PeerJ
type: channel
link: https://peerj.com/articles/
description: Articles published in PeerJ
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
publication name: PeerJ
issn: 2167-8359
items: Age-related variation in the anthropometric profiles, body composition and functional capacities of female soccer players
items: https://peerj.com/articles/20047
items: Urban areas promotes shifts in the proportion of prey consumed by four raptor species (Accipitridae) in Mexico
items: Identification and experimental verification of necroptosis-related prognostic gene signature and characterization of tumor immune infiltration in lung squamous cell carcinoma
items: Effects of virtual reality exercise on fatigue, pain, and psychological status among cancer patients: a meta-analysis
items: Application of intestinal microbiota in marine fish for assessing the toxicity of typical pollutants: a literature review
items: Diagnostic and prognostic implications of growth differentiation factor 15 in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction: a systematic review and meta-analysis
items: Power analyses to inform clutch sampling design to determine the breeding sex ratio in populations with multiple paternity
items: Comparison of the clinical usefulness of CXCL-8 and common clinical tumor markers for esophageal cancer diagnosis
items: Single-particle analysis of small extracellular vesicles from human follicular fluid unveils immunomodulatory PD-L1+ subpopulations and potentially fertility biomarkers

Age-related variation in the anthropometric profiles, body composition and functional capacities of female soccer players
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: This study aimed to identify and compare the basic anthropometric characteristics, physical performance, and game-related skills of female soccer players across different age groups, including under-15 (U15), U17, U19, and first teams. Also, it aimed to account for performance tests variability through anthropometric features. A total of 56 athletes participated in a comprehensive test battery assessing anthropometric and bioelectrical parameters, air displacement plethysmography (ADP), and physical performance (Countermovement Jump Test (CMJ) and 30-15IFT). The older groups outperformed the younger players in physical and physiological characteristics. Significant differences were observed in body dimensions and composition, with the first team showing higher fat-free mass (FFM) than U15 and U17 players. Skinfold thickness was consistent across groups. The first team also exhibited the highest levels of power and speed, while U15 athletes showed the lowest CMJ. General linear models by stepwise procedures identified training hours as the main predictor for CMJ and speed, with each additional hour of training improving CMJ by 1 cm and speed by 1 km/h. Additionally, a decrease in skinfold thickness predicted improved power. A multidimensional approach, including anthropometric, bioelectrical, and physical performance data, provides essential insights for supporting athletic development in young female soccer players and can inform tailored training strategies to enhance their physical performance.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Stefania Toselli
creator: Federica Moro
creator: Martina Perugini
creator: Mario Mauro
subject: Women’s Health
subject: Sports Medicine
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.20096
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2025 Toselli et al.
abstract: This study aimed to identify and compare the basic anthropometric characteristics, physical performance, and game-related skills of female soccer players across different age groups, including under-15 (U15), U17, U19, and first teams. Also, it aimed to account for performance tests variability through anthropometric features. A total of 56 athletes participated in a comprehensive test battery assessing anthropometric and bioelectrical parameters, air displacement plethysmography (ADP), and physical performance (Countermovement Jump Test (CMJ) and 30-15IFT). The older groups outperformed the younger players in physical and physiological characteristics. Significant differences were observed in body dimensions and composition, with the first team showing higher fat-free mass (FFM) than U15 and U17 players. Skinfold thickness was consistent across groups. The first team also exhibited the highest levels of power and speed, while U15 athletes showed the lowest CMJ. General linear models by stepwise procedures identified training hours as the main predictor for CMJ and speed, with each additional hour of training improving CMJ by 1 cm and speed by 1 km/h. Additionally, a decrease in skinfold thickness predicted improved power. A multidimensional approach, including anthropometric, bioelectrical, and physical performance data, provides essential insights for supporting athletic development in young female soccer players and can inform tailored training strategies to enhance their physical performance.
bibliographic citation: Toselli et al. (2025) Age-related variation in the anthropometric profiles, body composition and functional capacities of female soccer players. PeerJ 13:e20096 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.20096
date submitted: 2025-07-18
date accepted: 2025-08-27
issued: 2025-10-30
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Toselli
  given name: Stefania
author list: Agent
  family name: Moro
  given name: Federica
author list: Agent
  family name: Perugini
  given name: Martina
author list: Agent
  family name: Mauro
  given name: Mario
doi: 10.7717/peerj.20096
volume: 13
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2025-10-30
copyright: © 2025 Toselli et al.
attribution name: Toselli et al.

https://peerj.com/articles/20047
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
title: Synergistic effects of virtual reality and traditional treatment methods in the management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
description: Objective To systematically evaluate the synergistic effects of virtual reality (VR) combined with traditional therapies in the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Methods A systematic review was conducted to identify relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating the effects of VR combined with conventional therapy on lung function, exercise tolerance, quality of life, and mental health in patients with COPD. Two researchers independently screened the literature, extracted data, and assessed study quality. A meta-analysis was performed on the outcome measures. Results Included 15 RCTs (eight from China, three from Poland, one from Turkey, one from Indonesia, and two from Italy), involving a total of 809 COPD patients (published between 2014 and 2024). All studies demonstrated significant improvements in at least one aspect (lung function, mental health, or quality of life). The meta-analysis showed that VR-based therapy significantly improved the 6-min walk test (6MWT), forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1/FVC), and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). High heterogeneity was observed for FEV1% predicted, COPD Assessment Test (CAT), and modified Medical Research Council Dyspnea Scale (mMRC); subgroup analyses suggested that intervention duration and single-session duration were potential contributing factors. Conclusion VR combined with traditional therapy has significant advantages over traditional therapy alone, with synergistic effects that can improve lung function and exercise endurance in COPD patients, alleviate psychological problems such as anxiety and depression, and enhance quality of life. Although the effects are significant, future research is needed to verify its clinical relevance (e.g., meeting the Minimal Clinically Important Difference (MCID) criteria for COPD patients) and to develop personalized plans based on individual differences to enhance its clinical application value.
