Scaling patterns of cortical folding and thickness in early human brain development in comparison with primates.

Across mammalia, brain morphology follows specific scaling patterns. Bigger bodies have bigger brains, with surface area outpacing volume growth, resulting in increased foldedness. We have recently studied scaling rules of cortical thickness, both local and global, finding that the cortical thickness difference between thick gyri and thin sulci also increases with brain size and foldedness. Here, we investigate early brain development in humans, using subjects from the Developing Human Connectome Project, scanned shortly after pre-term or full-term birth, yielding magnetic resonance images of the brain from 29 to 43 postmenstrual weeks. While the global cortical thickness does not change significantly during this development period, its distribution does, with sulci thinning, while gyri thickening. By comparing our results with our recent work on humans and 11 non-human primate species, we also compare the trajectories of primate evolution with human development, noticing that the 2 trends are distinct for volume, surface area, cortical thickness, and gyrification index. Finally, we introduce the global shape index as a proxy for gyrification index; while correlating very strongly with gyrification index, it offers the advantage of being calculated only from local quantities without generating a convex hull or alpha surface.

A body shape index (ABSI) but not body mass index (BMI) is associated with prostate cancer-specific mortality: Evidence from the US NHANES database.

BACKGROUND: Prostate cancer (PCa) is a common malignancy in males and obesity may play a role in its development and progression. Associations between visceral obesity measured by a body shape index (ABSI) and PCa mortality have not been thoroughly investigated. This study assessed the associations between ABSI, body mass index (BMI), and long-term PCa-specific mortality using a nationally representative US database. METHODS: This population-based longitudinal study collected data of males aged ≥40 years diagnosed with PCa and who underwent surgery and/or radiation from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey database 2001-2010. All included participants were followed through the end of 2019 using the National Center for Health Statistics Linked Mortality File. Associations between PCa-specific mortality, BMI, and ABSI were determined using Cox proportional hazards regression and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. RESULTS: Data of 294 men (representing 1,393,857 US nationals) were analyzed. After adjusting for confounders, no significant associations were found between BMI (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] = 1.06, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.97-1.16, p = 0.222), continuous ABSI (aHR = 1.29, 95% CI: 0.83-2.02, p = 0.253), or ABSI in category (Q4 vs. Q1-Q3: aHR = 1.52, 95% CI: 0.72-3.24, p = 0.265), and greater risk of PCa-specific mortality. However, among participants who had been diagnosed within 4 years, the highest ABSI quartile but not in BMI was significantly associated with greater risk for PCa-specific mortality (Q4 vs. Q1-Q3: aHR = 5.34, 95% CI: 2.26-12.62, p = 0.001). In ROC analysis for this subgroup, the area under the curve of ABSI alone for predicting PCa-specific mortality was 0.638 (95% CI: 0.448-0.828), reaching 0.729 (95% CI: 0.490-0.968 when combined with other covariates. CONCLUSIONS: In US males with PCa diagnosed within 4 years, high ABSI but not BMI is independently associated with increased PCa-specific mortality.

Predictive ability of novel and traditional anthropometric measurement indices for kidney stone disease: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: The aim of our research was to examine the association of novel anthropometric indices (a body shape index (ABSI), waist-to-height ratio (WtHR), conicity index (CI) and body roundness index (BRI)) and traditional anthropometric indices (body mass index (BMI), and waist (WC)) with prevalence of kidney stone disease (KSD) in the general population of United States (U.S.). METHODS: In this study, we conducted a cross-sectional analysis among the participants in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey between the years 2007 and 2020. Weighted multivariable logistic regression analysis, restricted cubic spline (RCS), receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, and subgroup analysis were performed to analyze the association of ABSI, BRI, WtHR, CI, BMI and WC with prevalence of KSD. RESULTS: In total, 11,891 individuals were included in our study. The RCS plot shown that the linear positive association was found between ABSI, BRI, WtHR, CI, BMI and WC and KSD risk. Additionally, the ROC curve demonstrated that the area under the curve of ABSI, BRI, WtHR, and CI was significantly higher than traditional anthropometric indices, including BMI and WC. CONCLUSIONS: Our study found that the discriminant ability of ABSI, BRI, WtHR, and CI for KSD was higher than BMI and WC. Consequently, ABSI, BRI, WtHR, and CI have the potential to become new indicators for the detection of KSD risk in clinical practice.

