PeerJ
type: channel
link: https://peerj.com/articles/
description: Articles published in PeerJ
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
publication name: PeerJ
issn: 2167-8359
items: A new genus of dance fly (Diptera: Empidoidea: Hybotidae) from Cretaceous Spanish ambers and introduction to the fossiliferous amber outcrop of La Hoya (Castellón Province, Spain)
items: A redescription of Palaeogekko risgoviensis (Squamata, Gekkota) from the Middle Miocene of Germany, with new data on its morphology
items: Characteristics of muscle contraction of the rectus femoris using tensiomyography by sex in healthy college students: a cross-sectional study
items: Blooming plant species diversity patterns in two adjacent Costa Rican highland ecosystems
items: Primate tooth crown nomenclature revisited
items: Models of ultrasonic radiomics and clinical characters for lymph node metastasis assessment in thyroid cancer: a retrospective study
items: The impact of hypertension on the prognosis of patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: a single-center retrospective study
items: Development and validation of a novel risk model in newly diagnosed de novo bone metastatic prostate cancer (M1b): a retrospective study
items: Modulation of lower limb muscles and trajectory correction in the bipedal stance during visual perturbation
items: Heat treatment-induced autophagy promotes breast cancer cell invasion and metastasis via TGF-β2-mediated epithelial-mesenchymal transitions

A new genus of dance fly (Diptera: Empidoidea: Hybotidae) from Cretaceous Spanish ambers and introduction to the fossiliferous amber outcrop of La Hoya (Castellón Province, Spain)
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Hybotidae fly species, also known as dance flies, in Cretaceous ambers have been described from Lebanon, France, Myanmar, Russia, and Canada. Here we describe Grimaldipeza coelica gen. et sp. n., and recognize another two un-named species, in Spanish amber from the middle Albian El Soplao and lower Cenomanian La Hoya outcrops. The fore tibial gland is present in the new genus, which is characteristic of the family Hybotidae. We compare Grimaldipeza coelica gen. et sp. n. with the holotypes of Trichinites cretaceus Hennig, 1970 and Ecommocydromia difficilis Schlüter, 1978, and clarify some morphological details present in the latter two species. Further taxonomic placement beyond family of the here described new genus was not possible and remains incertae sedis within Hybotidae until extant subfamilies are better defined. We provide new paleoecological data of the hybotids, together with paleogeographical and life paleoenvironmental notes. A table with the known Cretaceous Hybotidae is provided. Furthermore, the La Hoya amber-bearing outcrop is described in detail, filling the information gap for this deposit.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Mónica M. Solórzano-Kraemer
creator: Bradley J. Sinclair
creator: Antonio Arillo
creator: Sergio Álvarez-Parra
subject: Biodiversity
subject: Entomology
subject: Evolutionary Studies
subject: Paleontology
subject: Taxonomy
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.14692
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2023 Solórzano-Kraemer et al.
abstract: Hybotidae fly species, also known as dance flies, in Cretaceous ambers have been described from Lebanon, France, Myanmar, Russia, and Canada. Here we describe Grimaldipeza coelica gen. et sp. n., and recognize another two un-named species, in Spanish amber from the middle Albian El Soplao and lower Cenomanian La Hoya outcrops. The fore tibial gland is present in the new genus, which is characteristic of the family Hybotidae. We compare Grimaldipeza coelica gen. et sp. n. with the holotypes of Trichinites cretaceus Hennig, 1970 and Ecommocydromia difficilis Schlüter, 1978, and clarify some morphological details present in the latter two species. Further taxonomic placement beyond family of the here described new genus was not possible and remains incertae sedis within Hybotidae until extant subfamilies are better defined. We provide new paleoecological data of the hybotids, together with paleogeographical and life paleoenvironmental notes. A table with the known Cretaceous Hybotidae is provided. Furthermore, the La Hoya amber-bearing outcrop is described in detail, filling the information gap for this deposit.
bibliographic citation: Solórzano-Kraemer et al. (2023) A new genus of dance fly (Diptera: Empidoidea: Hybotidae) from Cretaceous Spanish ambers and introduction to the fossiliferous amber outcrop of La Hoya (Castellón Province, Spain). PeerJ 11:e14692 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.14692
date submitted: 2022-09-23
date accepted: 2022-12-14
issued: 2023-01-13
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Solórzano-Kraemer
  given name: Mónica M.
author list: Agent
  family name: J. Sinclair
  given name: Bradley
author list: Agent
  family name: Arillo
  given name: Antonio
author list: Agent
  family name: Álvarez-Parra
  given name: Sergio
doi: 10.7717/peerj.14692
volume: 11
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2023-01-13
copyright: © 2023 Solórzano-Kraemer et al.
attribution name: Solórzano-Kraemer et al.

