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Objective: Obesity stands as a risk factor for the chronic kidney disease. The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between early renal function following kidney donation and the measurements of body fat components. Methods: In total, 86 donors followed up for at least 6 months postoperatively were included. Height and weight measurements and results of laboratory analysis of all donors were recorded retrospectively. Visceral adipose tissue (VAT), subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT), hepatic fat (HF), pancreatic fat (PF) and splenic fat (SF) measurements were performed, and pancreatic splenic fat fraction difference (P−S) and pancreatic splenic fat fraction ratio (P/S) were calculated by a radiologist using the records of preoperative computed tomography scans of donors. Results: The estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), serum creatinine and spot urinary microalbumin/creatinine ratio values of the donors at the sixth month postoperatively were statistically different from those of the preoperative values (p < 0.001). In addition, the individuals were divided into two categories based on the postoperative eGFR: ⩾ 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 and < 60 mL/min/1.73 m2. Age, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) level and VAT/SAT ratio were lower in group eGFR: ⩾ 60 (p < 0.001, p = 0.03, p = 0.007, respectively). Age and VAT/SAT ratio were the parameters found to be affecting the eGFR significantly, and VAT/SAT ratio (0.729, 95% CI: 0.602–0.856, p = 0.007) had higher predictive value in receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC). Conclusion: Preoperative measurements of body fat components may provide significant information to predict postoperative renal functions of kidney donor candidates. Level of evidence: Not applicable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims/hypothesis: Appropriate management of blood glucose levels and the prevention of complications are important in the treatment of diabetes. We have previously reported on a compound named HPH-15 that is not only antifibrotic but also AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK)-activating. In this study, we evaluated whether HPH-15 is useful as a therapeutic medication for diabetes. Methods: We examined the effects of HPH-15 on AMPK activation, glucose uptake, fat accumulation and lactic acid production in L6-GLUT4, HepG2 and 3T3-L1 cells, as a model of muscle, liver and fat tissue, respectively. Additionally, we investigated the glucose-lowering, fat-accumulation-suppressing, antifibrotic and AMPK-activating effect of HPH-15 in mice fed a high-fat diet (HFD). Results: HPH-15 at a concentration of 10 µmol/l increased AMPK activation, glucose uptake and membrane translocation of GLUT4 in each cell model to the same extent as metformin at 2 mmol/l. The production of lactic acid (which causes lactic acidosis) in HPH-15-treated cells was equal to or less than that observed in metformin-treated cells. In HFD-fed mice, HPH-15 lowered blood glucose from 11.1±0.3 mmol/l to 8.2±0.4 mmol/l (10 mg/kg) and 7.9±0.4 mmol/l (100 mg/kg) and improved insulin resistance. The HPH-15 (10 mg/kg) group showed the same level of AMPK activation as the metformin (300 mg/kg) group in all organs. The HPH-15-treated HFD-fed mice also showed suppression of fat accumulation and fibrosis in the liver and fat tissue; these effects were more significant than those obtained with metformin. Mice treated with high doses of HPH-15 also exhibited a 44% reduction in subcutaneous fat. Conclusions/interpretation: HPH-15 activated AMPK at lower concentrations than metformin in vitro and in vivo and improved blood glucose levels and insulin resistance in vivo. In addition, HPH-15 was more effective than metformin at ameliorating fatty liver and adipocyte hypertrophy in HFD-fed mice. HPH-15 could be effective in preventing fatty liver, a common complication in diabetic individuals. Additionally, in contrast to metformin, high doses of HPH-15 reduced subcutaneous fat in HFD-fed mice. Presumably, HPH-15 has a stronger inhibitory effect on fat accumulation and fibrosis than metformin, accounting for the reduction of subcutaneous fat. Therefore, HPH-15 is potentially a glucose-lowering medication that can lower blood glucose, inhibit fat accumulation and ameliorate liver fibrosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Methods Results Conclusion In both highly industrialised and developing countries, obesity is reaching epidemic proportions and increasingly becoming a critical indicator of general morbidity, cardiovascular disease (CVD) and renal dysfunction. A promising trend in detection and management of obesity is the measurement of perirenal adipose tissue (PRAT), increasingly recognised as a metabolically active endocrine organ in itself. Its measurement by ultrasound is used increasingly to indicate visceral obesity and its clinical management. This review synthesises current techniques for measuring PRAT and its potential use as an indicator of CVD.We included clinical studies published between 2010 and 2023, investigating the current practice and use of specific ultrasonographic techniques and assessed the reliability and accuracy of included papers. The risk of bias was assessed using the Downs and Black Checklist, and the methodological quality examined using the Grade of Recommendations, Assessments, Development and Evaluation.It found, PRAT measures are predictive of CVD risk factors and the accuracy of ultrasound is comparable to CT and MRI, but there is no consistency in ultrasound technique. The lack of any randomised control trials and the use of 20 different non‐standardised ultrasound techniques across the 21 studies resulted in inconsistent and imprecise clinical observations and interpretations, which decreased the overall quality of the studies.This review found the inclusion of ultrasound measures in routine abdominal imaging potentially invaluable but demonstrates the need for standardisation of the perirenal fat ultrasound measuring technique to improve reproducibility and reliability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Fat infiltration in skeletal muscle is related to declining muscle strength, whereas excess subcutaneous fat is implicated in the development of metabolic diseases. Methods: Using multi-slice axial T2-weighted (T2w) MR images, this retrospective study characterized muscle fat infiltration (MFI) and fat distribution in the lower extremity of 107 subjects (64M/43F, age 11–79 years) with diverse ethnicities (including White, Black, Latino, and Asian subjects). Results: MRI data analysis shows that MFI, evaluated by the relative intensities of the pixel histogram profile in the calf muscle, tends to increase with both age and BMI. However, statistical significance was found only for the age correlation in women (p < 0.002), and the BMI correlation in men (p = 0.04). Sex disparities were also seen in the fat distribution, which was assessed according to subcutaneous fat thickness (SFT) and the fibula bone marrow cross-sectional area (BMA). SFT tends to decrease with age in men (p < 0.01), whereas SFT tends to increase with BMI only in women (p < 0.01). In contrast, BMA tends to increase with age in women (p < 0.01) and with BMI in men (p = 0.04). Additionally, MFI is positively correlated with BMA but not with SFT, suggesting that compromised bone structure may contribute to fat infiltration in the surrounding skeletal muscle. Conclusions: The findings of this study highlight a sex factor affecting MFI and fat distribution, which may offer valuable insights into effective strategies to prevent and treat MFI in women versus men. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Excess body adiposity and skin irregularities represent a major problem in today's society. Currently, radiofrequency‐based devices constitute an increasingly popular medical‐aesthetic application and a powerful non‐invasive method to combat this problem. Objective: This study aims to determine the efficacy and safety of the high‐frequency device Zionic™ (Termosalud, Inc., Gijón, Spain) in reducing body contouring and improving skin appearance in the abdomen/flanks or thighs. Materials and Methods: Thirty nine individuals were treated with the Zionic™ device in the abdomen/flanks or thighs. A total of 8 sessions of 40–50 min each, 72/96 h apart were performed. At baseline, body measurements were taken including photographs, body contours, and ultrasound scans to assess dermal thickness, dermal echogenicity, and subcutaneous fat thickness. The measurements were repeated after the eight sessions for comparison and analysis. Quantitative data was complemented with a customized survey to evaluate participants satisfaction level. Results: At the follow‐up visit, a significant average reduction of 3% in abdomen/flanks circumferences and 2% in thighs contours was noticed. Abdomen/flanks and thighs subcutaneous fat layer thickness was significantly reduced by 8% and 6%, respectively. Dermal echogenicity changes, related to skin collagen content and organization, showed non‐significant increasing tendencies of 7% for abdomen/flanks and 8% for thighs. Thighs dermal thickness was significantly increased by 6%. Results were associated to a high satisfaction level (80%) and no severe adverse events. Conclusion: Zionic™ treatment is a safe, effective, and well‐tolerated noninvasive procedure for body contouring and improvement of skin properties in abdomen, flanks, and thighs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent reports have shown that pre-treatment low muscle mass may lead to poorer outcomes for cancer patients. We explored the correlation between Visceral Adipose Tissue (VAT), Subcutaneous Adipose Tissue (SAT), and Muscle Mass (MM) as measured by CT scans, and overall survival (OS) following diagnosis of colorectal cancer (CRC). We conducted a retrospective review of medical records and CT scans of patients diagnosed with CRC between 2007 and 2018. Demographics, pathology, and clinical parameters were collected. Using Image-J software, we measured VAT, SAT, and MM. Survival rates were analyzed using Kaplan–Meier curves, and prognostic factors were assessed using multivariate Cox regression. Analysis included 408 patients with a mean age of 56.9 years and a median follow-up of 93.3 months. Colon and rectum/rectosigmoid colon cancers were equally distributed. The 5-year OS rate was 67.8%. There was no significant difference in OS rates based on SAT or VAT. However, higher MM was associated with a improved 5-year OS rate. Factors such as age, stage, grade, and surgery were also associated to OS rates. These findings suggest that higher muscle mass may lead to better outcomes for CRC patients, highlighting the potential impact of exercise and nutritional interventions on patient outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Informacion Tecnica Economica Agraria is the property of Asociacion Interprofesional para el Desarrollo Agrario (AIDA) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Abstract Recent reports have shown that pre-treatment low muscle mass may lead to poorer outcomes for cancer patients. We explored the correlation between Visceral Adipose Tissue (VAT), Subcutaneous Adipose Tissue (SAT), and Muscle Mass (MM) as measured by CT scans, and overall survival (OS) following diagnosis of colorectal cancer (CRC). We conducted a retrospective review of medical records and CT scans of patients diagnosed with CRC between 2007 and 2018. Demographics, pathology, and clinical parameters were collected. Using Image-J software, we measured VAT, SAT, and MM. Survival rates were analyzed using Kaplan–Meier curves, and prognostic factors were assessed using multivariate Cox regression. Analysis included 408 patients with a mean age of 56.9 years and a median follow-up of 93.3 months. Colon and rectum/rectosigmoid colon cancers were equally distributed. The 5-year OS rate was 67.8%. There was no significant difference in OS rates based on SAT or VAT. However, higher MM was associated with a improved 5-year OS rate. Factors such as age, stage, grade, and surgery were also associated to OS rates. These findings suggest that higher muscle mass may lead to better outcomes for CRC patients, highlighting the potential impact of exercise and nutritional interventions on patient outcomes.