Left ventricular shape index and eccentricity index with ECG-gated Nitrogen-13 ammonia PET/CT in patients with myocardial infarction, ischemia, and normal perfusion.

BACKGROUND: LV geometry with shape index (SI) and eccentricity index (EI) measured by myocardial perfusion positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) may allow the evaluation of left ventricular (LV) adverse remodeling. This first study aims to explore the relationship of SI and EI values acquired by Nitrogen-13 ammonia PET/CT in patients with normal perfusion, ischemia, and myocardial infarction. And evaluate the correlations between the variables of LV geometry, and with the variables of LV function. METHODS AND RESULTS: One hundred and forty patients who underwent an electrocardiogram (ECG)-gated PET/CT were selected and classified into 4 groups according to ischemia or infarction burden (normal perfusion, mild ischemia, moderate-severe ischemia, and infarction). The variables were automatically retrieved using dedicated software (QPS/QGS; Cedars-Sinai, Los Angeles, CA, USA). On multicomparison analysis (one-way ANOVA and Dunnett's Test), subjects in the infarction group had significant higher values of SI end-diastolic rest (P < 0.001), and stress (P = 0.003), SI end-systolic rest (P = 0.002) and stress (P < 0.001) as well as statistically significant lower values of EI rest (P < 0.001) and stress (P < 0.001) when compared with all other groups. Regarding Pearson correlation, in the infarcted group all the variables of SI and EI were significantly correlated (P < 0.001) with strong correlation coefficients (>0.60). SI end-systolic correlated significantly with the variables of LV function independently of the group of patients (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Shape and eccentricity indices differ in patients with myocardial infarction as compared to patients with ischemia or normal perfusion. This encourage further research in their potential for detecting LV adverse remodeling.

Central obesity may affect bone development in adolescents: association between abdominal obesity index ABSI and adolescent bone mineral density.

PURPOSE: Previous studies have suggested that obesity defined by body mass index(BMI) is a protective factor for bone mineral density(BMD), but have overlooked the potential influence of different types of obesity. This study aims to evaluate the correlation between abdominal obesity index A Body Shape Index(ABSI) and adolescent bone density, and analyze the relationship between abdominal obesity and bone metabolism. METHODS: A total of 1557 adolescent participants were included in NHANES from 2007 to 2018. Calculate the ABSI using a specific formula that takes into account waist circumference and BMI. A weighted multiple linear regression model is used to evaluate the linear correlation between ABSI and BMD. Forest plots are used to analyze the correlations between subgroups, and cubic splines are limited to evaluate the nonlinear correlations and saturation effects between ABSI and BMD. RESULTS: After adjusting for confounding factors, there was a significant linear correlation (P < 0.01) between ABSI and femoral BMD, both as a continuous variable and an ordered categorical variable. The restrictive cubic spline curve indicates a significant nonlinear correlation and saturation effect between adolescent ABSI and BMD. CONCLUSION: Research has shown a significant negative correlation between ABSI and BMD at the four detection sites of the femur, and this correlation may vary slightly due to age, race, family income, and different detection sites. The research results indicate that compared to overall body weight, fat distribution and content may be more closely related to bone metabolism.

