PeerJ最新文献

{"title":"Comparative evaluation of culture systems for shoot propagation and phytochemical characteristics in pokeweed (<i>Phytolacca americana</i> L.).","authors":"Worasitikulya Taratima, Wipa Yaowachai, Attachai Trunjaruen, Pitakpong Maneerattanarungroj, Prathan Luecha","doi":"10.7717/peerj.21812","DOIUrl":"10.7717/peerj.21812","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong><i>Phytolacca americana</i> L. (pokeweed) is a medicinal plant containing diverse bioactive compounds, including phenolics, flavonoids, and saponins. Variation in phytochemical accumulation and concerns associated with harvesting from natural populations highlight the need for controlled and sustainable propagation systems. This study compared solid, liquid, and temporary immersion system (TIS) cultures of <i>P. americana</i> nodal explants containing axillary buds and evaluated their effects on plant growth and phytochemical characteristics.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Nodal explants were cultured on solid and liquid media or in a TIS bioreactor. Six TIS regimes combining 5 or 10 min immersion durations with 1, 2, or 3 immersions per day were evaluated. Growth, callus formation, biomass, total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical-scavenging activity were determined. Multivariate analyses were used to characterize treatment responses.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>All treatments showed 100% explant survival and response. Liquid culture produced the weakest shoot and leaf development, whereas TIS generally supported greater shoot growth. T6 (10 min, three immersions/day) produced the highest shoot length (5.69 ± 0.83 cm), leaf length (4.79 ± 0.55 cm), and dry weight (0.12 ± 0.03 g). T5 produced the highest TPC (14.82 ± 0.10 mg gallic acid equivalents per gram (GAE/g) extract), solid culture the highest TFC (31.25 ± 0.94 mg quercetin equivalents per gram (QE/g) extract), and T1 the strongest DPPH radical-scavenging activity (IC₅₀ = 553.25 ± 16.46 µg/mL). Multivariate analyses revealed distinct response patterns among culture systems and identified key traits contributing to treatment discrimination.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Culture system and immersion regime differentially influenced the growth and phytochemical characteristics of <i>P. americana</i> nodal explants. TIS, particularly T4-T6, showed potential for enhancing shoot development and biomass accumulation, providing a basis for further optimization of <i>P. americana</i> propagation and phytochemical production.</p>","PeriodicalId":19799,"journal":{"name":"PeerJ","volume":"14 ","pages":"e21812"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2026-10-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13648216/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149137916","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Evaluation of the genotoxic potential of two rice herbicides, cyhalofop-butyl and quinclorac, in <i>Drosophila melanogaster</i>.","authors":"Serap Kocaoğlu-Cenkci","doi":"10.7717/peerj.21747","DOIUrl":"10.7717/peerj.21747","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Cyhalofop-butyl, an aryloxyphenoxypropionate acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACCase) inhibitor, and quinclorac, a quinolinecarboxylic acid herbicide with auxin-like activity, are commonly used in rice production. This study evaluated the genotoxic potential of the herbicides cyhalofop-butyl and quinclorac in the <i>in vivo Drosophila melanogaster</i> smart assay. Trans-heterozygous larvae obtained from crosses between the multiple wing hairs (<i>mwh</i>) and <i>flare</i>-3 (<i>flr</i> ³) strains were exposed to four concentrations (1, 2, 5, and 10 ppm) of each herbicide. Both herbicides significantly increased clone frequencies compared with the negative control. Cyhalofop-butyl exhibited a concentration-related increase in total spot frequencies, whereas quinclorac consistently elevated clone frequencies across all tested concentrations without a clear dose-dependent pattern. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report demonstrating the genotoxic potential of cyhalofop-butyl. These findings emphasize the need for careful use of herbicides in rice production and support further investigation of alternative products with lower or no genotoxic potential.