A redescription of Palaeogekko risgoviensis (Squamata, Gekkota) from the Middle Miocene of Germany, with new data on its morphology
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: After its original description, the Middle Miocene gekkotan Palaeogekko risgoviensis remained an enigma for palaeontologists due to a rather poor knowledge of its osteology and relationships. Coming from a single locality in southern Germany, this gecko lived in central Europe during a period when a single gekkotan lineage (i.e., euleptine sphaerodactylids) is confidently reported to have inhabited the continent. However, it is unclear whether P. risgoviensis may represent a member of this same lineage or a second clade of Gekkota. In order to shed light on this issue, the type material of P. risgoviensis is here redescribed, refigured and extensively compared with extinct and extant geckos from Europe. A phylogenetic analysis is also conducted in order to investigate its relationships. The new observations confirm the validity of the German species as a distinct taxon, and exclude the previously-suggested chimeric status of the type material of this gecko (with the exception of a single dentary included in the type series, which clearly belong to a different lizard). Phylogenetic relationships of Palaeogekko are still unclear, though, with different positions within the gekkotan tree recovered for the taxon. Nevertheless, it is confidently supported as a non-eublepharid gekkonoid, in agreement with hypothesys presented by other scholars.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Andrea Villa
subject: Evolutionary Studies
subject: Paleontology
subject: Taxonomy
subject: Zoology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.14717
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2023 Villa
abstract: After its original description, the Middle Miocene gekkotan Palaeogekko risgoviensis remained an enigma for palaeontologists due to a rather poor knowledge of its osteology and relationships. Coming from a single locality in southern Germany, this gecko lived in central Europe during a period when a single gekkotan lineage (i.e., euleptine sphaerodactylids) is confidently reported to have inhabited the continent. However, it is unclear whether P. risgoviensis may represent a member of this same lineage or a second clade of Gekkota. In order to shed light on this issue, the type material of P. risgoviensis is here redescribed, refigured and extensively compared with extinct and extant geckos from Europe. A phylogenetic analysis is also conducted in order to investigate its relationships. The new observations confirm the validity of the German species as a distinct taxon, and exclude the previously-suggested chimeric status of the type material of this gecko (with the exception of a single dentary included in the type series, which clearly belong to a different lizard). Phylogenetic relationships of Palaeogekko are still unclear, though, with different positions within the gekkotan tree recovered for the taxon. Nevertheless, it is confidently supported as a non-eublepharid gekkonoid, in agreement with hypothesys presented by other scholars.
bibliographic citation: Villa (2023) A redescription of Palaeogekko risgoviensis (Squamata, Gekkota) from the Middle Miocene of Germany, with new data on its morphology. PeerJ 11:e14717 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.14717
date submitted: 2022-10-26
date accepted: 2022-12-19
issued: 2023-01-13
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Villa
  given name: Andrea
doi: 10.7717/peerj.14717
volume: 11
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2023-01-13
copyright: © 2023 Villa
attribution name: Villa

Characteristics of muscle contraction of the rectus femoris using tensiomyography by sex in healthy college students: a cross-sectional study
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Background Tensiomyography (TMG) is a non-invasive instrument for measuring mechanical muscle contraction characteristics and measuring the maximum displacement of the muscle belly in the radial direction with respect to the muscle and the time needed to achieve this from electrical stimulation. There have been only been a reports of TMG in healthy adults. A systematic review of TMG reported a low proportion of female participants, with a small sample size. Therefore, it is unclear whether there is a difference in TMG parameters according to sex and between dominant and non-dominant feet. Furthermore, the relationship between TMG parameters and evaluations commonly used in clinical practice has not been clarified. This study aimed to clarify the characteristics of muscle contraction of the rectus femoris using TMG according to sex among healthy college students and its relationship with muscle function evaluation, such as lower limb muscle mass and muscle strength. Methods This cross-sectional study included 91 healthy university students (18–24 years). Five tools were used: TMG, lower-limb muscle mass, rectus femoris thickness, isometric knee joint extension torque, and thigh circumference. Each parameter was compared by the generalized linear mixed model (GLMM) and Bonferroni’s multiple comparison test, with sex as the without-subject factor and dominant/non-dominant foot as the within-subject factor. The correlation between the TMG parameters and other parameters was examined using Pearson’s correlation coefficient for both males and females. Results The results of the GLMM, in terms of the TMG parameters, an interaction was observed for maximum displacement (Dm); in the results of the multiple comparison test, Dm for the non-dominant leg was significantly lower in females than in males. A main effect and interaction were not observed for delay time (Td) and contraction time (Tc) by sex, dominant foot, or non-dominant foot. There was a main effect of sex on muscl…
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Yasuaki Kusumoto
creator: Hayato Goto
creator: Kohei Chiba
creator: Sakiko Oonishi
creator: Junko Tsuchiya
subject: Kinesiology
subject: Orthopedics
subject: Rehabilitation
subject: Sports Medicine
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.14732
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2023 Kusumoto et al.
