PeerJ
type: channel
link: https://peerj.com/articles/
description: Articles published in PeerJ
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
publication name: PeerJ
issn: 2167-8359
items: A comprehensive review of oncogenic Notch signaling in multiple myeloma
items: The impact of doctor–patient communication on medication adherence and blood pressure control in patients with hypertension: a systematic review
items: Understanding the progress of COVID-19 transmission in a rural district: a social network approach
items: Comprehensive evaluation of physiological response and cold tolerance of domesticated Cinnamomum camphora (L.) Presl under low temperature stress
items: The applications of anterior segment optical coherence tomography in glaucoma: a 20-year bibliometric analysis
items: Prevalence, patterns, and determinants of drug-resistant tuberculosis in Gulf Cooperation Council countries: an updated systematic review
items: The fight against malaria in Edo-North, Edo State, Nigeria: identifying risk factors for effective control
items: Effects of irrigation type and fertilizer application rate on growth, yield, and water and fertilizer use efficiency of silage corn in the North China Plain
items: The effect of ecological characteristics on the domestication of sand rice (Agriophyllum squarrosum)
items: Trends and challenges in organoid modeling and expansion with pluripotent stem cells and somatic tissue

A comprehensive review of oncogenic Notch signaling in multiple myeloma
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Multiple myeloma remains an incurable plasma cell cancer with radical case-by-case heterogeneity. Because of this, personalized and disease-specific biology of multiple myeloma must be understood for the discovery of effective molecular targets. The highly evolutionarily conserved Notch signaling pathway has been extensively described as a multifaceted driver of the multiple myeloma disease process—contributing to both intrinsic effects of malignant cells and to widespread remodeling of the tumor microenvironment that further facilitates disease progression. Namely, Notch signaling amongst malignant cells promotes increased proliferation, tumor-initiating capacity, drug resistance, and invasiveness. Moreover, Notch signaling between malignant cells and cells of the tumor microenvironment leads to increased osteodegenerative disease and angiogenesis. This comprehensive review will discuss both the intrinsic implications of pathological Notch signaling in multiple myeloma and the extrinsic implications of Notch signaling in the multiple myeloma tumor microenvironment. Additionally, the genetic origins of Notch signaling dysregulation in multiple myeloma and current attempts at targeting Notch therapeutically will be reviewed. While the subject has been reviewed previously, recent developments in the intervening years demand a revised synthesis of the literature. The aim of this work is to introduce and thoroughly synthesize the current state of knowledge in this vein of research and to highlight future directions for both new and in-the-field scientists.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Justin Roosma
subject: Cell Biology
subject: Hematology
subject: Immunology
subject: Pharmacology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.18485
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2024 Roosma
abstract: Multiple myeloma remains an incurable plasma cell cancer with radical case-by-case heterogeneity. Because of this, personalized and disease-specific biology of multiple myeloma must be understood for the discovery of effective molecular targets. The highly evolutionarily conserved Notch signaling pathway has been extensively described as a multifaceted driver of the multiple myeloma disease process—contributing to both intrinsic effects of malignant cells and to widespread remodeling of the tumor microenvironment that further facilitates disease progression. Namely, Notch signaling amongst malignant cells promotes increased proliferation, tumor-initiating capacity, drug resistance, and invasiveness. Moreover, Notch signaling between malignant cells and cells of the tumor microenvironment leads to increased osteodegenerative disease and angiogenesis. This comprehensive review will discuss both the intrinsic implications of pathological Notch signaling in multiple myeloma and the extrinsic implications of Notch signaling in the multiple myeloma tumor microenvironment. Additionally, the genetic origins of Notch signaling dysregulation in multiple myeloma and current attempts at targeting Notch therapeutically will be reviewed. While the subject has been reviewed previously, recent developments in the intervening years demand a revised synthesis of the literature. The aim of this work is to introduce and thoroughly synthesize the current state of knowledge in this vein of research and to highlight future directions for both new and in-the-field scientists.
bibliographic citation: Roosma (2024) A comprehensive review of oncogenic Notch signaling in multiple myeloma. PeerJ 12:e18485 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.18485
date submitted: 2024-05-01
date accepted: 2024-10-16
issued: 2024-11-28
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Roosma
  given name: Justin
doi: 10.7717/peerj.18485
volume: 12
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2024-11-28
copyright: © 2024 Roosma
attribution name: Roosma

The impact of doctor–patient communication on medication adherence and blood pressure control in patients with hypertension: a systematic review
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Background This systematic review aims to present existing evidence concerning the effects of doctor–patient communication on medication adherence and blood pressure control in hypertensive patients. Methods Two researchers independently conducted comprehensive searches of five databases and screened relevant studies published from the inception of these databases up to July 21, 2024. The titles, abstracts, and full texts of all the retrieved articles subsequently underwent rigorous duplicate screening, according to predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. We then synthesized the findings in a narrative format of the included studies. Finally, two researchers independently assessed study quality. Results Eighteen observational studies encompassing 21,542 patients and seven randomized controlled trials with 2,804 patients were included in the systematic review. Diverse approaches were employed for evaluating doctor–patient communication and medication adherence in these studies, with identified themes including communication content and communication skills. Various facets of doctor–patient communication, including patient satisfaction with doctor–patient communication, the specific content discussed, the style of communication, the comprehensive communication skills of doctors, and the duration of these conversations, were scrutinized. In general, the results suggest a promising link between effective doctor–patient communication and increased medication adherence and blood pressure control. Nonetheless, the presence of nuanced variations and subtle distinctions within the literature underscores the imperative for deeper exploration and consideration in clinical practice. Additionally, effective communication interventions must attain a certain threshold of intensity and endure for an adequate duration. Conclusion This review underscores the pivotal role of robust doctor–patient communication in improving both medication adherence and blood pressure control. Nev…
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Jianwei Zeng
creator: Yuqiang Gao
creator: Chen Hou
creator: Tao Liu
subject: Cardiology
subject: Health Policy
subject: Healthcare Services
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.18527
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2024 Zeng et al.
