The Essay On Sleep Deprivation's Effect On Doctors' DNA Damage And Health.

Background of the Study

Article 1:

Cheung, V., Yuen, V. M., Wong, G. T. C., & Choi, S. W. (2019). The effect of sleep deprivation and disruption on DNA damage and health of doctors. Anaesthesia, 74(4), 434-440.

The article has been written in collaboration with Associates of Anaesthetists in Hong Kong, after having ethical approval from concerned committees. Participants had been required to place themselves in groups according to occupational requirements of working overnight. The article has highlighted the various detrimental impacts of long hours of shift work. The paper signifies how enhanced DNA damage and decreased repair would lead to diseases. However, no evidence has been found of the phenomenon of acute sleep deprivation being able to induce chronic diseases. The sample has been considered efficiently as the cross-sectional study generated in this article has been conducted on healthy doctors by the collection of their baseline blood, after days of adequate sleep. In this study, information has been properly collected on working patterns, sleep diaries, and the health of patients to reduce ambiguous results. It is a highly significant article dealing with an issue of major importance. But the haphazard and incoherent arrangement of information could have been reduced for the convenience of readers.

The study identifies the inference of overnight workers to be having a lower baseline of gene expression in DNA repair and more breaks or nicks have been visible, than the participants who have not worked overnight. The article has explained how disrupted sleep patterns are linked with DNA damage. The study also provides more scope for future researchers to analyze patterns of warranted disease development owing to sleep patterns.

neurosciencenews.com, 2019. How Sleep Deprivation Affects Our Genes - Neuroscience News. [online] Neuroscience News. Available at: <https://neurosciencenews.com/sleep-deprivation-genetics-10638/> [Accessed 8 August 2022].

This media article has covered the primary article titled as “The effect of sleep deprivation and disruption on DNA damage and health of doctors”. This media has emphasised that sleep deprivation has strong impact on the genes and thus lack of sleep might delay the process of gene repair. At the same time, the media article has also indicated that risk of neurodegenerative disorders and cancer is also high among individuals who are sleep deprived.  In reference to the article, senior author Dr. Siu-Wai Choi, of the University of Hong Kong has stated that though the primary research is very preliminary, it is evident from the study outcomes that sleep deprivation even for a single night might have significant impact on the genetic structure and thus might lead to development of chronic diseases like cancer. According to Dr Klein, the Editor-in-Chief of the journal has stated that healthcare professionals including the anaesthetists remain sleep deprived due to night shift works and frequent change in their shift hours is also responsible for disturbed sleep pattern. This study is significant in terms of allowing upcoming researchers to examine the effect of altered shift timing on the healthcare professionals and other strategies by evaluating the process of DNA breaks in the same way as the primary research has been conducted. No significant bias in the statement has been noticed in this media article. 

After having conducted research on the above papers, detailed insight could be gained regarding the effectiveness of sleep for inducing factors which reverses DNA damage and aids repair through healing of double stranded nicks of DNA. Conversely, enhanced DNA repair through the production and action of protein multimers has been observed by larger intervals of sleep and neurodegenerative stress is most resolved during this time. The improvement of synaptic signalling has been common in both papers, that have equipped readers with adequate information, without incorporating vague ideas.

I have learned how primary sources provide first-hand information and raw evidence through interviewing transcripts, and statistical data. It gives direct access to the concerned subject for conducting the research. It shows higher credibility in terms of acquiring correct information. Secondary sources describe, interpret, evaluate and analyze information collected from primary sources. The theory obtained from pre-existing journals and articles is considered, along with reviews and synopses of work that has already been done. I have noticed how primary sources might not explain theoretical principles or terminologies in detail and the readers should be having foundational knowledge in their expertise or subjects. Secondary sources are written for targeting a broader audience, as it includes disciplinary-specific terms, history, significant theories, and summaries of great events. Secondary sources should only be used to obtain an overview regarding a particular topic or for the identification of primary sources. Secondary research should not be used for annotated bibliographies, or doctoral work, for its inadequate accuracy. Various publications like commentaries, bibliographies, book reviews, magazine articles are forms of this research. I have learned to paraphrase for being able to rephrase the ideas of a writer and considering their input in my work. It can be challenging sometimes as certain terminologies in medical science cannot be entirely modified. I also have to ensure that data published by eminent authors are not jeopardized through editorial changes or omissions.

The secondary source which has been chosen for this project is a good one since it has presented the main study findings as it is. In addition to that, statements of experts for example editor of journal and senior researchers has have also been included in this media article. Paraphrasing was initially difficult, however as soon as I got an overview on the topic, I tried to represent the main findings or idea in own language. Using synonyms of the words used in main content might be an useful method for paraphrasing a work.

References

Cheung, V., Yuen, V. M., Wong, G. T. C., & Choi, S. W. (2019). The effect of sleep deprivation and disruption on DNA damage and health of doctors. Anaesthesia, 74(4), 434-440.

neurosciencenews.com, 2019. How Sleep Deprivation Affects Our Genes - Neuroscience News. [online] Neuroscience News. Available at: <https://neurosciencenews.com/sleep-deprivation-genetics-10638/> [Accessed 8 August 2022]