HBA2021 poster session

Human Biology Association

This virtual space displays the HBA2021 posters and in some cases presentation videos. Use the Join the Discussion buttons to send comments or questions to the poster-givers, who will be notified by email.

More info: https://www.humbio.org/2021-annual-meeting/

Filter displayed posters (231 tags)

#Mexico (6) #nutrition (4) #sleep (4) #stress (4) #biocultural (3) #inflammation (3) #microbiome (3) #HBA2021 (2) #RuralHealth (2) #childbirth (2) #childhood (2) #cortisol (2) #covid (2) #diet (2) #evolution (2) #food (2) #hba2021 (2) #hygienehypothesis (2) #maternalhealth (2) #mentalhealth (2) #motherinfanthealth (2) #pregnancy (2) #puberty (2) show more... # (1) #1918flu (1) #Adaptations (1) #AdolescentCircadianRhythm (1) #Agriculture (1) #Amazon (1) #Andes (1) #BAT (1) #Behavior (1) #Belize (1) #Bioanthropology (1) #BodyAndPower (1) #BorderHealth (1) #COVID-19#CHILDREN (1) #COVID-19, (1) #COVID19 (1) #Childbirth (1) #Communication (1) #Comorbidities (1) #Covid-19 (1) #CuerpoSentipensante (1) #CuerpoYPoder (1) #DOHAD (1) #Death (1) #Dehydration (1) #Diarrhea (1) #Displacement (1) #Ethnic (1) #FeelingThinkingBody (1) #Food (1) #GeneticAncestry (1) #HBA (1) #HBA2021, (1) #HBA21 (1) #HBAMexico, (1) #HPAA (1) #Health (1) #HealthBlackPopulation (1) #HistoricalArchaeology (1) #Hormones (1) #HygieneHypotheis, (1) #IllnessAsMetaphor (1) #IndigenousHealth (1) #IndigeousHealth (1) #InfantMortality (1) #Inflammation, (1) #Injury (1) #InterbirthInterval (1) #Latina (1) #LifeHistoryTheory (1) #Malnutrition (1) #Maternalmortality (1) #Maya (1) #Mexico, (1) #MexicoSession, (1) #NPI (1) #Nonpaternity (1) #NutritionalDualBurden (1) #ParadigmaticReflections (1) #PaternalInvestment (1) #Peru (1) #PhysicalActivity (1) #PhysicalAnthropology (1) #Physicalanthropology (1) #Pre-transitional (1) #Probabilities (1) #Regulatory (1) #SchoolClosure (1) #Severityoutcomes (1) #SickeCellDisease (1) #Sleep (1) #SleepMidpoint (1) #SleepPhaseShift (1) #SocialInteraction (1) #Stress (1) #StructuralInequalities (1) #TBDRCatBU (1) #Tulum (1) #Water (1) #WaterCoping (1) #WaterInsecurity (1) #WaterScarcity (1) #acclimate2extremes (1) #addhealth (1) #adiposity (1) #alzheimers (1) #anascorbemia, (1) #anthropology (1) #anthropometrics (1) #antropologiafisica (1) #bioarchaeology (1) #biobehavioral (1) #bmi (1) #bodycomposition (1) #bodyimage (1) #bodynorms (1) #breastfeeding (1) #care (1) #caregivers (1) #childcaresupport (1) #childhealth (1) #children, (1) #chronicinflammation (1) #climatechange (1) #collegestudents (1) #communication, (1) #cosleeping (1) #covid-19, (1) #culture (1) #db2 (1) #dementia (1) #depression (1) #diet, (1) #disease (1) #evolutionary (1) #fearofchildbirth (1) #fecalcalprotectin (1) #fertility (1) #forager (1) #foragers (1) #gender (1) #genetics (1) #genotype (1) #growth (1) #growth, (1) #growthanddevelopment (1) #haiti (1) #health (1) #healthbehaviors, (1) #healthconditions (1) #healthperceptions, (1) #highaltitude (1) #highlandPeru (1) #hormones (1) #humanbiology (1) #humanmilk (1) #hydration (1) #immigration (1) #immunesystem (1) #immunity (1) #immunology (1) #indigenous (1) #infanthealth (1) #infants (1) #infection (1) #infectiousdisease, (1) #inquiry-based (1) #intestinalinflammation (1) #lifehistory (1) #lifestyles (1) #lymedisease (1) #macromorphoscopic (1) #malnutrition (1) #marketintegration, (1) #maternalgrandmothers (1) #mental (1) #metabolism (1) #methods (1) #mexico (1) #microbiome, (1) #microbiomestudies (1) #mixedmethods (1) #mothers (1) #neighborhood (1) #nutritionaltransition (1) #obesity, (1) #olderadults (1) #pathogens (1) #peru (1) #phenotype (1) #pointofcaretechnology (1) #postclassic (1) #psychosocialstress (1) #reproductivefunction (1) #reproductivehealth (1) #respiratoryhealth (1) #risk (1) #rural (1) #seculartrends (1) #sexuality (1) #sexualminorityhealth (1) #sicknessbehavior, (1) #signals (1) #skinmicrobiome (1) #socialcapital (1) #southafrica (1) #stigma (1) #structuralinequalities (1) #temperature (1) #thirst (1) #usa (1) #vitamin (1) #women'sreproduction (1) ANTHROPOLOGY (1) C, (1) FOOD (1) NUTRITION (1) adjustments (1) causes (1) dying (1) groups (1) health (1) learning (1) medicine (1) of (1) pregnancy (1) security (1) societies (1)

Show Posters: with Recorded Presentation

Tracks

COVID (7)

Chronic disease (7)

Genetics (1)

Growth and development (4)

Infection/immunology (9)

MCH (13)

Mexico (20)

Nutrition (10)

Skeletal/historical (5)

Sleep (4)

Stress (8)

Structural inequalities (5)

▼ COVID Back to top

Abstract

The virus that causes the deadly Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), can be transmitted from person-to-person and has caused devastating societal impacts. Though COVID-19 was often portrayed as an “older-person disease” early in the pandemic, young people and those who do not have underlying health conditions may still get very sick. Further, young adults who are not aware they are infected or who do not experience severe symptoms can still spread the virus to more at-risk populations. Since levels of antibodies remain elevated long after infection, serological IgG testing can be used to identify cases after the fact, potentially detecting previous infection in individuals who did not display symptoms and who would have not otherwise been aware of their seropositive status. This project utilizes home-based serological testing to measure the presence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies in dried blood spot samples that have been collected from 150 American college students (aged 18-24) across most US states and dozens of colleges and universities. We also depict associations between seroprevalence and survey data on students’ exposure to the virus and experience of symptoms, as well as data on demographic factors, health experiences, and academic engagement. Community-based serological testing represents a valuable epidemiological surveillance tool that can elucidate the prevalence of the virus within a community, particularly among young people, complementing tests of naso-pharyngeal swabs and saliva. This research also highlights the contextual, interpersonal, and individual factors that contribute to exposure and seropositivity in this population.

Presented by

A Sancilio

Institution

Northwestern University

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The 1918 influenza pandemic and COVID-19 in Missouri: assessing rural and urban differences in impact

Hailey Ramirez1, Sean Pirrone2, Carolyn Orbann3 & Lisa Sattenspiel1

CJ Manthey-Pierce & TJ Cepon-Robins

Abstract

Intestinal inflammation is an indicator of serious health conditions, like inflammatory bowel disease and gastrointestinal cancers. As part of the innate immune system, the inflammatory response is sensitive to environmental and demographic factors. The Hygiene Hypothesis posits that reduced exposure to immune-priming pathogens is responsible for increased prevalence of inflammatory disorders. Here, we test relationships between childhood environment and adult intestinal inflammation among 85 older adults (58 females, 27 males; ages 51-88 years). While all participants lived in Colorado Springs, CO at the time of this study, almost all lived in other locations throughout their childhoods. Stool samples and interview data were collected to measure fecal calprotectin (FC; a biomarker of intestinal inflammation) and assess childhood environment (e.g., urban vs. rural residence; domesticated animal exposure; socioeconomic status [SES]). Results indicate that women who lived in suburban areas between the ages of 0 and 5 have significantly higher FC compared to those who were raised in urban environments (p = 0.043). Women who lived in suburban areas from ages 5 to 10 also have higher FC than those who lived in rural (p = 0.006) and urban (p = 0.027) environments. Surprisingly, these relationships were reversed in men. Further, clinically elevated FC (> 50 ug/g) was associated with higher SES during childhood (p = 0.045) among women. We find mixed, sex-specific support for the hygiene hypothesis that suggests that childhood SES may be associated with reduced adult intestinal inflammation, possibly due to altered environmental exposure associated with sanitation/hygiene in suburban areas. Support: University of Colorado, Colorado Springs.

