Category Archives: ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Thermoregulation of Tuvan pastoralists and Western Europeans during cold exposure

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Abstract

Objectives

This study compared the metabolic and vascular responses, to whole-body and finger cold exposure, of a traditional population lifelong exposed to extreme cold winters with Western Europeans.

Methods

Thirteen cold acclimatized Tuvan pastoralist adults (45 ± 9 years; 24.1 ± 3.2 kg/m2) and 13 matched Western European controls (43 ± 15 years; 22.6 ± 1.4 kg/m2) completed a whole-body cold (10°C) air exposure test and a cold-induced vasodilation (CIVD) test, which involved the immersion of the middle finger into ice-water for 30 min.

Results

During the whole-body cold exposure, the durations until the onset of shivering for three monitored skeletal muscles were similar for both groups. Cold exposure increased the Tuvans' energy expenditure by (mean ± SD) 0.9 ± 0.7 kJ min−1 and the Europeans' by 1.3 ± 1.54 kJ min−1; these changes were not significantly different. The forearm-fingertip skin temperature gradient of the Tuvans was lower, indicating less vasoconstriction, than the Europeans during the cold exposure (0 ± 4.5°C vs. 8.8 ± 2.7°C). A CIVD response occurred in 92% of the Tuvans and 36% of the Europeans. In line, finger temperature during the CIVD test was higher in the Tuvans than the Europeans (13.4 ± 3.4°C vs. 3.9 ± 2.3°C).

Conclusion

Cold-induced thermogenesis and the onset of shivering were similar in both populations. However, vasoconstriction at the extremities was reduced in the Tuvans compared to the Europeans. The enhanced blood flow to the extremities could be beneficial for living in an extreme cold environment by improving dexterity, comfort, and reducing the risk of cold-injuries.

Immigrant generation status and its association with pubertal timing and tempo among Hispanic girls and boys

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Abstract

Purpose

In the United States, Hispanic-Latino children reach puberty earlier on average than non-Hispanic white children. Yet among U.S. Hispanic/Latino children, pubertal timing comparisons between immigrant generations have not been made, hence we examined whether pubertal timing differs by immigrant generational status, independent of BMI and acculturation measures.

Methods

Cross-sectional data on 724 boys and 735 girls, aged 10–15 years, from the Hispanic Community Children's Health Study/Study of Latino (SOL) Youth, were used to predict the median ages of thelarche, pubarche, and menarche in girls, and pubarche and voice change in boys, using Weibull survival models, while adjusting for SOL center, BMI, and acculturation.

Results

In girls, the first generation began thelarche earlier than second and third generations (median age [years] [95% confidence interval]: 7.4 [6.1, 8.8] vs. 8.5 [7.3, 9.7] and 9.1 [7.6, 10.7], respectively), but began menarche later (12.9 [12.0,137] vs. 11.8 [11.0, 12.5] and 11.6 [10.6, 12.6], respectively). Pubertal timing and tempo for boys did not differ by generational status.

Conclusions

First-generation U.S. Hispanic/Latino girls had the earliest thelarche, latest menarche and longest pubertal tempo, compared to second and third generations. Factors beyond BMI and acculturation may account for the differences in pubertal timing by generational status of U.S. Hispanic/Latino girls.

A comparison of FELS and Tanner‐Whitehouse II skeletal ages in male youth soccer players from the Middle East

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Abstract

Objectives

To assess measurement agreement between FELS and Tanner-Whitehouse (TW) II skeletal ages in male youth soccer players from the Middle East.

Methods

We examined agreement between FELS and TW-II skeletal ages using data collected between- and within-subjects (n = 1057 observations) for 409 male, full-time, academy student-athletes recruited as part of the Qatar Football Association national soccer development programme (chronological age range, 9.8 to 18 years; annual screening range, one to seven visits). The Bland–Altman method for repeated measurements estimated the limits of agreement describing the expected range of differences for 95% of pairs of future FELS and TW-II skeletal ages determined on similar individuals from the reference population.

