Clocks & Sleep最新文献

{"title":"Appropriate Lifelong Circadian Rhythms Are Established During Infancy: A Narrative Review.","authors":"Teruhisa Miike","doi":"10.3390/clockssleep7030041","DOIUrl":"10.3390/clockssleep7030041","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In humans, the master circadian clock, present in the suprachiasmatic nucleus, plays an important role in controlling life-sustaining functions. The development of the circadian clock begins in the fetal period and is almost completed during infancy to early childhood, based on the developmental program that is influenced by the mother's daily rhythms and, after birth, with the addition of information from the daily life environment. It is known that circadian rhythms are deeply related not only to the balance of a child's mental and physical development but also to maintaining mental and physical health throughout one's life. However, it has been suggested that various health problems in the future at any age may be caused by the occurrence of circadian disturbances transmitted by the mother during the fetal period. This phenomenon can be said to support the so-called DOHaD theory, and the involvement of the mother in the maturation of appropriate and stable circadian rhythms cannot be ignored. We consider the problems and countermeasures during the fetal and infant periods, which are important for the formation of circadian clocks.</p>","PeriodicalId":33568,"journal":{"name":"Clocks & Sleep","volume":"7 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-08-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12371910/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144972234","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Who Benefits the Most from Sleep Hygiene Education? Findings from the SLeep Education for Everyone Program (SLEEP).","authors":"Alyssa Tisdale, Nahyun Kim, Dawn A Contreras, Elizabeth Williams, Robin M Tucker","doi":"10.3390/clockssleep7030040","DOIUrl":"10.3390/clockssleep7030040","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study examined data from participants who completed the SLeep Education for Everyone Program (SLEEP) to explore how various demographic variables affected sleep outcomes and to determine which participant characteristics predicted success. A total of 104 individuals participated. The Sleep Hygiene Index (SHI) measured undesirable sleep behaviors; the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) assessed sleep quality and self-reported sleep duration. Participant demographic information was collected at baseline. A mixed ANOVA evaluated group differences, and a multiple linear regression model identified predictors of sleep improvements. Change in SHI scores from pre- to post-intervention demonstrated a significant time × group interaction between Black and white participants (<i>p</i> = 0.024); further analysis indicated Black participants improved more. Better baseline scores predicted more favorable post-intervention outcomes for SHI, PSQI, and sleep duration. Fewer chronic conditions predicted better post-intervention SHI and PSQI scores. Older age also predicted better SHI scores. More favorable initial scores, fewer chronic conditions, and older age were the strongest predictors of positive outcomes following SLEEP. Improved sleep hygiene, sleep quality, and sleep duration were observed over time within subjects across all groups. In summary, SLEEP appears to be effective. Further work exploring challenges experienced by younger participants or those with multiple co-morbidities is warranted.</p>","PeriodicalId":33568,"journal":{"name":"Clocks & Sleep","volume":"7 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12372062/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144972218","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty Versus Expansion Sphincter Pharyngoplasty: A Single Centre Experience.","authors":"Teresa Bernadette Steinbichler, Birte Bender, Roland Hartl, Verena Strasser, Daniel Sontheimer, Sladjana Buricic, Barbara Kofler, Birgit Högl, Herbert Riechelmann, Benedikt Hofauer","doi":"10.3390/clockssleep7030038","DOIUrl":"10.3390/clockssleep7030038","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) and expansion sphincter pharyngoplasty (ESP) are two standard surgical procedures for the treatment of snoring and obstructive sleep apnea. In a retrospective clinical trial, we compared the two surgical techniques regarding objective sleep parameters and patients' reported outcomes.