PeerJ最新文献

{"title":"Genetic modifiers of response to thalidomide in transfusion-dependent beta-thalassemia patients: a whole-exome sequence analysis.","authors":"Waleed Mohammed Bawazir, Muhammad Ihtesham Khan, Mohannad Saeed Hazzazi, Ammar Abdullah Basabrain, Muhammad Tariq Masood Khan, Sami Siraj, Majed Naser Almashjary, Osman Radhwi, Steve Harakeh, Yasar Mehmood Yousafzai","doi":"10.7717/peerj.20038","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.20038","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Thalidomide induces fetal hemoglobin and renders most thalassemia patients transfusion-independent. Some patients, however, do not respond. Underlying genetic variations responsible for variable responses to thalidomide are unexplored.</p><p><strong>Aims and objectives: </strong>To discover genetic variations that influence response to thalidomide in transfusion-dependent beta-thalassemia patients.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Twenty beta-thalassemia patients (14 excellent responders and six non-responders) who had received thalidomide were included in the study by a non-probability purposive sampling technique. Patients who showed a rise of >2 mg/dl in hemoglobin level and/or whose hemoglobin levels reached 9 gm/dl without blood transfusions were designated as excellent responders. Patients whose hemoglobin levels did not show an increment rise of >2 and/or whose hemoglobin levels did not rise above 5.9 gm/dl and needed blood transfusions to maintain optimal hemoglobin levels were designated as non-responders. DNA was extracted, and whole-exome sequencing was performed on an Illumina HiSeq System. Aligning and variant calling were done by the Sentieon software. Annotation was done by Annovar.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The age of study participants ranged from 1-12 years, with a mean of 5.45 ± 3.81 years. There were 17 (85%) males and three (15%) females. A total of 222,180 germline variants were identified across 20 subjects, from which 24 candidate variants across 24 genes were identified. The three most common polymorphisms in the excellent responder group were found in the exon region of CHI3L1 (rs880633), NPNT (rs35132891), and ZNF 208 (rs10425763), which were found in 92%, 85%, and 71% cases, respectively. The commonest polymorphisms in the non-responder group were found in the PM20D1 gene (rs7518979), LGR6 (rs75658797), MYH15 (rs4299484), and RESF1 (rs3207618), each of which was found in 66.6% cases.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This study shows a significant association of single-nucleotide polymorphisms rs880633, rs35132891, and rs10425763 with excellent response status, while rs7518979, rs75658797, rs4299484, and rs3207618 are associated with non-response status.</p>","PeriodicalId":19799,"journal":{"name":"PeerJ","volume":"13 ","pages":"e20038"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-10-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12513377/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145280986","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":"Sucking lice in bandicoot rats with first complete description of <i>Hoplopleura malabarica</i> nymphs.","authors":"Paulina Kozina, Joanna N Izdebska, Serge Morand, Alexis Ribas","doi":"10.7717/peerj.20115","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.20115","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Studies of insect biodiversity and parasitism are often based on adult stages, as immature stages are poorly known and often cannot be identified to species level. However, sucking lice (Anoplura) are permanent, hematophagous parasites with single-host life cycles, making it possible to track the occurrence of all life stages. Only the complete identification of all life stages provides a full picture of parasitism, including infestation levels, parasite topography preferences on the host, and host specificity. The detection of different development stages on a host provides strong evidence that lice of a particular species are actively reproducing and completing their life cycle on that host, making full use of its resources. Conversely, the presence of adult lice alone, particularly when found sporadically, may suggest a failed or incidental attempt at host colonization rather than an established parasitic association.</p><p><strong>Methodology: </strong>The description of the nymphal stages of <i>Hoplopleura malabarica</i> is based on specimens of sucking lice from the greater bandicoot rat <i>Bandicota indica</i> from Southeast Asia, specifically from the Vientiane area of Lao PDR. The study used morphometric analysis and scanning microscopy techniques.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>This study presents the first description of the nymphal stages of <i>Hoplopleura malabarica</i>, an oligoxenous parasite of rodents of the genus <i>Bandicota</i>. In addition, a global checklist of Anoplura parasitizing rodents of the genus <i>Bandicota</i> was provided.