abstract: Background This systematic review aims to present existing evidence concerning the effects of doctor–patient communication on medication adherence and blood pressure control in hypertensive patients. Methods Two researchers independently conducted comprehensive searches of five databases and screened relevant studies published from the inception of these databases up to July 21, 2024. The titles, abstracts, and full texts of all the retrieved articles subsequently underwent rigorous duplicate screening, according to predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. We then synthesized the findings in a narrative format of the included studies. Finally, two researchers independently assessed study quality. Results Eighteen observational studies encompassing 21,542 patients and seven randomized controlled trials with 2,804 patients were included in the systematic review. Diverse approaches were employed for evaluating doctor–patient communication and medication adherence in these studies, with identified themes including communication content and communication skills. Various facets of doctor–patient communication, including patient satisfaction with doctor–patient communication, the specific content discussed, the style of communication, the comprehensive communication skills of doctors, and the duration of these conversations, were scrutinized. In general, the results suggest a promising link between effective doctor–patient communication and increased medication adherence and blood pressure control. Nonetheless, the presence of nuanced variations and subtle distinctions within the literature underscores the imperative for deeper exploration and consideration in clinical practice. Additionally, effective communication interventions must attain a certain threshold of intensity and endure for an adequate duration. Conclusion This review underscores the pivotal role of robust doctor–patient communication in improving both medication adherence and blood pressure control. Nev…
bibliographic citation: Zeng et al. (2024) The impact of doctor–patient communication on medication adherence and blood pressure control in patients with hypertension: a systematic review. PeerJ 12:e18527 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.18527
date submitted: 2024-03-20
date accepted: 2024-10-24
issued: 2024-11-28
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Zeng
  given name: Jianwei
author list: Agent
  family name: Gao
  given name: Yuqiang
author list: Agent
  family name: Hou
  given name: Chen
author list: Agent
  family name: Liu
  given name: Tao
doi: 10.7717/peerj.18527
volume: 12
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2024-11-28
copyright: © 2024 Zeng et al.
attribution name: Zeng et al.

Understanding the progress of COVID-19 transmission in a rural district: a social network approach
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Background Social interactions within and between communities influenced the spread of COVID-19. By using social network analysis (SNA), we aimed to understand the effect of social interaction on the spread of disease in a rural district. Method A retrospective record review study using positive COVID-19 cases and contact-tracing data from an area in Malaysia was performed and analysed using the SNA method through R software and visualised by Gephi software. The justification for utilizing SNA is its capability to pinpoint the individuals with the highest impact and accountability for the transmission of COVID-19 within the area, as determined through SNA. Result Analysis revealed 76 (4.5%) people tested positive for COVID-19 from 1,683 people, with 51 (67.1%) of the positive ones being male. Outdegrees for 38 positive people were between 1 and 12, while 41 people had 1–13 indegree. Older males have a higher outdegree, while younger females have a higher outdegree than other age groups among same-sex groups. Betweenness was between 0.09 and 34.5 for 15 people. We identified 15 people as super-spreaders from the 42 communities detected. Conclusion Women play a major role in bridging COVID-19 transmission, while older men may transmit COVID-19 through direct connections. Thus, health education on face mask usage and hand hygiene is important for both groups. Working women should be given priority for the work-from-home policy compared to others. A large gathering should not be allowed to operate, or if needed, with strict adherence to specific standard operating procedures, as it contributes to the spread of COVID-19 in the district. The SNA allows the identification of key personnel within the network. Therefore, SNA can help healthcare authorities recognise evolving clusters and identify potential super-spreaders; hence, precise and timely action can be taken to prevent further spread of the disease.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Juliana Mansor
creator: Nazarudin Safian
creator: Fatimah Abdul Razak
creator: Halim Ismail
creator: Muhammad Haikal Ghazali
creator: Noriah Ismail
subject: Epidemiology
subject: Infectious Diseases
subject: Public Health
subject: COVID-19
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.18571
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2024 Mansor et al.
