PeerJ
type: channel
link: https://peerj.com/articles/
description: Articles published in PeerJ
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
publication name: PeerJ
issn: 2167-8359
items: https://peerj.com/articles/20101
items: Influence of organic, synthetic and biofertilizers on the diversity of cassava rhizosphere microbiome in Northeastern Thailand
items: Immune-related hub genes in intrauterine adhesions: a bioinformatics approach
items: Genome-wide identification and expression analysis of the HSP70 gene family in Artemisia annua L. under heat stress
items: Exploring the use of mobile health among patients with cardiometabolic and respiratory chronic diseases in primary care nursing: a cross-sectional study
items: Unlocking the potential of endothelial progenitor cells: a comprehensive review of definitions, applications, and future directions
items: Development and application of a CRISPR/Cas12a-based reverse transcription–recombinase polymerase amplification assay with lateral flow dipstick and fluorescence detection for Getah virus
items: Mauritian snail shells show evidence of extinct predators
items: Predictive performance of clinical scores and survival outcomes in critically ill patients with sepsis: a prospective longitudinal study at a tertiary medical centre in Ethiopia
items: Barriers to cervical cancer prevention and triage strategies: a study of knowledge, attitudes, and p16/Ki-67 dual-staining utility among high-risk women in Tuoli and Fuyun counties, Xinjiang

https://peerj.com/articles/20101
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
title: Exploration of nitrogen use efficiency and root-shoot-soil variation on the stoichiometric characteristics of carbon, nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium for winter wheat under various nitrogen treatments
description: Background Nitrogen (N) addition has significant effects on grain yield and nutrient use efficiency (NUE) in farmland ecosystems, and the total carbon: nitrogen: phosphorus: potassium (TC:TN:TP:TK) stoichiometry in plants and soil is of great significance for improving plant productivity and nutrition. However, there is still uncertainty regarding the effects of N fertilizers on the stoichiometric characteristics of different root-shoot parts of winter wheat during growth progression. Methods ‘Fengdecunmai5’ wheat was selected as the material for the positioning test field. Three N application treatments (0, 180 and 300 kg ha−1, designated N0, N180 and N300) were designed to study the yield, NUE, and stoichiometric characteristics of TC, TN, TP and TK in each organ at different stages, and to analyze the relationships among them. Results The N180 treatment increased the total nitrogen (TN) content in roots, stems plus leaves and grain at each stage. The TN and TP content in stems plus leaves gradually decreased from jointing to maturity stages, whereas the TN content in grain gradually increased from filling to maturity stages. Under the N180 treatment, TN:TP values significantly increased, by 20.3%, 27.9% and 26.3% compared with N0 treatment, respectively. Moreover, the farmland ecosystem was mainly limited by the TN content. TK content in roots and TC:TN in stems plus leaves was significantly positively correlated with NUE. TN:TK and TN: TP in stems plus leaves were positively correlated with yield, and TN and TK content in stems plus leaves considerably influenced the yield. Conclusions Under N180 treatment, compared with N0 and N300 treatments, wheat plants achieved higher nutrient uptake, and greater yield and NUE. This study contributes to the assessment of plant productivity and the precise optimization of ecosystem stoichiometry in the context of green sustainable agricultural development.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Tianyu Lv
creator: Shijie Liu
creator: Suhao Lu
creator: Chenyang Wang
creator: Dongyun Ma
creator: Guozhang Kang
creator: Yingxin Xie
creator: Jiaming Wu
creator: Jutao Sun
creator: Li-fang Wang
subject: Agricultural Science
subject: Ecology
subject: Ecosystem Science
subject: Plant Science
subject: Soil Science
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.20101
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2025 Lv et al.
abstract: Background Nitrogen (N) addition has significant effects on grain yield and nutrient use efficiency (NUE) in farmland ecosystems, and the total carbon: nitrogen: phosphorus: potassium (TC:TN:TP:TK) stoichiometry in plants and soil is of great significance for improving plant productivity and nutrition. However, there is still uncertainty regarding the effects of N fertilizers on the stoichiometric characteristics of different root-shoot parts of winter wheat during growth progression. Methods ‘Fengdecunmai5’ wheat was selected as the material for the positioning test field. Three N application treatments (0, 180 and 300 kg ha−1, designated N0, N180 and N300) were designed to study the yield, NUE, and stoichiometric characteristics of TC, TN, TP and TK in each organ at different stages, and to analyze the relationships among them. Results The N180 treatment increased the total nitrogen (TN) content in roots, stems plus leaves and grain at each stage. The TN and TP content in stems plus leaves gradually decreased from jointing to maturity stages, whereas the TN content in grain gradually increased from filling to maturity stages. Under the N180 treatment, TN:TP values significantly increased, by 20.3%, 27.9% and 26.3% compared with N0 treatment, respectively. Moreover, the farmland ecosystem was mainly limited by the TN content. TK content in roots and TC:TN in stems plus leaves was significantly positively correlated with NUE. TN:TK and TN: TP in stems plus leaves were positively correlated with yield, and TN and TK content in stems plus leaves considerably influenced the yield. Conclusions Under N180 treatment, compared with N0 and N300 treatments, wheat plants achieved higher nutrient uptake, and greater yield and NUE. This study contributes to the assessment of plant productivity and the precise optimization of ecosystem stoichiometry in the context of green sustainable agricultural development.
bibliographic citation: Lv et al. (2025) Exploration of nitrogen use efficiency and root-shoot-soil variation on the stoichiometric characteristics of carbon, nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium for winter wheat under various nitrogen treatments. PeerJ 13:e20101 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.20101
date submitted: 2025-03-20
date accepted: 2025-08-27
issued: 2025-10-03
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Lv
  given name: Tianyu
author list: Agent
  family name: Liu
  given name: Shijie
author list: Agent
  family name: Lu
  given name: Suhao
author list: Agent
  family name: Wang
  given name: Chenyang
author list: Agent
  family name: Ma
  given name: Dongyun
author list: Agent
  family name: Kang
  given name: Guozhang
author list: Agent
  family name: Xie
  given name: Yingxin
author list: Agent
  family name: Wu
  given name: Jiaming
author list: Agent
  family name: Sun
  given name: Jutao
author list: Agent
  family name: Wang
  given name: Li-fang
doi: 10.7717/peerj.20101
volume: 13
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2025-10-03
copyright: ©2025 Lv et al.
attribution name: Lv et al.

