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Science Advances Jun 2024Communities in resource-poor areas face health, food production, sustainability, and overall survival challenges. Consequently, they are commonly featured in global...
Communities in resource-poor areas face health, food production, sustainability, and overall survival challenges. Consequently, they are commonly featured in global debates surrounding societal collapse. Rapa Nui (Easter Island) is often used as an example of how overexploitation of limited resources resulted in a catastrophic population collapse. A vital component of this narrative is that the rapid rise and fall of pre-contact Rapanui population growth rates was driven by the construction and overexploitation of once extensive rock gardens. However, the extent of island-wide rock gardening, while key for understanding food systems and demography, must be better understood. Here, we use shortwave infrared (SWIR) satellite imagery and machine learning to generate an island-wide estimate of rock gardening and reevaluate previous population size models for Rapa Nui. We show that the extent of this agricultural infrastructure is substantially less than previously claimed and likely could not have supported the large population sizes that have been assumed.
Topics: Agriculture; Islands; Humans; Satellite Imagery; Machine Learning; Population Density; Conservation of Natural Resources
PubMed: 38905341
DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.ado1459 -
Aging Clinical and Experimental Research Jun 2024The Single Point Insulin Sensitivity Estimator (SPISE) index is a surrogate marker for insulin sensitivity. Given the emerging role of bone as an active endocrine organ,...
BACKGROUND
The Single Point Insulin Sensitivity Estimator (SPISE) index is a surrogate marker for insulin sensitivity. Given the emerging role of bone as an active endocrine organ, its associations with non-invasive measures of extra-skeletal functions such as insulin sensitivity warrant investigation.
AIMS
This study aimed to explore the relationship between the SPISE index and Bone Mineral Density (BMD) in an adult population.
METHODS
Data from a total of 1270 Arab adults (84% females, mean age 56.7 ± 8.1 years) from the Osteoporosis Registry Database of the Chair for Biomarkers of Chronic Diseases in King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia was used in this study. T-scores and SPISE were calculated. Regression models were used to determine associations between SPISE and bone health indices.
RESULTS
The low BMD group (N = 853; T-score <-1.0) had significantly higher SPISE values than those with normal BMD (N = 417; T-score - 1.0 and above) (4.6 ± 1.3 vs. 4.3 ± 1.2, p < 0.001). Multivariate linear regression, adjusted for covariates, confirmed a significant inverse association between SPISE and BMD for all participants (β=-0.22, p < 0.001), as well as both groups [normal BMD (β = -0.10, p = 0.02) and low BMD groups (β = -0.15, p < 0.001)]. SPISE, family history of T2DM, and history of fractures collectively account for 17% of the variances perceived in T-score for all participants (p < 0.001).
CONCLUSIONS
A significant inverse association between the SPISE index and BMD was observed in adults, suggesting a link between BMD and extra-skeletal health. Underlying mechanisms need to be investigated prospectively using BMD as secondary outcomes in lifestyle modification programs.
Topics: Humans; Female; Male; Middle Aged; Bone Density; Arabs; Insulin Resistance; Saudi Arabia; Osteoporosis; Aged; Adult
PubMed: 38904881
DOI: 10.1007/s40520-024-02789-5 -
Endocrine Connections Jun 2024To create a nomogram-based model to estimate the Chinese population's 5-year risk of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD).
OBJECTIVE
To create a nomogram-based model to estimate the Chinese population's 5-year risk of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD).
METHODS
We randomly divided 7582 participants into two groups in a 7:3 ratio: one group was assigned to work with the training set, which consisted of 5307 cases, and the other group was assigned to validate the model using 2275 cases. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) model was employed to ascertain the variables with the highest correlation among all potential variables. A logistic model was constructed by incorporating these selected variables, which were subsequently visualized using a nomogram. The discriminatory ability, calibration, and clinical utility of the model were assessed using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, calibration curve, and decision curve analysis (DCA).
