Fat Measurements Research Articles

Temporal trends, associated risk factors and longitudinal cardiovascular outcomes of body roundness among middle-aged and older Chinese adults: from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study 2011–2018

BackgroundObesity is a major global health issue, driving high morbidity and mortality rates. The body roundness index (BRI), which includes waist circumference, offers a more accurate measure of visceral and total body fat. However, despite evidence of BRI's effectiveness in predicting obesity-related diseases, national-level data, especially from non-Western populations like China, remain limited.MethodsThis study utilized data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS), a large, nationally representative cohort of Chinese adults, to examine the temporal trends of BRI, identify associated risk factors, and investigate the longitudinal associations between BRI and cardiovascular disease (CVD) outcomes. BRI was calculated using height and waist circumference measurements. Temporal trends and risk factors were analyzed cross-sectionally, while longitudinal associations were examined using Cox proportional hazards models adjusted for confounders. Mediation analyses were conducted to assess the role of intermediate factors such as hypertension and diabetes in the relationship between BRI and CVD.ResultsA total of 12,902 participants were included for risk factor analysis, 10,525 for longitudinal analysis, and 7,310 for cumulative analysis. BRI continued to rise slowly across survey cycles but was higher in women, older adults, and urban residents. Multivariable analysis identified age, alcohol consumption, elevated blood pressure, and diabetes as positive predictors of BRI, while male sex, rural residence, and smoking were negatively associated. Higher baseline BRI was significantly associated with increased CVD risk (HR: 1.44, 95% CI: 1.22–1.69), stroke (HR: 1.49, 95% CI: 1.12–1.98), and heart disease (HR: 1.47, 95% CI: 1.22–1.77). Cumulative BRI similarly predicted increased risks of CVD, stroke, and heart disease. Mediation analysis showed that hypertension accounted for 20.69% of the association between BRI and CVD risk.ConclusionsBRI is a robust predictor of CVD risk. Targeting hypertension and other metabolic conditions could mitigate the elevated CVD risk associated with high BRI in Chinese adults. These findings underscore the importance of incorporating BRI into public health strategies to better manage obesity-related health risks in China.

Validity of non-traditional measures of obesity compared to total body fat across the life course: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

IntroductionTraditional obesity measures including body mass index, waist circumference, waist-to-hip ratio, and waist-to-height ratio have limitations. The primary objective of this study was to identify and review the validity of non-traditional obesity measures, using measures of total body fat as the reference standard, that have been used across multiple life stages. MethodsWe conducted a systematic review and searched MEDLINE, Embase, and PsycINFO. We included observational studies published from 2013 to October 2023 among "the general population" for any life stage that reported the validity of non-traditional obesity measures compared to total body fat reference standards. Separate meta-analyses were performed to pool correlation coefficients and mean differences for non-traditional obesity measures that were evaluated at multiple life stages. ResultsA total of 123 studies were included, and 55 validated non-traditional obesity measures were identified. Of these, 13 were evaluated at multiple life stages. Two-dimensional (2D) digital imaging technologies, three-dimensional (3D) body scanners, relative fat mass (RFM), and mid-upper arm circumference had high or moderate validity (pooled correlation coefficient >0.70). Pooled mean differences were small (<6%) between total body fat percentage from reference standards and from RFM, 2D digital imaging technologies, 3D body scanners, and the body adiposity index. Heterogeneity (I2) was >75% in most meta-analyses. ConclusionNumerous validated non-traditional obesity measures were identified; relatively few were evaluated at multiple life stages and did not consider health risks associated with adiposity. More research is needed to define valid obesity measures across all life stages that assess health and adiposity.

Potential alternative and novel biomarkers for paediatric MAFLD: exploratory evidence from a Chinese cohort