abstract: Background Tensiomyography (TMG) is a non-invasive instrument for measuring mechanical muscle contraction characteristics and measuring the maximum displacement of the muscle belly in the radial direction with respect to the muscle and the time needed to achieve this from electrical stimulation. There have been only been a reports of TMG in healthy adults. A systematic review of TMG reported a low proportion of female participants, with a small sample size. Therefore, it is unclear whether there is a difference in TMG parameters according to sex and between dominant and non-dominant feet. Furthermore, the relationship between TMG parameters and evaluations commonly used in clinical practice has not been clarified. This study aimed to clarify the characteristics of muscle contraction of the rectus femoris using TMG according to sex among healthy college students and its relationship with muscle function evaluation, such as lower limb muscle mass and muscle strength. Methods This cross-sectional study included 91 healthy university students (18–24 years). Five tools were used: TMG, lower-limb muscle mass, rectus femoris thickness, isometric knee joint extension torque, and thigh circumference. Each parameter was compared by the generalized linear mixed model (GLMM) and Bonferroni’s multiple comparison test, with sex as the without-subject factor and dominant/non-dominant foot as the within-subject factor. The correlation between the TMG parameters and other parameters was examined using Pearson’s correlation coefficient for both males and females. Results The results of the GLMM, in terms of the TMG parameters, an interaction was observed for maximum displacement (Dm); in the results of the multiple comparison test, Dm for the non-dominant leg was significantly lower in females than in males. A main effect and interaction were not observed for delay time (Td) and contraction time (Tc) by sex, dominant foot, or non-dominant foot. There was a main effect of sex on muscl…
bibliographic citation: Kusumoto et al. (2023) Characteristics of muscle contraction of the rectus femoris using tensiomyography by sex in healthy college students: a cross-sectional study. PeerJ 11:e14732 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.14732
date submitted: 2022-05-16
date accepted: 2022-12-20
issued: 2023-01-13
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Kusumoto
  given name: Yasuaki
author list: Agent
  family name: Goto
  given name: Hayato
author list: Agent
  family name: Chiba
  given name: Kohei
author list: Agent
  family name: Oonishi
  given name: Sakiko
author list: Agent
  family name: Tsuchiya
  given name: Junko
doi: 10.7717/peerj.14732
volume: 11
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2023-01-13
copyright: © 2023 Kusumoto et al.
attribution name: Kusumoto et al.

Blooming plant species diversity patterns in two adjacent Costa Rican highland ecosystems
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: The Costa Rican Paramo is a unique ecosystem with high levels of endemism that is geographically isolated from the Andean Paramos. Paramo ecosystems occur above Montane Forests, below the permanent snow level, and their vegetation differs notably from that of adjacent Montane Forests. We compared the composition and beta diversity of blooming plant species using phenological data from functional plant groups (i.e., insect-visited, bird-visited and insect + bird-visited plants) between a Paramo and a Montane Forest site in Costa Rica and analyzed seasonal changes in blooming plant diversity between the rainy and dry seasons. Species richness was higher in the Montane Forest for all plant categories, except for insect-visited plants, which was higher in the Paramo. Beta diversity and blooming plant composition differed between both ecosystems and seasons. Differences in species richness and beta diversity between Paramo and the adjacent Montane Forest are likely the result of dispersal events that occurred during the last glacial period and subsequent isolation, as climate turned to tropical conditions after the Pleistocene, and to stressful abiotic conditions in the Paramo ecosystem that limit species establishment. Differences in blooming plant composition between both ecosystems and seasons are likely attributed to differential effects of climatic cues triggering the flowering events in each ecosystem, but phylogenetic conservatism cannot be discarded. Analyses of species composition and richness based on flowering phenology data are useful to evaluate potential floral resources for floral visitors (insects and birds) and how these resources change spatially and temporarily in endangered ecosystems such as the Paramo.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: E. Jacob Cristóbal-Pérez
creator: Gilbert Barrantes
creator: Alfredo Cascante-Marín
creator: Ruth Madrigal-Brenes
creator: Paul Hanson
creator: Eric J. Fuchs
subject: Biodiversity
subject: Ecology
subject: Plant Science
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.14445
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2023 Cristóbal-Pérez et al.
abstract: The Costa Rican Paramo is a unique ecosystem with high levels of endemism that is geographically isolated from the Andean Paramos. Paramo ecosystems occur above Montane Forests, below the permanent snow level, and their vegetation differs notably from that of adjacent Montane Forests. We compared the composition and beta diversity of blooming plant species using phenological data from functional plant groups (i.e., insect-visited, bird-visited and insect + bird-visited plants) between a Paramo and a Montane Forest site in Costa Rica and analyzed seasonal changes in blooming plant diversity between the rainy and dry seasons. Species richness was higher in the Montane Forest for all plant categories, except for insect-visited plants, which was higher in the Paramo. Beta diversity and blooming plant composition differed between both ecosystems and seasons. Differences in species richness and beta diversity between Paramo and the adjacent Montane Forest are likely the result of dispersal events that occurred during the last glacial period and subsequent isolation, as climate turned to tropical conditions after the Pleistocene, and to stressful abiotic conditions in the Paramo ecosystem that limit species establishment. Differences in blooming plant composition between both ecosystems and seasons are likely attributed to differential effects of climatic cues triggering the flowering events in each ecosystem, but phylogenetic conservatism cannot be discarded. Analyses of species composition and richness based on flowering phenology data are useful to evaluate potential floral resources for floral visitors (insects and birds) and how these resources change spatially and temporarily in endangered ecosystems such as the Paramo.