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creator: Wei Qi
creator: Feiyun Song
creator: Mingli Li
creator: Mingcong Xie
creator: Dandan Liu
creator: Fang Fang
creator: Yueling Bao
creator: Zhangjie Guo
creator: Mingyun Sun
subject: Geriatrics
subject: Human-Computer Interaction
subject: Rehabilitation
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.20047
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2025 Qi et al.
abstract: Objective To systematically evaluate the synergistic effects of virtual reality (VR) combined with traditional therapies in the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Methods A systematic review was conducted to identify relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating the effects of VR combined with conventional therapy on lung function, exercise tolerance, quality of life, and mental health in patients with COPD. Two researchers independently screened the literature, extracted data, and assessed study quality. A meta-analysis was performed on the outcome measures. Results Included 15 RCTs (eight from China, three from Poland, one from Turkey, one from Indonesia, and two from Italy), involving a total of 809 COPD patients (published between 2014 and 2024). All studies demonstrated significant improvements in at least one aspect (lung function, mental health, or quality of life). The meta-analysis showed that VR-based therapy significantly improved the 6-min walk test (6MWT), forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1/FVC), and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). High heterogeneity was observed for FEV1% predicted, COPD Assessment Test (CAT), and modified Medical Research Council Dyspnea Scale (mMRC); subgroup analyses suggested that intervention duration and single-session duration were potential contributing factors. Conclusion VR combined with traditional therapy has significant advantages over traditional therapy alone, with synergistic effects that can improve lung function and exercise endurance in COPD patients, alleviate psychological problems such as anxiety and depression, and enhance quality of life. Although the effects are significant, future research is needed to verify its clinical relevance (e.g., meeting the Minimal Clinically Important Difference (MCID) criteria for COPD patients) and to develop personalized plans based on individual differences to enhance its clinical application value.
bibliographic citation: Qi et al. (2025) Synergistic effects of virtual reality and traditional treatment methods in the management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. PeerJ 13:e20047 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.20047
date submitted: 2025-04-08
date accepted: 2025-08-15
issued: 2025-10-30
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Qi
  given name: Wei
author list: Agent
  family name: Song
  given name: Feiyun
author list: Agent
  family name: Li
  given name: Mingli
author list: Agent
  family name: Xie
  given name: Mingcong
author list: Agent
  family name: Liu
  given name: Dandan
author list: Agent
  family name: Fang
  given name: Fang
author list: Agent
  family name: Bao
  given name: Yueling
author list: Agent
  family name: Guo
  given name: Zhangjie
author list: Agent
  family name: Sun
  given name: Mingyun
doi: 10.7717/peerj.20047
volume: 13
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2025-10-30
copyright: © 2025 Qi et al.
attribution name: Qi et al.

Urban areas promotes shifts in the proportion of prey consumed by four raptor species (Accipitridae) in Mexico
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Background Urbanization is a process of environmental change which reduces and fragments the original habitat and creates new pressures, conditions, and resources for the species. The urban areas act as an ecological filter, which may exclude species, while others can colonize and thrive in cities, generating a process of biotic homogenization. As top predators, the changes in prey community composition could affect the diet of raptors. However, this effect has been understudied. Methods In this study we compiled information about the frequency of prey consumed by Cooper’s Hawk, Common Black Hawk, Roadside Hawk and Gray Hawk using two sources of information: (1) data extracted from photographs available on citizen science platforms and (2) a search of scientific literature. Using these data, we compared the diet composition, the proportion of prey consumed and the trophic niche breadth by four species of raptor in urban and non-urban areas. Additionally, we evaluated whether the variability in frequency of predation records by raptors was associated to the type of prey or their breeding season. Results Our results indicate that the raptors studied consumed at least 91 prey species in Mexico. Most records of predation by Common Black Hawk, Roadside Hawk, and Gray Hawk occurred in non-urban areas. On the contrary, most records of predation by Cooper’s hawks occurred within urban areas. There was no statistical difference in the richness of prey consumed by Cooper’s Hawk and Gray Hawk between urban and non-urban areas. In contrast, fewer prey types were consumed by Common Black Hawk and Roadside Hawk in urban areas than in non-urban areas. The proportion of prey types consumed in urban and non-urban areas was significantly different for Cooper’s Hawk, Roadside Hawk and Gray Hawk. Conversely, the proportion of prey types consumed by Common Black Hawk’s was similar in urban and non-urban areas. The four raptors studied increased the proportion of birds consumed in urban …
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Ubaldo Márquez-Luna
creator: Oscar Rivera-Hernández
subject: Biodiversity
subject: Zoology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.20307
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2025 Márquez-Luna and Rivera-Hernández