BackgroundWhile the associations between pediatric non-obese metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) and multiple diagnostic biomarkers are well-established, the role of a broader range of blood-based, urine-based, and body composition-based biomarkers for monitoring MAFLD are needed.MethodsA pediatric cohort was established in Wuxi, China. We measured body composition biomarkers, blood-based and urine-based biomarkers, and liver stiffness in participants to diagnose MAFLD and identify alternative and novel potential biomarkers for MAFLD. Body mass index (BMI), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLC), triglycerides, glucose, systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and waist perimeter were used as MAFLD diagnostic biomarkers. To identify alternative biomarkers, we performed correlation analysis to determine biomarkers exhibited strong correlation (|r| > 0.8, p-value < 0.05) with diagnostic biomarkers. To identify novel potential biomarkers, we performed regression analysis to determine biomarkers associated with MAFLD (p-value < 0.05 in stepwise multivariate regression) among the remaining biomarkers that are not related to the diagnostic biomarkers.ResultsOut of 1,108 participants who completed all examinations (N biomarker = 91), 113 participants were diagnosed with MAFLD (prevalence: 14.99% in boys and 5.18% in girls). 27 biomarkers that were strongly correlated with diagnostic biomarkers were identified as alternative biomarkers. A multivariate logistic regression analysis identified 9 novel potential biomarkers including 5 blood-based biomarkers (plateletocrit, calcium, insulin, AST/ALT ratio, total bilirubin), urine pH, and body fat measurements in the arm, leg, and thigh.ConclusionsThis study illustrated the characteristics and potential alternative and novel biomarkers of MAFLD based on a Chinese paediatric cohort. These findings posed new paths in guiding the prevention and early diagnosis and prevention.Trial registrationThis trial was registered in the Chinese Clinical Trials Registry (ChiCTR2400080508). The date of first registration, 01/31/2024. Retrospectively registered.

Sonographic and Anthropometric Measurements for Body Composition and Their Relationship with Functioning in Adolescent Obesity.

Obesity is one of the most common chronic diseases seen in children and adolescents. This study aims to examine the impact of obesity on body composition, assessed by sonographic and anthropometric measurements, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in adolescents.Anthropometric measurements, sonographic measurements of subcutaneous fat, quadriceps muscle, Achilles tendon thickness, and HRQoL were performed in children between 12-18 years of age. Comparisons between adolescents with obesity and normal body mass index (BMI) were examined.A total of 300 adolescents with similar physical activity levels, 28.7% with obesity, were enrolled. The thickness of mid-forearm/mid-thigh subcutaneous fat tissue and quadriceps muscle was significantly higher in participants with obesity (p≤0.001). Moderate-to-strong correlation with BMI and waist circumference was observed (r>0.40, p<0.01). Participants with longer duration of obesity had thicker quadriceps muscle irrespective of the severity of obesity or presence of metabolic syndrome. Achilles tendon thickness did not differ between the groups. HRQoL was significantly lower in adolescents with obesity and indicated a negative moderate correlation between physical functioning and subcutaneous fat thickness (r<- 0.50, p<0.01).An important relationship between sonographic and anthropometric measurements, and physical functioning was demonstrated in adolescents. Ultrasound seems to have a role in the evaluation of body composition in obesity beyond what is captured by overall BMI. Significantly increased quadriceps muscle thickness in adolescents with obesity, coupled with its relation to the duration of obesity, implies potential temporal association between excess body weight and adaptation of quadriceps muscle.

INVESTIGATION OF THE EFFECTS ON PHYSIOLOGICAL PARAMETERS OF FOOTBALL PLAYERS IN PRE-SEASON PERIOD

Purpose. The pre-season period in football is of great importance in order to optimise the performance of athletes and minimise the risk of injury. The aim of this study was to follow the physiological parameters of the athletes in the first pre-season preparation phase and to determine their readiness levels. Material and Methods. Twenty-four professional licensed athletes aged between 18-35 (24.3±5.42) years participated in the study. The body weight and height of the athletes at the beginning of the season were 72.4±7.44 and 180.0±6.33, respectively. At the beginning and at the end of the first preparation phase, fat measurement, squat jump, overhead squat assessment and yo-yo endurance test were performed. Results. The fat percentage obtained as a result of the tests was 7.43±0.73 in the pretest and 6.99±0.65 in the post-test, 40.25±4.9 in the squat jump pre-test and 41.45±4.8 in the post-test, 17.33±3.5 in the overhead squat assessment pre-test and 19.50±2.1 in the post-test and 1723.3±307.6 in the squat jump pre-test and 1852.08±335.8 in the post-test. According to t-test data, statistically significant differences were found in fat percentage, squat jump, overhead squat evaluation and yoyo data (&lt;.001). Conclusions. According to the results of the study, it can be said that the fat percentage, strength assessment, anaerobic power and endurance skills of the athletes improved in the first pre-season preparation phase

Adaptive Evolutionary Optimization of Deep Learning Architectures for Focused Liver Ultrasound Image Segmentation.

