TY - JOUR AU - Sato, Miho AU - Matsuo, Takahiro AU - Atmore, Henry AU - Akashi, Makoto PY - 2014 M3 - Review TI - Possible contribution of chronobiology to cardiovascular health JO - Frontiers in Physiology UR - https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2013.00409 VL - 4 SN - 1664-042X N2 - The daily variations found in many aspects of physiology are collectively known as circadian rhythm (from “circa” meaning “about” and “dien” meaning “day”). Circadian oscillation in clock gene expression can generate quantitative or functional variations of the molecules directly involved in many physiological functions. This paper reviews the molecular mechanisms of the circadian clock, the transmission of circadian effects to cardiovascular functions, and the effects of circadian dysfunction on cardiovascular diseases. An evaluation of the operation of the internal clock is needed in clinical settings and will be an effective tool in the diagnosis of circadian rhythm disorders. Toward this end, we introduce a novel non-invasive method for assessing circadian time-regulation in human beings through the utilization of hair follicle cells. ER -