The incidence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD) is increasing worldwide, and it is strongly associated with metabolic syndrome (MetS) and some obesity-related indices. However, few studies have investigated gender differences in these associations. The aim of this study was to investigate associations among MetS and various obesity-related indices with NAFLD, and also look at gender differences in these associations. We enrolled participants who completed a health survey in southern Taiwan. MetS was defined according to the Adult Treatment Panel III for Asians, and the following obesity-related indices were calculated: body mass index (BMI), waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), waist–hip ratio (WHR), lipid accumulation product (LAP), body roundness index (BRI), conicity index (CI), visceral adiposity index (VAI), body adiposity index (BAI), abdominal volume index (AVI), triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index, and hepatic steatosis index (HSI). NAFLD was diagnosed when hepatic steatosis was noted on a liver ultrasound. A total of 1969 (764 men and 1205 women) participants were enrolled. Multivariable analysis showed that both male and female participants with MetS, high BMI, high WHtR, high WHR, high LAP, high BRI, high CI, high VAI, high BAI, high AVI, high TyG index, and high HSI were significantly associated with NAFLD. In addition, the interactions between MetS and gender, WHR and gender, LAP and gender, and TyG index and gender on NAFLD were statistically significant. Among these obesity-related indices, HSI and LAP had the greatest area under the curve in both men and women. Furthermore, stepwise increases in the number of MetS components and the values of indices corresponding to the severity of NAFLD were noted. In conclusion, our results demonstrated significant relationships between MetS and obesity-related indices with NAFLD, and also stepwise increases in the number of MetS components and the values of indices with the severity of NAFLD. MetS, WHR, LAP, and TyG index were associated with NAFLD more obviously in women than in men.

Obesity is an important risk factor for the development of diseases including diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease. However, few reports have investigated the relationships between these obesity-related indices and diabetic nephropathy. The aim of this study was to evaluate associations between obesity-related markers with albuminuria and advanced kidney disease in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). Obesity-related indices including body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), body roundness index (BRI), conicity index (CI), lipid accumulation product (LAP), visceral adiposity index (VAI), body adiposity index (BAI), abdominal volume index (AVI), body shape index (BSI), and triglyceride glucose (TyG) index were measured. Albuminuria was defined as a urine albumin/creatinine ratio of ≥30 mg/g. Advanced kidney disease was defined as an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) <30 ml/min/1.73 m 2 . A total of 1872 patients with type 2 DM (mean age 64.0 ± 11.3 years, 809 males and 1063 females) were enrolled. In multivariable analysis, 11 high obesity-related indices (BMI, WHR, WHtR, LAP, BRI, CI, VAI, BAI, AVI, ABSI, and TyG index) were significantly associated with albuminuria. In addition, high BMI, WHR, WHtR, LAP, BRI, CI, VAI, and AVI were significantly associated with eGFR <30 ml/min/1.73 m 2 . The results of this study showed that various obesity-related indices were significantly associated with albuminuria and advanced kidney disease in patients with type 2 DM. Screening may be considered in public health programs to recognize and take appropriate steps to prevent subsequent complications.

The diagnosis of malignant pleural effusions is an important issue in the management of malignancy patients. Generally, cytologic examination is a routine diagnostic technique. However, morphological interpretation of cytology is sometimes inconclusive. Here an ancillary method named BMVC test is developed for rapid detection of malignant pleural effusion to improve the diagnostic accuracy at low cost. A simple assay kit is designed to collect living cells from clinical pleural effusion and a fluorescence probe, 3,6-Bis(1-methyl-4-vinylpyridinium) carbazole diiodide (BMVC), is used to illuminate malignant cells. The fluorescence intensity is quantitatively analyzed by ImageJ program. This method yields digital numbers for the test results without any grey zone or ambiguities in the current cytology tests due to intra-observer and inter-observer variability. Comparing with results from double-blind cytologic examination, this simple test gives a good discrimination between malignant and benign specimens with sensitivity of 89.4% (42/47) and specificity of 93.3% (56/60) for diagnosis of malignant pleural effusion. BMVC test provides accurate results in a short time period, and the digital output could assist cytologic examination to become more objective and clear-cut. This is a convenient ancillary tool for detection of malignant pleural effusions.