Results

The mean difference for TW-II versus FELS protocols was 0.02 years (95% confidence interval, −0.04 to 0.08 years) with lower and upper limits of agreement ranging from −1.39 years (95% confidence interval, −1.48 to −1.30 years) to 1.43 years (95% confidence interval, 1.34 to 1.52 years).

Conclusion

Differences for 95% of pairs of future skeletal ages determined with FELS and TW-II methods in this population could be as high as ~3 years for some people that suggested protocols may not be interchangeable in youth Middle Eastern athletes. Justification of skeletal age protocol selection rests on knowledge of measurement bias and variability of expected growth estimations for rationalized application to a population of interest.

Body size and weight status of adult Indian males born in the 1890s–1950s: Age and secular change in the context of demographic, economic, and political transformation

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Abstract

Objectives

To evaluate secular change in body size and weight status of adult Indian males born in 1891–1957 and surveyed in the 1970s.

Methods

Data are from Anthropological Surveys. Only men were included in the surveys due to high female illiteracy and lack of female researchers. Indian society was also strongly conservative at the time, especially in rural areas, and the measurement of women by men was not permitted. Heights and weights of 43 950 males 18–84 years (born 1891–1957) were measured. The BMI was calculated; weight status of individuals was classified relative to WHO criteria and suggested criteria for the Asia-Pacific region. Heights of men 35+ years were also adjusted for age-related stature loss. Trends in measured and adjusted heights, body weight and the BMI, and in weight status were evaluated by age groups. Linear regression of measured height and adjusted height on year of birth was used to estimate secular effects.

Results

Mean heights declined slightly with age to 50 years and declined sharply through 60+ years, while mean weights increased into the 40s and then declined. Mean BMIs were relatively stable from 30 to 60 years. The prevalence of thinness and normal weight was high, while that of overweight and obesity was low. Regression analyses indicated limited secular change across the total range of birth years but suggested a decline in adjusted heights among men born in 1891 through the 1930s, and little change among men born subsequently.

Conclusions

Age-related trends and results of the regression analyses by year of birth indicated negligible secular change in heights of Indian men 18–84 years born between 1891 and 1957. BMIs indicated a high prevalence of thinness and normal weight and low prevalence of overweight and obesity.

Mapping spatial morbidity patterns for bronchiolitis related to socioeconomic estimators: A spatial epidemiology approach to identify health disparities in Puerto Madryn, Argentina

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Abstract

Objectives

To describe the frequency of hospitalizations of infants under 1 year of age with bronchiolitis in Puerto Madryn, Argentina, and to study the spatial distribution of cases throughout the city in relation to socioeconomic indicators. To visualize and better understand the underlying processes behind the local manifestation of the disease by creating a vulnerability map of the city.

Methods

We performed a cross-sectional study of all patients discharged for bronchiolitis from the local public Hospital in 2017, considering length of hospital stay, readmission rate, patient age, home address and socioeconomic indicators (household overcrowding). To understand the local spatial distribution of the disease and its relationship to overcrowding, we used GIS and Moran's global and local spatial autocorrelation indices.

Results

The spatial distribution of bronchiolitis cases was not random, but significantly aggregated. Of the 120 hospitalized children, 100 infants (83.33%) live in areas identified as having at least one unsatisfied basic need (UBN). We found a positive and statistically significant relationship between frequency of cases and percentage of overcrowded housing by census radius.

Conclusions

A clear association was found between bronchiolitis and neighborhoods with UBNs, and overcrowding is likely to be a particularly important explanatory factor in this association. By combining GIS tools, spatial statistics, geo-referenced epidemiological data, and population-level information, vulnerability maps can be created to facilitate visualization of priority areas for development and implementation of more effective health interventions. Incorporating the spatial and syndemic perspective into health studies makes important contributions to the understanding of local health-disease processes.

A comparative study of different sleep assessment methods for preschool children

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Abstract

Purpose

This study aimed to examine the differences between different sleep assessment methods for preschool children.

