Association of tea and coffee consumption and biliary tract cancer risk: The Biliary Tract Cancers Pooling Project.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Tea and coffee are widely consumed beverages worldwide. We evaluated their association with biliary tract cancer (BTC) incidence. APPROACH AND RESULTS: We pooled data from 15 studies in the Biliary Tract Cancers Pooling Project to evaluate associations between tea and coffee consumption and biliary tract cancer development. We categorized participants as nondrinkers (0 cup/day), moderate drinkers (>0 and <3 cups/day), and heavy drinkers (≥3 cups/day). We estimated multivariable HRs and 95% CIs using Cox models. During 29,911,744 person-years of follow-up, 851 gallbladder, 588 intrahepatic bile duct, 753 extrahepatic bile duct, and 458 ampulla of Vater cancer cases were diagnosed. Individuals who drank tea showed a statistically significantly lower incidence rate of gallbladder cancer (GBC) relative to tea nondrinkers (HR=0.77; 95% CI, 0.64-0.91), and intrahepatic bile duct cancer (IHBDC) had an inverse association (HR=0.81; 95% CI, 0.66-1.00). However, no associations were observed for extrahepatic bile duct cancer (EHBDC) or ampulla of Vater cancer (AVC). In contrast, coffee consumption was positively associated with GBC, with a higher incidence rate for individuals consuming more coffee (HR<3 cups/day =1.29; 95% CI, 1.01-1.66; HR≥3 cups/day =1.49; 95% CI, 1.11-1.99, Ptrend=0.01) relative to coffee nondrinkers. However, there was no association between coffee consumption and GBC when restricted to coffee drinkers. There was little evidence of associations between coffee consumption and other biliary tract cancers. CONCLUSIONS: Tea consumption was associated with a lower incidence of GBC and possibly IHBDC. Further research is warranted to replicate the observed positive association between coffee and GBC.

Coordinated dynamics of aquaculture ponds and water eutrophication owing to policy: A case of Jiangsu province, China.

Aquaculture ponds (APs) are rapidly expanding globally and are considered crucial for guaranteeing the supply of food, population growth, and economic development. However, the rapid expansion of aquaculture not only brought benefits but also a series of eco-environmental issues, such as water eutrophication. To achieve sustainable development, it is essential to gain a profound understanding of the spatiotemporal evolution of APs, the drivers behind their dynamics, and their relationship with the aquatic environment. Jiangsu Province (JS) in China, a historically significant aquaculture region, encompasses two prominent river basins: the Huai River Basin (HRB) and the Yangtze River Basin (YRB). In light of the construction of an ecological civilization, JS serves as a demonstration and pioneering area for basin protection and development. Therefore, this study focuses on JS, aiming to elucidate the spatiotemporal dynamics of APs, the corresponding relationship with basin management policies, and the impact on water eutrophication. The results revealed that: (1) in 2022, APs in JS were unevenly distributed, with a total area of 3278.78 km2, of which 79 % was located in the HRB. (2) During 2016-2022, APs exhibited an initial growth trend before 2019, followed by a decrease. (3) Due to policy interventions, AP changes within different basins showed opposite trends, and the corresponding water eutrophic state aligned with AP dynamics. The findings of this study can serve as a typical case to provide scientific evidence for the formulation and implementation of policies to improve the water environment in eutrophic basins.

Low physical function Post-Cancer diagnosis is associated with higher mortality risk in postmenopausal women.