Presented by

CJ Manthey-Pierce

Institution

The University of Colorado Denver

Hashtags

#hygienehypothesis #inflammation #olderadults #fecalcalprotectin #intestinalinflammation #childhood #immunesystem

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Women's lifetime reproductive profiles and frailty among aging populations in the US and the Philippines

R Zoorob, L Walters, & M Escasa-Dorne

Abstract

Frailty, particularly traits which are related to sex-steroid hormone production, results from the age-associated decline in function considered to be part of the typical aging process. This process may vary with influences including environmental, biological, or lifestyle factors. An area of concern that has received relatively little attention is the impact of cumulative lifetime changes in sex steroid hormones related to the traits we see that typify the human aging process. Women’s lifetime reproductive profiles include menstrual/ovulatory cycles, gestation, and lactation, all which see changes in sex steroid hormone levels. Here, we review data on reproductive profiles and risks of frailty among post-menopausal women. In the current study, our team collected reproductive histories of women to determine the estimated number of lifetime reproductive cycles (ELC). We interviewed 44 women in the US and 67 women in the Philippines over 65 years old to collect data on reproductive cycles, pregnancy, and breastfeeding. Participants completed several frailty tasks including grip strength, a sit-to-stand test, and gait speed. While ELC was not associated with frailty in the US population, higher ELC was associated with lower frailty among the Philippines population. Data will be discussed with an emphasis on life history trade-offs between maintenance and reproduction.

Presented by

M Escasa-Dorne

Institution

Department of Anthropology, University of Colorado Colorado Springs

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▼ Genetics Back to top

Sickle Cell Disease in the State of Pará: Genetic Ancestrality and Biosocial Factors Associated with Clinical Manifestations in the Amazon

ARIANA KELLY LEANDRA SILVA DA SILVA and HILTON PEREIRA DA SILVA

Abstract

Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) in the State of Pará, in the Amazon Region, is a serious public health problem due to the late universalization of the Foot Test, the absence of counseling and new genetic research, the diversity of serious clinical symptoms associated with poverty and institutional racism experienced by individuals with the syndrome. We investigated 60 people with SCD in the Regional Blood Center of Pará (Belém) analyzing data of genomic ancestry (autosomal DNA), clinical manifestations, SES, Social Determinants of Health, self-declaration of color and racism/discrimination with interviews, semi-structured form and analysis of 62 Autosomal Ancestry Markers (AIM’s). Our assumptions point out that the aDNA shows that the percentage of ancestry of people with SCD in the State of Pará is at odds with the self-declaration of color and that the epidemiology of SCD and biosocial conditions are related. High underreporting makes access to the blood center difficult, lack of counseling and genetic studies affect health coverage, 65% of the group lives in poverty, women have more severe symptoms, 41% have mostly European aDNA and have more symptoms, 90% claim to be black or brown and 72% suffer institutional racism/discrimination. The Brazilian State needs to implement public health and social inclusion policies with SCD researches to understand genetic and biossocial factors associated with the severity and diversity of clinical manifestations in order to improve quality of life, more effective access to tests and new genetic therapies for the Amazonian’s group studied. Keywords: Sickle Cell Anemia; Genetic Ancestry; Clinical Manifestations

Presented by

AKS SILVA

Institution

UEPA-GEB/UFPA-LEBIOS/SEDUC

Hashtags

#Bioanthropology #SickeCellDisease #Amazon #GeneticAncestry #HealthBlackPopulation

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▼ Growth and development Back to top

Formative assessment demonstrates effect of inquiry-based labs on student understanding of evolution and the scientific method in introductory biological anthropology.

SL Johnston(1), M Knabb(2), J Auld(2), L Rieser-Danner(3)

Abstract

While inquiry-based curricula have been shown to improve learning of science concepts, including evolution, among college students, such instructional approaches have not been widely adopted in biological anthropology laboratory instruction to date. Between fall 2013 and spring 2016, eleven new student-centered, inquiry-based laboratory modules were developed and taught in an introductory biological anthropology course at West Chester University. Clicker questions and statements were used beginning in 2014 to assess student learning over each lab session, providing immediate feedback to students and faculty and affording an opportunity to reinforce correct concepts. The clicker items included content specific to each lab and also one or more evolution misconceptions; items characterizing the scientific method were included for several modules. Student responses at the beginning and end of each lab module were analyzed by comparing % items answered correctly using paired-sample t-tests. Data presented here are from the final year of the project (2015-2016). Student performance increased significantly from pre- to post-lab across all clicker items and lab modules (p < .001), as well as for items specifically assessing understanding of evolution concepts (p < .001). This improvement was greatest in the early portion of the semester when labs focused on evolutionary theory, genetics, and classification. Performance on items assessing student understanding of scientific method also increased significantly over all items and relevant modules (p < .05). We discuss examples of the inquiry-based labs and their ongoing implementation to foster student understanding of evolution and the scientific process in this introductory biological anthropology course.

Supported by an NSF TUES Award (DUE-1245013) and West Chester University.

Presented by

SL Johnston <sjohnston@wcupa.edu>

Institution

(1)Department of Anthropology & Sociology; (2)Department of Biology; (3)Department of Psychology, West Chester University, West Chester, PA

Hashtags

#evolution #inquiry-based learning #genetics

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Maturation of the menstrual cycle in healthy adolescent girls from El Alto, Bolivia

EM Chester, MC Key, and VJ Vitzthum

Abstract

Puberty is a time of great change in girls’ bodies that may occur on different time courses in different individuals within and between populations. Little is known about the variation in hormone concentrations during this transition, particularly with respect to extra-somatic factors that may affect physiology and maturation. We present data from El Alto, Bolivia, an economically diverse peri-urban population that experiences the same climatic conditions and, for the most part, shares cultural attitudes, languages and lifeways. The study sample comprised 60 peri-menarcheal girls (ages 11-14 years). Mean [SD] age was 13.4 [0.66] years (range 11.9-14.7) for post-menarcheal (n=36) and 12.8 [0.59] years (range 11.5-13.9) for pre-menarcheal girls. Age at menarche averaged 12.5 [0.95] years (range 10-14.42). Progesterone was measured in saliva daily from the late follicular phase to late luteal phase in a subset of post-menarcheal girls. Cycles were classified according to their progesterone profiles. A semi-parametric model was fitted for each profile category to characterize the progesterone concentration over a single cycle. From the model, we summarized each hormonal profile as an area under the curve (AUC). We tested whether we can predict the extent of the luteal rise based on age, age at menarche, and markers of allostatic load. Our results suggest that in girls’ profiles that display a luteal progesterone peak, these individual factors are potential predictors of hormone profile characteristics.

Presented by

Emily Chester

Institution

Department of Anthropology, Indiana University Bloomington, IN USA

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Metabolic adaptations in an indigenous Siberian population in relation to metabolic hormones

V Figueroa¹ , Stephanie B. Levy¹ , Tatiana M. Klimova², Raisa N. Zakharova² , Afanasiy I. Fedorov² , Valentina I. Fedorova³ , Marina E. Baltakhinova⁴ , William R. Leonard⁵

Abstract

Background: Previous research suggests that the indigenous population of Siberia display metabolic adaptations in response to the cold climate. However, additional research is needed in order to understand what role our hormones play in relation to these metabolic adaptations to cold stress. Objective: Explore the role of metabolic hormones in regulating metabolic adaptations to cold stress. Design: Blood samples and anthropometric dimensions were taken from 71 Yakut participants (30 men; 41 women) in order to characterize the relationships between metabolic hormones and body composition. The hormones of interest, including leptin, thyroid hormones (triiodothyronine [t3] and thyroxine [t4]) and thyroid-stimulating hormone, were measured using enzyme-linked immuosorbent assays (ELISA). Brown adipose tissue (BAT) thermogenesis was assessed using infrared thermal imaging. Results: Yakut women exhibit lower leptin levels compared to women in the United States despite similar body fat percentages. Leptin levels were not associated with percent body fat in Yakut men or women; however, there was a negative relationship between leptin levels and fat-free mass in men (p=0.025). Additionally, there was a significant negative association between t3 and leptin in both Yakut men and women (p=0.014; p=0.010). BAT thermogenesis was negatively associated with TSH in the overall sample (p=0.022). Future research: Future research should investigate the relationship between metabolic hormones and nutritional or sociocultural aspects of life for the Yakut, such as dietary adequacy and composition. This would help either further explain the associations found in our results or reveal any confounding factors that may be influencing the measurements obtained.

Presented by

Vincent Figueroa

Institution

Department of Anthropology, CUNY Hunter College, New York City, USA.

