PeerJ最新文献

{"title":"The relationship between body morphology, handgrip strength, and bone mineral density in Chinese college students: the mediating role of skeletal muscle.","authors":"Zhilei Zhang, Xiujuan Liu","doi":"10.7717/peerj.21735","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.21735","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Adolescence is a critical period for bone mineral density (BMD) accumulation. However, the relationship between body morphology, handgrip strength (HGS), and BMD, as well as the mediating mechanisms involved, remains unclear among Chinese college students.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>To conduct an in-depth analysis of the mediating effect of skeletal muscle (the measured variable is skeletal muscle mass) on the relationship between body morphology, HGS, and BMD in Chinese college students, and to reveal the underlying mechanisms influencing human BMD.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A random cluster sampling method was used to select 104 Chinese college students from a regular institution of higher education as cross-sectional study participants. Pearson correlation analysis and structural equation modeling were employed for data processing to construct a relationship model among height, weight, HGS, skeletal muscle, and BMD of the distal radius and ulna in the left forearm.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The Pearson correlation coefficients between height, weight, HGS, distal radius and ulna BMD, and skeletal muscle were 0.769, 0.795, 0.872, and 0.498, respectively (<i>p</i> < 0.05). After controlling for sex, skeletal muscle played a significant mediating role in the relationships between weight, HGS, and distal radius and ulna BMD among Chinese college students (<i>p</i> < 0.05), with mediating effect values of 0.293, and 0.238, respectively. Sex directly predicted skeletal muscle (<i>p</i> < 0.001) with effect values of 0.229, but not BMD (<i>p</i> = 0.056).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Skeletal muscle plays a significant mediating role in the relationships between weight, HGS, and BMD in Chinese college students. Height does not indirectly influence BMD through skeletal muscle after controlling for sex. Increasing skeletal muscle mass remains an effective approach for enhancing BMD, particularly by maintaining adequate weight and grip strength.</p>","PeriodicalId":19799,"journal":{"name":"PeerJ","volume":"14 ","pages":"e21735"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2026-09-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13629567/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149113400","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":"Biochar application alters soil properties and microbial gene profiles in a continuous cassava cropping system.","authors":"Yanmei Zhu, Jianbing Zhang, Yundong Wei, Shiyi Zhou, Xingming Qin","doi":"10.7717/peerj.21731","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.21731","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Continuous cassava cropping can lead to soil degradation and disturbances in soil microbial functions, threatening the sustainability of cassava production systems. To address these challenges, this study examined the effects of biochar on soil physicochemical properties and microbial functional profiles in a continuous cassava cropping system. Two biochar application rates (0 and 3 Mg ha^-1) were applied, and metagenomic sequencing was conducted to evaluate microbial community composition and functional genes related to carbon and nitrogen cycling in rhizosphere and bulk soils. The results demonstrated that biochar was associated with higher soil pH, soil organic matter, and available nutrient content, with a stronger effect in rhizosphere soil. Biochar application altered the genetic potential of microbial communities, particularly in the rhizosphere soil. In terms of functional categories, biochar was related to higher gene abundances in \"homologous recombination\" and \"DNA replication\" categories (Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) database), as well as the \"replication, recombination, and repair\" category (evolutionary genealogy of genes: Non-supervised Orthologous Groups (eggNOG) database) in rhizosphere soil. Biochar also affected the abundance of carbon cycling genes, particularly in the rhizosphere. The abundance of the aerobic respiration-related gene <i>coxA</i> was increased, while the abundance of the anaerobic fermentation gene L-lactate dehydrogenase (<i>LDH</i>) was decreased. Additionally, in rhizosphere soil, biochar significantly increased the abundance of <i>norB</i> (denitrification), <i>GDH2</i> (nitrogen mineralization), and <i>nifD</i> (nitrogen fixation), while decreasing the abundance of genes involved in nitrogen assimilation (<i>gltB</i>), assimilatory nitrate reduction (<i>nirA</i>), nitrogen mineralization (<i>cynS</i>), and nitrogen uptake (<i>nrtA, nasF, cynA, nrtC, and nasD</i>). Together, these results suggest that biochar application may enhance nutrient availability and reshape microbial functional potential primarily in the cassava rhizosphere, providing field evidence for biochar use in continuous cassava cropping.