Objective To assess the obesity prevalence in body mass index （BMI） and body fat percentage Saudi adults according to the international standards of （BF%）. Methods Five hundred and thirty healthy Saudi adults aged...Objective To assess the obesity prevalence in body mass index （BMI） and body fat percentage Saudi adults according to the international standards of （BF%）. Methods Five hundred and thirty healthy Saudi adults aged 18-72 years （mean 36.91＋15.22 years） were enrolled in this study. Their body composition was assessed by bioelectrical impendence analysis with a commercially available body composition analyzer. Standard BMI and BF% values were used to define obesity. Results The prevalence of underweight, normal underweight, overweight and obesity in Saudi adults according to the BMI criteria （〈18.5 kg/mz, 18.5-24.4 kg/m2, 25-29.9 kg/m2, 30 k＆/m2 and above, respectively） was 2.5%, 30.2%, 33.6%, and 33.8%, respectively, whereas the obesity prevalence was 60% （n=31g） in Saudi adults according to the BF% criteria （25% for males and 30% for females）, which was significantly higher than that according to BMI criteria. However, it was 50.6% （n=268） when the BMI cutoff point was 27.5 kg/m2, proposed by WHO for the Asian population. Kappa analysis showed that the obesity prevalence defined by BMI and BF% was higher in females than in males （k=0.530 vs k=0.418, P〈O.O001）. The sensitivity and specificity of BMI （30 kg/m2 and 27.5 kg/m2） were 54.1% and 96.7% and 76.4% and 88.2%, respectively, for obesity. A lower BMI cutoff point （26.60 kg/m2） was proposed in this study, which gave the maximum sensitivity （84.3%） and specificity （85.4%）, with a moderate kappa agreement （k=0.686）. Moreover, the obesity prevalence at this cutoff point （56.4%） was significantly higher than that recommended by WHO. Conclusion The specificity of BMI for obesity is high and its sensitivity is low in both sexes. Its sensitivity can be increased by changing BMI cutoff to a lower value. The choice of BF% reference is of great influence for the assessment of obesity prevalence according to the BMI.展开更多
Objective：To research on consistency of identifying solitary pulmonary masses with CT. Methods：Three observers with different working backgrounds in imaging diagnosis individually interpreted the same group images o...Objective：To research on consistency of identifying solitary pulmonary masses with CT. Methods：Three observers with different working backgrounds in imaging diagnosis individually interpreted the same group images of solitary pulmonary mass, by 12 indexes of objective signs. The differences in interpretation resulted in ante- and post-interpretations were assessed by the x^2 test. The agreement of two interpretations from the same observer was confirmed with the kappa test. A double-blind method was adopted for analysis. Results：The agreement rates of ante- and post-interpreting from the three observers were respectively 82.65%（486/588） 80.27%（472/ 588） and 84.86% （499/588） while their interpreting results were generally accordant without significant difference（x^2 = 4.975, df= 2, P= 0.083） however there was difference between the observer 2 and observer 3（x^2 = 4.875, df= 1, P = 0.027）. There were five indexes with k 〉 0.40 of ante- and post-interpreting results of the three observers, including clarity of nodule borderline, presence of sentus, uniformity of density, existence of cavity and calcification in pathological region, among them, the agreement rate of interpreting borderline and cavity was higher（k 〉 0.07）; the blood vessel convergence poorer（0 〈 k ≤ 0.40）; the other six CT signs of interpretation were slightly different. Conclusion：The ability to identify solitary pulmonary mass was inconsistent, and needs to be improved further.展开更多
Prediction of antagonistic activity of <em>β</em>-carboline and its thirteen derivatives has been made using topological descriptors viz, connectivity index, and kappa shape index of different orders. For...Prediction of antagonistic activity of <em>β</em>-carboline and its thirteen derivatives has been made using topological descriptors viz, connectivity index, and kappa shape index of different orders. For evaluation of values of descriptor, molecular modeling and geometry optimization of all the compounds were carried out with CAChe Pro software by opting semiempirical PM3 method using MOPAC 2002. For prediction of activity multiple linear regression analysis (MLR) was performed. MLR analysis has been made by Project Leader Software associated with CAChe by using the above descriptors as independent variables and biological activity as dependent variables. We were performed leave-one-out methods and the result reflected a direct relationship between biological activity and connectivity index of zero order, while indirect relationship with connectivity index of second order and thus connectivity index is a reliable descriptor to predict the biological activity of <em>β</em>-carboline and its various derivatives.展开更多
Background： Estimation of tree diversity at broader scale is important for conservation planning. Tree diversity should be measured and understood in terms of diversity and evenness, two integral components to descri...Background： Estimation of tree diversity at broader scale is important for conservation planning. Tree diversity should be measured and understood in terms of diversity and evenness, two integral components to describe the structure of a biological community. Variation of the tree diversity and evenness with elevation, topographic relief, aspect, terrain shape, slope, soil nutrient, solar radiation etc. are well documented. Methods： Present study explores the variation of tree diversity （measured as Shannon diversity and evenness indices） of Majella National Park, italy with five available forest types namely evergreen oak woods, deciduous oak woods, blacWaleppo pine stands, hop-hornbeam forest and beech forest, using satellite, environmental and field data. Results： Hop-hornbeam forest was found to be most diverse and even while evergreen Oak woods was the lowest diverse and even. Diversity and evenness of forest types were concurrent to each other i.e. forest type which was more diverse was also more even. As a broad pattern, majority portion of the study area belonged to medium diversity and high evenness class. Conclusions： Satellite images and other GIS data proved useful tools in monitoring variation of tree diversity and evenness across various forest types. Present study findings may have implications in prioritizing conservation zones of high tree diversity at Majella.展开更多
