Fat Score Research Articles

Exploring the Relationship Between Visceral Fat and Coronary Artery Calcification Risk Using Metabolic Score for Visceral Fat (METS-VF)

Background: Metabolic Score for Visceral Fat (METS-VF) is a novel indicator for estimating intra-abdominal fat, yet its connection with coronary artery calcification (CAC) remains uncharted. Our research aims to explore the novel METS-VF indicator’s link to CAC while comparing its performance against relevant anthropometric indices. Methods: This study enrolled participants who underwent health checkups and computed tomography scans for categorizing severity of CAC using the coronary artery calcium score. The METS-VF was calculated and compared with anthropometric indices in estimating the presence of CAC and different CAC severity using receiver operating characteristic curves. Results: Overall, 1217 participants (mean age 50.7 ± 9.9, 53.8% male) were included. METS-VF (odds ratio [OR], 1.506; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.181–1.921; p = 0.001) was positively associated with the presence of CAC, even after accounting for cardiometabolic factors. Notably, METS-VF was positively associated with mild (OR, 1.450; 95% CI, 1.115–1.886; p = 0.006), moderate (OR, 1.865; 95% CI, 1.137–3.062; p = 0.014), and severe (OR, 2.316; 95% CI, 1.090–4.923; p = 0.029) CAC. Moreover, METS-VF yielded the highest area under curve (AUC) value in the estimation of the CAC presence (AUC = 0.710), mild (AUC = 0.682), moderate (AUC = 0.757), and severe (AUC = 0.807) CAC when compared with body mass index, waist circumference, visceral adiposity index, triglyceride–glucose index, and metabolic score for insulin resistance. The optimal METS-VF cut-off value was 6.4 for predicting CAC. Conclusions: METS-VF emerged as a strong independent marker for detecting CAC presence across mild, moderate, and severe CAC categories, outperforming major anthropometric indices in accurately estimating the presence of CAC and different severity of CAC.

Association between visceral lipid accumulation indicators and gallstones: a cross-sectional study based on NHANES 2017–2020

BackgroundObesity is a major contributing factor to the formation of gallstones. As early identification typically results in improved outcomes, we explored the relationship between visceral lipid accumulation indicators and the occurrence of gallstones.MethodsThis cross-sectional study involved 3,224 adults. The researchers employed multivariable logistic regression, smoothed curve fitting (SCF), threshold effects analysis, and subgroup analysis to examine the relationship between metabolic scores for visceral fat (METS-VF), waist circumference (WC), lipid accumulation products (LAP), and visceral adiposity index (VAI) and gallstones. A Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) regression analysis was used to identify key factors which were then used in the construction of a nomogram model. The diagnostic efficacy of this model in detecting gallstones was then determined using receiver operating characteristic curves.ResultsVisceral lipid accumulation indicators were strongly linked to the likelihood of having gallstones. Specific saturation effects for METS-VF, WC, LAP, and VAI and gallstones were determined using SCF. The inflection points for these effects were found to be 8.565, 108.400, 18.056, and 1.071, respectively. Subgroup analyses showed that associations remained consistent in most subgroups. The nomogram model, which was developed using critical features identified by LASSO regression, demonstrated excellent discriminatory ability, as indicated by an area under the curve value of 0.725.ConclusionsStudies have shown that increases in METS-VF, WC, LAP, and VAI are linked to increased prevalences of gallstones. The nomogram model, designed with critical parameters identified using LASSO regression, exhibits a strong association with the presence of gallstones.