Hashtags

#BAT #metabolism #Hormones #Adaptations

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Nutritional status, dietary diversity and motor development in Maya and non-Maya children and adolescents

J Kasovic 1, A Siniarska 2, N Wolanski 3, F Dickinson 4, MI Varela-Silva 1

SS Urlacher, A Sharma, JA Gilbert, H Pontzer, JJ Snodgrass, TE Gildner, FC Madimenos, MA Liebert, LS Sugiyama, LR Dugas

Abstract

Market integration-related changes in gut microbial composition are thought to contribute meaningfully to the obesity epidemic in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Yet, the underlying factors linking market integration to altered microbiota and energy homeostasis remain unclear. No research has directly investigated potential dietary and pathogen exposure pathways among school-age children, the age group for which lifetime metabolic patterns typically emerge. We characterized the fecal microbiome of “rural”-living (N = 26) and peri-“urban”-living (N = 37) Indigenous Shuar children of Amazonian Ecuador (age 4-12 years) using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Urban-rural differences were found in the abundance of multiple genera of Proteobacteria and Firmicutes (pFDR<0.05). As predicted, more sensitive analyses of factors relating to diet and pathogen exposure showed significant associations with children’s microbiota. Children living in households eating fewer traditional garden foods and more purchased market foods had lower abundance of several known fiber fermenters and butyrate producers, including Desulfovibrio, Ruminobacter, and Treponema (pFDR<0.05). Children living in households with improved floors (i.e., non-dirt) had reduced abundance of Akkermansia muciniphila (pFDR<0.05), a known mucin-degrader that is protective against obesity and chronic inflammation. Children who were stunted had greater abundance of genera that included Ruminobacter and Campylobacter (pFDR<0.05), the latter widely implicated in environmental enteric dysfunction and the dual burden of growth faltering and later life obesity. Together, these findings indicate multiple pathways through which market integration alters children’s gut microbial composition and metabolism. This work informs biocultural and evolutionary understandings of childhood energetics and the accelerating obesity epidemic in LMICs. Support: NSF SPRF #SMA1606852; NSF DDIG #BCS1650674; Wenner-Gren #9231; CIFAR Global Scholars Program

Presented by

SS Urlacher

Institution

Baylor University

Hashtags

#microbiome, #obesity, #growth, #children, #marketintegration, #diet, #pathogens

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▼ MCH Back to top

Birthing practices and child survivorship in rural Peru

Amanda Veile(1), Rocio Chavez Cabello(2), Violeta Rojas Bravo(3), Katelyn McGuire(4)

Abstract

Latin American indigenous populations experience negative health outcomes due to post-colonial policies, globalization, racism, and impoverished socioeconomic conditions. Poor child health outcomes persist in many communities despite efforts to improve health care access, increase epidemiologic surveillance of pregnancy and birth, and implement widespread transitions from traditional indigenous midwifery and homebirths to hospital births using biomedical obstetric practices. To determine how these changes in birthing practices are associated with child survivorship, we launched a new study of maternal-child health outcomes in a rural Quechua community in the department of Huánuco, Perú, in 2019. The community consists of mainly subsistence farmers who also practice animal husbandry and sporadic wage labor. The sampled women ranged from 20-84 years of age (mean=39.49, SD=13.28, n=91). The women were short-statured (mean height=148.16, SD=4.71, range=138.0-159.0), with mean BMI=27.75 (SD=4.48, range=18.6-38.4), mean=3.37 (SD=1.9, range=1-9) live births, and mean=3.21 (SD=1.85, range=1-8) surviving children. Child survivorship was strongly associated with accessing prenatal care, which has become available at community health posts over the past 20 years. Still many mothers practice medical plurality, utilizing biomedical health care resources in conjunction with traditional midwives. Biomedical prenatal care utilization was a positive predictor of child survivorship even in cases where mothers chose to birth at home with a midwife, instead of in the clinic or hospital. These results will be situated in the context of a larger maternal-child health study, in which rural and urban indigenous Peruvian communities are compared.

Presented by

Amanda Veile <aveile@purdue.edu>

Institution

(1) Department of Anthropology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN; (2) Facultad de Ciencias Sociales, Universidad Nacional Hermilio Valdizán, Huánuco; (3) Facultad de Enfermería, Universidad Nacional Hermilio Valdizán, Huánuco; (4) College of Health and Human Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN

Hashtags

#Peru #Childbirth #pregnancy #RuralHealth #IndigeousHealth

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C-peptide varies across the menstrual cycle in a sample of healthy adult women

Katharine MN Lee, Mary P Rogers-LaVanne, Andrzej Galbarczyk, Grazyna Jasienska, Kathryn BH Clancy

Abstract

Urinary C-peptide has been used in field-based settings as a measure of energetic condition. We measured urinary C-peptide in healthy, regularly-menstruating women (age 18-46) from rural Poland and from Illinois. 117 women provided daily first-morning void urine samples for most of a menstrual cycle. 105 of those cycles were ovulatory (using mid-cycle drop in estradiol method) and used to assess if C-peptide varied across the menstrual cycle (Poland n=83; Illinois n=22). Concentrations were adjusted using specific gravity and then log-transformed. Cycles were aligned for ovulation (day 0) and categorized as follicular (days -10 to 0), periovulatory (days -3 to +3), and luteal (days 0 to 10). We found that differences in log-transformed urinary C-peptide were associated with cycle phase using two different methods. First, averaging log-transformed concentration data for each participant in each cycle phase, we used ANOVA and found significant differences between cycle phases (p=0.019). Post-hoc Tukey tests showed significant differences between the luteal and follicular phases (adjusted p=0.027). We additionally performed analysis using random-slope and random-intercept mixed effect modeling using individual as the random effect. Using daily values from day -10 to day +10, we still find that C-peptide is significantly lower in the follicular phase than in periovulatory phase (p<0.001) and luteal phase (p<0.001). Thus, using both methods, we found that log-transformed C-peptide is significantly lower in the follicular phase than in the luteal phase. We thus suggest that caution is used when interpreting this biomarker as a measure of energy condition. This material is based upon work supported by: NSF GRFP #DGE-1144245, NSF Clancy#1317140, NSF DDRIG, Lewis and Clark Fund for Exploration and Field Research, and Wenner-Gren Foundation Dissertation Fieldwork Grants

Presented by

Katharine (Katie) MN Lee

Institution

Division of Public Health Sciences - Department of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, Department of Anthropology at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

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Changes in birth and perinatal care practices among Hadza mothers in a transitioning food economy

Kristen N. Herlosky and Alyssa N. Crittenden

Abstract

Recent efforts to reduce death rates among women have been one of the least successful of the WHO 2018 global health initiatives, making childbearing one of the most dangerous and sustained health risks for women, particularly in low and middle-income nations. Throughout Tanzania, recent maternal health initiatives have been introduced to begin to address this lack of care – they have been designed, however, with urban populations in mind. The current maternal health situation for rural residing Indigenous hunter-gatherer mothers in Tanzania and how changing policy initiatives are impacting these communities in demographic and nutritional transition have not been explored. Here, we report on data extracted from 80 semi-structured interviews of Hadza mothers (ages 10-75) residing in both village and bush camps – with variable access to biomedical interventions and models of healthcare. We report basic demographic data on parity, location of birth, mode of delivery, and birth attendants. We discuss temporal changes over the last 60 years in birth and perinatal practices. The majority of the births were at home (97%) with traditional birth attendants, however, 3% of all births in the last 20 years occurred in the hospital, with 58% of these transfers resulting in unplanned cesarean sections. We further discuss the influence of nurses and doctors from outside of the community on suboptimal breastfeeding patterns, such as the prevention of colostrum administration to infants or length of breastfeeding. This is the first study reporting birth experiences and breastfeeding patterns, past and present, of Hadza mothers.

Presented by

KN Herlosky <herlosk4@unlv.nevada.edu>

Institution

University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Hashtags

#foragers #maternalhealth #IndigenousHealth #childbirth #breastfeeding

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Comparison of methods for isolating extracellular vesicles from human breast milk for analyzing miRNA variation

Katrina R. Myers, Peter DeHoff, Louise Laurent, Amy L. Non

Abstract

Breastfeeding can transmit maternal signals of psychosocial stress across generations, and epigenetic mechanisms may play a role in this transmission process. Breast milk is rich in microRNAs (miRNAs), which are short non-coding RNA sequences that serve as post-transcriptional regulators of gene expression. Maternal exposures to chronic stress and other environmental factors have been associated with altered miRNAs expression in blood and brain, but has yet to be examined in milk. MicroRNAs that are found within extracellular vesicles (EVs), including exosomes (50-150nm), are protected from digestion and thus could influence developmental programming of the infant. No consensus exists on the best technique for isolating EVs in breast milk. Our aim was to compare three techniques for isolating EVs from human milk: 1) polymer-based precipitation with Exoquick, 2) ultra-centrifugation, and 3) size exclusion chromatography. Presence of EVs was confirmed using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), nanoparticle tracking analysis (NanoSight), and western blot. TEM indicated successful isolation but low apparent concentration of EVs across methods. Preliminary NanoSight results indicated a higher concentration and smaller average particle size (<200 nm) from ultracentrifugation versus Exoquick. Western blot confirmed the presence of CD81, a surface marker of exosomes, following SEC isolation. miRNA will be sequenced from the EVs isolated using all three techniques and miRNA complexity, reproducibility, and expression profiles will be compared. The results of this study will help guide human biology researchers interested in studying variation in miRNA expression across populations and disease states. Funding statement: The project was funded in part by a Seed grant made available through the UC San Diego Larsson-Rosenquist Foundation Mother-Milk-Infant Center of Research Excellence. The support of the Family Larsson-Rosenquist Foundation is gratefully acknowledged.

