Background: Health-care providers typically undergo shift work and are subjected to increased stress. Night shift work may induce disturbed sleep cycles and circadian rhythm. The objective of this study was to explore if night shift workers (NSWs) show an increased risk of abnormal thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH). Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 574 employees without thyroid disease and abnormal TSH at baseline who underwent annual check-ups between 2007 and 2016 in a medical center. NSWs were defined as those with working time schedules other than daytime hours. We calculated the incidence rate and estimated the adjusted hazard ratio (HR) for incident abnormal TSH and subclinical hypothyroidism compared with non-NSWs using a Cox regression model. Results: A total of 56 incident abnormal TSH cases and 39 subclinical hypothyroidism cases in NSWs were identified during 3000 person-years of follow-up. In models adjusted for age, sex, obesity, and working departments, we found no increased relative risk for incident abnormal TSH (HR: 0.72, 95% confidence interval: 0.33–1.60) or subclinical hypothyroidism (HR: 0.52, 95% confidence interval: 0.19–1.45) when comparing NSWs to non-NSWs; nor were incidence rates significantly different among exclusively medical employees after excluding administrative staff. Conclusion In this hospital-based nine-year follow-up retrospective cohort study, NSWs were not associated with increased relative risk of incident abnormal TSH and subclinical hypothyroidism, in contrast to previous cross-sectional studies.

Background: Health-care providers typically undergo shift work and are subjected to increased stress. Night shift work may induce disturbed sleep cycles and circadian rhythm. The objective of this study was to explore if night shift workers (NSWs) show an increased risk of abnormal thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH). Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 574 employees without thyroid disease and abnormal TSH at baseline who underwent annual check-ups between 2007 and 2016 in a medical center. NSWs were defined as those with working time schedules other than daytime hours. We calculated the incidence rate and estimated the adjusted hazard ratio (HR) for incident abnormal TSH and subclinical hypothyroidism compared with non-NSWs using a Cox regression model. Results: A total of 56 incident abnormal TSH cases and 39 subclinical hypothyroidism cases in NSWs were identified during 3000 person-years of follow-up. In models adjusted for age, sex, obesity, and working departments, we found no increased relative risk for incident abnormal TSH (HR: 0.72, 95% confidence interval: 0.33–1.60) or subclinical hypothyroidism (HR: 0.52, 95% confidence interval: 0.19–1.45) when comparing NSWs to non-NSWs; nor were incidence rates significantly different among exclusively medical employees after excluding administrative staff. Conclusion In this hospital-based nine-year follow-up retrospective cohort study, NSWs were not associated with increased relative risk of incident abnormal TSH and subclinical hypothyroidism, in contrast to previous cross-sectional studies.

Objective: To evaluate the antioxidant activity, antiglycation property, and bioactive components content of different solvent extracts from Chinese olive (Canarium album L.) fruit. Methods: The dry powder of Chinese olive fruit was extracted with different solvents, i.e., water, water/ethanol (1/1, v/v), ethanol, methanol, acetone and ethyl acetate. The total phenolic, total flavonoids and total triterpenoids contents of various extracts were determined by spectrophotometric methods. Phenolic compounds were identified by high performance liquid chromatography. The assayed antioxidant activity was determined in vitro models such as antioxidant capacity by radical scavenging activity using 2,2'-Azino-bis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS), 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl- hydrazyl (DPPH) and nitrite oxide methods, chelating activity on metal ions, lipid and protein peroxidation methods. In vitro glucose-bovine serum albumin assay was used to evaluate the antiglycation of various extracts. Results: The water/ethanol extracts of Chinese olive fruit exerted significant scavenging effects on free radicals and strong inhibitory effects on advanced glycation end products formation. The Chinese olive fruit extracts were rich in phenolic compounds and triterpenoids. Gallic acid, ferulic acid and rutin were identified from the water/ethanol extracts. Correlation analysis indicated that there was a linear relationship between the antioxidant potency, free radical scavenging ability and phenolic compounds content of the Chinese olive fruit extracts. Conclusions: Chinese olive fruit could be a natural candidate for studies of dietary complement to diabetes treatment since it combines antioxidant and antiglycation activities.