Annals of Human Biology最新文献

{"title":"Altered gut microbiota composition and feeding behaviours in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: a comparative pilot study.","authors":"Marina Toscano de Oliveira, Marco Antônio Borges Scriboni Gonzalez, João Victor Rosetto Boiate, Victoria Mesa, Daniel Henrique Gonçalves, Mariana Gisse Pinto, Camila Ramos da Silva Pinto, José Elderaldo Costa Gomes Filho, Katia Sivieri","doi":"10.1080/03014460.2025.2535430","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/03014460.2025.2535430","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a prevalent condition with poorly understood aetiology. Studies indicate that children with ASD exhibit more gastrointestinal alterations, nutritional deficiencies due to selective eating, and distinct gut microbiota profiles compared to neurotypical peers.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>To investigate the differences in gut microbiota composition and feeding behaviours between children with ASD and their typically developing peers.</p><p><strong>Subjects and methods: </strong>Faecal samples from 10 male children with ASD (mean age 6.2 years), and 10 male neurotypical controls (mean age 6.1 years) were analysed using 16S rRNA sequencing to assess gut microbiota composition. Guardians completed questionnaires on demographics, birth data, initial feeding habits (i.e. feeding practices after breastfeeding), gastrointestinal symptoms, stool characteristics, and feeding behaviours, which were assessed using the Brief Autism Mealtime Behaviour Inventory (BAMBI) scale. Additionally, a 48-hour dietary recall was collected to analyse the children's nutritional intake.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Significant differences in gut microbiota beta diversity were observed. Bacteroidota predominated in the control group, while Firmicutes, Actinobacteriota, and Proteobacteria were dominant in the ASD group. Genera <i>Blautia</i> and <i>Bifidobacterium</i> were enriched in controls, whereas <i>Clostridium</i> sensu stricto 1, <i>Ruminococcus_torques</i>_group, <i>Lachnospiraceae</i>_UCG004, and <i>Bifidobacterium breve</i> were more prevalent in ASD. Comorbidities, sodium intake, and BAMBI scale scores highlighted greater feeding-related behavioural issues in the ASD group.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Children with ASD show notable differences in gut microbiota composition and feeding behaviours. The findings emphasise the need to address gastrointestinal and nutritional factors in ASD management.</p>","PeriodicalId":50765,"journal":{"name":"Annals of Human Biology","volume":"52 1","pages":"2535430"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144977361","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Delayed skeletal maturation is a major contributor to child height deficits in a low-income setting.","authors":"Liina Mansukoski, Barry Bogin, J Andres Galvez-Sobral, Luis Furlán, William Johnson","doi":"10.1080/03014460.2025.2510499","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/03014460.2025.2510499","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Studying the extent to which delayed skeletal maturation may contribute to childhood height deficits is important for assessing potential for recovery in heights.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>To investigate the discrepancy in height-for-age Z-scores (HAZ) based on chronological age (HAZ-CA) compared to bone age (HAZ-BA) and estimate proportion of HAZ deficits attributable to delayed maturation in both sexes.</p><p><strong>Subjects and methods: </strong>Using the WHO Growth References, HAZ-CA and HAZ-BA were calculated for Guatemala City children aged 6-8.99 years participating in the Universidad del Valle de Guatemala Longitudinal Study and attending a low or a very low SEP study school. A mixed effects model was developed to describe 1638 HAZ observations (Level 1) in 1107 children (Level 2) by HAZ-type, with interaction terms for HAZ-type by age, sex, school, and birth year.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>On average, skeletal age was delayed by 1.1 (SD 1.0) years. Mean HAZ-CA was -1.7 (0.9) and HAZ-BA -0.6 (0.9). Greater proportions of the total height deficit were attributable to delayed skeletal maturation in males (60-87%) versus females (49-63%), and at low- (58-87%) versus very low-SES school (49-71%).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Delayed maturation contributes to height deficits, supporting the idea that opportunity for catch-up growth continues past early childhood in both sexes.</p>","PeriodicalId":50765,"journal":{"name":"Annals of Human Biology","volume":"52 1","pages":"2510499"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144217463","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Buffering in the intra-household allocation of scarce water in urban Dhaka, Bangladesh.","authors":"Mohammad Jobayer Hossain, Noor Kutubul Alam Siddiquee, Neetu Choudhary, Cindi SturtzSreetharan, Sarah Trainer, Amber Wutich, Alexandra Brewis","doi":"10.1080/03014460.2025.2537214","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/03014460.2025.2537214","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Household water insecurity is an accelerating global challenge with serious negative impacts on human health. The impacts of water insecurity can vary among household members. Biocultural buffering theory can explain the differential allocation of scarce water within households and predicts asymmetric allocation of scarce pooled resources to protect the most vulnerable.