Objective: Brown adipose tissue (BAT) and vasoconstriction supports the multisystem process of regulating body temperature to reduce the amount of heat lost during cold exposure. Previous work documents a relationship between cold-induced vasoconstriction, blood pressure (BP), and negative health consequence like strokes. However, the relationship between BAT and BP during cold exposure has not been explored. We tested weather there is a relationship between BAT thermogenesis and BP after mild cold exposure among healthy young adults.

Methods: We recruited 51 participants (30 females; 21 males; average age: 22.9 y/o). From the Hunter College community in New York City. We measured anthropometric dimensions, BP at baseline, and after participants wore a cooling suit for 30 min (15ºC). Infrared thermal imaging was used to quantify the change in supraclavicular skin temperature as an indirect measurement of BAT thermogenesis.

Results: There was a significant increase in systolic BP after mild cold exposure (p=0.002) however, there was not a relationship between BAT thermogenesis and cold induced change in BP. We did detect a positive association between cold-induced change in BP and age (systolic BP: p = 0.003; diastolic BP: p = 0.005) after controlling for baseline BP.

Discussion: Our findings indicate that even among young, healthy participants, there exists a relationship between cold-induced change in BP and age. Based on our preliminary results, BAT does not appear to protect against cold-induced increases in BP. Additional research is needed to understand wintertime spikes in cardiovascular disease and its biological mechanisms.

Urban environments have been associated with negative birth outcomes, including lower birthweights, preterm births and congenital malformations. However, little research has been done on the effect of urbanism on fetal death, an event with a high emotional cost for families and communities. This exploratory research examines all cases of fetal death recorded in Mexico during 2020-2024 (116, 250 cases; 52.7% males and 47.3% females) to analyze the magnitude and distribution of the phenomenon, and its relationship with sociodemographic indicators of urbanism. The national and state rates (per 1,000 live births) were calculated and their distribution analyzed using heat maps. Linear regression models were used to analyze the association between the state rate of fetal death and the percentage of urban population, population density, socioeconomic inequality (Gini coefficient) and crime incidence. The national rate was 13.1 cases per 1,000 live births. The highest rates are concentrated in the center of the country; Mexico City and the State of Mexico (neighboring states) account for 27% of cases. In bivariate analyses, the percentage of urban population, population density, and crime rate were positively associated with fetal death rate. In adjusted models, the percentage of urban population and density remained significant. These results are discussed in the context of the potential role played by psychosocial stress and violence, pollutant and contaminant exposure present in large cities and metropolitan areas.

This research focuses on cancer patients who struggle with mental health and biotechnological solutions that address these concerns. Cancer treatment has developed vastly over the years and saves countless lives annually. However, a commonly overlooked issue is mental health concerns in cancer patients. The profound psychological toll of a diagnosis including anxiety, depression, fear of recurrence, etc., is often overlooked. These can influence the possibility of poor patient outcomes, reduced quality of life, and low rates of treatment adherence. While traditional psychological approaches are effective, they tend to face gaps in accessibility, scalability, and integration with standard oncology care.

To address this issue, this paper reviews recent literature (2020 - 2025) on biotechnological interventions. The analysis focuses on digital platforms, AI-powered tools, and wearable devices, identifying scalable and personalized approaches. Findings suggest that a digital app made to help reduce depression and anxiety, and wearable technology to help monitor psychological distress may support mental wellbeing. We also address concerns regarding data privacy and ethics surrounding the use of these interventions. Overall, this research highlights the significant impacts mental health has on cancer patients and how the strategic integration of these solutions can help bridge the gap in cancer care, providing support during the difficult cancer journey.

