PeerJ
type: channel
link: https://peerj.com/articles/
description: Articles published in PeerJ
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
publication name: PeerJ
issn: 2167-8359
items: Traumatic surfing injuries in New Zealand: a descriptive epidemiology study
items: Regulation of signal transduction pathways in colorectal cancer: implications for therapeutic resistance
items: Interplay between epigallocatechin-3-gallate and ionic strength during amyloid aggregation
items: Effects of grazing intensity on forage nutritive value of dominant grass species in Borana rangelands of Southern Ethiopia
items: A new vertebrate fauna from the Lower Cretaceous Holly Creek Formation of the Trinity Group, southwest Arkansas, USA
items: Development of a novel embryonic germline gene-related prognostic model of lung adenocarcinoma
items: Fecal microbiota transplantation mitigates bone loss by improving gut microbiome composition and gut barrier function in aged rats
items: Genome-wide identification and expression analysis of auxin response factors in peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.)
items: Factors related to job burnout among older nurses in Guizhou province, China
items: Sexual and psychological health of couples with azoospermia in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic

Traumatic surfing injuries in New Zealand: a descriptive epidemiology study
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Background New Zealand (NZ) has nearly 14,000 km of coastline and a surfing population of approximately 315,000 surfers. Given its popularity, surfing has a high frequency of injury claims, however, there remains a lack of data on traumatic surfing-related injuries from large population studies. The primary purpose of this study was to examine traumatic surfing injuries in NZ specific to injury incidence, duration, location, type, mechanism of injury and associated risk factors. Methods A sample of self-identified surfers currently living in NZ participated in an online retrospective cross-sectional survey between December 2015 and July 2016. Demographic and surfing injury data were collected and analysed. Results The survey yielded 1,473 respondents (18.3% female); a total of 502 surfers reported 702 major traumatic injuries with an overall incidence proportion of 0.34 (95% CI [0.32–0.37]). When comparing the number of injured surfers who sustained an injury at various body locations, a significantly higher proportion of competitive surfers, compared to recreational surfers, had an injury at the neck (6.8% vs 4%, χ2 (1,1473) = 5.84, P = 0.019); shoulder (7.4% vs 4.3%, χ2 (1,1473) = 6.34, P = 0.017), upper back (1% vs 2.4%, χ2 (1,1473) = 4.77, P = 0.043), lower back (7% vs 3.1%, χ2 (1,1473) = 11.98, P = 0.001) and knee (7% vs 3.4%, χ2 (1,1473) = 9.67, P = 0.003). A significantly higher proportion of surfers who performed aerial manoeuvres compared to those who did not reported a higher proportion of knee injuries (9.7% vs 3.9%, χ2 (1,1473) = 13.00, P = 0.001). With respect to injury duration, the shoulder represented the largest proportion of chronic injuries (>3 months) (44.4%), and the head and face represented the largest proportion of acute injuries (≤3 months) (88%). Muscle and tendon injuries were reported most frequently (25.6%) and direct contact injuries accounted for 58.1% of all injury mechanisms. Key risk factors for traumatic injury included: competitiv…
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: James Furness
creator: Katherine McArthur
creator: Debbie Remnant
creator: Darcy Jorgensen
creator: Catherine J. Bacon
creator: Robert W. Moran
creator: Wayne Hing
creator: Mike Climstein
subject: Epidemiology
subject: Sports Injury
subject: Sports Medicine
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.12334
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2021 Furness et al.
abstract: Background New Zealand (NZ) has nearly 14,000 km of coastline and a surfing population of approximately 315,000 surfers. Given its popularity, surfing has a high frequency of injury claims, however, there remains a lack of data on traumatic surfing-related injuries from large population studies. The primary purpose of this study was to examine traumatic surfing injuries in NZ specific to injury incidence, duration, location, type, mechanism of injury and associated risk factors. Methods A sample of self-identified surfers currently living in NZ participated in an online retrospective cross-sectional survey between December 2015 and July 2016. Demographic and surfing injury data were collected and analysed. Results The survey yielded 1,473 respondents (18.3% female); a total of 502 surfers reported 702 major traumatic injuries with an overall incidence proportion of 0.34 (95% CI [0.32–0.37]). When comparing the number of injured surfers who sustained an injury at various body locations, a significantly higher proportion of competitive surfers, compared to recreational surfers, had an injury at the neck (6.8% vs 4%, χ2 (1,1473) = 5.84, P = 0.019); shoulder (7.4% vs 4.3%, χ2 (1,1473) = 6.34, P = 0.017), upper back (1% vs 2.4%, χ2 (1,1473) = 4.77, P = 0.043), lower back (7% vs 3.1%, χ2 (1,1473) = 11.98, P = 0.001) and knee (7% vs 3.4%, χ2 (1,1473) = 9.67, P = 0.003). A significantly higher proportion of surfers who performed aerial manoeuvres compared to those who did not reported a higher proportion of knee injuries (9.7% vs 3.9%, χ2 (1,1473) = 13.00, P = 0.001). With respect to injury duration, the shoulder represented the largest proportion of chronic injuries (>3 months) (44.4%), and the head and face represented the largest proportion of acute injuries (≤3 months) (88%). Muscle and tendon injuries were reported most frequently (25.6%) and direct contact injuries accounted for 58.1% of all injury mechanisms. Key risk factors for traumatic injury included: competitiv…
bibliographic citation: Furness et al. (2021) Traumatic surfing injuries in New Zealand: a descriptive epidemiology study. PeerJ 9:e12334 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.12334
date submitted: 2021-07-19
date accepted: 2021-09-27
issued: 2021-10-22
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Furness
  given name: James
author list: Agent
  family name: McArthur
  given name: Katherine
author list: Agent
  family name: Remnant
  given name: Debbie
author list: Agent
  family name: Jorgensen
  given name: Darcy
author list: Agent
  family name: Bacon
  given name: Catherine J.
