PeerJ最新文献

{"title":"Quantitative evaluation of muscle mass based on chest high-resolution CT and its prognostic value for tuberculosis: a retrospective study.","authors":"Ankang Huang, Yuyao Zhang, Qi Dai, Jingfeng Zhang, Jianjun Zheng","doi":"10.7717/peerj.19147","DOIUrl":"10.7717/peerj.19147","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>This study aims to explore the prognostic value of quantitatively evaluating muscle mass using chest high resolution computed tomography (HRCT) in patients with active tuberculosis (TB).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This retrospective cohort study collected data from 309 patients with active TB diagnosed at Ningbo No.2 Hospital from 2020 to 2023. Based on the skeletal muscle index (SMI) at the T12 vertebra (with thresholds of <28.8 cm<sup>2</sup>/m<sup>2</sup> for men and <20.8 cm<sup>2</sup>/m<sup>2</sup> for women), patients were divided into a low muscle mass group and a normal muscle mass group. The study compared baseline characteristics, muscle mass-related indicators, body mass index (BMI), and imaging features between the two groups. The correlation between muscle mass-related indicators, BMI, and TB imaging features and prognosis was analyzed. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis and multivariate logistic regression were used to assess the prognostic value of muscle mass-related indicators and BMI in patients undergoing anti-TB treatment.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 309 patients were included in the study, divided into a normal muscle mass group (<i>n</i> = 229) and a low muscle mass group (<i>n</i> = 80). There was a significant difference in prognosis between the two groups (<i>χ</i> <sup>2</sup> test, <i>p</i> < 0.05). Patients in the low muscle mass group were older, had a higher proportion of males, and had a lower BMI (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Additionally, these patients had a higher likelihood of developing pulmonary cavities (<i>p</i> < 0.05). In terms of imaging features, the two groups showed significant differences in the pre-treatment proportion of pulmonary fibrotic bands, ground-glass opacities, consolidation, lesion percentage, and lesion absorption ratio (all <i>p</i> < 0.05). Univariate analysis indicated that both the T12 skeletal muscle index (T12 SMI) and BMI were correlated with TB imaging characteristics (<i>p</i> < 0.05), with T12 SMI showing a stronger correlation than BMI. Multivariable linear regression analysis revealed that after adjusting for age, gender, and T12 skeletal muscle radiation attenuation (T12 SMRA), T12 SMI remained significantly correlated with the whole-lung lesion proportion (<i>β</i>: - 4.56, 95% CI [-5.45 to -3.67]) and lesion absorption ratio (<i>β</i>:0.036, 95% CI [0.031-0.041]). Multivariable logistic regression analysis demonstrated that after accounting for age, gender, T12 SMRA, T12 SMI was significantly associated with the prognosis of TB patients (OR: 20.10, 95% CI [8.81-51.56], <i>p</i> < 0.05), indicating that low T12 SMI is an independent risk factor associated with poor prognosis. ROC curve analysis indicated that T12 SMI may offer advantages over BMI, with an area under the ROC curve (AUC) of T12 SMI (0.761, 95% CI [0.690-0.832]) higher than the AUC of BMI (0.700, 95% CI [0.619-0.781].</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </stro","PeriodicalId":19799,"journal":{"name":"PeerJ","volume":"13 ","pages":"e19147"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11925048/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143670596","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":"Gastroduodenal artery aneurysm/ pseudoaneurysm: a systematic review of reported cases.","authors":"Yi-Tzu Lee, Chien-Chin Hsu, Kuo-Tai Chen","doi":"10.7717/peerj.19115","DOIUrl":"10.7717/peerj.19115","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>This systematic review and meta-analysis investigated the clinical characteristics of patients with gastroduodenal artery aneurysm (GDA), identified risk factors associated with poor clinical outcomes, and elucidated potential differences between various GDA etiologies.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A systematic literature search was conducted from January 2000 to October 2023 in the PubMed, EMBASE, and Google Scholar databases. The analysis focused on extracting data regarding clinical presentations, diagnostic modalities, and patient outcomes.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>This meta-analysis included data from 224 patients derived from 207 case reports spanning 47 countries over a 23-year period. The majority of patients presented with comorbidity (85.3%) and had a predisposing factor for GDA (71.9%). The diagnostic accuracy of the three most common diagnostic investigations-namely angiography, abdominal computed tomography, and ultrasound-was 100.0%, 86.2%, and 59.6%, respectively. Transarterial embolization (75.0%) and surgery (24.1%) were the two most common therapeutic approaches. Emergent treatment for GDA was necessary in 31.7% of patients. Notably, hemostasis was achieved after the initial treatment attempt in 82.6% of patients. The in-hospital mortality rate was 6.7%, with complications occurring in 16.1% of cases. A higher percentage of patients with a complicated hospital course were subjected to observation management and presented with shock during hospitalization.