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The detection of different life stages of lice within the host confirms that they reproduce and develop on a given host species, fully utilizing its resources.</p>","PeriodicalId":19799,"journal":{"name":"PeerJ","volume":"13 ","pages":"e20115"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-10-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12513375/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145280807","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":"Diagnostic accuracy of the atherogenic index of plasma in metabolic syndrome: a diagnostic meta-analysis.","authors":"Yuge Gao, Chengcheng He, Jia Mi","doi":"10.7717/peerj.20074","DOIUrl":"10.7717/peerj.20074","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>This study aims to assess the diagnostic performance of the atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) in estimating the risk of metabolic syndrome (MetS) among adults across various geographic regions.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A comprehensive search was conducted across EMBASE, Web of Science, PubMed, and the Cochrane Library from their inception until September 29, 2024. Eligible studies were selected and evaluated for methodological quality using the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies-2 (QUADAS-2) framework. Statistical analyses were performed using STATA 15.1. Sensitivity, specificity, diagnostic odds ratio, positive and negative likelihood ratios, the summary receiver operating characteristic (SROC), curve, and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated to assess the diagnostic accuracy of AIP for MetS. Statistical significance was defined as a <i>p</i>-value < 0.05.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Eleven observational studies involving 36,463 participants were included. The analysis showed that AIP is an effective biomarker for identifying the risk of MetS, with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.84 (95% CI [0.81-0.87]). AIP demonstrated comparable diagnostic value in both males and females, with an AUC of 0.82, highlighting its potential utility in sex-specific assessments. Geographic region, diagnostic reference standards, and publication year were identified as potential sources of heterogeneity.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This study demonstrates that AIP is a relatively accurate tool for detecting MetS, supporting its role in prevention and in reducing the risk of associated chronic diseases. Further research with larger sample sizes and multi-center designs is needed to explore the combined use of AIP with other biomarkers to enhance diagnostic accuracy for MetS.</p>","PeriodicalId":19799,"journal":{"name":"PeerJ","volume":"13 ","pages":"e20074"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-10-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12513372/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145280847","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":"Transcriptome reveals differential expression of flavor and color in closely related strains of tomato (<i>Solanum lycopersicum</i>).","authors":"Chunmei Guo, Xiuyuan Liu, Yingfeng Ding, Zhaoyilan He, Songmei Shi, Yumei Ding, Hui Shen, Zhengan Yang","doi":"10.7717/peerj.20113","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.20113","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Fruit flavor and color are critical quality characteristics of tomatoes (<i>Solanum lycopersicum</i>). Numerous studies have demonstrated that tomato flavor is primarily linked to the sugar-acid content and its ratio, while fruit color is predominantly determined by the composition and concentration of carotenoids and flavonoids. To elucidate the regulatory mechanisms underlying the differences in sugar-acid and color formation during fruit ripening, transcriptome analysis was conducted for the first time on the breaker stage (Br) and mature fruit stage (MF) of the closely related strains yellow-fruited tomato (No. 19) and red-fruited tomato (No. 20). This analysis aimed to identify key regulatory genes and biosynthetic pathways associated with the formation of flavor and color in tomato fruits. The transcriptome analysis revealed that 1,546 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified in the Br19_vs_Br20 comparison, of which 507 were up-regulated and 1,039 were down-regulated. In the MF19_vs_MF20 comparison, 2,178 DEGs were detected, with 1,235 up-regulated and 943 down-regulated. Upon further analysis of the DEGs, we identified several key genes in the sugar-acid metabolic pathway, including sucrose synthase (SUS), phosphofructokinase (PFK), fructose-bisphosphate aldolase (FBA), citrate