</p>","PeriodicalId":19799,"journal":{"name":"PeerJ","volume":"14 ","pages":"e21747"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2026-10-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13648213/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149137903","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Metal(loid)s in surface sediments of the middle and lower basins of the Usumacinta River (southeastern Mexico): variability and selenium enrichment.","authors":"Javier Alcocer, Federico Páez-Osuna, Selene Olea-Olea, Luis A Oseguera, Raúl A Silva-Aguilera","doi":"10.7717/peerj.21776","DOIUrl":"10.7717/peerj.21776","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Large tropical rivers remain poorly characterized relative to the widely studied large temperate rivers. The Usumacinta River in southern Mexico is North America's most extensive tropical fluvial system. Increasing anthropogenic pressures in the Usumacinta basin (&lt;i&gt;e.g.&lt;/i&gt;, agriculture, cattle raising, forest fires, deforestation, and urban development) threaten ecosystem health. However, our understanding of the characteristics of the basins, especially on metal(loid) remains limited. To address this, we investigated metal(loid)s in sediments along the Usumacinta River. Thirty-four surface sediments from 17 stations within the Usumacinta's mainstream and principal tributaries were sampled for metal(loid) analysis during the rainy and dry seasons. The sediment grain size and organic matter were analyzed and the concentrations of aluminium (Al), arsenic (As), barium (Ba), beryllium (Be), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), cobalt (Co), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), lead (Pb), lithium (Li), magnesium (Mg), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), silver (Ag), selenium (Se), strontium (Sr), antimony (Sb) , thallium (Tl), tin (Sn), vanadium (V), and zinc (Zn) were quantified by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry. The indices enrichment factor (EF), geo-accumulation index (Igeo), contamination factor (CF), and pollution load index (PLI) were used to assess the health status of metal(loid)s in the surface sediments of the middle and lower basins of the Usumacinta River. Metal(loid) concentrations in Usumacinta River sediments fall within or below the range reported for tropical rivers with comparable geological settings, suggesting limited anthropogenic metal contributions. While the EFs of Ag, Ba, Be, Cu, Sr, Tl, and V was &lt;1.5, suggests that they are linked to weathering, those of As, Co, Mn, Pb, Sb, Sn, and Zn were 1.0 &lt; EF &lt; 10 in various cases, Se was consistently &gt;10 in all stations, seasons, and in the middle and lower basins, evidencing that sediments are Se-enriched. Using four pollution indexes, we found that the sediments of the Usumacinta River are either uncontaminated or moderately contaminated (enriched) with As, Cd, Cu, Cr, Ni, Pb, Sb, V, and Zn. They are consistently enriched in Se from natural sources across both basins and seasons, but this enrichment may be modulated by an anthropogenic signal. In general, results showed that concentrations were higher during the dry than during the rainy season, and that concentrations in the lower basin were higher than in the middle basin. EFs of most elements and stations were &lt;1.5, likely indicating that these metal(loid)s are derived from natural weathering; only the EFs of Se were &gt;10 in all stations and seasons across both basins, suggesting sediment enrichment. This enrichment can be linked specifically to the Cretaceous marine sedimentary rocks or the occurrence of seleniferous in the Sierra de los Cuchumatanes. However, an additional contribution related to phosphate-based agricultural inputs ma","PeriodicalId":19799,"journal":{"name":"PeerJ","volume":"14 ","pages":"e21776"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2026-10-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13648217/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149137908","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effects of the biocide cybutryne (irgarol) on freshwater invertebrates.","authors":"Jörg Oehlmann, Stefanie Schabio, Simone Ziebart, Stefan Meinecke, Matthias Oetken, Ulrike Schulte-Oehlmann","doi":"10.7717/peerj.21773","DOIUrl":"10.7717/peerj.21773","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Cybutryne (irgarol) is a triazine biocide formerly used in antifouling paints worldwide and still detected in freshwater ecosystems in Europe, Asia, and North America despite its ban in antifouling paints in Europe in January 2017 and in the USA in April 2021. While primary producers are considered the most sensitive targets due to cybutryne's mode of action as a photosystem II inhibitor, data on freshwater invertebrates-particularly from standardized chronic tests-remain scarce. In this study, we investigated acute and chronic effects of cybutryne on three freshwater invertebrates representing major taxonomic phyla: the midge <i>Chironomus riparius</i> (Arthropoda), the blackworm <i>Lumbriculus variegatus</i> (Annelida), and the freshwater mudsnail <i>Potamopyrgus antipodarum</i> (Mollusca). Acute toxicity tests showed low sensitivity, with immobilization observed