Background: Liver ultrasound segmentation is challenging due to low image quality and variability. While deep learning (DL) models have been widely applied for medical segmentation, generic pre-configured models may not meet the specific requirements for targeted areas in liver ultrasound. Quantitative ultrasound (QUS) is emerging as a promising tool for liver fat measurement; however, accurately segmenting regions of interest within liver ultrasound images remains a challenge. Methods: We introduce a generalizable framework using an adaptive evolutionary genetic algorithm to optimize deep learning models, specifically U-Net, for focused liver segmentation. The algorithm simultaneously adjusts the depth (number of layers) and width (neurons per layer) of the network, dropout, and skip connections. Various architecture configurations are evaluated based on segmentation performance to find the optimal model for liver ultrasound images. Results: The model with a depth of 4 and filter sizes of [16, 64, 128, 256] achieved the highest mean adjusted Dice score of 0.921, outperforming the other configurations, using three-fold cross-validation with early stoppage. Conclusions: Adaptive evolutionary optimization enhances the deep learning architecture for liver ultrasound segmentation. Future work may extend this optimization to other imaging modalities and deep learning architectures.

Effects of cold storage on double integrating sphere optical property measurements of porcine dermis and subcutaneous fat from 400 to 1100nm.

Accurate values of skin optical properties are essential for developing reliable computational models and optimizing optical imaging systems. However, published values show a large variability due to a variety of factors, including differences in sample collection, preparation, experimental methodology, and analysis. We aim to explore the influence of storage conditions on the optical properties of the excised skin from 400 to 1100nm. We utilize a double integrating sphere system and inverse adding-doubling approach to determine absorption, , and reduced scattering, , coefficients of the porcine dermis and subcutaneous fat before and after refrigeration, freezing, or flash freezing. Our findings indicate a small average change of , , and in for the dermis and 0.001, , and for the subcutaneous tissue after refrigeration, freezing, and flash freezing, respectively, with the most notable differences observed in the hemoglobin absorption region. The value of shows a negligible average change of , , and for the dermis, and 0.06, , and change for the subcutaneous tissue for refrigerated, frozen, and flash-frozen samples, respectively. The results provide additional context for the variability of published values of optical parameters and enable informed selection of sample storage conditions for future measurements. In addition, the results discussed here can be used to improve study planning, particularly with regard to maximizing the use of finite samples that have been collected.

Higher abdominal fat area associates with lower donor kidney function before and after living kidney donation

Central body fat distribution affects kidney function. Abdominal fat measurements using computed tomography (CT) may prove superior in assessing body composition-related kidney risk in living kidney donors. This retrospective cohort study including 550 kidney donors aimed to determine the association between CT-measured abdominal fat areas and kidney function before and after donor nephrectomy. Donors underwent glomerular filtration rate measurements (125I-Iothalamate, mGFR) before and 3 months after donation. Linear regression analyses with body surface area (BSA)-standardized and crude mGFR were performed to assess the association of height-indexed tomographic fat measurements with kidney function. In age-, and sex-adjusted analyses higher levels of total abdominal, visceral, subcutaneous, and intramuscular adipose tissue index were significantly associated with lower mGFR levels before donation (BSA-standardized mGFR: visceral adipose tissue index: Βeta=-0.11, p < 0.001, subcutaneous: Βeta=-0.10, p < 0.001, intramuscular: Βeta=-1.18, p < 0.001, total abdominal: Βeta=-0.07, p < 0.001). Higher tomographic abdominal fat is associated with lower BSA-standardized mGFR after donation and a greater decrease in mGFR between screening and 3 months post-donation. This study shows that CT-measured abdominal fat area is associated with kidney function before and after living kidney donation.