BACKGROUND: Postmenopausal women with cancer experience an accelerated physical dysfunction beyond that expected through aging alone due to cancer and its treatments. The aim of this study is to determine whether declines in physical function after cancer diagnosis are associated with all-cause mortality and cancer-specific mortality. METHODS: This prospective cohort study included 8,068 postmenopausal women enrolled in the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) who were diagnosed with cancer and had physical function assessed within 1-year of cancer diagnosis. Self-reported physical function was measured using the 10-item physical function subscale of the RAND 36-Item Health Survey. Cause of death was determined by medical record review with central adjudication and linkage to the National Death Index. Death was adjudicated through February 2022. RESULTS: Over a median follow-up of 7.7 years from cancer diagnosis 3,316 (41.1%) women died. Our results showed that for every 10% decline in the physical function score after cancer diagnosis, all-cause mortality and cancer-specific mortality were significantly reduced by 12% (HR, 0.88; 95% CI, 0.87 to 0.89) and (HR, 0.88; 95%CI, 0.86 to 0.91), respectively. Further categorical analyses showed a significant dose-response relationship between post-diagnosis physical function categories and mortality outcomes (trend test P < .001), where the median survival time for women in the lowest physical function quartile was 9.1 (8.6, 10.6) years compared to 18.4 (15.8, 22.0) years for women in the highest physical function quartile. CONCLUSION: Postmenopausal women with low physical function after cancer diagnosis may be at higher risk of mortality from all causes and cancer-related mortality.

Vegetarian diets and risk of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: An observational study of National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2005-2018 using propensity score methods.

BACKGROUND: Studies on the association between vegetarian diets and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) are limited and have inconsistent results. This study aims to explore the association between vegetarian diets and NAFLD and compare the stage of fibrosis between vegetarians and nonvegetarians in a US representative sample. METHODS: Cross-sectional data from 23,130 participants aged ≥20 years were obtained from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2005-2018. Vegetarian status was classified based on two 24-h dietary recalls. We examined the association between vegetarian diets and the risk of NAFLD using the propensity score weighting method. RESULTS: Vegetarian diets were significantly associated with decreases in hepatic steatosis index (HSI), US fatty liver index and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease fibrosis score with mean differences of -2.70 (95% confidence interval [CI]: -3.69, -1.70), -3.03 (95% CI: -7.15, -0.91) and -0.12 (95% CI: -0.26, -0.01), respectively. While modelling the risk of NAFLD, we estimated that vegetarians were 53% less likely to have NAFLD assessed by HSI (odds ratios [OR]: 0.47; 95% CI: 0.34, 0.65). The effect of vegetarian diets was higher among individuals with lower waist circumferences (OR: 0.20) than among those with higher waist circumferences (OR: 0.53, p interaction ${p}_{\text{interaction}}\,$ = 0.004). However, the association was largely attenuated after adjusting for body mass index and diabetes status. No significant association was identified between vegetarian diets and advanced fibrosis. CONCLUSIONS: Vegetarian diets were associated with a lower prevalence of NAFLD among US adults, and the association appeared to be stronger in people with lower waist circumferences. Further studies are warranted to replicate our findings.

SGLT2 Inhibitor Use and Risk of Breast Cancer Among Adult Women with Type 2 Diabetes.

INTRODUCTION: Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors are a relatively new class of antihyperglycemic agents, with the potential to inhibit breast cancer development. However, the association between SGLT2 inhibitors and risk of breast cancer in human studies is unclear. OBJECTIVE: The aim of our study is to use a large national claims database to assess the association between SGLT2 inhibitor use and risk of breast cancer. METHODS: We considered a study population of 158,483 adult women with type 2 diabetes who newly initiated SGLT2 inhibitors or dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP4) inhibitors using Optum's deidentified Clinformatics Data Mart Database between 1 January 2013 and 31 March 2022. The association between SGLT2 inhibitor use and risk of breast cancer was examined using Cox proportional hazard models stratified by age in the overall sample and in a subsample based on propensity score and medication initiation time matching. The effect of medication use duration was explored. RESULTS: With an average follow-up of 2.2 years, 2154 breast cancer cases were identified. There was no significant association between SGLT2 inhibitor use and the risk of breast cancer in overall sample (HR = 0.96; 95% CI 0.87, 1.06), in women younger than 51 years old (HR = 0.88; 95% CI 0.59, 1.32), or in women aged 51 years or older (HR = 0.95; 95% CI 0.86, 1.04). The results remained nonsignificant using matching, medication use duration, and sensitivity analyses. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest SGLT2 inhibitors use was not associated with breast cancer risk compared with DPP4 inhibitors use. Studies with longer follow-up and better adjustments are needed to confirm the finding.