author list: Agent
  family name: Moran
  given name: Robert W.
author list: Agent
  family name: Hing
  given name: Wayne
author list: Agent
  family name: Climstein
  given name: Mike
doi: 10.7717/peerj.12334
volume: 9
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2021-10-22
copyright: ©2021 Furness et al.
attribution name: Furness et al.

Regulation of signal transduction pathways in colorectal cancer: implications for therapeutic resistance
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Resistance to anti-cancer treatments is a critical and widespread health issue that has brought serious impacts on lives, the economy and public policies. Mounting research has suggested that a selected spectrum of patients with advanced colorectal cancer (CRC) tend to respond poorly to both chemotherapeutic and targeted therapeutic regimens. Drug resistance in tumours can occur in an intrinsic or acquired manner, rendering cancer cells insensitive to the treatment of anti-cancer therapies. Multiple factors have been associated with drug resistance. The most well-established factors are the emergence of cancer stem cell-like properties and overexpression of ABC transporters that mediate drug efflux. Besides, there is emerging evidence that signalling pathways that modulate cell survival and drug metabolism play major roles in the maintenance of multidrug resistance in CRC. This article reviews drug resistance in CRC as a result of alterations in the MAPK, PI3K/PKB, Wnt/β-catenin and Notch pathways.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Yeelon Yeoh
creator: Teck Yew Low
creator: Nadiah Abu
creator: Pey Yee Lee
subject: Biochemistry
subject: Molecular Biology
subject: Drugs and Devices
subject: Gastroenterology and Hepatology
subject: Oncology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.12338
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2021 Yeoh et al.
abstract: Resistance to anti-cancer treatments is a critical and widespread health issue that has brought serious impacts on lives, the economy and public policies. Mounting research has suggested that a selected spectrum of patients with advanced colorectal cancer (CRC) tend to respond poorly to both chemotherapeutic and targeted therapeutic regimens. Drug resistance in tumours can occur in an intrinsic or acquired manner, rendering cancer cells insensitive to the treatment of anti-cancer therapies. Multiple factors have been associated with drug resistance. The most well-established factors are the emergence of cancer stem cell-like properties and overexpression of ABC transporters that mediate drug efflux. Besides, there is emerging evidence that signalling pathways that modulate cell survival and drug metabolism play major roles in the maintenance of multidrug resistance in CRC. This article reviews drug resistance in CRC as a result of alterations in the MAPK, PI3K/PKB, Wnt/β-catenin and Notch pathways.
bibliographic citation: Yeoh et al. (2021) Regulation of signal transduction pathways in colorectal cancer: implications for therapeutic resistance. PeerJ 9:e12338 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.12338
date submitted: 2021-05-27
date accepted: 2021-09-28
issued: 2021-10-22
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Yeoh
  given name: Yeelon
author list: Agent
  family name: Low
  given name: Teck Yew
author list: Agent
  family name: Abu
  given name: Nadiah
author list: Agent
  family name: Lee
  given name: Pey Yee
doi: 10.7717/peerj.12338
volume: 9
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2021-10-22
copyright: ©2021 Yeoh et al.
attribution name: Yeoh et al.

Interplay between epigallocatechin-3-gallate and ionic strength during amyloid aggregation
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: The formation and accumulation of protein amyloid aggregates is linked with multiple amyloidoses, including neurodegenerative Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s disease. The mechanism of such fibril formation is impacted by various environmental conditions, which greatly complicates the search for potential anti-amyloid compounds. One of these factors is solution ionic strength, which varies between different aggregation protocols during in vitro drug screenings. In this work, we examine the interplay between ionic strength and a well-known protein aggregation inhibitor—epigallocatechin-3-gallate. We show that changes in solution ionic strength have a major impact on the compound’s inhibitory effect, reflected in both aggregation times and final fibril structure. We also observe that this effect is unique to different amyloid-forming proteins, such as insulin, alpha-synuclein and amyloid-beta.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Mantas Ziaunys
creator: Kamile Mikalauskaite
creator: Andrius Sakalauskas
creator: Vytautas Smirnovas
subject: Biochemistry
subject: Biophysics
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.12381
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2021 Ziaunys et al.
