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Introduction: Over 25% of the world's population has non-obese or lean non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and the prevalence is higher than average in Asia. The present study focused on the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and non-obese NAFLD in non-overweight people in China, particularly the influence of triglycerides (TG) in the pathogenesis of non-obese NAFLD. The findings suggest new treatments for NAFLD patients with normal BMI, as well as provide an early warning system for the understanding and prevention of NAFLD in non-obese patients. Methods: This cross-sectional study enrolled 159,959 Chinese subjects with BMI <24 kg/m2 and normal levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c). The average age was 40.21 ± 13.88 years, and males accounted for 45.7%. A total of 15,907 (9.94%) patients with NAFLD were diagnosed by ultrasonography. Biochemical indicators were measured using an automated analyzer (Abbott AxSYM). The BMI (kg/m2) was calculated from the weight (kg)/height in square meters (m2). The BMI quartile was used as the column-stratified variable to determine the baseline distribution, and logistic regression analysis was used to assess the relationship between NAFLD and its risk factors, with multiple logistic regression used to assess the relationships between BMI or TG and NAFLD and multivariate linear regression used to analyze the association between BMI and TG, while mediation analysis was used to assess the mediation effect of TG. Results: After adjustment of all covariates, the odds ratios were 1.788 (95% CI: 1.749–1.829; p < 0.00001) and 1.491 (95% CI: 1.451–1.532; p < 0.00001) for the association between BMI and TG with NAFLD incidence. The multivariate linear regression coefficient of BMI and TG was β = 0.027 (95% CI: 0.023–0.030; p < 0.00001). Mediation analysis showed that BMI contributed to 10.81% of lean NAFLD with a mediation effect of 2.98%. Conclusion: In a Chinese population with BMI <24 kg/m2 and normal LDL-c levels, BMI and TG were found to be independent predictors of NAFLD. The direct effect of BMI on non-obese NAFLD was 10.41%. The TG level was found to partially mediate the association. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Ageing is becoming a considerable public health burden in China, which produces great societal development challenges. Healthy and active longevity could ease the ageing burden on families and communities. To date, most studies of the oldest-old distribution are focused on a simple scale from spatial perspective, and the multi-scale spatio-temporal clusters trend in the oldest-old population has not yet been determined. Thus, the objective in present study is to use a new method to evaluate the spatio-temporal pattern and detect the risk clusters in the oldest-old population from three scales. Methods: Individuals aged 65 years or older and individuals aged 80 years or older on three scales in China from 2000 to 2010 were used. The exploratory spatial data analysis was performed using Moran’s I statistic, and the pattern of the oldest-old clusters among humans was examined by using the spatial scan statistical method. Then, spatial stratified heterogeneity was used to explore the factors affecting the spatial heterogeneity of the oldest-old population. Results: The oldest-old index in the southeast coastal areas is higher than that in the northwest inland areas in China. A three-ladder terrain distribution of the oldest-old index from west to east is obvious. The overall pattern of the oldest-old index evolves from a “concave” shape to an “east-west uplift, and northern collapse” shape. Space-time analysis revealed that high-risk areas were concentrated in five regions: the Yangtze River Delta, the Pearl River Delta, the Southeast Coast, Sichuan and Chongqing, and the Central Plains. The oldest-old cluster at different scales shows a similar pattern, but local differences exist. The risk at the prefecture scale and county scale is greater than at the interprovincial scale; the sublevel can identify clusters that have not been identified at the previous level, especially the bordering areas of prefectures and counties; and more risk units and greater relative risk are found in urban areas than in rural areas. Conclusions: The results emphasized that spatial scan statistics can be used to estimate the spatial clusters of the oldest-old people. The detection of these clusters might be highly useful in the surveillance of the ageing phenomenon, thus helping local public health authorities measure the population burden at all locations, identifying geographical areas that require more attention, and evaluating the impacts of intervention programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the continuous expansion of the scope and scale of liquefied natural gas (LNG) trade, global LNG import competition has become increasingly extensive and complex. However, there is currently a lack of research on the global LNG import competition pattern and its influence mechanism. This study first constructs a global LNG import competition network and uses the complex network method to analyse the global LNG import competition pattern and its evolution characteristics from 2000 to 2020. Then, an extended gravity model is established to explore the factors influencing the intensity of LNG import competition. The results show that the global LNG import competition becomes increasingly widespread and intense; the intensity of global LNG import competition is unevenly distributed and concentrated within Asia, within Europe, between Asia and Europe, and among a few large importers; large importers dominate the formation and evolution of the competition pattern; the position of Asian countries in the competition pattern has gradually improved, and the positions of European and American countries in the competition pattern have gradually declined, indicating that the centre of the competition pattern has gradually shifted to Asia; Japan has the most intense competition, but its position in the competition pattern has declined; and China has increasingly intense competition with other importers, and its position in the competition pattern has become increasingly important; The GDP and natural gas consumption of importers drive the competition intensity among importers, while the natural gas production, political risk, and technology level of importers and the distance between importers impede the competition intensity among importers. Finally, some policy recommendations are proposed to promote orderly and healthy competition in LNG. • An LNG import competition network is constructed using complex network theory. • An extended gravity model is constructed to explore the influence mechanism of LNG import competition. • Global LNG import competition becomes increasingly intense and complex. • The centre of the LNG competition pattern has gradually shifted to Asia. • Factors such as GDP and natural gas consumption of importers drive the competition intensity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]