Influence of organic, synthetic and biofertilizers on the diversity of cassava rhizosphere microbiome in Northeastern Thailand
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Cassava, one of Thailand’s main economic crops, is capable of growing in nearly all soil types. However, continuous monocropping depletes soil nutrients over time. Adopting good agricultural practices can help farmers reduce costs while improving soil fertility. The aim of this study was to compare cassava rhizosphere microbial communities resulting from cultivation under eight different fertilizer treatments, including synthetic, organic, and biological fertilizers, and to identify beneficial microbes that promote cassava growth and yield. The study was conducted at two sites in Northeastern Thailand. Results show that bacterial abundance and species richness (alpha diversity) peaked at 5 months after planting (MAP), showing a significant increase compared to 2 MAP. However, by 10 MAP, alpha diversity began to decline at both sites, Nampong and Seungsang. Among the treatments, the most notable differences in alpha diversity were observed at 5 MAP. At the Nampong site, experimental treatments with chicken manure (T3) and chicken manure combined with other fertilizers (T5, T6, and T8) exhibited significantly higher alpha diversity than did the control (without fertilizer, T1). At the Seungsang site, sole treatment with the full recommended rate of chicken manure (T3), and half of the recommended dose of synthetic fertilizer combined with half the recommended dose of chicken manure (T6) resulted in greater alpha diversity than did swine manure extract application (T4), half of the recommended dose of synthetic fertilizer combined with half of the recommended dose of swine manure extract (T7), and chicken manure application combined with stalk inoculation with plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPRs) (T8). Since T3 and T8 had the most significant impact on microbial abundance and diversity, as well as cassava growth and yield, the predominant bacteria in these treatments were identified as key targets. A total of eight target bacterial genera were identified: Pseud…
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Suthasinee Somyong
creator: Wuttichai Mhuantong
creator: Phakamas Phetchawang
creator: Derrick Keith Thompson
creator: Ornprapa Thepsilvisut
creator: Wirulda Pootakham
subject: Ecology
subject: Genomics
subject: Microbiology
subject: Plant Science
subject: Soil Science
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.20085
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2025 Somyong et al.
abstract: Cassava, one of Thailand’s main economic crops, is capable of growing in nearly all soil types. However, continuous monocropping depletes soil nutrients over time. Adopting good agricultural practices can help farmers reduce costs while improving soil fertility. The aim of this study was to compare cassava rhizosphere microbial communities resulting from cultivation under eight different fertilizer treatments, including synthetic, organic, and biological fertilizers, and to identify beneficial microbes that promote cassava growth and yield. The study was conducted at two sites in Northeastern Thailand. Results show that bacterial abundance and species richness (alpha diversity) peaked at 5 months after planting (MAP), showing a significant increase compared to 2 MAP. However, by 10 MAP, alpha diversity began to decline at both sites, Nampong and Seungsang. Among the treatments, the most notable differences in alpha diversity were observed at 5 MAP. At the Nampong site, experimental treatments with chicken manure (T3) and chicken manure combined with other fertilizers (T5, T6, and T8) exhibited significantly higher alpha diversity than did the control (without fertilizer, T1). At the Seungsang site, sole treatment with the full recommended rate of chicken manure (T3), and half of the recommended dose of synthetic fertilizer combined with half the recommended dose of chicken manure (T6) resulted in greater alpha diversity than did swine manure extract application (T4), half of the recommended dose of synthetic fertilizer combined with half of the recommended dose of swine manure extract (T7), and chicken manure application combined with stalk inoculation with plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPRs) (T8). Since T3 and T8 had the most significant impact on microbial abundance and diversity, as well as cassava growth and yield, the predominant bacteria in these treatments were identified as key targets. A total of eight target bacterial genera were identified: Pseud…
bibliographic citation: Somyong et al. (2025) Influence of organic, synthetic and biofertilizers on the diversity of cassava rhizosphere microbiome in Northeastern Thailand. PeerJ 13:e20085 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.20085
date submitted: 2025-04-16
date accepted: 2025-08-25
issued: 2025-10-03
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Somyong
  given name: Suthasinee
author list: Agent
  family name: Mhuantong
  given name: Wuttichai
author list: Agent
  family name: Phetchawang
  given name: Phakamas
author list: Agent
  family name: Thompson
  given name: Derrick Keith
author list: Agent
  family name: Thepsilvisut
  given name: Ornprapa
author list: Agent
  family name: Pootakham
  given name: Wirulda
doi: 10.7717/peerj.20085
volume: 13
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2025-10-03
copyright: © 2025 Somyong et al.
attribution name: Somyong et al.