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>Patients treated with UPPP or ESP between January 2016 and February 2020 were included in this retrospective clinical trial. Pre- and postoperative AHI, BMI, and smoking habits were recorded. Subjective improvement was assessed by the ESS score and symptom relief reported by patients and their bed partners.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Between 2016 and 2020, 114 patients were included in the study, 74 patients suffered from OSA, and 30 patients had non-apnoeic snoring (AHI < 5/h). No preoperative sleeping studies were available in 10 patients (10/114; 9%). Based on the findings during drug-induced sedation endoscopy, most patients received an ESP (71/114, 62%), and 43 patients received a UPPP (43/114, 38%). Additionally, in 52/114 (46%), radio frequency ablation of the tongue base was performed if DISE revealed retrolingual collapse. ESP reduced AHI from 21.1 ± 10.8/h to 13.3 ± 12.1/h (<i>p</i> = 0.04), whereas UPPP caused a non-significant decrease in the AHI from 25.0 ± 13.8/h to 18.2 ± 14.6/h (<i>p</i> = 0.6). A minor secondary bleeding was observed in 32 patients, which was effectively treated with electrocautery or conservative therapy (32/114). This was more common in the ESP group (22/71; 31%) than in the UPPP group (10/43; 23%). Postoperative need for analgesics was higher in the ESP group than in the UPPP group. The ESS score showed no significant improvement after UPPP or ESP (<i>p</i> = 0.3), but subjective improvement in snoring was reported by 87/114 (76%) patients.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>AHI reduction was significantly higher in the ESP patient group than in the UPPP group. ESP patients had a slightly higher rate of minor secondary bleeding and postoperative need for analgesics than UPPP patients.</p>","PeriodicalId":33568,"journal":{"name":"Clocks & Sleep","volume":"7 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-07-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12372106/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144972237","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The Role of Sex in the Impact of Sleep Restriction on Appetite- and Weight-Regulating Hormones in Healthy Adults: A Systematic Review of Human Studies.","authors":"Mira Alfikany, Khaula Sakhr, Stef Kremers, Sami El Khatib, Tanja Adam, Ree Meertens","doi":"10.3390/clockssleep7030039","DOIUrl":"10.3390/clockssleep7030039","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Short sleep has been linked to overweight, possibly via alterations in appetite-regulating hormones, but findings are inconsistent. Sex differences may contribute to this variability. This systematic review examines whether sex modifies the hormonal response to sleep curtailment. PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, CINAHL, and PsycINFO were searched for English-language experimental studies published before December 2024. Included studies assessed at least one appetite-regulating hormone and presented sex-specific analyses. Studies involving health conditions affecting sleep, circadian misalignment, or additional interventions were excluded. Risk of bias was assessed using the Revised Cochrane Risk-of-Bias tool (RoB 2). Eight studies (<i>n</i> = 302 participants) met inclusion criteria. A narrative synthesis of the findings was conducted for each hormone separately to explore potential differences in their response to sleep restriction. Some sex-related variations in hormonal response to sleep restriction have been observed for leptin (four studies, <i>n</i> = 232), insulin (three studies, <i>n</i> = 56), glucagon-like peptide-1 (one study, <i>n</i> = 27), ghrelin (three studies, <i>n</i> = 87), adiponectin (two studies, <i>n</i> = 71) and thyroxine (two studies, <i>n</i> = 41). However, findings were inconsistent with no clear patterns. No sex-related differences were found for glucagon or PYY, though data were limited. Findings suggest sex may influence hormonal responses to sleep restriction, but inconsistencies highlight the need to consider factors such as BMI and energy balance. Well-controlled, adequately powered studies are needed to clarify these effects.