A body shape index is useful for BMI-independently identifying Japanese patients with obesity at high risk of cardiovascular disease.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Obesity with multiple metabolic syndrome (MetS) components and/or with skeletal muscle loss is at high risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). This study aimed to clarify the utility of anthropometric indices for identifying patients with overweight/obese at high risk of CVD based on having multiple MetS components and skeletal muscle loss. METHODS & RESULTS: This cross-sectional study included 188 overweight/obese (BMI ≥25 kg/m2, Japanese patients; 73 men and 115 women, mean age 55.7 years). First, we performed correlation analysis among seven anthropometric indices, body mass index (BMI), percentage body fat, waist circumference (WC), waist-to-hip ratio (WHpR), waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), a body shape index (ABSI), and body roundness index (BRI). Unlike the others, only ABSI was not correlated with BMI. Then, we conducted receiver operating characteristic analysis to assess the predictive abilities of anthropometric indices for having multiple MetS components. WC, WHpR, WHtR, BRI, and ABSI had significant predictive abilities for having multiple MetS components. Furthermore, multiple regression analysis showed that only ABSI had significantly negative associations with all sarcopenia-evaluated indices (skeletal muscle mass index [SMI], handgrip strength [HGS], and muscle quality [MQ]), irrespective of sex and age. Finally, an analysis of covariance showed that the high ABSI group had significantly lower SMI and HGS than the low ABSI group, irrespective of sex and age. CONCLUSION: ABSI was deemed useful for BMI-independently identifying Japanese patients with overweight/obese at high risk of CVD based on having multiple MetS components and skeletal muscle loss. Clinical trials (the unique trial number and the name of the registry) ID: UMIN000042726.

Association between a body shape index and female infertility: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: The relationship between A Body Shape Index (ABSI) and female infertility is not well understood. ABSI, a novel anthropometric measure, is gaining recognition for its ability to more accurately capture visceral fat characteristics than traditional metrics like BMI. This study aims to explore the association between ABSI and female infertility, considering its potential applications in medical screening and risk assessment. METHODS: This cross-sectional study analyzed data from the NHANES from 2013 to 2020. Female infertility was assessed through reproductive health questionnaires, and ABSI was calculated using waist circumference, BMI, and height. Weighted logistic regression models and trend tests were used to evaluate the association between ABSI and female infertility. Restricted cubic splines (RCS) were employed to explore potential nonlinear relationships. Subgroup analyses were conducted to examine the consistency of the association across various demographic and health-related factors. Sensitivity analyses were also performed, including the exclusion of participants with missing covariate data, the application of propensity score matching, and restricting the analysis to women aged 20-45 years. RESULTS: The study included 3,718 participants, 433 of whom were diagnosed with infertility. Higher ABSI was associated with an increased risk of female infertility (OR = 1.56, 95% CI: 1.21-2.00, P = 0.001), as demonstrated by weighted logistic regression and trend tests. Women in the highest ABSI quartile had a significantly higher prevalence of infertility compared to those in the lowest quartile (OR = 1.73, 95% CI: 1.27-2.37, P = 0.001). RCS curves indicated a linear positive relationship between ABSI and infertility risk, with a critical value at 0.079. Subgroup and sensitivity analyses confirmed the stability of these findings. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates a positive linear relationship between ABSI and the risk of female infertility. The use of a simple, non-invasive ABSI measurement could facilitate the early identification of high-risk individuals in large-scale screenings, potentially helping to prevent or reduce the incidence of infertility.

Association between a body shape index and cognitive impairment among us older adults from a cross-sectional survey of the NHANES 2011-2014.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to assess the relationship between A Body Shape Index (ABSI) and cognitive impairment among older adults in the United States. METHODS: This cross-sectional study analyzed cognitive function in 2,752 individuals aged 60 and older using data from the 2011-2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Cognitive assessments were conducted using the Immediate Recall Test (IRT), Delayed Recall Test (DRT), Animal Fluency Test (AFT), and Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST). A Body Shape Index (ABSI) was calculated from waist circumference (WC), weight, and height. The relationship between ABSI and cognitive outcomes was examined through multifactorial linear regression, smooth curve fitting, and subgroup and interaction analyses. RESULTS: With complete data, 2752 persons 60 and older participated in the study. After adjusting for covariables, these results showed statistically significant negative relationships between ABSI, IRT, and DSST scores. The negative correlation between DSST and ABSI is more substantial in males than females. There is less of a negative link between ABSI, AFT, and DSST among drinkers who consume 12 or more drinks annually compared to those who consume less. Furthermore, compared to individuals without high blood pressure(HBP), those who suffered HBP showed a more significant negative connection between ABSI and AFT. CONCLUSION: Lower cognitive function was linked to higher ABSI.