Presented by

KR Myers

Institution

Department of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego

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Ethnic Tibetan mothers with larger lungs experience fewer child deaths

Kaylee Sarna, David Witonsky, Sienna Craig, Kingman P. Strohl, Buddha Basnyat, Anna Di Rienzo, Cynthia M Beall

Abstract

The low partial pressure of oxygen at high altitudes results in drawing fewer oxygen molecules into the lungs and diffusing into the circulation. Such unavoidable stress on the oxygen transport system may be partly offset by larger lung volumes measured as Forced Vital Capacity or its equivalent, the Forced Expiratory Volume at 6 seconds (FEV6). Substantial evidence shows that large lung volumes relative to body size characterize highlanders and those who migrate to high altitude during development. We examined functional and genetic associations with variation in FEV6 in a sample of 421 ethnically Tibetan women ranging from 48 to 86 years old residing at 3500-4100m in Nepal. We elicited their reproductive histories and took non-invasive biological measurements. They experienced an average of 1.4 (SD 1.62) deaths to sub-adult children and had an average FEV6 of 2.7 L (SD 0.67). Poisson regression analysis controlling for sociocultural determinants of fertility found women with larger FEV6 had fewer children dying before reaching their own reproductive age of 15. A one-liter larger FEV6 predicted 18% fewer offspring deaths. We detected 28 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with FEV6 at genome-wide significance levels on chromosome 5 having a major allele frequency of 0.95 and effect size of 0.53 L/major allele. Thus, homozygotes for the major alleles enjoy at least 18% fewer child deaths than minor allele homozygotes. Yet no SNPs indicated signals of adaptive allele frequency divergence suggesting that selection on these SNPs did not occur according to a selective sweep model. NSF award 1831530 to CMB supported this research.

Presented by

Cynthia Beall

Institution

Anthropology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH

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Factors driving changes in breastfeeding practices among Bangladeshi migrant women in the UK.

V Harries, C Chaney, T Sharmeen, GR Bentley, A Núñez-de la Mora

Abstract

Breastfeeding is evolutionarily the optimal source of nutrition for infants, with six months recommended as exclusive, and up to two years with supplementation according to the WHO. Optimal feeding practices support growth and development with advantages for long-term infant and maternal health; however, rates of breastfeeding vary considerably across populations. We sought to investigate how breastfeeding practices change among five groups of women some of whom migrated to the UK from Bangladesh. They comprised: Bangladeshi sedentees, women who migrated either as children or adults to the UK, second-generation British-Bangladeshi women, and UK-born white women. Previous research among these groups showed that infants born in Bangladesh were more likely to be breastfed and for longer durations than infants born in the UK, while adult migrants who gave birth in both countries were less likely to breastfeed their UK-born than the Bangladesh-born infants. The latter were breastfed, on average, twice as long (18 vs. 8 months, p<0.05). To investigate the drivers of these differences in breastfeeding practices, a subsample of women (n=57) was invited to participate in focus groups. Five main qualitative themes emerged from these discussions: lack of support/help, issues of privacy, work commitments, lack of time, and cultural expectations surrounding breastfeeding. The results suggest areas that, if addressed adequately, could improve breastfeeding duration among migrant Bangladeshis and subsequent maternal and infant health.

Presented by

V Harries

Institution

Department of Anthropology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA

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Pro-Inflammatory Gene Expression During Pregnancy is Associated with Infant Adiposity in Cebu City, Philippines

Aronoff, JE, Kuzawa, CW, McDade, TW

Abstract

The development of overweight/obesity is a well-known risk factor for cardiometabolic disease risk. Genetic factors explain only a small fraction of the variation in adiposity trajectories, prompting focus on environmental influences. In addition, growing evidence suggests environmental experiences in very early life, including the prenatal period, have a lasting influence on adiposity trajectories. However, biological pathways linking prenatal experience to later adiposity are incompletely understood. Here we tested whether maternal gene expression profiles indicative of greater inflammation during early third trimester pregnancy prospectively predicted infant adiposity shortly after birth. Data come from a birth tracking study including 151 women and their infants as part of the Cebu Longitudinal Health and Nutrition Survey (CLHNS) in Cebu City, Philippines. Maternal gene expression was measured using dried blood spots (DBS). Infant adiposity was indicated by a summary measure that included skinfolds (in mm) across biceps, triceps, calf, subscapular, suprailiac and thigh. After adjusting for a host of confounders, including maternal diet, breastfeeding and pre-pregnancy adiposity, greater maternal expression of pro-inflammatory genes was significantly associated with greater infant adiposity (b = 0.13, p < 0.05). There was also a trend between lower expression of the glucocorticoid receptor gene NR3C1, an important anti-inflammatory pathway, and greater infant adiposity (b = -0.10, p < 0.10). Collectively, these results suggest that both heightened inflammatory and reduced anti-inflammatory signaling during pregnancy is associated with greater infant adiposity. This finding contributes to understanding of the biological pathways through which the prenatal environment contributes to adiposity development.

Presented by

JE Aronoff

Institution

Northwestern University

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C Chaney, K Begum, A Núñez-de la Mora, LL Sievert, S Muttukrishna, V Harries, T Sharmee, L Murphy, R Gunu, O Chowdhury, GR Bentley

Abstract

While many aspects of female ovarian function are sensitive to environmental stressors, such as energy availability, physical activity and immune challenges, limited research suggests that estradiol (E2) is less sensitive than progesterone, except under extreme ecological conditions. However, earlier studies relied on saliva samples, considered less accurate than blood samples. We therefore investigated E2 variation among 178 Bangladeshi and white women, aged 35-59, from single serum samples obtained by venipuncture and analyzed using electrochemiluminescence. We collected samples on days 4-6 of the menstrual cycle in menstruating women and anytime for post-menopausal women. Participants included Bangladeshi sedentees (n=36), women who migrated to the UK as adults (n=52), women who migrated as children (n=40), and UK white women matched for neighborhood residence to the migrants (n=50). We collected supplementary sociodemographic and reproductive data through questionnaires and anthropometry and analyzed our data using multivariate regression. We found no significant differences in E2 levels between groups controlling for age, BMI, physical activity, psychosocial stress, parity, and time since last birth (parous women only) across all stages of reproductive life (pre-, peri- and post-menopause). Paralleling studies of E2 in saliva, serum E2 levels did not differ among women who experienced different developmental conditions. Our results provide further support to the hypothesis that E2 levels are more robust under challenging environmental conditions compared to progesterone, with variation among populations likely only arising under long-term conditions of extreme nutritional scarcity, energy expenditure, or high disease burden.

Presented by

C Chaney <carlye.chaney@yale.edu>

Institution

Department of Anthropology, Yale University

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Socio-demographic determinants of child malnutrition in Haiti: a constant challenge

Chamique Willock and Ines Varela-Silva

Abstract

Undernutrition in Haiti is a multidimensional public health problem influenced by a variety of factors, often leading to increased morbidity and mortality in under-5y children (U5s). Sociodemographic factors impact children’s nutritional status, however, the true extent of these associations within Haiti is unknown. This study aimed to explore associations between sociodemographic factors and key undernutrition indicators (stunting, wasting, underweight and haemoglobin level), in U5s in Haiti. A sample of 5,456 U5s from the 2016/17 Haiti Demographic Health Survey was used in this study. Chi-square analysis and independent sample t- tests identified differences in the undernutrition indicators by sex, and by household characteristics. Multivariate regression analysis determined associations between these characteristics and each undernutrition indicator. We found that 21.2% of U5s were stunted, 3.5% wasted, 8.4% underweight and 66.4% anaemic. Boys showed higher prevalence of stunting, (males=23.8%, females=18.5%, p=<0.001), wasting (males=4.0%, females=2.9%, p=<0.019) and underweight (males=9.4%, females=7.4%, p=0.007) than girls, but no significant differences were found in anaemia levels. Child’s age was the strongest predictor of height-for-age z-scores (B=0.168, p=<0.001) and haemoglobin levels (B=0.266, p=<0.001). Maternal BMI was the strongest predictor of weight-for age-z-score (B=0.176, p=<0.001) and weight-for-height z-score (B=0.135, p=<0.001). Child’s age, maternal age, maternal BMI, wealth index, cooking fuel and place of residence were the strongest predictors of undernutrition in U5s in Haiti. Interventions target low-BMI mothers and young children are important. Household factors including wealth index, cooking fuel and place of residence should also be considered.