Metabolism score for visceral fat (METS-VF): an innovative and powerful predictor of stroke

Metabolism score for visceral fat (METS-VF): an innovative and powerful predictor of stroke

Comparison of Non-invasive Liver Fat Scoring Systems as Markers of Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Liver Disease

Comparison of Non-invasive Liver Fat Scoring Systems as Markers of Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Liver Disease

Evaluating the efficacy of 8 non-invasive models in predicting MASLD and progression: a prospective study

BackgroundSelecting the optimal non-invasive diagnostic model for MASLD (Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatosis Liver Disease) and steatosis progression is a critical issue given the variety of available models. We aimed to compare the performance of eight clinical prediction models for diagnosing and predicting the progression of hepatic steatosis using MRI-PDFF (Magnetic Resonance Imaging-Derived Proton Density Fat Fraction), and validate the findings with FibroScan and histopathological results.MethodsIn this study, 846 participants were initially enrolled, with 108 undergoing liver biopsy and 706 completing one-year follow-up, including 26 who underwent repeat biopsy. We calculated scores for eight clinical prediction models (FAST, KNAFLD, HSI, FLI, Liver Fat Score, Liver Fat Equation, BAAT, LAP) using collected clinical data and defined steatosis progression as a 30% relative increase in liver fat content (LFC) measured by MRI-PDFF. CAP(Controlled Attenuation Parameter) and LSM (Liver Stiffness Measurement) were obtained by Fibroscan. MRI-PDFF served as the reference standard for evaluating model accuracy, and sensitivity analyses were performed using liver biopsy and Fibroscan results.ResultsAmong the eight clinical models, NAS (nonalcoholic fatty liver disease activity score) showed higher correlation with the FAST and KNAFLD models (r: 0.62 and 0.52, respectively). Among the whole cohort (N = 846), KNAFLD was the best model for predicting different degrees of hepatic steatosis (AUC = 0.84). When the KNAFLD score was above 2.935, LFC was significantly higher (4.4% vs. 19.7%, P < 0.001). After 1 year of follow-up (N = 706), FAST performed best in predicting MASLD progression (AUC = 0.84); with dFAST > -0.02, LFC increased (8.6–10.9%, P < 0.05), mean LSM increased by 0.51 kPa, and with dFAST < -0.02, LFC significantly decreased (11.5–8.5%, P < 0.05), mean LSM and NAS decreased by 0.87 kPa and 0.76, respectively (both P < 0.05).ConclusionsMost models demonstrated good diagnostic and prognostic capabilities for hepatic steatosis, with FAST and KNAFLD showing particular promise as primary non-invasive tools in clinical practice.Trail RegistrationChinese Clinical Trial Registry NO: ChiCTR2100054743, Registered December 26, 2021.

Association of metabolic score for visceral fat with all-cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality, and cancer mortality: A prospective cohort study.

Our study aimed to evaluate the association between the metabolic score for visceral fat (METS-VF) and mortality. We conducted a cohort study comprising 11,120 participants. We employed weighted multivariable Cox regression analysis to assess the relationship between METS-VF and mortality. Restricted cubic spline analyses were used to investigate potential non-linear associations. Receiver operating characteristic curves were used to evaluate the predictive value of METS-VF and other obesity-related indicators for mortality. Subgroup analysis and sensitivity analysis were performed to confirm the robustness of the results. Mendelian randomization analysis was utilized to assess potential causality. Over a median follow-up duration of 83 months, a total of 1014 all-cause deaths, 301 cardiovascular deaths,and 262 cancer deaths occurred. For every 0.2-unit increase in METS-VF, the hazard ratios(HRs)of all-cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality, and cancer mortality were 1.13 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.06, 1.20], 1.18 (95% CI: 1.06, 1.31), and 1.13 (95% CI: 1.03, 1.25), respectively. In addition, restricted cubic spline analyses revealed no significant non-linear associations between METS-VF and all-cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality, and cancer mortality. In multivariate Cox regression models, hazard ratios of all-cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality and cancer mortality were higher in the highest METS-VF group compared to the reference group. Subgroup and sensitivity analyses confirmed that our results were robust. Receiver operating characteristic curves indicated that METS-VF predicted mortality better than other obesity-related indicators. Mendelian randomization analysis confirmed significant causal relationships. METS-VF was positively associated with all-cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality, and cancer mortality. These findings suggest that METS-VF could serve as a straightforward, reliable, and cost-effective marker for identifying individuals at high risk of mortality.