</p>","PeriodicalId":33568,"journal":{"name":"Clocks & Sleep","volume":"7 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-07-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12372055/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144972154","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Deletion of Clock Gene <i>Period 2</i> (<i>Per2</i>) in Astrocytes Shortens Clock Period but Does Not Affect Light-Mediated Phase Shifts in Mice.","authors":"Soha A Hassan, Katrin S Wendrich, Urs Albrecht","doi":"10.3390/clockssleep7030037","DOIUrl":"10.3390/clockssleep7030037","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The circadian clock is a self-sustaining oscillator with a period of approximately 24 h, enabling organisms to anticipate daily recurring events, such as sunrise and sunset. Since the circadian period is not exactly 24 h and the environmental day length varies throughout the year, the clock must be periodically reset to align an organism's physiology with the natural light/dark cycle. This synchronization, known as entrainment, is primarily regulated by nocturnal light, which can be replicated in laboratory settings using a 15 min light pulse (LP) and by assessing locomotor activity. An LP during the early part of the dark phase delays the onset of locomotor activity, resulting in a phase delay, whereas an LP in the late dark phase advances activity onset, causing a phase advance. The clock gene <i>Period 2</i> (<i>Per2</i>) plays a key role in this process. To investigate its contributions, we examined the effects of <i>Per2</i> deletion in neurons versus astrocytes using glia-specific <i>GPer2</i> (<i>Per2</i>/<i>GfapCre</i>) knockout (KO) and neuronal-specific <i>NPer2</i>KO (<i>Per2</i>/<i>NesCre</i>) mice. All groups were subjected to Aschoff type II protocol, where an LP was applied at ZT14 or ZT22 and the animals were released into constant darkness. As control, no LP was applied. Phase shift, period, amplitude, total activity count, and rhythm instability were assessed. Our findings revealed that mice lacking <i>Per2</i> in neurons (<i>NPer2</i>) exhibited smaller phase delays and larger phase advances compared to control animals. In contrast, mice with <i>Per2</i> deletion specifically in glial cells including astrocytes (<i>GPer2</i>) displayed normal clock resetting. Interestingly, the absence of <i>Per2</i> in either of the cell types resulted in a shorter circadian period compared to control animals. These results suggest that astrocytic <i>Per2</i> is important for maintaining the circadian period but is not required for phase adaptation to light stimuli.</p>","PeriodicalId":33568,"journal":{"name":"Clocks & Sleep","volume":"7 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-07-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12285990/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144699695","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Blood Metabolic Biomarkers of Occupational Stress in Healthcare Professionals: Discriminating Burnout Levels and the Impact of Night Shift Work.","authors":"Andreea Petra Ungur, Andreea-Iulia Socaciu, Maria Barsan, Armand Gabriel Rajnoveanu, Razvan Ionut, Carmen Socaciu, Lucia Maria Procopciuc","doi":"10.3390/clockssleep7030036","DOIUrl":"10.3390/clockssleep7030036","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Burnout syndrome is characterized mainly by three criteria (emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and low personal accomplishment), and further exacerbated by night shift work, with profound implications for individual and societal well-being. The Maslach Burnout Inventory survey applied to 97 medical care professionals (with day and night work) revealed different scores for these criteria. Blood metabolic profiles were obtained by UHPLC-QTOF-ESI⁺-MS untargeted metabolomics and multivariate statistics using the Metaboanalyst 6.0 platform. The Partial Least Squares Discrimination scores and VIP values, Random Forest graphs, and Heatmaps, based on 99 identified metabolites, were complemented with Biomarker Analysis (AUC ranking) and Pathway Analysis of metabolic networks. The data obtained reflected the biochemical implications of night shift work and correlated with each criterion's burnout scores. Four main metabolic pathways with important consequences in burnout were affected, namely lipid metabolism, especially steroid hormone synthesis and cortisol, the energetic mitochondrial metabolism involving acylated carnitines, fatty acids, and phospholipids as well polar metabolites' metabolism, e.g., catecholamines (noradrenaline, acetyl serotonin), and some amino acids (tryptophan, tyrosine, aspartate, arginine, valine, lysine). These metabolic profiles suggest potential strategies for managing burnout levels in healthcare professionals, based on validated criteria, including night shift work management.