abstract: The formation and accumulation of protein amyloid aggregates is linked with multiple amyloidoses, including neurodegenerative Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s disease. The mechanism of such fibril formation is impacted by various environmental conditions, which greatly complicates the search for potential anti-amyloid compounds. One of these factors is solution ionic strength, which varies between different aggregation protocols during in vitro drug screenings. In this work, we examine the interplay between ionic strength and a well-known protein aggregation inhibitor—epigallocatechin-3-gallate. We show that changes in solution ionic strength have a major impact on the compound’s inhibitory effect, reflected in both aggregation times and final fibril structure. We also observe that this effect is unique to different amyloid-forming proteins, such as insulin, alpha-synuclein and amyloid-beta.
bibliographic citation: Ziaunys et al. (2021) Interplay between epigallocatechin-3-gallate and ionic strength during amyloid aggregation. PeerJ 9:e12381 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.12381
date submitted: 2021-07-28
date accepted: 2021-10-04
issued: 2021-10-22
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Ziaunys
  given name: Mantas
author list: Agent
  family name: Mikalauskaite
  given name: Kamile
author list: Agent
  family name: Sakalauskas
  given name: Andrius
author list: Agent
  family name: Smirnovas
  given name: Vytautas
doi: 10.7717/peerj.12381
volume: 9
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2021-10-22
copyright: © 2021 Ziaunys et al.
attribution name: Ziaunys et al.

Effects of grazing intensity on forage nutritive value of dominant grass species in Borana rangelands of Southern Ethiopia
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Background Forage nutritive value analysis is an essential indicator of rangeland status regarding degradation and livestock nutrient demand. Thus, it is used to maintain healthy and sustainable rangelands that can provide the livestock with sufficient quantity and quality of forage. This study is conducted with the aim of investigating the effects of grazing intensity combined with seasonal variation on the nutritive values of dominant grass species in the Teltele rangeland. Methods The studied area is classified into no-grazed, moderately grazed, and overgrazed plots based on the estimated potential carrying capacity. Sampling data is collected during both rainy and dry seasons. The collected forage samples are analyzed for concentrations of crude protein (CP), acid detergent organic fiber (ADF), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent lignin (ADL), ash, dry matter digestibility (DMD), potential dry matter intake (DMI), and relative feed/forage value (RFV). Results The results show significant (P < 0.05) effects of both grazing intensity and season to grazing intensity interactions on all forage nutrient content concentrations across all grass species both within and between treatments. The recorded CP concentrations of all grass species are high in the overgrazed site and low at the no-grazed site, while the fiber concentration is high in NG and low in OG. RFV data also varies greatly, with high value recorded in OG in the rainy season and low value found in NG mainly during the dry season. As a result, it is recommended that moderate grazing should be practiced on the study site to maintain the quality and quantity of forage and to manage it in a sustainable manner.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Yeneayehu Fenetahun
creator: Yuan You
creator: Tihunie Fentahun
creator: Xu Xinwen
creator: Wang Yong-dong
subject: Agricultural Science
subject: Biodiversity
subject: Biogeography
subject: Ecology
subject: Plant Science
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.12204
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2021 Fenetahun et al.
abstract: Background Forage nutritive value analysis is an essential indicator of rangeland status regarding degradation and livestock nutrient demand. Thus, it is used to maintain healthy and sustainable rangelands that can provide the livestock with sufficient quantity and quality of forage. This study is conducted with the aim of investigating the effects of grazing intensity combined with seasonal variation on the nutritive values of dominant grass species in the Teltele rangeland. Methods The studied area is classified into no-grazed, moderately grazed, and overgrazed plots based on the estimated potential carrying capacity. Sampling data is collected during both rainy and dry seasons. The collected forage samples are analyzed for concentrations of crude protein (CP), acid detergent organic fiber (ADF), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent lignin (ADL), ash, dry matter digestibility (DMD), potential dry matter intake (DMI), and relative feed/forage value (RFV). Results The results show significant (P < 0.05) effects of both grazing intensity and season to grazing intensity interactions on all forage nutrient content concentrations across all grass species both within and between treatments. The recorded CP concentrations of all grass species are high in the overgrazed site and low at the no-grazed site, while the fiber concentration is high in NG and low in OG. RFV data also varies greatly, with high value recorded in OG in the rainy season and low value found in NG mainly during the dry season. As a result, it is recommended that moderate grazing should be practiced on the study site to maintain the quality and quantity of forage and to manage it in a sustainable manner.
bibliographic citation: Fenetahun et al. (2021) Effects of grazing intensity on forage nutritive value of dominant grass species in Borana rangelands of Southern Ethiopia. PeerJ 9:e12204 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.12204
date submitted: 2020-10-20
date accepted: 2021-09-03
issued: 2021-10-21
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Fenetahun
  given name: Yeneayehu
author list: Agent
  family name: You
  given name: Yuan
author list: Agent
  family name: Fentahun
  given name: Tihunie
author list: Agent
  family name: Xinwen
  given name: Xu
author list: Agent
  family name: Yong-dong
  given name: Wang
doi: 10.7717/peerj.12204
volume: 9
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2021-10-21
copyright: ©2021 Fenetahun et al.
attribution name: Fenetahun et al.