文摘Objective To assess the obesity prevalence in body mass index （BMI） and body fat percentage Saudi adults according to the international standards of （BF%）. Methods Five hundred and thirty healthy Saudi adults aged 18-72 years （mean 36.91＋15.22 years） were enrolled in this study. Their body composition was assessed by bioelectrical impendence analysis with a commercially available body composition analyzer. Standard BMI and BF% values were used to define obesity. Results The prevalence of underweight, normal underweight, overweight and obesity in Saudi adults according to the BMI criteria （〈18.5 kg/mz, 18.5-24.4 kg/m2, 25-29.9 kg/m2, 30 k＆/m2 and above, respectively） was 2.5%, 30.2%, 33.6%, and 33.8%, respectively, whereas the obesity prevalence was 60% （n=31g） in Saudi adults according to the BF% criteria （25% for males and 30% for females）, which was significantly higher than that according to BMI criteria. However, it was 50.6% （n=268） when the BMI cutoff point was 27.5 kg/m2, proposed by WHO for the Asian population. Kappa analysis showed that the obesity prevalence defined by BMI and BF% was higher in females than in males （k=0.530 vs k=0.418, P〈O.O001）. The sensitivity and specificity of BMI （30 kg/m2 and 27.5 kg/m2） were 54.1% and 96.7% and 76.4% and 88.2%, respectively, for obesity. A lower BMI cutoff point （26.60 kg/m2） was proposed in this study, which gave the maximum sensitivity （84.3%） and specificity （85.4%）, with a moderate kappa agreement （k=0.686）. Moreover, the obesity prevalence at this cutoff point （56.4%） was significantly higher than that recommended by WHO. Conclusion The specificity of BMI for obesity is high and its sensitivity is low in both sexes. Its sensitivity can be increased by changing BMI cutoff to a lower value. The choice of BF% reference is of great influence for the assessment of obesity prevalence according to the BMI.
文摘Objective：To research on consistency of identifying solitary pulmonary masses with CT. Methods：Three observers with different working backgrounds in imaging diagnosis individually interpreted the same group images of solitary pulmonary mass, by 12 indexes of objective signs. The differences in interpretation resulted in ante- and post-interpretations were assessed by the x^2 test. The agreement of two interpretations from the same observer was confirmed with the kappa test. A double-blind method was adopted for analysis. Results：The agreement rates of ante- and post-interpreting from the three observers were respectively 82.65%（486/588） 80.27%（472/ 588） and 84.86% （499/588） while their interpreting results were generally accordant without significant difference（x^2 = 4.975, df= 2, P= 0.083） however there was difference between the observer 2 and observer 3（x^2 = 4.875, df= 1, P = 0.027）. There were five indexes with k 〉 0.40 of ante- and post-interpreting results of the three observers, including clarity of nodule borderline, presence of sentus, uniformity of density, existence of cavity and calcification in pathological region, among them, the agreement rate of interpreting borderline and cavity was higher（k 〉 0.07）; the blood vessel convergence poorer（0 〈 k ≤ 0.40）; the other six CT signs of interpretation were slightly different. Conclusion：The ability to identify solitary pulmonary mass was inconsistent, and needs to be improved further.
文摘Prediction of antagonistic activity of <em>β</em>-carboline and its thirteen derivatives has been made using topological descriptors viz, connectivity index, and kappa shape index of different orders. For evaluation of values of descriptor, molecular modeling and geometry optimization of all the compounds were carried out with CAChe Pro software by opting semiempirical PM3 method using MOPAC 2002. For prediction of activity multiple linear regression analysis (MLR) was performed. MLR analysis has been made by Project Leader Software associated with CAChe by using the above descriptors as independent variables and biological activity as dependent variables. We were performed leave-one-out methods and the result reflected a direct relationship between biological activity and connectivity index of zero order, while indirect relationship with connectivity index of second order and thus connectivity index is a reliable descriptor to predict the biological activity of <em>β</em>-carboline and its various derivatives.
文摘Background： Estimation of tree diversity at broader scale is important for conservation planning. Tree diversity should be measured and understood in terms of diversity and evenness, two integral components to describe the structure of a biological community. Variation of the tree diversity and evenness with elevation, topographic relief, aspect, terrain shape, slope, soil nutrient, solar radiation etc. are well documented. Methods： Present study explores the variation of tree diversity （measured as Shannon diversity and evenness indices） of Majella National Park, italy with five available forest types namely evergreen oak woods, deciduous oak woods, blacWaleppo pine stands, hop-hornbeam forest and beech forest, using satellite, environmental and field data. Results： Hop-hornbeam forest was found to be most diverse and even while evergreen Oak woods was the lowest diverse and even. Diversity and evenness of forest types were concurrent to each other i.e. forest type which was more diverse was also more even. As a broad pattern, majority portion of the study area belonged to medium diversity and high evenness class. Conclusions： Satellite images and other GIS data proved useful tools in monitoring variation of tree diversity and evenness across various forest types. Present study findings may have implications in prioritizing conservation zones of high tree diversity at Majella.