abstract: Background Urbanization is a process of environmental change which reduces and fragments the original habitat and creates new pressures, conditions, and resources for the species. The urban areas act as an ecological filter, which may exclude species, while others can colonize and thrive in cities, generating a process of biotic homogenization. As top predators, the changes in prey community composition could affect the diet of raptors. However, this effect has been understudied. Methods In this study we compiled information about the frequency of prey consumed by Cooper’s Hawk, Common Black Hawk, Roadside Hawk and Gray Hawk using two sources of information: (1) data extracted from photographs available on citizen science platforms and (2) a search of scientific literature. Using these data, we compared the diet composition, the proportion of prey consumed and the trophic niche breadth by four species of raptor in urban and non-urban areas. Additionally, we evaluated whether the variability in frequency of predation records by raptors was associated to the type of prey or their breeding season. Results Our results indicate that the raptors studied consumed at least 91 prey species in Mexico. Most records of predation by Common Black Hawk, Roadside Hawk, and Gray Hawk occurred in non-urban areas. On the contrary, most records of predation by Cooper’s hawks occurred within urban areas. There was no statistical difference in the richness of prey consumed by Cooper’s Hawk and Gray Hawk between urban and non-urban areas. In contrast, fewer prey types were consumed by Common Black Hawk and Roadside Hawk in urban areas than in non-urban areas. The proportion of prey types consumed in urban and non-urban areas was significantly different for Cooper’s Hawk, Roadside Hawk and Gray Hawk. Conversely, the proportion of prey types consumed by Common Black Hawk’s was similar in urban and non-urban areas. The four raptors studied increased the proportion of birds consumed in urban …
bibliographic citation: Márquez-Luna et al. (2025) Urban areas promotes shifts in the proportion of prey consumed by four raptor species (Accipitridae) in Mexico. PeerJ 13:e20307 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.20307
date submitted: 2025-04-15
date accepted: 2025-10-08
issued: 2025-10-29
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Márquez-Luna
  given name: Ubaldo
author list: Agent
  family name: Rivera-Hernández
  given name: Oscar
doi: 10.7717/peerj.20307
volume: 13
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2025-10-29
copyright: © 2025 Márquez-Luna and Rivera-Hernández
attribution name: Márquez-Luna and Rivera-Hernández

Identification and experimental verification of necroptosis-related prognostic gene signature and characterization of tumor immune infiltration in lung squamous cell carcinoma
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Background Lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC) is a common and aggressive malignancy. Necroptosis, a regulated mode of cell death, has been implicated in tumor immunity and oncogenic processes, yet the mechanistic involvement of necroptosis-related genes (NRGs) in LUSC pathogenesis remains unclear, necessitating systematic evaluation of their biological and clinical relevance. Methods and Results Clinical and transcriptomic data of LUSC patients from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) were subjected to integrative analyses. Screening of the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) database identified 159 NRGs, among which 35 differentially expressed NRGs (DENRGs) were associated with necroptosis, apoptosis, and immune signaling pathways. Cox regression combined with Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) analysis yielded three NRGs (CAMK2A, CHMP4C, and PYGB) strongly associated with patient prognosis. Based on these genes, a prognostic model was constructed to stratify patients into high- and low-risk subgroups with distinct survival patterns. External dataset validation demonstrated moderate predictive accuracy. Reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and immunohistochemistry (IHC) confirmed abnormal expression of the three genes in LUSC tissues. Additional analyses revealed correlations of these NRGs with immune infiltration, immune checkpoint activity, tumor mutation burden (TMB), and microsatellite instability (MSI). Conclusions A three-gene NRG signature was identified as a prognostic marker in LUSC. These genes appear to influence disease progression and the immune microenvironment, highlighting their potential as therapeutic targets and as a foundation for further investigation.
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format: text/html
creator: Kai Sun
creator: Ke-run Wang
creator: Song Wen
creator: Juan-juan Hong
creator: Yu-lang Fei
creator: Qing-hua Pan
creator: Fang-fang Xie
subject: Bioinformatics
subject: Immunology
subject: Oncology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.20260
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2025 Sun et al.
abstract: Background Lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC) is a common and aggressive malignancy. Necroptosis, a regulated mode of cell death, has been implicated in tumor immunity and oncogenic processes, yet the mechanistic involvement of necroptosis-related genes (NRGs) in LUSC pathogenesis remains unclear, necessitating systematic evaluation of their biological and clinical relevance. Methods and Results Clinical and transcriptomic data of LUSC patients from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) were subjected to integrative analyses. Screening of the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) database identified 159 NRGs, among which 35 differentially expressed NRGs (DENRGs) were associated with necroptosis, apoptosis, and immune signaling pathways. Cox regression combined with Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) analysis yielded three NRGs (CAMK2A, CHMP4C, and PYGB) strongly associated with patient prognosis. Based on these genes, a prognostic model was constructed to stratify patients into high- and low-risk subgroups with distinct survival patterns. External dataset validation demonstrated moderate predictive accuracy. Reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and immunohistochemistry (IHC) confirmed abnormal expression of the three genes in LUSC tissues. Additional analyses revealed correlations of these NRGs with immune infiltration, immune checkpoint activity, tumor mutation burden (TMB), and microsatellite instability (MSI). Conclusions A three-gene NRG signature was identified as a prognostic marker in LUSC. These genes appear to influence disease progression and the immune microenvironment, highlighting their potential as therapeutic targets and as a foundation for further investigation.