Bogin’s Social-Economic-Political-Emotional Theory (SEPE) has been used to help better elucidate our understanding of factors that impact growth and development of individuals in varying environments. These factors have a marked impact on overall growth and growth trajectories demonstrating the plasticity of human growth and development. This study examines the height, weight, and body mass index of 1,858 students, 896 females and 962 males, between the ages of 5 and 14 from two disparate school districts in New Jersey; although these school districts are less than 15 miles apart, they have substantial differences in their SEPE environment and their self-identified primary ethnicity. In order to compare these populations, Mann-Whitney U tests and Kruskal-Wallis tests were conducted on height, weight and BMI, which identified statistical differences between these populations in all of the variables. Dunn post-hoc pairwise tests indicated that the differences were due to self-identified primary ethnicity and SEPE factors, which is in agreement with previous research. In addition, it appears that in this study, SEPE factors have a greater impact than primary ethnicity because there are more differences across districts comparing White and Hispanic or Latino students than within the district with both groups present. Further, White individuals from the less affluent population are, on average, shorter than their more privileged White counterparts. Unfortunately, there were not enough individuals in the other ethnic groups in both populations to compare.

Contemporary Brazilian society has faced changes in the health of human groups affected by various diseases due to socio-environmental, economic, labor, climatic, and anti-vaccine factors. The importance of studying the multiplicity of social indicators that impact individuals distributed throughout the country, particularly in the Amazon, lies in the need to investigate socioepidemiological indices that cause illnesses and what measures can be taken to mitigate diseases such as high blood pressure, mental health issues, tuberculosis, dengue fever, depression, obesity, malnutrition, allergies, respiratory diseases, measles, malaria, etc., in pursuit of quality of life. We conducted a bibliographic and statistical survey of the last ten years on public health websites, journals, articles, and other sources, analyzing how our population faces the challenges of health and disease today. Results indicate high rates of high blood pressure among men and women, especially quilombolas and riverine communities in the Amazon (State of Pará), a significant degree of malnutrition among children in rural and urban areas, as well as tuberculosis, dengue fever, allergies, and other diseases that are growing significantly throughout the country, causing a relevant epidemiological alert. Massive investment in public health policies among the most vulnerable populations is essential and urgent, as poverty and illness are still a difficult reality from north to south in Brazil.

Infant mortality is a key indicator of human development and health system equity. In Mexico, improvements in medical coverage have not consistently translated into proportional survival gains. This study describes temporal trends, leading causes, and contextual inequities in infant deaths between 2014 and 2023.

A retrospective national analysis was conducted using official mortality records for children under 12 months of age. Variables included sex, area of residence, medical assistance at the time of death, necropsy performance, and cause of death coded according to ICD-10. Data were analyzed by year, state, and locality size using descriptive and stratified statistics to assess geographic and social disparities.

Between 2014 and 2023, 224,212 infant deaths were recorded. The five leading causes accounted for 39% of all deaths: respiratory disorders of the newborn (11.7%), neonatal bacterial sepsis (11.7%), congenital heart malformations (7.9%), prematurity and low birth weight (4.2%), and birth asphyxia (3.8%). The infant mortality rate declined marginally from 10.72 to 10.62 per 1,000 live births. Although medical assistance at death reached 99.5% in 2023, the likelihood of receiving care was inversely related to locality size. Necropsy remained underperformed, even in cases of aggression. About 88% of deaths occurred among infants without social security coverage.

Infant mortality in Mexico remained similar over the decade, meaning persistent inequities may be limiting effective access. Improving data quality, linking maternal-neonatal records, and expanding neonatal critical-care capacity in underserved regions are essential to reduce preventable deaths.

While human facial expressions have been extensively studied in emotionally charged contexts, little is known about the subtle, low-intensity facial movements that occur during everyday conversation. This study explores these expressions in a culturally distinct sample—115 young Kabardians—using FaceReader, an advanced facial expression recognition system based on Facial Action Coding System (FACS). Participants engaged in 20-second conversations on neutral topics, and their facial movements were recorded on video and analyzed in terms of Action Units. Results showed that both men and women exhibited low intensity facial movements falling below the visibility threshold for untrained observers. However, women consistently demonstrated more varied and expressive activity in the eyes, nose, and mouth regions

Factor analysis revealed several distinct and recognizable mimс patterns. In men, dominant combinations corresponded to classic emotional configurations such as happiness, disgust, and anger, with additional expressions resembling sadness and contempt. Among women, expressions were more complex and blended, combining happiness, disgust, and subtle fear cues within the same configurations. A notable feature was the presence of brow frowning in women only, potentially reflecting a sex-specific element of conversational facial dynamics.