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Patients with GDA often have comorbidities and predisposing factors. Clinical presentations of GDA were found to include abdominal pain, hemorrhage, and obstruction of peripheral structures in the vicinity of the gastroduodenal artery. Splanchnic artery angiography and abdominal computed tomography are recognized as the most accurate tools for diagnosing GDA. Endovascular management is the mainstay treatment approach for most patients and have a high rate of hemostasis success during the initial intervention. Surgical intervention is also a practical treatment. Conservative management with observation management may lead to a complicated hospital course, highlighting the potential benefit of aggressive treatment strategies for GDA. Patients with pancreatitis exhibited more comorbidities, predisposing factors, and a broader spectrum of clinical manifestations compared to those without pancreatitis. However, the in-hospital mortality rate was lower in the pancreatitis group, likely due to the younger age of the patients and the more prominent clinical presentations, which prompted earlier and more extensive diagnostic imaging studies.</p>","PeriodicalId":19799,"journal":{"name":"PeerJ","volume":"13 ","pages":"e19115"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11925042/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143670627","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":"Predictors of preterm births in North Dakota: a retrospective study of the North Dakota Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS).","authors":"Grace Njau, Ramona Danielson, Corey Day, Agricola Odoi","doi":"10.7717/peerj.19049","DOIUrl":"10.7717/peerj.19049","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Preterm births represent approximately 10% of all births in the United States (US) annually. Although North Dakota (ND) has large rural and American Indian populations that experience disparities in health outcomes relative to the general population, few studies have investigated risk factors of preterm births in this state. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate predictors of preterm births in ND among women who had a live singleton birth and no prior history of preterm births.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Data on live births from 2017 to 2021 were obtained from the ND Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System. Potential predictors of preterm birth were identified using a conceptual model. Multivariable logistic regression was then used to investigate and identify significant predictors of preterm births.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The overall prevalence of preterm birth in North Dakota from 2017 to 2021 was 8.1%. However, among the population of interest in this study, which excluded births with multiple infants as well as women with <i>a prior</i> history of preterm birth, the preterm birth rate was 6.4%. Race, age, pregestational diabetes, and gestational hypertension were significantly associated with preterm birth in the final multivariable logistic model. The odds of preterm birth were higher among women who were American Indian (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 1.7, 95% confidence interval (CI) [1.3-2.4]), were aged 35 years or older (AOR = 1.6, 95% CI [1.01-2.5]), had pregestational diabetes (AOR = 4.3, 95% CI [2.0-9.3]), and had gestational hypertension (AOR = 4.5, 95% CI [3.1-6.7]) compared to women who were White, aged 20-34 years, and did not have pregestational diabetes or gestational hypertension.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Preventing and controlling chronic diabetes and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy is critical for reducing the risk of preterm birth, especially among women of advanced maternal age. Further research is needed to understand the underlying causes of racial disparities of preterm birth in ND.</p>","PeriodicalId":19799,"journal":{"name":"PeerJ","volume":"13 ","pages":"e19049"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11925044/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143670593","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":"The association between non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio (NHHR) and risk of prostate cancer: a retrospective study.","authors":"Ke Bu, Jinru Wang, Xiaojie Zheng, Kaige Zhang, Duolao Wang, Hengqing An, Ning Tao","doi":"10.7717/peerj.19065","DOIUrl":"10.7717/peerj.19065","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Prostate cancer is one of the most frequent malignancies in the world, with significant morbidity and death rates. Identifying novel biomarkers is critical to reducing morbidity and mortality from the illness today. Although lipids have been linked to an increased risk of prostate cancer, it is unclear if the non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (NHDL-C) to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) ratio (NHHR) is related to prostate cancer. Therefore, we assessed the relationship between NHHR and prostate cancer risk.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This study comprised 1,718 individuals who attended the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University between March 2020 and March 2024. A pathological examination of a prostate puncture biopsy was utilized to confirm the diagnosis of prostate cancer. The study collected information on participants' clinical and laboratory examinations, used propensity score matching to eliminate potential confounders, and analyzed the relationship between NHHR and prostate cancer, using logistic regression models combined with restricted cubic spline (RCS) and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Furthermore, sensitivity analyses were undertaken to assess the robustness of the results.