only in <i>C. riparius</i> larvae at mg/L concentrations (48 h 50% effect concentration (EC₅₀) = 2.96 mg/L), while no acute effects occurred in <i>L. variegatus</i> or <i>P. antipodarum</i> up to five mg/L. In chronic sediment-water tests, <i>C. riparius</i> exhibited no significant effects on survival, emergence, development time, sex ratio, or reproduction at concentrations up to five µg/L. In <i>L. variegatus</i>, reproduction was the most sensitive endpoint, with a 28-day 10% effect concentration (EC₁₀) of 0.268 µg/L (95% confidence interval: 0-462 µg/L) and a lowest observed effect concentration (LOEC) of 0.8 µg/L. In contrast, chronic reproduction tests with <i>P. antipodarum</i> revealed pronounced and consistent increases in embryo numbers at all tested cybutryne concentrations (0.05-5 µg/L), resulting in inverted U-shaped concentration-response relationships that precluded derivation of a no observed effect concentration (NOEC) or EC₁₀ values using conventional monotonic concentration-response models. Exploratory evaluation of quadratic hormesis-type models confirmed the non-monotonic inverted U-shaped concentration-response relationship. However, robust benchmark-concentration estimates could not be derived. The reproductive responses resembled those induced by estrogenic positive controls (17<i>α</i>-ethinylestradiol and bisphenol A) but the present results do not provide direct mechanistic evidence for endocrine disruption. Our results demonstrate that acute cybutryne exposure did not result in negative effects for the test organisms in the applied concentration range of up to five mg/L, except for <i>C. riparius</i>, while chronic reproductive endpoints-particularly in mollusks-appeared to be highly sensitive and suggest the possibility of endocrine-related or other non-specific reproductive modulation mechanisms that require further mechanistic investigation. These findings highlight the importance of including sensitive invertebrate reproduction tests in environmental risk assessment of antifouling biocides.</p>","PeriodicalId":19799,"journal":{"name":"PeerJ","volume":"14 ","pages":"e21773"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2026-10-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13648218/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149137877","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Multifocal electroretinography assessment of retinal responses to myopic defocus lenses.","authors":"Mohammed Alhazmi, Mohammed Althomali, Muteb Alanazi, Wafa Alotaibi, Eman Alghamdi, Ali Almustanyir, Fahd Alqahtani, Maria Liu","doi":"10.7717/peerj.21766","DOIUrl":"10.7717/peerj.21766","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aim: </strong>To evaluate the short-term retinal electrical responses elicited by defocus segment lenses in emmetropic eyes using multifocal electroretinography (mfERG).</p><p><strong>Materials & methods: </strong>A prospective cross-sectional study enrolled 14 young, healthy emmetropic participants aged 18 to 22 years with no ocular or systemic diseases. Comprehensive eye examinations were conducted, and mfERG recordings were obtained using six different condition scenarios. Retinal responses were analyzed across hexagon ring groupings defined by angular extent (Ring 1: 2.5°, Ring 2: 7.5°, Ring 3: 14°, Ring 4: 22°, Ring 5: 30°). Statistical analysis was performed to compare retinal responses across different lens types and retinal regions.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>No significant differences in retinal electrical responses were detected across the six lens conditions for negative (N1) latency (ms), positive (P1) latency (ms), or P1 amplitude (nV/deg²) (all <i>p</i> > 0.05). Regional variations in amplitude and latency across concentric retinal rings were observed but reflected expected normative mfERG gradients independent of lens type.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The tested defocus segment lens designs did not produce statistically detectable alterations in first order mfERG parameters in structurally intact emmetropic eyes under brief exposure. Although the analytical framework demonstrated sufficient sensitivity to identify medium to large electrophysiological effects, the current design may lack resolution for subtle retinal adaptations. Future investigations incorporating larger cohorts, prolonged optical exposure, and nonlinear analytical techniques in ametropic populations will be necessary to determine whether clinically relevant myopia control mechanisms correspond to measurable electrophysiological modulation.