Clinical efficacy and safety of organ-sparing cystectomy: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Background The clinical safety and efficacy of organ-sparing cystectomy (OSC) are subjects of ongoing debate, particularly concerning the potential increased risk of recurrence when retaining additional organs and its effectiveness in preserving sexual and urinary functions. Methods Adhering to the PRISMA 2020 statement and AMSTAR Guidelines, we conducted a systematic literature search up to February 2024 using PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science. The comparison focused on the clinical safety and effectiveness of OSC and standard radical cystectomy (SRC) in the treatment of bladder tumors. Our assessment covered several dimensions: Surgical safety outcomes (operation time, length of stay (LOS), estimated blood loss (EBL), and complications), oncological safety outcomes (recurrence rate, positive surgical margin rate, overall survival, and cancer-specific survival), and functional efficacy outcomes (daytime and nighttime urinary incontinence at 6 and 12 months, clean intermittent catheterization (CIC) rate, and erectile function within and after 1 year). Results The analysis included 19 eligible studies, encompassing 2,057 patients (1,189 OSC patients and 768 SRC patients). OSC demonstrated significant benefits in terms of erectile function and urinary continence without impacting CIC rates. No significant differences were observed in recurrence rate, positive surgical margin rate, overall survival, and cancer-specific survival. Furthermore, OSC and SRC were comparable in surgical safety outcomes, including operating time, LOS, EBL, and complications. Conclusions OSC offers notable advantages in erectile function and urinary continence. Despite limited clinical practice and potential selection bias, urologists may still consider OSC more based on their experience and specific patient factors.
Zhang et al. (2024) Clinical efficacy and safety of organ-sparing cystectomy: a systematic review and meta-analysis. PeerJ 12:e18427 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.18427
The evolution of resource management in Taiwanese fisheries: coastal and offshore perspectives
This study investigates the historical changes in resource development of offshore and coastal fisheries around Taiwan from 1970 to 2021 using the mean trophic level (MTL) and Fishing-in-Balance (FiB) indices. Utilizing data from the Fisheries Statistical Yearbook, three scenarios were employed to assess the effects of highly migratory, oceanic migratory, and seasonal migratory fish species on the MTL and FiB indices. The analysis revealed a continuous increase in MTL for offshore and coastal fisheries, suggesting shifts in the trophic structure and potential over-exploitation of higher trophic level species. The FiB index for offshore fisheries exhibited a declining pattern after 1990, reflecting the depletion of indigenous fish stocks, while the FiB for coastal fisheries showed an increasing trend from 1970 until the 2000s, followed by a decrease, highlighting unsustainable fishing practices. Moreover, the study identified Scomber australasicus, targeted by Taiwanese Purse Seine, as an influential species affecting the resource dynamics of offshore fisheries. The trawling fisheries would also be a crucial issue affecting the indigenous resource dynamics of offshore fisheries in Taiwan. This study identified a fishing-down mechanism within indigenous fishery dynamics. The potential over-exploitation of fish stocks could result in long-term unsustainable practices if left unaddressed. This study advocates for enhanced fisheries management through stricter regulations on fishing gear, continuous monitoring, and adaptive management strategies. These measures are essential for achieving sustainable development goals and conserving marine biodiversity in Taiwan’s waters. By addressing these critical issues, Taiwan can better manage its fisheries resources and promote ecological balance.
Wu et al. (2024) The evolution of resource management in Taiwanese fisheries: coastal and offshore perspectives. PeerJ 12:e18434 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.18434
Transiently elevated expression of different forms of brain-derived neurotrophic factor in the neonatal medial prefrontal cortex affected anxiety and depressive-like behaviors in adolescence
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a secreted molecule that plays an important role in the survival and growth of nerve cells. BDNF undergoes complex post-translational processing with cellular proteases. Pro- and mature BDNF forms bind to different receptor types in the brain. BDNF is prominent in the neonatal cerebral cortex. The neonatal period is critical for the proper development of the brain and nervous system. Disruptions in these critical periods can have long-lasting effects on behavior and mental health. Individuals who experience adverse effects in the neonatal period have demonstrated a predisposition to depression and other neurobehavioral disorders. In this work we studied the influence of transient expression (P3–P8) elevation of pro-, mature and mutant forms of BDNF that could not be processed with cellular convertases in the neonatal medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) on anxiety and depressive-like behavior in adolescents. Elevated expression of mature BDNF (LV-BDNF) increased anxiety and depressive-like behavior at P30. Only immobility in the tail suspension test was increased after expression of mutant BDNF (LV-pBDNF mut). Using our RNA-seq data and available online sn-RNAseq results, we investigated transcriptomic changes in the neonatal mPFC at P8 that underlie subsequent behavioral changes. Mature BDNF expression caused an increased transcriptional response in perivascular stromal cells (PSC) with such genes: Ptgds, Slc6a13, Slc22a6, Bnc2, Slc13a4, Aldh1a2. Based on GWAS data, Ptgds is a candidate gene associated with ADHD and bipolar disorder Pujol-Gualdo et al. (2021); Marín-Méndez et al. (2012); Munkholm et al. (2015). LV-pBDNF mut caused a complete opposite set of transcriptional changes in the PSC compared to LV-BDNF. The observed similar behavioral phenotype after expression of mature and mutant forms of BDNF together with the detected genes related to bipolar disorder underpinned that Bdnf could play a substantial role in the pathogenesis of this neurobehavioral disorder.