bibliographic citation: Cristóbal-Pérez et al. (2023) Blooming plant species diversity patterns in two adjacent Costa Rican highland ecosystems. PeerJ 11:e14445 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.14445
date submitted: 2022-09-03
date accepted: 2022-11-01
issued: 2023-01-12
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Cristóbal-Pérez
  given name: E. Jacob
author list: Agent
  family name: Barrantes
  given name: Gilbert
author list: Agent
  family name: Cascante-Marín
  given name: Alfredo
author list: Agent
  family name: Madrigal-Brenes
  given name: Ruth
author list: Agent
  family name: Hanson
  given name: Paul
author list: Agent
  family name: Fuchs
  given name: Eric J.
doi: 10.7717/peerj.14445
volume: 11
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2023-01-12
copyright: ©2023 Cristóbal-Pérez et al.
attribution name: Cristóbal-Pérez et al.

Primate tooth crown nomenclature revisited
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Cusp patterning on living and extinct primate molar teeth plays a crucial role in species diagnoses, phylogenetic inference, and the reconstruction of the evolutionary history of the primate clade. These studies rely on a system of nomenclature that can accurately identify and distinguish between the various structures of the crown surface. However, studies at the enamel-dentine junction (EDJ) of some primate taxa have demonstrated a greater degree of cusp variation and expression at the crown surface than current systems of nomenclature allow. In this study, we review the current nomenclature and its applicability across all the major primate clades based on investigations of mandibular crown morphology at the enamel-dentine junction revealed through microtomography. From these observations, we reveal numerous new patterns of lower molar accessory cusp expression in primates. We highlight numerous discrepancies between the expected patterns of variation inferred from the current academic literature, and the new patterns of expected variation seen in this study. Based on the current issues associated with the crown nomenclature, and an incomplete understanding of the precise developmental processes associated with each individual crown feature, we introduce these structures within a conservative, non-homologous naming scheme that focuses on simple location-based categorisations. Until there is a better insight into the developmental and phylogenetic origin of these crown features, these categorisations are the most practical way of addressing these structures. Until then, we also suggest the cautious use of accessory cusps for studies of taxonomy and phylogeny.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Simon A. Chapple
creator: Matthew M. Skinner
subject: Anthropology
subject: Evolutionary Studies
subject: Paleontology
subject: Taxonomy
subject: Zoology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.14523
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2023 Chapple and Skinner
abstract: Cusp patterning on living and extinct primate molar teeth plays a crucial role in species diagnoses, phylogenetic inference, and the reconstruction of the evolutionary history of the primate clade. These studies rely on a system of nomenclature that can accurately identify and distinguish between the various structures of the crown surface. However, studies at the enamel-dentine junction (EDJ) of some primate taxa have demonstrated a greater degree of cusp variation and expression at the crown surface than current systems of nomenclature allow. In this study, we review the current nomenclature and its applicability across all the major primate clades based on investigations of mandibular crown morphology at the enamel-dentine junction revealed through microtomography. From these observations, we reveal numerous new patterns of lower molar accessory cusp expression in primates. We highlight numerous discrepancies between the expected patterns of variation inferred from the current academic literature, and the new patterns of expected variation seen in this study. Based on the current issues associated with the crown nomenclature, and an incomplete understanding of the precise developmental processes associated with each individual crown feature, we introduce these structures within a conservative, non-homologous naming scheme that focuses on simple location-based categorisations. Until there is a better insight into the developmental and phylogenetic origin of these crown features, these categorisations are the most practical way of addressing these structures. Until then, we also suggest the cautious use of accessory cusps for studies of taxonomy and phylogeny.
bibliographic citation: Chapple et al. (2023) Primate tooth crown nomenclature revisited. PeerJ 11:e14523 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.14523
date submitted: 2022-07-11
date accepted: 2022-11-15
issued: 2023-01-12
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Chapple
  given name: Simon A.
author list: Agent
  family name: Skinner
  given name: Matthew M.
doi: 10.7717/peerj.14523
volume: 11
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2023-01-12
copyright: ©2023 Chapple and Skinner
attribution name: Chapple and Skinner

Models of ultrasonic radiomics and clinical characters for lymph node metastasis assessment in thyroid cancer: a retrospective study
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Background Preoperative prediction of cervical lymph node metastasis in papillary thyroid carcinoma provided a basis for tumor staging and treatment decision. This study aimed to investigate the utility of machine learning and develop different models to preoperatively predict cervical lymph node metastasis based on ultrasonic radiomic features and clinical characteristics in papillary thyroid carcinoma nodules. Methods Data from 400 papillary thyroid carcinoma nodules were included and divided into training and validation group. With the help of machine learning, clinical characteristics and ultrasonic radiomic features were extracted and selected using randomforest and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression before classified by five classifiers. Finally, 10 models were built and their area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value were measured. Results Among the 10 models, RF-RF model revealed the highest area under curve (0.812) and accuracy (0.7542) in validation group. The top 10 variables of it included age, seven textural features, one shape feature and one first-order feature, in which eight were high-dimensional features. Conclusions RF-RF model showed the best predictive performance for cervical lymph node metastasis. And the importance features selected by it highlighted the unique role of higher-dimensional statistical methods for radiomics analysis.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Hui Zhu
creator: Bing Yu
creator: Yanyan Li
creator: Yuhua Zhang
creator: Juebin Jin
creator: Yao Ai
creator: Xiance Jin
creator: Yan Yang
subject: Computational Biology
subject: Oncology
subject: Radiology and Medical Imaging
subject: Computational Science
subject: Data Mining and Machine Learning
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.14546
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2023 Zhu et al.