This study contributes novel insights into the ethology of facial expressions in non-emotional settings and underscores the role of background expressions in gendered social signaling. Findings suggest both evolutionary and cultural implications, advocating for further cross-cultural comparisons.

Body size is influenced by genetic, environmental, and cultural (biocultural) factors that produce phenotypic plasticity and reflect life history. The Sundanese people of West Java live in diverse ecological areas, from coastal lowlands to highlands. Variations in topography, livelihood, and ecology may create different selective pressures on body size. This study compared body sizes among Sundanese populations representing agricultural and coastal ecological types. A cross-sectional study was conducted in Sukapura Village, Kertasari District, West Java (1,300 m above sea level), representing an agricultural population (312 females, 241 males), and in Cikelet District, Garut, West Java (19–628 m above sea level), representing a coastal population (382 females, 359 males). Anthropometric measures (stature, weight, and body mass index-BMI) were taken in subjects aged 6–20 years. Data were analyzed using Generalized Additive Models for Location, Scale, and Shape (GAMLSS) in R to estimate the median (50th percentile). Females were generally shorter and lighter than males in both populations. The coastal population showed greater stature than the agricultural population in both sexes across all ages. However, body weight was similar at younger ages; it increased more rapidly among the coastal population during adolescence. The agricultural population showed higher BMI values overall, especially in females, with only slight differences in males. Variations in body size reflect ecological adaptation. Taller, leaner physiques in coastal Sundanese probably result from energy being allocated toward skeletal growth. Meanwhile, greater fat accumulation (as indicated by BMI values) in the high-altitude agricultural population may serve as thermal insulation in low temperatures.

La inseguridad hídrica en el hogar es un fenómeno cada vez más frecuente en contextos urbanos, con profundas repercusiones en el bienestar y las dinámicas cotidianas, especialmente para las mujeres de bajos ingresos. Este estudio tuvo como objetivo documentar cómo las mujeres madres de familia perciben y responden a la inseguridad hídrica doméstica en la ciudad de Xalapa, Veracruz, entendida como la incapacidad de acceder y utilizar el agua de manera constante y confiable dentro del hogar. Se realizaron grupos focales piloto que permitieron validar la pertinencia de las categorías preliminares y ajustar la guía de entrevista, posterior, se aplicaron entrevistas semiestructuradas con madres que habitan en distintos contextos de la ciudad, y se aplicó un análisis temático para identificar patrones, contrastes y significados en sus experiencias. Los resultados muestran que la infraestructura doméstica condiciona las formas de enfrentar la inseguridad hídrica: el sistema de llenado y almacenamiento de agua se reveló como un factor clave en la distribución del trabajo y la carga psicológica y emocional. Asimismo, la impredecibilidad del suministro emergió como un eje clave de la experiencia, generando estados de alerta prolongados, tensión constante y dificultades para planificar las actividades de cuidado y sociales. Al documentar experiencias cotidianas poco exploradas en contextos urbanos de México, este estudio amplía la comprensión de la inseguridad hídrica doméstica como un fenómeno situado, atravesado por desigualdades de género y condiciones de infraestructura que configuran el bienestar y las dinámicas de cuidado en el hogar.

Grip strength is widely recognized as an integrative indicator of physical fitness and vitality. Beyond its biomedical significance, it may function as a bodily cue of social and reproductive potential, shaping parental favoritism and kin-directed behavior. In 2024, we conducted an experimental study among 98 Kalmyk university students (Elista, Russia) to test the hypothesis that grip strength is associated with the accuracy of kin recognition. Each participant was photographed under standardized anthropological conditions, and handgrip strength was measured using a dynamometer. For each individual, the facial portrait was digitally modified to resemble a child aged approximately 5–12 years. Participants were presented with a set of five child images (one derived from their own face) and asked to choose the child they would most likely invest in (e.g., through adoption, babysitting, or financial support). Results showed that grip strength was positively correlated with the frequency of choosing the “self-derived” child image. Participants with lower grip strength more often selected unrelated faces, suggesting possible alternative strategies of parental investment. These findings point to grip strength as a possible somatic marker of kin-oriented altruism, with weaker individuals showing a tendency toward broader, group-level prosociality, highlighting the need for further investigation of biometric correlates of altruistic behavior.