Immune-related hub genes in intrauterine adhesions: a bioinformatics approach
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Background Intrauterine adhesions (IUA) are a leading cause of acquired female infertility that predominantly arises following surgical intrauterine interventions. Clinical strategies are available for managing IUA, however, the molecular pathogenesis of IUA, particularly the role of immune dysregulation in endometrial repair processes, has not been fully characterized, necessitating comprehensive mechanistic studies. Methods We used computational biology methods to determine the molecular pathogenesis of IUA, the results of which were experimentally validated. (i) We systematically reanalyzed GSE224093, a publicly available endometrial transcriptomic dataset, using GEO2R. Differential gene expression was analyzed with stringent statistical thresholds; the results were immunologically contextualized via intersection with the ImmPort database. (ii) Multilayer functional annotation was conducted using Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway topology analyses. (iii) Weighted gene co-expression network analysis and scale-free topology optimization were used to identify conserved coexpression modules. (iv) Seven hub genes underwent quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) validation in human and murine models, with four verified using immunohistochemistry (IHC). Results Our integrated multiomics analysis identified seven hub genes associated with IUA pathogenesis through GO, KEGG, and GSEA enrichment analyses. The expression levels TUBB3, WNT5A, GDF7, IGF1, and BIRC5 were downregulated, and those of PTGDS and CCL14 were upregulated. The qPCR results confirmed these expression patterns in human and murine endometria (p < 0.05), with TUBB3 and PTGDS species-specifically diverging from the computational predictions. The IHC results provided the corresponding protein expression changes for IGF1, WNT5A, BIRC5, and GDF7 in IUA (p < 0.01). CCL14 could not be amplified in murine models due to technical constraints. …
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Fengqing Lv
creator: Sang Luo
creator: Fengjuan Xu
creator: Yue Du
creator: Yiyun Bai
creator: Jingyi Zhang
creator: Xiaojie Zou
creator: Dan Liu
subject: Biochemistry
subject: Bioinformatics
subject: Cell Biology
subject: Gynecology and Obstetrics
subject: Immunology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.20035
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2025 Lv et al.
abstract: Background Intrauterine adhesions (IUA) are a leading cause of acquired female infertility that predominantly arises following surgical intrauterine interventions. Clinical strategies are available for managing IUA, however, the molecular pathogenesis of IUA, particularly the role of immune dysregulation in endometrial repair processes, has not been fully characterized, necessitating comprehensive mechanistic studies. Methods We used computational biology methods to determine the molecular pathogenesis of IUA, the results of which were experimentally validated. (i) We systematically reanalyzed GSE224093, a publicly available endometrial transcriptomic dataset, using GEO2R. Differential gene expression was analyzed with stringent statistical thresholds; the results were immunologically contextualized via intersection with the ImmPort database. (ii) Multilayer functional annotation was conducted using Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway topology analyses. (iii) Weighted gene co-expression network analysis and scale-free topology optimization were used to identify conserved coexpression modules. (iv) Seven hub genes underwent quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) validation in human and murine models, with four verified using immunohistochemistry (IHC). Results Our integrated multiomics analysis identified seven hub genes associated with IUA pathogenesis through GO, KEGG, and GSEA enrichment analyses. The expression levels TUBB3, WNT5A, GDF7, IGF1, and BIRC5 were downregulated, and those of PTGDS and CCL14 were upregulated. The qPCR results confirmed these expression patterns in human and murine endometria (p < 0.05), with TUBB3 and PTGDS species-specifically diverging from the computational predictions. The IHC results provided the corresponding protein expression changes for IGF1, WNT5A, BIRC5, and GDF7 in IUA (p < 0.01). CCL14 could not be amplified in murine models due to technical constraints. …
bibliographic citation: Lv et al. (2025) Immune-related hub genes in intrauterine adhesions: a bioinformatics approach. PeerJ 13:e20035 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.20035
date submitted: 2025-01-30
date accepted: 2025-08-13
issued: 2025-10-03
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Lv
  given name: Fengqing
author list: Agent
  family name: Luo
  given name: Sang
author list: Agent
  family name: Xu
  given name: Fengjuan
author list: Agent
  family name: Du
  given name: Yue
author list: Agent
  family name: Bai
  given name: Yiyun
author list: Agent
  family name: Zhang
  given name: Jingyi
author list: Agent
  family name: Zou
  given name: Xiaojie
author list: Agent
  family name: Liu
  given name: Dan
doi: 10.7717/peerj.20035
volume: 13
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2025-10-03
copyright: ©2025 Lv et al.
attribution name: Lv et al.

Genome-wide identification and expression analysis of the HSP70 gene family in Artemisia annua L. under heat stress
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Artemisia annua L., a well-known traditional Chinese medicine, is the main source for production of artemisinin, an anti-malaria drug. Heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) plays an important role in plant growth and development as well as in response to biotic and abiotic stresses. While the HSP70 gene family has been characterized in many species, its role in A. annua remains unclear. To investigate the evolutionary relationships, functions, and expression patterns of the A. annua HSP70 (AaHSP70) gene family, we conducted a comprehensive bioinformatics analysis of the HSP70 gene family in the LQ-9 haplotype 0 genome of A. annua. In this study, 47 AaHSP70 genes containing the HSP70 protein structural domain were identified and were unevenly distributed on seven chromosomes, among which, 39 AaHSP70 genes contained 10 identical conserved motifs and eight genes contained varying numbers of seven to nine motifs. Genome collinearity analysis showed that two pairs of genes were duplicated in genome and duplicated segmental duplication (DSD) was the major mode of amplification for this gene family. Cis-acting elements analysis indicated that AaHSP70 was involved in responding to various biotic and abiotic stresses, such as abscisic acid-responsive and defense and stress responsiveness. Gene expression profiling showed that 45 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) of AaHSP70 genes responded differently to heat treatment, of which 12 genes were up-regulated and two genes were up-regulated and then down-regulated. Gene ontology (GO) enrichment showed that two AaHSP70 genes were enriched in the pathway related to reactive oxygen species (ROS). Furthermore, reverse transcription-qPCR (RT-qPCR) experiments confirmed the expression levels of 10 up-regulated genes. This study provides a comprehensive characterization of the HSP70 gene family in A. annua and systematically identifies AaHSP70 genes that were responsive to heat stress, laying the groundwork for further research into the rol…
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Shan Zhong
creator: Hengyu Pan
creator: Chaoxue Ma
creator: Haojia Xu
creator: Xiaoxia Ding
creator: Shengye Bao
creator: Siyu Zhao
creator: Peiqi Shi
creator: Baosheng Liao
creator: Xianchun Zong
subject: Bioinformatics
subject: Genomics
subject: Molecular Biology
subject: Plant Science
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.19866
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2025 Zhong et al.