Dose-response association of obesity and risk of mental health among tehranian residents: result of a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Obesity and mental health issues are two of the most prevalent global public health issues for a significant portion of people. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between obesity indicators and mental health in Tehran-dwelling Iranian adults. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study on healthy Iranian adults using a convenience sampling technique. The short form of the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21) was used to measure the outcome, and independent variables included body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), body adiposity index (BAI), and a body shape index (ABSI). The relationship between obesity and mental health was investigated using a multivariate logistic regression model. The non-linear dose-response relationships were evaluated using restricted cubic splines (RCS) with three knots. The Benjamini-Hochberg procedure was used to adjust for multiple testing. RESULTS: In our study of 434 participants, females made up 52% of the participants, with a mean age of 38.57 years. In all, 54.6%, 53.9%, and 56.6% were classified as having anxiety, depression, and stress respectively. Logistic regression analysis showed that the odds of mental health components including anxiety, depression, or stress was not significantly different across the tertiles of the obesity indicators. We observed a significant dose-response relationship between BAI and ABSI and the risk of anxiety (PBenjamini-Hochberg 0.028 > Pdose-response 0.023) and stress (PBenjamini-Hochberg 0.028 > Pdose-response 0.003) but not depression (PBenjamini-Hochberg 0.014 < Pdose-response 0.018). The lowest risk for anxiety was observed in people with a BAI of 28% and ABSI equal to 0.079. The risk of stress seemed to increase beyond an ABSI of 0.086. CONCLUSION: Our findings showed no direct linear association between obesity indices and anxiety. However, a dose-response relationship was observed between BAI and ABSI and the risk of anxiety and stress, indicating the need for further investigation.

Novel anthropometric indices for predicting type 2 diabetes mellitus.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to compare anthropometric indices to predict type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) among first-degree relatives of diabetic patients in the Iranian community. METHODS: In this study, information on 3483 first-degree relatives (FDRs) of diabetic patients was extracted from the database of the Endocrinology and Metabolism Research Center of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences. Overall, 2082 FDRs were included in the analyses. A logistic regression model was used to evaluate the association between anthropometric indices and the odds of having diabetes. Furthermore, a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was applied to estimate the optimal cutoff point based on the sensitivity and specificity of each index. In addition, the indices were compared based on the area under the curve (AUC). RESULTS: The overall prevalence of diabetes was 15.3%. The optimal cutoff points for anthropometric measures among men were 25.09 for body mass index (BMI) (AUC = 0.573), 0.52 for waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) (AUC = 0.648), 0.91 for waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) (AUC = 0.654), 0.08 for a body shape index (ABSI) (AUC = 0.599), 3.92 for body roundness index (BRI) (AUC = 0.648), 27.27 for body adiposity index (BAI) (AUC = 0.590), and 8 for visceral adiposity index (VAI) (AUC = 0.596). The optimal cutoff points for anthropometric indices were 28.75 for BMI (AUC = 0.610), 0.55 for the WHtR (AUC = 0.685), 0.80 for the WHR (AUC = 0.687), 0.07 for the ABSI (AUC = 0.669), 4.34 for the BRI (AUC = 0.685), 39.95 for the BAI (AUC = 0.583), and 6.15 for the VAI (AUC = 0.658). The WHR, WHTR, and BRI were revealed to have fair AUC values and were relatively greater than the other indices for both men and women. Furthermore, in women, the ABSI and VAI also had fair AUCs. However, BMI and the BAI had the lowest AUC values among the indices in both sexes. CONCLUSION: The WHtR, BRI, VAI, and WHR outperformed other anthropometric indices in predicting T2DM in first-degree relatives (FDRs) of diabetic patients. However, further investigations in different populations may need to be implemented to justify their widespread adoption in clinical practice.