The Brazilian Food and Nutritional Security (FNS) landscape, which has “The Geography of Hunger” as its fundamental theoretical framework, identifies the food situation in territories from north to south of the country, stratifying hunger and malnutrition in Brazil, a reality that continued into the first decade of the 21st century. The COVID-19 syndemicc was a health crisis and economic catastrophe that exacerbated the issue of food shortages with the abrupt widening of social inequalities, particularly in the State of Pará, Amazon region. Food insecurity between 2019 and 2022 worsened due to disastrous policies before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic, when about one million people in the Amazon had the Bolsa Família Program as their only source of monthly income, characterizing the poverty rate and people in situations of hunger, with occupations without fixed income in the informal market. Qualitative health methodology was used with statistics, articles, books, and exhibitions of historical collections, public health activities, and continuing education in an interdisciplinary manner. Between 2019 and 2025, we analyzed primary and secondary data, focusing on the health of urban, rural, quilombola, and riverine populations to share the research conducted in the state of Pará. The results showed these elements contribute to alarming Social Determinants of Health (SDH), with food and nutritional insecurity among riverine, fishing, rural, indigenous and quilombola populations as a whole at levels never before recorded, which corroborates the current reconfiguration and massive investiment o social assistance programs aimed at the most vulnerable.

Long COVID, also known as post acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC), includes a wide range of persistent complications that span multiple organ systems. Neurological symptoms such as headaches, fatigue, and cognitive impairment are among the most disabling, affecting quality of life, occupational functioning, and disease morbidity. While much of the existing evidence comes from high income countries, data from sub-Saharan Africa remain limited despite high infection burdens and under resourced health systems. This study investigated the prevalence and correlates of neurological sequelae of Long COVID among adults in Johannesburg, South Africa. Additionally, we examined the association between acute COVID-19 severity and long-term neurological symptoms of Long COVID, including headaches, fatigue, pain, and cognitive function. We conducted a cross-sectional observational study at the Ezintsha Research Centre in Johannesburg, South Africa between August 2022 and July 2023. Adults with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection at least six months prior were allocated into four groups: asymptomatic, symptomatic outpatients, hospitalised patients, and vaccinated controls without prior infection. Multiple regression models found that adults with symptomatic COVID-19 infection exhibited the worst headache symptoms (b = 0.1, 95% CI [0.032, 0.16]). Relative to vaccinated controls, all infection groups exhibited elevated symptoms of mental, physical, and overall fatigue (all p < 0.04). Pain and cognitive function were not significantly different across groups. These results call attention to the long-term neurological sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection and early identification and management of emerging neurological symptoms in high-risk COVID-19 survivors in South Africa.

Objective: Early-life undernutrition can have lasting impacts on growth and metabolic function, yet its relationship to adult brown adipose tissue (BAT) activity and non-shivering thermogenesis remains unclear. BAT contributes to energy expenditure and thermoregulation, but the extent to which early life nutritional conditions influence adult BAT activity is largely unexplored. Relative leg length, a sensitive indicator of early life nutrition, offers a noninvasive approach to examining developmental influences on adult metabolic physiology.

Methods: We recruited 63 adults (41 females; 22 males) residing in New York City. Resting metabolic rate (RMR) and respiratory quotient (RQ) were measured using indirect calorimetry under thermoneutral conditions. Anthropometric dimensions, including relative leg length, were recorded to assess early life nutritional status. BAT activity and non-shivering thermogenesis were evaluated using thermal imaging and indirect calorimetry.

Results: We found that relative limb length was not associated with baseline REE after controlling for fat-free mass . Relative limb length was not associated with RQ in the total sample or females, but a trend existed among males (p=0.096). BAT thermogenesis, change in REE, and change in RQ were not associated with relative limb length.

Discussion: These findings highlight the complicated relationship between early-life environments and adult metabolism. The lack of associations could stem from the limited sample size, the types of early-life nutritional environments represented in the study, and methodological constraints. By focusing on a diverse, urban sample, this study contributes to understanding how social and ecological variation in early growth environments may shape adult metabolic health and adaptive thermogenesis.

