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Background: Metabolic diseases are associated with thyroid disorders. Insulin resistance is the common pathological basis of metabolic diseases. We explored the relationship between the triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index, a simple insulin-resistance marker, and thyroid disorders. Methods: Eligible TIDE (Thyroid Diseases, Iodine Status and Diabetes Epidemiology) subjects (n = 47,710) were screened with inclusion/exclusion criteria. Thyroid disorder prevalence among different TyG index groups was stratified by sex. Logistic regression evaluated the correlation between the TyG index and thyroid disorders. Multiple linear regression evaluated the association between the TyG index and TSH. Additionally, two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) using published genome-wide association study data evaluated causality in the association between the TyG index and TSH. Results: Men and women with greater TyG indices had a significantly greater prevalence of thyroid disorders than individuals with the lowest quartile (Q1) of TyG index (p< 0.05). Following adjustment for confounding factors, we observed that a greater TyG index significantly increased the risk of subclinical hypothyroidism in men and women (men: Q2: odds ratio (OR) [95% confidence interval (CI)] = 1.22 [1.07–1.38], p= 0.002; Q3: OR [95% CI] = 1.28 [1.12–1.45], p< 0.001; Q4: OR [95% CI] = 1.29 [1.12–1.50], p= 0.001; women: Q2: OR [95% CI] = 1.25 [1.12–1.39], p< 0.001; Q3: OR [95% CI] = 1.47 [1.31–1.64], p< 0.001; Q4: OR [95% CI] = 1.61 [1.43–1.82], p< 0.001). Only among women was the highest TyG index quartile associated with hypothyroidism (OR [95% CI] = 1.70 [1.15–2.50], p= 0.007). Additionally, in men, the association exists only in the more than adequate iodine intake population. In women, the relationship between the TyG index and thyroid disorders disappears after menopause. Furthermore, the TyG index exhibited a linear positive correlation with TSH levels. The MR analysis results revealed a causal relationship between a genetically determined greater TyG index and increased TSH (inverse-variance weighting (IVW): OR [95% CI] = 1.14 [1.02–1.28], p= 0.020); however, this causal relationship disappeared after adjusting for BMI in multivariable MR (MVMR) analysis (MVMR-IVW: OR 1.03, 95% CI 0.87–1.22, p= 0.739). Conclusions: A greater TyG index is associated with hypothyroidism and subclinical hypothyroidism and varies by sex and menopausal status. MR analysis demonstrated that the causal relationship between a genetically determined greater TyG index and elevated TSH levels is confounded or mediated by BMI.

Purpose: Graves’ orbitopathy (GO) is the main extrathyroidal manifestation of Graves’ disease. However, limited studies have investigated the actual efficacy of selenium in GO therapy. This longitudinal study explored the effect of selenium on QOL and prognosis of patients with mild-to-moderate GO. Methods: We conducted a 5-year prospective controlled cohort clinical trial to determine the effect of selenium on 74 patients with mild-to-moderate GO. Patients received selenium yeast or placebo orally for 6 months and were followed up at 6 months and at 5 years by biochemical examination, ophthalmologist evaluation and QOL questionnaire to assess oculopathy and QOL. Results: (1) During a follow-up period of 3–6 months, in the selenium group, the symptoms of tearing, grittiness and conjunctival congestion improved (P< 0.01); clinical activity scores and total GO-QOL scores increased relative to baseline (P< 0.01); TRAb was decreased at the 6-month evaluation (P= 0.003); and patients treated with selenium had a higher rate of improvement and a lower rate of worsening than patients treated with placebo (P< 0.05). (2) Exploratory evaluations at 6 months after drug withdrawal confirmed the earlier results; further changes included alleviation of blurred vision and double vision symptoms in the selenium group (P< 0.01). (3) At the 5-year follow-up, compared with baseline, proptosis, clinical activity scores, TRAb level and total GO-QOL scores in both the selenium and placebo groups were significantly improved (P< 0.01). Conclusion: Six months of selenium supplementation may effectively change the early course of mild-to-moderate GO, but this regimen makes no difference in long-term outcomes.

This study selected the Sino-US route data from the top 30 global container liner companies between December 1, 2019, and December 29, 2019, as the data source utilizing the complex network research methodology. It constructs a Sino-US container shipping network through voyage weighting and analyzes the essential structural characteristics to explore the network’s complex structural features. The network’s evolution is examined from three perspectives, namely, time, space, and event influence, aiming to comprehensively explore the network’s evolution mechanism. The results revealed that: 1) the weighted Sino-US container shipping network exhibits small-world and scale-free properties. Key hub ports in the United States include NEW YORK NY, SAVANNAH GA, LOS ANGELES CA, and OAKLAND CA, whereas SHANGHAI serving as the hub port in China. The geographical distribution of these hub ports is uneven. 2) Concerning the evolution of the weighted Sino-US container shipping network, from a temporal perspective, the evolution of the regional structure of the entire Sino-US region and the Inland United States is in a stage of radiative expansion and development, with a need for further enhancement in competitiveness and development speed. The evolution of the regional structure of southern China and Europe is transitioning from the stage of radiative expansion and development to an advanced equilibrium stage. The shipping development in Northern China, the Western and Eastern United States, and Asia is undergoing significant changes but faces challenges of fierce competition and imbalances. From a spatial perspective, the rationality and effectiveness of the improved weighted Barrat-Barthelemy-Vespignani (BBV) model are confirmed through theoretical derivation. The applicability of the improved evolution model is verified by simulating the evolution of the weighted Sino-US container shipping network. From an event impact perspective, the Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has not fundamentally affected the spatial pattern of the weighted Sino-US container shipping network but has significantly impacted the network’s connectivity. The network lacks sufficient resilience and stability in emergency situations. 3) Based on the analysis of the structural characteristics and evolution of the weighted Sino-US container shipping network, recommendations for network development are proposed from three aspects: emphasizing the development of hub ports, focusing on the balanced development of the network, and optimizing the layout of Chinese ports.

In this study, an empirical model for predicting urban evapotranspiration (ET) is examined for the Phoenix metropolitan area that is in a subtropical desert climate using in situET measurements from a local flux tower and remotely sensed moderate-resolution imaging spectroradiometer land products. Annual ET maps of Phoenix are then created for the period from 2001 to 2015 using the empirical model developed. A time-series trend analysis is finally performed using predicted ET maps to discover the spatio-temporal patterns of ET changes during the study period. Results suggest that blue-sky albedo and land surface temperature are two statistically significant variables explanatory to model urban ET for Phoenix. Areas that have experienced significant increases of ET are highly spatially clustered, and are mainly found on the outskirts of the city, while areas of decreasing ET are generally associated with highly developed areas, such as downtown Phoenix.