abstract: Background Preoperative prediction of cervical lymph node metastasis in papillary thyroid carcinoma provided a basis for tumor staging and treatment decision. This study aimed to investigate the utility of machine learning and develop different models to preoperatively predict cervical lymph node metastasis based on ultrasonic radiomic features and clinical characteristics in papillary thyroid carcinoma nodules. Methods Data from 400 papillary thyroid carcinoma nodules were included and divided into training and validation group. With the help of machine learning, clinical characteristics and ultrasonic radiomic features were extracted and selected using randomforest and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression before classified by five classifiers. Finally, 10 models were built and their area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value were measured. Results Among the 10 models, RF-RF model revealed the highest area under curve (0.812) and accuracy (0.7542) in validation group. The top 10 variables of it included age, seven textural features, one shape feature and one first-order feature, in which eight were high-dimensional features. Conclusions RF-RF model showed the best predictive performance for cervical lymph node metastasis. And the importance features selected by it highlighted the unique role of higher-dimensional statistical methods for radiomics analysis.
bibliographic citation: Zhu et al. (2023) Models of ultrasonic radiomics and clinical characters for lymph node metastasis assessment in thyroid cancer: a retrospective study. PeerJ 11:e14546 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.14546
date submitted: 2022-09-22
date accepted: 2022-11-18
issued: 2023-01-12
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Zhu
  given name: Hui
author list: Agent
  family name: Yu
  given name: Bing
author list: Agent
  family name: Li
  given name: Yanyan
author list: Agent
  family name: Zhang
  given name: Yuhua
author list: Agent
  family name: Jin
  given name: Juebin
author list: Agent
  family name: Ai
  given name: Yao
author list: Agent
  family name: Jin
  given name: Xiance
author list: Agent
  family name: Yang
  given name: Yan
doi: 10.7717/peerj.14546
volume: 11
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2023-01-12
copyright: ©2023 Zhu et al.
attribution name: Zhu et al.

The impact of hypertension on the prognosis of patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: a single-center retrospective study
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Background Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and hypertension coexist fairly frequently in clinical practice. However, the evidence about the impact of hypertension on the prognosis of HCM is limited. The present study aims to investigate the impact of hypertension on the prognosis of HCM patients. Methods A total of 468 HCM patients were enrolled, and patients were divided into hypertension group (31.8%) and non-hypertension group (68.2%). The primary study endpoint was HCM-related death, consisting of heart failure (HF)-related death, stroke-related death and sudden cardiac death (SCD). Associations between hypertension and HCM-related death were analyzed by Cox regression models with the use of propensity score matching (PSM) as primary analysis. Results There were 55 HCM-related death during a median follow-up time of 4.6 years, and the mortality rate was 2.53 per 100 person years. Kaplan-Meier analysis based on the crude cohort or PSM cohort revealed no significant difference regarding the HCM-related death between the two groups. In the crude cohort, both univariable and multivariable Cox regression analysis indicated that hypertension was not significantly associated with HCM-related death with hazard ratios (HR) at 0.74 (95% CI [0.40–1.36], p value: 0.329) and 0.77 (95% CI [0.35–1.71], p value: 0.521), respectively. Similarly, no strong evidence for an association was observed between hypertension and HCM-related death in the PSM cohort with unadjusted HR at 0.90 (95% CI [0.34–2.41]; p value: 0.838) and adjusted HR at 0.77 (95% CI [0.35–1.71]; p value: 0.521), respectively. Other propensity score methods, including overlap weighting and inverse probability treatment weighting demonstrated similar results. Sensitivity analysis also indicated that the concomitant hypertension did not significantly increase the risk of HF-related death, stroke-related death or SCD in HCM patients. Conclusion HCM-related death did not significantly differ between hypertension an…
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Ziqiong Wang
creator: Yi Zheng
creator: Haiyan Ruan
creator: Liying Li
creator: Muxin Zhang
creator: Linjia Duan
creator: Sen He
subject: Cardiology
subject: Epidemiology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.14614
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2022 Wang et al.