</p>","PeriodicalId":19799,"journal":{"name":"PeerJ","volume":"14 ","pages":"e21731"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2026-09-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13629565/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149113279","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":"A large number of variants of <i>Corynebacterium diphtheriae c</i>ausing diphtheria outbreaks in Indonesia, 2010-2017.","authors":"Sunarno Sunarno, Sundari Nursofiah, Novi Amalia, Yudi Hartoyo, Nelly Puspandari, Lisa Andriani Lienggonegoro, Ratih Dian Saraswati, Dwi Febriyana, Tati Febrianti, Khariri Khariri, Yuni Rukminiati, Kambang Sariadji, Masri Sembiring Maha, Yustinus Maladan, Ariyani Noviantari, Christina Safira Whinie Lestari, Masagus Zainuri, Pretty Multihartina, Rahadian Pratama, Siswanto Siswanto","doi":"10.7717/peerj.21718","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.21718","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Several methods exist for the molecular typing of diphtheria-causing bacteria, including core genome multilocus sequence typing (cgMLST). This study aims to provide an overview of the sequence types, virulence factors, and molecular resistances of Corynebacterium diphtheriae (<i>C. Diphtheriae</i>) in different regions of Indonesia between 2010-2017 to predict diseases transmission patterns and evaluate control measures .</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A total of 89 archived isolates of <i>C. diphtheriae</i> collected between 2010 and 2017 from 10 provinces in Indonesia were used as test samples. DNA extraction and whole genome sequencing (using the QIAamp DNA Minikit and Illumina MiSeq, respectively) followed standard protocols. Bioinformatic analysis was performed using a pipeline that included 'diphtOscan'.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Seventy out of eighty-nine samples qualified for analysis. Fifteen sequence types (STs) were identified: ST377 (24.3%), ST534 (44.3%) and others 31.4%. Approximately 50% of isolates predicted as Gravis biovar, based on <i>spu</i>A gene presence; two isolates were predicted as Belfanti due to <i>nar</i>G gene absence. The Gravis biovar includes isolates with ST105, ST123, and ST534. The cgMLST analysis revealed 14 sublineages corresponding to sequence types; we also identified 33 genetic clusters (GC) and 20 clonal groups among the analyzed samples. Notable GC such as GC1197, GC1199, and GC9 were found across provinces and islands. Isolates with ST141/GC75 shared similarity with Malaysian isolate; those with ST377/GC9 showed resemblance to Indian or European Union counterparts. The antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) including <i>cmx</i>, <i>tet</i>W and <i>tet</i>O, <i>sul</i>1, <i>aad, aph-</i>Ib <i>, aph-</i>Ia <i>, aph-</i>Id, <i>dfr</i>A<i>,</i> were identified in most isolates. In contrast, <i>msr</i>(D)<i>, mef</i>(A)<i>,</i> which encode erythromycin resistance via <i>erm</i>X, were found in only two isolates. One isolate harbored <i>pbp</i>2, responsible for penicillin resistance. Notably, almost all ST377 isolates exhibited aminoglycoside resistance; conversely, the single non-ST377 isolate showed this trait as well.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This study demonstrates that Indonesia's 2010-2017 diphtheria outbreaks were caused by multiple strains, with ST534 and ST377 being the most prevalent. GC similarity suggests a link or disease transmission between various outbreaks across different regions /islands/countries and periods. ARGs were predominantly associated with phenicol, tetracycline, and sulfonamides resistances; only a few isolates exhibited ARGs linked to penicillin and erythromycin. Our analysis revealed correlations between STs and biovar or resistance profiles. We recommend to implement whole genome sequencing (WGS) for diphtheria surveillance in Indonesia.</p>","PeriodicalId":19799,"journal":{"name":"PeerJ","volume":"14 ","pages":"e21718"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2026-09-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13629564/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149113228","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":"Exploring metabolic candidates and inflammatory mediation in Parkinson's disease: a pilot integrative metabolomics and Mendelian randomization study.","authors":"Yue Lang, Hui Zhang, Rui Feng, Yongzhong Lin","doi":"10.7717/peerj.21670","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.21670","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Parkinson's disease (PD) is a complex neurodegenerative disorder characterized by multifaceted molecular dysregulation. Integrating genetic approaches with metabolomics may help to systematically investigate potential links between metabolites, inflammatory proteins, and PD risk.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>In this pilot discovery phase, untargeted Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS) was conducted in a small cohort (15 PD patients and 10 healthy controls). Differentially expressed metabolites (DEMs) were identified using variable importance in projection (VIP) > 1, |log₂FC| ≥ 1, and false discovery rate (FDR)-adjusted <i>q</i>-values < 0.05 (Benjamini-Hochberg method), representing the metabolites remaining significant after multiple-testing correction applied directly at the metabolite discovery stage. Prioritized metabolites were selected by Random Forest, Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression, and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment. Two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) was performed using PD Genome-Wide Association Study (GWAS) data from FinnGen R12 (European ancestry: 5,861 cases, 494,487 controls) to evaluate putative causal associations, with FDR correction applied separately within the metabolite and inflammatory protein exposure sets. Mediation MR was used to explore potential mediating roles of 91 circulating inflammatory proteins.