Analysis 2.1. Comparison 2 Bright light alone at night versus normal light (300 lux) plus placebo capsule, Outcome 1 Sleepiness during the night shift (5-min. Reaction Time Test -milliseconds). . . . . . . . . . . . . Analysis 2.2. Comparison 2 Bright light alone at night versus normal light (300 lux) plus placebo capsule, Outcome 2 Total sleep time, next day

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The retrospective cohort study 1 of prostate cancer risks among rotating shift-workers published by Dr Kubo et al. can be relevant for several reasons. In 2006, Kubo et al. were the first to investigate possibly elevated prostate cancer risks in male shift workers.2 At that time, their prospective cohort study evinced that rotating-shift workers were significantly at risk for prostate cancer. A little later, the 2007 International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classification of "shift-work that involves circadian disruption is probably carcinogenic to humans" (Group 2A) 3 provided further impetus for observational studies into shift work and cancer.From scientific and public health viewpoints, this classification of a "probable" nexus of widespread and inevitable shift work, on the one hand , and epidemic and , thus far, mainly unpreventable cancers such as breast and prostate cancer, on the other, left us with a puzzle. What, if any, shift work conditions might increase the risk of what, if any, cancer? The IARC experts based their evaluation of epidemiological data almost exclusively on breast cancer in female nurses and flight personnel, 3 and an IARC press release called for studies of "potential risks in other professions and for other cancers". 4 In this vein, Dr Kubo et al. now contribute to filling in information regarding two important pieces of this puzzle.First, with regard to end-points, this study adds to the few studies that addressed prostate cancer. 2,5,6 Second , with regard to exposures, it appears that this study is unique insofar as it focused on counter-clockwise shift regimens. Although prior studies based on "shift work" status might have included such shift organization, we simply don't know when, and there could have been mixes of clockwise and counter-clockwise shifts. That the direction of shift rotation might be important information to consider has been pointed out by Foster and Kreitzman, who emphasized that it is not settled empirically whether forward or backward shift rotation is less favorable for shift workers. 7 It is indeed conceivable that, possibly depending on the shift workers' chronotypes, some individuals might do better with counter-clockwise rather than clockwise rotation of shifts. Importantly, therefore, we need factual data on the possible effects of counter-clockwise shifts. That the study by Kubo et al. used industry-based shift work data documented in an independent fashion (when compared with questionnaire or interview information) is a further asset. 8 Taken together, as the "remarkably high quality exposure information" on a "counterclockwise three-shift system" constitutes a key facet of this study, it would have been a candidate for inclusion in the abstract.A final reason as to why this study can be relevant is the fact that its results are now available in the public scientific domain. The authors point out that "some increase in the risk of prostate cancer for shift workers was observed , although the result was not statistically signific...

Jafari and Smith hypothesized that time during games may pass slower for the world's best football player, Lionel Messi, from Argentina. This hypothesis leads to two questions: How can we explain such temporal paradox and how could this explain his dominant performances? Remarkably, the Argentinian's case was preceded by the equally astonishing case of Wayne Gretzky: The Canadian considered ice hockey as a rather slow game and was the best player in the sport's history. Whether Messi's and Gretzky's motor neurons fire faster, (inter)act differently or whether other mechanisms are at (inter)play warrants targeted research. A further explanation for such dominance of football and ice hockey, respectively, could be that both athletes "buy time": To this end, automized motor skills may allow their predictive brains to make better use of time than other players to read the games and plan ahead. Deconstructing predictive minds of outperforming individuals like Gretzky and Messi could provide unique options to elucidate how differential time perception may make performances in athletes, and beyond, more swift and more efficient.

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Gemäß des Statistischen Amtes der Europäischen Union (Eurostat) (1) leisteten im Jahr 2013 rund 17 % der Beschäftigen in Deutschland Schichtdienst, 1992 waren es noch 11,5 %. Infolge der Unverzichtbarkeit von Schichtarbeit und der Anzahl an Betroffenen durch Arbeit zu chronobiologisch ungewöhnlichen Zeiten, kommt der Prävention von möglicherweise daraus resultierenden Erkrankungen und deren Folgen eine große Bedeutung zu. Aktuelle Erkenntnisse der Chronobiologie und der Arbeitsmedizin führen aber auch zu der Schlüsselfrage: Was wissen wir wirklich zum Zusammenhang von Schichtarbeit, Gesundheit und Krankheit?

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