Methods

Preschool children (n = 54, mean age: 4.6 years) were recruited from kindergarten. Data were collected using an accelerometer, a sleep log, and sleep questionnaire. Furthermore, correlation analysis, Bland–Altman analysis, and repeated measures ANOVA were performed.

Results

(1) The sleep duration evaluated by different sleep assessment methods were all significantly correlated, among which the sleep log and Sadeh algorithm showed the highest correlation (r = 0.972, p < .001), while the Tudor-Locke algorithm and the sleep questionnaire demonstrated the lowest correlation (r = 0.383, p < .01); (2) The points between different sleep assessment methods were all within 95% LoA, except for the sleep log and Tudor-Locke algorithm; (3) In various methods of sleep assessment, significant differences were observed in sleep onset (F2 (1.6,85.0) = 32.8, p < .001, η2: 0.38), while no significant differences were observed in sleep offset (F2 (1.5,80.1) = 32.8, p = .05, η2: 0.05); (4) In addition, no significant difference in sleep onset was observed between the sleep questionnaire and sleep log (p > .05), and there was also no significant difference in sleep onset between the Sadeh algorithm and the Tudor-Locke algorithm (p > .05).

Conclusions

Both the Sadeh algorithm and the Tudor-Locke algorithm can be used as effective algorithms for sleep duration assessment of Chinese preschool children, with the latter having obvious advantages in large sample surveys. Future research should pay attention to the differences between different sleep assessment methods when using these algorithms.

Community food environment and childhood obesity in a medium‐sized Brazilian city: An approach to school and neighborhood environments

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Abstract

Objective

We aimed to analyze the relationship of community food environments with childhood obesity in a medium-sized Brazilian city.

Methods

This is a cross-sectional study with 366 schoolchildren aged 8 and 9 years. Children's body mass index (BMI), waist circumference and concentrations of total cholesterol (TC), high cholesterol density lipoprotein (HDL-c), low cholesterol density lipoprotein (LDL-c) and triglycerides (TG) were measured. The parent's nutritional status was assessed by calculating the BMI. All food stores within a 200- and 400-m radius buffers of schools and households were evaluated. The food stores were classified as healthy, unhealthy, and mixed according to the predominance of foods commercialized. Binary logistic regression models were proposed for each category.

Results

Over seventy percent (70.2%) of the food stores were categorized as “unhealthy”. The prevalence of obesity was 15.6%. In the 200-m buffer around schools, there was an inverse and direct association between obesity and the presence of healthy food stores and unhealthy food stores, respectively. Around the households, there was an inverse association between the presence of healthy food stores and obesity in both buffers.

Conclusion

The community food environment may be protective or potentiating childhood obesity, depending on the access and types of food sold.

Impact of pubertal timing and socioeconomic status on adult height and body proportions in Igbo ethnicity

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Abstract

Objectives

Age at menarche is a marker of pubertal timing that may influence adult height and body proportions. Previous studies have shown that socioeconomic status can affect age at menarche and growth patterns in different populations. This study aims to examine the associations between age at menarche, socioeconomic status, height, and leg length in a sample of Igbo ethnicity.

Methods

The study used data from questionnaires and anthropometric measurements of 300 female students aged 18–25 years. Study tested the hypotheses that earlier menarche is associated with shorter stature and shorter leg length, and that these associations are modified by socioeconomic status using nonparametric analysis.

Results

Mean age at menarche was fluctuating around 12.84 ± 1.40 and 13.59 ± 1.41 years with school girls and grew 3.0 cm taller per year birth cohort. The study also found that girls with earlier menarche were shorter adult height (162.51 ± 6.00) compared with girls who have menarche at a later age. The linear regression coefficients (bs) ranged from 0.37–0.49 in later year birth cohort and 0.37–0.44 in early year birth cohort for height. The effect of age at menarche on leg length was similar to the relation between age at menarche and birth cohort height.