Systematic cortical thickness and curvature patterns in primates.

Humans are known to have significant and consistent differences in thickness throughout the cortex, with thick outer gyral folds and thin inner sulcal folds. Our previous work has suggested a mechanical basis for this thickness pattern, with the forces generated during cortical folding leading to thick gyri and thin sulci, and shown that cortical thickness varies along a gyral-sulcal spectrum in humans. While other primate species are expected to exhibit similar patterns of cortical thickness, it is currently unknown how these patterns scale across different sizes, forms, and foldedness. Among primates, brains vary enormously from roughly the size of a grape to the size of a grapefruit, and from nearly smooth to dramatically folded; of these, human brains are the largest and most folded. These variations in size and form make comparative neuroanatomy a rich resource for investigating common trends that transcend differences between species. In this study, we examine 12 primate species in order to cover a wide range of sizes and forms, and investigate the scaling of their cortical thickness relative to the surface geometry. The 12 species were selected due to the public availability of either reconstructed surfaces and/or population templates. After obtaining or reconstructing 3D surfaces from publicly available neuroimaging data, we used our surface-based computational pipeline (https://github.com/mholla/curveball) to analyze patterns of cortical thickness and folding with respect to size (total surface area), geometry (i.e. curvature, shape, and sulcal depth), and foldedness (gyrification). In all 12 species, we found consistent cortical thickness variations along a gyral-sulcal spectrum, with convex shapes thicker than concave shapes and saddle shapes in between. Furthermore, we saw an increasing thickness difference between gyri and sulci as brain size increases. Our results suggest a systematic folding mechanism relating local cortical thickness to geometry. Finally, all of our reconstructed surfaces and morphometry data are available for future research in comparative neuroanatomy.

Multivariate Concavity Amplitude Index (MCAI) for characterizing Heschl's gyrus shape.

Heschl's gyrus (HG), which includes primary auditory cortex, is highly variable in its shape (i.e. gyrification patterns), between hemispheres and across individuals. Differences in HG shape have been observed in the context of phonetic learning skill and expertise, and of professional musicianship, among others. Two of the most common configurations of HG include single HG, where a single transverse temporal gyrus is present, and common stem duplications (CSD), where a sulcus intermedius (SI) arises from the lateral aspect of HG. Here we describe a new toolbox, called 'Multivariate Concavity Amplitude Index' (MCAI), which automatically assesses the shape of HG. MCAI works on the output of TASH, our first toolbox which automatically segments HG, and computes continuous indices of concavity, which arise when sulci are present, along the outer perimeter of an inflated representation of HG, in a directional manner. Thus, MCAI provides a multivariate measure of shape, which is reproducible and sensitive to small variations in shape. We applied MCAI to structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data of N=181 participants, including professional and amateur musicians and from non-musicians. Former studies have shown large variations in HG shape in the former groups. We validated MCAI by showing high correlations between the dominant (i.e. highest) lateral concavity values and continuous visual assessments of the degree of lateral gyrification of the first gyrus. As an application of MCAI, we also replicated previous visually obtained findings showing a higher likelihood of bilateral CSDs in musicians. MCAI opens a wide range of applications in evaluating HG shape in the context of individual differences, expertise, disorder and genetics.

The relationship of reproductive factors with adiposity and body shape indices changes overtime: findings from a community-based study.