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 3,537 metabolites were identified, of which 570 were classified as DEMs, representing the features remaining significant after multiple-testing correction. Integration of Random Forest and LASSO identified 3-phenylpropionylglycine as a key candidate metabolite. KEGG analysis highlighted caffeine metabolism as the top enriched pathway. After FDR correction, MR analyses suggested inverse associations between genetically predicted levels of 3-phenylpropionylglycine (<i>P_FDR</i> = 0.0077, OR = 0.82) and 7-methylxanthine (<i>P_FDR</i> = 0.0349, OR = 0.83) and PD risk. Mediation analysis further indicated that SULT1A1 may partially mediate the association between 3-phenylpropionylglycine and PD.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This exploratory study integrates pilot-scale metabolomics with genetic analyses to identify candidate metabolic signals and inflammatory pathways linked to PD. However, given the small metabolomics sample size, cross-cohort data integration, and potential biological mismatch between plasma-derived metabolites and genetically predicted metabolite levels, these findings should be considered hypothesis-generating and interpreted with caution.</p>","PeriodicalId":19799,"journal":{"name":"PeerJ","volume":"14 ","pages":"e21670"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2026-09-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13629568/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149113410","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":"Take-off and landing techniques in snowboard halfpipe based on inertial measurement units and kinematics analysis.","authors":"Jinglun Yu, Qi Li, Shengnian Zhang, Quan Zhou","doi":"10.7717/peerj.21778","DOIUrl":"10.7717/peerj.21778","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The unique characteristics of snowboard halfpipe projects present a research challenge. Inertial measurement units (IMUs) show promise in addressing the prevailing research problems due to their numerous advantages. This study aims to explore the key technical characteristics of the take-off and landing phases in snowboard halfpipe to analyse the key factors that affect the take-off quality and landing stability of athletes at different sport levels.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The study used an IMU-based motion capture system combined with high-speed video recording (<i>via</i> Xsens and Fastcam Mini WX100 high-speed cameras) to collect kinematic data from halfpipe snowboarders during their movement process.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The elite athletes reached the vertical position at approximately 50% of the normalized take-off phase, compared with approximately 60% in novice athletes. The overall speeds achieved by the elite athletes were greater than those of the novice athletes. The elite group demonstrated a lower flexion range of motion and a stiffer landing pattern than the novice group.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>These findings suggest that snowboard halfpipe performance may depend on the coordinated control of take-off timing, snowboard inclination, and landing posture.</p>","PeriodicalId":19799,"journal":{"name":"PeerJ","volume":"14 ","pages":"e21778"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2026-09-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13618448/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149075366","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":"A magical experience or a puzzle: how do people watch conjuring tricks?","authors":"Dawson von Stein, Richard Wiseman, David C Watson, Rodney Schmaltz","doi":"10.7717/peerj.21742","DOIUrl":"10.7717/peerj.21742","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Conjuring tricks often contain two components: The effect (an apparently impossible happening) and the method (the secret of the trick). Prior scales have assessed individuals' general liking for magic, but not examined their interest in the effect and method. This paper validates a new scale (Method-Effect Scale; MES) measuring people's preference for these two components and examines its relationship with several variables including a general liking for magic, wonder, pseudoscientific beliefs and thinking style. Adult participants (<i>N</i> = 922) completed an online survey containing the MES, Loathing of Legerdemain Scale, Capacity for Wonder Scale (CFW), Inventory of Epistemically Unwarranted Beliefs Scale (EUB), Rational Experiential Inventory (REI), and demographic questions. An exploratory factor analysis revealed that the MES had two distinct factors (Effect and Method) and strong internal reliability (overall <i>α</i> = .83: method <i>α</i> = .86: effect <i>α</i> = .77). Significant positive correlations emerged between both MES subscales, the CFW subscales, and the EUB scientific knowledge subscale. The MES Method subscale was positively correlated with the REI's Need for Cognition and Faith in Intuition subscales, and negatively associated with some EUB subscales (conspiracy theory, religion, and health). The MES Effect subscale was positively associated with the EUB ghost subscale and negatively correlated with the conspiracy theory subscale. These results suggest that the MES is a valid and reliable measure, and we discuss how this new measure can help researchers obtain a more fine-grained insight into participant's perception of magic, and how magicians can employ it to improve their performances.