abstract: Background Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and hypertension coexist fairly frequently in clinical practice. However, the evidence about the impact of hypertension on the prognosis of HCM is limited. The present study aims to investigate the impact of hypertension on the prognosis of HCM patients. Methods A total of 468 HCM patients were enrolled, and patients were divided into hypertension group (31.8%) and non-hypertension group (68.2%). The primary study endpoint was HCM-related death, consisting of heart failure (HF)-related death, stroke-related death and sudden cardiac death (SCD). Associations between hypertension and HCM-related death were analyzed by Cox regression models with the use of propensity score matching (PSM) as primary analysis. Results There were 55 HCM-related death during a median follow-up time of 4.6 years, and the mortality rate was 2.53 per 100 person years. Kaplan-Meier analysis based on the crude cohort or PSM cohort revealed no significant difference regarding the HCM-related death between the two groups. In the crude cohort, both univariable and multivariable Cox regression analysis indicated that hypertension was not significantly associated with HCM-related death with hazard ratios (HR) at 0.74 (95% CI [0.40–1.36], p value: 0.329) and 0.77 (95% CI [0.35–1.71], p value: 0.521), respectively. Similarly, no strong evidence for an association was observed between hypertension and HCM-related death in the PSM cohort with unadjusted HR at 0.90 (95% CI [0.34–2.41]; p value: 0.838) and adjusted HR at 0.77 (95% CI [0.35–1.71]; p value: 0.521), respectively. Other propensity score methods, including overlap weighting and inverse probability treatment weighting demonstrated similar results. Sensitivity analysis also indicated that the concomitant hypertension did not significantly increase the risk of HF-related death, stroke-related death or SCD in HCM patients. Conclusion HCM-related death did not significantly differ between hypertension an…
bibliographic citation: Wang et al. (2023) The impact of hypertension on the prognosis of patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: a single-center retrospective study. PeerJ 11:e14614 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.14614
date submitted: 2022-09-13
date accepted: 2022-12-01
issued: 2023-01-12
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Wang
  given name: Ziqiong
author list: Agent
  family name: Zheng
  given name: Yi
author list: Agent
  family name: Ruan
  given name: Haiyan
author list: Agent
  family name: Li
  given name: Liying
author list: Agent
  family name: Zhang
  given name: Muxin
author list: Agent
  family name: Duan
  given name: Linjia
author list: Agent
  family name: He
  given name: Sen
doi: 10.7717/peerj.14614
volume: 11
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2023-01-12
copyright: ©2022 Wang et al.
attribution name: Wang et al.

Development and validation of a novel risk model in newly diagnosed de novo bone metastatic prostate cancer (M1b): a retrospective study
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Background Previous studies suggested that bone metastasis has a significant effect on the time of progression to metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) for newly diagnosed de novo bone metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (mHSPC). Nevertheless, the effect of different bone metastasis sites was not fully evaluated. This study aimed to develop and validate a novel bone metastatic risk model. Methods We enrolled 122 patients who were newly diagnosed with de novo bone metastatic prostate cancer following primary androgen deprivation based therapy at our institution from January 2008 to June 2021. The metastatic bone sites were classified into six sites: skull; cervical, thoracic, and lumbar vertebrae; chest (ribs and sternum); pelvis; upper limbs; and lower limbs. We calculated the bone metastatic score (BMS) for each site: 0 points were assigned for non-metastasis and 1 point was assigned for metastasis. The X-tile was adopted to acquire optimal cutoff points of BMS. We defined high-risk group (HRG) as BMS ≥ 3 and low-risk group (LRG) as BMS < 3. The new bone risk stratification was validated by calculating the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). Subsequently, the relevant clinical prognostic variables were added to construct a predictive nomogram for predicting CRPC. Results The median patient age was 73 years. Most patients had Gleason score ≤8 (93 cases, 76.2%). The median follow-up duration was 11.5 months (range: 2–92 months). Eighty-six patients progressed to CRPC during the follow-up. The most common bone metastatic site was the pelvis (90.2%). The median BMS was 4. Seventy-six patients had HRG, while forty-six had LRG. The 1-, 2-, and 3-year AUCs for H/LRG were 0.620, 0.754, and 0.793, respectively. The HRG was associated with earlier time to CRPC. A nomogram based on four parameters (Gleason score, H/LRG, prostate-specific antigen [PSA] nadir, and time to PSA nadir) was developed to predict CRPC. Internal vali…
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Yang Zhang
creator: Junqi Wang
creator: Li Ding
creator: Yuxin Zheng
creator: Chuang Wu
creator: Kun Wang
creator: Wentao Xia
creator: Peng Ge
subject: Epidemiology
subject: Oncology
subject: Orthopedics
subject: Urology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.14615
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2023 Zhang et al.