</p>","PeriodicalId":33568,"journal":{"name":"Clocks & Sleep","volume":"7 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-07-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12285947/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144699692","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The Owls Are Not What They Seem: Health, Mood, and Sleep Problems Reported by Morning and Evening Types with Atypical Timing of Weekend Sleep.","authors":"Arcady A Putilov, Evgeniy G Verevkin, Dmitry S Sveshnikov, Zarina V Bakaeva, Elena B Yakunina, Olga V Mankaeva, Vladimir I Torshin, Elena A Trutneva, Michael M Lapkin, Zhanna N Lopatskaya, Roman O Budkevich, Elena V Budkevich, Natalya V Ligun, Alexandra N Puchkova, Vladimir B Dorokhov","doi":"10.3390/clockssleep7030035","DOIUrl":"10.3390/clockssleep7030035","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Morningness-eveningness is usually assessed as either a trait or a state using either a morning-evening preference scale or sleep timing reported for free days, respectively. These assessments were implemented in numerous studies exploring the associations between morningness-eveningness and health, mood, and sleep problems. Evening types almost always had more problems than morning types. We examined these associations in university students with conflicting results of trait and state assessments of morningness-eveningness and tried to confirm their chronotype using a multidimensional chronotyping approach that recognizes four types other than morning and evening (lethargic, vigilant, napping, and afternoon). The conflicting trait and state assessments of morningness-eveningness were found in 141 of 1582 students. Multidimensional chronotyping supported morningness of morning types with late weekend sleep timing, and the associations with health, mood, and sleep problems resembled the associations of other morning types (i.e., these associations persisted despite late sleep timing). In contrast, evening types with early weekend sleep timing were more likely classified as lethargic or napping types rather than evening types. They did not resemble evening types in their associations with health, mood, and sleep problems (i.e., early sleep timing did not change these associations). Model-based simulations of the sleep-wake cycles of students with conflicting trait and state assessments suggested that their bedtimes cannot be solely determined by their biological clocks. On weekdays or weekends, mind-bedtime procrastination can lead to missing the bedtime signal from their biological clocks (i.e., self-deprivation of sleep or, in other words, voluntary prolongation of the wake phase of the sleep-wake cycle).</p>","PeriodicalId":33568,"journal":{"name":"Clocks & Sleep","volume":"7 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-07-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12286085/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144699698","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Association Between Dreams, Anxiety, and Depressive Symptoms Among Japanese Adolescents: A Cross-Sectional Study.","authors":"Yuki Tanaka, Yuichiro Otsuka, Suguru Nakajima, Osamu Itani, Tomomi Miyoshi, Yoshitaka Kaneita","doi":"10.3390/clockssleep7030034","DOIUrl":"10.3390/clockssleep7030034","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Worsening adolescent mental health is a significant social issue. Although dreams may reflect one's mental state, few studies have focused on adolescents. Therefore, this study investigated the relationship between dream content and mental health, specifically anxiety disorder and depressive symptoms, among Japanese adolescents. This cross-sectional study obtained data on gender, grade, age, lifestyle habits, weekday sleep duration, anxiety disorder symptoms, depressive symptoms, and dreams from Japanese high school students. The data were analyzed via multiple logistic regression analyses. The prevalence of anxiety and depressive symptoms increased with the frequency of \"rumination at bedtime\", \"memory of dreams\", \"emotional carryover\", and \"awakening by frightening\", \"unpleasant\", \"film-like\", \"fantastical\", and \"recurring\" dreams. However, this was not the case for \"pleasant dreams\". Furthermore, \"rumination at bedtime\" (anxiety disorder symptoms: adjusted odds ratio: 10.60; 95% confidence interval: 5.92-18.97; depressive symptoms: 8.79, 5.58-13.87) and \"unpleasant dreams\" (anxiety disorder symptoms: 5.25, 2.86-9.64; depressive symptoms: 10.13, 5.57-18.44) exhibited particularly high odds ratios. \"Rumination at bedtime\" and \"unpleasant dreams\" may serve as early indicators of declining mental health. School- and parent-led interventions aimed at improving mental well-being may help prevent the progression or exacerbation of anxiety and depressive symptoms among adolescents.