Hysterectomy, oophorectomy and risk of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Hysterectomy is associated with an increased risk for adverse health outcomes. However, its connection to the risk of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) remains unclear. The aims of our study were to investigate the associations between hysterectomy, oophorectomy and risk of NHL and its major subtypes (eg, diffuse large B-cell lymphoma [DLBCL]), and whether these associations were modified by exogenous hormone use. Postmenopausal women (n = 141,621) aged 50-79 years at enrollment (1993-1998) from the Women's Health Initiative were followed for an average of 17.2 years. Hysterectomy and oophorectomy were self-reported at baseline. Incident NHL cases were confirmed by central review of medical records and pathology reports. During the follow-up period, a total of 1719 women were diagnosed with NHL. Hysterectomy, regardless of oophorectomy status, was associated with an increased risk of NHL (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.23, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.05-1.44). Oophorectomy was not independently associated with NHL risk after adjusting for hysterectomy. When stratified by hormone use, the association between hysterectomy and NHL risk was confined to women who had never used hormone therapy (HR = 1.35, 95% CI: 1.06-1.71), especially for DLBCL subtype (P for interaction = .01), and to those who had undergone hysterectomy before the age of 55. Our large prospective study showed that hysterectomy was a risk factor of NHL. Findings varied by hormone use. Future studies incorporating detailed information on the types and indications of hysterectomy may deepen our understanding of the mechanisms underlying DLBCL development and its potential interactions with hormone use.

A novel strategy for estimating biomass of submerged aquatic vegetation in lake integrating UAV and Sentinel data.

Submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) plays a fundamental ecological role in mediating carbon cycling within lakes, and its biomass is essential to assess the carbon sequestration potential of lake ecosystems. Remote sensing (RS) offers a powerful tool for large-scale SAV biomass retrieval. Given the underwater location of SAV, the spectral signal in RS data often exhibits weakness, capturing primarily horizontal structure rather than volumetric information crucial for biomass assessment. Fortunately, easily-measured SAV coverage can serve as an intermediary variable for difficultly-quantified SAV biomass inversion. Nevertheless, obtaining enough SAV coverage samples matching satellite image pixels for robust model development remains problematic. To overcome this challenge, we employed a UAV to acquire high-precision data, thereby replacing manual SAV coverage sample collection. In this study, we proposed an innovative strategy integrating unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and satellite data to invert large-scale SAV coverage, and subsequently estimate the biomass of the dominant SAV population (Potamogeton pectinatus) in Ulansuhai Lake. Firstly, a coverage-biomass model (R2 = 0.93, RMSE = 0.8 kg/m2) depicting the relationship between SAV coverage and biomass was developed. Secondly, in a designed experimental area, a high-precision multispectral image was captured by a UAV. Based on the Normalized Difference Water Index (NDWI), the UAV-based image was classified into non-vegetated and vegetated areas, thereby generating an SAV distribution map. Leveraging spatial correspondence between satellite pixels and the UAV-based SAV distribution map, the proportion of SAV within each satellite pixel, referred to as SAV coverage, was computed, and a coverage sample set matched with satellite pixels was obtained. Subsequently, based on the sample set, a satellite-scale SAV coverage estimation model (R2 = 0.78, RMSE = 14.05 %) was constructed with features from Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2 data by XGBoost algorithm. Finally, integrating the coverage-biomass model with the obtained coverage inversion results, fresh biomass of SAV in Ulansuhai Lake was successfully estimated to be approximately 574,600 tons.

Allostatic load and risk of invasive breast cancer among postmenopausal women in the U.S.