Aerobic Exercise and Weight Loss in Adults

Current guidance on the duration of aerobic exercise recommended in existing guidelines comes primarily from individual trials. Meta-analyses are lacking to examine the dose-response association of aerobic exercise with adiposity measures. To clarify the dose-response association of aerobic exercise with adiposity measures. PubMed, Scopus, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and gray literature sources (ProQuest and ClinicalTrials.gov) from inception to April 30, 2024. Randomized clinical trials with intervention durations of at least 8 weeks evaluating the effects of supervised aerobic training on adults with overweight or obesity. The PRISMA guidelines were followed to report the results of the meta-analysis. Data extraction was conducted by 2 teams of 2 reviewers each, working independently and in duplicate. Random-effects meta-analyses were performed to estimate mean differences and 95% CIs for each 30-minute per week aerobic exercise and to clarify the shape of the curvilinear associations. Measures of body weight, waist circumference, body fat, adverse events, medication use reduction, and health-related quality of life score. The certainty of evidence was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) tool, with a range from very low to high certainty. In total, 116 randomized clinical trials involving 6880 participants (4199 [61%] female; mean [SD] age, 46 [13] years) with overweight or obesity were included. Each 30 minutes per week of aerobic exercise was associated with reduced body weight by 0.52 kg (95% CI, -0.61 to -0.44 kg; n = 109 trials, GRADE = moderate), waist circumference by 0.56 cm (95% CI, -0.67 to -0.45 cm; n = 62 trials, GRADE = high), body fat percentage by 0.37% (95% CI, -0.43% to -0.31%; n = 65 trials, GRADE = moderate), as well as the areas of visceral (mean difference, -1.60 cm2 [95% CI, -2.12 to -1.07 cm2]; n = 26 trials, GRADE = high) and subcutaneous (mean difference, -1.37 cm2 [95% CI, -1.82 to -0.92 cm2]; n = 27 trials, GRADE = moderate) adipose tissues. Aerobic exercise was associated with modestly increased physical (standardized mean difference, 1.69 SD [95% CI, 1.18-2.20 SD]) and mental (standardized mean difference, 0.74 SD [95% CI, 0.29-1.19 SD]) aspects of quality of life (1 trial with 80 participants, GRADE = low). It was associated with modestly increased mild to moderate adverse events, which were mostly musculoskeletal symptoms (risk difference, 2 more events per 100 participants [95% CI, 1 to 2 more]; GRADE = low). Dose-response meta-analyses indicated that body weight, waist circumference, and body fat measures decreased linearly or monotonically in association with increasing duration of aerobic exercise to 300 minutes per week, with aerobic exercise lasting 150 minutes per week at moderate to vigorous intensities resulting in clinically important reductions in waist circumference and body fat. In this meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials, engaging in 30 minutes of aerobic exercise per week was associated with modest reductions in body weight, waist circumference, and body fat measures among adults with overweight or obesity. However, aerobic training exceeding 150 minutes per week at moderate intensity or greater may be needed to achieve clinically important reductions.

Ultrasonographic Measurement of Muscle and Subcutaneous Fat Thickness for the Objective Assessment of the Nutritional Status of Alpacas.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the ultrasonographic measurement of the subcutaneous fat and muscle layers at two different body locations as an objective tool with which to determine the nutritional status of alpacas. The results of ultrasonographic measurement were related to body weight, determined by scale, and body condition score (BCS), determined by a scoring system. Differences between gender (female/male) and different reproductive statuses (castrated/intact males, pregnant, and early or non-pregnant females) were evaluated. In total, 160 alpacas were examined. Ultrasonography was performed first at the lumbar region, positioning a linear probe (8 MHz) between the second and third lumbar vertebrae perpendicular to the spinal column, and in the gluteal region, measuring the distance between skin, the subcutaneous fat layer, and the muscle layer. The results showed that the gender and pregnancy status of females had a significant influence on the ultrasonographic measurements at both localizations. Significant associations were found between body weight and the BCS. The BCS and ultrasonographic-measured soft-tissue thicknesses at both localizations were significantly associated for males and early or non-pregnant females. According to these results, ultrasonography can be recommended as an objective method with which to determine the nutritional status of alpacas.

Relation of skinfold thickness with the serum lipids, glucose and blood pressure among Indian sedentary office workers

Background:Serum glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides and high-density lipoproteins (HDL) are established cardiovascular disease (CVD) markers, however accessibility to these markers is less in individuals from low-middle income countries. The non-invasive CVD risk marker especially skinfold measured fat percentages are less explored for its relevance with established serum biochemistry markers.Methods:A cross-sectional study was conducted in 70 sedentary office workers (aged 30–40 years) who were healthy. Peripheral fat percentages were estimated from four skinfold thickness measurements and biochemistry markers were measured and analysed using standard laboratory measurements. Blood pressure was also measured. Multivariate linear regression models were drawn to establish the association between the non-invasive and invasive CVD risk markers.Results:The skinfold measured fat percentage was negatively associated with the HDL (coefficient β = -0.15, standard error SE = 0.07, p < 0.05). No significant relation between the other biochemistry parameters with the skinfold thickness. Age and BMI were found to be mediating the above relationship.Conclusions:Skinfold thickness derived fat percentage is associated with the few of the CVD markers (especially HDL). Age and BMI are crucial mediating factors for the fat measurement. Skinfold measurements could be included as part of routine primary care screening for CVD risk, alongside invasive biochemistry parameters.