Lanshakov et al. (2024) Transiently elevated expression of different forms of brain-derived neurotrophic factor in the neonatal medial prefrontal cortex affected anxiety and depressive-like behaviors in adolescence. PeerJ 12:e18465 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.18465
Binge drinking among adolescents: the role of stress, problematic internet use, and emotional regulation
Background Adolescence is a period marked by significant physical, psychological, and emotional changes as youngsters transition into adulthood. During this time, many adolescents consume alcohol, and in some cases, this leads to binge drinking, a behavior associated with various health risks and other problematic behaviors. However, knowledge about binge drinking in this population remains limited. Additionally, many adolescents engage in intensive technology use, which has been linked to mental health issues and substance abuse. Stress is often considered a precursor to both alcohol consumption and problematic internet use. In this context, emotional regulation could serve as a protective factor. Therefore, the present study aimed to examine the relationship between stress, problematic internet use, emotional regulation, and binge drinking among adolescents using structural equation modeling. Methods A cross-sectional survey was completed by a sample of 876 high school adolescents (63.57% female, mean age 16.86 years). Data were collected using an online survey, which included sociodemographic information and measures of perceived stress, emotional regulation, excessive alcohol consumption, and problematic internet use. Problematic alcohol use was assessed using several questions adapted from the ‘Survey on Drug Use in Secondary Education in Spain’. Results Problematic internet use emerged as a mediator between stress and binge drinking, suggesting that stress contributes to the development of problematic internet use, which in turn increases the likelihood of binge drinking. Furthermore, stress was negatively correlated with emotional regulation, indicating that inadequate emotional management may predispose adolescents to problematic internet use and binge drinking. The complex interplay between stress, emotional regulation, problematic internet use, and binge drinking underscores the need for comprehensive interventions targeting these factors among adolescents. Conclusions The results provide insights into potential pathways linking stress and binge drinking via problematic internet use and highlight the importance of emotional regulation as a protective mechanism against maladaptive behaviors.
Diaz-Moreno et al. (2024) Binge drinking among adolescents: the role of stress, problematic internet use, and emotional regulation. PeerJ 12:e18479 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.18479
Comparison of the performances of six empirical mass transfer-based reference evapotranspiration estimation models in semi-arid conditions
Background Accurately measured or estimated reference evapotranspiration (ETo) data are needed to properly manage water resources and prioritise their future uses. ETo can be most accurately measured using lysimeter systems. However, high installation and operating costs, as well as difficult and time-consuming measurement processes limit the use of these systems. Therefore, the approach of estimating ETo by empirical models is more preferred and widely used. However, since those models are well in accordance with the climatic and environmental traits of the region in which they were developed, their reliability must be examined if they are utilised in distinctive regions. This study aims to test the usability of mass transfer-based Dalton, Rohwer, Penman, Romanenko, WMO and Mahringer models in Van Lake microclimate conditions and to calibrate them in compatible with local conditions. Methods Firstly, the original equations of these models were tested using 9 years of daily climate data measured between 2012 and 2020. Then, the models were calibrated using the same data and their modified equations were created. The original and modified equations of the models were also tested with the 2021 and 2022 current climate data. Modified equations have been created using the Microsoft Excel program solver add-on, which is based on linear regression. The daily average ETo values estimated using the six mass transfer-based models were compared with the daily average ETo values calculated using the standard FAO-56 PM equation. The statistical approaches of the mean absolute error (MAE), mean absolute percentage error (MAPE), root mean square error (RMSE), Nash–Sutcliffe Efficiency (NSE), and determination coefficient (R2) were used as comparison criterion. Results The best and worst performing models in the original equations were Mahringer (MAE = 0.70 mm day−1, MAPE = 15.86%, RMSE = 0.87 mm day−1, NSE = 0.81, R2 = 0.94) and Penman (MAE = 1.84 mm day−1, MAPE = 33.68%, RMSE = 2.39 mm day−1, NSE = −0.49, R2 = 0.91), respectively, whereas in the modified equations Dalton (MAE = 0.29 mm day−1, MAPE = 7.51%, RMSE = 0.33 mm day−1, NSE = 0.97, R2 = 0.97) and WMO (MAE = 0.36 mm day−1, MAPE = 8.89%, RMSE = 0.43 mm day−1, NSE = 0.95, R2 = 0.97). The RMSE errors of the daily average ETo values estimated using the modified equations were generally below the acceptable error limit (RMSE < 0.50 mm day−1). It has been concluded that the modified equations of the six mass transfer-based models can be used as alternatives to the FAO-56 PM equation under the Van Lake microclimate conditions (NSE > 0.75), while the original equations—except for those of Mahringer (NSE = 0.81), WMO (NSE = 0.79), and Romanenko (NSE = 0.76)—cannot be used.