BACKGROUND: Studies focusing on the relationships of adiposity and body shape indices with reproductive factors have reported conflicting results. This study aimed to investigate the influence of reproductive factors on adiposity and body shape indices changes overtime. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this community-based prospective study, 1636 postmenopausal women were selected from Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study (TLGS). The unadjusted and adjusted Generalized Estimating Equation models (GEE) were applied to investigate secular longitudinal trends of adiposity and body shape indices. RESULTS: According to the adjusted GEE models, mean changes in body mass index (BMI) in women with early menarche was 1.18 kg/m2 higher than those with normal menarche age (P = 0.030). Moreover, the mean changes in BMI overtime were 0.11 kg/m2 higher in women with premature/early menopausal age than those with normal menopausal age (P = 0.012). Mean changes of waist circumference (WC) in women with late menopause were 2.27 cm higher than those with normal menopausal age (P = 0.036). We also observed higher mean changes in a body shape index (ABSI) in women with late menopause (P = 0.037), compared to those with normal menopausal age. We found a marginal effect of parity on BMI and WC as well. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated higher BMI in females with earlier menarche age. We also showed higher values of BMI overtime in women with premature/ early menopause, whereas women with late menopausal age had higher WC and ABSI values. However, more longitudinal studies investigating body composition indices by adjusting all potential confounders are still required to confirm our study findings.

Solanum lycopersicum CLASS-II KNOX genes regulate fruit anatomy via gibberellin-dependent and independent pathways.

The pericarp is the predominant tissue determining the structural characteristics of most fruits. However, the molecular and genetic mechanisms controlling pericarp development remain only partially understood. Previous studies have identified that CLASS-II KNOX genes regulate fruit size, shape, and maturation in Arabidopsis thaliana and Solanum lycopersicum. Here we characterized the roles of the S. lycopersicum CLASS-II KNOX (TKN-II) genes in pericarp development via a detailed histological, anatomical, and karyotypical analysis of TKN-II gene clade mRNA-knockdown (35S:amiR-TKN-II) fruits. We identify that 35S:amiR-TKN-II pericarps contain more cells around their equatorial perimeter and fewer cell layers than the control. In addition, the cell sizes but not the ploidy levels of these pericarps were dramatically reduced. Further, we demonstrate that fruit shape and pericarp layer number phenotypes of the 35S:amiR-TKN-II fruits can be overridden by the procera mutant, known to induce a constitutive response to the plant hormone gibberellin. However, neither the procera mutation nor exogenous gibberellin application can fully rescue the reduced pericarp width and cell size phenotype of 35S:amiR-TKN-II pericarps. Our findings establish that TKN-II genes regulate tomato fruit anatomy, acting via gibberellin to control fruit shape but utilizing a gibberellin-independent pathway to control the size of pericarp cells.

Relationship between Novel Anthropometric Indices and the Prevalence of Abdominal Aortic Calcification: A Large Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: The relationship between novel anthropometric indices, specifically a body shape index (ABSI) and body roundness index (BRI), with abdominal aortic calcification (AAC) or severe AAC (SAAC) is unclear. The aim of our study was therefore to investigate possible relationships between novel anthropometric indices and prevalence of AAC and SAAC. Methods: We obtained U.S. general population data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey between 2013 and 2014. The study used restricted cubic spline (RCS) analysis, multivariable logistic regression modeling, subgroup analysis, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve assessment. We investigated relationships between ABSI or BRI and AAC and SAAC risk. Associations between ABSI or BRI and the degree of AAC were also evaluated using a generalized additive model. Results: The study cohort was comprised of 1062 individuals. The RCS plots revealed a U-shaped curve associating ABSI with AAC risk. A similar trend emerged for SAAC, where the risk initially increased before subsequently decreasing with rising ABSI levels. Additionally, BRI exhibited a positive correlation with both AAC and SAAC risk. As ABSI and BRI values increased, the degree of AAC also increased. In ROC analysis, ABSI displayed a significantly larger area under the curve compared to BRI. Conclusions: ABSI is associated with AAC prevalence following a U-shaped curve. Additionally, BRI is positively correlated with AAC risk. ABSI demonstrates a superior discriminative ability for AAC compared to BRI. Therefore, maintaining an appropriate ABSI and BRI may reduce the prevalence of AAC.

