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Abstract: The reliable estimation of the coefficient of variation (COV) and probability density function (PDF) is required to characterize the uncertainty and variability of soil properties. An outlier test, a randomness test (runs test), and a Goodness-of-Fit test are performed in sequence to determine the reliable COVs and PDFs of soil properties for Songdo silty clay. Soil properties such as Cc, e0, Cc/(1+e0), Cα/Cc, γt, and γb are found to fit to both normal and lognormal distributions, whereas cv, kv, and su/po′ appear to fit to a lognormal distribution at the 5% significant level. It is observed that the COVs of Cc, Cc/(1+e0), cv, kv, Cα/Cc, and su/po′ are larger than those of e0, γt, and γb. The COVs of cv and kv, which are associated with the time rate of consolidation, are found to be the largest among those of soil properties considered. It is also found that the Nσ rule provides similar COVs to those of a statistical method when using Nσ =6 for soil properties with small COVs and Nσ =4.2–5.3 for soil properties with large COVs. The empirical method appears to provide conservative characteristic values for soil properties that have relatively large COVs. Finally, this study presented the lower and upper bound characteristic values for properties of Songdo silty clay. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

OBJECTIVE-- Finding the anthropometric measure of visceral obesity is essential to clinical practice, because it predicts cardiovascular and metabolic risks. Sagittal abdominal diameter (SAD) has been proposed as an estimate of visceral adipose tissue (VAT). The aim of the present study was to evaluate the usefulness of SAD in predicting visceral obesity by comparing SAD to other anthropometric measures. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS-- Estimation of subcutaneous and visceral adipose tissue and measurement of SAD and transverse abdominal diameter using computed tomography at the umbilical level were obtained in 5,257 men and women who were enrolled in a health checkup program in Korea. To compare SAD to other anthropometric measures, linear regression analyses were used to determine correlations between anthropometrics and visceral obesity. RESULTS-- SAD showed a stronger correlation to VAT than waist circumference, BMI, and transverse abdominal diameter in the both sexes (men: r = 0.804, women: r = 0.724). Waist circumference showed generally stronger associations to subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) than to VAT (men: r = 0.789 vs. 0.705, women: r = 0.820 vs. 0.636). Even after subdividing according to age or BMI in both sexes and analyzing multiple regressions, SAD showed the strongest correlation to VAT. CONCLUSIONS-- SAD showed the strongest correlation to VAT irrespective of age, sex, and the degree of obesity compared with other anthropometric measures, whereas waist circumference may have a stronger correlation to SAT than to VAT. The clinical use of SAD has advantages over other anthropometric measures in predicting VAT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Objective: It is unclear whether visceral adipose tissue (VAT) is responsible for an increased risk of coronary artery calcification (CAC). We evaluated the associations between body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC) and abdominal VAT area with the CAC in healthy Korean men. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study of 1336 Korean men free of cardiovascular disease who underwent CAC score (CACS) by multislice computed tomography (CT) and abdominal CT as part of a routine medical examination. VAT area was measured at the level of the umbilicus using CT. Results: Mean BMI, WC, total adipose tissue and VAT area were higher in subjects with moderate-to-severe CAC (CACS>100) compared to subjects with CACS≤100. The subjects in the fourth quartile of VAT had significantly higher CACS and the greater prevalence of CAC presence and moderate-to-severe CAC than those in the first to third quartiles. The highest quartiles of BMI, WC and VAT area were significantly associated with moderate-to-severe CAC in the age- and CVD risk factor-adjusted model (OR [95% CI]=1.56 [1.11–2.19], 1.56 [1.12–2.18] and 1.42 [1.01–1.98] with p <0.05 for all, respectively). Conclusion: The higher levels of general and central measure of obesity and the amount of abdominal visceral fat were related to moderate-to-severe CAC in asymptomatic Korean men with relatively low risk. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Objectives: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is known to be related to factors that predict the development of coronary heart disease (CHD), such as dyslipidemia, central obesity, and metabolic syndrome (MS). The aim of this study was to determine whether individuals with NAFLD have an elevated risk of CHD, as estimated using the Framingham risk score (FRS)., Methods: A total of 21,130 individuals who underwent a voluntary general health examination were recruited. NAFLD was diagnosed among these individuals on the basis of typical sonographic findings and a level of alcohol consumption of <20 g/day. Of the 21,130 individuals, 3,780 were excluded because they had known causes of liver disease (1,690 were alcoholics, 975 had hepatitis B virus, 242 had hepatitis C virus, 91 had other hepatitis history, and 593 were taking medication known to produce fatty liver) or a history of heart disease (189)., Results: NAFLD was diagnosed in 5,769 of the 17,350 individuals (33.3%). The 11,581 normal individuals constituted the control group. The 5,769 individuals with NAFLD were split into two groups on the basis of ultrasonographic findings, that is, into a mild NAFLD group (n=3,278) and a moderate-severe NAFLD group (n=2,491). Individuals with NAFLD had an elevated risk of CHD, as estimated using FRS. Multivariable regression analysis, adjusted for confounding factors, showed a strong association between a higher FRS and NAFLD., Conclusions: Individuals with ultrasonographically detected NAFLD have an elevated 10-year risk of developing CHD as estimated using FRS. Furthermore, NAFLD was found to be independently related to the risk of developing CHD, regardless of classical risk factors and other components of MS.

Background: Gastroesophageal reflux is a commonly encountered condition, but detailed data on reflux symptoms in Asian countries are lacking., Goals: To evaluate the prevalence and to document the clinical spectrum of endoscopic reflux esophagitis (RE)., Study: A total 25,536 subjects underwent an upper gastrointestinal endoscopic examination as part of a health check, and completed a gastroesophageal reflux questionnaire. Endoscopic findings classified according to the Los Angeles (LA) classification and the data from gastroesophageal reflux questionnaire were analyzed., Results: On the basis of endoscopic findings, 2019 subjects (7.91%) were found to have RE: 5.87% in LA-A; 1.84% in LA-B; 0.18% in LA-C; and 0.02% in LA-D. Heartburn, acid regurgitation, chest pain, hoarseness, globus sensation, cough, and epigastric soreness were found to be associated with RE (P<0.05). Heartburn, acid regurgitation, and epigastric soreness were more frequent in LA-B than in LA-A (P<0.05). Epigastric soreness was most bothersome in LA-A and LA-B, and acid regurgitation was most bothersome in LA-C and LA-D (P<0.01). Heartburn, hoarseness, and globus sensation were more frequent in men with RE, and acid regurgitation was most common in women., Conclusions: The prevalence of RE was found to be 7.91% in Korea, and the profiles of reflux symptoms were found to depend on grade of RE and sex.