bibliographic citation: Sun et al. (2025) Identification and experimental verification of necroptosis-related prognostic gene signature and characterization of tumor immune infiltration in lung squamous cell carcinoma. PeerJ 13:e20260 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.20260
date submitted: 2025-05-29
date accepted: 2025-09-29
issued: 2025-10-29
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Sun
  given name: Kai
author list: Agent
  family name: Wang
  given name: Ke-run
author list: Agent
  family name: Wen
  given name: Song
author list: Agent
  family name: Hong
  given name: Juan-juan
author list: Agent
  family name: Fei
  given name: Yu-lang
author list: Agent
  family name: Pan
  given name: Qing-hua
author list: Agent
  family name: Xie
  given name: Fang-fang
doi: 10.7717/peerj.20260
volume: 13
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2025-10-29
copyright: ©2025 Sun et al.
attribution name: Sun et al.

Effects of virtual reality exercise on fatigue, pain, and psychological status among cancer patients: a meta-analysis
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Background Cancer and its associated therapies can result in pain, fatigue, and high psychological depression with anxiety levels. Therefore, this meta-analysis explored the effects of virtual reality (VR) exercise on fatigue and pain in cancer patients, and the secondary outcomes assessed the levels of depression and anxiety. Methodology Eligible studies were searched for through four databases and then screened. The inclusion criteria are as follows: (1) Participants with cancer; (2) randomised controlled trial and single-arm trials; (3) the intervention group received VR exercise; (4) conducted pre- and post-test, which include fatigue, pain, depression and anxiety. The Cochrane bias risk assessment tool was used to evaluate the quality of the selected study. Standardized Mean Difference (SMD) was selected as the appropriate effect scale index, and Revman 5.4 software was used to analyze the mean difference of the selected article data. (Registration number: CRD420251037421). Results The meta-analysis outcomes implied a greater reduction in fatigue following the virtual reality group (VRG) intervention in comparison to control group (COG) (SMD, 0.77 [0.50, 1.04], p < 0.05, I2 = 61%). The heterogeneity of these outcomes then indicated that subgroup analyses were necessary. Consequently, these analyses denoted that fatigue was substantially improved in intervention durations below 30 min (SMD, 0.44 [0.08, 0.81], p < 0.05, I2 = 22%) and above 30 min (SMD, 1.20 [0.78, 1.61], p < 0.05, I2 = 0%). Significant pain improvement was also observed in VRG than COG (SMD, −0.88 [−1.15, −0.60], p < 0.05, I2 = 36%). Conclusions This review indicated that VR exercise reduced fatigue, pain, and anxiety in cancer patients. Nevertheless, the effect of VR exercise on relieving depression is not clear, which may be a potentially effective non pharmacological intervention in this population.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Ruihan Wang
creator: Yunwei Wang
creator: Shiming Li
creator: Shuoqi Li
subject: Evidence Based Medicine
subject: Oncology
subject: Psychiatry and Psychology
subject: Mental Health
subject: Sports Medicine
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.20196
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2025 Wang et al.
abstract: Background Cancer and its associated therapies can result in pain, fatigue, and high psychological depression with anxiety levels. Therefore, this meta-analysis explored the effects of virtual reality (VR) exercise on fatigue and pain in cancer patients, and the secondary outcomes assessed the levels of depression and anxiety. Methodology Eligible studies were searched for through four databases and then screened. The inclusion criteria are as follows: (1) Participants with cancer; (2) randomised controlled trial and single-arm trials; (3) the intervention group received VR exercise; (4) conducted pre- and post-test, which include fatigue, pain, depression and anxiety. The Cochrane bias risk assessment tool was used to evaluate the quality of the selected study. Standardized Mean Difference (SMD) was selected as the appropriate effect scale index, and Revman 5.4 software was used to analyze the mean difference of the selected article data. (Registration number: CRD420251037421). Results The meta-analysis outcomes implied a greater reduction in fatigue following the virtual reality group (VRG) intervention in comparison to control group (COG) (SMD, 0.77 [0.50, 1.04], p < 0.05, I2 = 61%). The heterogeneity of these outcomes then indicated that subgroup analyses were necessary. Consequently, these analyses denoted that fatigue was substantially improved in intervention durations below 30 min (SMD, 0.44 [0.08, 0.81], p < 0.05, I2 = 22%) and above 30 min (SMD, 1.20 [0.78, 1.61], p < 0.05, I2 = 0%). Significant pain improvement was also observed in VRG than COG (SMD, −0.88 [−1.15, −0.60], p < 0.05, I2 = 36%). Conclusions This review indicated that VR exercise reduced fatigue, pain, and anxiety in cancer patients. Nevertheless, the effect of VR exercise on relieving depression is not clear, which may be a potentially effective non pharmacological intervention in this population.
bibliographic citation: Wang et al. (2025) Effects of virtual reality exercise on fatigue, pain, and psychological status among cancer patients: a meta-analysis. PeerJ 13:e20196 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.20196
date submitted: 2025-05-19
date accepted: 2025-09-15
issued: 2025-10-29
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Wang
  given name: Ruihan
author list: Agent
  family name: Wang
  given name: Yunwei
author list: Agent
  family name: Li
  given name: Shiming
author list: Agent
  family name: Li
  given name: Shuoqi
doi: 10.7717/peerj.20196
volume: 13
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2025-10-29
copyright: © 2025 Wang et al.
attribution name: Wang et al.