Objective: This study aimed to describe the ultrasound, CT findings, and clinical manifestations of pathologically confirmed metastases involving the subcutaneous fat layer of the trunk and pelvis. Materials and methods: We included 30 patients with subcutaneous metastases in the trunk and pelvis, verified by ultrasound-guided biopsy. We comprehensively reviewed ultrasound findings of all 30 patients and contrast-enhanced CT findings of 25 patients obtained before biopsy. Medical records were reviewed, including primary malignancy type, presence of coexisting distant metastasis, and detection method leading to biopsy referral. Results: Most subcutaneous metastases were heterogeneously hypoechoic (86.7%) with well-defined margins (80.0%), lobulated (46.7%) or round-to-oval (40.0%) shape, and vascularity (96.7%). Metastases frequently exhibited no contact (53.3%) or focal contact with deep peripheral fascia, resulting in acute contact angle formation (30.0%). Common CT manifestations included central low attenuation with peripheral rim-like enhancement (60.0%) or well-circumscribed lesion with heterogeneous enhancement (32.0%). Lung cancer (46.7%) was the prevalent primary malignancy. CT was the predominant detection method (56.7%). Coexisting subcutaneous metastases were present in 50.0% of cases, and distant metastases (less subcutaneous metastases) were observed in 90.0% of patients. Conclusion: This study describes typical imaging findings of subcutaneous metastases involving the trunk and pelvis. CT may play a crucial role in their early detection, and our results may assist radiologists in their diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Osteoporosis and fragility fractures are crucial musculoskeletal complications in long-term survivors of gastric cancer. However, the relationship between changes in body composition after gastrectomy and bone loss has not been investigated. Therefore, this study aimed to explore whether computed tomography (CT)-derived body composition parameters are associated with bone loss after gastrectomy in patients with gastric cancer. Methods We retrospectively reviewed medical records and abdomen CT scans of patients who underwent gastrectomy at Yonsei University Severance Hospital between 2009 and 2018. Patients with non-metastatic gastric adenocarcinoma and preoperative and postoperative non-contrast CT scans were analyzed. Section area of skeletal muscle (SMA), visceral fat (VFA), and subcutaneous fat (SFA) were assessed using semi-automatic segmentation software. Changes in trabecular bone attenuation of L1 mid-vertebra level (L1 Hounsfield units [HU]) were measured. Results Fifty-seven patients (mean age, 65.5±10.6; 70.2% males) were analyzed, and the median duration was 31 months. Fortyseven patients (82.5%) lost weight after gastrectomy. Baseline SMA and VFA did not differ between the bone loss and preserved groups; however, baseline SFA was significantly higher in the bone preserved group than in the bone loss group (P=0.020). In a multivariable linear regression model adjusted for confounding factors, one standard deviation higher VFA at baseline was associated with greater annualized L1 HU loss (%) (P=0.034). However, higher preoperative SFA was associated with protection against bone loss after gastrectomy (P=0.025). Conclusion Higher preoperative SFA exhibited a protective effect against bone loss after gastrectomy in patients with non-metastatic gastric cancer, whereas VFA exhibited a negative effect.

Abstract Objectives Adipose tissue has been associated with knee osteoarthritis (KOA) pathogenesis, but the longitudinal changes in adipose tissue with KOA progression have not been carefully evaluated. This study aimed to determine if longitudinal changes of systemic and local adipose tissue is associated with radiographic progression of KOA. Methods This case-control study used data from the Osteoarthritis Initiative (OAI) and included 315 cases (all the right knees with a minimum of Kellgren-Lawrence score (KL) of 0 and an increase of ≥ 1 KL from baseline to 48 months) and 315 controls matched by age, sex, race, and baseline KL. Cross sectional area of IPFP (IPFP CSA) and subcutaneous adipose tissue around the distal thigh (SCATthigh) were measured using MRI images at baseline and 24 months. Conditional logistic regression models were fitted to estimate associations of obesity markers, IPFP CSA, and SCATthigh with radiographic KOA progression. Mediation analysis was used to assess whether IPFP CSA or SCATthigh mediates the relationships between baseline BMI and radiographic KOA progression. Results 24-month changes of IPFP CSA (ΔIPFP CSA) and SCATthigh (ΔSCATthigh) were significantly greater in cases compared to controls, whereas Δ BMI and Δ abdominal circumference were similar in both groups during follow-up. Adjusted ORs for radiographic KOA progression were 9.299, 95% CI (5.357–16.141) per 1 SD increase of Δ IPFP CSA and 1.646, 95% CI (1.288–2.103) per 1 SD increase of Δ SCATthigh. ΔIPFP CSA mediated the association between baseline BMI and radiographic KOA progression (87%). Conclusions Subjects with radiographic progression of KOA, had significant increases in IPFP CSA and subcutaneous adipose tissue while BMI and abdominal circumference remained stable. Additional studies are needed to confirm these associations.

Abstract Background Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the primary cause of mortality globally. The prevalence of obesity is rising worldwide; there seems to be a significant positive association between obesity and CVDs. The distribution of fat in the abdominal area in the form of visceral (VAT) or subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) affects the risk of CVDs. The aim of the present study was to conduct a systematic review of the available literature regarding the association between the VAT-to-SAT ratio and CVDs. Methods A comprehensive search strategy was used to retrieve all human observational studies indexed in PubMed, Scopus and Google Scholar databases/search engines (from Jan 2000 up to Oct 2023). The VAT-to-SAT or SAT-to-VAT ratio was an independent variable and various cardiovascular diseases, including hypertension, atherosclerosis, coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular disease and heart failure, were considered as outcomes of interest. Results Out of 1173 initial studies, 910 papers were screened. Based on the inclusion criteria, 883 papers were excluded. Finally, 27 papers (18 cross-sectional and 9 cohort studies) published between 2010 and 2023 which met the inclusion criteria were reviewed. Conclusions The distribution of abdominal fat seems to be associated with the risk of CVDs; the majority of the evidence suggests that a higher abdominal VAT-to-SAT ratio is associated with the development of CVDs. Therefore, this ratio can be used as a prognostic indicator for CVDs. Trial registration Not applicable.