synthase (CS), and succinate dehydrogenase (SuDH), which may significantly influence tomato flavor. Additionally, differential genes related to carotenoid and flavonoid metabolism, such as cytochrome P450 98A (CYP98A), caffeoyl-CoA3-O-methyltransferase (CCoAMT), carotenoid isomerase (CRTISO), lycopene beta cyclase (LCYB), zeaxanthin epoxidase (ZEP), violaxanthin deepoxidase (VDE), and 9-cis-epoxycarotenoid dioxygenase (NCED), as well as genes linked to ethylene synthesis, such as 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate synthase (ACS) and 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid oxidase (ACO), may play a role in the color changes observed in tomatoes. The findings of this study provide insights into the underlying mechanisms of flavor and color development in tomato fruit, offering valuable information for the genetic improvement of tomatoes.</p>","PeriodicalId":19799,"journal":{"name":"PeerJ","volume":"13 ","pages":"e20113"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-10-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12513376/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145280745","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":"Trade-offs between aquatic and terrestrial locomotion and functional parallelism in <i>Desmognathus</i> salamanders.","authors":"Benjamin M Fitzpatrick","doi":"10.7717/peerj.20111","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.20111","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>A trade-off between aquatic and terrestrial locomotion is self-evident at broad phylogenetic scales. While the effects of more subtle trade-offs in the evolution of closely related species are less clear, they are hypothesized to drive ecological speciation and adaptive radiation. Amphibious animals strike a balance between aquatic and terrestrial activity, and the need to maintain performance in one medium is hypothesized to constrain evolution of high performance in the other (the running-swimming dilemma). Closely related species of <i>Desmognathus</i> salamanders partition local habitats along a gradient from mid-stream to stream edge to completely terrestrial. The trade-off hypothesis predicts that these species will differ in relative running vs. swimming performance depending on the relative importance of each mode of locomotion in their niches. Here, I show that primarily aquatic <i>Desmognathus</i> ecomorphs are superior swimmers and inferior runners relative to semi-aquatic ecomorphs using paired escape performance trials in aquatic and terrestrial arenas. I measured performance as the velocity of the fast-start response to simulated predator attack. I tested two species of each ecomorph, representing two divergent clades with parallel evolution of aquatic and semi-aquatic species. Notably, the different southern clade ecomorphs have been genetically isolated for millions of years, whereas the northern clade ecomorphs share a recent common ancestor and interbreed regularly. My results showed a negative correlation between aquatic and terrestrial performance, with aquatic ecomorphs being faster swimmers and semi-aquatic ecomorphs being faster runners. While there was a possible trend consistent with faster swimming speeds of northern forms relative to their southern counterparts, the functional differences between ecomorphs were similar in both clades. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that trade-offs between aquatic and terrestrial locomotion have contributed to a consistent pattern of habitat partitioning during parallel speciation.</p>","PeriodicalId":19799,"journal":{"name":"PeerJ","volume":"13 ","pages":"e20111"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-10-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12510250/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145280802","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":"Factors influencing compliance with endoscopy final rinsing water standards: a study in a tertiary hospital setting.","authors":"Yuhua Yuan, Lihong Ye, Tianyi Lu, Baihuan Feng, Jin Zhao","doi":"10.7717/peerj.20134","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.20134","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Maintaining a high compliance rate for final rinsing water is essential for patient safety and infection control in healthcare facilities. This study aims to investigate the causes of fluctuations in compliance rates at a tertiary hospital and evaluate the effectiveness of preventive measures.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Monitoring data from October 2022 to December 2023 were analyzed to assess microbial contamination in final rinse water. Environmental assessments and literature reviews were conducted to identify potential contributing factors. Strategic interventions were implemented, and their impact on water quality and infection control was systematically evaluated.