A new vertebrate fauna from the Lower Cretaceous Holly Creek Formation of the Trinity Group, southwest Arkansas, USA
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: We present a previously discovered but undescribed late Early Cretaceous vertebrate fauna from the Holly Creek Formation of the Trinity Group in Arkansas. The site from the ancient Gulf Coast is dominated by semi-aquatic forms and preserves a diverse aquatic, semi-aquatic, and terrestrial fauna. Fishes include fresh- to brackish-water chondrichthyans and a variety of actinopterygians, including semionotids, an amiid, and a new pycnodontiform, Anomoeodus caddoi sp. nov. Semi-aquatic taxa include lissamphibians, the solemydid turtle Naomichelys, a trionychid turtle, and coelognathosuchian crocodyliforms. Among terrestrial forms are several members of Dinosauria and one or more squamates, one of which, Sciroseps pawhuskai gen. et sp. nov., is described herein. Among Dinosauria, both large and small theropods (Acrocanthosaurus, Deinonychus, and Richardoestesia) and titanosauriform sauropods are represented; herein we also report the first occurrence of a nodosaurid ankylosaur from the Trinity Group. The fauna of the Holly Creek Formation is similar to other, widely scattered late Early Cretaceous assemblages across North America and suggests the presence of a low-diversity, broadly distributed continental ecosystem of the Early Cretaceous following the Late Jurassic faunal turnover. This low-diversity ecosystem contrasts sharply with the highly diverse ecosystem which emerged by the Cenomanian. The contrast underpins the importance of vicariance as an evolutionary driver brought on by Sevier tectonics and climatic changes, such as rising sea level and formation of the Western Interior Seaway, impacting the early Late Cretaceous ecosystem.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Celina A. Suarez
creator: Joseph Frederickson
creator: Richard L. Cifelli
creator: Jeffrey G. Pittman
creator: Randall L. Nydam
creator: ReBecca K. Hunt-Foster
creator: Kirsty Morgan
subject: Biodiversity
subject: Biogeography
subject: Paleontology
subject: Taxonomy
subject: Zoology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.12242
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2021 Suarez et al.
abstract: We present a previously discovered but undescribed late Early Cretaceous vertebrate fauna from the Holly Creek Formation of the Trinity Group in Arkansas. The site from the ancient Gulf Coast is dominated by semi-aquatic forms and preserves a diverse aquatic, semi-aquatic, and terrestrial fauna. Fishes include fresh- to brackish-water chondrichthyans and a variety of actinopterygians, including semionotids, an amiid, and a new pycnodontiform, Anomoeodus caddoi sp. nov. Semi-aquatic taxa include lissamphibians, the solemydid turtle Naomichelys, a trionychid turtle, and coelognathosuchian crocodyliforms. Among terrestrial forms are several members of Dinosauria and one or more squamates, one of which, Sciroseps pawhuskai gen. et sp. nov., is described herein. Among Dinosauria, both large and small theropods (Acrocanthosaurus, Deinonychus, and Richardoestesia) and titanosauriform sauropods are represented; herein we also report the first occurrence of a nodosaurid ankylosaur from the Trinity Group. The fauna of the Holly Creek Formation is similar to other, widely scattered late Early Cretaceous assemblages across North America and suggests the presence of a low-diversity, broadly distributed continental ecosystem of the Early Cretaceous following the Late Jurassic faunal turnover. This low-diversity ecosystem contrasts sharply with the highly diverse ecosystem which emerged by the Cenomanian. The contrast underpins the importance of vicariance as an evolutionary driver brought on by Sevier tectonics and climatic changes, such as rising sea level and formation of the Western Interior Seaway, impacting the early Late Cretaceous ecosystem.
bibliographic citation: Suarez et al. (2021) A new vertebrate fauna from the Lower Cretaceous Holly Creek Formation of the Trinity Group, southwest Arkansas, USA. PeerJ 9:e12242 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.12242
date submitted: 2021-03-16
date accepted: 2021-09-12
issued: 2021-10-21
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Suarez
  given name: Celina A.
author list: Agent
  family name: Frederickson
  given name: Joseph
author list: Agent
  family name: Cifelli
  given name: Richard L.
author list: Agent
  family name: Pittman
  given name: Jeffrey G.
author list: Agent
  family name: Nydam
  given name: Randall L.
author list: Agent
  family name: Hunt-Foster
  given name: ReBecca K.
author list: Agent
  family name: Morgan
  given name: Kirsty
doi: 10.7717/peerj.12242
volume: 9
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2021-10-21
copyright: © 2021 Suarez et al.
attribution name: Suarez et al.