Presented by

CST Willock

Institution

Loughborough University, School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences

Hashtags

#malnutrition #childhealth #nutrition #disease #haiti

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Differences in Alzheimer's disease diagnosis seeking between the United States and Mexico

Eric E Griffith

Abstract

This project draws on interviews conducted in Puebla, Mexico and Springfield, Massachusetts to identify cross-cultural differences in how Alzheimer’s disease (AD) diagnoses are sought out. In Mexico little is known about the diagnosis-seeking process for AD and what effect that experience may have on treatment. Methods: Sixty-two caregivers of people diagnosed with AD were interviewed across two field sites over 24 months. The caregivers lived with a family member who had an AD diagnosis. The diagnosed person was also interviewed. Interviews were open-ended and prompted caregivers to describe when they first noticed symptoms they associated with AD, what those first symptoms were, and how much time passed from onset of symptoms to seeking a diagnosis. Results: Latency from first symptom appearance to AD diagnosis was longer in Mexico (4.1 years ± 3.1) than the US (2.2 years ± 1.2). Additionally, the impetus for diagnosis seeking varied between the two countries. In Mexico, caregivers were more likely to visit a doctor because of behavioral symptoms (e.g. irritability, sleep disturbance) whereas in the US memory symptoms more often motivated a caregiver to seek a diagnosis. Conclusion: These differences align with previous research distinguishing between an “anticipation diagnosis” and an “emergency diagnosis” of dementia. Further, the data illustrate how cultural interpretations of cognitive changes in the elderly can affect medical treatment, highlighting the need for initiatives and post-diagnosis counseling/advising that are adapted to local realities. Thank you to the Wenner Gren Foundation for a Dissertation Fieldwork Grant (Grant Number: 2016-2995).

Presented by

Eric E Griffith <ericg@umass.edu>

Institution

University of Massachusetts Amherst

Hashtags

#dementia #alzheimers #caregivers #biocultural #anthropology

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Gut Microbiome in children from indigenous and urban communities in Mexico: Different subsistence models different microbiomes

Martínez-Correa Santiago, Sánchez-Quinto Andrés, Cerqueda-García Daniel, Falcón-Álvarez Luisa, Gaona-Pineda Osiris, Nieto-Gutiérrez Javier, González-Santoyo Isaac

Abstract

The Human Gut Microbiome has proven to be an important health-defining component for the host. Its composition is dependent on factors including host’s diet, environment, sex, and age, among others. Childhood being one of the most crucial periods for the establishment and development of the bacterial Gut-Microbiome (GM). We have evaluated the differences in fecal microbiome in children from two Mexican communities with contrasting lifestyles: “westernized” (Mexico City) and “non westernized” (Me´phaa indigenous group, with pre columbian lifestyle) following a high throughput sequencing approach. The main differences between these two communities were present in bacteria associated with different types of diet (high animal protein and refined sugars vs high fiber food, respectively). In addition, the gut microbiome of Me´phaa children showed higher total diversity and the presence of exclusive phyla, such as Deinococcus-Thermus, Chloroflexi, Elusimicrobia, Acidobacteria and Fibrobacteres. In contrast, Mexico City children had less diversity and the exclusive presence of Saccharibacteria phylum which is associated with the metabolism of sugar compounds. This comparison allows further exploration of the selective pressures affecting gut microbiome ecosystemic composition over the course of human evolution and the potential consequences of pathophysiological states correlated with westernized lifestyles.

Presented by

Santiago Martínez-Correa <santmartinezcorrea@gmail.com>

Institution

Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México

Hashtags

#microbiome #mexico #lifestyles #indigenous

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Pérez-Izquierdo O., Ávila-Escalante ML, Cruz-Bojórquez RM, Aranda-González I, Chablé-Nezahual KE, Zapata-Hoyos MB.

Abstract

Cardiovascular disease is a serious health problem today that affects not only adults, but also the young population. Unfortunately, the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors has increased in indigenous adolescent populations, so it is important to identify them early. Due to this situation, we proposed to identify cardiovascular risk factors through biochemical, clinical and anthropometric indicators. A quantitative and cross-sectional study was conducted that included 134 adolescents between the ages of 11 and 15 from the Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz secondary school in the municipality of Chacsinkin, Yucatán, Mexico. The anthropometric variables considered were EMI (kg/m2), waist/height index (WAI) and percentage of body fat, the clinical variables were: systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) (mmHg) and the biochemical variables: glucose (mg/dL) and triglycerides (mg/dL). The analysis reported higher prevalence of risk factors in women, mainly in the percentage of fat (61. 19%), high triglycerides (43. 9%), ICT at risk (52. 23%), but obesity predominated in men (7. 46%). However, the only variable with significant association by sex was the percentage of fat. It was concluded that at least one-third of Chacsinkin's adolescents have a cardiovascular risk factor, mainly woman, in which high percentage body fat levels were more prevalent, associated with high triglyceride levels and predictable with increased ICT.

Presented by

O Perez Izquierdo

Institution

University of Yucatan

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▼ Nutrition Back to top

Accuracy of anthropometry-based equations versus air-displacement plethysmography for the estimation of fat mass in rural Gambian infants

OL Kimes, AM Doel, DJ Naumenko, JR Washabaugh, SE Moore, RM Bernstein.

Abstract

Infant adiposity is used to estimate nutritional status and morbidity/mortality risk. Anthropometry-based estimation equations of overall fat mass (FM) often include at least one measure of skinfold thickness (ST). Air displacement plethysmography (ADP) offers precise and direct measurement of FM and fat-free mass, though unavailable in many field-based contexts. We undertook an analysis in a cohort of rural Gambian infants to compare estimates of FM based on anthropometry-based FM estimation equations versus ADP. Data were collected at 3 (91 female, 104 male) and 6 (75 female, 56 male) months of age as part of the HERO-G infant growth study. We used six published equations to estimate FM for each individual, and Bland-Altman plots to compare mean differences (MD) and 95% limits of agreement (LOA) in estimated FM between ADP and anthropometry-based equations. One equation - excluding ST measurements - produced FM values comparable to ADP-based FM, at 3 and 6 months in male infants, and at 6 months only in females (respectively: MD 0.04kg, 95%CI -0.45·1.15, 95%LOA -0.44·0.53kg; MD -0.01kg, 95%CI -1.18·1.64, 95%LOA -0.68·0.67kg; MD -0.03kg, 95%CI -1.8·0.5, 95%LOA -0.66·0.59kg). Of the five equations that incorporate ST, only one calculated FM that was comparable to ADP, but only for males at 6 months, and with wider 95%LOA compared to the SF-free equation (MD 0.05kg, 95%CI -0.79·2.5, 95%LOA -0.75·1.85kg). We conclude that the majority of published equations using ST cannot accurately estimate ADP-derived FM in these infants and should be used with caution as markers of infant adiposity. Funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (OPP1066932).

Presented by

OL Kimes <olki4624@colorado.edu>

Institution

Department of Anthropology, University of Colorado Boulder

Hashtags

#nutrition #infanthealth #growthanddevelopment

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Alexandra Niclou and Cara Ocobock

Abstract

Brown adipose tissue (BAT), a heat generating organ activated under mild cold exposure in cold and temperate climate populations, may play a role in human adaptation to cold. Previous work has demonstrated the effects of BAT activity on glucose disposal in rodents and on metabolic rate in relatively small and mostly male human samples. Our study examined the seasonal patterns of BAT activation in a temperate climate group (N=75, female n=46, ages: 18-63) in Albany, NY. BAT activity was inferred by comparing metabolic rate (MR), supraclavicular skin temperature, and respiratory quotient (RQ) at room temperature and mild cold exposure in the summer and winter. RQ measurements were used to determine the rate of carbohydrate versus fat oxidation after cooling. Our results show a significant increase in RQ in the winter compared to summer (+5.2%, P < 0.05), suggesting a preference for carbohydrate consumption over fats during colder months. Additionally, while supraclavicular skin temperature increased significantly between seasons (+4.0%, P < 0.05), MR did not (+4.0%, P=0.87), suggesting an increase in efficiency in BAT activity after prolonged cold exposure. Possible increases in glucose consumption and reduced BAT-associated metabolic rate indicate seasonal acclimatization of BAT activity. We propose that, given BAT’s muscle-like cellular origin, its prolonged activation during colder months results in augmented glucose storage capacities, not dissimilar to the mechanisms observed in endurance trained skeletal muscles. Such acclimatization over a period of a few months may be indicative of a seasonal, cost-effective role of BAT in human adaptation to extreme environments.

Presented by

AM Niclou

Institution

University of Notre Dame

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Secular trends in adult female height and weight in Nuñoa, Peru 1964-2018

Nicole M. Mayer and Morgan K. Hoke

Abstract

Nuñoa, a high-altitude district in Southern Peru, has been the site of numerous anthropological research studies over the past fifty years. Several studies included anthropometric measurements and dietary intake of residents in the region, providing a comprehensive record throughout a period of major political, economic, and social change. In this study, the authors evaluate secular trends in female adult height, weight, and body mass index (BMI) for evidence of a nutritional transition resulting from increasingly delocalized food systems and changing dietary patterns in the district. Anthropometric data from adults collected by anthropologists in the 1960s (n=142), 1980s (n=176), and 2010s (n=172) are evaluated. In order to account for ongoing growth in young adults and loss of height in older adults, the data is divided into the following age categories: 19-24 years, 25-64 years, and greater than 65 years. Preliminary analysis of variance (ANOVA) reveals that mean height (p=0.000) and BMI (p=0.000) of females in all age categories in Nuñoa has increased over the past fifty years, with the largest increases occurring between the 1980s and 2010s. Despite these secular trends, Nuñoa continues to exhibit significant poverty. TNuñoa continues to exhibit significant poverty. To better contextualize these findings, we sought to compare the data from Nuñoa to data from Peru, Bolivia, and Ecuador provided by a DHS dataset using ANOVA and Student’s t-test. We found that women in Nuñoa across these periods showed delayed increases in secular trends when compared to other populations, suggesting that improvements in Nuñoa are slightly behind those of Peru generally.