OBJECTIVE: Allostatic load can reflect the body's response to chronic stress. However, little is known about the association between allostatic load and risk of breast cancer in postmenopausal women. This study used a large prospective cohort in the United States to examine the relationship between allostatic load and invasive breast cancer risk, and to evaluate the relationship by racial and ethnic identity and breast cancer subtypes. METHODS: Among 161,808 postmenopausal participants in Women's Health Initiative, eligible were a subsample of 27,393 postmenopausal women aged 50-79 years old, who enrolled from 1993 to 1998, had serum test biomarkers, and were followed for breast cancer incidence through February 2022. Allostatic load at enrollment was computed based on eight biomarkers from lab serum tests and a questionnaire about participants' prescription drug use. The associations between allostatic scores and risk of breast cancer (overall and by subtypes) were assessed using Cox proportional hazards models. The race and ethnic differences were examined. RESULTS: Over a median follow-up time of 17.24 years, 1722 invasive breast cancer cases were identified. High allostatic load was associated with an increased risk of breast cancer (HR = 1.36, 95%CI: 1.20, 1.54 for third tertile vs first tertile, Ptrend < 0.0001). Similar trends were found in White women and non-Hispanic women. Higher allostatic load was associated with hormone receptor-positive and HER2/Neu-negative breast cancer (HR = 1.54, 95%CI: 1.30, 1.80 for third tertile vs first tertile, Ptrend < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: In this study, we found that higher allostatic load was significantly associated with an increased risk of breast cancer in postmenopausal women.

Changes in physical function in older women with endometrial cancer with or without adjuvant therapy.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate changes in physical function (PF) for older women with endometrial cancer (EC) + / - adjuvant therapy in the Women's Health Initiative Life and Longevity after Cancer cohort. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study examined women ≥ 70 years of age with EC with available treatment records. Change in PF was measured using the RAND-36 and compared between groups using Wilcoxon rank-sum tests. Multivariable median regression was used to compare the changes in scores while adjusting for confounding variables. RESULTS: Included in the study were 287 women, 150 (52.3%) women who did not receive adjuvant therapy and 137 (47.7%) who received adjuvant therapy. When comparing PF scores, there was a statistically significant difference in the median percent change in functional decline, with a greater decline in those who received adjuvant therapy (- 5.9% [- 23.5 to 0%]) compared to those who did not (0 [- 18.8 to + 6.7%]), p = 0.02). Results were not statistically significant after multivariable adjustment, but women who underwent chemotherapy had a greater percent change (median ∆ - 13.8% [- 35.5 to 0%]) compared to those who received radiation alone (median ∆ - 5.9% [- 31.3 to 0%]) or chemotherapy and radiation (median ∆ - 6.5% [- 25.8 to + 5.7%]. CONCLUSIONS: Older women with EC who received adjuvant therapy experienced greater change in PF than those who did not receive adjuvant therapy, particularly women who received chemotherapy. These results were not statistically significant on multivariate analysis. IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS: EC survivors may experience changes in PF because of chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy. Additional supportive care may need to be provided to older women to mitigate functional decline.

Bilateral Oophorectomy and Colorectal Cancer Incidence and Mortality in the Women's Health Initiative.

BACKGROUND: The few cohort studies examining oophorectomy and colorectal cancer risk provide mixed results. Therefore, we examined this issue in Women's Health Initiative Observational Study participants. METHODS: A total of 71,312 postmenopausal women were followed for 22.1 years (median). At enrollment, 55,643 (78%) had intact ovaries and 15,669 (22%) had undergone a bilateral oophorectomy. Colorectal cancers were verified by central medical record review with mortality findings enhanced by National Death Index queries. RESULTS: With 1,421 incident colorectal cancers, 450 colorectal cancer-specific mortalities, after controlling for covariates, bilateral oophorectomy was not associated with colorectal cancer incidence or colorectal cancer mortality. CONCLUSIONS: No significant associations between oophorectomy and colorectal cancer incidence and mortality were seen in a large cohort study with long follow-up. IMPACT: As the oophorectomy and colorectal cancer question remains open, further studies of high quality, even with null findings, should be encouraged.

Sex-Specific Associations between Adiponectin and Leptin Signaling and Pancreatic Cancer Survival.

