Early-life infectious disease exposure, the 'hygiene hypothesis', and lifespan: evidence from hookworm.

Exposure to infectious disease in early life may have long-term ramifications for health and mortality. This study leverages quasi-experimental variation from the Rockefeller Sanitary Commission's de-worming campaign in the early 20th century, combined with pre-campaign hookworm prevalence, to rigorously examine the impacts of childhood hookworm exposure on later-life morbidity and lifespan. Pre-intervention surveys find widespread hookworm exposure among children in the American South, but minimal prevalence among adults.

Explaining adverse cholesterol levels and distinct gender patterns in an Indonesian population compared with the U.S.

Cardiovascular disease is among the most common causes of death around the world. As rising incomes in low and middle-income countries are accompanied by increased obesity, the burden of disease shifts towards non-communicable diseases, and lower-income settings make up a growing share of cardiovascular disease deaths. Comparative investigation of the roles of body composition, behavioral and socioeconomic factors across countries can shed light on both the biological and social drivers of cardiovascular disease more broadly.

Longevity, demographic characteristics, and socio-economic status are linked to triiodothyronine levels in the general population.

The hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) axis is fundamental to human biology, exerting central control over energy expenditure and body temperature. However, the consequences of normal physiologic HPT-axis variation in populations without diagnosed thyroid disease are poorly understood. Using nationally representative data from the 2007 to 2012 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, we explore relationships with demographic characteristics, longevity, and socio-economic factors.

The Role of Racism in Childhood Obesity.

Purpose Of Review: Obesity rates continue to rise among children and have shown persistent racial disparities. Racism plays a potentially essential and actionable role in these disparities. This report reviews some mechanisms through which racism may shape childhood obesity.

Exposure to the Indian Ocean Tsunami shapes the HPA-axis resulting in HPA "burnout" 14 years later.

Despite significant research on the effects of stress on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, questions remain regarding long-term impacts of large-scale stressors. Leveraging data on exposure to an unanticipated major natural disaster, the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, we provide causal evidence of its imprint on hair cortisol levels fourteen years later. Data are drawn from the Study of the Tsunami Aftermath and Recovery, a population-representative longitudinal study of tsunami survivors who were living along the coast of Aceh, Indonesia, when the tsunami hit.

Sub-clinical triiodothyronine levels predict health, demographic, and socioeconomic outcomes.

The Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Thyroid (HPT) axis is fundamental to human biology, exerting central control over energy expenditure, metabolic rate, and body temperature. However, the consequences of "normal" physiologic HPT-axis variation in non-clinical populations are poorly understood. Using nationally-representative data from the 2007-2012 NHANES, we explore relationships with demographics, mortality, and socio-economic factors.

A longitudinal study of convergence between Black and White COVID-19 mortality: A county fixed effects approach.

Background: Non-Hispanic Black populations have suffered much greater per capita COVID-19 mortality than White populations. Previous work has shown that rates of Black and White mortality have converged over time. Understanding of COVID-19 disparities over time is complicated by geographic changes in prevalence, and some prior research has claimed that regional shifts in COVID-19 prevalence may explain the convergence.

Prevalence, severity and distribution of depression and anxiety symptoms using observational data collected before and nine months into the COVID-19 pandemic.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has been accompanied by substantial increases in adverse mental health, particularly among the young. However, it remains unclear to what extent increases in population scores on mental health assessments are due to changes in prevalence, rather than severity of symptoms. Further, it is not obvious that widely used assessments of aggregate symptoms retain their typical interpretation during an event that directly disrupts behavior.

Flavourings significantly affect inhalation toxicity of aerosol generated from electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS).

Background: E-cigarettes or electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) are designed to deliver nicotine-containing aerosol via inhalation. Little is known about the health effects of flavoured ENDS aerosol when inhaled.

Methods: Aerosol from ENDS was generated using a smoking machine.