Background: The goals of neuroimaging in idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) are the exclusion of mimickers and effective management of disease. In recent studies, several imaging markers have been identified as potential predictors of IIH. Purpose: To investigate the predictive roles of novel radiological markers as the Meckel's cave area, alongside classical radiologic markers in identifying IIH such as the empty sella. Material and Methods: The patients were classified according to cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) opening pressure as the IIH group and control group. The observational, case-control study included 22 patients with IIH and 22 controls. Groups were compared for presence of empty sella, Meckel's cave area, fat area of posterior neck, fat thickness of scalp, presence of transverse sinus stenosis, and ophthalmic markers, such as increase of optic nerve (ON) sheath diameter. Results: In the IHH group, higher occurrences of increased ON sheath diameter, ON tortuosity, flattening of the scleral surface, and transverse sinus stenosis were observed (P < 0.001, P < 0.001, P = 0.046, and P = 0.021, respectively). Meckel's cave area and fat area of posterior neck were similar in both groups (P = 0.444 and P = 0.794). Conclusion: Ophthalmic markers and transverse sinus stenosis could be utilized as radiologic features supporting early and precise diagnosis of IIH. However, enlargement of Meckel's cave area and measurements of fatty area of posterior neck are not helpful for diagnosis of IIH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abdominal fat is increasingly linked to brain health. A total of 10,001 healthy participants were scanned on 1.5T MRI with a short whole-body MR imaging protocol. Deep learning with FastSurfer segmented 96 brain regions. Separate models segmented visceral and subcutaneous abdominal fat. Regression analyses of abdominal fat types and normalized brain volumes were evaluated, controlling for age and sex. Logistic regression models determined the risk of brain total gray and white matter volume loss from the highest quartile of visceral fat and lowest quartile of these brain volumes. This cohort had an average age of 52.9 ± 13.1 years with 52.8% men and 47.2% women. Segmented visceral abdominal fat predicted lower volumes in multiple regions including: total gray matter volume (r = -.44, p<.001), total white matter volume (r =-.41, p<.001), hippocampus (r = -.39, p< .001), frontal cortex (r = -.42, p<.001), temporal lobes (r = -.44, p<.001), parietal lobes (r = -.39, p<.001), occipital lobes (r =-.37, p<.001). Women showed lower brain volumes than men related to increased visceral fat. Visceral fat predicted increased risk for lower total gray matter (age 20-39: OR = 5.9; age 40-59, OR = 5.4; 60-80, OR = 5.1) and low white matter volume: (age 20-39: OR = 3.78; age 40-59, OR = 4.4; 60- 80, OR = 5.1). Higher subcutaneous fat is related to brain volume loss. Elevated visceral and subcutaneous fat predicted lower brain volumes and may represent novel modifiable factors in determining brain health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Lumbar disc herniations (LDH) cause important clinical symptoms such as low back pain (LBP) and have many causes. This study investigates the role of epidural and subcutaneous fat tissue thickness in LDH. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, individuals aged 18-83 with lumbar magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) due to LBP were evaluated retrospectively between July 2023 and January 2024. According to lumbar MRI, they were divided into two groups: Those with or without herniation. Both groups measured epidural fat tissue thickness (EFTT) and subcutaneous fat tissue thickness (SFTT) at all lumbar levels. The relationship between the two groups in terms of EFTT and SFTT was examined statistically. Results: According to lumbar MRI, herniation was detected in 292 patients, and no herniation was detected in 300 patients. SFTT was found to be greater in the group with herniation than in the group without herniation at all lumbar levels (p = 0.0001). EFTT was lower in the group with herniation at all levels (p = 0.0001). In the group with herniation, there was a statistically significant correlation between the number of hernia levels and SFTT (r: 0.54, p: 0.0001) and EFTT negatively (r: -0.22, p: 0.0001). Conclusion: An increase in SFTT thickness and a decrease in EFTT are associated with disc herniation. This relationship is a result of the mechanical and inflammatory damage caused by obesity. In addition, the relationship between herniation and the decrease in EFTT demonstrates the protective function of epidural fat tissue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Seroma formation is the most common cause of morbidity associated with laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair. This study aimed to examine the relationship between the thickness of subcutaneous fat (TSF) and the risk of postoperative seroma. Methods: We reviewed data from a prospective cohort of 229 male patients who underwent laparoscopic total extra-peritoneal (TEP) hernioplasty for indirect inguinal hernia between August 2018 and July 2021. The TSF was assessed using preoperative ultrasound images. The risk factors for postoperative seroma were determined using univariate and multivariate logistic regression models. Results: Postoperative seromas occurred in 26 patients (11.4%). The factors associated with postoperative seroma included longer hernia duration, larger hernia defects, extension into the scrotum, and greater TSF (P < 0.05). In multivariate analysis, a greater TSF was independently associated with a greater risk of postoperative seroma (per 1 mm: odd ratio [OR] 1.105, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.048–1.165, P < 0.001; TSF ≥ 26.0 mm: OR 7.033, 95% CI 2.485–19.901, P < 0.001). Similar results were obtained in the subgroup analysis. The area under the curve of TSF for predicting seroma formation was 0.703 (95% CI 0.601–0.806). Conclusion: Ultrasound-derived TSF may be a promising prognostic factor for postoperative seroma in patients undergoing laparoscopic TEP repair. Further validation is required and then this parameter can be used to improve decision-making process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Simple Summary: Currently, there is an urgent need to develop novel protein feeds to replace traditional soybean meal from the point of view of feed source, nutrition and cost. Palm kernel meal (PKM) is a potential alternative to traditional soybean meal. The present study evaluated the effect of PKM supplementation in traditional diets of Tibetan sheep on the flavor and fatty acid profile of different parts of adipose tissue of Tibetan sheep. The results showed that the addition of PKM resulted in the deposition of favorable volatile flavor compounds in Tibetan sheep fat, which effectively improved the fat flavor of Tibetan sheep. This finding provides a basis for the improvement of fat flavor in Tibetan sheep and the rational development of PKM feed. Substituting traditional protein feed with palm kernel meal (PKM) in the diet of Tibetan sheep can be a cost-effective feeding strategy. To determine the impact of PKM on flavor development in different adipose tissues of Tibetan sheep, subjects were fed with 15% and 18% of PKM, while the control group received no PKM. The fatty acids and volatile compounds in the samples were then analyzed by GC-MS and HS-GC-IMS. Adding PKM to the diet significantly increased the C12:0, C14:0, C16:0 and C18:1N9 content in adipose tissues compared with the control, and most of these were associated with flavor formation (p < 0.05). The flavor compounds in the adipose tissues predominantly consisted of alcohols, ketones, acids and aldehydes. In particular, including PKM in the diet increased the proportion of ketones but decreased the proportion of alcohols, acids and aldehydes in subcutaneous and tail fat. Specifically, the proportion of acetone, acetoin monomer, 2,3-butanedione, 2-butanone monomer, 2-methyl-2-propanol, 2-methyl-2-propanol and methyl acetate increased significantly in the subcutaneous and tail fat (p < 0.05), while that of ethanol, 1-propanol monomer, butanol monomer, acetic acid monomer and acetic acid monomer decreased. Intermuscular fat exhibited variable results, mainly because the addition of PKM resulted in higher proportions of alcohols, including ethanol, 1-propanol and butanol monomer, especially at 15% PKM. In summary, the addition of PKM improved the flavor of Tibetan sheep fat and increased the amount of favorable volatile flavor compounds. This study can serve as reference for understanding the effects of dietary PKM on the adipose tissue flavor profile of Tibetan sheep. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the primary cause of mortality globally. The prevalence of obesity is rising worldwide; there seems to be a significant positive association between obesity and CVDs. The distribution of fat in the abdominal area in the form of visceral (VAT) or subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) affects the risk of CVDs. The aim of the present study was to conduct a systematic review of the available literature regarding the association between the VAT-to-SAT ratio and CVDs. Methods: A comprehensive search strategy was used to retrieve all human observational studies indexed in PubMed, Scopus and Google Scholar databases/search engines (from Jan 2000 up to Oct 2023). The VAT-to-SAT or SAT-to-VAT ratio was an independent variable and various cardiovascular diseases, including hypertension, atherosclerosis, coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular disease and heart failure, were considered as outcomes of interest. Results: Out of 1173 initial studies, 910 papers were screened. Based on the inclusion criteria, 883 papers were excluded. Finally, 27 papers (18 cross-sectional and 9 cohort studies) published between 2010 and 2023 which met the inclusion criteria were reviewed. Conclusions: The distribution of abdominal fat seems to be associated with the risk of CVDs; the majority of the evidence suggests that a higher abdominal VAT-to-SAT ratio is associated with the development of CVDs. Therefore, this ratio can be used as a prognostic indicator for CVDs. Trial registration: Not applicable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To determine if global, central, or peripheral adiposity is associated with prevalent and worsening cartilage lesions following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR). In 107 individuals one-year post-ACLR, adiposity was assessed globally (body mass index), centrally (waist circumference), and peripherally (knee subcutaneous adipose tissue thickness) from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Tibiofemoral and patellofemoral cartilage lesions were assessed from knee MRIs at 1- and 5-years post-ACLR. Poisson regression evaluated the relation of adiposity with prevalent and worsening tibiofemoral and patellofemoral cartilage lesions adjusting for age, sex, and activity level. The prevalence ratios of adiposity with tibiofemoral (presence in 49%) and patellofemoral (44%) cartilage lesions ranged from 0.99 to 1.03. Adiposity was more strongly associated with longitudinal changes in tibiofemoral (worsening in 21%) and patellofemoral (44%) cartilage lesions. One-unit increase in global (kg/m2), central (cm), and peripheral (mm) adiposity was associated with a higher risk of worsening tibiofemoral cartilage lesions by 17% (risk ratios [95% confidence interval (CI)]: 1.17 [1.09 to 1.23]), 5% (1.05 [1.02 to 1.08]), and 9% (1.09 [1.03 to 1.16]), and patellofemoral cartilage lesions by 5% (1.05 [1.00 to 1.12]), 2% (1.02 [1.00 to 1.04]) and 2% (1.02 [1.00 to 1.04]), respectively. Greater adiposity was a risk factor for worsening cartilage lesions up to 5 years post-ACLR. Clinical interventions aimed at mitigating excess adiposity may be beneficial in preventive approaches for early post-traumatic osteoarthritis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Agri: Journal of the Turkish Society of Algology / Türk Algoloji (Ağrı) Derneği'nin Yayın Organıdır is the property of KARE Publishing and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background/Aim: Various devices for non-invasive body shape correction are being developed along with the growth of the beauty industry. Radiofrequency (RF) can selectively reduce subcutaneous fat without causing skin damage. The efficacy of the procedure can be improved by applying RF to a large area simultaneously with multiple handpieces. This study evaluated the safety and efficacy of a new RF device with multi-channel handpieces. Materials and Methods: In ex vivo experiments, the RF device was used to treat porcine tissue comprising the skin, subcutaneous, and muscle layers. The device's safety was evaluated by temperature measurements of porcine tissue and histological analysis. In in vivo experiments, the dorsal skin of pigs was treated with the RF device. The safety and efficacy of the device were evaluated by measuring the skin temperature, subcutaneous fat layer thickness, and conducting histological analysis. Results: The skin temperature did not exceed the set temperature during treatment, and skin damage was not observed in histologic analysis in both ex vivo and in vivo experiments. In in vivo experiments, the subcutaneous fat layer thickness and subcutaneous lipocyte size were decreased after treatment. In addition, the fibrous tissue between subcutaneous lipocytes was increased in the RF treatment group compared with the non-treatment group. Conclusion: The RF device used in this study effectively reduced the size of subcutaneous lipocytes and increased fibrous tissue without skin damage. Therefore, the safe and effective use of this device for non-invasive fat reduction may be possible in clinical settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Acta Prataculturae Sinica is the property of Acta Prataculturae Sinica Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The established correlations between subcutaneous fat thickness and the quality attributes of carcasses and beef are relevant for producers and the processing industry. The purpose of the study is to establish the characteristics of slaughter, chemical composition, sensory physical, and technological properties of beef made of young bulls belonging to the Ukrainian black-and-white dairy breed aged 18 to 24 months, depending on the thickness of the fat on the carcass. The colour of muscle and adipose tissue, the conformation of carcasses, the development of subcutaneous fat, marbling, chemical composition, and sensory attributes of beef and broth made of it were determined in the context of different fat thicknesses on the carcass. With an increase in the thickness of subcutaneous fat, the fleshiness (conformation) of carcasses increases by 55.2% (P>0.95), the cover of carcasses with fat increases by 43.5 (P>0.99), and muscle penetration improves by 45.8% (P>0.95). With the thickening of subcutaneous fat from 0.5 to 1.1 cm or more, there is a tendency of tendons and ligaments in carcasses to increase by 53.6%, with adipose tissue increasing by 25.6%, points for the juiciness of boiled beef increasing by 20.8%, its tenderness increasing by 12.5%, and the reduction in the m. longissimus dorsi 'loin eye' area increased by 7.3%, marbling increased by 19.0%, reduction of moisture content in meat increased by 27.8%, and its boiling properties increased by 7.9%. With an increase in the thickness of subcutaneous fat in beef, there was a tendency for the reduction of its acidity (pH), the amount of dry matter, the total content of fat and minerals, deterioration of taste, aroma, residue after chewing boiled meat, flavour, and aroma, concentration, and transparency of broth made of it. The practical significance of these studies is to obtain knowledge that allows the assessment of the quality characteristics of carcasses and beef by the thickness of subcutaneous fat for their further use by producers and processing industries.

IntroductionLong COVID-19 symptoms may have a variety of potential overlapping causes. In this study, we aimed to investigate the potential correlation between abdominal adipose tissue and long COVID-19 symptoms in non-hospitalized patients in China.MethodsThis is a prospective observational study. 424 subjects, recovered from COVID-19 for 2–4 weeks, were enrolled and 408 subjects were finished the follow-up investigation at baseline, 8th week and 12th week. Physical measurements were collected. Kaplan-Meier analysis and cox regression analysis were carried out to assess the correlation.ResultsA total of 72 subjects reported the long COVID-19 symptoms. The adjusted Kaplan-Meier analysis and Cox regression analysis revealed a significant correlation with accumulated subcutaneous fat (SFA ≥ 2.0 dm2) and the long COVID-19 symptoms (HR = 2.63, P < 0.001 for male, HR = 1.52, P = 0.048 for female). However, overweight and central obesity showed positive correlation only in women.DiscussionThis study suggested that accumulated subcutaneous fat in abdomen (SFA ≥ 2.0 dm2) was an important positive factor associated with long COVID-19 symptoms among Chinese non-hospitalized patients. Large investigation and prospective studies are needed to validate the correlation in the future.