Usta (2024) Comparison of the performances of six empirical mass transfer-based reference evapotranspiration estimation models in semi-arid conditions. PeerJ 12:e18549 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.18549
Effect of cigarette smoking on the optical properties of contemporary dental ceramics: an in-vitro analysis
Background Cigarette smoking is the most common form of tobacco use worldwide. With the frequent introduction of new dental materials, the effect of smoking on their optical properties such as long term color stability, should to be thoroughly investigated. Objective This in-vitro study aims to investigate the effect of smoking on the optical properties of contemporary dental ceramics used currently for restoration of teeth. Methods Five different materials in two shades (B1 and C1) were used with 15 samples from each pressable lithium disilicate (Emax), layered lithium disilicate (Lmax), porcelain fused to metal (PFM), monolithic zirconia (MZr) and layered zirconia (LZr) were used (n = 75). The samples were exposed to conventional cigarette smoke and color stability was assessed at four different time intervals i.e., baseline, 1 week, 1 month and 6 months. CIELAB color space (CIE L*a*b*) values were used to evaluate the color difference (ΔE). A one-way analysis of variance (Anova) was used for statistical analysis of ΔE. Significant P-value was kept as <0.05, followed by Tukey post-hoc test. Results All test materials demonstrated significant color differences (ΔE) after exposure to cigarette smoke (p < 0.05). For shade B1, the highest change in shade ΔE 17.02 was exhibited by Lmax, whereas the least change in shade was exhibited by Emax followed by PFM at values of ΔE 10.11 and 11.2 respectively. For shade C1, the highest change (11.47) in shade at 6 months was demonstrated by MZr, whereas lowest values of ΔE were exhibited by Emax (7.52). Conclusions Traditional smoking causes significant change in shade of dental ceramics which can affect the esthetics of the patients. All material samples tested showed the values of ΔE > 3.3 which is higher than the acceptable range. Lowest color change was observed in Emax and PFM.
Alqahtani et al. (2024) Effect of cigarette smoking on the optical properties of contemporary dental ceramics: an in-vitro analysis. PeerJ 12:e18564 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.18564
Effects of plastic ingestion on blood chemistry, gene expression and body condition in wedge-tailed shearwaters (Ardenna pacifica)
Plastic pollution is a global threat and occurs in almost every marine ecosystem. The amount of plastic in the ocean has increased substantially over the past decade, posing a mounting threat to biodiversity. Seabirds, typically top predators in marine food chains, have been negatively affected by plastic pollution. Here we explored the sublethal effects of plastic ingested by wedge-tailed shearwaters (Ardenna pacifica) on the island of Maui, Hawai‘ i. Using analyses of blood chemistry, gene expression, morphometrics and regurgitated stomach contents, we investigated the effects of plastic ingestion on adult wedge-tailed shearwaters from three established colonies. We detected plastic in 12 out of 28 birds; however, we did not find significant relationships between ingested plastic, body condition, gene expression and blood analytes. We found a negative relationship between weight, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), hematocrit and potassium, that could reflect body condition in this population. Genes associated with metabolic, biosynthetic pathways, inflammatory responses, and ribosome function were also upregulated in birds placed in a ‘light weight’ category. We suggest that upregulated metabolic activity and elevated levels of hematocrit, BUN and potassium in light weight birds might imply dehydration and a response to increased energetic demand from stressors. Repetitive sampling could better inform whether body condition improves throughout the breeding season. We urge researchers to continue using multiple proxies to study effect of plastic ingestion in free-living populations.