Application of intestinal microbiota in marine fish for assessing the toxicity of typical pollutants: a literature review
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: The widespread diffusion and dilution of pollutants in the ocean lead to prolonged exposure of marine organisms to low-concentration contaminated environments, raising growing concerns about the potential risks associated with chronic low-level pollution. The gut microbiota of fish plays a pivotal role in essential physiological processes, which are critical for host health. Therefore, the key microbes in the gut could serve as valuable biomarkers for assessing the toxic effects of pollutants. This article systematically reviews the structure and functions of marine fish gut microbiota, outlines the primary methodologies for assessing gut microbiota, and highlights the impacts of typical pollutants (including petroleum hydrocarbons, antibiotics, heavy metals, and microplastic) on the composition, functionality, and metabolic activities of marine fish gut microbiota. In the future, integrating multi-technology approaches to investigate the toxic mechanisms of pollutants on gut microbiota and their biodegradation pathways will represent a pivotal direction in marine ecotoxicology research.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Yunzhi Feng
creator: Haolong Xu
creator: Guohua Xu
creator: Dong Sun
subject: Aquaculture, Fisheries and Fish Science
subject: Marine Biology
subject: Microbiology
subject: Ecotoxicology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.20248
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2025 Feng et al.
abstract: The widespread diffusion and dilution of pollutants in the ocean lead to prolonged exposure of marine organisms to low-concentration contaminated environments, raising growing concerns about the potential risks associated with chronic low-level pollution. The gut microbiota of fish plays a pivotal role in essential physiological processes, which are critical for host health. Therefore, the key microbes in the gut could serve as valuable biomarkers for assessing the toxic effects of pollutants. This article systematically reviews the structure and functions of marine fish gut microbiota, outlines the primary methodologies for assessing gut microbiota, and highlights the impacts of typical pollutants (including petroleum hydrocarbons, antibiotics, heavy metals, and microplastic) on the composition, functionality, and metabolic activities of marine fish gut microbiota. In the future, integrating multi-technology approaches to investigate the toxic mechanisms of pollutants on gut microbiota and their biodegradation pathways will represent a pivotal direction in marine ecotoxicology research.
bibliographic citation: Feng et al. (2025) Application of intestinal microbiota in marine fish for assessing the toxicity of typical pollutants: a literature review. PeerJ 13:e20248 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.20248
date submitted: 2025-06-04
date accepted: 2025-09-25
issued: 2025-10-28
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Feng
  given name: Yunzhi
author list: Agent
  family name: Xu
  given name: Haolong
author list: Agent
  family name: Xu
  given name: Guohua
author list: Agent
  family name: Sun
  given name: Dong
doi: 10.7717/peerj.20248
volume: 13
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2025-10-28
copyright: © 2025 Feng et al.
attribution name: Feng et al.

Diagnostic and prognostic implications of growth differentiation factor 15 in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction: a systematic review and meta-analysis
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Background Growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15), an emerging biomarker associated with chronic inflammation and oxidative stress, shows potential diagnostic and prognostic significance for heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). This study aimed to assess the diagnostic and prognostic value of GDF-15 in HFpEF. Methods Three databases (PubMed, Scopus, and ScienceDirect) were used to search for relevant literature published before August 6, 2024. Quality assessment was conducted using the Newcastle-Ottawa scale and its adaptation for cross-sectional studies. Statistical analysis was performed using RStudio version 4.4.1. All meta-analyses employed a random-effects model. Sensitivity analysis was conducted using the leave-one-out technique to evaluate the influence of individual studies on pooled estimates. This study protocol was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42024569609). Results A total of 5,696 HFpEF patients were identified from 28,193 individuals across 12 observational studies. GDF-15 levels were consistently elevated in HFpEF patients, with a pooled mean difference (MD) of 647.60 pg/mL (95% CI [148.43–1,146.77]; p = 0.01). Sensitivity analysis confirmed the robustness of this finding, with a slightly higher MD observed when studies involving HFpEF patients with atrial fibrillation were excluded. Qualitative analysis suggested that the overall diagnostic performance of GDF-15 in HFpEF is slightly superior to conventional biomarkers. GDF-15 showed a pooled area under the curve (AUC) of 0.82 (95% CI [0.72–0.91]), indicating good diagnostic accuracy. Additionally, GDF-15 was associated with increased risk of all-cause mortality and heart failure hospitalisation, with pooled hazard ratios (HR) of 1.46 (95% CI [1.30–1.62]; p < 0.01) and 1.76 (95% CI [1.30–2.38]; p < 0.01), respectively. Conclusion GDF-15 demonstrates significant diagnostic and prognostic potential for HFpEF. Elevated GDF-15 levels are associated with increased risk of all-cause mort…
format: application/pdf
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creator: Iwan Dakota
creator: Matthew Aldo Wijayanto
creator: Annisa Salsabilla Dwi Nugrahani
creator: Angela Felicia Sunjaya
creator: Shela Rachmayanti
creator: Enny Yuliana Indah
creator: Natasya Naomi
creator: Wilbert Huang
creator: Christopher Daniel Tristan
creator: Mira Fauziah
creator: Hary Sakti Muliawan
creator: Bambang Budi Siswanto
subject: Cardiology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.20168
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2025 Dakota et al.