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>To test the buffering theory of intra-household water allocation strategies.</p><p><strong>Subjects and methods: </strong>Twenty reproductive-age women from extremely water-insecure households in Dhaka, Bangladesh, were interviewed and systematically-coded text from the guided interviews and an allocation task were analysed.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Coding revealed 261 instances of buffering. Thematic analysis of allocation reasoning revealed patterning in water distribution within the household.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Household management of scarce water aligns to buffering theories, with women prioritising family members perceived to be vulnerable. These findings open new spaces to theorise how intra-household strategies of water allocation shape individual risk and safeguard human health, reconceptualise the dominant paradigm of negative experiences around living with water insecurity to encompass notions of care and shared wellbeing, and develop more sophisticated views of the mechanisms to connect embodied water insecurity to its individual-level health consequences in human biology.</p>","PeriodicalId":50765,"journal":{"name":"Annals of Human Biology","volume":"52 1","pages":"2537214"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144977466","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Correlations between <i>ghrelin</i> gene polymorphisms, cognitive function, and activities of daily living among elderly patients with Alzheimer's disease.","authors":"Wenguang Liu, Liyuan Wu, Jiaying Hu, Zhiyong Gao","doi":"10.1080/03014460.2025.2507048","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/03014460.2025.2507048","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of <i>ghrelin</i> gene are associated with cognitive function while ghrelin is associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD).</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>To determine the relationship between <i>ghrelin</i> SNPs, cognitive function, and activities of daily living (ADLs) in elderly AD patients.</p><p><strong>Subjects and methods: </strong>This study included 100 elderly AD patients as the AD group, and 72 elderly healthy patients as the control group. Pearson's correlation analysis was performed.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The frequency of the A allele at rs55821288 was significantly higher in the AD group than the control group (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Similarly, the frequency of the AA genotype at rs55821288 was higher in the AD group than the control group (<i>p</i> < 0.05). The MMSE, QOL-AD, and ADLs scores were lower in the AD group than the control group (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Pearson's correlation analysis revealed that the A allele at rs55821288 was inversely correlated with the MMSE, QOL-AD, and ADLs scores (<i>p</i> < 0.05). The distribution of the AA genotype at the rs55821288 locus had a negative linear correlation with the MMSE, QOL-AD, and ADLs scores (<i>p</i> < 0.05).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong><i>Ghrelin</i> allele A and genotype AA are closely associated with cognitive function and ADLs among elderly AD patients.</p>","PeriodicalId":50765,"journal":{"name":"Annals of Human Biology","volume":"52 1","pages":"2507048"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144217462","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Associations between physical fitness and mental toughness in adolescent competitive ballet dancers.","authors":"Lan Zhou, Lovro Štefan","doi":"10.1080/03014460.2025.2558933","DOIUrl":"10.1080/03014460.2025.2558933","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Mental toughness (MT) is a critical psychological construct in competitive sports, yet its relationship with physical fitness (PF) remains underexplored, particularly in adolescent athletes.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>The main purpose of the study was to examine the associations between MT and different components of PF.</p><p><strong>Subjects and methods: </strong>We recruited 114 children and adolescents (14.3 ± 0.9 years; 73.7% girls), who were active ballet dancers and competed at national level. MT was assessed using the Sport Mental Toughness Questionnaire. Components of PF included: the 20-m shuttle run test (cardiorespiratory fitness; CRF), the 2-kg medicine ball throw and the countermovement jump (muscular fitness; MF), the sit-and-reach test (flexibility) and fat mass percentage (body composition).