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>(1) There were statistically significant differences in neutrophils, erythrocytes, triglycerides, alkaline phosphatase, and NHHR between the two groups; (2) after adjusting for all covariates, logistic regression revealed a negative association between NHHR and prostate cancer (0.91 (0.83∼0.99), <i>P</i> = 0.028). Participants in the second quartile had a significantly lower risk of prostate cancer after comprehensive adjustment (0.69 (0.50∼0.96), <i>P</i> = 0.026); (3) the restrictive cubic spline curve shows a non-linear relationship between NHHR and prostate cancer risk, with a turning point of 1.824; (4) the results of the ROC curve showed that the NHHR had an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.73; the results of the decision curve suggested that the model was able to provide a high benefit value for patients, with a threshold range of approximately 0.01-0.98 and a maximum net benefit of 0.52, and the calibration curve demonstrated that the model was accurate and reliable.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>There is a non-linear dose-response relationship between NHHR and prostate cancer risk, which may be associated with a reduced risk of prostate cancer. The finding can be used to detect high-risk groups and prevent prostate cancer.</p>","PeriodicalId":19799,"journal":{"name":"PeerJ","volume":"13 ","pages":"e19065"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11913014/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143649887","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":"Susceptibility of lymnaeid snails to <i>Fasciola hepatica</i> and <i>Fasciola gigantica</i> (Digenea: Fasciolidae): a systematic review and meta-analysis.","authors":"Philile Ignecious Ngcamphalala, Ignore Nyagura, Mokgadi Pulane Malatji, Samson Mukaratirwa","doi":"10.7717/peerj.18976","DOIUrl":"10.7717/peerj.18976","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Fasciolosis is a food-borne disease that causes major economic losses, globally. This zoonotic disease is caused by <i>Fasciola hepatica</i> and <i>Fasciola gigantica</i> species which employ freshwater snails from the family Lymnaeidae as their intermediate hosts. Thus, a key aspect of understanding the epidemiology of the disease lies in understanding the transmission ecology of the parasite. Therefore, this systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted to assess the experimental susceptibility and prevalence of natural infections of <i>F. hepatica</i> and <i>F. gigantica</i> in lymnaeid snails.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Relevant peer-reviewed articles published in the past 20 years (2004-2023) were searched and appraised. Prevalence and infection rate estimates were based on 41 studies that met the inclusion criteria.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Five thousand five hundred and seventy-five (5,575) lymnaeid snails were subjected to experimental infections and 44,002 were screened for natural infections. The overall pooled infection rate was higher in experimental infections 50% (95% CI [42-58%]) compared to natural infections of field-collected snails 6% (95% CI [0-22%]). The highest pooled infection rate was recorded in South America at 64% (95% CI [48-78%]) for experimental infections while the lowest was recorded for natural infections at 2% (95% CI [0-6%]) in Europe and 2% (95% CI [0-17%]) in Asia. In experimental studies, <i>F. gigantica</i> recorded the highest pooled prevalence at 73% (95% CI [61-84%] compared to <i>F. hepatica</i> which recorded 47% (95% CI [38-56%]). For natural infections, however, <i>F. hepatica</i> had the highest prevalence (12% (95% CI [0-30%]) while the lowest was noted for naturally infected <i>F. gigantica</i> at 2% (95% CI [0-18%]). Based on the snail species, the highest pooled prevalence was recorded for <i>Pseudosuccinea columella</i> infected with <i>F. hepatica</i> and <i>F. gigantica</i> at 47% (95% CI [33-61%]) while the lowest was recorded for <i>F. hepatica</i> naturally infected <i>Galba truncatula</i> at 4% (95% CI [0-10%]). Natural <i>Fasciola</i> spp. infections in intermediate snail hosts decreased in prevalence while experimental infections have increased in prevalence over the past 20 years.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>While there seems to be a strong intermediate host specificity between the two <i>Fasciola</i> spp., experimental infection results showed that <i>G. truncatula</i> and <i>R. natalensis</i> are susceptible to <i>F. hepatica</i> and <i>F. gigantica</i>, respectively.</p>","PeriodicalId":19799,"journal":{"name":"PeerJ","volume":"13 ","pages":"e18976"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11913016/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143649844","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":"Relationship between salivary flow rate and dental caries in normal and underweight children: a comparative cross-sectional study from district Tharparkar.","authors":"Abdul Qadir Khan Dall, Muhammad Adeel Ahmed, Fizza Zulfiqar, Sarwat Batool, Rizwan Jouhar, Muhammad Faheemuddin","doi":"10.7717/peerj.19128","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.19128","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background and objectives: </strong>This study aims to explore the relationship between body mass index (BMI), salivary flow rate, and dental caries among children in Tharparkar.