abstract: Artemisia annua L., a well-known traditional Chinese medicine, is the main source for production of artemisinin, an anti-malaria drug. Heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) plays an important role in plant growth and development as well as in response to biotic and abiotic stresses. While the HSP70 gene family has been characterized in many species, its role in A. annua remains unclear. To investigate the evolutionary relationships, functions, and expression patterns of the A. annua HSP70 (AaHSP70) gene family, we conducted a comprehensive bioinformatics analysis of the HSP70 gene family in the LQ-9 haplotype 0 genome of A. annua. In this study, 47 AaHSP70 genes containing the HSP70 protein structural domain were identified and were unevenly distributed on seven chromosomes, among which, 39 AaHSP70 genes contained 10 identical conserved motifs and eight genes contained varying numbers of seven to nine motifs. Genome collinearity analysis showed that two pairs of genes were duplicated in genome and duplicated segmental duplication (DSD) was the major mode of amplification for this gene family. Cis-acting elements analysis indicated that AaHSP70 was involved in responding to various biotic and abiotic stresses, such as abscisic acid-responsive and defense and stress responsiveness. Gene expression profiling showed that 45 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) of AaHSP70 genes responded differently to heat treatment, of which 12 genes were up-regulated and two genes were up-regulated and then down-regulated. Gene ontology (GO) enrichment showed that two AaHSP70 genes were enriched in the pathway related to reactive oxygen species (ROS). Furthermore, reverse transcription-qPCR (RT-qPCR) experiments confirmed the expression levels of 10 up-regulated genes. This study provides a comprehensive characterization of the HSP70 gene family in A. annua and systematically identifies AaHSP70 genes that were responsive to heat stress, laying the groundwork for further research into the rol…
bibliographic citation: Zhong et al. (2025) Genome-wide identification and expression analysis of the HSP70 gene family in Artemisia annua L. under heat stress. PeerJ 13:e19866 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.19866
date submitted: 2025-01-29
date accepted: 2025-07-17
issued: 2025-10-03
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Zhong
  given name: Shan
author list: Agent
  family name: Pan
  given name: Hengyu
author list: Agent
  family name: Ma
  given name: Chaoxue
author list: Agent
  family name: Xu
  given name: Haojia
author list: Agent
  family name: Ding
  given name: Xiaoxia
author list: Agent
  family name: Bao
  given name: Shengye
author list: Agent
  family name: Zhao
  given name: Siyu
author list: Agent
  family name: Shi
  given name: Peiqi
author list: Agent
  family name: Liao
  given name: Baosheng
author list: Agent
  family name: Zong
  given name: Xianchun
doi: 10.7717/peerj.19866
volume: 13
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2025-10-03
copyright: © 2025 Zhong et al.
attribution name: Zhong et al.

Exploring the use of mobile health among patients with cardiometabolic and respiratory chronic diseases in primary care nursing: a cross-sectional study
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Background Chronic diseases, such as cardiometabolic and respiratory conditions, are major contributors to global morbidity and mortality. These conditions place a considerable burden on primary care due to rising healthcare costs and increasing patient dependency in daily life. Digital tools, such as mobile health (mHealth), have emerged as promising resources to support chronic disease management in this setting. However, patient adoption of mHealth remains limited, and few studies have specifically examined its use among individuals with multiple chronic conditions. This study aims to examine the overall use and implementation of mHealth technologies among patients with chronic cardiometabolic and/or respiratory diseases receiving care from primary care nursing services. Methods A descriptive cross-sectional observational study was conducted from December 2022 to October 2023 in the primary care services of the Denia Health Department, Alicante, Spain. A non-probability purposive-consecutive sampling method was used. Participants were adult patients attending chronic care nursing consultations with one or more of the following diagnoses: hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, dyslipidemia, or obesity. Sociodemographic and clinical variables were assessed, and participants completed an ad hoc questionnaire on mobile phone use, health app usage, and online health information-seeking behaviors. Statistical analysis was performed using RStudio for macOS®. Descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and t-tests were applied. Results A total of 523 participants were included (mean age: 71.65 years; SD = 11.91; range: 21–99 years; 50.9% male). Mobile phone and health app usage were significantly higher among men (P = 0.0017) and younger patients, who also demonstrated greater digital proficiency and experience (P < 0.001). Patients with diabetes were the most frequent users of these tools. Those willing to use mHealth for monitoring…
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Daniel Monasor Ortola
creator: José Joaquín Mira
creator: Antonio Esteve Ríos
creator: Virginia García Ferrer
subject: Cardiology
subject: Diabetes and Endocrinology
subject: Nursing
subject: Public Health
subject: Healthcare Services
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.20130
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2025 Monasor Ortola et al.