abstract: Background Growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15), an emerging biomarker associated with chronic inflammation and oxidative stress, shows potential diagnostic and prognostic significance for heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). This study aimed to assess the diagnostic and prognostic value of GDF-15 in HFpEF. Methods Three databases (PubMed, Scopus, and ScienceDirect) were used to search for relevant literature published before August 6, 2024. Quality assessment was conducted using the Newcastle-Ottawa scale and its adaptation for cross-sectional studies. Statistical analysis was performed using RStudio version 4.4.1. All meta-analyses employed a random-effects model. Sensitivity analysis was conducted using the leave-one-out technique to evaluate the influence of individual studies on pooled estimates. This study protocol was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42024569609). Results A total of 5,696 HFpEF patients were identified from 28,193 individuals across 12 observational studies. GDF-15 levels were consistently elevated in HFpEF patients, with a pooled mean difference (MD) of 647.60 pg/mL (95% CI [148.43–1,146.77]; p = 0.01). Sensitivity analysis confirmed the robustness of this finding, with a slightly higher MD observed when studies involving HFpEF patients with atrial fibrillation were excluded. Qualitative analysis suggested that the overall diagnostic performance of GDF-15 in HFpEF is slightly superior to conventional biomarkers. GDF-15 showed a pooled area under the curve (AUC) of 0.82 (95% CI [0.72–0.91]), indicating good diagnostic accuracy. Additionally, GDF-15 was associated with increased risk of all-cause mortality and heart failure hospitalisation, with pooled hazard ratios (HR) of 1.46 (95% CI [1.30–1.62]; p < 0.01) and 1.76 (95% CI [1.30–2.38]; p < 0.01), respectively. Conclusion GDF-15 demonstrates significant diagnostic and prognostic potential for HFpEF. Elevated GDF-15 levels are associated with increased risk of all-cause mort…
bibliographic citation: Dakota et al. (2025) Diagnostic and prognostic implications of growth differentiation factor 15 in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction: a systematic review and meta-analysis. PeerJ 13:e20168 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.20168
date submitted: 2025-04-16
date accepted: 2025-09-11
issued: 2025-10-28
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Dakota
  given name: Iwan
author list: Agent
  family name: Wijayanto
  given name: Matthew Aldo
author list: Agent
  family name: Nugrahani
  given name: Annisa Salsabilla Dwi
author list: Agent
  family name: Sunjaya
  given name: Angela Felicia
author list: Agent
  family name: Rachmayanti
  given name: Shela
author list: Agent
  family name: Indah
  given name: Enny Yuliana
author list: Agent
  family name: Naomi
  given name: Natasya
author list: Agent
  family name: Huang
  given name: Wilbert
author list: Agent
  family name: Tristan
  given name: Christopher Daniel
author list: Agent
  family name: Fauziah
  given name: Mira
author list: Agent
  family name: Muliawan
  given name: Hary Sakti
author list: Agent
  family name: Siswanto
  given name: Bambang Budi
doi: 10.7717/peerj.20168
volume: 13
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2025-10-28
copyright: © 2025 Dakota et al.
attribution name: Dakota et al.

Power analyses to inform clutch sampling design to determine the breeding sex ratio in populations with multiple paternity
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: In many species, demographic assessments of population viability require an estimate of the number or proportion of breeding adults in a population that are male (the breeding sex ratio). However, this estimate is often difficult to obtain directly in species with multiple paternity when males are difficult to sample. Parentage analysis of breeding females and offspring can produce this estimate by identifying the number of unique males that contribute genetic information to (i.e., sired) a given cohort. There is an added challenge of choosing a sample design with the desired level of confidence to identify all the fathers contributing to a cohort, either at the scale of individual clutches or an entire nesting season, given limited resources. Sampling effort can be defined as the number of offspring sampled per clutch, or the number of clutches sampled per breeding season, depending on the analysis. The minimum number of samples required may depend on the proportions of eggs that different fathers fertilize in a clutch (the paternal contribution mode), the total number of fathers fertilizing a clutch, the proportion of adults available for breeding that are male (the operational sex ratio), and population size. We conducted power analyses to quantify the confidence in identifying all fathers in animal populations with multiple paternity. We simulated sampling a theoretical sea turtle population with a range of population demographics, mating systems, and sampling effort, and used the proportion of 10,000 simulations in which all fathers were identified as a proxy for confidence. At the clutch level, confidence was strongly dependent on the paternal contribution mode, and when it was skewed, it also depended on the total number of fathers contributing and the number of offspring sampled. However, sampling about one third of a clutch was sufficient to identify all fathers with high confidence for most scenarios, unless the paternal contribution mode was extremely ske…
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Vic Quennessen
creator: Mariana M.B.P. Fuentes
creator: Lisa Komoroske
creator: J. Wilson White
subject: Aquaculture, Fisheries and Fish Science
subject: Computational Biology
subject: Marine Biology
subject: Mathematical Biology
subject: Population Biology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.20165
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2025 Quennessen et al.