</p><p><strong>Findings: </strong>Initial assessments revealed fluctuating compliance rates, with faucet aerators identified as a potential source of contamination. Water samples collected before the aerator showed 100% compliance (6/6 samples), while colonies of <i>Cupriavidus pauculus</i> and <i>Stenotrophomonas maltophilia</i> were detected on aerator surfaces and in final rinse water. After removing the aerators and enhancing disinfection protocols, compliance improved significantly, with subsequent samples meeting infection control standards (≤10 CFU/100 mL).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This study suggests a potential link between fluctuations in endoscopy final rinsing water quality and the presence of faucet aerators. These findings support further research and the development of guidelines for the appropriate use of aerators in healthcare settings.</p>","PeriodicalId":19799,"journal":{"name":"PeerJ","volume":"13 ","pages":"e20134"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-10-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12510251/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145280991","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":"Bioinformatic analysis and experimental validation of hub autophagy-related genes as novel biomarkers for type 2 diabetes mellitus and Alzheimer's disease.","authors":"Rui Zhang, Ruowei Wang, Shuna Zhai, Chunhong Shen, Yu An, Quanri Liu","doi":"10.7717/peerj.20143","DOIUrl":"10.7717/peerj.20143","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Background & objectives: &lt;/strong&gt;Alzheimer's disease (AD) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) share considerable similarities in their proposed patho mechanisms. Autophagy, an intrinsic cellular process involved in the degradation of dysfunctional organelles and abnormal proteins, has been implicated in the pathogenesis of both AD and T2DM. This study aims to identify potential shared biomarkers related to autophagy in AD and T2DM by analyzing hub differentially expressed autophagy-related genes (DEARGs) and examining their potential functions.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Methods: &lt;/strong&gt;Gene expression profiles for AD and T2DM were acquired from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database (training sets: GSE109887 for AD and GSE104674 for T2DM; validation sets: GSE122063 for AD and GSE64998 for T2DM). Autophagy-related genes (ARGs) were extracted from multiple databases. DEARGs were identified and integrated with module genes derived from weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) to determine key shared ARGs. Then, the STRING database was used to construct a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network, from which hub genes were identified. These hub genes were validated using independent microarray datasets through differential expression analysis, and ROC curves were generated to assess their diagnostic value. Moreover, the expression of the hub genes was validated in brain tissues of T2DM mouse models using qRT-PCR.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Results: &lt;/strong&gt;A total of 33 shared DEARGs were identified, among which 12 were designated as hub genes (A&lt;i&gt;NXA5, CCND1, MAP2K1, HSPB1, BNIP3, BAG3, YAP1, MET, FBXW7, CCL2, PFKFB3, CDKN1A&lt;/i&gt;) in both AD and T2DM patients. Validation using other datasets confirmed that &lt;i&gt;ANXA5, BAG3&lt;/i&gt;, and &lt;i&gt;CDKN1A&lt;/i&gt; remained significantly upregulated, while &lt;i&gt;MET&lt;/i&gt; remained downregulated in both AD and T2DM patients. Additionally, &lt;i&gt;PFKFB3&lt;/i&gt; showed an inverse expression pattern between the two diseases. The diagnostic performance of these five hub genes was assessed using ROC curves, with all five exhibiting values of area under the curve (AUC) exceeding 0.7 for T2DM in both training and validation sets. However, only &lt;i&gt;MET&lt;/i&gt; and &lt;i&gt;PFKFB3&lt;/i&gt; demonstrated good diagnostic efficacy in AD patients. In animal models, qRT-PCR analysis revealed that the expression of &lt;i&gt;ANXA5, BAG3&lt;/i&gt;, and &lt;i&gt;MET&lt;/i&gt; was consistent with the bioinformatics results. In contrast, the expression of &lt;i&gt;PFKFB3&lt;/i&gt; and &lt;i&gt;CDKN1A&lt;/i&gt; did not differ significantly between db/db model mice and db/m control mice.