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Subscales and overall MT were positively correlated with CRF (<i>r</i> = 0.69-0.71, <i>p</i> < 0.001), MF (<i>r</i> = 0.63-0.79, <i>p</i> < 0.001) and flexibility (<i>r</i> = 0.52-0.71, <i>p</i> < 0.001), yet an inverse correlation with fat mass percentage (<i>r</i> = -0.59 - -0.58, <i>p</i> < 0.001) was observed. Boys exhibited higher MT and PF values, compared to girls, except for flexibility.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>These findings suggest that improving PF may enhance MT, offering potential strategies for training young athletes.</p>","PeriodicalId":50765,"journal":{"name":"Annals of Human Biology","volume":"52 1","pages":"2558933"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145076508","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"'I feel more comfortable in contact with similar-sized players': male youth rugby union players' perceptions of bio-banded training.","authors":"Alexander B T McAuley, John M Radnor, Adam Grainger, Fionn Fitzgerald, Budge Pountney, Joseph Baker, Kathryn Johnston, Adam L Kelly","doi":"10.1080/03014460.2025.2573406","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/03014460.2025.2573406","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Bio-banding has been used to moderate disparities in maturity status between youth players of the same chronological age to support development.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>The purpose of this study was to investigate male youth rugby union players' perceptions of bio-banded training compared to chronological age grouping.</p><p><strong>Subjects and methods: </strong>Fifty-four U16 players participated in games-based bio-banded training before completing an eight-item Likert scale questionnaire, with the option of providing an explanation for each response. Aligning with typical peak height velocity (PHV) categories, maturity banding was based upon percentage of predicted adult height (i.e. circa-PHV ≤95% and post-PHV ≥96%). A series of one-sample and Welch's <i>t</i>-tests were used to analyse quantitative data, and qualitative data were assessed using an inductive thematic analysis.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Irrespective of maturity status, the majority of players perceived they understood and enjoyed most aspects of the bio-banding format and believed they were less likely to get injured compared to chronological age grouping. Both maturity groups perceived bio-banding facilitated superior psychosocial capacities and offered a greater technical and tactical challenge, whilst circa-PHV and post-PHV players perceived bio-banding as less and more physically challenging than chronological age grouping, respectively.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The results suggest using bio-banded grouping for training, as an adjunct to chronological age grouping, may positively contribute to the holistic development of male youth players in rugby union irrespective of maturity status.</p>","PeriodicalId":50765,"journal":{"name":"Annals of Human Biology","volume":"52 1","pages":"2573406"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145379609","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Unravelling the molecular mechanisms and immune landscape of vitiligo: a comprehensive bioinformatics study on melanogenesis-related genes.","authors":"Binxi Ma, Xiao Wang","doi":"10.1080/03014460.2025.2468692","DOIUrl":"10.1080/03014460.2025.2468692","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Vitiligo is an autoimmune disorder marked by melanocyte destruction and skin depigmentation.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>To explore the molecular mechanisms underlying melanogenesis and their link to vitiligo.</p><p><strong>Subjects and methods: </strong>We analysed three vitiligo-related datasets, correcting for batch effects with ComBat. Key melanogenesis genes were pinpointed using LASSO and logistic regression, and a nomogram was developed. The immune microenvironment was evaluated by ssGSEA, and correlations between gene expression, melanogenesis pathways, and immune cell infiltration were examined.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>We identified 2,405 DEGs, with 960 up-regulated and 1,445 down-regulated genes in vitiligo samples. GSVA indicated significant disturbances in melanogenesis pathways. ssGSEA revealed reduced activity in REACTOME_MELANIN_BIOSYNTHESIS and KEGG_MELANOGENESIS pathways. Three key diagnostic genes (CALM2, KIT, OCA2) were found and used to build a highly accurate predictive nomogram. Immune cell analysis showed increased T helper and Th2 cells in vitiligo, correlating with both diagnostic genes and melanogenic pathways.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This study identifies crucial melanogenesis-related genes and provides a predictive model for vitiligo risk. It underscores the relationship between impaired melanogenesis and immune cell infiltration, suggesting potential therapeutic targets.