</p>","PeriodicalId":19799,"journal":{"name":"PeerJ","volume":"14 ","pages":"e21766"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2026-10-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13648215/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149137922","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Prevalence of adult attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder symptoms among university students and their relation to sleeping duration, time management skills, and academic performance.","authors":"Maged El-Setouhy, Suhaila A Ali, Mohammad Zaino, Anwar Alahmar, Zakaria Y Alsanosi, Sattam Jaddoh, Nadim I Areshy, Abdulrahman H Basheer, Ali A Dagreri, Mohsen Y Moafa, Rakan M Hakami, Nasser Y Idris, Ahmad H Makeen, Ahmad Y Alqassim","doi":"10.7717/peerj.21688","DOIUrl":"10.7717/peerj.21688","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a common neurodevelopmental condition that often persists from childhood into adulthood and is characterized by symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. In university students, these symptoms may negatively affect time management and academic performance. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of adult ADHD symptoms among university students at Jazan University, Saudi Arabia, and to examine their associations with time management skills and academic performance.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We conducted a cross-sectional study at Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia. We used a multistage sampling technique. We distributed 763 online questionnaires to the university students; the response rate was 87% (664 questionnaires). Of them, 612 (80.2%) questionnaires were complete and included in the analysis. We recruited male and female students from the Colleges of Medicine, Nursing, Business Administration, and Engineering. Data were collected using validated self-administered questionnaires assessing ADHD symptoms, time management skills, and academic performance.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Our study was conducted among Jazan University students, with a mean age of 21 years (SD = 1.6), and a predominance of male participants (64%). The prevalence of adult ADHD symptoms was 26% among Jazan University students. Significant associations were observed with female sex (odds ratio (OR) = 1.58), sleeping fewer than 4 hours per night (compared with ≥ 8 hours; OR = 2.46), and lower grade point average (GPA) (odds ratio (OR) = 2.10). Associations with the Academic Performance Scale (APS) and time management skills were inconsistent.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Adult ADHD symptoms were more prevalent among Saudi university students than estimates reported in the global literature and were associated with female sex, insufficient sleep, and lower GPA. The inconsistent associations with academic performance measures and time management skills highlight the complexity of ADHD-related functional outcomes. These findings underscore the need for targeted interventions to support students' mental well-being and academic success.</p>","PeriodicalId":19799,"journal":{"name":"PeerJ","volume":"14 ","pages":"e21688"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2026-10-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13648212/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149137873","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Differential effects of yeast derivatives on pepper productivity, stress resilience, and soil microbial communities.","authors":"Siwei Liang, Guogeng Jia, Hui Chen, Can Zhou, Wenjie Peng, Shuxing Liu, Chao Ai, Yan Zhang, Guangda Ding","doi":"10.7717/peerj.21604","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.21604","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The excessive application of chemical fertilizers is a prevalent issue in modern agriculture, as it increases production costs, undermines economic returns, and degrades soil health. In this study, the effects of two compositionally distinct yeast derivatives, namely Yeast Glycoside Type I (YD1) and Water-Soluble Yeast Glycoside (YD2), on the growth, nutrient use efficiency, low-temperature (LT) stress tolerance, and rhizosphere microbial communities of pepper (<i>Capsicum annuum</i> L.) were investigated. The yeast derivatives (YD) were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and biochemical analysis, which revealed distinct profiles: YD2 contained higher nitrogen (11.89%), isindole-3-acetic acid (IAA), and 1-Aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC), whereas YD1 was enriched in cytokinins (isopentenyl adenine, iP; trans-zeatin, tZ). Under normal temperature (NT) conditions, application of YD2 at concentrations of 1% significantly enhanced pepper yield, shoot biomass, and nitrogen/potassium use efficiency, whereas YD1 exerted minimal effects. However, under low-temperature (LT) stress, applications of YD1 and YD2 did not significantly increase yield. Despite this, YD2 maintained root activity, mitigated