abstract: Background Chronic diseases, such as cardiometabolic and respiratory conditions, are major contributors to global morbidity and mortality. These conditions place a considerable burden on primary care due to rising healthcare costs and increasing patient dependency in daily life. Digital tools, such as mobile health (mHealth), have emerged as promising resources to support chronic disease management in this setting. However, patient adoption of mHealth remains limited, and few studies have specifically examined its use among individuals with multiple chronic conditions. This study aims to examine the overall use and implementation of mHealth technologies among patients with chronic cardiometabolic and/or respiratory diseases receiving care from primary care nursing services. Methods A descriptive cross-sectional observational study was conducted from December 2022 to October 2023 in the primary care services of the Denia Health Department, Alicante, Spain. A non-probability purposive-consecutive sampling method was used. Participants were adult patients attending chronic care nursing consultations with one or more of the following diagnoses: hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, dyslipidemia, or obesity. Sociodemographic and clinical variables were assessed, and participants completed an ad hoc questionnaire on mobile phone use, health app usage, and online health information-seeking behaviors. Statistical analysis was performed using RStudio for macOS®. Descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and t-tests were applied. Results A total of 523 participants were included (mean age: 71.65 years; SD = 11.91; range: 21–99 years; 50.9% male). Mobile phone and health app usage were significantly higher among men (P = 0.0017) and younger patients, who also demonstrated greater digital proficiency and experience (P < 0.001). Patients with diabetes were the most frequent users of these tools. Those willing to use mHealth for monitoring…
bibliographic citation: Monasor Ortola et al. (2025) Exploring the use of mobile health among patients with cardiometabolic and respiratory chronic diseases in primary care nursing: a cross-sectional study. PeerJ 13:e20130 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.20130
date submitted: 2025-04-21
date accepted: 2025-09-02
issued: 2025-10-02
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Monasor Ortola
  given name: Daniel
author list: Agent
  family name: Mira
  given name: José Joaquín
author list: Agent
  family name: Esteve Ríos
  given name: Antonio
author list: Agent
  family name: García Ferrer
  given name: Virginia
doi: 10.7717/peerj.20130
volume: 13
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2025-10-02
copyright: © 2025 Monasor Ortola et al.
attribution name: Monasor Ortola et al.

Unlocking the potential of endothelial progenitor cells: a comprehensive review of definitions, applications, and future directions
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) are undifferentiated cells with the capacity to mature into endothelial cells (ECs). EPCs have garnered considerable attention in the fields of regenerative medicine and cardiovascular therapy, owing to their pivotal role in neovascularization and vascular repair. Nonetheless, numerous challenges and questions persist regarding the translational research and practical application of EPCs. This review aims to examine the varying definitions of EPCs, their classification, extraction methods, and sources. It will also address the optimization of cultivation techniques for EPCs and the reprogramming of EPCs into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). Furthermore, the review will delve into the role of EPCs in cardiovascular diseases (CVD), septic shock, and rheumatic immune conditions, as well as their implications in connective tissue diseases (CTDs) and skin soft tissue regeneration. Finally, the article will discuss future research prospects for EPCs, aiming to engage and inspire readers.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Gongjie Ye
creator: Yongfei Song
creator: Yiru Weng
creator: Jiangfang Lian
creator: Jianqing Zhou
creator: Zhouzhou Dong
subject: Biochemistry
subject: Biotechnology
subject: Cell Biology
subject: Molecular Biology
subject: Cardiology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.20128
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2025 Ye et al.
abstract: Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) are undifferentiated cells with the capacity to mature into endothelial cells (ECs). EPCs have garnered considerable attention in the fields of regenerative medicine and cardiovascular therapy, owing to their pivotal role in neovascularization and vascular repair. Nonetheless, numerous challenges and questions persist regarding the translational research and practical application of EPCs. This review aims to examine the varying definitions of EPCs, their classification, extraction methods, and sources. It will also address the optimization of cultivation techniques for EPCs and the reprogramming of EPCs into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). Furthermore, the review will delve into the role of EPCs in cardiovascular diseases (CVD), septic shock, and rheumatic immune conditions, as well as their implications in connective tissue diseases (CTDs) and skin soft tissue regeneration. Finally, the article will discuss future research prospects for EPCs, aiming to engage and inspire readers.
bibliographic citation: Ye et al. (2025) Unlocking the potential of endothelial progenitor cells: a comprehensive review of definitions, applications, and future directions. PeerJ 13:e20128 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.20128
date submitted: 2025-02-23
date accepted: 2025-09-02
issued: 2025-10-02
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Ye
  given name: Gongjie
author list: Agent
  family name: Song
  given name: Yongfei
author list: Agent
  family name: Weng
  given name: Yiru
author list: Agent
  family name: Lian
  given name: Jiangfang
author list: Agent
  family name: Zhou
  given name: Jianqing
author list: Agent
  family name: Dong
  given name: Zhouzhou
doi: 10.7717/peerj.20128
volume: 13
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2025-10-02
copyright: ©2025 Ye et al.
attribution name: Ye et al.