</p>","PeriodicalId":50765,"journal":{"name":"Annals of Human Biology","volume":"52 1","pages":"2468692"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143574562","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Biological and environmental contributors to child growth and health.","authors":"Babette S Zemel, Nicola Hawley","doi":"10.1080/03014460.2025.2563231","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/03014460.2025.2563231","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":50765,"journal":{"name":"Annals of Human Biology","volume":"52 1","pages":"2563231"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145193910","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Association between <i>IL-6</i> gene polymorphisms and susceptibility to Parkinson's disease.","authors":"Jinzhao Gao, Zihan Wang, Kunpeng Qin, Yilin Wang, Qiqing He, Yuting Zhou, Anmu Xie, Binghui Hou","doi":"10.1080/03014460.2025.2569473","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/03014460.2025.2569473","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The multifunctional cytokine interleukin 6 (IL-6) and its single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) may influence the risk of Parkinson's disease (PD).</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>To investigate the association between specific SNPs in the <i>IL-6</i> gene and susceptibility to PD in the northern Chinese Han population.</p><p><strong>Subjects and methods: </strong>A total of 800 Chinese Han subjects were enrolled in this case-control study, including 400 PD patients and 400 healthy controls. Peripheral blood of all subjects was collected for DNA extraction and genotyped for selected SNPs (rs1800796, rs1524107) using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>We found significant differences in the allele (C vs. G, <i>p</i> = 0.002) and CC genotype (<i>p</i> = 0.012) of rs1800796 in the PD group compared to the control group. In addition, significant differences were observed between the two groups in both dominant and additive models (<i>p</i>_dominant=0.046, <i>p</i>_additive=0.025). In further subgroup analysis, compared with the matched male control group, the frequency of CC genotype in male PD was higher (<i>p</i> = 0.035), and allele C may increase the risk of disease (<i>p</i> = 0.012). Similarly, when compared to the healthy control group, patients in the late-onset Parkinson's Disease (LOPD) group also exhibited a higher frequency of CC genotype and C allele (<i>p</i>_genotype = 0.015, <i>p</i>_alle = 0.004).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The rs1800796 polymorphism of the <i>IL-6</i> gene may be associated with susceptibility to PD in the northern Chinese Han population.</p>","PeriodicalId":50765,"journal":{"name":"Annals of Human Biology","volume":"52 1","pages":"2569473"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145276583","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Linking the bed dust microbiome with environmental factors and child respiratory health.","authors":"Jelena Šarac, Dubravka Havaš Auguštin, Iva Šunić, Kristina Michl, Gabriele Berg, Tomislav Cernava, Damir Marjanović, Rasmus Riemer Jakobsen, Mario Lovrić","doi":"10.1080/03014460.2025.2509606","DOIUrl":"10.1080/03014460.2025.2509606","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Humans spend up to 90% of their time indoors and are exposed to a significant number of microbes in their homes, which can have important implications for their health.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>This study focused on analysing the influence of environmental factors on microbiome diversity and abundance in bed dust and linking the exposure to dust bacteria with asthma.</p><p><strong>Subjects and methods: </strong>A total of 90 dust samples were collected from homes of asthmatic patients (<i>n</i> = 59) and controls (<i>n</i> = 31) aged 5-18 years. The bacterial fraction of the microbiome was analysed using 16S rRNA gene high-throughput sequencing on the Illumina MiSeq platform and downstream analyses in QIIME2 and R. Microbiome profiles were associated with asthma and relevant environmental and household data.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Higher bacterial β-diversity in the environment was shown to be inversely associated with asthma (<i>p</i> = 0.009). Also, living environment (<i>p</i> = 0.002), housing type (<i>p</i> = 0.004), presence of pets in the household (<i>p</i> = 0.001), and cleaning practices (<i>p</i> = 0.006 for dusting and <i>p</i> = 0.011 for vacuuming) were prominent environmental factors affecting the bed dust microbiome.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Our results suggest significant differences in bacterial community composition between individuals with and without asthma and the interaction between indoor microbiome and asthma is mediated by environmental factors in the household.</p>","PeriodicalId":50765,"journal":{"name":"Annals of Human Biology","volume":"52 1","pages":"2509606"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12312746/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144318610","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}