Presented by

Nicole Mayer <nicmay@upenn.edu>

Institution

Department of Anthropology, University of Pennsylvania

Hashtags

#seculartrends #anthropometrics #bmi #adiposity #peru #nutritionaltransition

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Sex differences in the development of adiposity among Pume Foragers

Benjamin C. Campbell, Karen L. Kramer, Alan Achenbach

Abstract

Hunter-gatherers are central to evolutionary theories of human obesity, because they typify the environmental fluctuation thought to select for deposition and utilization of fat stores. Yet few data are available on the development of adiposity among hunter-gather populations. Here we describe the development of adiposity among the Savanna Pumé, foragers of Venezuela. Results are based on a sample of 113 girls and 89 boys, ages 3 to 20. Measures, including height, weight and triceps skinfolds, were fit with Loess curves, the timing of takeoff, maximum gain and completion derived from a two phase growth model, and the results compared to NHANES III. Both sexes showed little change in skinfolds throughout childhood. For girls the adiposity rebound at 6 years lagged NHANES III by ½ year, while for boys the adiposity rebound at 7 ½ years lagged the reference by 1 ½ years. For girls, triceps skinfolds showed an increase at 9 years that continued through puberty. For boys, triceps skinfolds peaked at 11 years, prior to the onset of pubertal growth, and then declined. Our results suggest that 1) sex differences in the timing of the adiposity rebound may vary across populations,2) among girls the pubertal increase in adiposity is conserved because of its importance for reproduction, 3) for boys a transient increase in adiposity is important for the initiation of puberty. We call for wider study of adiposity among hunter-gathers to help illuminate the role of adipose development in subsistence populations and its implications for the current obesity epidemic.

Presented by

BC Campbell

Institution

University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

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The impact of food and diet on mental health of immigrants from a biocultural perspective

Sarah Elshahat

Abstract

The relationship between food and mental health has been of growing interest for public health specialists, nutritionists and medical anthropologists over the last few decades. The food/diet-mental health relationship can be particularly unique and critical among immigrants owing to socio-cultural and ecological factors, such as mainstream language illiteracy and inaccessible food systems in the destination country. This review of the literature employs a biocultural framework that focuses on the dynamic interactions between human biology and the wider surrounding cultural and socio-physical environment. This review aims to examine the impact of food (in)security, ethnic foods and gender’s role in food security on immigrants’ mental health in Western countries (Canada, the US, Europe, Australia and New Zealand). Food insecurity and associated hunger significantly increased depression, psychological distress and anxiety amongst immigrants via different pathways, including loneliness, family conflicts and insomnia. Ethnic food consumption protected immigrants against mental health issues and improved their psychological well-being through various mechanisms. These included strengthening ethnic identity, relieving homesickness, eliciting a sense of belonging and enhancing social connectedness with others. The gender’s role in food security contributed to both positive and negative impacts on immigrant women’s mental health. The positive impacts emanated from women’s practical ability to serve as gatekeepers of food preparation/provision to their family, whereas the negative impacts stemmed from women’s harmful sacrifices to feed their children (e.g. compromising own diet). Biocultural-informed, mixed-method research is needed to thoroughly understand the diet/food-mental health relationship among immigrants, informing effective, culturally-sensitive interventions and policies. I would like to thank Dr. Tina Moffat, Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Anthropology, McMaster University, for the useful insight and input throughout this study.

Presented by

SH Elshahat

Institution

Department of Anthropology, McMaster University

Hashtags

#biocultural #food #diet #food security #mental health

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Thirst perception is associated with ambient temperature and season of birth, but not hydration status: Data from two small-scale societies in extreme thermal environments

Asher Rosinger*, HJ Bethancourt, ZS Swanson, K Lopez, WL Kenney, R Nzunza, E Ndiema, D Braun, H Pontzer

Abstract

Thirst is an evolved central homeostatic feedback system that helps regulate body water to ensure survival. Little research has examined how early development and exposure to extreme environments and water availability affect thirst perception. Therefore, in 2019 we measured perceived thirst (thirst level) and anticipatory thirst (desire to drink water) using visual analog categorical scales (1-10) among Tsimane’ forager-horticulturalists in the hot-humid Bolivian Amazon and Daasanach agro-pastoralists in hot-arid Northern Kenya. We examined how these self-reported measures of thirst were associated with objective hydration status (urine concentration), ambient temperatures, birth season (wet vs dry), adjusting for physiological characteristics for 618 adults aged 18+ using multi-level mixed-effect regressions. Cross-culturally, current hydration status was unrelated to either perceived or anticipatory thirst, while ambient temperature was associated with higher anticipatory thirst (B10°F=0.41, SE=0.19, p=0.029). Further, we found a significant interaction (p=0.018) between birth season and temperature on anticipatory thirst in Kenya, but not Bolivia. Daasanach born in the wet season (i.e., in utero during the preceding dry season) reported lower desire to drink water when the temperature exceeded 90°F than those born in the dry season (in utero during greater water availability), translating to 1-2 point lower thirst ratings at 95-105°F. Our findings suggest current hydration status is not a reliable predictor of thirst perceptions in extreme-hot environments. Rather, thirst may be more strongly driven by the current ambient environment and water availability in utero, which may affect sensitivity to heat and water feedback mechanisms throughout the lifecourse, particularly in arid environments. Funding info: NSF CNH2-S #1924322; NSF ARCH #1624398; NSF REU #1852406; PSU SSRI Human Health and Environment Seed Grant, Ann Atherton Hertzler Professorship.

Presented by

Asher Rosinger

Institution

Department of Biobehavioral Health, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA,

Hashtags

#hydration #thirst #DOHAD #temperature #climatechange

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▼ Skeletal/historical Back to top

Samantha McCrane, Megan Fry, James Davidson

Abstract

Inferring quality of life from burial contexts is common in archaeological and historical research. Whether there is a reliance upon a single variable, or a suite of skeletal stress indicators, the interpretations resulting from such studies, are not always statistically validated, often due to small sample size. In this study we examine five standard skeletal measures of nutritional stress (stature, linear enamel hypoplasia (LEH), cribra orbitalia, porotic hyperostosis, and bone infections) to infer changing population health among African American individuals buried within the Freedman’s Cemetery in Dallas, Texas between 1869 and 1907 (N=1157 individuals). The sample is divided by birth cohort (not estimated year of death) into three periods – Antebellum (1820-1859), War and Reconstruction (1860-1879), and Post-Reconstruction (1880-1907) — to statistically analyze stress within a period of great social change. Our results show that only LEH and infections varied significantly across periods; LEH decreased over time and infections increased over time. LEH was more common in males and adults, while infections were more common in children. Cribra orbitalia and porotic hyperostosis were significantly associated with the Post Reconstruction period only. Where these measures differ, we offer etiological explanations based on historical and archaeological data to provide a more holistic view of changing health during the transition from slavery times to Jim Crow America. This research demonstrates that these indicators require a more nuanced approach to equating pathological conditions to overall quality of life.

Presented by

Samantha M McCrane

Institution

Department of Anthropology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL

Hashtags

#Stress #HistoricalArchaeology

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▼ Sleep Back to top

Gender differences in sleep patterns among mobile foragers: An intra-community comparison of village and forest sleep of BaYaka foragers of the Congo Basin

Erica Kilius, David R. Samson, Sheina Lew-Levy, Mallika S. Sarma, Lee T. Gettler, Adam H. Boyette

Abstract

Sleep research conducted in post-industrialized societies has found gender-based differences in sleep patterns, with women reporting longer sleep durations, higher efficiency, and earlier bedtimes. Many factors can influence gender-based sleep differences, including divisions in work and leisure. Little is known, however, whether these gendered sleep differences are found in foraging societies. This study presents a sleep report from a BaYaka community in the Republic of Congo. We compared sleep patterns between two settlement locations to assess influence of socio-ecological and subsistence activities on sleep. Over two field seasons, participants were recruited from a village location and a forest camp. Motion8watch actigraphy devices were worn for ~7 days each season (village n = 226 nights; forest n = 136). Sleep data was scored on MotionWare software and analyzed using two-sample T-tests and F-tests. In the village, we found no significant differences in sleep variables between men and women. However, in the forest, women had longer sleep durations as compared to men (W: 6.53 hrs, M: 5.65 hrs; t(116) = 3.81, p <.001), and higher sleep efficiency (W: 71.4%, M: 65.6%, t(112) = 3.65, p < .001). Additionally, in the forest, the variance in men’s time of sleep onset (mean = 21:18; 0:09) was larger than the variance of women’s sleep onset (mean = 20:47; 0:05) (F69,65 = 0.52, p <0.01). Our findings indicate that men and women differed in sleep patterns only in the forest camp. This is potentially due to gender roles associated with local socio-ecologies and activity contexts. This research was supported by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.