AbstractPrevalence of hypertension is increasing to higher levels in South Africa. Anthropometric measures for obesity are well known to predict the development of hypertension. However, the relationship between mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) and blood pressure (BP) is scant in South African communities such as universities. Therefore, this study was aimed at investigating the correlation between MUAC and BP among the community of Walter Sisulu University (WSU). A total of 230 participants from WSU (students and staff members), 113 females and 117 males aged ≥ 18 years participated in this cross-sectional study. MUAC, systolic BP (SBP) and diastolic BP (DBP) were measured using standard procedures. In a Pearson’s correlation analysis, MUAC was positively correlated with SBP and DBP in both women (SBP; r = 0.53, P< 0.001; DBP; r = 0.45 P

Introduction: Nowadays, a lot of body contouring devices and methods are introduced all over the world. The object of the present narrative review was to update and classify existing evidence on these methods and devices. Methods: We searched databases including PubMed, Cochrane, and Google Scholar for 11 essential keywords, including cryolipolysis, high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU), shock wave, low-level laser therapy (LLLT), radiofrequency (RF), capacitive resistive electrical transfer (TECAR), high-intensity focused electromagnetic (HIFEM), electromyostimulation (EMS), carboxytherapy, mesotherapy, and acupuncture and their abbreviations, in addition to obesity, overweight, cellulite, subcutaneous fat, and body contouring. Results: Totally 193 references were used in 11 main topics. Conclusion: In order to help physicians with finding the best evidence in different methods, the data were summarised in 11 topics. Furthermore, FDA-approved devices, side effects and common protocols were described in each section. Level of Evidence I: This journal requires that authors 39 assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full 40 description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, 41 please refer to the Table of Contents or the online 42 Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Health management in captive animals is difficult for various unknown reasons presumably related to physiological functions, disease, and diet. Generally, abnormal conditions are diagnosed based on body weight; however, zoos lack appropriate scales for megafauna. Body shape evaluation is often used to evaluate the nutritional status of breeding animals; however, this is inaccurate for zoo animals because of inter-observer variability, especially in megafauna. Previously, three-dimensional laser measurements were used to analyse body shape of reticulated giraffe, but further studies are required to examine its effectiveness in more individuals, and other species. Here, we applied this method to seven reticulated giraffe (Giraffa reticulata), five okapi (Okapia johnstoni), and three black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis) individuals for which cross-sectional area, width, and height in transverse section were determined. Relative change rates of each variable in relation to measurements at the axillary region revealed changes in body shape for each individual. Further, scatter plots and corresponding fitted curves and correlation coefficients showed a correlation between body length and approximate volume. The accuracy of three-dimensional laser measurements was demonstrated in three animal species, whereby we propose its use as an alternative method to evaluate body shape in megafauna without the inter-observer variability. In addition, this handheld device may be applied for various zoos without the scale for megafauna. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several clinical studies observed a surprising beneficial effect of obesity on enhancing immunotherapy responsiveness in patients with melanoma, highlighting an as-yet insufficiently understood relationship between metabolism and immunogenicity. Here, we demonstrate that the thiazolidinedione (TZD) rosiglitazone, a drug commonly used to treat diabetes by sequestering fatty acids in metabolically inert subcutaneous adipose tissue, improved sensitivity to anti-programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) treatment in YUMMER1.7 tumor-bearing mice, an initially immunotherapy-sensitive murine melanoma model. We observed a transition from high to intermediate PD-1 expression in tumor-infiltrating CD8+ T cells. Moreover, TZD inhibited PD-1 expression in mouse and human T cells treated in vitro. In addition to its direct impact on immune cells, TZD also decreased circulating insulin concentrations, while insulin induced T cell exhaustion in culture. In TZD-treated mice, we observed higher fatty acid concentrations in the tumor microenvironment, with fatty acids protecting against exhaustion in culture. Together, these data are consistent with an indirect mechanism of TZD inhibiting T cell exhaustion. Finally, we analyzed imaging data from patients with melanoma before and after anti-PD-1 treatment, confirming the beneficial effect of increased subcutaneous fat on anti-PD-1 responsiveness in patients. We also found that the expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARc), the canonical activator of lipid uptake and adipogenesis activated by TZD, correlated with overall survival time. Taken together, these data identify a new adjuvant to enhance immunotherapy efficacy in YUMMER1.7 melanoma mice, and discover a new metabolism- based prognostic marker in human melanoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVES: This study explores a deep learning (DL) approach to predicting bone metastases in breast cancer (BC) patients using clinical information, such as the fat index, and features like Computed Tomography (CT) images. METHODS: CT imaging data and clinical information were collected from 431 BC patients who underwent radical surgical resection at Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital. The area of muscle and adipose tissue was obtained from CT images at the level of the eleventh thoracic vertebra. The corresponding histograms of oriented gradients (HOG) and local binary pattern (LBP) features were extracted from the CT images, and the network features were derived from the LBP and HOG features as well as the CT images through deep learning (DL). The combination of network features with clinical information was utilized to predict bone metastases in BC patients using the Gradient Boosting Decision Tree (GBDT) algorithm. Regularized Cox regression models were employed to identify independent prognostic factors for bone metastasis. RESULTS: The combination of clinical information and network features extracted from LBP features, HOG features, and CT images using a convolutional neural network (CNN) yielded the best performance, achieving an AUC of 0.922 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.843–0.964, P < 0.01). Regularized Cox regression results indicated that the subcutaneous fat index was an independent prognostic factor for bone metastasis in breast cancer (BC). CONCLUSION: Subcutaneous fat index could predict bone metastasis in BC patients. Deep learning multimodal algorithm demonstrates superior performance in assessing bone metastases in BC patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To evaluate the influence of visceral fat area (VFA), subcutaneous fat area (SFA), the systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) and total inflammation-based systemic index (AISI) on the postoperative prognosis of non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLC) patients. Methods: 266 NSCLC patients received surgery from two academic medical centers were included. To assess the effect of abdominal fat measured by computed tomography (CT) imaging and inflammatory indicators on patients’ overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS), Kaplan–Meier survival analysis and Cox proportional hazards models were used. Results: Kaplan–Meier analysis showed the OS and PFS of patients in high-VFA group was better than low-VFA group (p < 0.05). AISI and SII were shown to be risk factors for OS and PFS (p < 0.05) after additional adjustment for BMI (Cox regression model II). After further adjustment for VFA (Cox regression model III), low-SFA group had longer OS (p < 0.05). Among the four subgroups based on VFA (high/low) and SFA (high/low) (p < 0.05), the high-VFA & low-SFA group had the longest median OS (108 months; 95% CI 74–117 months) and PFS (85 months; 95% CI 65–117 months), as well as the lowest SII and AISI (p < 0.05). Low-SFA was a protective factor for OS with different VFA stratification (p < 0.05). Conclusion: VFA, SFA, SII and AISI may be employed as significant prognostic markers of postoperative survival in NSCLC patients. Moreover, excessive SFA levels may encourage systemic inflammation decreasing the protective impact of VFA, which may help to provide targeted nutritional support and interventions for postoperative NSCLC patients with poor prognosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate adiposity after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR): i) cross-sectionally (1-year post-ACLR) compared to uninjured controls; ii) longitudinally up to 5 years post-ACLR; and iii) associations with patient-reported symptoms and physical performance. Methods: In 107 individuals post-ACLR and 19 controls, we assessed global (BMI), peripheral (subcutaneous adipose tissue thickness on the posteromedial side of knee MRI), and central (waist circumference in ACLR group) adiposity. Patient-reported symptoms (Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score) and physical performance (hop for distance) were evaluated at 1 and 5 years post-ACLR. Linear regression models evaluated adiposity between groups. Paired t-tests evaluated changes in adiposity from 1- to 5 years post-ACLR. Linear regression models analyzed adiposity's associations with patient-reported symptoms and physical performance at 1-year post-ACLR, changes in symptoms and performance over 4 years post-ACLR, and longitudinal changes in adiposity and symptoms and performance, controlling for age, sex, and activity level. Results: Individuals 1-year post-ACLR were associated with higher average global (3 ​kg/m2) and peripheral adiposity (2.3 ​mm). From 1- to 5 years post-ACLR, higher average global (0.58 ​kg/m2) and central (5 ​cm) adiposity, and lower average peripheral adiposity (1.3 ​mm) were observed. In general, adiposity at one-year post-ACLR was negatively associated with patient-reported symptoms and physical performance, and changes from 1 to 5 years post-ACLR. Increases in adiposity were negatively associated with changes in patient-reported symptoms and physical performance over four years post-ACLR. Conclusion: Greater global and central adiposity is a feature of young adults following ACLR and influences current and future patient-reported symptoms and physical performance.

We aimed to analyze the association between the average lumbar subcutaneous fat tissue thickness (LSFTT) at each intervertebral level and the presence of hernias in patients with low back pain from an insurance network hospital in Mexico. This observational prospective study included 174 patients with non-traumatic lumbago who underwent magnetic resonance imaging with a 1.5T resonator. Two independent radiologists made the diagnosis, and a third specialist provided a quality vote when needed. The sample size was calculated with a 95% confidence interval using random order selection. Anonymized secondary information was used. Percentages and means with confidence intervals were tabulated. The area under the curve, specificity, and sensitivity of LSFTT were calculated. A regression analysis was performed to analyze the presence of hernias with LSFTT using each intervertebral level as a predictor. The odds of herniation at any intervertebral level increased directly with LSFTT. The average LSFTT predicted the overall presence of hernias; however, the LSFTT at each intervertebral level better predicted hernias for each intervertebral space. The area under the curve for LSFTT in predicting hernias was 68%. In conclusion, the average LSFTT was associated with the overall presence of hernias; patients with more hernias had higher LSFTT values.