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted over 6 months involving 179 children aged 8-12 years from Tharparkar and Hyderabad. Weight and height were recorded, BMI was computed using height and weight, and salivary flow rate was measured using the spitting method. Dental caries were assessed using the DMFT (decayed, missing, and filled teeth) index. Data were analyzed using SPSS, and independent t-tests were performed to assess group differences.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Underweight children (60.9% male, mean BMI 15.46 ± 2.45 kg/m²) showed higher mean DMFT scores for deciduous teeth (2.44 <i>vs</i>. 1.06, <i>p</i> = 0.009) compared to normal-weight peers. No significant differences were found in permanent teeth DMFT scores or salivary flow rates between BMI groups.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Underweight children exhibited a higher prevalence of dental caries in their primary teeth, underscoring the need for integrated nutritional and oral health interventions in vulnerable populations. However, salivary flow rate did not differ significantly between BMI groups, suggesting other factors may play a more critical role in caries prevention.</p>","PeriodicalId":19799,"journal":{"name":"PeerJ","volume":"13 ","pages":"e19128"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11910957/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143649831","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":"Evaluating moss diversity and biomass for sustainable harvesting methods in semi-arid forests of Turkey.","authors":"Serhat Ursavaş, Recep Söyler","doi":"10.7717/peerj.19010","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.19010","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In Turkey, it is legal to harvest moss from designated areas; however, the lack of comprehensive inventory studies in these harvested zones poses a significant threat to moss species. Harvesting without proper inventories can negatively impact rare, sensitive, and even endemic species in the region. Furthermore, research on the sustainable amount of moss harvestable per hectare in forested areas is severely lacking. The goal of this study, which covered 4,200 hectares on Eldivan Mountain, was to close the significant gap in moss inventory and sustainable harvesting methods. Sampling was conducted every 300-meters, measuring mosses in four m² ground plots and 50 m² tree plots. The total area covered by the identified moss species was approximately 97,216,557 m², with a total dry weight of 44,640,972 kilograms. The most widespread ground species, <i>Syntrichia ruralis</i> (Hedw.) F. Weber & D. Mohr, covered 64,772,801 m² with a dry weight of 623,268 kilograms, while the dominant tree species, <i>Hypnum cupressiforme</i> var. <i>lacunosum</i> Brid., covered 3,937,266 m² with a dry weight of 1,448,533 kilograms. The research determines that the collection of epiphytic mosses is unsustainable, owing to insufficient rainfall in Turkey's semi-arid areas. We recommend a sustainable harvest rate of 1-1.5 tons per hectare for ground mosses to balance ecological conservation with commercial objectives. These findings furnish critical information for conservation strategies and the formulation of sustainable moss harvesting methodologies.</p>","PeriodicalId":19799,"journal":{"name":"PeerJ","volume":"13 ","pages":"e19010"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11910958/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143649594","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":"Giants in the landscape: status, genetic diversity, habitat suitability and conservation implications for a fragmented Asian elephant (<i>Elephas maximus</i>) population in Cambodia.","authors":"Pablo Sinovas, Chelsea Smith, Sophorn Keath, Nasak Chantha, Jennifer Kaden, Saveng Ith, Alex Ball","doi":"10.7717/peerj.18932","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.18932","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Asian elephant (<i>Elephas maximus</i>) populations are declining and increasingly fragmented across their range. In Cambodia, the Prey Lang Extended Landscape (PLEL) represents a vast expanse of lowland evergreen and semi-evergreen forest with potential to support Asian elephant population recovery in the country. To inform effective landscape-level conservation planning, this study provides the first robust population size estimate for Asian elephants in PLEL, based on non-invasive genetic sampling during the 2020-2021 dry season in three protected areas: Prey Lang, Preah Roka and Chhaeb Wildlife Sanctuaries. Further, it provides an assessment of the species' range, habitat suitability and connectivity within the landscape using Maxent and Fuzzy suitability models. Thirty-five unique genotypes (individual elephants) were identified, of which six were detected in both Preah Roka and Chhaeb Wildlife Sanctuaries, providing evidence that elephants move readily between these neighbouring protected areas. However, no unique genotypes were shared between Preah Roka/Chhaeb and the less functionally connected southerly Prey Lang Wildlife Sanctuary. The estimated population size in the southern population was 31 (95% CI [24-41]) individuals. The northern population of Preah Roka/Chhaeb Wildlife Sanctuaries is estimated to number 20 (95% CI [13-22]) individuals. Habitat loss is prevalent across the landscape and connectivity outside of the protected areas is very limited; however, large swathes of suitable elephant habitat remain. As the landscape holds the potential to be restored to a national stronghold for this flagship species, in turn resulting in the protection of a vast array of biodiversity, we recommend protection of remaining suitable habitat and reduction of threats and disturbance to elephants within these areas as top priorities. Our study offers a model for integrated elephant population and landscape-level habitat modelling that can serve to guide similar research and management efforts in other landscapes.