Studying turn performance, trunk control, and mobility in acute stroke subjects: a cross-sectional study
Background Stroke leads to various impairments like motor deficits, impaired trunk control and restricted mobility. However, rehabilitation professionals often underestimate the fundamental function of turning, which is essential for daily living activities like walking, cooking, or performing household chores. Impaired turning can be attributed to motor deficits post-stroke, resulting in restricted mobility and impaired trunk movement. Therefore, the present study aimed to determine the relationship between turn performance, trunk control, and mobility in stroke patients. Materials and Methods A total of 63 first-time supratentorial stroke (i.e., anterior circulation stroke) patients aged 18–90 years were recruited for the study. Turn performance was assessed by asking patients to walk for 10 feet comfortably, then take a 180° turn and return to the starting position. In addition, the duration and number of steps were recorded. Following this, the Trunk Impairment Scale (TIS) and Stroke Rehabilitation Assessment of Movement (STREAM) were used to assess trunk impairment and mobility, respectively. The group turn performance was analyzed using the Kruskal–Wallis test with a post hoc Mann–Whitney U test for between-group comparisons. The turn duration and turn steps were correlated with age, trunk control, and mobility using Spearman’s rank correlation. A regression analysis was performed to determine the association of turn performance with age, trunk control, and mobility among stroke patients. Results Thirty stroke patients had turning difficulty, and 33 did not. Hence, they were categorized into the turning difficulty (TD) and non-turning difficulty (NTD) groups. When correlated with turn duration and the number of steps taken by the stroke patients while turning, the STREAM and TIS scores revealed a significant negative correlation (p < 0.001). The subjects’ age showed a significant positive correlation with the turn duration and number of steps taken by stroke patients while turning (p < 0.001). A significant association was also found between turn performance and age and trunk control. However, there was no significant association between turn performance and mobility. Conclusion The observed associations highlight the complexity of turning ability and trunk control necessary to complete a turn safely. Additionally, with advancing age, turn performance and turning movement are compromised in stroke patients. This indicates that turning difficulty is more pronounced in older individuals with stroke.
Vasyani et al. (2024) Studying turn performance, trunk control, and mobility in acute stroke subjects: a cross-sectional study. PeerJ 12:e18501 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.18501
Phytochemical screening and in vitro antibacterial activity of Echinops kebericho Mesfin tuber extracts: experimental studies
Background The application of plant extracts and their phytochemicals as potential treatments for bacterial illnesses has increased significantly in the last few decades. In Ethiopia, Echinops kebericho Mesfin is widely used to treat a range of illnesses in humans and animals. This study aimed to evaluate the antibacterial activity and phytochemical screening of Echinops kebericho Mesfin. Methods We carried out an in vitro experimental study after collecting the plants from their natural habitats. Then macerated in absolute methanol and petroleum ether solvents and concentrated the extracts using a rotary evaporator. In the experiment, we used Standard cultures of E. coli, K. pneumoniae, S. aureus, and P. aeruginosa. The agar-well diffusion method evaluated the antibacterial activity of the plants. The agar dilution method determined the minimum inhibitory concentration of the plant extract. Results The percentage yield of the plant extracts ranged from 6.25% to 7.85%. The methanol extract of Echinops kebericho Mesfin had the highest inhibitory effect on S. aureus (ATCC 25923) (16.67 ± 0.58 mm), followed by E. coli (ATCC 25922) (11.0 ± 1.73 mm). Phytochemical screening of leaves from the methanol and petroleum ether extracts of the plant revealed the presence of phytochemicals such as alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, and cardiac glycosides. The present study revealed that the extracts of these plants have antibacterial activity. However, researchers should conduct further studies on the safety margin and quantitative bioactive isolation of selected medicinal plants.
Negasa et al. (2024) Phytochemical screening and in vitro antibacterial activity of Echinops kebericho Mesfin tuber extracts: experimental studies. PeerJ 12:e18554 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.18554
Predicting epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation status in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients through logistic regression: a model incorporating clinical characteristics, computed tomography (CT) imaging features, and tumor marker levels
Background Approximately 60% of Asian populations with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) harbor epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene mutations, marking it as a pivotal target for genotype-directed therapies. Currently, determining EGFR mutation status relies on DNA sequencing of histological or cytological specimens. This study presents a predictive model integrating clinical parameters, computed tomography (CT) characteristics, and serum tumor markers to forecast EGFR mutation status in NSCLC patients. Methods Retrospective data collection was conducted on NSCLC patients diagnosed between January 2018 and June 2019 at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, with available molecular pathology results. Clinical information, CT imaging features, and serum tumor marker levels were compiled. Four distinct models were employed in constructing the diagnostic model. Model diagnostic efficacy was assessed through receiver operating characteristic (ROC) area under the curve (AUC) values and calibration curves. DeLong’s test was administered to validate model robustness. Results Our study encompassed 748 participants. Logistic regression modeling, trained with the aforementioned variables, demonstrated remarkable predictive capability, achieving an AUC of 0.805 (95% confidence interval (CI) [0.766–0.844]) in the primary cohort and 0.753 (95% CI [0.687–0.818]) in the validation cohort. Calibration plots suggested a favorable fit of the model to the data. Conclusions The developed logistic regression model emerges as a promising tool for forecasting EGFR mutation status. It holds potential to aid clinicians in more precisely identifying patients likely to benefit from EGFR molecular testing and facilitating targeted therapy decision-making, particularly in scenarios where molecular testing is impractical or inaccessible.