abstract: Background Social interactions within and between communities influenced the spread of COVID-19. By using social network analysis (SNA), we aimed to understand the effect of social interaction on the spread of disease in a rural district. Method A retrospective record review study using positive COVID-19 cases and contact-tracing data from an area in Malaysia was performed and analysed using the SNA method through R software and visualised by Gephi software. The justification for utilizing SNA is its capability to pinpoint the individuals with the highest impact and accountability for the transmission of COVID-19 within the area, as determined through SNA. Result Analysis revealed 76 (4.5%) people tested positive for COVID-19 from 1,683 people, with 51 (67.1%) of the positive ones being male. Outdegrees for 38 positive people were between 1 and 12, while 41 people had 1–13 indegree. Older males have a higher outdegree, while younger females have a higher outdegree than other age groups among same-sex groups. Betweenness was between 0.09 and 34.5 for 15 people. We identified 15 people as super-spreaders from the 42 communities detected. Conclusion Women play a major role in bridging COVID-19 transmission, while older men may transmit COVID-19 through direct connections. Thus, health education on face mask usage and hand hygiene is important for both groups. Working women should be given priority for the work-from-home policy compared to others. A large gathering should not be allowed to operate, or if needed, with strict adherence to specific standard operating procedures, as it contributes to the spread of COVID-19 in the district. The SNA allows the identification of key personnel within the network. Therefore, SNA can help healthcare authorities recognise evolving clusters and identify potential super-spreaders; hence, precise and timely action can be taken to prevent further spread of the disease.
bibliographic citation: Mansor et al. (2024) Understanding the progress of COVID-19 transmission in a rural district: a social network approach. PeerJ 12:e18571 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.18571
date submitted: 2023-04-11
date accepted: 2024-11-01
issued: 2024-11-28
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Mansor
  given name: Juliana
author list: Agent
  family name: Safian
  given name: Nazarudin
author list: Agent
  family name: Abdul Razak
  given name: Fatimah
author list: Agent
  family name: Ismail
  given name: Halim
author list: Agent
  family name: Ghazali
  given name: Muhammad Haikal
author list: Agent
  family name: Ismail
  given name: Noriah
doi: 10.7717/peerj.18571
volume: 12
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2024-11-28
copyright: © 2024 Mansor et al.
attribution name: Mansor et al.

Comprehensive evaluation of physiological response and cold tolerance of domesticated Cinnamomum camphora (L.) Presl under low temperature stress
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Improving cold tolerance is one of the key techniques for introducing southern tree species to northern China. To provide a theoretical basis for the introduction and cold-tolerance cultivation of Cinnamomum camphora (L.) Presl, the physiological response and cold tolerance of acclimated Cinnamomum camphora (L.) Presl trees were studied. In this experiment, the cold tolerance physiological indexes of Cinnamomum camphora (L.) Presl were measured in an indoor artificial simulation of low temperature stress. The results showed that under low temperature stress, the Cinnamomum camphora (L.) Presl are cultivated for 1 year, 5 years, 10 years and 15 years, respectively, at 4 °C, 0 °C, −5 °C, −10 °C, −15 °C and −20 °C. The relative electrical conductivity change ranges were 26.26%–13.98%, 30.71%–19.24%, 37.36%–27.18%, 44.16%–32.24%, 63.21%–52.05%, and 86.43%–76.24%; the MDA content ranges were 12.10 mmol/g–3.25 mmol/g, 15.90 mmol/g–4.08 mmol/g, 10.53 mmol/g–2.05 mmol/g, 23.20 mmol/g–5.35 mmol/g, 31.30 mmol/g–5.89 mmol/g, and 36.47 mmol/g–8.13 mmol/g, respectively. The relative water content change ranges were 95.35%–65.92%, 71.36%–49.67%, 54.67%–34.89%, 43.12%–23.12%, 26.03%–11.21%, and 23.03%–8.15%, respectively. At the same stress temperature, these indices decreased with increasing cultivation time, and the degree of membrane damage was reduced accordingly. The osmoprotectants were soluble protein, soluble sugar, and free proline which were increased gradually with cultivation time. at 4 °C, 0 °C, −5 °C, −10 °C, −15 °C and −20 °C, the soluble protein content change ranges were 3.51–6.18 mg/g, 6.24–9.95 mg/g, 9.44–19.59 mg/g, 14.23–28.36 mg/g, 17.34–33.19 mg/g, and 25.15–32.23 mg/g. the soluble sugar content change ranges were 9.64-26.97 mg/g, 15.37–39.86 mg/g, 26.63–53.97 mg/g, 45.49–76.75 mg/g, 52.74–81.24 mg/g, and 55.61–85.34 mg/g. the free proline content change ranges were 55.83–85.23 µg/g, 68.95-89.87 µg/g, 95.38-214.38 µg/g, 219.19-389.89 µg/g, 321.28-453.65 µg/g…
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Jinping Ding
creator: Zongying Zhang
creator: Xinyu Zhu
creator: Ying Hou
subject: Agricultural Science
subject: Plant Science
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.18590
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2024 Ding et al.