</p>","PeriodicalId":19799,"journal":{"name":"PeerJ","volume":"13 ","pages":"e18932"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11910960/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143649787","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 land use change on ecosystem services in freshwater wetlands in Bacalar, Mexico.","authors":"Erika Betzabeth Palafox-Juárez, Mariana E Callejas-Jiménez, Jorge A Herrera-Silveira, Claudia Teutli-Hernández, Vera Camacho-Valdez, Jorge Omar López-Martínez","doi":"10.7717/peerj.18954","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.18954","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Wetlands, such as those in Laguna Bacalar, Mexico, are highly productive and biodiverse ecosystems that provide a wide range of invaluable ecosystem services (ES). Despite their importance, these ecosystems are under significant threat from disturbances such as land-use changes, making them among the most endangered ecosystems worldwide. This study aimed to (1) assess the spatio-temporal variation of ecosystem services in Laguna Bacalar, Mexico, between 1999 and 2021 using medium-resolution satellite imagery from the Landsat sensor; and (2) estimate the monetary value of ES losses attributable to land-use changes by applying a unit value transfer method with global value coefficients based on data from Brander et al. (2024). Twenty-two key ESs were identified and associated with mangroves, inland wetlands, and the hydrological system. A total of 277 hectares of natural ecosystems were lost, leading to a reduction in the total value flow of ecosystem services (ES), which was estimated at 10,411,098 Int$/year over the study period. The loss of inland wetlands is particularly alarming due to their critical role in filtering agrochemicals and organic matter from the watershed. Increasing pressures from human activities, including urbanization and tourism, significantly contribute to the degradation of these ecosystems. This highlights the urgent need for responsible environmental management and the implementation of conservation strategies to protect their functionality and the invaluable ecosystem services they provide to local communities.</p>","PeriodicalId":19799,"journal":{"name":"PeerJ","volume":"13 ","pages":"e18954"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11910959/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143649580","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":"Contribution of metabolomics to the taxonomy and systematics of octocorals from the Tropical Eastern Pacific.","authors":"Karla B Jaramillo, Paúl O Guillén, Rubén Abad, Jenny Antonia Rodríguez León, Grace McCormack","doi":"10.7717/peerj.19009","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.19009","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Octocorals are sessile invertebrates that play a key role in marine habitats, with significant diversity in the Tropical Eastern Pacific, especially in Ecuador's shallow waters. This study focuses on the most representative octocorals within the Marine Protected Area El Pelado, Santa Elena, Ecuador, as a part of a marine biodiscovery project employing an integrative approach. While molecular techniques have advanced, challenges persist in distinguishing closely related species. Octocorals produce a wide range of compounds, characterized by unique chemical structures and diverse biological properties. Therefore, the main objective of this study was to assess the potential of metabolomics and advanced analytical techniques to analyze the metabolome of these organisms, aiming to refine species classification and improve understanding of octocoral systematics in this region. Untargeted metabolomics effectively discriminates 12 octocoral species across five genera: <i>Muricea, Leptogorgia, Pacifigorgia, Psammogorgia</i>, and <i>Heterogorgia</i>, with notable differentiation between species within the genus <i>Muricea</i>, reinforcing its utility as an additional data set for species characterization. Secondary metabolites such as sterols, steroids, and terpenes (furanocembranolides and sesquiterpenes), were identified in <i>Leptogorgia</i> and <i>Muricea</i>. Overall, this method enabled the identification of 11 known species and a potentially new one, <i>Leptogorgia</i> cf. <i>alba</i>, confirming the extreme diversity of this group in the Tropical Eastern Pacific and within the Ecuadorian marine ecosystem. The study highlights the value of metabolomics in octocoral systematics and encourages for its broader application in marine biodiversity research.</p>","PeriodicalId":19799,"journal":{"name":"PeerJ","volume":"13 ","pages":"e19009"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11910152/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143649477","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}