RESULTS
During the 5-year follow-up, 1034 (13.64%) total participants were newly diagnosed with MASLD. Using 8 variables (gender, body mass index, waist, hemoglobin, alanine aminotransferase, uric acid, triglycerides and high-density lipoprotein) , we built a 5-year MASLD risk prediction model. The nomogram showed an area under the ROC of 0.795 (95% confidence intervals (CI): 0.779-0.811) in the training set and 0.785 (95% CI: 0.760-0.810) in the validation set. The calibration curves revealed a 5-year period of agreement between the observed and predicted MASLD risks. DCA curves illustrated the practicality of this nomogram over threshold probability profiles ranging from 5% to 50%.
CONCLUSIONS
We created and tested a nomogram to forecast the risk of MASLD prevalence over the next 5 years.
PubMed: 38904472
DOI: 10.1530/EC-24-0186 -
IScience Jun 2024The UN (United Nations) collects global data on the country-level Percentage of Population Residing in Urban Area (PPRUA). However, variations in urban definitions make...
The UN (United Nations) collects global data on the country-level Percentage of Population Residing in Urban Area (PPRUA). However, variations in urban definitions make these data incomparable across countries. This study assesses national defined PPRUA within UN statistics against estimates we derived using global comparable definitions. Refer to the UN's Degree of Urbanization framework, we propose 90 global harmonized methods for estimating PPRUA by combining different configurations of three global population datasets, six urban total population thresholds, and five urban population density thresholds. This approach demonstrated significant variations in country-level PPRUA estimations, with wide 95% confidence intervals using the score method. Most national defined PPRUA fall between the upper 95% CI and the median of the estimations, underscoring the need for globally harmonious PPRUA estimates. This study advocates for a reassessment of datasets and thresholds in the future and for investigating urbanization on a scale beyond the country level.
PubMed: 38904069
DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.110125 -
International Journal of Medical... 2024Close associations among secondhand smoke (SHS) and metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its components have been demonstrated, however sex differences in these associations...
Close associations among secondhand smoke (SHS) and metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its components have been demonstrated, however sex differences in these associations remain unclear. We collected 121,364 participants from the Taiwan Biobank, and excluded those with smoking history, the remaining 88,297 participants (male: 18,595; female: 69,702; mean age 50.1 ± 11.0 years) were included. SHS exposure was evaluated based on self-reported questionnaires. SHS was associated with MetS (odds ratio [OR], 1.268, < 0.001 for males 1.180, < 0.001 for females), abdominal obesity (OR, 1.234, < 0.001 for males 1.199, < 0.001 for females), low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (OR, 1.183, = 0.008 for males 1.094, = 0.011 for females), hyperglycemia (OR, 1.286, < 0.001 for males 1.234, < 0.001 for females), but not with hypertriglyceridemia. SHS was associated with high blood pressure (BP) (OR, 1.278, < 0.001) only in males, but not in females. Furthermore, significant interactions were found between sex x SHS on MetS ( = 0.023), abdominal obesity ( = 0.032), and elevated BP ( < 0.001). Moreover, the participants who were exposed to SHS for ≥1 hour per week were associated with a higher risk (OR = 1.316, = 0.001 in males OR = 1.220, < 0.001 in females) of MetS compared to those with no exposure. These results showed an association between SHS and a high OR for MetS in both the males and females. Furthermore, sex differences were identified in the associations between SHS and MetS and its components, and SHS was more closely related to MetS, abdominal obesity, and high BP in males than in females.
Topics: Humans; Metabolic Syndrome; Male; Female; Taiwan; Middle Aged; Tobacco Smoke Pollution; Adult; Sex Factors; Follow-Up Studies; Obesity, Abdominal; Non-Smokers; Risk Factors; Aged
PubMed: 38903920
DOI: 10.7150/ijms.97306 -
Scientific Reports Jun 2024Patients with immune-mediated inflammatory diseases are prone to steatotic liver disease (SLD), which has been observed in patients with psoriasis and hidradenitis...