Hao et al. (2024) Predicting epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation status in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients through logistic regression: a model incorporating clinical characteristics, computed tomography (CT) imaging features, and tumor marker levels. PeerJ 12:e18618 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.18618
Effect of mulching and organic manure on maize yield, water, and nitrogen use efficiency in the Loess Plateau of China
Current agricultural practices prioritize intensive food production, often at the expense of environmental sustainability. This approach results in greenhouse gas emissions and groundwater pollution due to over-fertilization. In contrast, organic agriculture promotes a more efficient use of non-renewable energy, improves soil quality, and reduces ecological damage. However, the effects of mulching and organic manure on maize yield, water use efficiency (WUE), and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) in China’s Loess Plateau have not been sufficiently researched. In 2017 and 2018, an experiment utilizing a randomized complete block design with two factors (two mulching levels × three organic nitrogen application rates) was conducted. The water content of the upper soil layer was found to be 12.6% to 19.4% higher than that of the subsoil layer. Across all soil depths and years, the soil nitrate-N content in mulched treatments was 10% to 31.8% greater than in non-mulched treatments with varying organic nitrogen rates. Additionally, mulching resulted in an increase in grain yield of 9.4% in 2017 and 8.9% in 2018 compared to non-mulched treatments. A significant interaction was observed between mulching and organic nitrogen application rate concerning WUE, alongside a negative correlation between WUE and NUE. These findings suggest that the application of 270 kg N ha−1 of sheep manure in conjunction with mulching is a highly recommended practice for the Loess Plateau, thereby supporting sustainable agricultural strategies.
Xing et al. (2024) Effect of mulching and organic manure on maize yield, water, and nitrogen use efficiency in the Loess Plateau of China. PeerJ 12:e18644 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.18644
Investigation of the relationships between peri-implant diseases, periodontal diseases, and conditions: a cross-sectional study
Introduction Peri-implant and periodontal conditions share common underlying factors, including risk factors, microbiology, immunology, and treatment approaches. Aims This study aims to investigate the potential co-occurrence of peri-implant and periodontal conditions. Design One hundred twenty-three implants were divided into three groups: peri-implantitis (41 implants), peri-implant mucositis (41 implants), and peri-implant health (41 implants). Peri-implant and periodontal statuses were assessed using the 2017 AAP/EFP World Workshop on Classification of Periodontal and Peri-implant Diseases and Conditions. All measurements were performed by a single clinician (T.Ş.). One-way analysis of variance was used to compare the study groups according to the data. An assessment was conducted regarding the coexistence of periodontal and peri-implant conditions. Results Patients with peri-implant mucositis predominantly had gingivitis, whereas those with peri-implant health exhibited periodontal health. In contrast, patients with peri-implantitis mostly had gingivitis, with a lower occurrence of periodontitis. A significant difference was observed between the peri-implant and periodontal groups (p = 0.003). Significant differences were observed between peri-implant and periodontal evaluations for plaque indices, gingival indices, probing depth, gingival recession, and clinical attachment level (p = 0.001), (p = 0.006). Conclusions The findings of this study underscore the intricate influence of implant treatment on periodontal health. This observation emphasizes the importance of elucidating the underlying factors to improve clinical management and outcomes in patients with periodontal and peri-implant diseases, highlighting the relevance and potential impact of this research in the field.