Deep metabolic phenotyping of humans with protein-altering variants in TM6SF2 using a genome-first approach

Background & AimAn unbiased genome-first approach can expand the molecular understanding of specific genes in disease-agnostic biobanks for deeper phenotyping. TM6SF2 represents a good candidate for this approach due to its known association with steatotic liver disease (SLD). MethodsWe screened participants with whole-exome sequences in the Penn Medicine Biobank (N>40,000) and the UK Biobank (UKB, N>200,000) for protein-altering variants in TM6SF2 and evaluated their association with liver phenotypes and clinical outcomes. ResultsThree missense variants in TM6SF2 (E167K, L156P, P216L) were associated with an increased risk of clinically-diagnosed and imaging-proven steatosis, independent of PNPLA3 I48M risk allele and hepatitis B/C (p<0.001). E167K homozygotes had significantly increased risk of SLD (OR:5.38, p<0.001), steatohepatitis (OR:5.76, p<0.05) and hepatocellular carcinoma (OR:11.22, p<0.0001) whilst nominal risk of steatohepatitis were present in L156P (OR:2.3, p<0.001) and P216L (OR:4.5, p<0.05) heterozygotes. In addition, carriers of E167K are at a 3-folded increase of at-risk MASH (OR:2.75, p<0.001). CT-derived liver fat scores were higher in E167K and L156P in an allele-dose manner (p<0.05). This corresponded with the UKB nuclear magnetic resonance-derived lipidomic analyses (N=105,348), revealing all carriers to exhibit lower total cholesterol, triglycerides and total choline. In silico predictions suggested that these missense variants cause structural disruptions in the EXPERA domain, leading to reduced protein function. This hypothesis was strengthened with a gene-burden of rare loss-of-function variants in TM6SF2 demonstrating an increased risk of SLD (OR:4.9, p<0.05), primarily driven by a novel rare stop-gain variant (W35X) in the same directionality. ConclusionThe functional genetic study of protein-altering variants provides insights on the association between loss of TM6SF2 function and steatotic liver disease and poses the bases for future mechanistic studies. Impact and implicationsThe genome-first approach expands insights into genetic risk factors for steatotic liver disease with TM6SF2 being a focal point due to its known association with plasma lipid traits. Our findings validated two missense variants (E167K and L156P) to be associated with increased risk of hepatic steatosis on CT and MRI scans, as well as the risk of clinically diagnosed hepatocellular carcinoma independent of the common PNPLA3 I48M risk variant. Notably, we also identified a predicted deleterious missense variant P216L to drive steatotic risk and demonstrated that an aggregated gene burden of rare variants demonstrating complete loss-of-function to be linked to the risk of hepatic steatosis. Combined, this study sets the stage for future mechanistic investigations into the functional consequences of TM6SF2 variants in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease to determine future therapeutic targets.

The relationship between brain structure volumes, depressive symptoms and body composition in obese/overweight and normal-/underweight women

Depressive symptoms are highly prevalent and heterogeneous in women. Different brain structures might be associated with depressive symptoms and body composition in women with obesity/overweight and normal-/underweight, although the data is limited. The analysis included 265 women from Bialystok PLUS population study, untreated with antidepressive or antipsychotic medications. The subjects underwent brain magnetic resonance imaging and body composition analysis. Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) score was inversely associated with nucleus accumbens volume (β = −0.217, p = 0.008) in women with BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2, but with insula volume (β = −0.147, p = 0.027) in women with BMI < 25 kg/m2 after adjustment for age and estimated intracranial volume (eTIV). In women with BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2, nucleus accumbens volume was inversely associated with the percentage of visceral fat and BDI score (β = −0.236, p = 0.012, β = −0.192, p = 0.017) after adjustment for age and eTIV. In women with BMI < 25 kg/m2, insula volume was positively associated with total fat-free mass and negatively with the BDI score (β = 0.142, p = 0.030, β = −0.137, p = 0.037) after adjustment for age and eTIV. Depressive symptoms might be associated with nucleus accumbens volume in overweight/obese women, while in normal-/ underweight women—with alterations in insula volume.