Association of novel and conventional obesity indices with colorectal cancer risk in older Chinese: a 14-year follow-up of the Guangzhou Biobank Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: Visceral adiposity index (VAI) and a body shape index (ABSI) were newly developed indices for visceral fat mass. Whether they are superior to conventional obesity indices in predicting colorectal cancer (CRC) remains unclear. We examined the associations of VAI and ABSI with CRC risk, and investigated their performance in discriminating CRC risk compared with conventional obesity indices in the Guangzhou Biobank Cohort Study. METHODS: A total of 28,359 participants aged 50 + years without cancer history at baseline (2003-8) were included. CRC were identified from the Guangzhou Cancer Registry. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to assess the association of obesity indices with the CRC risk. Discriminative abilities of obesity indices were assessed using Harrell's C-statistic. RESULTS: During an average follow-up of 13.9 (standard deviation = 3.6) years, 630 incident CRC cases were recorded. After adjusting for potential confounders, the hazard ratio (95% confidence interval) of incident CRC for per standard deviation increment in VAI, ABSI, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) was 1.04 (0.96, 1.12), 1.13 (1.04, 1.22), 1.08 (1.00, 1.17), 1.15 (1.06, 1.24), 1.16 (1.08, 1.25)and 1.13 (1.04, 1.22), respectively. Similar results for colon cancer were found. However, the associations of obesity indices with risk of rectal cancer were non-significant. All obesity indices showed similar discriminative abilities (C-statistics from 0.640 to 0.645), with WHR showing the highest whilst VAI and BMI the lowest. CONCLUSIONS: ABSI, but not VAI, was positively associated with a higher risk of CRC. However, ABSI was not superior to the conventional abdominal obesity indices in predicting CRC.

Modeling the role of land conversion on the spread of an epizootic disease.

Land conversion and the resulting contact between domesticated and wild species has arguably been the single largest contributor to the emergence of novel epizootic and zoonotic diseases in the past century. An unintended consequence of these interactions is zoonotic or epizootic disease spillovers from wild species to humans and their domesticates. Disease spillovers are edge effects of land conversion and are sensitive to the size and shape of converted areas. We combine spatial metrics from landscape ecology with theoretical epidemiological models to understand how the size and shape of land conversion affect epizootic and zoonotic disease transmission of single and two species populations. We show that the less compact the converted area, and the greater the depth of the contact zone, the more rapidly will an introduced disease spread through the domesticated population.

Association between novel anthropometric indices and prevalence of kidney stones in US adults.

BACKGROUND: Our aim is to evaluate the relationship between prevalence of kidney stones (KS) and novel anthropometric indices (AHIs). METHODS: Participants who participated in the KS questionnaire was extracted from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 2007 to 2018.A series of covariates were also obtained. The novel AHIs include a body shape index (ABSI) and body roundness index (BRI). Weighted multivariable-adjusted logistic regression was performed to investigate the association of KS with AHIs. RESULTS: After relative covariates were adjusted, a greater risk of KS for each z score increase in ABSI (OR = 1.13, 95%CI 1.05-1.22), and the risk of KS augmented by 19% for every 1 BRI z score added (OR = 1.19, 95%CI 1.11-1.27). The results from subgroup analysis showed that among adults aged 20-39 (OR = 1.31, 95%CI 1.04-1.65), male (OR = 1.14, 95%CI 1.02-1.28), the risk of KS is higher with the increase of each ABSI z score. Raising each BRI z score in those who were male aged 20-39 and 40-59 resulted in a higher risk of KS (aged 20-39: OR = 1.34, 95%CI 1.06-1.69; aged 40-59: OR = 1.29, 95%CI 1.09-1.53). In female aged 40-59, increasing each BRI z score led to a higher risk of KS (OR = 1.23, 95%CI 1.07-1.41). A linear association of ABSI z score with the risk of KS and a non-linear relationship between BRI z score and the risk of KS were discovered. CONCLUSION: This study found that the novel AHIs was related to the risk of kidney stones, and can be used as important indicators to evaluate the risk of KS.