Presented by

Erica Kilius <erica.kilius@mail.utoronto.ca>

Institution

Department of Anthropology, University of Toronto Mississauga, Mississauga, Canada

Hashtags

#sleep #forager #gender

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Alanna E.F. Rudzik, Lyn Robinson-Smith, Helen L. Ball

Abstract

Cultural perceptions that breastfeeding is associated with poor maternal sleep and well-being may influence women's willingness to breastfeed. In this study we examined nighttime sleep, sleep disturbance and postnatal depression scores for a sample of 61 exclusively breastfeeding or exclusively formula feeding women from the north east of England. Sleep parameters were assessed subjectively using sleep diaries and objectively using actigraphy. Maternal sleep disturbance was assessed using the General Sleep Disturbances Scale (GSDS). Postnatal depression was assessed using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). Sleep and sleep disturbance data were collected every two weeks between four and 18 weeks postpartum. The EPDS was applied at 6, 12 and 18 weeks postpartum. Cross-sectional t-test analyses found no consistent subjectively assessed difference in sleep parameters between groups at any time point from four to 18 weeks, though breastfeeding mothers reported significantly shorter longest sleep period (LSP) at 12 weeks postpartum (p=0.026) and total sleep time (TST) at 16 weeks (p=0.034) postpartum. Actigraphic sleep data indicated no significant difference in sleep parameters between breastfeeding and formula feeding women at any time point. Women's GSDS and EPDS scores were not statistically different between feeding groups at any measurement point. This preliminary analysis suggests that objectively measured sleep parameters are similar for breastfeeding and formula feeding women. No significant differences in sleep disturbance or maternal depression, which might be expected if women were experiencing inadequate sleep, were found between breastfeeding and formula feeding women.

Presented by

AEF Rudzik

Institution

SUNY Oneonta

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Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activity and sleep patterns across the adolescent transition in a group of Mayan girls – A preliminary analysis

Amanda Rowlands(1), Katrina Salvante(1), Leela McKinnon(2), David Samson(2), Lisa McQuarrie(3), Rachel Altman(3), Pablo Nepomnaschy(1)

Abstract

Organisms face continuous energetic trade-offs between growth, maintenance, and reproduction. Responding to social and physical challenges demands energy, which is often derived from postponable physiological tasks such as reproduction and development. The role of sleep and stress as mediators of energetic trade-offs during the reproductive maturation transition among girls is still unclear. To explore it, we analyzed data from 19 Mayan adolescent girls (12 to 15 years; avg = 13.5 years) from Guatemala, collected over a 19-day period in 2017. Indicators: sleep quotas (total sleep time, TST), biomarkers of stress (first morning urinary (FMU) cortisol), and reproductive stage (pre-menarche, early transition, advanced transition). Statistical approach: ANOVA model of effects of cortisol, and reproductive stage on sleep. Results: TST among and within girls ranged from 235-548 minutes. Cortisol levels ranged from 3.8-633 ng/ml. Cortisol and reproductive stage both had a significant, independent effect on total sleep time. Cortisol was negatively associated with sleep. There was a significant mean difference of total sleep time between pre-menarche girls and early transition girls (p=0.037), where early transition girls had poorer sleep compared to pre-menarche girls. These findings may reflect the shifts in energy allocation from somatic growth to reproductive maturation in girls entering their transition. Next we will include biomarkers of energy in the model, and will explore interactions among variables with energy, to better understand the role of sleep on energy mobilization during the reproductive adolescent transition.

Presented by

Amanda Rowlands

Institution

1. Maternal and Child Health Laboratory, Faculty of Health Sciences, Burnaby, BC, Canada; 2. Department of Anthropology, University of Toronto, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada; 3. Department of Statistics and Actuarial Science, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada

Hashtags

#puberty #sleep #women'sreproduction #HPAA #stress

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Where does the newborn baby sleep? Prevalence and predictors of postpartum cosleeping practices after midwife-led births in the United States

Kayleigh A. Meighan, Marit L. Bovbjerg, Daniel C. Benyshek, Melissa J. Cheyney, Alyssa N. Crittenden

Julia Sponholtz & Amanda Guitar

Abstract

Stress is a mental phenomenon, but it has physical manifestations that others can discern. When someone is stressed, they might shake, stumble over their words, look tense, or sweat profusely. However, these are visual and auditory clues. We investigated if people can pick up on the olfactory signals of stress in the form of sweat. There are two types of sweat the body produces. The main variety is secreted all over the body to lower body temperature. It is composed mostly of water and ions and thus has no smell. The other variety is only secreted in certain areas, like the armpits, in response to adrenaline, a stress hormone. It has an opaque, oily secretion which, after bacterial degradation, produces body odor. We focused on emotional sweat, investigating whether sweat produced by individuals who report higher stress is perceived differently than those who report lower levels of stress. To test this, we used the “stinky t-shirt” model, which involves one set of participants wearing t-shirts overnight (n=19) and another set of participants smelling the t-shirts (n=18) and rating the odors on disgust, intensity, and pleasantness. We found that individuals who reported higher perceived stress, negative affect, and poorer sleep quality had higher disgust ratings by the t-shirt smellers. Likewise, if the t-shirt wearers had higher positive affect scores, their shirts tended to be rated higher on pleasantness. These results suggest a biocultural relationship between stress and smell where olfactory cues of stress are detectable by others and are perceived negatively.

Presented by

JG Sponholtz <jgsponholtz@crimson.ua.edu>

Institution

University of Alabama

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Perceived social isolation, mental health, and nail cortisol: A study of refugees in Serbia

Jelena Jankovic, Rahul C Oka, Jerrold S Meyer, Lee T Gettler

Abstract

The beneficial role of social support and social relationships on mental and physical health has been well documented. Forced migration often brings interruptions into refugees’ home-country social relationships and their sources of social support. At the extremes, these dynamics may lead to refugees’ social isolation (i.e., loneliness), which may be further exacerbated by challenges in cultivating social support in host countries. Perceived social isolation has been associated with altered neuroendocrine responses and is linked to increased activity of the HPA axis; yet, we know little how individual differences in these domains relate to refugees’ mental health and physiology. Here, we draw on data from mental health-related surveys and cortisol assayed from fingernails collected from refugees (n = 76) in an Asylum Center in Serbia. We found that refugees experiencing social isolation reported heightened distress related to trauma as well as poorer mental and physical health (p’s<0.05), but variation in social isolation was not meaningful linked to refugees’ cortisol. We also found that refugees who reported higher levels of recent perceived stress had higher cortisol (p<0.05). The duration of time refugees spent in Serbia did not significantly predict their mental health profiles or cortisol. Our results align with previous findings concerning social isolation/loneliness and its association with adverse health outcomes. Although correlative, our findings are consistent with the idea that higher incidence of perceived social isolation may result from displacement-related trauma/experiences, disrupted social relationships, and lack of the relevant (apt) social resources available to refugees upon their arrival in the safe third country.

Presented by

Jelena Jankovic <jjankovi@nd.edu>

Institution

University of Notre Dame

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Seeking support for displacement-related stress is associated with variation in non-communicable disease risk indicators in a South Pacific island population displaced by a natural disaster

KM Olszowy, S Sinclair, AS Therrien, L Tarivonda, G Taleo, AB Roome, CW Chan, KN Dancause

Abstract

Disaster displacement is increasing globally and small island nations, such as those in the South Pacific, face elevated risk due to climate change. Additionally, disaster displacement contributes to higher non-communicable chronic disease (NCD) burdens, both mental and physical. More studies are needed to understand factors that buffer individuals from elevated NCD risk due to disaster displacement, especially in hazard-prone low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) with insufficient health infrastructure. This study examines associations between types of stress support received and indicators of NCD risk in a displaced population from Vanuatu, an LMIC in the South Pacific. In October 2017, the entire population of Ambae, a rural island in Vanuatu, were evacuated to neighboring islands due to volcanic activity. By mid-2019, approximately half of the population had returned to Ambae, while a large proportion remained on nearby Santo island. Analyzed here are data collected from adults during a 2019 follow-up on Ambae (n=274) and Santo (n=221). Participants underwent an NCD screening and answered questions on their experiences during displacement. Compared to Santo, distress scores and waist circumference measurements were elevated on Santo, while diastolic blood pressure was elevated. Seeking support from a health professional was positively associated with weight, BMI, percent visceral fat, and waist circumference measurements (p<0.05). Seeking support from a pastor and from family was associated with elevated distress scores (p<0.05). These results suggest that source of support has a complicated relationship with NCD risk factors during displacement. Further analysis will examine variation in these relationships by gender, age, and island of current residence.