Development and application of a CRISPR/Cas12a-based reverse transcription–recombinase polymerase amplification assay with lateral flow dipstick and fluorescence detection for Getah virus
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Getah virus (GETV), a mosquito-borne alphavirus classified as a zoonotic disease, primarily infects livestock, particularly pigs and horses. In recent years, it has re-emerged in multiple Asian countries, posing a potential threat to animal husbandry and public health. In this study, we developed a rapid and sensitive GETV detection method based on reverse transcription-recombinase polymerase amplification (RT-RPA) and the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/Cas12a system combined with a lateral flow dipstick (LFD) for visual readout. By leveraging sequence conservation in the GETV E2 envelope protein-coding regions, we engineered matched crRNA guides and amplification primers to develop a rapid CRISPR-Cas12a diagnostic workflow. The optimized platform combines RT-RPA (42 °C/20 min) with Cas12a’s trans-nuclease activity, permitting multiplex detection via real-time fluorescence quantification or immunochromatographic strip visualization. Analytical evaluation demonstrated a detection capability of 10 copies/µL and exclusive specificity against four pathogen controls, including Japanese encephalitis virus and pseudorabies virus. Validation performed using simulated clinical samples revealed 100% concordance between the results of RT–RPA–CRISPR/Cas12a–LFD and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR), while reducing the total detection time to 50 minutes. This approach eliminated the need for advanced instrumentation owing to its simplified operational design, enabling field-deployable rapid detection capabilities that establish essential technical infrastructure for initiating timely GETV containment measures. This approach has broad application potential in the fields of food safety, clinical diagnostics, and environmental science.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Boyang Xia
creator: Ziyan Wang
creator: Tiantian Fei
creator: Yueyu Ma
creator: Yaxi Guo
creator: Dongliang Fei
creator: Xiuwei Shu
creator: Gang Zhao
creator: Mingxiao Ma
creator: Hongxia Yuan
subject: Microbiology
subject: Virology
subject: Infectious Diseases
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.20119
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2025 Xia et al.
abstract: Getah virus (GETV), a mosquito-borne alphavirus classified as a zoonotic disease, primarily infects livestock, particularly pigs and horses. In recent years, it has re-emerged in multiple Asian countries, posing a potential threat to animal husbandry and public health. In this study, we developed a rapid and sensitive GETV detection method based on reverse transcription-recombinase polymerase amplification (RT-RPA) and the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/Cas12a system combined with a lateral flow dipstick (LFD) for visual readout. By leveraging sequence conservation in the GETV E2 envelope protein-coding regions, we engineered matched crRNA guides and amplification primers to develop a rapid CRISPR-Cas12a diagnostic workflow. The optimized platform combines RT-RPA (42 °C/20 min) with Cas12a’s trans-nuclease activity, permitting multiplex detection via real-time fluorescence quantification or immunochromatographic strip visualization. Analytical evaluation demonstrated a detection capability of 10 copies/µL and exclusive specificity against four pathogen controls, including Japanese encephalitis virus and pseudorabies virus. Validation performed using simulated clinical samples revealed 100% concordance between the results of RT–RPA–CRISPR/Cas12a–LFD and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR), while reducing the total detection time to 50 minutes. This approach eliminated the need for advanced instrumentation owing to its simplified operational design, enabling field-deployable rapid detection capabilities that establish essential technical infrastructure for initiating timely GETV containment measures. This approach has broad application potential in the fields of food safety, clinical diagnostics, and environmental science.
bibliographic citation: Xia et al. (2025) Development and application of a CRISPR/Cas12a-based reverse transcription–recombinase polymerase amplification assay with lateral flow dipstick and fluorescence detection for Getah virus. PeerJ 13:e20119 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.20119
date submitted: 2025-05-02
date accepted: 2025-09-01
issued: 2025-10-02
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Xia
  given name: Boyang
author list: Agent
  family name: Wang
  given name: Ziyan
author list: Agent
  family name: Fei
  given name: Tiantian
author list: Agent
  family name: Ma
  given name: Yueyu
author list: Agent
  family name: Guo
  given name: Yaxi
author list: Agent
  family name: Fei
  given name: Dongliang
author list: Agent
  family name: Shu
  given name: Xiuwei
author list: Agent
  family name: Zhao
  given name: Gang
author list: Agent
  family name: Ma
  given name: Mingxiao
author list: Agent
  family name: Yuan
  given name: Hongxia
doi: 10.7717/peerj.20119
volume: 13
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2025-10-02
copyright: ©2025 Xia et al.
attribution name: Xia et al.

Mauritian snail shells show evidence of extinct predators
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Shells of several species of Tropidophora land snails of the volcanic island of Mauritius (Mascarenes, SW Indian Ocean), all dated between ~1426BCE and ~1090 CE predating the earliest confirmed human discovery (1519) and settlement (1638) of the island, have been found with characteristic predatory holes. These are either large, irregular holes on the underside of T. carinata, or circular holes 0–9–3.3 mm in diameter, in almost the exact same place in T. ligata, T. icterica and T. michaudi. The former have been suggested to be evidence of predation by the extinct red rail Aphanapteryx bonasia, which we consider to be probable. The circular holes have not been reported previously. Examination of these shows them to be very regular in shape and size, to be in the centre of a shallow depression marked by two sets of fine grooves at right angles to one another. These holes were compared to damage caused by predators reported to have ‘bored’ into shells: Drillus elaterid beetles, Poiretia spiraxid snails and rathouisiid slugs. The damage is most similar to that caused by rathouisiids and we postulate that the holes were caused by a now extinct predator of that family. The only extant members of the family in the Mascarene islands are too small to be the predators. There is no evidence of such predation in recent shells; this is an extinct interaction between an extirpated predator and its prey.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Justin Gerlach
creator: F. B. Vincent Florens
creator: Owen L. Griffiths
subject: Biodiversity
subject: Conservation Biology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.20112
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2025 Gerlach et al.