abstract: In many species, demographic assessments of population viability require an estimate of the number or proportion of breeding adults in a population that are male (the breeding sex ratio). However, this estimate is often difficult to obtain directly in species with multiple paternity when males are difficult to sample. Parentage analysis of breeding females and offspring can produce this estimate by identifying the number of unique males that contribute genetic information to (i.e., sired) a given cohort. There is an added challenge of choosing a sample design with the desired level of confidence to identify all the fathers contributing to a cohort, either at the scale of individual clutches or an entire nesting season, given limited resources. Sampling effort can be defined as the number of offspring sampled per clutch, or the number of clutches sampled per breeding season, depending on the analysis. The minimum number of samples required may depend on the proportions of eggs that different fathers fertilize in a clutch (the paternal contribution mode), the total number of fathers fertilizing a clutch, the proportion of adults available for breeding that are male (the operational sex ratio), and population size. We conducted power analyses to quantify the confidence in identifying all fathers in animal populations with multiple paternity. We simulated sampling a theoretical sea turtle population with a range of population demographics, mating systems, and sampling effort, and used the proportion of 10,000 simulations in which all fathers were identified as a proxy for confidence. At the clutch level, confidence was strongly dependent on the paternal contribution mode, and when it was skewed, it also depended on the total number of fathers contributing and the number of offspring sampled. However, sampling about one third of a clutch was sufficient to identify all fathers with high confidence for most scenarios, unless the paternal contribution mode was extremely ske…
bibliographic citation: Quennessen et al. (2025) Power analyses to inform clutch sampling design to determine the breeding sex ratio in populations with multiple paternity. PeerJ 13:e20165 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.20165
date submitted: 2025-02-13
date accepted: 2025-09-11
issued: 2025-10-28
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Quennessen
  given name: Vic
author list: Agent
  family name: Fuentes
  given name: Mariana M.B.P.
author list: Agent
  family name: Komoroske
  given name: Lisa
author list: Agent
  family name: White
  given name: J. Wilson
doi: 10.7717/peerj.20165
volume: 13
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2025-10-28
copyright: ©2025 Quennessen et al.
attribution name: Quennessen et al.

Comparison of the clinical usefulness of CXCL-8 and common clinical tumor markers for esophageal cancer diagnosis
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Background This study aimed to investigate serum CXC motif chemokine ligand 8 (CXCL-8) as a potential biomarker for diagnosing esophageal cancer (EC). Methods Patients diagnosed with EC (n = 141) were enrolled at the Department of Thoracic Surgery, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, from July through December 2023. Sixty cases were early esophageal cancer (EEC), whereas 81 were advanced (AEC) based on diagnostic criteria. Healthy volunteers (n = 75) were recruited as controls. Serum CXCL-8 levels were quantified using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Levels of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), cytokeratin 19 fragment (Cyfra211), and squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCC) were assessed using a chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay. Clinical and pathological attributes of patients with EC were documented and analyzed. Diagnostic efficacies of CXCL-8, CEA, Cyfra211, and SCC for EC were evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. Results Serum concentrations of CXCL-8, CEA, Cyfra211, and SCC were significantly higher in patients with EC than in controls (P < 0.05). In the EC group, areas under the curves (AUCs) for CXCL-8, CEA, Cyfra211, and SCC were 0.906, 0.707, 0.705, and 0.797, respectively. The combined application of CXCL-8+CEA, CXCL-8+Cyfra211, and CXCL-8+SCC yielded AUCs of 0.931, 0.940, and 0.950, respectively, and was significantly higher than that of the combination of CEA+Cyfra211+SCC (0.854). In EEC, the diagnostic performance of CXCL-8 was similar to that in the EC group. The sensitivity of CXCL-8 was greater than that of CEA, Cyfra211, and SCC alone, and the combination of the three markers (P < 0.05). Conclusions CXCL-8 could be used to distinguish patients with EC from healthy controls, including EEC.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Pingxia Lu
creator: Baowei Xu
creator: Xinyu Zhang
creator: Cuifeng Zheng
creator: Xianqiang Chen
creator: Junrong Zhang
creator: Yingping Cao
creator: Zhengyuan Huang
subject: Biochemistry
subject: Cell Biology
subject: Oncology
subject: Surgery and Surgical Specialties
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.20079
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2025 Lu et al.
abstract: Background This study aimed to investigate serum CXC motif chemokine ligand 8 (CXCL-8) as a potential biomarker for diagnosing esophageal cancer (EC). Methods Patients diagnosed with EC (n = 141) were enrolled at the Department of Thoracic Surgery, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, from July through December 2023. Sixty cases were early esophageal cancer (EEC), whereas 81 were advanced (AEC) based on diagnostic criteria. Healthy volunteers (n = 75) were recruited as controls. Serum CXCL-8 levels were quantified using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Levels of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), cytokeratin 19 fragment (Cyfra211), and squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCC) were assessed using a chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay. Clinical and pathological attributes of patients with EC were documented and analyzed. Diagnostic efficacies of CXCL-8, CEA, Cyfra211, and SCC for EC were evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. Results Serum concentrations of CXCL-8, CEA, Cyfra211, and SCC were significantly higher in patients with EC than in controls (P < 0.05). In the EC group, areas under the curves (AUCs) for CXCL-8, CEA, Cyfra211, and SCC were 0.906, 0.707, 0.705, and 0.797, respectively. The combined application of CXCL-8+CEA, CXCL-8+Cyfra211, and CXCL-8+SCC yielded AUCs of 0.931, 0.940, and 0.950, respectively, and was significantly higher than that of the combination of CEA+Cyfra211+SCC (0.854). In EEC, the diagnostic performance of CXCL-8 was similar to that in the EC group. The sensitivity of CXCL-8 was greater than that of CEA, Cyfra211, and SCC alone, and the combination of the three markers (P < 0.05). Conclusions CXCL-8 could be used to distinguish patients with EC from healthy controls, including EEC.