Development of a novel embryonic germline gene-related prognostic model of lung adenocarcinoma
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Background Emerging evidence implicates the correlation of embryonic germline genes with the tumor progress and patient’s outcome. However, the prognostic value of these genes in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) has not been fully studied. Here we systematically evaluated this issue, and constructed a novel signature and a nomogram associated with embryonic germline genes for predicting the outcomes of lung adenocarcinoma. Methods The LUAD cohorts retrieved from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database were used as training set and testing set, respectively. The embryonic germline genes were downloaded from the website https://venn.lodder.dev. Then, the differentially expressed embryonic germline genes (DEGGs) between the tumor and normal samples were identified by limma package. The functional enrichment and pathway analyses were also performed by clusterProfiler package. The prognostic model was constructed by the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO)-Cox regression method. Survival and Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) analyses were performed to validate the model using training set and four testing GEO datasets. Finally, a prognostic nomogram based on the signature genes was constructed using multivariate regression method. Results Among the identified 269 DEGGs, 249 were up-regulated and 20 were down-regulated. GO and KEGG analyses revealed that these DEGGs were mainly enriched in the process of cell proliferation and DNA damage repair. Then, 103 DEGGs with prognostic value were identified by univariate Cox regression and further filtered by LASSO method. The resulting sixteen DEGGs were included in step multivariate Cox regression and an eleven embryonic germline gene related signature (EGRS) was constructed. The model could robustly stratify the LUAD patients into high-risk and low-risk groups in both training and testing sets, and low-risk patients had much better outcomes. The multi-ROC analysis also showed…
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Linjun Liu
creator: Ke Xu
creator: Yubai Zhou
subject: Bioinformatics
subject: Oncology
subject: Respiratory Medicine
subject: Medical Genetics
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.12257
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2021 Liu et al.
abstract: Background Emerging evidence implicates the correlation of embryonic germline genes with the tumor progress and patient’s outcome. However, the prognostic value of these genes in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) has not been fully studied. Here we systematically evaluated this issue, and constructed a novel signature and a nomogram associated with embryonic germline genes for predicting the outcomes of lung adenocarcinoma. Methods The LUAD cohorts retrieved from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database were used as training set and testing set, respectively. The embryonic germline genes were downloaded from the website https://venn.lodder.dev. Then, the differentially expressed embryonic germline genes (DEGGs) between the tumor and normal samples were identified by limma package. The functional enrichment and pathway analyses were also performed by clusterProfiler package. The prognostic model was constructed by the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO)-Cox regression method. Survival and Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) analyses were performed to validate the model using training set and four testing GEO datasets. Finally, a prognostic nomogram based on the signature genes was constructed using multivariate regression method. Results Among the identified 269 DEGGs, 249 were up-regulated and 20 were down-regulated. GO and KEGG analyses revealed that these DEGGs were mainly enriched in the process of cell proliferation and DNA damage repair. Then, 103 DEGGs with prognostic value were identified by univariate Cox regression and further filtered by LASSO method. The resulting sixteen DEGGs were included in step multivariate Cox regression and an eleven embryonic germline gene related signature (EGRS) was constructed. The model could robustly stratify the LUAD patients into high-risk and low-risk groups in both training and testing sets, and low-risk patients had much better outcomes. The multi-ROC analysis also showed…
bibliographic citation: Liu et al. (2021) Development of a novel embryonic germline gene-related prognostic model of lung adenocarcinoma. PeerJ 9:e12257 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.12257
date submitted: 2021-06-04
date accepted: 2021-09-15
issued: 2021-10-21
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Liu
  given name: Linjun
author list: Agent
  family name: Xu
  given name: Ke
author list: Agent
  family name: Zhou
  given name: Yubai
doi: 10.7717/peerj.12257
volume: 9
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2021-10-21
copyright: ©2021 Liu et al.
attribution name: Liu et al.

Fecal microbiota transplantation mitigates bone loss by improving gut microbiome composition and gut barrier function in aged rats
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Background Gut microbiota (GM) dysbiosis is closely related to bone loss and the occurrence of osteoporosis in animals and human. However, little is known about the effect and the mechanisms of fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) on bone in the treatment of senile osteoporosis. Methods Aged female rats were randomly divided into the FMT group and the control group. 3-month-old female rats were used as fecal donors. The rats were sacrificed at 12 and 24 weeks following transplantation and the serum, intestine, bone, and feces were collected for subsequent analyses. Results The bone turnover markers of osteocalcin, procollagen type 1 N-terminal propeptide (P1NP), and carboxy-terminal peptide (CTX) decreased significantly at 12 and 24 weeks following FMT (P < 0.05). At 12 weeks following transplantation, histomorphometric parameters including the bone volume (BV), trabecular bone volume fraction (BV/TV), trabecular number (Tb.N), and trabecular thickness (Tb.Th) of the FMT group were comparable to the control group. However, at 24 weeks following transplantation, these parameters of the FMT group were significantly higher than those of the control group (P < 0.05). Besides, the GM aggregated at 12 and 24 weeks following FMT, and the ecological distance was close between the rats in the FMT group and the donor rats. Alpha diversity, shown by the Shannon index and Simpson index, and the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio decreased significantly after FMT at 24 weeks. Furthermore, FMT restored the GM composition in aged rats at the phylum and family level, and the intestinal microbiota of the aged rats was similar to that of the donor rats. Correlation network analysis indirectly suggested the causality of FMT on alleviating osteoporosis. FMT improved the intestinal structure and up-regulated the expression of tight junction proteins of occludin, claudin, and ZO-1, which might be associated with the protective effects of FMT on bone. Conclusions GM transplanted from young …
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Sicong Ma
creator: Ning Wang
creator: Pu Zhang
creator: Wen Wu
creator: Lingjie Fu
subject: Biochemistry
subject: Microbiology
subject: Molecular Biology
subject: Orthopedics
subject: Histology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.12293
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2021 Ma et al.