BACKGROUND: Circulating adiponectin and leptin have been associated with risk of pancreatic cancer. However, the relationship between long-term exposure to these adipokines in the prediagnostic period with patient survival has not been investigated. METHODS: Adipokine levels were measured in prospectively collected samples from 472 patients with pancreatic cancer. Because of sex-specific differences in adipokine levels, associations were evaluated separately for men and women. In a subset of 415 patients, we genotyped 23 SNPs in adiponectin receptor genes (ADIPOR1 and ADIPOR2) and 30 SNPs in the leptin receptor gene (LEPR). RESULTS: Adiponectin levels were inversely associated with survival in women [HR, 1.71; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.15-2.54]; comparing top with bottom quartile but not in men (HR, 0.89; 95% CI, 0.46-1.70). The SNPs rs10753929 and rs1418445 in ADIPOR1 were associated with survival in the combined population (per minor allele HR, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.51-0.84, and HR, 1.33; 95% CI, 1.12-1.58, respectively). Among SNPs in LEPR, rs12025906, rs3790431, and rs17127601 were associated with survival in the combined population [HRs, 1.54 (95% CI, 1.25-1.90), 0.72 (95% CI, 0.59-0.88), and 0.70 (95% CI, 0.56-0.89), respectively], whereas rs11585329 was associated with survival in men only (HR, 0.39; 95% CI, 0.23-0.66; Pinteraction = 0.0002). CONCLUSIONS: High levels of adiponectin in the prediagnostic period were associated with shorter survival among women, but not among men with pancreatic cancer. Several polymorphisms in ADIPOR1 and LEPR are associated with patient survival. IMPACT: Our findings reveal the association between adipokine signaling and pancreatic cancer survival and demonstrate the importance of examining obesity-associated pathways in relation to pancreatic cancer in a sex-specific manner.

Diets with Higher Anti-inflammatory Potential Associated with Lower Risk of Development of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and Early-Stage of Fibrosis Among US Adults.

BACKGROUND: There is limited evidence of how dietary inflammatory potential influences nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) progression. AIMS: Our study aims to evaluate the association of dietary inflammatory index (DII) with liver fibrosis, a hallmark feature of NAFLD, among US adults. METHODS: Cross-sectional data consisting of 5,506 participants in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2011 to 2018 were used. Energy adjusted-DII (E-DII) scores were calculated using 2 days of 24-h dietary recall data. We used a partial proportional odds model to determine risk at each stage of fibrosis according to the E-DII score. RESULTS: The weighted prevalence of NAFLD (assessed by US fatty liver index) was 34.5%, with 23.2% (assessed by NAFLD Fibrosis Score) having mild fibrosis, 10.4% intermediate fibrosis, and 0.9% advanced fibrosis. When comparing the most pro-inflammatory diets to the most anti-inflammatory diets (AIDs) in the multivariable model, the marginal probability effect (MPE) of NAFLD, mild fibrosis and intermediate fibrosis increased by 11.7% (95% CI 6.6%, 16.9%), 7.0% (95% CI 3.5%, 10.4%) and 4.0% (95% CI 0.3%, 7.5%), respectively. The MPE of advanced fibrosis was not significant (MPE = 0.7%; 95% CI - 1.1%, 2.8%). Similar associations were observed when applying Fibrosis-4 and transient elastography as fibrosis diagnostic measurements. CONCLUSIONS: An AID was associated with lower risk of development of NAFLD and early-stage of fibrosis among US adults. But the associations became attenuated and dissipated as the fibrogenesis became severe. Further studies are needed to re-confirm our observations.

New-Onset Diabetes after an Obesity-Related Cancer Diagnosis and Survival Outcomes in the Women's Health Initiative.

BACKGROUND: Individuals diagnosed with an obesity-related cancer (ORC survivors) are at an elevated risk of incident diabetes compared with cancer-free individuals, but whether this confers survival disadvantage is unknown. METHODS: We assessed the rate of incident diabetes in ORC survivors and evaluated the association of incident diabetes with all-cause and cancer-specific mortality among females with ORC in the Women's Health Initiative cohort (N = 14,651). Cox proportional hazards regression models stratified by exposure-risk periods (0-1, >1-3, >3-5, >5-7, and >7-10 years) from ORC diagnosis and time-varying exposure (diabetes) analyses were performed. RESULTS: Among the ORC survivors, a total of 1.3% developed diabetes within ≤1 year of follow-up and 2.5%, 2.3%, 2.3%, and 3.6% at 1-3, 3-5, 5-7, and 7-10 years of follow-up, respectively, after an ORC diagnosis. The median survival for those diagnosed with diabetes within 1-year of cancer diagnosis and those with no diabetes diagnosis in that time frame was 8.8 [95% confidence interval (CI), 7.0-14.5) years and 16.6 (95% CI, 16.1-17.0) years, respectively. New-onset compared with no diabetes as a time-varying exposure was associated with higher risk of all-cause (HR, 1.27; 95% CI, 1.16-1.40) and cancer-specific (HR, 1.17; 95% CI, 0.99-1.38) mortality. When stratified by exposure-risk periods, incident diabetes in ≤1 year of follow-up was associated with higher all-cause (HR, 1.76; 95% CI, 1.40-2.20) and cancer-specific (HR0-1, 1.82; 95% CI, 1.28-2.57) mortality, compared with no diabetes diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: Incident diabetes was associated with worse cancer-specific and all-cause survival, particularly in the year after cancer diagnosis. IMPACT: These findings draw attention to the importance of diabetes prevention efforts among cancer survivors to improve survival outcomes.