Patients with immune-mediated inflammatory diseases are prone to steatotic liver disease (SLD), which has been observed in patients with psoriasis and hidradenitis suppurativa. We aimed to assess whether systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) was associated with SLD and to define factors associated with SLD in SLE. This was a cross-sectional study, we included 106 consecutive patients with SLE who were seen in the rheumatology clinic between June 2021 and March 2022 and we chose two sex-paired controls for each SLE. All the participants underwent FibroScan and anthropometric assessments. SLD was defined as a controlled attenuation parameter ≥ 275dB/m. Prevalence of SLD was lower in patients with SLE (21.7% vs 41.5%, p < 0.001). Patients with SLE and SLD had a lower frequency of hydroxychloroquine use (65% vs 84%, p = 0.04), and higher C3 levels [123mg/dl (IQR 102-136) vs 99mg/dl (IQR 78-121), p = 0.004]. Factors associated with SLD in SLE were body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, glucose, and C3; hydroxychloroquine use was a protective factor. On univariate analysis, SLE was associated with a reduced risk of SLD (OR 0.39, 95%CI 0.23-0.67); however, after adjusting for age, BMI, waist, glucose, triglycerides, high-density cholesterol, low-density cholesterol, leukocytes, and hydroxychloroquine, it was no longer associated (OR 0.43, 95%CI 0.10-1.91). In conclusion, the prevalence of SLD in patients with SLE was not higher than that in the general population, and SLE was not associated with SLD. The factors associated with SLD were anthropometric data, glucose, hydroxychloroquine, and C3 levels.
Topics: Humans; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic; Female; Male; Cross-Sectional Studies; Adult; Middle Aged; Hydroxychloroquine; Fatty Liver; Body Mass Index; Prevalence; Risk Factors; Waist Circumference; Complement C3
PubMed: 38902318
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-65105-1 -
Scientific Reports Jun 202417β-estradiol, the most biologically active estrogen, exerts wide-ranging effects in brain through its action on estrogen receptors (ERs), influencing higher-order...
17β-estradiol, the most biologically active estrogen, exerts wide-ranging effects in brain through its action on estrogen receptors (ERs), influencing higher-order cognitive function and neurobiological aging. However, our knowledge of ER expression and regulation by neuroendocrine aging in the living human brain is limited. This in vivo brain F-fluoroestradiol (F-FES) Positron Emission Tomography (PET) study of healthy midlife women reveals progressively higher ER density over the menopause transition in estrogen-regulated networks. Effects were independent of age, plasma estradiol and sex hormone binding globulin, and were highly consistent, correctly classifying all women as being postmenopausal or premenopausal. Higher ER density in target regions was associated with poorer memory performance for both postmenopausal and perimenopausal groups, and predicted presence of self-reported mood and cognitive symptoms after menopause. These findings provide novel insights on brain ER density modulation by female neuroendocrine aging, with clinical implications for women's health.
Topics: Humans; Female; Middle Aged; Cognition; Brain; Aging; Receptors, Estrogen; Positron-Emission Tomography; Adult; Estradiol; Neurosecretory Systems; Menopause
PubMed: 38902275
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-62820-7 -
Health & Place Jun 2024The UN-Habitat World Cities Report 2020 highlighted that overcrowded housing, not urban density, is the major contributing factor to the spread of COVID-19. The...