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Conclusions: &lt;/strong&gt;Our integrated bioinformatics analyses, supported by preliminary experimental validations, identified several hub ARGs shared between AD and T2DM. Among these, &lt;i&gt;ANXA5&lt;/i&gt;, &lt;i&gt;BAG3&lt;/i&gt;, and &lt;i&gt;MET&lt;/i&gt; exhibited consistent expression trends across datasets and experimental models, while &lt;i&gt;CDKN1A&lt;/i&gt; and &lt;i&gt;PFKFB3&lt;/i&gt; showed inconsistent expression patterns. These findings underscore the complex","PeriodicalId":19799,"journal":{"name":"PeerJ","volume":"13 ","pages":"e20143"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-10-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12510248/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145280872","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":"NT-proBNP serves as a prognostic marker for adverse outcomes in severe immune checkpoint inhibitor-associated myocarditis.","authors":"Cheng He, Linjuan Xu, Zhihong Zhang, Jiong Wang","doi":"10.7717/peerj.20020","DOIUrl":"10.7717/peerj.20020","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have transformed cancer treatment but carry risks of rare, life-threatening immune-related adverse events, particularly myocarditis. Prognostic biomarkers and optimal management strategies for severe ICI-associated myocarditis remain poorly defined.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This single-center retrospective cohort study analyzed 71 patients diagnosed with ICI-associated myocarditis among 7,157 ICI-treated individuals at a tertiary center (August 2018-August 2024). Myocarditis severity was graded per American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) guidelines. Cardiac biomarkers, including NT-proBNP and troponin T, were assessed. Binary logistic regression identified predictors of mortality. Treatment protocols and immunotherapy rechallenge outcomes were evaluated.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Severe myocarditis (Grades 3-4) occurred in 33 patients (46.5%), with an overall mortality rate of 54.5% in this subgroup (18/33). NT-proBNP levels were significantly elevated in fatal cases <i>versus</i> survivors (median: 13,804 <i>vs.</i> 4,050 pg/mL; <i>P</i> < 0.001) and independently predicted mortality risk (odds ratio (OR) 4.3, 95% confidence interval (CI) [1.2-21.9]; <i>P</i> = 0.023). A multimodal regimen combining plasmapheresis with high-dose corticosteroids, intravenous immunoglobulin, and mycophenolate mofetil was associated with improved survival. Among nine patients rechallenged with immunotherapy, seven (77.8%) tolerated subsequent cycles without recurrent immune toxicity, while two with prior Grade 2 myocarditis experienced symptom recurrence.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>Elevated NT-proBNP emerges as a critical prognostic marker for risk stratification in severe ICI-associated myocarditis. Immunotherapy rechallenge appears feasible in select patients but warrants caution in those with prior moderate-grade myocarditis. These findings advocate for biomarker-guided escalation of therapies and shared decision-making frameworks to balance oncologic efficacy with cardiovascular safety.</p>","PeriodicalId":19799,"journal":{"name":"PeerJ","volume":"13 ","pages":"e20020"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-10-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12510244/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145280978","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":"Predictive role of systemic immune-inflammation index in the prognosis of patients with advanced left-sided colorectal cancer: a retrospective study.","authors":"Jingyue Su, Shaokun Yu, Yanjie Xu, Jiemin Zhao, Wenwei Hu, Xuefeng Ni","doi":"10.7717/peerj.20095","DOIUrl":"10.7717/peerj.20095","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of the systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) in patients with advanced left-sided colorectal cancer (CRC) receiving CAPEOX ± bevacizumab as first-line chemotherapy.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A total of 231 patients with advanced left-sided CRC who received first-line CAPEOX ± bevacizumab therapy were included. Patients' blood cell counts, clinical, and pathological data were collected before treatment, and systemic inflammatory indices were calculated, including neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR), and SII. Optimal cutoffs for NLR, PLR, MLR, SII, and age were determined using X-Tile software, categorizing patients in to high- or low-value groups; clinicopathological characteristics were then compared between the high- and low-value groups within each systemic inflammatory index using chi-square tests. Survival curves were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method, with log-rank tests applied to compare differences between groups. The Shapiro-Wilk test for normality and Spearman correlation analysis were used to evaluate the correlations among SII, NLR, PLR, and MLR. Univariable and multivariable analyses were performed with the Cox proportional hazards regression model. The prognostic value of systemic inflammatory indices was compared using the concordance index (C-index) and 5-fold cross-validation. The stability and generalizability of the C-index under varying data partitions were evaluated using mean square error (MSE). Interaction effects between treatment regimens and SII were further explored using multivariable Cox regression analysis.