CORRELATION OF INGUINAL LYMPH NODE NUMBER AND VOLUME WITH LOWER EXTREMITY LYMPHEDEMA SEVERITY

There are very limited studies on the relationship of inguinal lymph node number and volume correlated with lower extremity lymphedema severity. In this IRB-approved retrospective study, patients who obtained an MRI for lower extremity lymphedema and who did not have lymph node resection or biopsy were identified. The MRI images were used to determine the number and volume of inguinal lymph nodes for each limb in addition to fat and fluid-based scoring using a validated grading system. Wilcoxon signed-rank tests were used to compare the greater-affected limbs with the lesser-affected limbs. The spearman- rank correlation was performed on a ‘per limb’ basis for MRI-based scoring and clinical parameters with ipsilateral lymph node number and volume and for differences between the limbs. A total of 32 patients were included. The greater-affected limb had higher MRI fluid scores (median (interquartile range) = 3 (3 - 3) vs. 0 (0 - 1), (p &amp;lt; 0.01) relative to the contralateral limb and had a median fat asymmetry score of 2 (1 - 3). On the per-limb analysis, lymph node number and volume inversely correlated with total MRI scores (ρ = -0.47, p &amp;lt; 0.01 for node number and volume). The difference of lymph node number and volume correlated with MRI score difference (node number: ρ = -0.66, p &amp;lt; 0.01; node volume: ρ = - 0.64, p &amp;lt; 0.01) and perometer difference (node number: ρ = -0.58, p &amp;lt; 0.01; node volume: ρ = - 0.59, p &amp;lt; 0.01). Inguinal lymph node number and volume inversely correlate with lower extremity edema presence and severity.

Association of the visceral fat metabolic score with osteoarthritis risk: a cross-sectional study from NHANES 2009–2018

BackgroundCurrently, obesity has been recognized to be an independent risk factor for osteoarthritis (OA), and the Metabolic Score for Visceral Fat (METS-VF) has been suggested to be potentially more accurate than body mass index (BMI) in the assessment of obesity. Nevertheless, the correlation of METS-VF with OA has not been obviously revealed yet. Therefore, this study aimed to delve into the potential relationship between METS-VF and OA.MethodsBy examining data from the NHANES (2009–2018), weighted multivariate logistic regression analyses were used for assessing the correlation between METS-VF and OA. Subgroup analyses were then performed to validate the findings. Moreover, the nonlinear relationship between the two was assessed by restricted cubic spline (RCS). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were plotted to examine the diagnostic accuracy of METS-VF versus previous obesity index for OA.ResultsThis study involved 7639 participants. According to our results, METS-VF was notably related to an elevated risk of OA, regardless of the METS-VF and the trend of positive association was more pronounced with the elevating METS-VF level (p for trend < 0.05). Subgroup analyses showed that the positive association between METS-VF and prevalence of osteoarthritis persisted in all populations with different characteristics, confirming its validity in all populations. Besides, RCS results showed a significant non-linear relationship between METS-VF and OA (p-non-linear < 0.05). As indicated by the ROC curve analysis results, METS-VF was a superior predictor of OA to BMI and HC.ConclusionsThis study finds a possible nonlinear positive correlation between METS-VF and the risk of OA. In addition, METS-VF may serve as an indicator for the more accurate diagnosis of OA and provide a new way to further evaluate the relationship between visceral fat and OA.

