title: Peripheral Skin Temperature and Circadian Biological Clock in Shift Nurses after a Day off.
abstract: The circadian biological clock is essentially based on the light/dark cycle. Some people working with shift schedules cannot adjust their sleep/wake cycle to the light/dark cycle, and this may result in alterations of the circadian biological clock. This study explored the circadian biological clock of shift and daytime nurses using non-invasive methods. Peripheral skin temperature, cortisol and melatonin levels in saliva, and Per2 expression in pubic hair follicle cells were investigated for 24 h after a day off. Significant differences were observed in peripheral skin temperature and cortisol levels between shift and daytime nurses. No differences in melatonin levels were obtained. Per2 maximum values were significantly different between the two groups. Shift nurses exhibited lower circadian variations compared to daytime nurses, and this may indicate an adjustment of the circadian biological clock to continuous shift schedules. Non-invasive procedures, such as peripheral skin temperature measurement, determination of cortisol and melatonin in saliva, and analysis of clock genes in hair follicle cells, may be effective approaches to extensively study the circadian clock in shift workers.
authors.affiliation: Occupational Medicine, Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, Polytechnic University of Marche, Via Tronto 10/A, Ancona 60126, Italy. m.bracci@univpm.it.
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bracci
authors.affiliation: Occupational Medicine, Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, Polytechnic University of Marche, Via Tronto 10/A, Ancona 60126, Italy. veronica.ciarapica@virgilio.it.
authors.forename: Veronica
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ciarapica
authors.affiliation: Healthcare Workers Service, ASUR Area 2, Loreto Hospital, Via S. Francesco 1, Loreto 60025, Italy. alfredo.copertaro@sanita.marche.it.
authors.forename: Alfredo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Copertaro
authors.affiliation: Healthcare Workers Service, ASUR Area 2, Loreto Hospital, Via S. Francesco 1, Loreto 60025, Italy. mariella.barbaresi@sanita.marche.it.
authors.forename: Mariella
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Barbaresi
authors.affiliation: Occupational Medicine, Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, Polytechnic University of Marche, Via Tronto 10/A, Ancona 60126, Italy. nicolamanzella@virgilio.it.
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Manzella
authors.affiliation: Occupational Medicine, Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, Polytechnic University of Marche, Via Tronto 10/A, Ancona 60126, Italy. m.tomasetti@univpm.it.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tomasetti
authors.affiliation: Occupational Medicine, Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, Polytechnic University of Marche, Via Tronto 10/A, Ancona 60126, Italy. simonagae87@hotmail.it.
authors.forename: Simona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gaetani
authors.affiliation: Occupational Medicine, Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, Polytechnic University of Marche, Via Tronto 10/A, Ancona 60126, Italy. monaco_federica@virgilio.it.
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Monaco
authors.affiliation: Occupational Medicine, Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, Polytechnic University of Marche, Via Tronto 10/A, Ancona 60126, Italy. m.amati@univpm.it.
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Amati
authors.affiliation: Occupational Medicine, Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, Polytechnic University of Marche, Via Tronto 10/A, Ancona 60126, Italy. m.valentino@univpm.it.
authors.forename: Matteo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Valentino
authors.affiliation: Section of Occupational Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine and Systemic Diseases, University of Catania, Via Santa Sofia 78, Catania 95123, Italy. dottore.rapisarda@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Venerando
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Rapisarda
authors.affiliation: Occupational Medicine, Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, Polytechnic University of Marche, Via Tronto 10/A, Ancona 60126, Italy. l.santarelli@univpm.it.
authors.forename: Lory
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Santarelli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D057906:Circadian Clocks / Q000502:physiology*; D003710:Demography; D015870:Gene Expression; D018859:Hair Follicle / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000378:metabolism; D008550:Melatonin / Q000378:metabolism; D009726:Nurses; D056950:Period Circadian Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012463:Saliva / Q000378:metabolism; D012881:Skin Temperature; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: C421902:PER2 protein, human; D056950:Period Circadian Proteins; D008550:Melatonin; D006854:Hydrocortisone
keywords: PER2 gene; circadian clocks; circadian dysregulation; circadian rhythm; cortisol; light dark cycle; melatonin; occupational health; shift work; skin temperature