bibliographic citation: Lu et al. (2025) Comparison of the clinical usefulness of CXCL-8 and common clinical tumor markers for esophageal cancer diagnosis. PeerJ 13:e20079 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.20079
date submitted: 2025-02-26
date accepted: 2025-08-24
issued: 2025-10-28
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
author list: Agent
  family name: Lu
  given name: Pingxia
author list: Agent
  family name: Xu
  given name: Baowei
author list: Agent
  family name: Zhang
  given name: Xinyu
author list: Agent
  family name: Zheng
  given name: Cuifeng
author list: Agent
  family name: Chen
  given name: Xianqiang
author list: Agent
  family name: Zhang
  given name: Junrong
author list: Agent
  family name: Cao
  given name: Yingping
author list: Agent
  family name: Huang
  given name: Zhengyuan
doi: 10.7717/peerj.20079
volume: 13
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2025-10-28
copyright: © 2025 Lu et al.
attribution name: Lu et al.

Single-particle analysis of small extracellular vesicles from human follicular fluid unveils immunomodulatory PD-L1+ subpopulations and potentially fertility biomarkers
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: In certain cell systems, small extracellular vesicles bearing PD-L1 (PD-L1+ sEVs) have been shown to suppress T-cell immunity. We investigated whether a distinct profile of PD-L1+ sEVs exists in human follicular fluid (FF), a microenvironment where immune tolerance is crucial for proper follicular development. We characterized the expression and colocalization of CD63, CD81, CD9, and PD-L1 in sEVs derived from FF of women undergoing fertility treatments (n = 10), utilizing single-particle interferometric reflectance imaging sensing combined with single-particle antibody capture and immunofluorescence labeling. Additionally, sEV size distribution was analysed via atomic force microscopy. These integrated techniques revealed that the majority of tetraspanin-expressing EVs in human FF are smaller than 50 nm. Statistical analysis revealed a significant difference in PD-L1 co-expression across CD63, CD81, and CD9, confirming a preferential association of PD-L1 with CD9+ sEVs. Coefficients of variation across the cohort further indicated that PD-L1/CD9 co-expression was the most consistent among patients, suggesting a stable and distinct sEV subpopulation. These findings underscore the potential of PD-L1+ sEVs as biomarkers for immune regulation in reproductive treatments. The discovery of distinct PD-L1+ sEV subpopulations suggests a role in modulating immune responses within the follicular microenvironment. Further studies are warranted to investigate the functional relevance of these vesicles in predicting fertility outcome, promoting local immune tolerance, and facilitating follicular development.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Barbara Bortot
creator: Roberta Di Florio
creator: Gabriella Zito
creator: Francesco Valle
creator: Marco Brucale
creator: Giuseppe Ricci
creator: Paola Vigano
creator: Stefania Biffi
subject: Biochemistry
subject: Cell Biology
subject: Gynecology and Obstetrics
subject: Women’s Health
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.20057
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2025 Bortot et al.
abstract: In certain cell systems, small extracellular vesicles bearing PD-L1 (PD-L1+ sEVs) have been shown to suppress T-cell immunity. We investigated whether a distinct profile of PD-L1+ sEVs exists in human follicular fluid (FF), a microenvironment where immune tolerance is crucial for proper follicular development. We characterized the expression and colocalization of CD63, CD81, CD9, and PD-L1 in sEVs derived from FF of women undergoing fertility treatments (n = 10), utilizing single-particle interferometric reflectance imaging sensing combined with single-particle antibody capture and immunofluorescence labeling. Additionally, sEV size distribution was analysed via atomic force microscopy. These integrated techniques revealed that the majority of tetraspanin-expressing EVs in human FF are smaller than 50 nm. Statistical analysis revealed a significant difference in PD-L1 co-expression across CD63, CD81, and CD9, confirming a preferential association of PD-L1 with CD9+ sEVs. Coefficients of variation across the cohort further indicated that PD-L1/CD9 co-expression was the most consistent among patients, suggesting a stable and distinct sEV subpopulation. These findings underscore the potential of PD-L1+ sEVs as biomarkers for immune regulation in reproductive treatments. The discovery of distinct PD-L1+ sEV subpopulations suggests a role in modulating immune responses within the follicular microenvironment. Further studies are warranted to investigate the functional relevance of these vesicles in predicting fertility outcome, promoting local immune tolerance, and facilitating follicular development.
bibliographic citation: Bortot et al. (2025) Single-particle analysis of small extracellular vesicles from human follicular fluid unveils immunomodulatory PD-L1+ subpopulations and potentially fertility biomarkers. PeerJ 13:e20057 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.20057
date submitted: 2025-05-15
date accepted: 2025-08-17
issued: 2025-10-28
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Bortot
  given name: Barbara
author list: Agent
  family name: Di Florio
  given name: Roberta
author list: Agent
  family name: Zito
  given name: Gabriella
author list: Agent
  family name: Valle
  given name: Francesco
author list: Agent
  family name: Brucale
  given name: Marco
author list: Agent
  family name: Ricci
  given name: Giuseppe
author list: Agent
  family name: Vigano
  given name: Paola
author list: Agent
  family name: Biffi
  given name: Stefania
doi: 10.7717/peerj.20057
volume: 13
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2025-10-28
copyright: ©2025 Bortot et al.
attribution name: Bortot et al.

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