abstract: Improving cold tolerance is one of the key techniques for introducing southern tree species to northern China. To provide a theoretical basis for the introduction and cold-tolerance cultivation of Cinnamomum camphora (L.) Presl, the physiological response and cold tolerance of acclimated Cinnamomum camphora (L.) Presl trees were studied. In this experiment, the cold tolerance physiological indexes of Cinnamomum camphora (L.) Presl were measured in an indoor artificial simulation of low temperature stress. The results showed that under low temperature stress, the Cinnamomum camphora (L.) Presl are cultivated for 1 year, 5 years, 10 years and 15 years, respectively, at 4 °C, 0 °C, −5 °C, −10 °C, −15 °C and −20 °C. The relative electrical conductivity change ranges were 26.26%–13.98%, 30.71%–19.24%, 37.36%–27.18%, 44.16%–32.24%, 63.21%–52.05%, and 86.43%–76.24%; the MDA content ranges were 12.10 mmol/g–3.25 mmol/g, 15.90 mmol/g–4.08 mmol/g, 10.53 mmol/g–2.05 mmol/g, 23.20 mmol/g–5.35 mmol/g, 31.30 mmol/g–5.89 mmol/g, and 36.47 mmol/g–8.13 mmol/g, respectively. The relative water content change ranges were 95.35%–65.92%, 71.36%–49.67%, 54.67%–34.89%, 43.12%–23.12%, 26.03%–11.21%, and 23.03%–8.15%, respectively. At the same stress temperature, these indices decreased with increasing cultivation time, and the degree of membrane damage was reduced accordingly. The osmoprotectants were soluble protein, soluble sugar, and free proline which were increased gradually with cultivation time. at 4 °C, 0 °C, −5 °C, −10 °C, −15 °C and −20 °C, the soluble protein content change ranges were 3.51–6.18 mg/g, 6.24–9.95 mg/g, 9.44–19.59 mg/g, 14.23–28.36 mg/g, 17.34–33.19 mg/g, and 25.15–32.23 mg/g. the soluble sugar content change ranges were 9.64-26.97 mg/g, 15.37–39.86 mg/g, 26.63–53.97 mg/g, 45.49–76.75 mg/g, 52.74–81.24 mg/g, and 55.61–85.34 mg/g. the free proline content change ranges were 55.83–85.23 µg/g, 68.95-89.87 µg/g, 95.38-214.38 µg/g, 219.19-389.89 µg/g, 321.28-453.65 µg/g…
bibliographic citation: Ding et al. (2024) Comprehensive evaluation of physiological response and cold tolerance of domesticated Cinnamomum camphora (L.) Presl under low temperature stress. PeerJ 12:e18590 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.18590
date submitted: 2023-04-24
date accepted: 2024-11-04
issued: 2024-11-28
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
author list: Agent
  family name: Ding
  given name: Jinping
author list: Agent
  family name: Zhang
  given name: Zongying
author list: Agent
  family name: Zhu
  given name: Xinyu
author list: Agent
  family name: Hou
  given name: Ying
doi: 10.7717/peerj.18590
volume: 12
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2024-11-28
copyright: ©2024 Ding et al.
attribution name: Ding et al.

The applications of anterior segment optical coherence tomography in glaucoma: a 20-year bibliometric analysis
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Objective In the past 20 years, the research application of anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT) in the field of glaucoma has become a hot topic, but there is still a lack of bibliometric reports on this scientific field. The aim of this study is to explore the research hotspots and trends in the field using bibliometric methods. Method Analyzing literature from 2004 to 2023 on AS-OCT in glaucoma within the SCI database, this study utilized Bibliometric, VOS viewer, and Cite Space for a comprehensive bibliometric analysis covering document counts, countries, institutions, journals, authors, references, and keywords. Results A total of 931 eligible articles were collected, showing a continuous increase in annual research output over the past 20 years. The United States, China, and Singapore were the top three countries in terms of publication volume, with 288, 231, and 124 articles, respectively, and there was close cooperation among these countries. The NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF SINGAPORE, SUN YAT SEN UNIVERSITY, and SINGAPORE NATIONAL EYE CENTRE were the most productive institutions with 93, 92, and 87 articles, respectively. JOURNAL OF GLAUCOMA, INVESTIGATIVE OPHTHALMOLOGY & VISUAL SCIENCE, and OPHTHALMOLOGY were the journals with the highest number of publications, with 86, 69, and 46 articles, respectively. PROGRESS IN RETINAL AND EYE RESEARCH, published in the United States, was the top-cited journal. Researchers Aung Tin, He Mingguang, and David S. Friedman were highlighted for their contributions. The reference clustering was divided into 12 categories, among which “deep learning, anterior segment” were the most cited categories. The keywords of research frontiers include deep learning, classification, progression, and management. Conclusion This article analyses the academic publications on AS-OCT in the diagnosis and treatment of glaucoma over the last 20 years. Among them, the United States contributed the largest number of publications in t…
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Yijia Huang
creator: Di Gong
creator: Kuanrong Dang
creator: Lei Zhu
creator: Junhong Guo
creator: Weihua Yang
creator: Jiantao Wang
subject: Drugs and Devices
subject: Ophthalmology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.18611
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2024 Huang et al.