chlorophyll degradation, and increased the activities of antioxidant enzymes under LT stress. Both YD altered rhizosphere bacterial community structure under NT conditions (PC1: 42.09%, <i>p</i> = 0.007); however, this effect was attenuated under LT stress (PC1: 24.85%, <i>p</i> = 0.003). Specifically, YD1 was associated with an increased relative abundance of <i>Microscillaceae</i> (NT) and <i>Thiobacillus</i> (LT), while YD2 was linked to an increase in <i>Kaiserbacteria</i> (NT) and <i>Armatimonadales</i> (LT). These findings suggest that the two YDs, particularly YD2, can influence pepper productivity and stress resilience through associations with improved nutrient uptake, physiological adjustments, and shifts in the rhizosphere microbiome. This pot-based study provides insights into the potential of tailored yeast derivatives as biostimulants, offering a basis for developing more sustainable agricultural practices.</p>","PeriodicalId":19799,"journal":{"name":"PeerJ","volume":"14 ","pages":"e21604"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2026-10-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13637637/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149113008","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Assessment of pleural effusion using intracavitary contrast-enhanced ultrasound: a pilot study.","authors":"Dachuan Tang, Dan Wang, Zhongyu Li, Bohan Lu, Huiming Yi, Wei Zhang","doi":"10.7717/peerj.21765","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.21765","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>To address the limitations of current imaging modalities, the present study aimed to develop and validate a novel intracavitary contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) approach for the quantitative assessment of pleural effusion (PE) volume and differentiation of exudative PE from transudative PE.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This cross-sectional diagnostic accuracy study prospectively enrolled 100 patients with PE undergoing US-guided thoracentesis. Intracavitary CEUS was performed using SonoVue microbubbles, and time-intensity curve parameters (A, B, and A+B) were analyzed. PE volume was measured based on the drainage volume, and effusions were classified as exudates or transudates according to Light's criteria. Diagnostic performance was assessed by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis, and a linear regression model was developed to predict PE volume.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Exudative PE showed significantly higher baseline intensity parameter B (-35.18 ± 5.17 <i>vs.</i> -41.41 ± 8.64, <i>p</i> < 0.01) and lower peak intensity increment parameter A (1.20 ±  3.27 <i>vs.</i> 6.61 ± 6.10, <i>p</i> < 0.01) compared to transudative PE. The combined parameter A+B (steady-state microbubble concentration index) showed a strong correlation with PE volume (<i>r</i> = 0.912, <i>R</i> ² = 0.831), yielding the predictive model: V(mL) = -33.345 × (A+B) - 453.071 (intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.950). The ROC analysis revealed moderate diagnostic accuracy for the A value (area under the curve (AUC) = 0.779) and B value (AUC = 0.719) in differentiating exudative PE from transudative PE.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Intracavitary CEUS could serve as a reliable, minimally invasive, feasible radiation-free adjunctive technique for quantifying PE volume and differentiating exudative versus transudative PE in patients undergoing thoracentesis. The A+B-based regression model provides high predictive accuracy, while A and B values facilitate effusion classification. This quantitative CEUS workflow may facilitate clinical decision-making, and its utility for serial monitoring requires further verification in large-scale real-world cohorts.</p>","PeriodicalId":19799,"journal":{"name":"PeerJ","volume":"14 ","pages":"e21765"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2026-10-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13637638/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149113221","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Body mass index-stratified inflammatory predictors of insulin resistance in non-obese adults: a retrospective study.","authors":"Aycan Acet, Turkan Pasali Kilit, Sertas Erarslan, Cumali Yalçın, Can Özlü, Çağla Özdemir","doi":"10.7717/peerj.21769","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.21769","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Insulin resistance (IR) is a key mechanism underlying type 2 diabetes mellitus and cardiometabolic disease. Although obesity-related inflammation is a major contributor to IR, increasing evidence indicates that IR may also develop in non-obese individuals. However, readily available inflammatory markers applicable to this population remain limited. We evaluated the association between inflammatory markers and insulin resistance in non-obese adults and assessed their predictive performance across body mass index (BMI) strata.