abstract: Background Gut microbiota (GM) dysbiosis is closely related to bone loss and the occurrence of osteoporosis in animals and human. However, little is known about the effect and the mechanisms of fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) on bone in the treatment of senile osteoporosis. Methods Aged female rats were randomly divided into the FMT group and the control group. 3-month-old female rats were used as fecal donors. The rats were sacrificed at 12 and 24 weeks following transplantation and the serum, intestine, bone, and feces were collected for subsequent analyses. Results The bone turnover markers of osteocalcin, procollagen type 1 N-terminal propeptide (P1NP), and carboxy-terminal peptide (CTX) decreased significantly at 12 and 24 weeks following FMT (P < 0.05). At 12 weeks following transplantation, histomorphometric parameters including the bone volume (BV), trabecular bone volume fraction (BV/TV), trabecular number (Tb.N), and trabecular thickness (Tb.Th) of the FMT group were comparable to the control group. However, at 24 weeks following transplantation, these parameters of the FMT group were significantly higher than those of the control group (P < 0.05). Besides, the GM aggregated at 12 and 24 weeks following FMT, and the ecological distance was close between the rats in the FMT group and the donor rats. Alpha diversity, shown by the Shannon index and Simpson index, and the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio decreased significantly after FMT at 24 weeks. Furthermore, FMT restored the GM composition in aged rats at the phylum and family level, and the intestinal microbiota of the aged rats was similar to that of the donor rats. Correlation network analysis indirectly suggested the causality of FMT on alleviating osteoporosis. FMT improved the intestinal structure and up-regulated the expression of tight junction proteins of occludin, claudin, and ZO-1, which might be associated with the protective effects of FMT on bone. Conclusions GM transplanted from young …
bibliographic citation: Ma et al. (2021) Fecal microbiota transplantation mitigates bone loss by improving gut microbiome composition and gut barrier function in aged rats. PeerJ 9:e12293 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.12293
date submitted: 2021-03-15
date accepted: 2021-09-21
issued: 2021-10-21
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Ma
  given name: Sicong
author list: Agent
  family name: Wang
  given name: Ning
author list: Agent
  family name: Zhang
  given name: Pu
author list: Agent
  family name: Wu
  given name: Wen
author list: Agent
  family name: Fu
  given name: Lingjie
doi: 10.7717/peerj.12293
volume: 9
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2021-10-21
copyright: © 2021 Ma et al.
attribution name: Ma et al.

Genome-wide identification and expression analysis of auxin response factors in peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.)
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Auxin response factors (ARFs) are transcription factors that regulate the expression of auxin response genes, and have important functions in plant growth and development. In this study, available genome data for peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) were used to identify AhARF genes. In total, 61 AhARFs and 23 AtARFs were divided into six groups (I–VI). Molecular structural analysis revealed that the protein members of AhARF contain at least two domains, the B3 domain and the Auxin-resp domain, and that some have a C-terminal dimerisation domain. Screening of the transcriptome data of 22 tissues of A. hypogaea cv. Tifrunner in a public database showed high expression levels of AhARF2 and AhARF6. AhARF6 was expressed more highly in the stem and branch than in the root and leaf of the wild species Arachis monticola (A. mon) and cultivated species H103. After treatment with exogenous auxin (NAA), the expression of AhARF6 was inhibited, and this inhibition was greater in A. mon than in H103. The transcriptome map revealed that the expression of AhARF6 was higher in the larger pods of H8107 and ZP06 than in the medium pods of H103 and small pods of A. mon. Moreover, AhARF6-5 was proven to be localised in the nucleus, consistent with the location of AtARF6. These results suggest that AhARF6 may play an important role in pod development in peanut.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Peipei Li
creator: Qian Ma
creator: Chengxin Qu
creator: Shuliang Zhu
creator: Kunkun Zhao
creator: Xingli Ma
creator: Zhongfeng Li
creator: Xingguo Zhang
creator: Fangping Gong
creator: Dongmei Yin
subject: Agricultural Science
subject: Bioinformatics
subject: Genomics
subject: Molecular Biology
subject: Plant Science
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.12319
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2021 Li et al.