abstract: Objective In the past 20 years, the research application of anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT) in the field of glaucoma has become a hot topic, but there is still a lack of bibliometric reports on this scientific field. The aim of this study is to explore the research hotspots and trends in the field using bibliometric methods. Method Analyzing literature from 2004 to 2023 on AS-OCT in glaucoma within the SCI database, this study utilized Bibliometric, VOS viewer, and Cite Space for a comprehensive bibliometric analysis covering document counts, countries, institutions, journals, authors, references, and keywords. Results A total of 931 eligible articles were collected, showing a continuous increase in annual research output over the past 20 years. The United States, China, and Singapore were the top three countries in terms of publication volume, with 288, 231, and 124 articles, respectively, and there was close cooperation among these countries. The NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF SINGAPORE, SUN YAT SEN UNIVERSITY, and SINGAPORE NATIONAL EYE CENTRE were the most productive institutions with 93, 92, and 87 articles, respectively. JOURNAL OF GLAUCOMA, INVESTIGATIVE OPHTHALMOLOGY & VISUAL SCIENCE, and OPHTHALMOLOGY were the journals with the highest number of publications, with 86, 69, and 46 articles, respectively. PROGRESS IN RETINAL AND EYE RESEARCH, published in the United States, was the top-cited journal. Researchers Aung Tin, He Mingguang, and David S. Friedman were highlighted for their contributions. The reference clustering was divided into 12 categories, among which “deep learning, anterior segment” were the most cited categories. The keywords of research frontiers include deep learning, classification, progression, and management. Conclusion This article analyses the academic publications on AS-OCT in the diagnosis and treatment of glaucoma over the last 20 years. Among them, the United States contributed the largest number of publications in t…
bibliographic citation: Huang et al. (2024) The applications of anterior segment optical coherence tomography in glaucoma: a 20-year bibliometric analysis. PeerJ 12:e18611 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.18611
date submitted: 2024-05-17
date accepted: 2024-11-08
issued: 2024-11-28
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Huang
  given name: Yijia
author list: Agent
  family name: Gong
  given name: Di
author list: Agent
  family name: Dang
  given name: Kuanrong
author list: Agent
  family name: Zhu
  given name: Lei
author list: Agent
  family name: Guo
  given name: Junhong
author list: Agent
  family name: Yang
  given name: Weihua
author list: Agent
  family name: Wang
  given name: Jiantao
doi: 10.7717/peerj.18611
volume: 12
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2024-11-28
copyright: © 2024 Huang et al.
attribution name: Huang et al.

Prevalence, patterns, and determinants of drug-resistant tuberculosis in Gulf Cooperation Council countries: an updated systematic review
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Drug resistance (DR) to antituberculosis drugs is a growing global problem that threatens the successful control of tuberculosis (TB) globally and within the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). In the GCC, TB remains a major public health issue. Understanding the prevalence and patterns of drug resistance to antituberculosis drugs is crucial for developing effective prevention and treatment strategies. Hence, the present systematic review is aimed at assessing the prevalence, pattern, and risk factors of drug-resistant TB (DR-TB) in GCC countries. We conducted this systematic review adhering to the guidelines outlined in the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) 2020 Statement. Using the relevant keywords in the major databases, we included peer-reviewed articles that were published from 01 January 2014 and onwards in English language journals. The prevalence and patterns of DR-TB levels in different countries were different. Isoniazid monoresistance was the most commonly found type of resistance, with varying degrees of prevalence of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB). Risk factors for DR-TB included diabetes mellitus, past TB treatment, younger age, female gender, and renal failure. There was a positive correlation between expatriate status and DR-TB. Collaborative actions by relevant stakeholders are essential to implement evidence-based interventions that reduce the DR-TB burden and improve overall community health. Ongoing research and surveillance activities are necessary for monitoring patterns, identifying new risk factors, and providing focused interventions to lessen the threat of DR-TB on public health in GCC countries.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Alaa Alibrahim
creator: Homoud Alqahtani
creator: Ashokkumar Thirunavukkarasu
creator: Ibtisam Qazi
subject: Drugs and Devices
subject: Global Health
subject: Infectious Diseases
subject: Pharmacology
subject: Tuberculosis
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.18628
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2024 Alibrahim et al.
abstract: Drug resistance (DR) to antituberculosis drugs is a growing global problem that threatens the successful control of tuberculosis (TB) globally and within the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). In the GCC, TB remains a major public health issue. Understanding the prevalence and patterns of drug resistance to antituberculosis drugs is crucial for developing effective prevention and treatment strategies. Hence, the present systematic review is aimed at assessing the prevalence, pattern, and risk factors of drug-resistant TB (DR-TB) in GCC countries. We conducted this systematic review adhering to the guidelines outlined in the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) 2020 Statement. Using the relevant keywords in the major databases, we included peer-reviewed articles that were published from 01 January 2014 and onwards in English language journals. The prevalence and patterns of DR-TB levels in different countries were different. Isoniazid monoresistance was the most commonly found type of resistance, with varying degrees of prevalence of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB). Risk factors for DR-TB included diabetes mellitus, past TB treatment, younger age, female gender, and renal failure. There was a positive correlation between expatriate status and DR-TB. Collaborative actions by relevant stakeholders are essential to implement evidence-based interventions that reduce the DR-TB burden and improve overall community health. Ongoing research and surveillance activities are necessary for monitoring patterns, identifying new risk factors, and providing focused interventions to lessen the threat of DR-TB on public health in GCC countries.
bibliographic citation: Alibrahim et al. (2024) Prevalence, patterns, and determinants of drug-resistant tuberculosis in Gulf Cooperation Council countries: an updated systematic review. PeerJ 12:e18628 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.18628
date submitted: 2024-07-08
date accepted: 2024-11-12
issued: 2024-11-28
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Alibrahim
  given name: Alaa
author list: Agent
  family name: Alqahtani
  given name: Homoud
author list: Agent
  family name: Thirunavukkarasu
  given name: Ashokkumar
author list: Agent
  family name: Qazi
  given name: Ibtisam
doi: 10.7717/peerj.18628
volume: 12
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2024-11-28
copyright: © 2024 Alibrahim et al.
attribution name: Alibrahim et al.

