The overall purpose of this study is to understand the role of disrupted sleep in the association of exposure to early life adversity (adverse childhood experiences (ACEs)) with vascular endothelial (dys)function. In Aim 1 (The Iowa ACEs and Sleep Cohort Study), the investigators will utilize a cross-sectional cohort design with a state-of-the-art translational approach. Participants will be recruited to objectively characterize the degree to which lower sleep quality and quantity contribute to ACEs-related endothelial dysfunction, inflammation, and oxidative stress in young adults using: 1. rigorous at home sleep monitoring using 7-nights of wrist actigraphy and 2 nights of home-based polysomnography to objectively measure sleep quality (sleep efficiency, wakefulness after sleep onset and sleep depth), and total sleep duration, 2. in vivo assessment of endothelial function via flow-mediated dilation testing, and 3. in vitro determination of endothelial cell inflammation and oxidative stress from biopsied endothelial cells. This study to achieve this Aim. In Aim 2, approximately 70 eligible participants from Aim 1 (The Iowa ACEs and Sleep Cohort Study) will then be randomized to either a 6-week behavioral sleep intervention (cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia) or a wait-list control to determine the mechanistic contribution of sleep disruption to vascular dysfunction in young adults with moderate-to-high exposure to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). Following the intervention, participants will again complete: 1. rigorous at home sleep monitoring using 7-nights of wrist actigraphy and 2 nights of home-based polysomnography to objectively measure sleep quality (sleep efficiency, wakefulness after sleep onset and sleep depth), and total sleep duration, 2. in vivo assessment of endothelial function via flow-mediated dilation testing, and 3. in vitro determination of endothelial cell inflammation and oxidative stress from biopsied endothelial cells.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
70
CBT-I is a structured program with a robust empirical evidence supporting its efficacy for improving sleep quality and quantity. The cognitive component of CBT-I teaching individuals how to recognize and change the beliefs they hold about sleep that negatively impact sleep, such as negative thoughts and emotions. The behavioral component includes several strategies to help improve sleep, including: improved sleep hygiene, improving the sleep environment, relaxation training, stimulus control therapy (consistent wake/sleep times, using the bed only for sleep, etc), and sleep restriction. Sleep restriction consists of reducing the time spend in bed initially to increase sleep drive in subsequent nights. Once sleep has improved, the time in bed is gradually increased again.
Integrative Laboratory of Applied Physiology and Lifestyle Medicine
Iowa City, Iowa, United States
RECRUITINGVascular Endothelial Function
The brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD) technique, a non-invasive bioassay of endothelium-dependent vasodilatory function, will be used as the primary determinant of in-vivo vascular endothelial function.
Time frame: Week 0 (Pre-Intervention) and Week 7 (Post-Intervention)
Endothelial NFκB p65 expression.
Vascular endothelial cells will be biopsied and stained for inflammatory marker NFκB p65.
Time frame: Week 0 (Pre-Intervention) and Week 7 (Post-Intervention)
Endothelial TNF-α expression.
Vascular endothelial cells will be biopsied and stained for inflammatory marker TNF-α.
Time frame: Week 0 (Pre-Intervention) and Week 7 (Post-Intervention)
Endothelial MCP-1 expression.
Vascular endothelial cells will be biopsied and stained for inflammatory marker MCP-1.
Time frame: Week 0 (Pre-Intervention) and Week 7 (Post-Intervention)
Endothelial NADPH-oxidase p47phox expression.
Vascular endothelial cells will be biopsied and stained for NADPH-oxidase p47phox, a marker of oxidative stress.
Time frame: Week 0 (Pre-Intervention) and Week 7 (Post-Intervention)
Endothelial nitrotyrosine expression.
Vascular endothelial cells will be biopsied and stained for nitrotyrosine, a marker of oxidative stress.
Time frame: Week 0 (Pre-Intervention) and Week 7 (Post-Intervention)
Circulating CRP
Blood samples will be collected and analyzed for inflammatory marker CRP in plasma.
Time frame: Week 0 (Pre-Intervention) and Week 7 (Post-Intervention)
Circulating TNF-α
Blood samples will be collected and analyzed for inflammatory marker TNF-α in serum.
Time frame: Week 0 (Pre-Intervention) and Week 7 (Post-Intervention)
Circulating MCP-1
Blood samples will be collected and analyzed for inflammatory marker MCP-1 in serum.
Time frame: Week 0 (Pre-Intervention) and Week 7 (Post-Intervention)
Circulating IL1-RA
Blood samples will be collected and analyzed for inflammatory marker IL1-RA in plasma.
Time frame: Week 0 (Pre-Intervention) and Week 7 (Post-Intervention)
Circulating oxidized low density lipoprotein
Blood samples will be collected and analyzed for oxidative stress marker oxidized low density lipoprotein in serum.
Time frame: Week 0 (Pre-Intervention) and Week 7 (Post-Intervention)
Circulating 8-iso prostaglandin F2α
Blood samples will be collected and analyzed for oxidative stress marker 8-iso prostaglandin F2α in serum.
Time frame: Week 0 (Pre-Intervention) and Week 7 (Post-Intervention)
Anti-oxidant (Superoxide Dismutase) Activity in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells
Peripheral blood mononuclear cells will be isolated from whole blood pre and post intervention and superoxide dismutase activity will be quantified using calorimetric assay.
Time frame: Week 0 (Pre-Intervention) and Week 7 (Post-Intervention)
Anti-oxidant (Glutathione Reductase) Activity in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells
Peripheral blood mononuclear cells will be isolated from whole blood pre and post intervention and glutathione reductase activity will be quantified using calorimetric assay.
Time frame: Week 0 (Pre-Intervention) and Week 7 (Post-Intervention)
Anti-oxidant (Catalase) Activity in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells
Peripheral blood mononuclear cells will be isolated from whole blood pre and post intervention and catalase activity will be quantified using calorimetric assay.
Time frame: Week 0 (Pre-Intervention) and Week 7 (Post-Intervention)
Perceived Stress
The investigators will measure perceived stress using the "Perceived Stress Scale" (PSS-10). This will be considered one of the mediators alongside sleep in the investigators' models, as the addition of other potential mediators can improve power and provide a more accurate estimate of the original (sleep) mediator by controlling for shared effects among mediators. The PSS-10 has a minimum score of "0" and a maximum score of "40" with higher scores indicating worse outcomes.
Time frame: Week 0 (Pre-Intervention) and Week 7 (Post-Intervention)
Distress
The investigators will measure distress using the "Kessler Psychological Distress Scale" (K-10). This will be considered one of the mediators alongside sleep in the investigators' models, as the addition of other potential mediators can improve power and provide a more accurate estimate of the original (sleep) mediator by controlling for shared effects among mediators. The K-10 has a minimum score of "10" and a maximum score of "50" with higher scores indicating worse outcomes.
Time frame: Week 0 (Pre-Intervention) and Week 7 (Post-Intervention)
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