abstract: Auxin response factors (ARFs) are transcription factors that regulate the expression of auxin response genes, and have important functions in plant growth and development. In this study, available genome data for peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) were used to identify AhARF genes. In total, 61 AhARFs and 23 AtARFs were divided into six groups (I–VI). Molecular structural analysis revealed that the protein members of AhARF contain at least two domains, the B3 domain and the Auxin-resp domain, and that some have a C-terminal dimerisation domain. Screening of the transcriptome data of 22 tissues of A. hypogaea cv. Tifrunner in a public database showed high expression levels of AhARF2 and AhARF6. AhARF6 was expressed more highly in the stem and branch than in the root and leaf of the wild species Arachis monticola (A. mon) and cultivated species H103. After treatment with exogenous auxin (NAA), the expression of AhARF6 was inhibited, and this inhibition was greater in A. mon than in H103. The transcriptome map revealed that the expression of AhARF6 was higher in the larger pods of H8107 and ZP06 than in the medium pods of H103 and small pods of A. mon. Moreover, AhARF6-5 was proven to be localised in the nucleus, consistent with the location of AtARF6. These results suggest that AhARF6 may play an important role in pod development in peanut.
bibliographic citation: Li et al. (2021) Genome-wide identification and expression analysis of auxin response factors in peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.). PeerJ 9:e12319 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.12319
date submitted: 2021-01-28
date accepted: 2021-09-25
issued: 2021-10-21
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Li
  given name: Peipei
author list: Agent
  family name: Ma
  given name: Qian
author list: Agent
  family name: Qu
  given name: Chengxin
author list: Agent
  family name: Zhu
  given name: Shuliang
author list: Agent
  family name: Zhao
  given name: Kunkun
author list: Agent
  family name: Ma
  given name: Xingli
author list: Agent
  family name: Li
  given name: Zhongfeng
author list: Agent
  family name: Zhang
  given name: Xingguo
author list: Agent
  family name: Gong
  given name: Fangping
author list: Agent
  family name: Yin
  given name: Dongmei
doi: 10.7717/peerj.12319
volume: 9
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2021-10-21
copyright: © 2021 Li et al.
attribution name: Li et al.

Factors related to job burnout among older nurses in Guizhou province, China
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Background The nursing workforce shortage has long been a global concern, and with the aging of nurses, this problem has become more prominent. Nursing is recognized as a high-stress occupation, and nurses experience high levels of job burnout, which reduces their professional identity. Older nurses are an indispensable talent force for nursing teams and are extremely important for the stability of nursing teams and improvement in nursing quality. Exploring the mental health and influencing factors of older nurses is very beneficial for the stability and development of nurse teams and patients’ clinical outcomes. Purpose This study aimed to investigate the level of job burnout and its influencing factors among older nurses in Guizhou Province, China and confirm the correlations among job burnout, professional identity and stress level. Methods From July to August 2019, 520 registered nurses aged over 40 years in Guizhou Province, China were surveyed through the Questionnaire Star platform. The questionnaire contained the following four parts: a general information questionnaire, the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI), a professional identity scale, and a job stressors scale. Results The results showed that the job burnout score of the 520 older nurses was 55.44 ± 18.62, which was moderate. The level of job burnout was positively correlated with the level of nurse stress and negatively correlated with the level of professional identity, which was influenced by various personal and social factors. Conclusions This study not only revealed that job burnout was still at a moderate level, but also revealed its current status and influencing factors among older nurses in China.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Hu Jiang
creator: Nanqu Huang
creator: Xue Jiang
creator: Jianghong Yu
creator: Yehong Zhou
creator: Hengping Pu
subject: Nursing
subject: Psychiatry and Psychology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.12333
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2021 Jiang et al.
abstract: Background The nursing workforce shortage has long been a global concern, and with the aging of nurses, this problem has become more prominent. Nursing is recognized as a high-stress occupation, and nurses experience high levels of job burnout, which reduces their professional identity. Older nurses are an indispensable talent force for nursing teams and are extremely important for the stability of nursing teams and improvement in nursing quality. Exploring the mental health and influencing factors of older nurses is very beneficial for the stability and development of nurse teams and patients’ clinical outcomes. Purpose This study aimed to investigate the level of job burnout and its influencing factors among older nurses in Guizhou Province, China and confirm the correlations among job burnout, professional identity and stress level. Methods From July to August 2019, 520 registered nurses aged over 40 years in Guizhou Province, China were surveyed through the Questionnaire Star platform. The questionnaire contained the following four parts: a general information questionnaire, the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI), a professional identity scale, and a job stressors scale. Results The results showed that the job burnout score of the 520 older nurses was 55.44 ± 18.62, which was moderate. The level of job burnout was positively correlated with the level of nurse stress and negatively correlated with the level of professional identity, which was influenced by various personal and social factors. Conclusions This study not only revealed that job burnout was still at a moderate level, but also revealed its current status and influencing factors among older nurses in China.
bibliographic citation: Jiang et al. (2021) Factors related to job burnout among older nurses in Guizhou province, China. PeerJ 9:e12333 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.12333
date submitted: 2021-04-26
date accepted: 2021-09-27
issued: 2021-10-21
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Jiang
  given name: Hu
author list: Agent
  family name: Huang
  given name: Nanqu
author list: Agent
  family name: Jiang
  given name: Xue
author list: Agent
  family name: Yu
  given name: Jianghong
author list: Agent
  family name: Zhou
  given name: Yehong
author list: Agent
  family name: Pu
  given name: Hengping
doi: 10.7717/peerj.12333
volume: 9
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2021-10-21
copyright: ©2021 Jiang et al.
attribution name: Jiang et al.

