Biodemography and Social Biology最新文献

In the United States, obesity has increased in prevalence over time and is strongly associated with subsequent outcomes such as diabetes mellitus (DM) and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). It is unclear, however, as to how the magnitude of NAFLD risk from obesity and DM is increased in safety-net health system settings. Among the San Francisco Health Network (SFHN) patients (N = 47,211), we examined the association between Body Mass Index (BMI) and elevated liver enzyme levels, including interaction by DM status. Our findings revealed that 32.2 percent of SFHN patients were obese, and Pacific Islanders in the safety-net had the highest rates of obesity compared to other racial groups, even after using higher race-specific BMI cutoffs. In SFHN, obesity was associated with elevated liver enzymes, with the relationship stronger among those without DM. Our findings highlight how obesity is a stronger factor of NAFLD in the absence of DM, suggesting that practitioners consider screening for NAFLD among safety-net patients with obesity even if DM has not developed. These results highlight the importance of directing efforts to reduce obesity in safety-net health systems and encourage researchers to further examine effect modification between health outcomes in such populations.

Long QT Syndrome (LQTS) is an autosomal dominant inherited cardiac disorder associated with life-threatening arrhythmias. In northern Sweden, a LQTS founder mutation (p.Y111C, KCNQ1 gene) was verified by genetic haplotype analysis and genealogical studies, and a common ancestor couple was identified. Clinical studies of this population revealed an apparent mild phenotype. However, due to early commencement of prophylactic treatment, the natural history of this disorder cannot be properly assessed based only on clinical data. By using the family tree mortality ratio method (FTMR), we assessed the natural history of the untreated LQTS founder population. The principle of FTMR is to compare the age-specific mortality rates in a historic population harboring an inherited disorder with the corresponding mortality rates in an unaffected control population.Initially, we used the general Swedish population during the same period for comparison and observed an apparent increased longevity in the p.Y111C study population. However, when using a control population born in the same area, we observed no differences regarding overall mortality. Moreover, patterns suggesting age- and sex-stratified excess mortality, in accordance with previous LQTS studies, were evident.This study shows the importance of being aware of historical demographic patterns to avoid misinterpreting when comparing historical data.

Reducing the mortality of children under-5 (U5) is an essential part of the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG). Although Bangladesh has made progress in reducing child mortality, there remain inequalities among different sociodemographic groups. Education is one particular key factor with a multidimensional impact on child health and survival. This study assessed the association between parental education and U5 mortality using repeated cross-sectional Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey data. The risk of child death was substantially low among educated parents. Children of secondary or higher educated mother and father were about 30% (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.697, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.596 to 0.815, p< .001) and 26% (HR = 0.738, 95% CI 0.635 to 0.858, p < .001), respectively, less likely to die early. Children from wealthier households and born to mothers with long birth spacings were less likely to face an early death. The study findings emphasize on imparting education to parents as an intervention strategy to continue the reduction of child mortality rate in Bangladesh, which could be a policy direction toward achieving the SDGs.

This study examines the impact of genes associated with normal-range birth weight (2500-4500 grams) on self-rated health in mid-to-late life course. Fifty-eight previously identified genetic variants that explain the variation in the normal-range birth weight were used to construct a genetic measure of birth weight for the non-Hispanic white sample from the Health and Retirement Study. Our results show that the genetic tendency toward higher birth weight predicts better self-rated health in mid-to-late life course net of various demographic, socioeconomic, and health behavioral factors. We also examine the heterogeneous effects of birth-weight genes across birth cohorts and age groups. Moreover, to clarify the paradox that higher birth weight can predict both better self-rated health and higher BMI, we show the positive association between birth weight genes and BMI can only hold within the normal-range BMI (18 ≤ BMI < 30). Overall, these findings suggest the genetic factors underlying the normal-range birth weight can have life-courseimpacts on health.

Hand grip strength (GS) is a valid and reliable predictor of future morbidity and mortality and is considered a useful indicator of aging. In this paper, we use results from the genetic analysis in animal studies to evaluate associations for GS, frailty, and subsequent mortality among humans. Specifically, we use data from the Health and Retirement Survey (HRS) to investigate the association between three polymorphisms in a candidate frailty gene (Tiam1) and GS. Results suggest that the A allele in rs724561 significantly reduces GS among older adults in the US (b = -0.340; p < .006) and is significantly associated with self-reported weakness (b = 0.221; p = .036). This same polymorphism was weakly associated (one-tailed) with an increased risk of mortality (b = 1.091; p < .093) and adjustments for GS rendered this association statistically non-significant (b = 1.048; p < .361). Overall, our results provide tentative evidence that the Tiam1 gene may be associated with frailty development, but we encourage further studies.