abstract: Shells of several species of Tropidophora land snails of the volcanic island of Mauritius (Mascarenes, SW Indian Ocean), all dated between ~1426BCE and ~1090 CE predating the earliest confirmed human discovery (1519) and settlement (1638) of the island, have been found with characteristic predatory holes. These are either large, irregular holes on the underside of T. carinata, or circular holes 0–9–3.3 mm in diameter, in almost the exact same place in T. ligata, T. icterica and T. michaudi. The former have been suggested to be evidence of predation by the extinct red rail Aphanapteryx bonasia, which we consider to be probable. The circular holes have not been reported previously. Examination of these shows them to be very regular in shape and size, to be in the centre of a shallow depression marked by two sets of fine grooves at right angles to one another. These holes were compared to damage caused by predators reported to have ‘bored’ into shells: Drillus elaterid beetles, Poiretia spiraxid snails and rathouisiid slugs. The damage is most similar to that caused by rathouisiids and we postulate that the holes were caused by a now extinct predator of that family. The only extant members of the family in the Mascarene islands are too small to be the predators. There is no evidence of such predation in recent shells; this is an extinct interaction between an extirpated predator and its prey.
bibliographic citation: Gerlach et al. (2025) Mauritian snail shells show evidence of extinct predators. PeerJ 13:e20112 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.20112
date submitted: 2025-06-09
date accepted: 2025-08-29
issued: 2025-10-02
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Gerlach
  given name: Justin
author list: Agent
  family name: Florens
  given name: F. B. Vincent
author list: Agent
  family name: Griffiths
  given name: Owen L.
doi: 10.7717/peerj.20112
volume: 13
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2025-10-02
copyright: © 2025 Gerlach et al.
attribution name: Gerlach et al.

Predictive performance of clinical scores and survival outcomes in critically ill patients with sepsis: a prospective longitudinal study at a tertiary medical centre in Ethiopia
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Background Clinical scores such as quick sequential organ failure assessment (qSOFA), early warning score (EWS), and universal vital assessment (UVA) are commonly used as screening and prognostic tools in sepsis. However, consistent findings across different regions and hospital settings remain limited. This study aims to evaluate the performance of these clinical scores and identify predictors of survival in septic adults admitted to the ICU. Methods A prospective longitudinal study was conducted from October 10, 2023, to October 9, 2024, involving adults admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). Clinical scores were calculated on the first, third, and fifth days of admission. Their performance in detecting sepsis, identifying culture-positive cases, and predicting mortality was assessed using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. Kaplan–Meier survival analysis was used to estimate survival probabilities, and a Cox proportional hazards model was applied to identify predictors of survival in sepsis patients. Results Of the ICU-admitted patients, 148 (51.9%) were septic, and 54 (36.5%) of them died in the ICU. The modified early warning score (MEWS) showed good performance in identifying sepsis (area under the curve (AUC) = 0.67; 95% confidence interval (CI) [0.61–0.73]) and culture-positive cases (AUC = 0.65; 95% CI [0.50–0.80]) on the day of admission. MEWS also performed better in predicting mortality on day five (AUC = 0.75; 95% CI [0.57–0.93]). Patients with sepsis had significantly lower survival probabilities than those without sepsis (log-rank test, p < 0.001). Each additional point in the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score reduced the hazard of death by 10% (HR = 0.90; 95% CI [0.84–0.97]; p = 0.005). Conclusion The MEWS score outperformed other clinical scores in identifying sepsis, detecting culture-positive cases, and predicting mortality. Sepsis was associated with higher mortality, which decreased with increasing GCS scores. MEWS may support early…
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Girum Tesfaye Kiya
creator: Zeleke Mekonnen
creator: Elsah Tegene Asefa
creator: Edosa Kejela
creator: Edosa Tadasa
creator: Esayas Kebede Gudina
creator: Tilahun Yemane
creator: Gemeda Abebe
subject: Anesthesiology and Pain Management
subject: Emergency and Critical Care
subject: Evidence Based Medicine
subject: Infectious Diseases
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.20109
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2025 Kiya et al.
abstract: Background Clinical scores such as quick sequential organ failure assessment (qSOFA), early warning score (EWS), and universal vital assessment (UVA) are commonly used as screening and prognostic tools in sepsis. However, consistent findings across different regions and hospital settings remain limited. This study aims to evaluate the performance of these clinical scores and identify predictors of survival in septic adults admitted to the ICU. Methods A prospective longitudinal study was conducted from October 10, 2023, to October 9, 2024, involving adults admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). Clinical scores were calculated on the first, third, and fifth days of admission. Their performance in detecting sepsis, identifying culture-positive cases, and predicting mortality was assessed using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. Kaplan–Meier survival analysis was used to estimate survival probabilities, and a Cox proportional hazards model was applied to identify predictors of survival in sepsis patients. Results Of the ICU-admitted patients, 148 (51.9%) were septic, and 54 (36.5%) of them died in the ICU. The modified early warning score (MEWS) showed good performance in identifying sepsis (area under the curve (AUC) = 0.67; 95% confidence interval (CI) [0.61–0.73]) and culture-positive cases (AUC = 0.65; 95% CI [0.50–0.80]) on the day of admission. MEWS also performed better in predicting mortality on day five (AUC = 0.75; 95% CI [0.57–0.93]). Patients with sepsis had significantly lower survival probabilities than those without sepsis (log-rank test, p < 0.001). Each additional point in the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score reduced the hazard of death by 10% (HR = 0.90; 95% CI [0.84–0.97]; p = 0.005). Conclusion The MEWS score outperformed other clinical scores in identifying sepsis, detecting culture-positive cases, and predicting mortality. Sepsis was associated with higher mortality, which decreased with increasing GCS scores. MEWS may support early…
bibliographic citation: Kiya et al. (2025) Predictive performance of clinical scores and survival outcomes in critically ill patients with sepsis: a prospective longitudinal study at a tertiary medical centre in Ethiopia. PeerJ 13:e20109 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.20109
date submitted: 2025-02-10
date accepted: 2025-08-28
issued: 2025-10-02
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Kiya
  given name: Girum Tesfaye
author list: Agent
  family name: Mekonnen
  given name: Zeleke
author list: Agent
  family name: Asefa
  given name: Elsah Tegene
author list: Agent
  family name: Kejela
  given name: Edosa
author list: Agent
  family name: Tadasa
  given name: Edosa
author list: Agent
  family name: Gudina
  given name: Esayas Kebede
author list: Agent
  family name: Yemane
  given name: Tilahun
author list: Agent
  family name: Abebe
  given name: Gemeda
doi: 10.7717/peerj.20109
volume: 13
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2025-10-02
copyright: ©2025 Kiya et al.
attribution name: Kiya et al.