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Univariable and multivariable Cox regression analyses identified age, primary tumor resection, SII, NLR, PLR, and MLR as independent prognostic factors for overall survival (OS). Comparative analysis of the C-index and MSE in the training and validation datasets demonstrated that SII outperformed NLR, PLR, and MLR, exhibiting the highest average C-index and the lowest MSE across 5-fold cross-validation. Patients with elevated pre-treatment SII had significantly worse OS compared to those with lower values.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>SII is a robust prognostic marker in patients with advanced left-sided CRC receiving CAPEOX ± bevacizumab as first-line chemotherapy, demonstrating superior prognostic value compared to NLR, PLR, and MLR. Higher pre-treatment SII values were associated with worse OS, underscoring its clinical utility in prognostic stratification.</p>","PeriodicalId":19799,"journal":{"name":"PeerJ","volume":"13 ","pages":"e20095"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-10-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12510246/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145281015","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":"Eyestalk transcriptome analysis reveals sexually dimorphic host-parasite interactions: divergent molecular strategies of <i>Polyascus</i> sp. for reproductive and growth regulation in <i>Eriocheir sinensis</i>.","authors":"Jing Xie, Congping Ying, Zhen Tang, Yanping Yang, Kai Liu","doi":"10.7717/peerj.20089","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.20089","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The Chinese mitten crab (<i>Eriocheir sinensis</i>), an economically critical migratory species inhabiting both freshwater and marine environments, is susceptible to parasitization by the rhizocephalan barnacle <i>Polyascus</i> sp. in estuarine ecosystems. In this study, <i>E. sinensis</i> was found to be parasitized by <i>Polyascus</i> sp. in the freshwater waters of the Anqing section of the Yangtze River, which manifested itself as restricted growth and development, hindered gonadal development, and apparent changes in sexual characteristics.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Morphological analysis, serological testing, and eyestalk transcriptome analysis were conducted on male and female parasitized and non-parasitized crabs to investigate the molecular mechanisms by which <i>Polyascus</i> sp. affects host growth and reproduction.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The study revealed that parasitized hosts of both sexes were significantly smaller than normal individuals and exhibited gonadal atrophy. Male hosts displayed feminization of secondary sexual characteristics, whereas females showed no significant alterations. Testosterone and ecdysterone levels decreased in male hosts, whereas estradiol levels declined in female hosts. Transcriptomic profiling revealed differentially expressed genes predominantly associated with metabolic processes, stimulus response, signal transduction, and reproduction. Thirteen key candidate genes related to parasite-induced suppression of host molting and growth, fourteen key candidate genes involved in male reproductive regulation, and ten candidate genes affecting female gonadal development were identified. Key genes involved in gonadal development-including <i>5-HT1B, CHH, MIH, JHE1</i>, Dmrt family, cytochrome P450 family, <i>Abd-A</i>, and <i>Antp</i> exhibited sex-specific expression patterns. Additionally, critical growth-related genes such as <i>Dib</i>, <i>HR38</i>, and <i>Cht3</i> exhibited significant alterations in hosts of both sexes. <i>Polyascus</i> sp. parasitism suppresses gonadal development and growth in both sexes, employing distinct regulatory strategies. It uses a \"neuroendocrine disruption and reproductive gene regulation\" strategy to regulate reproductive development in male hosts, while influencing female reproductive metabolism through a \"Nutrient Hijacking-Hormonal Suppression\" mechanism. Additionally, the parasitism disrupts host growth <i>via</i> \"molting inhibition\". These findings elucidate the sex-specific metabolic, reproductive, and growth disruption strategies of <i>Polyascus</i> sp., providing new insights into host-parasite interactions in decapod crustaceans.</p>","PeriodicalId":19799,"journal":{"name":"PeerJ","volume":"13 ","pages":"e20089"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-10-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12510255/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145281007","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}