The fight against malaria in Edo-North, Edo State, Nigeria: identifying risk factors for effective control
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Background This study investigated malaria epidemiology in Edo-North, Nigeria; a region within the equatorial rainforest belt that has lacked prior research on malaria prevalence. This research sought to investigate the prevalence of malaria and identify potential risk factors in Edo-North, Nigeria. Additionally, the study aimed to analyze trends in malaria cases to inform the development of effective malaria control measures. Methodology A cross-sectional study was conducted in six local government areas of Edo-North, Nigeria, between June and August 2023. Using systematic sampling, study zones, local governments, towns, villages, and households were selected. Data on sociodemographics and environmental risk factors were collected from 605 participants through questionnaires and blood samples. Blood smears were microscopically examined, binary and multivariate logistic regression was used for data analysis. Malaria disease rate trends were also analyzed from health records. Statistical analyses were performed using R software, with p-values less than 0.05 considered statistically significant. Results The overall malaria prevalence in the study area was 15.54%, with males more likely to be infected than females. Prevalence varied across localities, with Akoko-Edo having the highest rate. Children had the highest prevalence. Rural residents were more likely to have malaria than urban residents. Binary logistic regression identified several risk factors, including age, location, local government area, education, occupation, marital status, housing type, household size, water source, sanitation, surrounding environment, window net use, ceiling type, water storage, and parasite density. The multivariate logistic regression analysis identified several significant risk factors for malaria in the study population. Children, residents of Owan-East, individuals using pit latrines, and those not sleeping under LLINs were at significantly increased risk. Environmental factors …
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Joseph Odunayo Braimah
creator: Nnamdi Edike
creator: Augustine Ijeameran Okhaiomoje
creator: Fabio Mathias Correa
subject: Epidemiology
subject: Global Health
subject: Infectious Diseases
subject: Public Health
subject: Environmental Health
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.18301
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2024 Braimah et al.
abstract: Background This study investigated malaria epidemiology in Edo-North, Nigeria; a region within the equatorial rainforest belt that has lacked prior research on malaria prevalence. This research sought to investigate the prevalence of malaria and identify potential risk factors in Edo-North, Nigeria. Additionally, the study aimed to analyze trends in malaria cases to inform the development of effective malaria control measures. Methodology A cross-sectional study was conducted in six local government areas of Edo-North, Nigeria, between June and August 2023. Using systematic sampling, study zones, local governments, towns, villages, and households were selected. Data on sociodemographics and environmental risk factors were collected from 605 participants through questionnaires and blood samples. Blood smears were microscopically examined, binary and multivariate logistic regression was used for data analysis. Malaria disease rate trends were also analyzed from health records. Statistical analyses were performed using R software, with p-values less than 0.05 considered statistically significant. Results The overall malaria prevalence in the study area was 15.54%, with males more likely to be infected than females. Prevalence varied across localities, with Akoko-Edo having the highest rate. Children had the highest prevalence. Rural residents were more likely to have malaria than urban residents. Binary logistic regression identified several risk factors, including age, location, local government area, education, occupation, marital status, housing type, household size, water source, sanitation, surrounding environment, window net use, ceiling type, water storage, and parasite density. The multivariate logistic regression analysis identified several significant risk factors for malaria in the study population. Children, residents of Owan-East, individuals using pit latrines, and those not sleeping under LLINs were at significantly increased risk. Environmental factors …
bibliographic citation: Braimah et al. (2024) The fight against malaria in Edo-North, Edo State, Nigeria: identifying risk factors for effective control. PeerJ 12:e18301 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.18301
date submitted: 2024-05-30
date accepted: 2024-09-23
issued: 2024-11-27
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Braimah
  given name: Joseph Odunayo
author list: Agent
  family name: Edike
  given name: Nnamdi
author list: Agent
  family name: Okhaiomoje
  given name: Augustine Ijeameran
author list: Agent
  family name: Correa
  given name: Fabio Mathias
doi: 10.7717/peerj.18301
volume: 12
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2024-11-27
copyright: © 2024 Braimah et al.
attribution name: Braimah et al.