Sexual and psychological health of couples with azoospermia in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Background To date, there have been no reports on the sexual and psychological health of patients with azoospermia during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Previous studies on the sexual health of couples with azoospermia are limited and are especially lacking in data on the wives of azoospermic men. Methods We conducted a case–control cross-sectional study between 1 July 2020 and 20 December 2020. In total, 100 couples with azoospermia comprised the experimental group and 100 couples with normozoospermia comprised the control group. The couples’ sexual health was measured using standardised sexual function questionnaires (male: International Index of Erectile Function-15 [IIEF-15] and Premature Ejaculation Diagnostic Tool [PEDT]; female: Female Sexual Function Index [FSFI]) and a self-designed questionnaire to evaluate changes in sexual behaviours (sexual satisfaction, desire, frequency of sexual activity, masturbation, and pornography use) during lockdown. The couples’ psychological health was measured using the 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) scale and 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). The Actor–Partner Interdependence Model (APIM) was used to analyse the associations between sexual health and psychological health. Results The IIEF-15 scores (53.07 ± 11.11 vs. 57.52 ± 8.57, t = − 3.17, p = 0.00) were lower and the PEDT scores (6.58 ± 3.13 vs. 5.17 ± 2.22, t = 3.67, p = 0.00) and incidence of premature ejaculation (χ2 = 14.73, p = 0.00) were higher for men with azoospermia than for men with normozoospermia. Compared with those of wives of men with normozoospermia, the total FSFI scores (25.12 ± 5.56 vs. 26.75 ± 4.82, t = − 2.22, p = 0.03) of wives of men with azoospermia were lower. The chi-square test showed that the perceived changes in sexual satisfaction (χ2 = 7.22, p = 0.03), frequency of masturbation (χ2 = 21.96, p = 0.00), and pornography use (χ2 = 10.90, p = 0.01) were significantly different between the female groups…
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Meng Dong
creator: Yanqiang Tao
creator: Shanshan Wu
creator: Zhengtao Li
creator: Xiaobin Wang
creator: Jichun Tan
subject: Andrology
subject: Psychiatry and Psychology
subject: Women’s Health
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.12162
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2021 Dong et al.
abstract: Background To date, there have been no reports on the sexual and psychological health of patients with azoospermia during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Previous studies on the sexual health of couples with azoospermia are limited and are especially lacking in data on the wives of azoospermic men. Methods We conducted a case–control cross-sectional study between 1 July 2020 and 20 December 2020. In total, 100 couples with azoospermia comprised the experimental group and 100 couples with normozoospermia comprised the control group. The couples’ sexual health was measured using standardised sexual function questionnaires (male: International Index of Erectile Function-15 [IIEF-15] and Premature Ejaculation Diagnostic Tool [PEDT]; female: Female Sexual Function Index [FSFI]) and a self-designed questionnaire to evaluate changes in sexual behaviours (sexual satisfaction, desire, frequency of sexual activity, masturbation, and pornography use) during lockdown. The couples’ psychological health was measured using the 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) scale and 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). The Actor–Partner Interdependence Model (APIM) was used to analyse the associations between sexual health and psychological health. Results The IIEF-15 scores (53.07 ± 11.11 vs. 57.52 ± 8.57, t = − 3.17, p = 0.00) were lower and the PEDT scores (6.58 ± 3.13 vs. 5.17 ± 2.22, t = 3.67, p = 0.00) and incidence of premature ejaculation (χ2 = 14.73, p = 0.00) were higher for men with azoospermia than for men with normozoospermia. Compared with those of wives of men with normozoospermia, the total FSFI scores (25.12 ± 5.56 vs. 26.75 ± 4.82, t = − 2.22, p = 0.03) of wives of men with azoospermia were lower. The chi-square test showed that the perceived changes in sexual satisfaction (χ2 = 7.22, p = 0.03), frequency of masturbation (χ2 = 21.96, p = 0.00), and pornography use (χ2 = 10.90, p = 0.01) were significantly different between the female groups…
bibliographic citation: Dong et al. (2021) Sexual and psychological health of couples with azoospermia in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. PeerJ 9:e12162 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.12162
date submitted: 2021-05-11
date accepted: 2021-08-25
issued: 2021-10-20
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Dong
  given name: Meng
author list: Agent
  family name: Tao
  given name: Yanqiang
author list: Agent
  family name: Wu
  given name: Shanshan
author list: Agent
  family name: Li
  given name: Zhengtao
author list: Agent
  family name: Wang
  given name: Xiaobin
author list: Agent
  family name: Tan
  given name: Jichun
doi: 10.7717/peerj.12162
volume: 9
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2021-10-20
copyright: ©2021 Dong et al.
attribution name: Dong et al.

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