</p>","PeriodicalId":19799,"journal":{"name":"PeerJ","volume":"14 ","pages":"e21742"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2026-09-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13618447/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149075259","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":"Sexual dysfunction in women with gestational trophoblastic disease: a cross-sectional study in Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil.","authors":"Edinaldo Brito Dos Santos, Elias Ferreira de Melo, Josielle Carvalho de Lima, Auro Del Giglio","doi":"10.7717/peerj.21427","DOIUrl":"10.7717/peerj.21427","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of sexual dysfunction among women diagnosed with gestational trophoblastic disease (GTD) who were undergoing outpatient follow-up at a university hospital. A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 73 women aged ≥ 18 yr. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire addressing sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, in addition to the Sexual Quotient - Female Version (SQ-F) to assess sexual function. Most participants were aged 18-30 yr (58.9%), married (74.0%), and reported using oral contraceptives (52.1%). Based on the total SQ-F score, 63.0% (<i>n</i> = 46) of participantsdemonstrated adequate sexual satisfaction. However, 15.0% reported experiencing dyspareunia, and 45.2% reported difficulty maintaining concentration during sexual activity. Sexual dysfunction was significantly associated with smoking (Prevalence ratios (PR) = 2.88; <i>p</i> = 0.015) and residence in rural areas (PR = 3.47; <i>p</i> = 0.003). Although the overall prevalence of sexual dysfunction was not higher than national estimates, the findings identify specific vulnerabilities that may adversely affect sexual health. These factors should be considered in the comprehensive clinical management of women with GTD.</p>","PeriodicalId":19799,"journal":{"name":"PeerJ","volume":"14 ","pages":"e21427"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2026-09-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13618446/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149075329","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":"Exploring phenotypic diversity and constructing a floral core collection of <i>Ziziphus jujuba</i> var. <i>spinosa</i>.","authors":"Yuyu Wang, Yuncheng Zhang, Yongqiang Sun, Kaiyun Wang, Xin Zhao, Jianhua Chen, Shengjun Dong","doi":"10.7717/peerj.21708","DOIUrl":"10.7717/peerj.21708","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong><i>Ziziphus jujuba</i> var. <i>spinosa</i> is an ecologically valuable tree species. However, most investigations have concentrated on the leaves and fruits. There is insufficient focus on investigating the phenotypic diversity and morphological characteristics of wild jujube floral organs. This gap in knowledge impedes a comprehensive understanding of floral development, which in turn restricts practical applications such as the enhancement of breeding efficiency and yield in cultivated varieties.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We evaluated 28 floral traits of 205 sour jujube clones from 30 provenances across eight Chinese provinces. Phenotypic variation was assessed using nested ANOVA, coefficient of variation (CV), and Shannon-Wiener index (H'). Pearson correlation analysis was conducted to examine associations between floral traits and climatic and geographic factors. Principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical clustering were used to classify breeding groups, and a core collection was established <i>via</i> stepwise clustering.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The results demonstrated significant diversity and variation in the floral organs of sour jujube. The average CV for quantitative and qualitative traits were 25.30% and 37.85%, respectively, while the mean H' for quantitative traits (1.68) was higher than that for qualitative traits (0.81). Variation among provenances was the primary source of phenotypic diversity, with the mean phenotypic differentiation coefficient for the quantitative traits of sour jujube reaching 71.32%. Size-related floral traits, including flower diameter, flower area, and flower disc diameter, were significantly correlated with temperature. These traits exhibited significant negative correlations with mean annual, January, and July temperatures (<i>P</i> < 0.01). Principal component analysis extracted six principal components, collectively accounting for 73.14% of the total variance. Based on phenotypic traits, the 205 clones were classified into five breeding groups: A and B for small- and large-flowered ornamental varieties, C for high-yield potential, and E for nectar-rich types with large disc areas. A specialized core collection of 51 accessions for the study of floral organs was constructed using a stepwise clustering approach. This work provides valuable insights for the evaluation and utilization of sour jujube germplasm.</p>","PeriodicalId":19799,"journal":{"name":"PeerJ","volume":"14 ","pages":"e21708"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2026-09-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13616194/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149070110","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 biochemical evidence suggestive of subclinical myocardial injury using high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T in patients with prediabetes: a cross-sectional study.","authors":"Nur Syakirin Nor Ariffin, Tuan Salwani Tuan Ismail, Wan Nor Fazila Hafizan Wan Nik, Aniza Mohammed Jelani, Najib Majdi Yaacob, Nani Draman, Masliza Yusoff, Wan Mohd Saifuhisam Wan Zain","doi":"10.7717/peerj.21716","DOIUrl":"10.7717/peerj.21716","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Growing evidence indicates that cardiovascular abnormalities may develop during the prediabetic period. One of the earliest signs of these is biochemical evidence suggestive of subclinical myocardial injury characterised by elevated high-sensitivity cardiac troponin levels (>the 99th percentile upper reference limit). There is a paucity of studies on high-sensitivity troponin T (hs-cTnT) levels, the prevalence of subclinical myocardial injury, and related cardiometabolic predictors in individuals with prediabetes in Southeast Asia. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the distribution of hs-cTnT values suggestive of subclinical myocardial injury; assess the relationship between hs-cTnT values and HbA1c levels; and identify the predictors of suggestive of subclinical myocardial injury in people with prediabetes in Kota Bharu, Kelantan, Malaysia.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This cross-sectional study included 101 adults with prediabetes at two primary care centres in Kota Bharu, Kelantan, Malaysia. Blood samples were collected for the evaluation of hs-cTnT, HbA1c, lipid profile (total cholesterol, triglycerides, high- and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol), urea, and creatinine levels. Biochemical evidence suggestive of subclinical myocardial injury was defined as hs-cTnT concentrations >14.00 ng/L. Associations between hs-cTnT values and HbA1c levels were analysed using Spearman's rank correlation; predictors suggestive of subclinical myocardial injury were evaluated using Firth bias-corrected logistic regression.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The median hs-cTnT value was 7.29 ng/L (interquartile range: 3.85-12.33). Biochemical evidence suggestive of subclinical myocardial injury was detected in 14.9% (<i>n</i> = 15) of participants. Hs-cTnT values in participants suggestive of myocardial injury ranged from 14.71 to 149.20 ng/L. No significant association was found between hs-cTnT values and HbA1c levels (Spearman's r = -0.053; <i>p</i> = 0.602). In exploratory Firth bias-corrected multivariable logistic regression analysis, higher systolic blood pressure was independently associated with biochemical evidence suggestive of subclinical myocardial injury after adjusting for demographic, metabolic, and cardiovascular risk factors (adjusted odds ratio: 1.13per mmHg increase, 95% confidence interval: 1.05-1.24; <i>p</i> = 0.001).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Biochemical evidence suggestive of subclinical myocardial injury was present in 14.9% of adults with prediabetes, possibly associated with elevated systolic blood pressure. No significant association was found between hs-cTnT values and HbA1c levels. These findings suggest that myocardial injury may occur early during prediabetes. A larger population-based study would help verify these findings and determine the clinical significance of subclinical myocardial injury in this patient population.</p>","PeriodicalId":19799,"journal":{"name":"PeerJ","volume":"14 ","pages":"e21716"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2026-09-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13616196/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149070113","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":"Prenatal allostatic load and adverse pregnancy outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis.","authors":"Mengjie Zhao, Hanyue Zheng, Dengyan Qi, Xuening Zhang, Lei Ba, Bei Wang, Xiang Hong","doi":"10.7717/peerj.21756","DOIUrl":"10.7717/peerj.21756","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Allostatic load (AL) denotes the cumulative physiological dysregulation resulting from chronic stress exposure. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the association between prenatal AL and adverse pregnancy outcomes (APOs), and to synthesize current evidence to inform prenatal health strategies and potentially reduce the incidence of APOs.</p><p><strong>Methodology: </strong>This study systematically searched PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, PsycINFO, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang, VIP China Science and Technology Journal Database, and SinoMed databases for relevant studies examining prenatal AL and APOs published from September 1993 to 22 June 2026. Two researchers independently screened the literature, extracted data, and assessed the risk of bias using the Newcastle-Ottawa scale. Meta-analysis was performed using R software (version 4.4.3). The study protocol is registered in PROSPERO (CRD420251076952).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Eight original studies involving 8,795 pregnant women were included. High prenatal AL was associated with an increased risk of preterm birth (OR = 1.29, 95% CI [1.04-1.60]) and preeclampsia (OR = 2.31, 95% CI [1.42-3.76]). There was no statistically significant association with low birth weight (OR = 1.10, 95% CI [0.95-1.26]). Furthermore, exploratory subgroup analyses suggested that the gestational period and biomarker composition may influence these associations; however, high methodological heterogeneity limits direct clinical application.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Elevated prenatal AL is associated with an increased risk of specific APOs, particularly preterm birth and preeclampsia. Future studies should adopt longitudinal designs with repeated AL measurements across pregnancy to clarify temporal dynamics and elucidate underlying biological mechanisms.</p>","PeriodicalId":19799,"journal":{"name":"PeerJ","volume":"14 ","pages":"e21756"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2026-09-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13616195/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149070023","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}