The current study explores cross-cultural differences of male and female body image ideals within a rapidly developing intercultural, immigration context that has garnered a considerable degree of popular and scholarly interest; recent Arab immigration to Germany. One hundred eighty participants (Arab immigrants or ethnic Germans) completed self-report online questionnaires (in either Arabic or German) regarding male and female body image ideals, as well as an assessment of their own body image perception. The data suggest cross-cultural differences in the body image ideals of, and held by, men and women of both groups. Slimmer ideals were held by Germans, especially German women, something that has repercussions for self-perceptions of being over- or under-weight by both Arabs and Germans. Culturally-bound body image ideals are important for the study of demographic changes in such socio-biological patterns as weight, weight-related health issues, and intergroup attraction and reproduction. The current study highlights the importance of psychological research on body image ideals for better understanding trends observed in "objective" measures of physiology (e.g., weight, weight-related health conditions) or relationship patterns (e.g., marriages, reproduction).

Critical period, social mobility, and social accumulation are three hypotheses that may explain how educational mobility impacts health. Thus far, there is little evidence on how these processes are associated with biological aging as measured by telomere length. Using cross-sectional data from the 2008 Health and Retirement Study, we examined the association between educational mobility (parental education and contemporaneous education) and telomere length. The final model is adjusted for sociodemographic factors and socioeconomic status, childhood adversity, and health behaviors/risk factors, as well as depressive symptoms. A total of 1,894 participants were included in the main analyses. High parental education was associated with longer telomere length in a fully adjusted model (B = 0.03, CI [0.002,0.07]). Downwardly mobile individuals (high parental education and low contemporaneous education) had longer telomere length compared to stably low individuals in a fully adjusted model (B = 0.05, CI [0.004,0.09]). There was support for the critical period hypothesis and partial support for the change hypothesis. There was no evidence to support the social accumulation hypothesis. Prospective studies are needed to understand the mechanism that can help further explain the association between educational mobility and telomere length.

The present study examined the demographic correlates of gene expression in a sample of adults (n = 543) from the Study of Midlife in the United States (MIDUS). Inflammatory and antiviral gene sets were operationalized using a priori composite scores and empirically derived co-regulatory gene sets. For both composite scores and co-regulatory gene sets, White/European Americans showed lower while Black/African Americans showed higher expression of genes involved in interferon responses and antibody synthesis. The effects of chronological age on gene expression varied by sex, such that pro-inflammatory gene expression increased with age more rapidly for females than males. The difference between the average expression of inflammatory and antiviral genes also increased with age for females but not males. Results shed light on differential gene expression as a potential physiological correlate for race/ethnicity, age, and sex-related health disparities in adulthood.

The Harmonized Diagnostic Assessment of Dementia for Longitudinal Aging Study in India (LASI-DAD) is a population-representative, prospective cohort study of late-life cognition and dementia. It is part of an ongoing international research collaboration that aims to measure and understand cognitive impairment and dementia risk by collecting a set of cognitive and neuropsychological assessments and informant reports, referred to as the Harmonized Cognitive Assessment Protocol (HCAP). LASI-DAD provides nationally representative data drawn from a subsample of the ongoing Longitudinal Aging Study in India (LASI). One of LASI-DAD's distinctive features is its rich geriatric assessment, including the collection of venous blood samples and brain imaging data for a subsample of respondents. In this paper, we discuss the methodological considerations of developing and implementing the HCAP protocol in India. The lessons we learned from translating and applying the HCAP protocol in an environment where illiteracy and innumeracy are high will provide important insights to researchers interested in measuring and collecting data on late-life cognition and dementia in developing countries. We further developed an innovative blood management system that enables us to follow the collection, transportation, assay, and storage of samples. Such innovation can benefit other population surveys collecting biomarker data.

Discrimination is a very complicated, multifaceted, and long lasting problem that prevails in social and even political structure. In subcontinent, the discrimination on the basis of skin color (colorism) is making lives of women miserable who are already victims of various disparities. Colorism was found to be a predictor for both mental and physical health. This study intended to examine the impact of colorism on self-esteem of Pakistani women along with finding out other determinants of self-esteem. A cross-sectional study with 400 Pakistani females (18-40 years) from rural area was conducted. The study comprised of demographics, skin-related questions, everyday discrimination scale, and Rosenberg's self-esteem scale. Hierarchical linear regression showed residence, education, and colorism as significant predictors (p-value < 0.05) of self-esteem. Self-rated skin tone moderated effect of colorism on self-esteem (R² change = 0.028). It emphasized education of females with special focus on suburban areas along with participation of public health and dermatologists to discourage colorism and to stay confident with their skin tone.