A Body Shape Index is positively associated with all-cause and cardiovascular disease mortality in the Chinese population with normal weight: A prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: A body shape index (ABSI) is a valuable predictor of mortality in the Western population, but similar evidence in the general Chinese population is limited. This study aims to evaluate the association between the ABSI and all-cause and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality in the Chinese population with normal weight. METHODS AND RESULTS: 9046 participants with normal BMI (18.5-24.9 kg/m2) from the China Hypertension Survey were enrolled. The baseline ABSI was calculated as waist circumference/(BMI2/3height1/2). Cox proportional hazards regression was performed to evaluate the association of the ABSI with all-cause and CVD mortality. Over an average follow-up of 5.4 years, 686 all-cause and 215 CVD deaths occurred. A 0.01-unit increment in the ABSI was associated with a 31% greater risk of all-cause mortality (hazard ratio [HR], 1.31; 95% CI: 1.12, 1.48) and CVD mortality (HR, 1.30; 95% CI: 1.08, 1.58). Compared with quartile 1 of the ABSI, the adjusted HRs of all-cause mortality for quartiles 2-4 were, respectively, 1.25 (95% CI: 0.98, 1.59), 1.28 (95% CI: 0.99, 1.67), and 1.54 (95% CI: 1.17, 2.03) (Ptrend = 0.004), and those of CVD mortality for quartiles 2-4 were, respectively, 1.28 (95% CI: 0.88, 1.83), 1.42 (95% CI: 0.97, 2.08), and 1.45 (95% CI: 0.98, 2.170) (Ptrend = 0.043). The dose-response analysis showed a linear positive association of the ABSI with all-cause (Pnonlinearity = 0.158) and CVD mortality (Pnonlinearity = 0.213). CONCLUSION: The ABSI was positively associated with all-cause and CVD mortality among the general Chinese population with normal BMI. The data suggest that the ABSI may be an effective tool for central fatness for mortality risk assessment.

Sex- and age-specific differences in associations of a body shape index with all-cause and cardiovascular death risks among US adults with diabetes.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Evidence regarding the effect of body shape index (ABSI) on mortality is scarce among individuals with diabetes mellitus (DM). Herein, we explored the relationships between ABSI and all-cause and cardiovascular death risks among US individuals with DM. METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 4657 US adults with DM were enrolled from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES 2003-2014) who had baseline waist circumference, height, and weight data. ABSI was calculated as [Formula: see text] and the survival information of patients was available from recruitment until 2015 utilizing the national death index. We employed Cox proportional hazards models to estimate the association of ABSI with survival. A total of 817 adults with DM died after a median follow-up period of 5.6 years, with an annual all-cause death rate per 1000 person-years of 30.0 [95% CI, 28.0-32.1]. Continuous ABSI z score was positively and significantly associated with all-cause mortality with adjustment for potential confounders (HR = 1.16, 95% CI: 1.06-1.28). ABSI tended to show a higher all-cause and CVD (cardiovascular disease) mortality among men (HR = 1.35, 95% CI: 1.19-1.53 and HR = 1.45, 95% CI: 1.12-1.87, respectively) and patients younger than 60 years (HR = 1.45, 95% CI: 1.16-1.80 and HR = 1.66, 95% CI: 1.09-2.53, respectively). Statistically significant interactions were found between the ABSI and both sex and age for total mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Among US adults with DM from NHANES, ABSI exhibited a linear and positive relationship with total and CVD mortality risk, especially in men and younger patients.