Ultra-wideband microwave precisely and accurately predicts sheepmeat hot carcase GR tissue depth

A portable ultra-wideband microwave system (MiS) coupled with an antipodal slot Vivaldi patch antenna (VPA) was used as an objective measurement technology to predict sheep meat carcase GR tissue depth, tested against AUS-MEAT national accreditation standards. Experiment one developed the MiS GR tissue depth prediction equation using lamb carcasses (n = 832) from two slaughter groups. To create the prediction equations, a two layered machine learning stacking ensemble technique was used. The performance of this equation was tested within the dataset using a k-fold cross validation (k = 5), which demonstrated excellent precision and accuracy with an average R2 of 0.91, RMSEP 2.11, bias 0.39 and slope 0.03. Experiment two tested the prediction equation against the AUS-MEAT GR tissue depth accreditation framework which stipulates predictions from a device must assign the correct fat score, with a tolerance of ±2 mm of the score boundary, and 90% accuracy. For a device to be accredited three measurements captured within the same device, as well as measurements across three different devices, must meet the AUS-MEAT error thresholds. Three MiS devices scanned lamb carcases (n = 312) across three slaughter days. All three MiS devices met the AUS-MEAT accreditation thresholds, accurately predicting GR tissue depth 96.1–98.4% of the time. Between the different devices, the measurement accuracy was 99.4–100%, and within the same device, the measurement accuracy was 99.7–100%. Based on these results MiS achieved AUS-MEAT device accreditation as an objective technology to predict GR tissue depth.

Correlation between the metabolic score for visceral fat and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among middle-aged and elderly American population.

A metabolism score for visceral fat (METS-VF) is an innovative method to access abdominal fat and visceral fat. So far, the relationship between the METS-VF index and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has remained unclear. We investigated the relationship between the METS-VF index and COPD prevalence utilizing data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2007-2018. A binary logistic regression analysis was performed using NHANES 2007-2018 data to assess the relationship between the METS-VF index and COPD prevalence. The relationship was verified by fitted smooth curves, generalized additive models, threshold effect analyses, subgroup analyses, and sensitivity analyses. In total, 7,680 subjects were recruited for the study, including 772 self-reported having COPD. The METS-VF index was positively related to COPD prevalence when adjusted for all covariates. The METS-VF index was classified by quartiles, and participants who scored highest on METS-VF were at a greater risk of COPD than those who scored lowest. According to a threshold effect analysis, the METS-VF index was negatively correlated with COPD prevalence with a METS-VF index <7.00, without statistical significance. Once the METS-VF index exceeded 7.00, there was a robust positive correlation between the METS-VF index and COPD prevalence. In the analysis of subgroups, the METS-VF index was positively correlated with COPD prevalence among subjects who were male, aged 40-59, and without asthma or hypertension. The results were robust in sensitivity analyses. METS-VF showed a significantly better diagnostic value for COPD than Body Mass Index (BMI). The METS-VF index has a non-linear and positive correlation with COPD prevalence in the middle-aged and elderly American population.

The interaction of genetics and physical activity in the pathogenesis of metabolic dysfunction associated liver disease

Genetic variants associated with increased liver fat and volume have been reported, but whether physical activity (PA) can attenuate the impact of genetic susceptibility to these traits is poorly understood. We aimed to investigate whether higher PA modify genetic impact on liver-related traits in the UK Biobank cohort. PA was self-reported, while magnetic resonance images were used to estimate liver fat (n = 27,243) and liver volume (n = 24,752). Metabolic dysfunction-associated liver disease (MASLD) and chronic liver disease (CLD) were diagnosed using ICD-9 and ICD-10 codes. Ten liver fat and eleven liver volume-associated genetic variants were selected and unweighted genetic-risk scores for liver fat (GRSLF) and liver volume (GRSLV) were computed. Linear regression analyses were performed to explore interactions between GRSLF/ GRSLV and PA in relation to liver-related traits. Association between GRSLF and liver fat was not different among lower (β = 0.063, 95% CI 0.041–0.084) versus higher PA individuals (β = 0.065, 95% CI 0.054–0.077, pinteraction = 0.62). The association between the GRSLV and liver volume was not different across different PA groups (pinteraction = 0.71). Similarly, PA did not modify the effect of GRSLF and GRSLV on MASLD or CLD. Our findings show that physical activity and genetic susceptibility to liver-related phenotypes seem to act independently, benefiting all individuals regardless of genetic risk.