abstract: Background Previous studies suggested that bone metastasis has a significant effect on the time of progression to metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) for newly diagnosed de novo bone metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (mHSPC). Nevertheless, the effect of different bone metastasis sites was not fully evaluated. This study aimed to develop and validate a novel bone metastatic risk model. Methods We enrolled 122 patients who were newly diagnosed with de novo bone metastatic prostate cancer following primary androgen deprivation based therapy at our institution from January 2008 to June 2021. The metastatic bone sites were classified into six sites: skull; cervical, thoracic, and lumbar vertebrae; chest (ribs and sternum); pelvis; upper limbs; and lower limbs. We calculated the bone metastatic score (BMS) for each site: 0 points were assigned for non-metastasis and 1 point was assigned for metastasis. The X-tile was adopted to acquire optimal cutoff points of BMS. We defined high-risk group (HRG) as BMS ≥ 3 and low-risk group (LRG) as BMS < 3. The new bone risk stratification was validated by calculating the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). Subsequently, the relevant clinical prognostic variables were added to construct a predictive nomogram for predicting CRPC. Results The median patient age was 73 years. Most patients had Gleason score ≤8 (93 cases, 76.2%). The median follow-up duration was 11.5 months (range: 2–92 months). Eighty-six patients progressed to CRPC during the follow-up. The most common bone metastatic site was the pelvis (90.2%). The median BMS was 4. Seventy-six patients had HRG, while forty-six had LRG. The 1-, 2-, and 3-year AUCs for H/LRG were 0.620, 0.754, and 0.793, respectively. The HRG was associated with earlier time to CRPC. A nomogram based on four parameters (Gleason score, H/LRG, prostate-specific antigen [PSA] nadir, and time to PSA nadir) was developed to predict CRPC. Internal vali…
bibliographic citation: Zhang et al. (2023) Development and validation of a novel risk model in newly diagnosed de novo bone metastatic prostate cancer (M1b): a retrospective study. PeerJ 11:e14615 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.14615
date submitted: 2022-08-25
date accepted: 2022-12-01
issued: 2023-01-12
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Zhang
  given name: Yang
author list: Agent
  family name: Wang
  given name: Junqi
author list: Agent
  family name: Ding
  given name: Li
author list: Agent
  family name: Zheng
  given name: Yuxin
author list: Agent
  family name: Wu
  given name: Chuang
author list: Agent
  family name: Wang
  given name: Kun
author list: Agent
  family name: Xia
  given name: Wentao
author list: Agent
  family name: Ge
  given name: Peng
doi: 10.7717/peerj.14615
volume: 11
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2023-01-12
copyright: ©2023 Zhang et al.
attribution name: Zhang et al.

Modulation of lower limb muscles and trajectory correction in the bipedal stance during visual perturbation
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: The ability to actively track posture using visual targets as indicators is important for improving impairments in whole-body coordination, and accurate visual feedback on tasks is considered effective in promoting sensory-motor integration and behavioral success. In the present study, we examined inter- and intramuscular modulation between the two lower limbs in response to visual perturbation. Sixteen healthy young subjects (age: 21.3 ± 0.7 years) were asked to move their weight back and forth while tracking a visual target displayed on a monitor in front of them for 30 s. Three types of target movements were examined: a sinusoidal wave (i.e., a predictable pattern), more complex patterns (random), and no movement (stationary). Electromyography (EMG) was used to assess intra- and intermuscular coherence modulation of the plantar flexor muscles (right and left soleus and right and left medial gastrocnemius). The ability to adjust posture to follow the target signal was assessed using a stabilometer. Inter- and intramuscular coherence increased during the visual perturbation task compared to the stationary task. In addition, left-right differences in lower limb modulation were observed during the visual perturbation task. Furthermore, interlimb coherence was related to the motor accuracy of tracking. The muscles of both lower limbs cooperated in response to visual perturbation, suggesting that these muscles control visually induced anteroposterior postural sway. Since such visual perturbations promote coordination between both lower extremities, this relationship may indicate the potential for rehabilitation training to help individuals acquire and improve the motor functions necessary to efficiently and stably perform activities of daily living.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Tadayoshi Minamisawa
creator: Noboru Chiba
creator: Eizaburo Suzuki
subject: Neuroscience
subject: Kinesiology
subject: Rehabilitation
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.14631
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2022 Minamisawa et al.
abstract: The ability to actively track posture using visual targets as indicators is important for improving impairments in whole-body coordination, and accurate visual feedback on tasks is considered effective in promoting sensory-motor integration and behavioral success. In the present study, we examined inter- and intramuscular modulation between the two lower limbs in response to visual perturbation. Sixteen healthy young subjects (age: 21.3 ± 0.7 years) were asked to move their weight back and forth while tracking a visual target displayed on a monitor in front of them for 30 s. Three types of target movements were examined: a sinusoidal wave (i.e., a predictable pattern), more complex patterns (random), and no movement (stationary). Electromyography (EMG) was used to assess intra- and intermuscular coherence modulation of the plantar flexor muscles (right and left soleus and right and left medial gastrocnemius). The ability to adjust posture to follow the target signal was assessed using a stabilometer. Inter- and intramuscular coherence increased during the visual perturbation task compared to the stationary task. In addition, left-right differences in lower limb modulation were observed during the visual perturbation task. Furthermore, interlimb coherence was related to the motor accuracy of tracking. The muscles of both lower limbs cooperated in response to visual perturbation, suggesting that these muscles control visually induced anteroposterior postural sway. Since such visual perturbations promote coordination between both lower extremities, this relationship may indicate the potential for rehabilitation training to help individuals acquire and improve the motor functions necessary to efficiently and stably perform activities of daily living.
bibliographic citation: Minamisawa et al. (2023) Modulation of lower limb muscles and trajectory correction in the bipedal stance during visual perturbation. PeerJ 11:e14631 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.14631
date submitted: 2022-09-13
date accepted: 2022-12-02
issued: 2023-01-12
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Minamisawa
  given name: Tadayoshi
author list: Agent
  family name: Chiba
  given name: Noboru
author list: Agent
  family name: Suzuki
  given name: Eizaburo
doi: 10.7717/peerj.14631
volume: 11
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2023-01-12
copyright: ©2022 Minamisawa et al.
attribution name: Minamisawa et al.