</p>","PeriodicalId":33568,"journal":{"name":"Clocks & Sleep","volume":"7 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-06-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12286153/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144699691","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Evaluation of the Circadian Rhythm Component Cipc (Clock-Interacting Pacemaker) in Leukemogenesis: A Literature Review and Bioinformatics Approach.","authors":"Leidivan Sousa da Cunha, Beatriz Maria Dias Nogueira, Flávia Melo Cunha de Pinho Pessoa, Caio Bezerra Machado, Deivide de Sousa Oliveira, Manoel Odorico de Moraes Filho, Maria Elisabete Amaral de Moraes, André Salim Khayat, Caroline Aquino Moreira-Nunes","doi":"10.3390/clockssleep7030033","DOIUrl":"10.3390/clockssleep7030033","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Circadian rhythms (CRs) are a key biological system regulating physiological processes such as metabolism, cell growth, DNA repair, and immunity, adapting to environmental changes like the light/dark cycle. Governed by internal clocks, it modulates gene expression through feedback loops involving Clock Genes (CGs), with the cycle initiated by CLOCK-BMAL1 and NPAS2-BMAL1 heterodimers. Disruptions in circadian rhythms have been linked to diseases including metabolic disorders, neurodegeneration, and cancer. CIPC (CLOCK-interacting pacemaker) has been studied as a negative regulator of the CLOCK-BMAL1 complex, focusing on its role in cancer, particularly leukemias. Public datasets and bioinformatics tools were used to examine <i>CIPC</i> gene expression in healthy patients and acute myeloid leukemia (AML) samples. Our analysis revealed significant overexpression of <i>CIPC</i> in AML compared to healthy tissues (<i>p</i> < 0.0001 ****). Additionally, survival analysis indicated significant differences in overall survival based on <i>CIPC</i> expression, with a log-rank test <i>p</i>-value = 0.014, suggesting that <i>CIPC</i> expression may affect overall patient survival. Altered <i>CIPC</i> expression may contribute to leukemogenesis by inhibiting circadian genes, which are often disrupted in leukemia. Furthermore, <i>CIPC</i> interacts with oncogenic pathways, including the MAPK/ERK pathway, which is essential for cell proliferation. Additional studies are needed to validate these findings and explore the detailed role of <i>CIPC</i> in cancer development.</p>","PeriodicalId":33568,"journal":{"name":"Clocks & Sleep","volume":"7 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-06-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12285964/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144699697","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Enhancing Sleep Quality: The Impact of the \"Repose Tao\" Pillow with Taopatch^® Nanotechnology-A Pilot Study.","authors":"Francesca Campoli, Francesca Orofino, Giuseppe Messina, Donatella Di Corrado, Vincenzo Cristian Francavilla","doi":"10.3390/clockssleep7030032","DOIUrl":"10.3390/clockssleep7030032","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Sleep disorders are a group of conditions that disrupt normal sleep patterns and are among the most common clinical challenges faced today. An innovative device that employs nanotechnology to deliver beneficial effects on the human body is the Taopatch^® (Tao Technologies, Vedelago, Italy). This study aims to assess the effectiveness of such nanotechnology-based devices in improving sleep quality.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This study included only female participants, as a review of the literature indicated that sleep disorders are more prevalent in women than in men. A total of 30 subjects (with a mean age of 44.8 ± 3.44 years) were randomly divided into two groups: an experimental group and a control group. Sleep quality was evaluated three times throughout the study for each participant using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). The Taopatch^® devices were applied using a specialized pillow.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The experimental group showed significantly better sleep quality (<i>p</i> < 0.001) compared to the control group.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Our findings suggest that the application of the Taopatch^® has a positive impact on sleep quality by optimizing posture, aligning the cervical spine, and promoting muscle relaxation. This device uses advanced nanotechnology to enhance various physiological functions, contributing to better overall well-being.</p>","PeriodicalId":33568,"journal":{"name":"Clocks & Sleep","volume":"7 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-06-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12286011/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144699696","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}