Abstract This study aimed at determining the intra- and inter-rater reliability in ultrasound body composition measurements and investigating the differences between malnourished and non-malnourished infants. Sonographic images for measurements of fat and muscle thickness were compared between 9 malnourished and 9 non-malnourished hospitalized infants. The mean of fat and muscle thickness sums were 12.44 ± 7.58 mm and 28.98 ± 7.18 mm, respectively. The intra- and inter-rater intraclass correlation coefficient were above 0.9 for both measurements, indicating high intra- and inter-rater reliability. Compared to non-malnourished infants, malnourished infants have 45% of fat thickness sum and 71% of muscle thickness sum. Ultrasound measurements of body composition in infants were different between hospitalized malnourished and non-malnourished infants. This approach has the potential to be utilized more broadly, from assessing the nutritional status of critically ill infants in intensive care units to screening for malnutrition in high-risk infant populations.

Health management in captive animals is difficult for various unknown reasons presumably related to physiological functions, disease, and diet. Generally, abnormal conditions are diagnosed based on body weight; however, zoos lack appropriate scales for megafauna. Body shape evaluation is often used to evaluate the nutritional status of breeding animals; however, this is inaccurate for zoo animals because of inter-observer variability, especially in megafauna. Previously, three-dimensional laser measurements were used to analyse body shape of reticulated giraffe, but further studies are required to examine its effectiveness in more individuals, and other species. Here, we applied this method to seven reticulated giraffe (Giraffa reticulata), five okapi (Okapia johnstoni), and three black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis) individuals for which cross-sectional area, width, and height in transverse section were determined. Relative change rates of each variable in relation to measurements at the axillary region revealed changes in body shape for each individual. Further, scatter plots and corresponding fitted curves and correlation coefficients showed a correlation between body length and approximate volume. The accuracy of three-dimensional laser measurements was demonstrated in three animal species, whereby we propose its use as an alternative method to evaluate body shape in megafauna without the inter-observer variability. In addition, this handheld device may be applied for various zoos without the scale for megafauna.

Abstract Background The assessment of obesity-related health risks has traditionally relied on the Body Mass Index and waist circumference, but their limitations have propelled the need for a more comprehensive approach. The differentiation between visceral (VIS) and subcutaneous (SC) fat provides a finer-grained understanding of these risks, yet practical assessment methods are lacking. We hypothesized that combining the SC-VIS fat ratio with non-invasive biomarkers could create a valuable tool for obesity-related risk assessment. Methods and results A clinical study of 125 individuals with obesity revealed significant differences in abdominal fat distribution measured by CT-scan among genders and distinct models of obesity, including visceral, subcutaneous, and the SC/VIS ratio. Stratification based on these models highlighted various metabolic changes. The SC/VIS ratio emerged as an excellent metric to differentiate metabolic status. Gene expression analysis identified candidate biomarkers, with ISM1 showing promise. Subsequent validation demonstrated a correlation between ISM1 levels in SC and plasma, reinforcing its potential as a non-invasive biomarker for fat distribution. Serum adipokine levels also correlated with the SC/VIS ratio. The Receiver Operating Characteristic analysis revealed ISM1’s efficacy in discriminating individuals with favorable metabolic profiles based on adipose tissue distribution. Correlation analysis also suggested that ISM1 was involved in glucose regulation pathways. Conclusion The study’s results support the hypothesis that the SC-VIS fat ratio and its derived non-invasive biomarkers can comprehensively assess obesity-related health risks. ISM1 could predict abdominal fat partitioning and be a potential biomarker for evaluating obesity-related health risks.

Background: Fat infiltration in skeletal muscle is related to declining muscle strength, whereas excess subcutaneous fat is implicated in the development of metabolic diseases. Methods: Using multi-slice axial T2-weighted (T2w) MR images, this retrospective study characterized muscle fat infiltration (MFI) and fat distribution in the lower extremity of 107 subjects (64M/43F, age 11–79 years) with diverse ethnicities (including White, Black, Latino, and Asian subjects). Results: MRI data analysis shows that MFI, evaluated by the relative intensities of the pixel histogram profile in the calf muscle, tends to increase with both age and BMI. However, statistical significance was found only for the age correlation in women (p < 0.002), and the BMI correlation in men (p = 0.04). Sex disparities were also seen in the fat distribution, which was assessed according to subcutaneous fat thickness (SFT) and the fibula bone marrow cross-sectional area (BMA). SFT tends to decrease with age in men (p < 0.01), whereas SFT tends to increase with BMI only in women (p < 0.01). In contrast, BMA tends to increase with age in women (p < 0.01) and with BMI in men (p = 0.04). Additionally, MFI is positively correlated with BMA but not with SFT, suggesting that compromised bone structure may contribute to fat infiltration in the surrounding skeletal muscle. Conclusions: The findings of this study highlight a sex factor affecting MFI and fat distribution, which may offer valuable insights into effective strategies to prevent and treat MFI in women versus men.

Adipose tissue is a crucial economically significant trait that significantly influences the meat quality and growth performance of domestic animals. To reveal the changes in adipose tissue metabolism during the growth of naturally grazing sheep, we evaluated the thickness, adipocyte morphology, fatty acid profile, and metabolite profile of subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) from naturally grazing Sunit sheep at 6, 18, and 30 months of age (referred to as Mth-6, Mth-18, and Mth-30, respectively). The fat thickness and adipocyte number were significantly increased with the growth of the sheep (p < 0.05), and the increase of which from Mth-18 to Mth-30 was less than that from Mth-6 to Mth-18. Additionally, the alpha-linolenic acid metabolism was enhanced and fatty acid (FA) elongation increased with growth. The metabolomic analysis revealed 76 differentially expressed metabolites (DEMs) in the SAT in different growth stages. Interestingly, we observed elongation of FAs in lipids correlated with sheep growth. Furthermore, the expression of acylcarnitines was downregulated, and fatty acid amides, aspartic acid, acetic acid and phosphocholine were upregulated in Mth-18 and Mth-30 compared to Mth-6. Altogether, the study found that the difference in SAT in Mth-6 was great compared to Mth-18 and Mth-30. An increase in fat deposition via adipocyte proliferation with the growth of the sheep in naturally grazing. The DEMs of acylcarnitines, fatty acid amides, aspartic acid, acetic acid, and phosphocholine emerged as potential key regulators of adipose tissue metabolism. These findings illustrate the variation in and metabolic mechanism of sheep adipose tissue development under natural grazing, thus providing valuable insights into improving the edible quality of sheep meat and developing the mutton sheep industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key Summary Points: Aim: The present study aimed to investigate potential confounders of the obesity paradox in older patients following transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) for severe aortic stenosis. Findings: The obesity paradox was observed in older patients following TAVR. Cachexia may reflect higher mortality in patients with lower BMI and higher subcutaneous fat accumulation (SFA) may represent lower mortality in those with higher BMI. Message: Considering higher mortality in lower BMI with cachexia, prevention or treatment of the comorbidity would be important in older patients following TAVR. Purpose: A higher body mass index (BMI) is associated with lower mortality in older patients following transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) for severe aortic valve stenosis. The current study aimed to investigate potential confounders of association between BMI and prognosis. Methods: The retrospective single-center study included consecutive patients following TAVR and excluded those in whom subcutaneous fat accumulation (SFA), visceral fat accumulation (VFA), and major psoas muscle (MPM) volume were not assessed by computed tomography. Cachexia was defined as a combination of BMI < 20 kg/m2 and any biochemical abnormalities. Results: After 2 patients were excluded, 234 (age, 86 ± 5 years; male, 77 [33%]; BMI, 22.4 ± 3.8 kg/m2; SFA, 109 (54–156) cm2; VFA, 71 (35–115) cm2; MPM, 202 (161–267) cm3; cachexia, 49 [21%]) were evaluated. SFA and VFA were strongly correlated with BMI (ρ = 0.734 and ρ = 0.712, respectively), whereas MPM was weakly correlated (ρ = 0.346). Two-year all-cause mortality was observed in 31 patients (13%). Higher BMI was associated with lower