Şahin (2024) Investigation of the relationships between peri-implant diseases, periodontal diseases, and conditions: a cross-sectional study. PeerJ 12:e18663 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.18663
Surgery-induced neuroinflammatory transcriptional programs in medial prefrontal cortex of mice during early phase of perioperative neurocognitive disorders
Patients receiving anesthesia and surgery may experience cognitive dysfunction, memory deficits, and mental disturbances, which are referred to as perioperative neurocognitive disorders (PND). The function of the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) is disrupted during early phase of PND. To gain insight into the mechanisms of PND, we collected mouse mPFC tissues 6 h post-surgery and performed RNA sequencing analysis. In total, 178 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified, including 105 upregulated and 73 downregulated genes. Bioinformatic analysis highlighted the significant enrichment of these DEGs in several immune-related biological processes and signaling pathways, suggesting that pronounced neuroinflammatory transcriptional programming in the mPFC was evoked during early phase of PND. Interleukin-6 level increased in both serum and mPFC, while the mRNA levels of Il-6, Tnf-α, and Il-1β remained unchanged. Taken together, our findings suggest that a distinct and acute neuroinflammatory response in the mPFC is evoked after peripheral surgery, which might play a key role in the development of PND.
Tang et al. (2024) Surgery-induced neuroinflammatory transcriptional programs in medial prefrontal cortex of mice during early phase of perioperative neurocognitive disorders. PeerJ 12:e18664 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.18664
Comparative genomics analysis of the MYB gene family in barley: preliminary insights into evolution and biological function in Blue Qingke
Background The Myeloblastosis related (MYB) family is one of the most widely distributed transcription factor families in plants and plays a significant role in plant growth and development, hormone signal transduction, and stress response. There are many reports on MYB family species, but the research on Qingke is still limited. Methods This study used comparative genomics methods to analyze gene and protein structure, protein physicochemical properties, chromosome localization, and evolution. A bioinformatics approach was used to systematically analyze the HvMYB gene family. At the milk stage, soft dough stage, and mature stage, White and Blue Qingke grains were selected for RNA sequencing (RNA-seq), among which two proteins interacted (HvMYB and HvMYC). The expression of this gene family was analyzed through RNA-seq, and the expression levels of HvMYB and HvMYC in the grains of two different color varieties were analyzed by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Finally, the interaction between HvMYB and HvMYC was verified by bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC) experiments. Results A total of 92 Qingke HvMYB genes were identified and analyzed, and 92 HvMYB proteins were classified into five categories. Cis-acting elements associated with abscisic acid response, light response, and methyl jasmonate (MeJA) response were found in the promoter regions of most MYB genes. Using qRT-PCR combined with RNA-seq analysis showed that MYB gene was highly expressed in the soft dough stage and was varietal specific. Subcellular localization indicated that HvMYB was located in the nucleus and cell membrane, HvMYC was located in the nucleus, cell membrane, and cytoplasm. Through BiFC analysis, it has been proven that HvMYB in the MYB family and HvMYC in the basic helix–loop–helix (bHLH) family can interact. This study provides a preliminary theoretical basis for understanding the function and role of the Qingke MYB gene family and provides a reference for the molecular mechanism of Qingke gene evolution.
Li et al. (2024) Comparative genomics analysis of the MYB gene family in barley: preliminary insights into evolution and biological function in Blue Qingke. PeerJ 12:e18443 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.18443
Pelvic floor muscle training associated with the photobiomodulation therapy for women affected by the genitourinary syndrome of menopause: a study protocol
Background Frequently, the women affected by the genitourinary syndrome of menopause experience genitourinary dysfunctions that profoundly influence their overall health. Even though the symptoms do not jeopardize the women’s lives, the urinary and sexual dysfunctions significantly impact their quality of life. Isolated treatments focused on the main causes of the dysfunctions, such as pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) and photobiomodulation have shown significant improvements in genitourinary dysfunctions. So, the association of PFMT with photobiomodulation may generate additional effects in the genitourinary area. This study aims to create a PFMT protocol isolated and associated with photobiomodulation therapy in women affected by the genitourinary syndrome of menopause. Methods It is a randomized, controlled, double-blind clinical trial protocol study that will include women experiencing genitourinary symptoms related to menopause, sexually active, never practiced pelvic floor muscle exercise or photobiomodulation treatment, and do not use hormone replacement therapy for at least 3 months. The randomization will allocate the women to three groups: PFMT group, PFMT associated with active intracavitary photobiomodulation group, and PFMT associated with sham intracavitary photobiomodulation group. A total of 16 sessions will be conducted twice a week. The assessments will occur before interventions, after the sixteenth session, and 1 month after the sixteenth session (follow-up). The evaluation will include the pelvic floor muscle vaginal manometry as the primary outcome. Also, the international consultation on incontinence questionnaire—short form, the female sexual function index, the Utian Quality of Life scale, the patient global impression of improvement, the modified Oxford scale, and the vaginal health index will be the secondary outcomes. Discussion Despite there are gold standard treatments such as PFMT, to alleviate genitourinary symptoms, interventions mirroring clinical practice are needed. This study protocol might show a groundbreaking and viable method to potentiate the effects of a gold-standard treatment associated with photobiomodulation. Conclusion We expect this protocol to demonstrate that the use of PFMT and photobiomodulation strategies is feasible and able to potentiate the recovery of women affected by the genitourinary syndrome of menopause. The Ethics Committee of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte approved the study (n° 6.038.283), and the clinical trials platform registered the protocol (n° RBR-5r7zrs2).