Conclusion

The study will contribute to the understanding of how pubertal timing and socioeconomic status interact to shape adult health outcomes in a transitioning population.

Black cardamom (Amomum subulatum) extract improves growth potential, antioxidant status, immune parameters and response to crowding stress in Catla catla

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Abstract

Natural herbs are excellent alternatives to synthetic compounds to enhance the growth performance and health status of fish. This study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of black cardamom (Amomum subulatum) extract (BCE) as an herbal supplement in improving the growth, antioxidant status, haematology, and serum biochemistry of Catla catla. The acclimatized fish (N = 900; average initial weight = 14.44 ± 0.33 g) were allocated into five groups (60 fish/group in triplicate) in hapas (4 × 2 × 2.5 ft) and provided with feed containing 0 (control), 0.5, 1, 2 and 4 g/kg BCE for 90 days before being subjected to 8 days of crowding stress. After 90 days, significantly higher feed utilization and growth were observed in all BCE-fed treatments compared to the control; however, the maximum values of these parameters were noted in the 2 g/kg BCE-fed treatment. Moreover, the BCE-fed groups exhibited a significant increase in antioxidant indices (glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase and catalase), with a significant reduction in malondialdehyde levels, indicating a higher antioxidant capacity compared to the control. Significant improvements in haematological parameters, such as an increase in haematocrit, haemoglobin and red blood cells and a decrease in white blood cells, were observed in BCE-fed treatments compared to the control. Furthermore, BCE-fed groups showed a significant decrease in serum glucose, cortisol and triglycerides, while total protein, globulin and albumin levels were significantly higher compared with the control. During the feeding trial of 90 days, no mortality was observed; however, the lowest cumulative mortality was noted in the 2 g/kg BCE group after crowding stress of 8 days. In conclusion, the use of BCE in feed can enhance the growth performance, antioxidant status, haematology, and serum biochemistry of C. catla and improve the resistance against crowding stress. The optimum levels of BCE for C. catla were estimated based on weight gain % (1.78 g/kg; R 2 = 0.97), feed conversion ratio (1.65 g/kg; R 2 = 0.98), MDA content (1.66 g/kg; R 2 = 0.93) and serum lysozyme activity (1.72 g/kg; R 2 = 1) using broken-line regression analysis.

Dried blood spot based biomarkers in the Health and Retirement Study: 2006 to 2016

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Abstract

Introduction

The Health and Retirement Study (HRS) has collected biomarker data over multiple waves. Such data can help improve our understanding of health changes in individuals and the causal pathways related to health. There are, however, technical challenges to using the HRS dried blood spots (DBS) biomarker data due to changes over time in assay protocols, platforms, and laboratories. We provide technical and summary information on biological indicators collected as part of the HRS from 2006 to 2016 that should be helpful to users of the data.

Methods

We describe the opportunities and challenges provided by the HRS DBS data as well as insights provided by the data. The HRS collected DBS from its nationally representative sample of respondents 51 years of age or older from 2006 to 2016. DBS-based biomarkers were collected from half the sample in 2006, 2010, and 2014, and from the other half of the sample in 2008, 2012, and 2016. These DBS specimens were used to assay total and HDL cholesterol, glycosylated hemoglobin, C-reactive protein, and cystatin C from 2006 to 2016, and Interleukin 6 was added in 2014/2016. Samples included approximately 6000 individuals at each wave, and completion rates ranged from 81% to 90%. HRS transformed DBS values into venous blood equivalents to make them more comparable to those of the whole blood-based assays collected in most other studies and to facilitate longitudinal analysis.

Results

Distribution of changes over time by age shows that total cholesterol levels decreased for each age, while HbA1c levels increased. Cystatin C shows a clear age gradient, but a number of other markers do not. Non-Hispanic Black persons and Hispanic respondents have a higher incidence of risk levels of each biomarker except for CRP among non-Hispanic Black older persons.

Conclusion

These public-use DBS data provide analysis opportunities that can be used to improve our understanding of health change with age in both populations and among individuals.