mortality (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 0.86; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.77–0.95). A similar result was observed in the multivariate model including SFA (aHR in an increase of 20 cm2, 0.87; 95% CI, 0.77–0.98) instead of BMI, whereas VFA was not significant. Cachexia was a worse predictor (aHR, 2.51; 95% CI 1.11–5.65). Conclusions: Association of higher BMI with lower mortality may be confounded by SFA in older patients following TAVR. Cachexia might reflect higher mortality in patients with lower BMI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We aimed to analyze the association between the average lumbar subcutaneous fat tissue thickness (LSFTT) at each intervertebral level and the presence of hernias in patients with low back pain from an insurance network hospital in Mexico. This observational prospective study included 174 patients with non-traumatic lumbago who underwent magnetic resonance imaging with a 1.5T resonator. Two independent radiologists made the diagnosis, and a third specialist provided a quality vote when needed. The sample size was calculated with a 95% confidence interval using random order selection. Anonymized secondary information was used. Percentages and means with confidence intervals were tabulated. The area under the curve, specificity, and sensitivity of LSFTT were calculated. A regression analysis was performed to analyze the presence of hernias with LSFTT using each intervertebral level as a predictor. The odds of herniation at any intervertebral level increased directly with LSFTT. The average LSFTT predicted the overall presence of hernias; however, the LSFTT at each intervertebral level better predicted hernias for each intervertebral space. The area under the curve for LSFTT in predicting hernias was 68%. In conclusion, the average LSFTT was associated with the overall presence of hernias; patients with more hernias had higher LSFTT values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Fat deposition ability is an important index with which to evaluate meat-producing ducks. Ducks with the same diet and environment can present with differences in fat deposition ability if they have diverse genetic backgrounds. Nankou 1 Pekin ducks and Jingdian Pekin ducks are common strains of Pekin duck, a famous, large-sized meat-producing duck breed with a fast growth rate, high feed conversion rate and short growth cycle. The aim of this study is to investigate the differences in slaughtering performance and transcriptome profiles of different strains of Pekin ducks, so as to explore the mechanisms regulating fat deposition in ducks. The results showed that Nankou 1 had greater abdominal fat and subcutaneous fat content than Jingdian ducks, and that the gene expression differences between these two strains of ducks may be the cause of the differences in fat deposition. This study lays a foundation for exploring the regulatory mechanism of fat deposition in ducks and provides a theoretical basis for breeding high-quality meat-producing ducks. Subcutaneous fat deposition is an important index with which to evaluate meat-producing ducks, and affects their meat quality and feed conversion rate. Studying the differentially expressed genes in subcutaneous fat will help to comprehensively understand the potential mechanisms regulating fat deposition in ducks. In this study, 72 Nankou 1 Pekin Ducks and 72 Jingdian Pekin Ducks (half male and half female) at 42 days of age were selected for slaughter performance and transcriptome analysis. The results showed that the breast-muscle yield of Nankou 1 ducks was significantly higher than that of Jingdian ducks, but that the abdominal fat yield and subcutaneous fat yield were higher than that of Jingdian ducks. Thousands of DEGs, including many important genes involved in fat metabolism regulation, were detected by transcriptome. KEGG enrichment analysis showed that the DEGs were significantly enriched on pathways such as regulation of lipolysis in adipocytes, primary bile acid biosynthesis, and biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids. SCD, FGF7, LTBP1, PNPLA3, ADCY2, and ACOT8 were selected as candidate genes for regulating subcutaneous fat deposition. The results indicated that Nankou 1 had superior fat deposition ability compared to Jingdian ducks, and that the candidate genes regulated fat deposition by regulating fat synthesis and decomposition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed at determining the intra- and inter-rater reliability in ultrasound body composition measurements and investigating the differences between malnourished and non-malnourished infants. Sonographic images for measurements of fat and muscle thickness were compared between 9 malnourished and 9 non-malnourished hospitalized infants. The mean of fat and muscle thickness sums were 12.44 ± 7.58 mm and 28.98 ± 7.18 mm, respectively. The intra- and inter-rater intraclass correlation coefficient were above 0.9 for both measurements, indicating high intra- and inter-rater reliability. Compared to non-malnourished infants, malnourished infants have 45% of fat thickness sum and 71% of muscle thickness sum. Ultrasound measurements of body composition in infants were different between hospitalized malnourished and non-malnourished infants. This approach has the potential to be utilized more broadly, from assessing the nutritional status of critically ill infants in intensive care units to screening for malnutrition in high-risk infant populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The study aimed to determine the relationship between knee extension torque induced by repetitive peripheral magnetic stimulation and the characteristics of the participants. Design: This was a basic study with noninvasive intervention. Knee extension torque induced by repetitive peripheral magnetic stimulation (repetitive peripheral magnetic stimulation–induced torque) and maximum voluntary contraction were measured. Stepwise method of multiple regression was performed to determine the factors affecting repetitive peripheral magnetic stimulation–induced torque at 100% intensity and repetitive peripheral magnetic stimulation–induced torque divided by maximum voluntary contraction (percent maximum voluntary contraction). Subcutaneous fat thickness, vastus lateralis muscle thickness measured by ultrasound, maximum voluntary contraction, and mean power frequency of electromyography during maximum voluntary contraction were selected as independent variables. Results: Repetitive peripheral magnetic stimulation was applied to the right vastus lateralis of 30 young healthy adults (average age, 21.1 ± 0.3 yrs). In the multiple regression analysis, repetitive peripheral magnetic stimulation–induced torque (P < 0.001) was shown to be independently and significantly associated with maximum voluntary contraction (β = 0.510), subcutaneous fat thickness (β = −0.358), and vastus lateralis muscle thickness (β = 0.208), while percent maximum voluntary contraction value (P < 0.05) was independently and significantly associated with vastus lateralis muscle thickness (β = 1.059). Conclusions: Repetitive peripheral magnetic stimulation–induced torque decreases with thicker subcutaneous fat and increases with stronger maximum voluntary contraction or with thicker muscle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Xylanase, an exogenous enzyme that plays an essential role in energy metabolism by hydrolysing xylan into xylose, has been shown to positively influence nutrient digestion and utilisation in ruminants. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of xylanase supplementation on the back‐fat thickness, fatty acid profiles, antioxidant capacity, and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the subcutaneous fat of Tibetan sheep. Sixty three‐month‐old rams with an average weight of 19.35 ± 2.18 kg were randomly assigned to control (no enzyme added, WH group) and xylanase (0.2% of diet on a dry matter basis, WE group) treatments. The experiment was conducted over 97 d, including 7 d of adaption to the diets. The results showed that xylanase supplementation in the diet increased adipocyte volume of subcutaneous fat (p < 0.05), shown by hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining. Gas chromatography showed greater concentrations of C14:0 and C16:0 in the subcutaneous fat of controls compared with the enzyme‐treated group (p < 0.05), while opposite trend was seen for the absolute contents of C18:1n9t, C20:1, C18:2n6c, C18:3, and C18:3n3 (p < 0.05). Compared with controls, supplementation with xylanase increased the activity of T‐AOC significantly (p < 0.05). Transcriptomic analysis showed the presence of 1630 DEGs between the two groups, of which 1023 were up‐regulated and 607 were down‐regulated, with enrichment in 4833 Gene Ontology terms, and significant enrichment in 31 terms (p < 0.05). The common DEGs were enriched in 295 pathways and significantly enriched in 26 pathways. Additionally, the expression of lipid‐related genes, including fatty acid synthase, superoxide dismutase, fatty acid binding protein 5, carnitine palmytoyltransferase 1 A, and peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor A were verified via quantitative reverse‐transcription polymerase chain reaction. In conclusion, dietary xylanase supplementation was found to reduce subcutaneous fat deposition in Tibetan sheep, likely through modulating the expression of lipid‐related genes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Computed tomography scans were assessed for