Association of Later-Life Weight Changes With Survival to Ages 90, 95, and 100: The Women's Health Initiative.

BACKGROUND: Associations of weight changes and intentionality of weight loss with longevity are not well described. METHODS: Using longitudinal data from the Women's Health Initiative (N = 54 437; 61-81 years), we examined associations of weight changes and intentionality of weight loss with survival to ages 90, 95, and 100. Weight was measured at baseline, year 3, and year 10, and participants were classified as having weight loss (≥5% decrease from baseline), weight gain (≥5% increase from baseline), or stable weight (<5% change from baseline). Participants reported intentionality of weight loss at year 3. RESULTS: A total of 30 647 (56.3%) women survived to ≥90 years. After adjustment for relevant covariates, 3-year weight loss of ≥5% vs stable weight was associated with lower odds of survival to ages 90 (OR, 0.67; 95% CI, 0.64-0.71), 95 (OR, 0.65; 95% CI, 0.60-0.71), and 100 (OR, 0.62; 95% CI, 0.49-0.78). Compared to intentional weight loss, unintentional weight loss was more strongly associated with lower odds of survival to age 90 (OR, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.74-0.94 and OR, 0.49; 95% CI, 0.44-0.55, respectively). Three-year weight gain of ≥5% vs stable weight was not associated with survival to age 90, 95, or 100. The pattern of results was similar among normal weight, overweight, and obese women in body mass index (BMI)-stratified analyses. CONCLUSIONS: Weight loss of ≥5% vs stable weight was associated with lower odds of longevity, more strongly for unintentional weight loss than for intentional weight loss. Potential inaccuracy of self-reported intentionality of weight loss and residual confounding were limitations.

Optimal objective measurement of physical function and its predictive capacity for mortality among community-dwelling older women.

AIM: Objective measurements of physcial function, including gait speed, handgrip strength, and the chair stand test, have been shown to have predictive capacity for negative health-related outcomes. The aim of this study was to examine campariatively which of these common assessments may be optimal in terms of their predictive capacity for mortality. METHODS: A total of 9834 community-dwelling older women aged 65-89 years from the Study of Osteoporotic Fractures (SOF) were followed for 20 years. Gait speed, handgrip strength, and the chair stand test were measured every 2-4 years on up to 9 visits. All deaths were adjudicated. RESULTS: All three measurements of physical function were significantly associated with overall, cardiovascular disease and other mortality. Gait speed had the greatest magnitude of hazard ratios (HRs) for all outcomes of interest. A one-unit standard deviation increase in gait speed was associated with a 33% (HR = 0.67, 95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 0.64-0.70) lower risk for overall mortality, a 31% (HR = 0.69, 95% CI: 0.64-0.73) lower risk for cardiovascular disease mortality, a 15% (HR = 0.85, 95% CI: 0.78-0.92) lower risk for cancer mortality and a 42% (HR = 0.58, 95% CI: 0.55-0.62) lower risk for other mortality. Further examination of gait speed identified two cut-points (0.9 and 0.7 m/s) that were strongly indicative of increased mortality risk. CONCLUSION: Our large prospective study indicates that gait speed possesses a better prediction of mortality among older women compared with handgrip strength or the chair stand test. Using cut-points of 0.9 and 0.7 m/s can help identify older women at higher mortality risk, who may benefit from physical function improvement interventions. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2023; 23: 715-721.

