift workers.

Impact of Reduced Working Hours and Night Work Hours on Metabolic Syndrome: A Quasi-Experimental Study.

Objectives: Epidemiological evidence linking long working hours and shift work to metabolic syndrome remains inadequate. We sought to evaluate the impact of reducing working hours on metabolic syndrome. Methods: We compared the prevalence of metabolic syndrome among male manual workers in a manufacturing company (N = 371) before and after the introduction of policy to reduce daily work hours from 10 to 8 hours. Components of metabolic syndrome were measured in periodic health examinations before the intervention, 6-9 months after, and 1.5-2 years after the intervention. Generalized estimating equation models were used to estimate changes in the prevalence of metabolic syndrome. Analyses were stratified by day work versus shift work. Results: The results showed a significantly decreased prevalence of metabolic syndrome 6-9 months following the intervention in day workers (risk ratio = 0.68, 95% confidence interval 0.52-0.88), but the benefit disappeared after 1.5-2 years. Shift workers showed a decreased prevalence of metabolic syndrome for the whole follow-up duration after the intervention, although the change was not statistically significant. Conclusion: Reducing working hours was associated with short-term improvement in metabolic syndrome in male manual workers.

Regnase-1 plays an essential role in maintaining skin immune homeostasis via regulation of chemokine expression.

Regnase-1 is an endoribonuclease that regulates the stability of target genes. Here, we investigated whether Regnase-1 plays a regulatory role in the pathophysiology of atopic dermatitis, a chronic inflammatory skin disease. Regnase-1 levels were decreased in skin and serum of atopic dermatitis patients and mice. Regnase-1+/- mice exhibited more severe atopic dermatitis symptoms than wild-type mice in a house dust mite allergen-induced atopic dermatitis model. Regnase-1 deficiency led to the global changes in gene expression related with innate immune and inflammatory responses, in particular chemokines. The skin Regnase-1 level had an inverse relationship with chemokine expression when we analyzed samples of atopic dermatitis patients and Regnase-1-deficient mice, suggesting that potentiated chemokine production contributes to the augmented inflammation at lesion sites. Subcutaneous administration of recombinant Regnase-1 to mice significantly ameliorated atopic dermatitis-like skin inflammation with reduced chemokine production in a house dust mite-induced atopic dermatitis NC/Nga mouse model. These results indicate that Regnase-1 plays an essential role in maintaining skin immune homeostasis as a regulator of chemokine expression. Modulating Regnase-1 activity may be an efficient therapeutic strategy for treating chronic inflammatory diseases, including atopic dermatitis.