Bioeconomic and sustainability performance of dairy-beef steer and heifer production systems differing in stocking rate

There is little published research on dairy-beef heifer systems or comparisons of heifer and steer dairy-beef production. Furthermore, given its impact on the productivity and economics of dairy-beef systems, any comparison of gender must also consider potential interactions with stocking rate (SR). The objective of this study was to evaluate the variability of physical and economic performance, greenhouse gas emissions, feed-food competition and pasture land-use of dairy-beef production steer and heifer systems at differing stocking rates. Performance data from a two (gender: Steers and Heifers) x two (SR: Low and High) x two (breed-types: Early-maturing (EM) and Late-maturing (LM) factorial experiment was used to parameterize a bio-economic farm systems model. Low SR animals were heavier, had higher fat scores and better conformed at slaughter. High stocking rate resulted in greater carcass output per hectare and subsequently were, on average, 22 % more profitable than their Low SR counterparts. Late-maturing animals were found to be more profitable than early-maturing, and steers were more profitable than heifers. GHG emissions of the eight treatments investigated ranged from 10.7 to 17.7 kgs of carbon dioxide equivalents (kg CO2eq) per kilogram of carcass weight produced, with both High SR and heifer systems having lower GHG emissions per kg of product than their Low SR and steer counterparts. Human edible protein efficiency was only favorable for the steer systems. High SR systems had, on average, lower land use per kg of product than their Low SR counterparts. Results from this study indicate that no single treatment was optimal across the range of performance metrics considered.

Association between metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease and pulmonary function: a population-based and two-sample mendelian randomization study

BackgroundHepatic steatosis and its related complications are risk factors for multiple respiratory diseases; however, the causal relationship between metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and pulmonary function remains controversial. We aimed to identify it using a national cohort and Mendelian randomization (MR).MethodsWe enrolled 30,442 participants from the 2007 to 2012 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Demographics, pulmonary function indices (forced expiratory volume in 1 s [FEV1], forced vital capacity [FVC]), and variables used to calculate the liver fat score (LFS) were collected. A two-sample MR analysis employing the summary data of genome-wide association studies on MASLD and FEV1/FVC, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and asthma from the Finngen Biobank and Medical Research Council Integrative Epidemiology Unit was performed.ResultsA total of 3,462 participants, 1,335 of whom had MASLD (LFS > -0.640), were finally included in the study. The FEV1 (3,204.7 vs. 3,262.5 ml, P = 0.061), FVC (4,089.1 vs. 4,143.8 ml, P = 0.146), FEV1/FVC ratio (78.5% vs. 78.8%, P = 0.233), and FEV1/predicted FEV1 ratio (146.5% vs. 141.7%, P = 0.366) were not significantly different between people with MASLD and those without. Additionally, the MR analysis suggested no causal correlation between MASLD and FEV1/FVC (P = 0.817), MASLD and COPD (P = 0.407), and MASLD and asthma (P = 0.808). Reverse MR studies showed no causal relationships yet (all P > 0.05).ConclusionOur study provides convincing evidence that there is no causal association between MASLD and pulmonary function.