Environmental Contamination and Remediation
Mejia et al. (2024) Effects of plastic ingestion on blood chemistry, gene expression and body condition in wedge-tailed shearwaters (Ardenna pacifica). PeerJ 12:e18566 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.18566
Spatiotemporal prediction of alpine wetlands under multi-climate scenarios in the west of Sichuan, China
Background The alpine wetlands in western Sichuan are distributed along the eastern section of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP), where the ecological environment is fragile and highly sensitive to global climate change. These wetlands are already experiencing severe ecological and environmental issues, such as drought, retrogressive succession, and desertification. However, due to the limitations of computational models, previous studies have been unable to adequately understand the spatiotemporal change trends of these alpine wetlands. Methods We employed a large sample and composite supervised classification algorithms to classify alpine wetlands and generate wetland maps, based on the Google Earth Engine cloud computing platform. The thematic maps were then grid-sampled for predictive modeling of future wetland changes. Four species distribution models (SDMs), BIOCLIM, DOMAIN, MAXENT, and GARP were innovatively introduced. Using the WorldClim dataset as environmental variables, we predicted the future distribution of wetlands in western Sichuan under multiple climate scenarios. Results The Kappa coefficients for Landsat 8 and Sentinel 2 were 0.89 and 0.91, respectively. Among the four SDMs, MAXENT achieved a higher accuracy (α = 91.6%) for the actual wetland compared to the thematic overlay analysis. The area under the curve (AUC) of the MAXENT model simulations for wetland spatial distribution were all greater than 0.80. This suggests that incorporating the SDM model into land change simulations has high generalizability and significant advantages on a large scale. Furthermore, simulation results reveal that between 2021 and 2100 years, with increasing emission concentrations, highly suitable areas for wetland development exhibit significant spatial differentiation. In particular, wetland areas in high-altitude regions are expected to increase, while low-altitude regions will markedly shrink. The changes in the future spatial distribution of wetlands show a high level of consistency with historical climate changes, with warming being the main driving force behind the spatiotemporal changes in alpine wetlands in western Sichuan, especially evident in the central high-altitude and northern low-altitude areas.
Spatial and Geographic Information Science
Wang et al. (2024) Spatiotemporal prediction of alpine wetlands under multi-climate scenarios in the west of Sichuan, China. PeerJ 12:e18586 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.18586
Assessment of erectile dysfunction prevalence and associated factors in hypertensive men
Background This study aimed to assess the prevalence of erectile dysfunction and identify associated factors among male patients with hypertension. Methods A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted. Data were gathered from 223 individuals aged 18 and above, solely diagnosed with hypertension. Information was collected through face-to-face questionnaires, personal identification forms, and the 5-question version of the International Sexual Function Index Scale. Results Among the participants, 81.6% exhibited erectile dysfunction, with a mean total score of 18.72 ± 3.60 on the 5-question version of the International Index of Erectile Function Questionnaire, indicating a mild level of dysfunction. Older age, smoking, lower educational attainment, and use of beta blockers were associated with higher levels of erectile dysfunction (p < 0.05). Discussion To mitigate modifiable risk factors influencing erectile dysfunction severity in hypertensive males, promoting healthy lifestyle choices, including diet, exercise, physiotherapy, and psychosocial support, as well as educating patients and their partners, could prove beneficial as non-pharmacological interventions.
Rashidi et al. (2024) Assessment of erectile dysfunction prevalence and associated factors in hypertensive men. PeerJ 12:e18596 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.18596
The effects of plasma from patients with active thyroid-associated orbitopathy on the survival and inflammation of melanoma-associated fibroblasts
Background Plasma from patients with active thyroid-associated orbitopathy (TAO-A) could cause inflammation to fibroblasts, and such a mechanism was explored in the context of melanoma. Methods Plasma samples collected from TAO-A patients and healthy control (HC) were primarily co-cultured with the melanoma-associated fibroblasts (MAFs) derived from melanoma patients. The survival and inflammation of the co-cultured MAFs were measured after confirming the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Ki67 and Vimentin (VIM) markers were analyzed by immunofluorescence, and cell survival and migration were assessed using cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) and Transwell. The THP-1 cells were induced to differentiate into macrophages, which were subsequently co-cultured to assess M1/M2 polarization status. Meanwhile, the levels of inflammatory factor were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The gene expression was measured by reverse transcription quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR), and the activation of PI3K/AKT, STAT1, p65, and ERK signaling pathways was detected by Western Blot. Results Plasmas derived from TAO-A patients were characterized by elevated levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, which enhanced the inflammation status and survival of MAFs, promoted the levels of PI3K and AKT, and downregulated expression of Bax. The co-culture of the plasma with MAFs evidently promoted M1 polarization and the phosphorylation of STAT1, P65 and ERK1/2. Conclusion These findings proved the effects of the plasmas of TAO-A patients on the survival and inflammation of MAFs, providing evidence for future studies to delve into the relevant mechanisms.
Chen et al. (2024) The effects of plasma from patients with active thyroid-associated orbitopathy on the survival and inflammation of melanoma-associated fibroblasts. PeerJ 12:e18612 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.18612