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Background: Fat accumulation in the liver is affecting 38% of the global population. It can also occur in normal-weight individuals, termed lean non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). This study examines Asian and Western body mass index (BMI) criteria, as well as metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) diagnostic guidelines, in lean fatty liver cases within a healthcare setting. Materials and methods: This study was cross-sectional included 111 lean patients diagnosed with NAFLD using either ultrasound or VCTE from January 2023 to March 2024. Anthropometric, laboratory and non-invasive liver fibrosis evaluation parameters were used. The study assessed clinical characteristics and metabolic risk factors of patients with BMI = 23 kg/m² and BMI between 23 and = 25 kg/m² using MASLD and MAFLD diagnostic criteria. Results: The cohort included NAFLD patients with a mean age of 43.3 years (±13.2 years). Of the participants, 33% were diagnosed through ultrasonography, whereas 67% diagnosis were made via Fibro scan. Majority were male 92 (83%), while females were 19 (17%) of the entire group. The lean NAFLD criteria for Asia and the West were satisfied by 43 (39%) persons with a BMI = 23 kg/m² and 68 (61%) individuals with a BMI between 23 and = 25 kg/m², respectively. The average body mass index (BMI) was 23.0 ± 1.5 kg/m². Diabetes was observed in 16%, hypertension 11%, and ischemic heart disease in 2%. Out of the total individuals, 92 satisfied the MASLD-MAFLD criteria, whereas 18 did not qualify the MAFLD criteria for diagnosis and were classed as MASLD-Alone. Elevated triglycerides, insulin resistance (HOMA-IR = 2), and three or more cardiometabolic risk factors (CMRF) were significant in the MASLD-MAFLD group compared to the MASLD-Alone group (p < 0.05). Comparing BMI criteria, no significant differences were found in terms of fibrosis between the Western and Asian lean NAFLD BMI criteria's (p = 0.243). Conclusion: Lean NAFLD is a major global health concern. Applying non-Asian BMI criteria (BMI = 25 kg/m²) for lean Asians improves early detection and intervention for at-risk individuals. Accurate use of MAFLD and MASLD criteria is essential to prevent confusion in diagnosing lean NAFLD. Further multicenter investigations with larger sample numbers are required to corroborate these results in our community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Chronic liver disease (CLD) can have a significant impact on the nutritional status of patients. Malnutrition is an under-recognized condition in patients with cirrhosis. Malnutrition increases the incidence and severity of decompensation, increases the risk of infections, and increases mortality. The present study aimed to assess osteosarcopenia and frailty in patients with CLD. Materials and methods: This prospective cross-sectional study included 151 cases of CLD, aged between 18 and 85 years. Anthropometric measurements were performed. Sarcopenia was assessed by handgrip strength using a hand-held dynamometer. Bone mineral density was measured with the help of an office-based DEXA scan (Osteosys). Liver frailty was assessed through performance-based tests. Results: Out of 151 patients, 98 were male (69.5%); mean age was 51.8 ± 13.2. The presarcopenia was seen in 91 (60%) patients, and sarcopenia in 45(30%). Osteopenia was present in 75 (50%) and osteoporosis in 24 (16%). The patients with osteopenia and osteoporosis had a high liver frailty index (LFI) (p-value < 0.001). A significant correlation between body mass index, waist circumference, LFI, calcium level, bilirubin and Child Pugh scores was seen with T and Z scores. Factors associated with low bone mineral density included increasing age and LFI, low calcium and higher PTH. Conclusion: There is a high prevalence of pre-sarcopenia, sarcopenia, osteopenia, osteoporosis and high frailty in our patients with CLD. Early detection and timely intervention in these conditions are important to reduce the associated consequences. All patients with CLD should be assessed for osteosarcopenia and frailty, both at baseline and longitudinally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Q fever caused by Coxiella burnetii is an important zoonosis and has great public health significance. A total of 905 clinical samples from 387 cattle [serum (n = 387); vaginal swabs (n = 387); milk (n = 131)] and 59 serum samples from humans were collected from gaushala (cattle shelter) and screened for anti-C. burnetii IgG antibodies in the sera using an indirect-ELISA kit. Further, the samples were tested for C. burnetii DNA employing TaqMan real-time and conventional PCR assays targeting the com1 gene. In ELISA, 9.56% and 6.78% of animal and human sera samples were positive for anti-C. burnetii antibodies, respectively. Upon pathogen detection, 3.87% sera, 1.81% vaginal swabs, and 6.87% milk samples from cattle tested positive in TaqMan real-time PCR and 1.55% sera, 0.52% vaginal swabs, and 3.05% milk samples were found positive in conventional PCR. In humans, one serum sample was positive in both the PCR assays. The PCR positive samples (n = 12) were partially sequenced and the phylogenetic tree was constructed using com1 gene sequences (n = 42) from a different host and geographical areas. The study highlights infection of cattle and their human contacts in gaushala and identifies relationships between strains identified in the gaushala and those in other parts of the globe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was undertaken on adult recumbent buffaloes (n = 63), which were clustered into six groups based on the history and tentative diagnosis viz., infectious, metabolic, traumatic, abdominal dysfunction, intoxication, and musculoskeletal and nervine. An additional group of 10 adult healthy control buffaloes was also included in the study. The blood, serum, and faecal samples were collected on zero day to perform haematological, blood smear, serum biochemical, and faecal examination, respectively. Also, the similar samples were collected on 5 days post treatment (DPT) in recovered and control animals. Genomic DNA from individual blood samples was isolated and subjected to conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and quantitative PCR for exploring Trypanosoma evansi and Bovine Herpes Virus-1 infections, respectively. The detailed history of recumbent buffaloes revealed the mean age as 5.53 ± 0.34 years and duration of recumbency as 2.61 ± 0.38 days. Younger animals (3.92 ± 0.31 years) having ~14 hours of recumbency period showed recovery and good prognosis. On comparison of serum biochemical parameters of recovered and non-recovered recumbent animals, Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST), creatinine phosphokinase, phosphorus, sodium, and chloride showed significant difference between them (p < 0.05); thus, indicating their suitability for being prognostic indicators. Out of 63 recumbent animals, 10 (15.87%) showed recovery from recumbency after 5 DPT. The present study recognized the alterations in haemato-biochemical parameters in recumbent buffaloes for the first time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]