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This retrospective cross-sectional study included 149 non-obese adults (BMI < 30 kg/m²) evaluated in an internal medicine outpatient clinic between January and December 2025. Insulin resistance was defined as a homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) ≥ 2.5. Inflammatory markers and composite indices, including the C-reactive protein to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (CRP/HDL) ratio, were calculated. Multivariable logistic regression, BMI-stratified analyses, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses were performed.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Insulin resistance was identified in 54 participants (36.2%). Individuals with IR had higher white blood cell (WBC) counts, CRP levels, and CRP/HDL ratios (all <i>p</i> < 0.05). In multivariable analysis, WBC count was independently associated with IR (OR = 1.407, 95% CI [1.090-1.815]; <i>p</i> = 0.009). BMI-stratified analyses showed that WBC count independently predicted IR in normal-weight individuals (OR = 1.789, 95% CI [1.218-2.627]; <i>p</i> = 0.003), whereas in overweight participants (BMI 25-30 kg/m²), the CRP/HDL ratio was independently associated with IR (OR = 7.793, 95% CI [1.056-57.499]; <i>p</i> = 0.044). ROC analyses demonstrated higher discriminative performance of WBC count in normal-weight individuals (AUC = 0.720) and greater predictive ability of the CRP/HDL ratio in overweight individuals (AUC = 0.695).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Low-grade systemic inflammation is independently associated with insulin resistance in non-obese adults, with distinct inflammatory predictors across BMI categories. WBC count may reflect early immune activation in normal-weight individuals, whereas the CRP/HDL ratio appears more informative among overweight subjects.</p>","PeriodicalId":19799,"journal":{"name":"PeerJ","volume":"14 ","pages":"e21769"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2026-10-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13637635/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149113299","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Adolescent psychological stress impairs spermatogenesis by disrupting meiotic progression in male mice.","authors":"Jiguang Gao, Wenwen Hou, Heli Wang, Shuo Xu, Guoxian Chen","doi":"10.7717/peerj.21750","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.21750","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Psychological stress is a risk factor for male infertility, and adolescence is a critical period of vulnerability to stress. However, the effects of psychological stress on spermatogenesis in adolescent males remain unclear. To investigate this, we used a restraint stress model in adolescent Kunming mice, where animals were restrained for 2 and 4 h per day from postnatal day 28 to 56. Restraint stress resulted in a decreased sperm concentration and serum testosterone levels, together with increased sperm abnormalities, synaptonemal complex protein3 (SYCP3)-positive germ cells in the epididymis, and serum corticosterone levels in adult mice. Additionally, restraint stress altered seminiferous tubule histoarchitecture and the distribution of spermatogenic stages. Restraint-stressed mice exhibited increased proportions of zygotene- and pachytene-stage spermatocytes and a reduced proportion of diplotene-stage spermatocytes. Further analysis showed altered γH2AX and ataxia-telangiectasia and rad3-related (ATR) localization patterns together with increased frequencies of chromosomal synapsis abnormalities and abnormal chiasma formation, which were accompanied by increased spermatocyte apoptosis. The mRNA expression levels of key meiotic genes, including <i>SPO11 initiator of meiotic double stranded breaks</i> (<i>SPO11</i>), <i>DNA meiotic recombinase 1</i> (<i>DMC1</i>), <i>synaptonemal complex protein1</i> (<i>SYCP1</i>) and <i>SYCP3</i>, were reduced in stressed mice. In addition, restraint stress increased germ cell apoptosis and reduced litter size in adulthood. In conclusion, adolescent exposure to psychological stressors such as restraint stress is associated with impaired spermatogenesis and reduced reproductive capacity in adult male mice.</p>","PeriodicalId":19799,"journal":{"name":"PeerJ","volume":"14 ","pages":"e21750"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2026-10-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13637639/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149113248","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}