Effects of irrigation type and fertilizer application rate on growth, yield, and water and fertilizer use efficiency of silage corn in the North China Plain
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Background There is an urgent need to save water and decrease fertilizer application rates in agricultural areas of the North China Plain (NCP) and similar regions. Methods Field experiments were conducted in 2017 and 2018 in the NCP to investigate the effects of border and furrow irrigation under different fertilizer application rates on the growth, yield, and water and fertilizer use efficiencies of silage corn. The experiment applied two irrigation methods, i.e., border and furrow irrigation, each with four compound fertilizer application rates: 750, 600, 450, and 300 kg/ha. Results While the two experiment years were normal hydrological years, variation in precipitation resulted in no irrigation being applied in 2017 and 70 mm of irrigation being applied after sowing in 2018. Plants appeared to grow slightly taller and thicker with larger leaf areas, but with a 9.7% lower fresh weight yield in 2017 relative to 2018. The actual evapotranspiration (ETa) in 2017 was 37.22 mm more than that in 2018, and the higher fresh weight yield and lower ETa caused higher water use efficiency (WUE) in 2018, which was 32% higher than that in 2017. Furrow irrigation promoted growth compared with border irrigation under the same irrigation amount, but without significant effects on fresh weight yield, ETa, or WUE of silage corn. The fertilizer application amount had a significant effect on fresh weight yield and the partial fertilizer productivity of N, P and K of silage corn, but did not affect ETa or WUE of silage corn. Additionally, the fertilizer rate of 600 kg/ha induced slightly higher growth indexes and fresh weight yields compared with the fertilizer rates of 750, 450, and 300 kg/ha. Discussion In the NCP, lower irrigation amounts at the crop development period of silage corn appeared to promote higher yield, WUE, and fertilizer use efficiency, under the condition that there was sufficient water to ensure the emergence of seedlings. The current fertilizer application model…
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Yuchun Liu
creator: Ning Wang
creator: Changsong Jiang
creator: Yao Wang
subject: Agricultural Science
subject: Plant Science
subject: Soil Science
subject: Natural Resource Management
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.18315
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2024 Liu et al.
abstract: Background There is an urgent need to save water and decrease fertilizer application rates in agricultural areas of the North China Plain (NCP) and similar regions. Methods Field experiments were conducted in 2017 and 2018 in the NCP to investigate the effects of border and furrow irrigation under different fertilizer application rates on the growth, yield, and water and fertilizer use efficiencies of silage corn. The experiment applied two irrigation methods, i.e., border and furrow irrigation, each with four compound fertilizer application rates: 750, 600, 450, and 300 kg/ha. Results While the two experiment years were normal hydrological years, variation in precipitation resulted in no irrigation being applied in 2017 and 70 mm of irrigation being applied after sowing in 2018. Plants appeared to grow slightly taller and thicker with larger leaf areas, but with a 9.7% lower fresh weight yield in 2017 relative to 2018. The actual evapotranspiration (ETa) in 2017 was 37.22 mm more than that in 2018, and the higher fresh weight yield and lower ETa caused higher water use efficiency (WUE) in 2018, which was 32% higher than that in 2017. Furrow irrigation promoted growth compared with border irrigation under the same irrigation amount, but without significant effects on fresh weight yield, ETa, or WUE of silage corn. The fertilizer application amount had a significant effect on fresh weight yield and the partial fertilizer productivity of N, P and K of silage corn, but did not affect ETa or WUE of silage corn. Additionally, the fertilizer rate of 600 kg/ha induced slightly higher growth indexes and fresh weight yields compared with the fertilizer rates of 750, 450, and 300 kg/ha. Discussion In the NCP, lower irrigation amounts at the crop development period of silage corn appeared to promote higher yield, WUE, and fertilizer use efficiency, under the condition that there was sufficient water to ensure the emergence of seedlings. The current fertilizer application model…
bibliographic citation: Liu et al. (2024) Effects of irrigation type and fertilizer application rate on growth, yield, and water and fertilizer use efficiency of silage corn in the North China Plain. PeerJ 12:e18315 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.18315
date submitted: 2022-02-16
date accepted: 2024-09-24
issued: 2024-11-27
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Liu
  given name: Yuchun
author list: Agent
  family name: Wang
  given name: Ning
author list: Agent
  family name: Jiang
  given name: Changsong
author list: Agent
  family name: Wang
  given name: Yao
doi: 10.7717/peerj.18315
volume: 12
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2024-11-27
copyright: ©2024 Liu et al.
attribution name: Liu et al.

The effect of ecological characteristics on the domestication of sand rice (Agriophyllum squarrosum)
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Sand rice (Agriophyllum squarrosum) is a pioneer species of annual plant found on mobile dunes in arid and semi-arid areas of China. Its establishment within the community could play a crucial role in the restoration of vegetation in desert environments because the ecological characteristics of sand rice make it well-suited to cope with desertification. Sand rice germinates rapidly when there is sufficient precipitation, and sand burial is beneficial for its germination. After germination, the root system rapidly extends downwards. It has short life cycles, completing the life span in 90 days at drought years. Additionally, sand rice has aerial and soil seed banks, which are suitable for arid ecosystems. Its seeds have high nutrient value of high protein quality and low carbohydrates. These ecological characteristics make sand rice a potentially environmentally friendly crop for addressing future climate change and maintaining food security, especially in desert areas. However it is unknown how ecological advantages affect the de novo domestication of sand rice. In this article, we summarize its ecological characteristics and determine optimal growth conditions for domestication and more applications in future.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Cuiyun Chen
creator: Xiaoan Zuo
creator: Xin Zhao
subject: Agricultural Science
subject: Ecology
subject: Plant Science
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.18320
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2024 Chen et al.