A Comparison of Three Camera Technology Predictions of Intramuscular Fat Percentage in F1 Wagyu

The prevalence of highly marbled cattle breeds, such as Wagyu, has increased in the US due to consumer demand for higher-quality beef. The ability to grade highly marbled carcasses accurately and consistently, particularly with quantifying intramuscular fat content for validation, remains a challenging task for the Wagyu beef industry. New camera grading technologies have been proposed by VIAS VBG 2000 (e+v Technology GmbH &amp;amp; Co. KG, 2021), Meat Image Japan (MIJ), and MasterBeef (MB) for Wagyu-influenced beef carcass assessment based on advanced image analysis. However, the intramuscular fat measurements of these camera technologies and the actual percent intramuscular fat (%IMF) in the longissimus at the 12/13th rib have yet to be investigated. Chilled carcasses (n = 173) from F1 Wagyu cattle were ribbed between the 12th and 13th ribs, and the left carcass sides were imaged with the E+V, MIJ, and MB cameras. Additionally, the marbling score was assigned by a team of 3 US Department of Agriculture (USDA) graders. Samples from the longissimus thoracis were collected, and the %IMF of the muscle was determined in triplicate. Linear regressions and descriptive statistics were done using JMP (Statistical Discovery, NC, USA) software. Camera fat-related measurements were linearly correlated, and R2 was calculated. The E+V camera had the highest %IMF predictability of all cameras (P &amp;lt; 0.0001) using the marbling score (R2 = 0.6450) estimate. The MIJ camera presented prediction accuracy between the other 2 technologies (P &amp;lt; 0.0001) of %IMF with identical R2 for fat percent and fat score estimates (R2 = 0.5952). The MB camera had the lowest predictability (P &amp;lt; 0.0001) of %IMF using the measured marbling score (R2 = 0.3269), marbling area (R2 = 0.3333), and marbling percent (R2 = 0.3269) estimates from the instrument. As technology advances, new technologies will provide alternative means for grading Wagyu-influenced carcasses. Additionally, these findings could aid the implementation of the USDA pilot program for remote carcass grading.

Prediction of visceral adipose tissue magnitude using a new model based on simple clinical measurements.

Waist circumference (WC) is a reliable obesity surrogate but may not distinguish between visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissue. Our aim was to develop a novel sex-specific model to estimate the magnitude of visceral adipose tissue measured by computed tomography (CT-VAT). The model was initially formulated through the integration of anthropometric measurements, laboratory data, and CT-VAT within a study group (n=185), utilizing the Multivariate Adaptive Regression Splines (MARS) methodology. Subsequently, its correlation with CT-VAT was examined in an external validation group (n=50). The accuracy of the new model in estimating increased CT-VAT (>130 cm2) was compared with WC, body mass index (BMI), waist-hip ratio (WHR), visceral adiposity index (VAI), a body shape index (ABSI), lipid accumulation product (LAP), body roundness index (BRI), and metabolic score for visceral fat (METS-VF) in the study group. Additionally, the new model's accuracy in identifying metabolic syndrome was evaluated in our Metabolic Healthiness Discovery Cohort (n=430). The new model comprised WC, gender, BMI, and hip circumference, providing the highest predictive accuracy in estimating increased CT-VAT in men (AUC of 0.96 ± 0.02), outperforming other indices. In women, the AUC was 0.94 ± 0.03, which was significantly higher than that of VAI, WHR, and ABSI but similar to WC, BMI, LAP, BRI, and METS-VF. It's demonstrated high ability for identifying metabolic syndrome with an AUC of 0.76 ± 0.03 (p<0.001). The new model is a valuable indicator of CT-VAT, especially in men, and it exhibits a strong predictive capability for identifying metabolic syndrome.