This research offers a bioanthropological reflection on how young adults in Brazil construct their body image and identity through digital aesthetic norms. In the current context, marked by the strong presence of social networks such as TikTok, Instagram, etc..., the bodies of young adults have become a veritable space for performance and control. Influenced by often demanding digital aesthetic standards, they seek to conform to visual ideals, sometimes resorting to cosmetic surgery, or the use of digital filters. Adopting a bioanthropological approach, which combines biological and cultural dimensions, together with a netnographic methodology, the analysis explores how these social networks shape aesthetic norms and influence body representations: young adults, confronted with retouched images and idealized content, often feel pressure to reconstruct their bodies, leading them to undergo surgical procedures, such as body reduction surgery or breast augmentation. Preliminary observations show that this continuous exposure to idealized beauty standards contributes to a redefinition of body identity, exacerbating insecurities and social comparisons. Faced with these challenges, young people develop coping mechanisms, such as involvement in movements of body positivity, that promote self-acceptance despite the aesthetic pressures. Through a literature review ad critical analysis of data, this Flash Talk aims to provide an understanding of contemporary issues related to body imagem. By integrating historical and cultural perspectives, this research highlights the importance of an interdisciplinary approach to understanding modern challenges related to body perception and identity, while also shedding light on the sociocultural implications for the psychological well-being of young adults in the digital age.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is among the most common endocrine disorders affecting women worldwide, yet it remains poorly understood and deeply stigmatized. Embodiment theory posits that social inequalities, cultural expectations, and lived experiences become physically inscribed, shaping both bodily states and perceptions of health. Despite extensive biomedical research, few studies have explored how the stigma surrounding hallmark PCOS symptoms, such as hirsutism, acne, weight gain, irregular menstruation, and infertility, affects diagnostic access, emotional well-being, and health-seeking behaviors. Applying an embodiment framework, this study examines how PCOS-related stigma is internalized and expressed through emotional and physiological experience. Survey data were collected from 224 individuals with PCOS (age M = 34.6 ± 10.2). Feelings of stigmatization and experiences of being judged for having PCOS were significantly associated, χ²(1, n = 224) = 61.61, p < 0.001, indicating strong convergence across stigma measures. Participants were diagnosed at an average age of 31.1 years and reported a mean diagnostic delay of 17.5 years. Over half (51.7%) reported experiencing stigma in healthcare settings, while nearly one-third (32%) felt somewhat or extremely uncomfortable seeking mental health care (M = 3.56 ± 1.22). These findings demonstrate that PCOS stigma, rooted in gendered body norms and reproductive expectations, may become embodied as chronic stress, emotional distress, and barriers to care. Integrating embodiment theory within a biocultural framework highlights how social stigma produces measurable physiological consequences and highlights the need for interdisciplinary, patient-centered approaches to PCOS research and treatment.

Sexual and reproductive justice (SRJ) frameworks emphasize the right of all people to bodily autonomy, to have or not have children, and to parent in safe and sustainable communities. Sexual minority (SM) individuals, whose sexual orientation, attraction, or behavior vary from heterosexual norms, make reproductive decisions within systems shaped by inequity, stigma, and heteronormativity. Reproductive research and policy have historically marginalized SM people, framing their fertility as biologically atypical rather than as outcomes of social and structural forces. Using data from the National Survey of Family Growth (NSFG, 2011–2019), we take a biocultural approach to examine associations between sexual orientation and reproductive outcomes among people capable of pregnancy, focusing on sterilization as a key indicator of reproductive autonomy and constraint. SM women were significantly more likely than heterosexual women to report having undergone a sterilizing procedure (11.0% vs. 6.3%, p < 0.001). Among those sterilized, 23.4% of SM women reported doing so before having all the children they wanted, compared with 13.7% of heterosexual women (p < 0.001). These disparities persisted across race, education, income, and age. suggesting that sexual orientation-based differences are not reducible to socioeconomic factors. Findings raise concerns about informed consent, healthcare bias, and the systemic undervaluing of SM people’s reproductive intentions. From an SRJ perspective, these results suggest that reproductive autonomy may not simply be a matter of personal choice. Future research should examine the social, institutional, and political contexts that determine whose reproductive desires are supported, discouraged, or constrained.