Quantification of Diffusive Methane Emissions from a Large Eutrophic Lake with Satellite Imagery.

Lakes are major emitters of methane (CH4); however, a longstanding challenge with quantifying the magnitude of emissions remains as a result of large spatial and temporal variability. This study was designed to address the issue using satellite remote sensing with the advantages of spatial coverage and temporal resolution. Using Aqua/MODIS imagery (2003-2020) and in situ measured data (2011-2017) in eutrophic Lake Taihu, we compared the performance of eight machine learning models to predict diffusive CH4 emissions and found that the random forest (RF) model achieved the best fitting accuracy (R2 = 0.65 and mean relative error = 21%). On the basis of input satellite variables (chlorophyll a, water surface temperature, diffuse attenuation coefficient, and photosynthetically active radiation), we assessed how and why they help predict the CH4 emissions with the RF model. Overall, these variables mechanistically controlled the emissions, leading to the model capturing well the variability of diffusive CH4 emissions from the lake. Additionally, we found climate warming and associated algal blooms boosted the long-term increase in the emissions via reconstructing historical (2003-2020) daily time series of CH4 emissions. This study demonstrates the great potential of satellites to map lake CH4 emissions by providing spatiotemporal continuous data, with new and timely insights into accurately understanding the magnitude of aquatic greenhouse gas emissions.

Birth weight, adult body size, and risk of colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: Evidence suggests that birth weight may be associated with colorectal cancer (CRC) risk later in life. Whether the association is mediated by adult body size remains unexamined. METHOD: Cox proportional hazards models (Hazard Ratio (HR) and 95 % Confidence Intervals (CI)) were used to evaluate the association between self-reported birth weight (<6 lbs, 6-<8 lbs, ≥8 lbs) and CRC risk among 70,397 postmenopausal women from the Women's Health Initiative. Further, we assessed whether this association was mediated by adult body size using multiple mediation analyses. RESULTS: Compared with birth weights of 6-< 8 lbs, birth weight ≥ 8 lbs was associated with higher CRC risk in postmenopausal women (HR = 1.31, 95 % CI 1.16-1.48). This association was significantly mediated by adult height (proportion mediated =11.4 %), weight (11.2 %), waist circumference (10.9 %), and body mass index at baseline (4.0 %). The joint effect of adult height and weight explained 21.6 % of this positive association. CONCLUSION: Our data support the hypothesis that the intrauterine environment and fetal development may be related to the risk of developing CRC later in life. While adult body size partially explains this association, further investigation is required to identify other factors that mediate the link between birth weight and CRC.

Management actions mitigate the risk of carbon dioxide emissions from urban lakes.

Lakes are recognized as important sources of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, which vary greatly across land use type. However, CO2 emissions from lakes in urban landscapes are generally overlooked despite their daily connections to human activity. Furthermore, the role of management actions in CO2 emissions remained unclear mostly because of the lack of long-term observations. Here, the CO2 partial pressure (pCO2) from two urban lakes (Lake Wuli and Lake Donghu) in eastern China were investigated based on 16-year (2002-2017) field measurements. This long-term measurements showed the annual mean pCO2 were 1150 ± 612 µatm for Lake Wuli and 1143 ± 887 µatm for Lake Donghu, with corresponding estimated flux of 21.12 ± 19.60 mmol m-2 d-1 and 16.42 ± 20.39 mmol m-2 d-1, respectively. This indicates significant CO2 evasion into the atmosphere. Strong links between CO2 and human-derived nutrients (e.g., ammonium) and dissolved organic carbon, dissolved oxygen, and trophic state index were found. Although pCO2 was relatively uniform across sites and seasons in each lake, substantial inter-annual variability with significant decreasing trends were found. The decrease in annual CO2 can be partly explained by the reduction of pollutant loadings with management actions, which held the hypotheses that management actions mitigated the CO2 emission risks. Overall, management actions (e.g., ecological restoration and municipal engineering) should be considered for better understanding the roles of anthropogenic aquatic ecosystems in carbon cycle.