Maria Thereza Albuquerque Barbosa Cabral Micussi
Oliveira Bezerra et al. (2024) Pelvic floor muscle training associated with the photobiomodulation therapy for women affected by the genitourinary syndrome of menopause: a study protocol. PeerJ 12:e17848 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.17848
Maria Thereza Albuquerque Barbosa Cabral
Impacts of abiotic factors and pesticide on the development, phenology, and reproductive biology of pink bollworm, Pectinophora gossypiella (Saunders) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae)
The pink bollworm, Pectinophora gossypiella (Saunders) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) is a serious insect pest of cotton crop. The studies to evaluate the impact of abiotic factors on cotton pests’ biology are limited. The current study was undertaken to determine the impact of abiotic factors (temperature, humidity, photoperiod) and an insecticide (lambda-cyhalothrin) on the biological aspects of P. gossypiella. The results revealed that all the treatments showed a significant impact on different life parameters of P. gossypiella. The temperature exposure at 27 °C revealed a total life span of about 33 days. Maximum mortality for larvae (51.11%), pupae (59.04%) and adults (61.92%) were recorded at 33 °C exposure. Both low and high humidity levels caused negative impacts on life parameters of P. gossypiella. The life span was completed in about 30 days at 60% relative humidity (RH). Maximum mortality for larvae (75.00%) and pupae (49.59%) were recorded at 80% RH level exposure, while adult mortality was maximum (63.09%) at 40% RH level followed by 80% RH level (55.52%). The P. gossypiella exhibited a life span of about 32 days at 14:10 light-dark period. The larval mortality was maximum (14.83%) at 12:12 light-dark period while pupal (47.36%) and adult (48.84%) mortality was maximum at 16:08 light-dark period. Lambdacyhalothrin (LC) showed dose dependent negative impacts on biological aspects of P. gossypiella. The P. gossypiella exhibited a life span of about 26 days at 0.5 ppm LC concentration. The P. gossypiella exposure to highest concentration (LC) revealed maximum mortality of larval (80.22%), pupal (64.63%) and adult (70.74%) stages. Conclusively, the best suited abiotic factor ranges were 27 °C (temperature), 60% (RH) and 14:10 (light-dark) which can be used for successful rearing and bioassay activities of P. gossypiella.
Arif et al. (2024) Impacts of abiotic factors and pesticide on the development, phenology, and reproductive biology of pink bollworm, Pectinophora gossypiella (Saunders) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae). PeerJ 12:e18399 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.18399
A retrospective approach for evaluating ecological niche modeling transferability over time: the case of Mexican endemic rodents
Ecological niche modeling (ENM) is a valuable tool for inferring suitable environmental conditions and estimating species’ geographic distributions. ENM is widely used to assess the potential effects of climate change on species distributions; however, the choice of modeling algorithm introduces substantial uncertainty, especially since future projections cannot be properly validated. In this study, we evaluated the performance of seven popular modeling algorithms—Bioclim, generalized additive models (GAM), generalized linear models (GLM), boosted regression trees (BRT), Maxent, random forest (RF), and support vector machine (SVM)—in transferring ENM across time, using Mexican endemic rodents as a model system. We used a retrospective approach, transferring models from the near past (1950–1979) to more recent conditions (1980–2009) and vice versa, to evaluate their performance in both forecasting and hindcasting. Consistent with previous studies, our results highlight that input data quality and algorithm choice significantly impact model accuracy, but most importantly, we found that algorithm performance varied between forecasting and hindcasting. While no single algorithm outperformed the others in both temporal directions, RF generally showed better performance for forecasting, while Maxent performed better in hindcasting, though it was more sensitive to small sample sizes. Bioclim consistently showed the lowest performance. These findings underscore that not all species or algorithms are suited for temporal projections. Therefore, we strongly recommend conducting a thorough evaluation of the data quality—in terms of quantity and potential biases—of the species of interest. Based on this assessment, appropriate algorithm(s) should be carefully selected and rigorously tested before proceeding with temporal transfers.
Moreno-Arzate et al. (2024) A retrospective approach for evaluating ecological niche modeling transferability over time: the case of Mexican endemic rodents. PeerJ 12:e18414 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.18414