The UN-Habitat World Cities Report 2020 highlighted that overcrowded housing, not urban density, is the major contributing factor to the spread of COVID-19. The relatively successful ability of densely populated cities such as Seoul, Singapore, Tokyo and New York City to manage virus spread supports this. We hypothesise that, given the complexity of the interaction between people and place, the relative contribution of density and crowding to the spread of infectious diseases may be contingent on local factors. To directly compare the role of urban density and household overcrowding, we examine each in relation to COVID-19 incidence in the three largest cities in Australia, Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, as the pandemic unfolded from July 2021 to January 2022. Using ecological models adjusted for spatial autocorrelation and area-level measures of age and socio-economic factors, we assess the association between population density, overcrowding in homes, and COVID-19 infections in local neighbourhoods. Challenging prevailing assumptions, we find evidence for an effect of both density and overcrowding on COVID-19 infections depending on the city and area within cities; that is, depending on the local context. For example, in the southwestern suburbs of Sydney, the case rate decreases by between 0.4 and 6.4 with every one-unit increase in gross density however the case rate increases by between 0.01 and 9.6 with every one-unit increase in total overcrowding. These findings have important implications for developing pandemic response strategies: public health measures that target either density (e.g., lockdowns and restricted range of travel) or overcrowding (e.g., restricting number of people relative to dwelling, mask-wearing indoors, vaccination prioritisation) must be cognisant of the geographically local contexts in which they are implemented.
PubMed: 38901135
DOI: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2024.103298 -
PLoS Computational Biology Jun 2024Microbial communities play fundamental roles in every complex ecosystem, such as soil, sea and the human body. The stability and diversity of the microbial community...
Microbial communities play fundamental roles in every complex ecosystem, such as soil, sea and the human body. The stability and diversity of the microbial community depend precisely on the composition of the microbiota. Any change in the composition of these communities affects microbial functions. An important goal of studying the interactions between species is to understand the behavior of microbes and their responses to perturbations. These interactions among species are mediated by the exchange of metabolites within microbial communities. We developed a computational model for the microbial community that has a separate compartment for exchanging metabolites. This model can predict possible metabolites that cause competition, commensalism, and mutual interactions between species within a microbial community. Our constraint-based community metabolic modeling approach provides insights to elucidate the pattern of metabolic interactions for each common metabolite between two microbes. To validate our approach, we used a toy model and a syntrophic co-culture of Desulfovibrio vulgaris and Methanococcus maripaludis, as well as another in co-culture between Geobacter sulfurreducens and Rhodoferax ferrireducens. For a more general evaluation, we applied our algorithm to the honeybee gut microbiome, composed of seven species, and the epiphyte strain Pantoea eucalypti 299R. The epiphyte strain Pe299R has been previously studied and cultured with six different phyllosphere bacteria. Our algorithm successfully predicts metabolites, which imply mutualistic, competitive, or commensal interactions. In contrast to OptCom, MRO, and MICOM algorithms, our COMMA algorithm shows that the potential for competitive interactions between an epiphytic species and Pe299R is not significant. These results are consistent with the experimental measurements of population density and reproductive success of the Pe299R strain.
Topics: Microbiota; Models, Biological; Computational Biology; Computer Simulation; Microbial Interactions; Algorithms; Animals; Gastrointestinal Microbiome
PubMed: 38900842
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1012233 -
PloS One 2024Evaluating archaeobotanical data from over 3.9 million seeds and 124,300 charcoal fragments across 330 archaeological site phases in Southwest Asia, we reconstruct the...
Evaluating archaeobotanical data from over 3.9 million seeds and 124,300 charcoal fragments across 330 archaeological site phases in Southwest Asia, we reconstruct the history of olive and grape cultivation spanning a period of 6,000 years. Combining charcoal and seed data enables investigation into both the production and consumption of olive and grape. The earliest indication for olive and grape cultivation appears in the southern Levant around ca. 5000 BC and 4th millennium BC respectively, although cultivation may have been practiced prior to these dates. Olive and grape cultivation in Southwest Asia was regionally concentrated within the Levant until 600 BC, although there were periodic pushes to the East. Several indications for climate influencing the history of olive and grape cultivation were found, as well as a correlation between periods of high population density and high proportions of olive and grape remains in archaeological sites. While temporal uncertainty prevents a detailed understanding of the causal mechanisms behind these correlations, we suggest that long distance trade in olives, grapes and their associated products was integral to the economic, social, and demographic trajectories of the region.
Topics: Vitis; Charcoal; Olea; Seeds; Archaeology; Humans; History, Ancient; Asia; Agriculture
PubMed: 38900727
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0303578