Image-Based Measures of Obesity are Associated with Alterations in Metabolic Pathways in Non-small Cell Lung Cancer.

Studies suggest that the obesity paradox in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) results from the use of body mass index (BMI) as a measure of obesity. However, the mechanistic basis linking body fat and lung cancer behavior remains unclear. We examined the association of image-based measures of obesity with tumor gene expression to identify transcriptional signatures concordant with adiposity and their underlying biology. RNA-sequencing data for 143 NSCLC tumor samples generated by the ORIEN consortium was compiled with image-based measurements of total fat. Total fat area (TFA) was quantified at the third lumbar vertebra level using computed tomography images and the SliceOmatic software. Differential gene expression analysis was conducted between patients in the highest and lowest TFA tertiles. Utilizing a validated metabolic analysis pipeline, these differences in gene expression were used to enrich dysregulated metabolic pathways crucial in carcinogenesis. We identified 1154 gene transcripts as differentially expressed (p ≤ 0.05 and log fold change ≥ 0.58) in metabolic pathways of normal physiology as well as cancer growth. Utilizing the metabolic pipeline, we found 58/114 metabolic pathways were significantly enriched (p ≤ 0.05) in the high TFA individuals, some of which are expected in obese individuals (lipids metabolism), and some were novel. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) identified transcriptional alterations to inflammatory mediation, cell-signaling, and cellular respiration pathways based on TFA. Image-based measures of adiposity correlate with significant gene expression changes in NSCLC tumors. We have identified altered biological processes associated with obesity, including metabolic vulnerabilities, that can be leveraged in developing new treatment strategies.

A Review of Scientific Methods for Measuring Body Composition: Advancements and Emerging Techniques

The present research paper's goal is to examine the most recent, accurate, and useful techniques for measuring human body composition. The techniques to measure Human body composition are continuously being met by emerging data results. Key efforts include the usage of imaging to help explain ectopic fat depots, quantifiable magnetic resonance for entire body water, fat and lean tissue measurement, and multi-divisional and multi-repetitive bioelectrical impedance analysis. Assessments of total body fat, fat-free mass, total body water, bone mineral content, cellular water, visceral, subcutaneous, skeletal muscle, major organs, and abnormal body fat depots are all approved using the relevant methodologies. The need for a method that generates data on biological and metabolic processes is constant. Clinicians and scientists can measure a variety of body elements and, observe changes in health and disease with implications for understanding the effectiveness of nutritional and medical disruptions, assessment, deterrence, and treatment in clinical settings. This is made possible by the wide range of measurable characteristics, analytical techniques, and designated total body composition models. The increased requirement to comprehend health risk precursors starting before conception has left a gap in the proper assessment techniques, with implementation starting during gestation, or foetal development.

Association between Waist-Hip Ratio and Body Fat Composition, and Metabolic Syndrome: A Study at RSUP dr. Kariadi

Background: Metabolic syndrome, which is a collection of symptoms which are usually include of hypertension, hyperglycemia, dyslipidemia, and central obesity, has various fatal complications. Fat composition is known to have a close relationship with complications of metabolic syndrome. However, measurement of fat usually requires expensive tools and methods. Meanwhile, anthropometric indicators such as waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) have links with metabolic syndrome and central obesity. This study examines whether there is a significant relationship between WHR and body fat composition in patients with metabolic syndrome. Objectives: This study examined relationship between WHR and body fat composition as described in fat percentage, fat mass, visceral fat rating, and degree of obesity in patients with metabolic syndrome. Methods: Cross-sectional observational analytic study was conducted on 51 metabolic syndrome patients at Endocrine Polyclinic, RS dr. Kariadi. Respondents filled out informed consent and questionnaires and measured WHR and body fat composition using Tanita scales. Data analysis was performed by univariate test and bivariate test (Pearson test, Spearman test, or Mann-Whitney test). Results: There is a weak significant negative correlation between WHR and body fat percentage (p = 0.023; r = -.0.318). There is no correlation between WHR and fat mass (p=0.312). There is a weak positive significant correlation between WHR and visceral fat rating (p=0.001; r=0.441). And there is no correlation between WHR and the degree of obesity (p=0.785). Conclusion: WHR has a weak significant correlation with body fat percentage and visceral fat rating in NCEP ATP III metabolic syndrome patients.