Barriers to cervical cancer prevention and triage strategies: a study of knowledge, attitudes, and p16/Ki-67 dual-staining utility among high-risk women in Tuoli and Fuyun counties, Xinjiang
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Objective To investigate cervical cancer screening knowledge, attitudes, and practices among high-risk women in remote western China, and to identify socioeconomic and systemic barriers influencing screening participation. Additionally, to evaluate the comparative effectiveness of p16 staining versus p16/Ki-67 dual-staining immunocytochemistry in triaging women with cytological abnormalities or HPV-positive results, aiming to reduce unnecessary colposcopy referrals in resource-limited settings. Methods This cross-sectional study enrolled 260 women (aged 20–65 years) with cytological abnormalities or HPV-positive results from two remote counties in Xinjiang Province (January–December 2023). Participants completed structured questionnaires assessing cervical cancer knowledge, screening attitudes, and healthcare access. Cervical specimens collected via liquid-based cytology underwent parallel testing: conventional cytology, p16 staining, and p16/Ki-67 dual-staining, with all analyses performed by blinded pathologists. Results Among 260 high-risk women in Xinjiang, cervical cancer awareness (67.31%, 95% CI [61.50–72.90]) and screening rates (56.15%, 95% CI [50.23–62.17]) remained suboptimal. Multivariable analyses revealed significant disparities: college-educated women had 7.58-fold higher odds of awareness (95% CI [2.32–24.75]) compared to those with primary education, while public servants showed the strongest employment-based association (aOR = 11.23, 95% CI [2.64–47.83]). Mediation analysis demonstrated that health awareness fully mediated the effect of education (128.8% mediation) and nearly fully mediated the effect of employment (93.8%). Notably, 93.98% (95% CI [90.85–96.27]) expressed willingness to rescreen, and 82.95% (95% CI [78.33–86.84]) supported HPV vaccination. Biomarker analysis showed that p16/Ki-67 dual-staining positivity increased progressively with lesion severity (P < 0.001). Conclusion This study reveals suboptimal cervical cancer knowledge and …
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Hayuehashi Tali
creator: Kunayimu Yeerjiang
creator: Bei bei Zeng
creator: Tang Rui
creator: Buajier Musha
creator: Yan Wang
subject: Gynecology and Obstetrics
subject: Public Health
subject: Women’s Health
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.20100
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2025 Tali et al.
abstract: Objective To investigate cervical cancer screening knowledge, attitudes, and practices among high-risk women in remote western China, and to identify socioeconomic and systemic barriers influencing screening participation. Additionally, to evaluate the comparative effectiveness of p16 staining versus p16/Ki-67 dual-staining immunocytochemistry in triaging women with cytological abnormalities or HPV-positive results, aiming to reduce unnecessary colposcopy referrals in resource-limited settings. Methods This cross-sectional study enrolled 260 women (aged 20–65 years) with cytological abnormalities or HPV-positive results from two remote counties in Xinjiang Province (January–December 2023). Participants completed structured questionnaires assessing cervical cancer knowledge, screening attitudes, and healthcare access. Cervical specimens collected via liquid-based cytology underwent parallel testing: conventional cytology, p16 staining, and p16/Ki-67 dual-staining, with all analyses performed by blinded pathologists. Results Among 260 high-risk women in Xinjiang, cervical cancer awareness (67.31%, 95% CI [61.50–72.90]) and screening rates (56.15%, 95% CI [50.23–62.17]) remained suboptimal. Multivariable analyses revealed significant disparities: college-educated women had 7.58-fold higher odds of awareness (95% CI [2.32–24.75]) compared to those with primary education, while public servants showed the strongest employment-based association (aOR = 11.23, 95% CI [2.64–47.83]). Mediation analysis demonstrated that health awareness fully mediated the effect of education (128.8% mediation) and nearly fully mediated the effect of employment (93.8%). Notably, 93.98% (95% CI [90.85–96.27]) expressed willingness to rescreen, and 82.95% (95% CI [78.33–86.84]) supported HPV vaccination. Biomarker analysis showed that p16/Ki-67 dual-staining positivity increased progressively with lesion severity (P < 0.001). Conclusion This study reveals suboptimal cervical cancer knowledge and …
bibliographic citation: Tali et al. (2025) Barriers to cervical cancer prevention and triage strategies: a study of knowledge, attitudes, and p16/Ki-67 dual-staining utility among high-risk women in Tuoli and Fuyun counties, Xinjiang. PeerJ 13:e20100 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.20100
date submitted: 2024-05-03
date accepted: 2025-08-27
issued: 2025-10-02
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Tali
  given name: Hayuehashi
author list: Agent
  family name: Yeerjiang
  given name: Kunayimu
author list: Agent
  family name: Zeng
  given name: Bei bei
author list: Agent
  family name: Rui
  given name: Tang
author list: Agent
  family name: Musha
  given name: Buajier
author list: Agent
  family name: Wang
  given name: Yan
doi: 10.7717/peerj.20100
volume: 13
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2025-10-02
copyright: ©2025 Tali et al.
attribution name: Tali et al.

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