Association between metabolic score of visceral fat and carotid atherosclerosis in Chinese health screening population: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundThe metabolic score for visceral fat (METS-VF) quantifies the cumulative burden of visceral and intra-abdominal adipose tissues. However, the relationship between the METS-VF and carotid atherosclerosis (CAS) has not been extensively explored. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the association between the METS-VF and CAS.MethodsThis cross-sectional study enrolled 7089 Chinese adults who underwent physical examinations at the Zhenhai Lianhua Hospital, Zhejiang, China, in 2020. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to explore the linear relationship between METS-VF and CAS. Generalised additive models (GAM) were employed to evaluate potential nonlinear associations. The inflection points of METS-VF were determined using segmented logistic regression analysis optimised for maximum likelihood ratios and recursive algorithms.ResultsMultivariable logistic regression analysis revealed a positive correlation between METS-VF and CAS (odds ratio [OR]: 1.824, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.753–1.899; P < 0.001). The GAM analysis confirmed a nonlinear association between them [effective degrees of freedom: 4.803, χ2: 876.7, P < 0.001], with an inflection point at a METS-VF of 8.09 (P < 0.001 for log-likelihood ratio test). Below this inflection point, METS-VF exhibited a significant positive association with CAS risk (OR: 1.874, 95% CI: 1.796–1.954; P < 0.001). Conversely, no significant association was observed when METS-VF ≥ 8.09 (OR: 0.998, 95% CI: 0.786–1.268; P = 0.989).ConclusionsMETS-VF and CAS demonstrated a positive non-linear correlation, with the curve indicating a saturation effect at METS-VF = 8.09.

Association between indicators of visceral lipid accumulation and infertility: a cross-sectional study based on U.S. women

BackgroundEvidence on the association between visceral lipid accumulation and infertility remains limited and controversial. Therefore, the current investigation is the first investigation to unveil this correlation by utilizing novel indicators of visceral lipid accumulation.MethodsThe present study utilized the NHANES 2013–2020 dataset. Researchers utilized multiple logistic regression, smoothed curve fitting, and subgroup analysis to investigate the associations of waist circumference (WC), metabolic score for visceral fat (METS-VF), lipid accumulation product (LAP), visceral adiposity index (VAI) with infertility. Additionally, the eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) algorithm model was utilized to evaluate the relative importance of the factors.ResultsAfter adjusting for potential factors that could influence the results, researchers discovered that all these four indicators of visceral lipid accumulation exhibited strong positive correlations with the probability of infertility. The subgroup analysis demonstrated that the correlations remained consistent in the majority of subgroups (P for interaction > 0.05). The results of XGBoost algorithm model indicate that METS-VF is the most meaningful factor in infertility. The ROC curve research revealed that while METS-VF had the greatest AUC values, there was no variation in the AUC value of different markers of visceral fat accumulation (P > 0.05).ConclusionsThe present investigation discovered that increased WC, METS-VF, LAP, and VAI were associated with a heightened prevalence of infertility.

Polymorphisms of the SCD1 Gene and Its Association Analysis with Carcass, Meat Quality, Adipogenic Traits, Fatty Acid Composition, and Milk Production Traits in Cattle.

Stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1 (SCD1) is a key enzyme in the biosynthesis of monounsaturated fatty acids and is considered a candidate gene for improving milk and meat quality traits. Sanger sequencing was employed to investigate the genetic polymorphism of the fifth exon and intron of bovine SCD1, revealing four SNPs, g.21272246 A>G, g.21272306 T>C, g.21272422 C>T, and g.21272529 A>G. Further variance analysis and multiple comparisons were conducted to examine the relationship between variation sites and economic traits in Chinese Simmental cattle, as well as milk production traits in Holstein cows. The findings revealed these four loci exhibited significant associations with carcass traits (carcass weight, carcass length, backfat thickness, and waist meat thickness), meat quality (pH value, rib eye area, and marbling score), adipogenic traits (fat score and carcass fat coverage rate), and fatty acid composition (linoleic acid and α-linolenic acid). Furthermore, these loci were additionally found to be significantly associated with average milk yield and milk fat content in cows. In addition, a haplotype analysis of combinations of SNPs showed that H2H3 has a significant association with adipogenic traits and H2H2 was associated with higher levels of linoleic acid and α-linolenic acid than the other combinations. These results suggest that the four SNPs are expected to be prospective genetic markers for the above economic traits. In addition, the function of SNPs in exon 5 of SCD1 on gene expression and protein structure needs to be explored in the future.