Exposure-response modeling of liver fat imaging endpoints in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease populations administered ervogastat alone and co-administered with clesacostat.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis describe a collection of liver conditions characterized by the accumulation of liver fat. Despite biopsy being the reference standard for determining the severity of disease, non-invasive measures such as magnetic resonance imaging proton density fat fraction (MRI-PDFF) and FibroScan® controlled attenuation parameter (CAP™) can be used to understand longitudinal changes in steatosis. The aim of this work was to describe the exposure-response relationship of ervogastat with or without clesacostat on steatosis, through population pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) modeling of both liver fat measurements simultaneously. Population pharmacokinetic and exposure-response models using individual predictions of average concentrations were used to describe ervogastat/clesacostat PKPD. Due to both liver fat endpoints being continuous-bounded outcomes on different scales, a dynamic transform-both-sides approach was used to link a common latent factor representing liver fat to each endpoint. Simultaneous modeling of both MRI-PDFF and CAP™ was successful with both measurements being adequately described by the model. The clinical trial simulation was able to adequately predict the results of a recent Phase 2 study, where subjects given ervogastat/clesacostat 300/10 mg BID for 6 weeks had a LS means and model-predicted median (95% confidence intervals) percent change from baseline MRI-PDFF of -45.8% and -45.6% (-61.6% to -31.8%), respectively. Simultaneous modeling of both MRI-PDFF and CAP™ was successful with both measurements being adequately described. By describing the underlying changes of steatosis with a latent variable, this model may be extended to describe biopsy results from future studies.

PHYSICOCHEMICAL, BIOCHEMICAL AND SENSORY CHARACTERIZATION OF BEE BREAD FROM BURSA (TÜRKİYE) REGION

Bee bread, also known as perga, is a product created through anaerobic lactic fermentation, meticulously crafted by bees. Worker bees mix collected pollen with nectar and their specialized enzymes, then pack and store this nutrient-dense substance in honeycomb cells. Bee bread is highly esteemed as a valuable food source due to its rich protein content, antioxidants, phenolic compounds, vitamins, and minerals. Its health benefits have been increasingly recognized in recent years. This study aims to investigate the physical and chemical properties, as well as the aroma constituents, of bee bread samples sourced from Bursa and its surrounding areas. The analysis includes measurements of moisture content (17.89%), ash (2.53%), crude fat (9.16%), and crude protein (19.06%). Additionally, total phenolic content was determined 9.91 mg gallic acid equivalent per gram (mg GA/g), total flavonoid content at 0.32 mg quercetin equivalent per gram (mg QE/g), CUPRAC activity at 12.97 mg Trolox equivalent per gram (mg Trolox/g), and TEAC activity at 0.55 mM Trolox per milliliter (mg Trolox/mL). Aromatic compounds were identified and their percentage ratios determined using Solid Phase Microextraction (SPME) combined with Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). These findings align with previous research in the field, although significant variations among parameters are noted due to factors such as geographic location, climate, vegetation, collection time, and sample collection methodology.

Beyond the Obesity Paradox: Analysis of New Prognostic Factors in Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation Procedure.

The main purpose of our study was to collect computed tomography (CT) measurements of fat parameters that are significantly related to body mass index (BMI) and evaluate the associations of these measurements and sarcopenia with early and long-term complications after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) in order to investigate the existence of the so-called 'obesity paradox' and the role of sarcopenia in this phenomenon. We analyzed the significance of fat CT measurements in 85 patients undergoing the TAVI procedure and compared these with each other, as well as with quantified CT BMI and fat density measurements. Secondly, we evaluated the associations of BMI, CT measurements of fat, and CT evaluations of skeletal muscle mass with early and long-term complications after 24 months of post-TAVI follow-up. We found positive and significant relationships between fat CT measurements with each other and with BMI and a negative and significant relation between fat density and fat quantity. By comparing the CT measurements of fat and skeletal muscle mass with early and long-term complications after TAVI, we confirmed the existence of the 'obesity paradox' and the poor effect of sarcopenia after the TAVI procedure. We confirm that overweight and obesity are good prognostic factors, and sarcopenia is a poor prognostic factor for outcomes following the TAVI procedure. We focused on the scientific validation of an easy and fast way to measure fat and skeletal muscle mass using CT to better predict the outcomes of patients undergoing TAVI.