Heat treatment-induced autophagy promotes breast cancer cell invasion and metastasis via TGF-β2-mediated epithelial-mesenchymal transitions
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Background Insufficient thermal ablation can accelerate malignant behaviors and metastases in some solid tumors, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and autophagy are involved in tumor metastasis. It has been found that TGF-β2 which belongs to the family of transforming growth factors often associated with cancer cell invasiveness and EMT. However, whether the interactions between autophagy and TGF-β2 induce EMT in breast cancer (BC) cells following insufficient microwave ablation (MWA) remains unclear. Methods BC cells were treated with sublethal heat treatment to simulate insufficient MWA, and the effects of heat treatment on the BC cell phenotypes were explored. CCK-8, colony formation, flow cytometry, Transwell, and wound healing assays were performed to evaluate the influence of sublethal heat treatment on the proliferation, apoptosis, invasion, and migration of BC cells. Western blotting, real-time quantitative PCR, immunofluorescence, and transmission electron microscopy were carried out to determine the changes in markers associated with autophagy and EMT following sublethal heat treatment. Results Results showed that heat treatment promoted the proliferation of surviving BC cells, which was accompanied by autophagy induction. Heat treatment-induced autophagy up-regulated TGF-β2/Smad2 signaling and promoted EMT phenotype, thereby enhancing BC cells’ migration and invasion abilities. An increase or decrease of TGF-β2 expression resulted in the potentiation and suppression of autophagy, as well as the enhancement and abatement of EMT. Autophagy inhibitors facilitated apoptosis and repressed proliferation of BC cells in vitro, and thwarted BC cell tumor growth and pulmonary metastasis in vivo. Conclusion Heat treatment-induced autophagy promoted invasion and metastasis via TGF-β2/Smad2-mediated EMTs. Suppressing autophagy may be a suitable strategy for overcoming the progression and metastasis of residual BC cells following insufficient MWA.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Zhennan Li
creator: Cheng Lu
creator: Fengliang Wang
creator: Haowei Guo
creator: Zhipeng Wang
creator: Hong Yin
creator: Jian Li
subject: Biochemistry
subject: Cell Biology
subject: Molecular Biology
subject: Translational Medicine
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.14640
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2022 Li et al.
abstract: Background Insufficient thermal ablation can accelerate malignant behaviors and metastases in some solid tumors, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and autophagy are involved in tumor metastasis. It has been found that TGF-β2 which belongs to the family of transforming growth factors often associated with cancer cell invasiveness and EMT. However, whether the interactions between autophagy and TGF-β2 induce EMT in breast cancer (BC) cells following insufficient microwave ablation (MWA) remains unclear. Methods BC cells were treated with sublethal heat treatment to simulate insufficient MWA, and the effects of heat treatment on the BC cell phenotypes were explored. CCK-8, colony formation, flow cytometry, Transwell, and wound healing assays were performed to evaluate the influence of sublethal heat treatment on the proliferation, apoptosis, invasion, and migration of BC cells. Western blotting, real-time quantitative PCR, immunofluorescence, and transmission electron microscopy were carried out to determine the changes in markers associated with autophagy and EMT following sublethal heat treatment. Results Results showed that heat treatment promoted the proliferation of surviving BC cells, which was accompanied by autophagy induction. Heat treatment-induced autophagy up-regulated TGF-β2/Smad2 signaling and promoted EMT phenotype, thereby enhancing BC cells’ migration and invasion abilities. An increase or decrease of TGF-β2 expression resulted in the potentiation and suppression of autophagy, as well as the enhancement and abatement of EMT. Autophagy inhibitors facilitated apoptosis and repressed proliferation of BC cells in vitro, and thwarted BC cell tumor growth and pulmonary metastasis in vivo. Conclusion Heat treatment-induced autophagy promoted invasion and metastasis via TGF-β2/Smad2-mediated EMTs. Suppressing autophagy may be a suitable strategy for overcoming the progression and metastasis of residual BC cells following insufficient MWA.
bibliographic citation: Li et al. (2023) Heat treatment-induced autophagy promotes breast cancer cell invasion and metastasis via TGF-β2-mediated epithelial-mesenchymal transitions. PeerJ 11:e14640 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.14640
date submitted: 2022-07-12
date accepted: 2022-12-05
issued: 2023-01-12
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Li
  given name: Zhennan
author list: Agent
  family name: Lu
  given name: Cheng
author list: Agent
  family name: Wang
  given name: Fengliang
author list: Agent
  family name: Guo
  given name: Haowei
author list: Agent
  family name: Wang
  given name: Zhipeng
author list: Agent
  family name: Yin
  given name: Hong
author list: Agent
  family name: Li
  given name: Jian
doi: 10.7717/peerj.14640
volume: 11
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2023-01-12
copyright: ©2022 Li et al.
attribution name: Li et al.

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