subcutaneous fat area and density at thoracic vertebra 4 in 65 adolescent and young adult (AYA) patients with Hodgkin lymphoma. Subcutaneous fat was quantified over 3 timepoints; (1) baseline, (2) end of initial anthracycline treatment (EOT) and (3) 1 year. Fat area increased at EOT (62.3 ± 5.4 cm/m2 vs 53.5 ± 5.0 cm/m2, p < 0.01) and 1 year (65.8 ± 5.6 cm/m2 vs 53.5 ± 5.0 cm/m2, p < 0.01) compared to baseline. Fat density significantly decreased at EOT (-91.2 ± 1.4 HU vs −86.5 ± 1.4 HU, p < 0.01) and at 1 year (-90.3 ± 1.6 HU vs −86.5 ± 1.4 HU, p = 0.01) compared to baseline. Female, radiation receiving, and anthracycline dosage >250mg/m2subgroups experienced significant fat gain (p < 0.05 for all). Female AYA Hodgkin lymphoma patients receiving radiation, and/or high-dose anthracyclines may be at higher risk of subcutaneous fat gain during therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The assessment of obesity-related health risks has traditionally relied on the Body Mass Index and waist circumference, but their limitations have propelled the need for a more comprehensive approach. The differentiation between visceral (VIS) and subcutaneous (SC) fat provides a finer-grained understanding of these risks, yet practical assessment methods are lacking. We hypothesized that combining the SC-VIS fat ratio with non-invasive biomarkers could create a valuable tool for obesity-related risk assessment. Methods and results: A clinical study of 125 individuals with obesity revealed significant differences in abdominal fat distribution measured by CT-scan among genders and distinct models of obesity, including visceral, subcutaneous, and the SC/VIS ratio. Stratification based on these models highlighted various metabolic changes. The SC/VIS ratio emerged as an excellent metric to differentiate metabolic status. Gene expression analysis identified candidate biomarkers, with ISM1 showing promise. Subsequent validation demonstrated a correlation between ISM1 levels in SC and plasma, reinforcing its potential as a non-invasive biomarker for fat distribution. Serum adipokine levels also correlated with the SC/VIS ratio. The Receiver Operating Characteristic analysis revealed ISM1's efficacy in discriminating individuals with favorable metabolic profiles based on adipose tissue distribution. Correlation analysis also suggested that ISM1 was involved in glucose regulation pathways. Conclusion: The study's results support the hypothesis that the SC-VIS fat ratio and its derived non-invasive biomarkers can comprehensively assess obesity-related health risks. ISM1 could predict abdominal fat partitioning and be a potential biomarker for evaluating obesity-related health risks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: High molecular weight (HMW) adiponectin, biologically active form of the most abundant adipokine, is a potential biomarker of T2DM. As opposed to waist circumference (WC), dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scan is able to distinguish between abdominal visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SCAT). To investigate whether additional measurement of adipokines and abdominal fat distribution is clinically meaningful to predict metabolic risk, we aimed to examine their association with T2DM irrespective of body mass index (BMI). Methods: Subjects aged 26–65 years with newly detected treatment naive T2DM (n = 81; females, n = 41) were included. Age, gender, BMI-matched healthy volunteers (n = 81; females, n = 40) were systematically recruited. Abdominal VAT, SCAT were measured using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA)-scan. ELISA was used to measure fasting insulin, HMW-adiponectin, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-6 levels. Results: VAT was significantly higher in T2DM versus BMI-matched healthy subjects, whereas SCAT, HMW-adiponectin were significantly lower in T2DM in both genders. In linear regression analysis adjusting for confounders like BMI and WC in men and women separately, abdominal SCAT had significant (p = 0.01) positive association with HMW-adiponectin levels. After adjusting for age, gender, blood pressure and BMI, HMW-adiponectin (Odds ratio = 0.34; 95%CI: 0.19–0.59; p < 0.001) and abdominal SCAT (Odds ratio = 0.26; 95%CI: 0.14–0.48; p < 0.01), not VAT or WC, were independently associated with T2DM. Conclusions: HMW-adiponectin and DXA-derived abdominal SCAT may independently predict metabolic risk irrespective of BMI. Prospective studies need to explore whether paucity of abdominal SCAT could be one of several factors contributing to non-obese T2DM in Asian Indians. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cryolipolysis is a non-invasive and efficacious procedure for body contouring. The effectiveness of cryolipolysis has been demonstrated on multiple areas of the body, but on a limited number of subjects. The aim of this study is to demonstrate the effectiveness and the safety of cryolipolysis in the lower abdomen adipose tissue thickness reduction. Methods: A prospective study on 60 healthy women was carried out using CryoSlim Hybrid device. Each patient underwent two cryolipolysis sessions centered on the abdominal area. The primary endpoint was to decrease the thickness of the abdominal fat deposits. The change in the abdominal circumference and the thickness of the subcutaneous fat layer were assessed. Patient satisfaction and tolerance of the procedure were also taken into account. Results: A significant reduction of the abdominal circumference and subcutaneous fat layer thickness was observed. The mean decrease in abdominal circumference was 2.10 cm (3.1%) 3 months after the procedure and 4.03 cm (5.8%) 6 months after the procedure. The mean decrease in fat layer thickness was 1.25 cm (43.81%) 3 months after the procedure and 1.61 cm (41.73%) 6 months after the procedure. No major adverse events were noted. All patients were very satisfied, and minimal pain was reported. Conclusions: Cryolipolysis is an effective technique to treat abdominal localized fat deposits. No major adverse events have been described for this procedure. Our promising results should encourage further studies aimed at optimizing the efficacy of the procedure without a considerable increase in the risks. Level of Evidence IV: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors http://www.springer.com/00266. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the association between abdominal adiposity and change in cognitive function in community-dwelling older adults. Design, Setting, and Participants: This longitudinal study included older adults aged ≥60 years without cognitive impairment who participated in the National Institute for Longevity Sciences – Longitudinal Study of Aging. Measurements: Cognitive function was evaluated biennially using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) over 10 years. Waist circumference (WC) was measured at the naval level, and subcutaneous fat area (SFA) and visceral fat area (VFA) were assessed using baseline computed tomography scans. WC, SFA, and VFA areas were stratified into sex-adjusted tertiles. A linear mixed model was applied separately for men and women. Results: This study included 873 older adults. In men, the groups with the highest levels of WC, SFA, and VFA exhibited a greater decline in MMSE score than the groups with the lowest levels (β [95% confidence interval]: WC, –0.12 [–0.23 to –0.01]; SFA, –0.13 [–0.24 to –0.02]; VFA, –0.11 [–0.22 to –0.01]). In women, the group with the highest level of WC and SFA showed a greater decline in MMSE score than the group with the lowest level (WC, –0.12 [–0.25 to –0.01]; SFA, –0.18 [–0.30 to –0.06]), but VFA was not associated with cognitive decline. Conclusion: Higher WC, SFA, and VFA in men and higher WC and SFA in women were identified as risk factors for cognitive decline in later life, suggesting that abdominal adiposity involved in cognitive decline may differ according to sex.

Abstract Background Obesity, characterized by excessive white adipose tissue expansion, is associated with several metabolic complications. Identifying new adipogenesis regulators may lead to effective therapies for obesity-induced metabolic disorders. Results Here, we identified the growth arrest and DNA damage-inducible A (GADD45A), a stress-inducible histone-folding protein, as a novel regulator of subcutaneous adipose metabolism. We found that GADD45A expression was positively correlated with subcutaneous fat deposition and obesity in humans and fatty animals. In vitro, the gain or loss function of GADD45A promoted or inhibited subcutaneous adipogenic differentiation and lipid accumulation, respectively. Using a Gadd45a -/- mouse model, we showed that compared to wild-type (WT) mice, knockout (KO) mice exhibited subcutaneous fat browning and resistance to high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity. GADD45A deletion also upregulated the expression of mitochondria-related genes. Importantly, we further revealed that the interaction of GADD45A with Stat1 prevented phosphorylation of Stat1, resulting in the impaired expression of Lkb1, thereby regulating subcutaneous adipogenesis and lipid metabolism. Conclusions Overall, our results reveal the critical regulatory roles of GADD45A in subcutaneous fat deposition and lipid metabolism. We demonstrate that GADD45A deficiency induces the inguinal white adipose tissue (iWAT) browning and protects mice against HFD-induced obesity. Our findings provide new potential targets for combating obesity-related metabolic diseases and improving human health.