Epstein‐Barr virus antibody titer as a stress biomarker and its association with social capital in rural Fujian communities, China

Developmental Psychobiology

et al. 2019

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This study investigated the role of childhood parental deprivation in the association between quality of life (QOL) and the Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) antibody titer, a marker of cellular immune functioning, using data from 734 adults living in seven communities in rural Fujian, China. Parental deprivation was defined if either of their parents had died, divorced, or left them for migratory work for more than 1 year before they turned (a) 16 years of age (childhood and adolescence), or (b) 3 years of age (early childhood). A mixed‐effects regression analysis with a random effects model revealed that parental deprivation during early childhood was positively associated with the EBV antibody titer (coefficient = 0.33, p = 0.007), whereas parental deprivation during the first 16 years was not. Further analysis incorporating an interaction term between QOL and parental deprivation revealed a significant interaction between QOL and parental deprivation during early childhood; a significant association between QOL and the EBV antibody titer was found only among those who reported parental deprivation during early childhood. This study suggests that parental deprivation during the period of immune system development may be linked with physiological responses to stressors later in life.

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Field Surveymentioning

confidence: 99%

Association between early parental deprivation and cellular immune function among adults in rural Fujian, China

Yazawa

Inoue

Developmental Psychobiology

et al. 2019

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“…Subsequent analyses were conducted only among individuals with EBV values >20 EU. Further details of the protocol are provided in a previous paper (Yazawa et al, ).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The association between family members' migration and Epstein‐Barr virus antibody titers among people left behind in rural Fujian, China

Yazawa

Inoue

et al. 2019

American J Hum Biol

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Objectives In contrast to the health of migrants, which has been extensively studied, little attention has been paid to the health of adults left behind by family members who out‐migrated to other locations. This study was performed to investigate the association between being left behind and the Epstein‐Barr virus (EBV) antibody titer, which is an indicator of cellular immune functioning previously shown to be associated with psychological stress. Methods A cross‐sectional survey was conducted in rural communities in Fujian, China, in 2015. Questionnaire data and dried blood spot samples were collected from 748 adults. A mixed effect regression analysis was conducted to investigate the association. Results Results indicated that the EBV antibody titers were higher among people who had been left behind compared with those who had not. Conclusions Our findings suggest that, in rural Fujian, China, family separation following the out‐migration of family members is an important determinant of psychological stress.

“…We used high sensitivity sandwich enzyme immunoassay method to measure CRP concentrations by applying monoclonal antibodies 23. Further details of the protocols have been presented elsewhere 25…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The role of education in the association between self-rated health and levels of C-reactive protein: a cross-sectional study in rural areas of China

Pan

et al. 2019

BMJ Open

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ObjectivesThis study aims to examine the association between self-rated health (SRH) and levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) among adults aged 45 to 101 years old in rural areas of China, and to explore the role of education in the association.DesignCross-sectional study.SettingThe study population was derived from two databases in China: Nanping project (NP) and the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS).ParticipantsThere were 646 participants from a rural area of Nanping (NP) and 8555 rural participants from a national representative sample of China (CHARLS).MethodsCRP was measured using a high sensitivity sandwich enzyme immunoassay in the NP and immunoturbidimetric assay in the CHARLS. SRH was assessed by SRH questionnaires and categorised into good and poor. Education was measured by the maximum years of schooling and dichotomised into illiterate and literate. Multivariate linear regression models were used to study the associations.ResultsCompared to people with good SRH, those with poor SRH had higher levels of CRP in NP (β=0.16, 95% CI −0.02 to 0.34) and in CHARLS (β=0.07, 95% CI 0.02 to 0.11) after adjusting for potential confounders. Similar findings were observed in the pooled population (β=0.08, 95% CI 0.03 to 0.12), especially in men (β=0.13, 95% CI 0.06 to 0.20) and in literate people (β=0.12, 95% CI 0.06 to 0.18).ConclusionPoor SRH may be a predicator of elevated levels of CRP among middle-aged and older people in rural areas, especially in men and literate people.