Body fat variation and redistribution across different stages of life measured by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry.

The global obesity epidemic of all ages has increased the demand for accurate management of body fat in each stage of life. The primary aim of this study was to provide reference centiles of body fat indices for Chinese children and adults and compare those with ethnicities from USA using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA). The samples were drawn from two nationwide cross-sectional surveys of China Body Composition Life-course Study (2013-2023) and the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2011-2018). Age- and sex-specific centile curves were generated for a set of fat measurements, including total fat mass (FM), fat mass index (FMI), body fat percentage (BF%), trunk-to-leg fat ratio (TLR), android-to-gynoid fat ratio (AGR) and visceral-to-subcutaneous fat ratio (VSR), using the general additive model for location scale and shape method. The age-related variations from childhood to adulthood were generally similar among Chinese, Non-Hispanic Whites, Non-Hispanic Blacks and Mexican American population, with distinct levels across races and ethnicities. For whole-body fat (FM, FMI, and BF%), Mexican American population consistently presented the highest levels before 40 years old, followed by Non-Hispanic White, Non-Hispanic Black and Chinese individuals. For central fats indices, although the TLR and AGR levels in Chinese males were second to Mexican American counterparts in most stages of life, the VSR was much higher in Chinese than other races and ethnicities from eight years old. DXA-based centiles for body fat quantity and distribution in Chinese population aged 3-60 years old were presented, and their differences with other race and ethnicity were noted across periods from early childhood to middle adulthood. Our findings will promote age-, sex- and ethnic-specific assessment of life-course body fat and obesity-related risks in clinical practice.

Biochemical Analysis of Fruiting Bodies of Cordyceps Militaris Grown on Brown Rice

Cordyceps militaris is a medicinal fungus known for its diverse biofunctional properties. This subject has been extensively analyzed over the past decade. The diverse pharmacological potential of C. militaris has garnered significant global interest recently. This research aims to determine the proximate composition of in vitro cultivated C. militaris fruit bodies. The analysis of proximate composition included measurements of crude protein, fat, crude fiber, ash, total carbohydrate, and moisture content. The research focused on quantifying the overall nutritional value of the fruit bodies and evaluating biological efficiency, in addition to key bioactive compounds including cordycepin, ergosterol, and Vitamin D2. The results demonstrated that the carbohydrate content constituted 47.67% of dry weight, the protein content was 30.41%, and the fiber content accounted for 15%. The fruit bodies contained 39.82 mg/kg of cordycepin and 61.73 mg/100g of ergosterol, whereas vitamin D2 was absent in the cordyceps mushroom sample. The findings demonstrate that in-vitro-cultivated C. militaris fruit bodies exhibit considerable nutritional and therapeutic potential.

Fast non-destructive measurement of intramuscular fat in Australian beef and lamb using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) technologies

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) is an excellent technique for non-destructive analysis of meat because it has high accuracy, a linear response, and insignificant drift over time, which removes the need for recalibration. Furthermore, single-side NMR devices have open geometries that enable measurements of subsections of larger samples without taking sub-samples. Here we demonstrated long-term reproducibility in a benchtop device and the utility of a single-sided NMR device. We validated long-term reproducibility of NMR measurements of lamb intramuscular fat (IMF%) in a commercial processor boning room years after the original model was created. It was hypothesised that the NMR IMF% model would retain precision and accuracy on independent validation. The root mean squared (RMS) error of prediction of lamb IMF was 0.79 %. The R2 between reference measurements, predicted IMF% was 0.74, the slope of the chemical IMF% vs NMR predictions was 0.989, and the bias was 0.53 % IMF%. In the second example, we showed that IMF% measurements of high value beef striploins could be measured off a commercial processing belt and returned without damaging the product. It was hypothesised that a commercial prototype single-sided NMR system would predict IMF% in beef M. longissimus thoracis et lumborum. Here the RMS error of the correlation was 1.58 % IMF% and R2 was 0.97. The long-term stability, high accuracy, and nondestructive nature make unilateral NMR devices ideal for applications in the red meat industry where IMF% contributes to product value.