abstract: Sand rice (Agriophyllum squarrosum) is a pioneer species of annual plant found on mobile dunes in arid and semi-arid areas of China. Its establishment within the community could play a crucial role in the restoration of vegetation in desert environments because the ecological characteristics of sand rice make it well-suited to cope with desertification. Sand rice germinates rapidly when there is sufficient precipitation, and sand burial is beneficial for its germination. After germination, the root system rapidly extends downwards. It has short life cycles, completing the life span in 90 days at drought years. Additionally, sand rice has aerial and soil seed banks, which are suitable for arid ecosystems. Its seeds have high nutrient value of high protein quality and low carbohydrates. These ecological characteristics make sand rice a potentially environmentally friendly crop for addressing future climate change and maintaining food security, especially in desert areas. However it is unknown how ecological advantages affect the de novo domestication of sand rice. In this article, we summarize its ecological characteristics and determine optimal growth conditions for domestication and more applications in future.
bibliographic citation: Chen et al. (2024) The effect of ecological characteristics on the domestication of sand rice (Agriophyllum squarrosum). PeerJ 12:e18320 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.18320
date submitted: 2024-07-09
date accepted: 2024-09-24
issued: 2024-11-27
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Chen
  given name: Cuiyun
author list: Agent
  family name: Zuo
  given name: Xiaoan
author list: Agent
  family name: Zhao
  given name: Xin
doi: 10.7717/peerj.18320
volume: 12
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2024-11-27
copyright: © 2024 Chen et al.
attribution name: Chen et al.

Trends and challenges in organoid modeling and expansion with pluripotent stem cells and somatic tissue
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: The increasing demand for disease modeling, preclinical drug testing, and long waiting lists for alternative organ substitutes has posed significant challenges to current limitations in organoid technology. Consequently, organoid technology has emerged as a cutting-edge tool capable of accurately recapitulating the complexity of actual organs in physiology and functionality. To bridge the gaps between basic research and pharmaceutical as well as clinical applications, efforts have been made to develop organoids from tissue-derived stem cells or pluripotent stem cells. These developments include optimizing starting cells, refining culture systems, and introducing genetic modifications. With the rapid development of organoid technology, organoid composition has evolved from single-cell to multi-cell types, enhancing their level of biomimicry. Tissue structure has become more refined, and core challenges like vascularization are being addressed actively. These improvements are expected to pave the way for the construction of organoid atlases, automated large-scale cultivation, and universally compatible organoid biobanks. However, major obstacles remain to be overcome before urgently proof-of-concept organoids can be readily converted to practical applications. These obstacles include achieving structural and functional summarily to native tissue, remodeling the microenvironment, and scaling up production. This review aims to summarize the status of organoid development and applications, highlight recent progress, acknowledge existing limitations and challenges, and provide insights into future advancements. It is expected that this will contribute to the establishment of a reliable, scalable, and practical platform for organoid production and translation, further promoting their use in the pharmaceutical industry and regenerative medicine.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Jian-Yun Ge
creator: Yun Wang
creator: Qi-Lin Li
creator: Fan-Kai Liu
creator: Quan-Kai Lei
creator: Yun-Wen Zheng
subject: Bioengineering
subject: Cell Biology
subject: Developmental Biology
subject: Gastroenterology and Hepatology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.18422
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2024 Ge et al.
abstract: The increasing demand for disease modeling, preclinical drug testing, and long waiting lists for alternative organ substitutes has posed significant challenges to current limitations in organoid technology. Consequently, organoid technology has emerged as a cutting-edge tool capable of accurately recapitulating the complexity of actual organs in physiology and functionality. To bridge the gaps between basic research and pharmaceutical as well as clinical applications, efforts have been made to develop organoids from tissue-derived stem cells or pluripotent stem cells. These developments include optimizing starting cells, refining culture systems, and introducing genetic modifications. With the rapid development of organoid technology, organoid composition has evolved from single-cell to multi-cell types, enhancing their level of biomimicry. Tissue structure has become more refined, and core challenges like vascularization are being addressed actively. These improvements are expected to pave the way for the construction of organoid atlases, automated large-scale cultivation, and universally compatible organoid biobanks. However, major obstacles remain to be overcome before urgently proof-of-concept organoids can be readily converted to practical applications. These obstacles include achieving structural and functional summarily to native tissue, remodeling the microenvironment, and scaling up production. This review aims to summarize the status of organoid development and applications, highlight recent progress, acknowledge existing limitations and challenges, and provide insights into future advancements. It is expected that this will contribute to the establishment of a reliable, scalable, and practical platform for organoid production and translation, further promoting their use in the pharmaceutical industry and regenerative medicine.
bibliographic citation: Ge et al. (2024) Trends and challenges in organoid modeling and expansion with pluripotent stem cells and somatic tissue. PeerJ 12:e18422 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.18422
date submitted: 2024-04-28
date accepted: 2024-10-08
issued: 2024-11-27
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Ge
  given name: Jian-Yun
author list: Agent
  family name: Wang
  given name: Yun
author list: Agent
  family name: Li
  given name: Qi-Lin
author list: Agent
  family name: Liu
  given name: Fan-Kai
author list: Agent
  family name: Lei
  given name: Quan-Kai
author list: Agent
  family name: Zheng
  given name: Yun-Wen
doi: 10.7717/peerj.18422
volume: 12
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2024-11-27
copyright: ©2024 Ge et al.
attribution name: Ge et al.

PeerJ
type: Periodical
uri: PeerJ
issn: 2167-8359