Presented by

Kathryn Olszowy

Institution

Department of Anthropology, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM

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Social support, perceived stress, resilience and cortisol response when acclimating to novel and challenging environments

Abstract

In high altitude or cold environments, ecological and psychological stressors impose intensive demands on human psychobiological functioning. The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis is key in responding to these demands. Its output, cortisol, plays an important metabolic role in energy allocation and is also highly sensitive to social dynamics and perceived experience. However, less is known about the relationship between cortisol, social support, perceived stress, and resilience in an individual to an energetically intensive environment. Here, we worked with National Outdoor Leadership School students (n=71) enrolled in ~90 day expeditions in the American West. We measured longitudinal, within-individual patterns of cortisol, self-reported physical and emotional support from the group, and reports of perceived stress and resilience at multiple time points during the expedition. We found that though both greater physical and emotional social support predicted greater inclusion and friendship in the group (p < 0.05), neither predicted perceived stress nor reported resilience, suggesting that an individual’s experience of stress and resilience are not necessarily linked to the quantity of individuals that provided physical or emotional support. Further, using linear mixed models, we found that both lower perceived stress and higher resilience predicted dampened baseline CORT throughout the course of the expedition (all p < 0.05). These results suggest that in an energetically demanding, yet highly controlled closed-group expedition-like setting, the perception of individual stress and resilience have physiological consequences and may supersede any ameliorative effects of social support buffering derived from a greater number of social support providers.

Presented by

Mallika Sarma <msarma1@jhu.edu>

Institution

Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

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#hba2021 #cortisol #biobehavioral #acclimate2extremes

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Sociopolitical stressors and maternal mental health in the first trimester among a pregnant Latina population

KS Wiley, KJ Chua, DA Knorr, MM Fox

Abstract

There is growing evidence that severe sociopolitical stressors contribute to health disparities. Anti-immigrant policies and anti-Latino rhetoric advanced in the wake of the 2016 election have been proposed to be severe stressors that likely negatively influenced the health and wellbeing of Latino Americans. We investigated associations between political concerns related to the Trump administration and maternal mental health in the first trimester of pregnancy using data from a study of pregnant Latina women (n=106) residing in Southern California collected from 2016-2018. We examined how maternal concerns about the Trump presidency were associated with maternal depressive (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale), stress (Perceived Stress Scale), and anxiety symptoms (Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory). We assessed sociopolitical concerns using a set of eight original questions (fear of deportation, attitudes towards women’s rights, and racism, etc). Using multiple regression, we investigated associations between sociopolitical concerns about the Trump administration and symptom scores after controlling for demographic covariates, including socioeconomic status, education, country of birth, and parity. Results suggest that specific and total number of concerns were related to worse maternal mental health. The total number of concerns was associated with more depressive symptoms. Concerns about Trump’s attitudes towards women’s rights and his racism / support of racists were associated with more depressive symptoms. Concerns about access to social programs, such as WIC, and fear of risk of separation from children were associated with greater perceived stress. Our findings suggest that sociopolitical stressors can impact the health of ethnic minority populations and potentially widen health disparities.

Presented by

Kyle Wiley <kyleswiley@ucla.edu>

Institution

Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, UCLA

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Stressed and growing? A systematized review of the relative effects of energetic and psychosocial factors determining human female pubertal timing

DJ Glass, JT Geerkens, MA Martin

Barry Bogin

Abstract

In terms of low height-for-age (stunting) the planet is divided into two worlds: 1) low and lower middle-income countries, with prevalences of 35.6% and 32.2%, and 2) upper middle- and high-income countries with prevalences of 6.9% and 2.5% (World Bank 2019). Under 5-year olds living in the first group of countries are at high risk for stunting across all levels of material wealth. The most recent Demographic and Health Surveys report the prevalence of stunting for the wealthiest 20% of families to be: Bangladesh-21%, India-24%, Nepal-12%, Pakistan-28%, Guatemala-17%. Such high prevalence of stunting in the wealthiest quintile is unexpected and unlikely to be due to the WHO predictors of stunting: poor nutrition, repeated infection, and inadequate psychosocial stimulation. Common to the five countries listed above are violence, strong social and economic inequalities, government/business corruption, and insecurities in housing, employment, sanitation infrastructure, education, and health services. Focusing on Guatemala, there is also a legacy of insecurity from the civil war of 1960-1996 and since 1996 the corruption of all governments, criminal violence, kidnappings for ransom, and impunity from murder, even for the wealthiest families. The high level of persistent insecurity and violence creates an ecology of fear and biosocial stress. This emotional stress is transduced by the neuroendocrine system to produce hormonal profiles that inhibit skeletal growth and cause stunting for people of all income levels. The global percentage of stunting due to biosocial stress is likely to exceed that caused by the conventional criteria proposed by the WHO, World Bank, and most public health authorities.

Presented by

B Bogin

Institution

Loughborough University

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The role of individual and subjective neighborhood socio-cultural identity and ethnic attitudes in maternal mental health in a pregnant Latina population

Kristine Chua and Delaney Knorr

Abstract

Latina women in the United States experience disproportionally higher rates of mental health disorders (e.g., depression) compared to their non-Latina White counterparts. Mental health disorders during pregnancy are also associated with adverse infant outcomes (e.g., cognitive developmental deficits). While neighborhood context (e.g., poverty, danger) and maternal acculturation have been studied as independent factors in child development and mental health, no work has investigated the impact of socio-cultural orientations at both the individual- and neighborhood-level on perinatal mental health. This work is motivated by fetal programming, a theoretical framework that describes how the persistent influence and experiences from a mother’s prenatal environment can impact offspring phenotypes. An important first step in testing our model is to address the influence of external stressors on perinatal mental health. We examine how (1) socio-cultural orientations and ethnic attitudes at both the individual- and neighborhood-level and (2) the discrepancy between individual and neighborhood socio-cultural orientations (i.e., socio-cultural discrepancy) relate to perinatal mental health. We surveyed 245 pregnant Latina women on their mental health as well as individual and neighborhood socio-cultural orientations (acculturation) and ethnic attitudes. We found that living in neighborhoods with more favorable views of Latinos is associated with lower levels of depression (pooled β = -.973, p = .005) and pregnancy-related anxiety (pooled β = -.098, p = .040). Larger socio-cultural discrepancies were only associated with higher levels of pregnancy-related anxiety (pooled β = .056, p = .034). Our findings highlight perinatal mental health as an important but underexplored area of fetal programming.

Presented by

Kristine Joy Chua and Delaney Knorr

Institution

University of California, Los Angeles

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# pregnancy #mentalhealth #Latina #culture #neighborhood #stress

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Use of social media and digital technologies and perceptions of body size in a market-integrating population in Argentina

Katherine Daiy, Tomeka Frieson, Laura Palacio-Londono, Ivana Barnes, Sofia Olmedo, Pedro Aranda, Florencia Cirigliano, Claudia Valeggia

Abstract

While humans have historically perceived fat bodies as symbols of health and beauty, exposure to globalized media is thought to be accompanied by thin-idealism and negative body image. In 2019, we conducted a mixed-methods study with men and women (n = 87) residing in Namqom, a market-integrating Qom community in Argentina. Using Stunkard silhouettes, we asked participants to select, for their own gender: the healthiest body (HBS), most ideal body (IBS) and their own body size (OBS); we calculated body dissatisfaction (BD) as the difference between IBS and OBS. We measured frequency of media/technology engagement using an 18-item Likert scale questionnaire (Cronbach's alpha = 0.70). We compared HBS data with a similar study from 2010 and conducted semi-structured interviews to better understand the role of media in the community and body image. We found that Qom men and women perceived “normal” body mass indices (BMIs) as healthiest (78% and 68%,respectively) and ideal (78% and 72%, respectively), while most participants (47% men and 55% of women) selected a thinner IBS than their self-perceived size (OBS). Compared to 2010, participants in 2019 perceived thinner bodies as healthiest (Cohen’s d = 1.67). We found no statistically significant associations between media/technology engagement and HBS, IBS and BD, while controlling for age, BMI and gender. Semi-structured interviews revealed three themes: media accelerates a loss of traditional Qom culture, but is not viewed as directly affecting body image (Theme 1), a dual stigmatization of fatness and thinness as symbols of weakness and poor health that is perpetuated by peers, family and healthcare workers (Theme 2), and strong valuation of body acceptance (Theme 3). We conclude that a) media and technology engagement does not predict perceptions of healthy and ideal bodies in this population b) body norms are upheld by various non-media sources and c) traditional values of body acceptance may protect against negative body image in this community.

Presented by

Katherine Daiy

Institution

Yale University, Chaco Area Reproductive Ecology Program

Hashtags

#bodyimage #mixedmethods #bodynorms #stigma

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