title: PeerJ description: Articles published in PeerJ link: https://peerj.com/articles/index.rss3?journal=peerj&page=106 creator: info@peerj.com PeerJ errorsTo: info@peerj.com PeerJ language: en title: Vertical assemblage of the holoplanktonic mollusks (Pteropoda and Pterotracheoidea: Carinaiidae, Pterotracheidae) in the Campeche Canyon, southern Gulf of Mexico, during a “Nortes” season link: https://peerj.com/articles/19118 last-modified: 2025-03-31 description: This study examines the vertical assemblages of the holoplanktonic mollusks (Pteropoda and Pterotracheoidea) in the Campeche Canyon, southern Gulf of Mexico, during a “Nortes” season (February 21–28, 2011) and explores their relationship with the hydrography and the geostrophic circulation pattern. High-resolution hydrographic data were acquired during a multidisciplinary research cruise of 48 hydrographic stations. Zooplankton samples were collected at 24 stations from four depths (10, 50, 100, and 200 m) using a multiple open/closed net system. The results revealed a deep thermocline at a depth of 90 m and a circulation pattern dominated by cyclonic and anticyclonic eddies that induced cold and warm cores. Thirty-three Pteropoda and three Pterotracheoidea species were identified, with the highest richness at a depth of 100 m (just below the thermocline). The highest organism densities were observed at a depth of 10 m. The diversity index (H’) showed variations depending on the sampling depth, with the highest values (1.9 bits ind−1) at 100 and 200 m, while at 10 m depth the lowest values (1.45 bits ind−1) were observed. Multivariate analyses showed that dissolved oxygen, and temperature were the main environmental factors determining organism density. creator: Zayra López-Cabello creator: Erik Coria-Monter creator: María Adela Monreal-Gómez creator: David Alberto Salas de León creator: Elizabeth Durán-Campos creator: Adolfo Gracia uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.19118 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: ©2025 López-Cabello et al. title: Chaetoglobosin A induces apoptosis in T-24 human bladder cancer cells through oxidative stress and MAPK/PI3K-AKT-mTOR pathway link: https://peerj.com/articles/19085 last-modified: 2025-03-31 description: Chaetoglobosin A (ChA) is an antitumor compound produced by Chaetomium globosum. However, the mechanism of its antitumor effect has been rarely reported. In this study, we evaluated the anti-proliferative effect of ChA on T-24 human bladder cancer cells and explored its mechanism of action. ChA was found to have a good inhibitory effect on T-24 cells by MTT assay with an IC50 value of 48.14 ± 10.25 μΜ. Moreover, it was found to have a migration inhibitory ability and a sustained proliferation inhibitory effect on tumor cells by cell aggregation assay and cell migration assay. The cells morphological changes were determined by Hoechst33342 assay. While Annexin V-FITC/PI double-staining assay also demonstrated that the number of apoptotic cells increased with the increase of drug concentration. Flow cytometry results showed that ChA treatment increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) and decreased mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) in T-24 cells and inhibited cell mitosis, resulting in an increase in the number of sub-G1 phase cells. Further western blot experiments demonstrated that MAPK and PI3K-AKT-mTOR pathways were activated after drug treatment in addition to endogenous and exogenous apoptotic pathways. The addition of the ROS inhibitor N-acetylcysteine (NAC) upregulated the expression level of Bcl-2 protein, decreased p38 phosphorylation, increased ERK phosphorylation and restored the levels of PI3K and p-mTOR after ChA treatment. These suggest that ChA induces apoptosis by regulating oxidative stress, MAPK, and PI3K-AKT-mTOR signaling pathways in T-24 cells. creator: Jia Song creator: Jinyu Qiao creator: Mingxue Chen creator: Jiahui Li creator: Jixia Wang creator: Dayong Yu creator: Huachuan Zheng creator: Liying Shi uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.19085 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: © 2025 Song et al. title: New digital anatomical data of Keichousaurus hui (Reptilia: Sauropterygia) and its phylogenetic implication link: https://peerj.com/articles/19012 last-modified: 2025-03-31 description: Three complete skulls of Keichousaurus hui from the Middle Triassic Xingyi Fauna of southwestern China were examined using high-resolution computed tomography (CT) scanning. The CT images allow a few refinements and supplements in cranial anatomy. Some previously ambiguous anatomical characters were identified, including the presence of an L-shaped ectopterygoid that extends from the lateral side of the pterygoid and bends ventrally, the wedge-shaped posterolateral process of the frontal, the trapezoidal pterygoid for articulating with the palatine, and a rodlike basioccipital tuber that extends posterolaterally. These new features provide new detailed anatomical information for taxonomy. The new phylogenetic analysis of Sauropterygiformes places Keichousaurus as an eosauropterygian that is more basal than the monophyly which includes Nothosauridae and Pistosauroidea. Moreover, the result also suggests that Keichousaurus is more closely related to Chinese pachypleurosaurs-like eosauropterygians than to European pachypleurosaurs and more derived than other Chinese pachypleurosaurs-like forms. creator: Jiayu Xu creator: Yu Guo creator: Yucong Ma creator: Wei Wang creator: Long Cheng creator: Fenglu Han uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.19012 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: ©2025 Xu et al. title: Construction and validation of a risk prediction model for postoperative pulmonary infection in patients with brain tumor: a retrospective study link: https://peerj.com/articles/18996 last-modified: 2025-03-31 description: ObjectivesThis study aimed to investigate the influencing factors and construct a risk prediction model for postoperative pulmonary infection in patients with brain tumor.MethodsThis investigation encompassed a cohort of 636 individuals who were diagnosed with brain tumors and underwent surgical treatment between October 2019 and October 2023. According to the ratio of 7:3, the patients were randomly divided into training set and validation set. Univariate analysis and multivariate Logistic regression analysis were performed on the data in the training set. Finally, the independent risk factors of postoperative pulmonary infection in patients with brain tumor were screened out. R software was used to establish a nomogram model for predicting the risk of postoperative pulmonary infection. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, calibration curve and Hosmer-Lemeshow test were used to evaluate the discrimination and calibration of the model. Decision curve analysis was used to evaluate the clinical benefit of the model.ResultsThe prevalence of postoperative pulmonary infection in patients with brain tumors was 17.9%. The nomogram contained several independent risk factors: age ≥ 60 years, diabetes mellitus, GCS score < 13 points, postoperative bedtime, and postoperative D-Dimer. The prediction model yielded an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.814 (95% confidence interval CI [0.756–0.873]) in the training set, and an AUC of 0.752 (95% CI [0.653–0.850]) in the validation set. The P-values for the Hosmer-Lemeshow test in the training set are 0.629, while in the validation set, they are 0.128. Decision curve analysis demonstrated that the model’s clinical effectiveness is satisfactory.ConclusionsAge ≥ 60 years, diabetes mellitus, GCS score < 13 points, postoperative bedtime and postoperative D-Dimer are risk factors for postoperative pulmonary infection in patients with brain tumor. The developed prediction model demonstrates substantial predictive value and clinical applicability, serving as a valuable reference for medical professionals in recognizing postoperative pulmonary infections in patients with brain tumors and facilitating preventive nursing measures. creator: Jiangling Lan creator: Xing Liu creator: Ligen Mo creator: Dandan Wei creator: Shizhen Zhang creator: Yujiao Zhang creator: Yin Zhu creator: Yi Lei uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.18996 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0 rights: ©2025 Lan et al. title: Understanding uremic cardiomyopathy: from pathogenesis to diagnosis and the horizon of therapeutic innovations link: https://peerj.com/articles/18978 last-modified: 2025-03-31 description: Uremic cardiomyopathy (UC) is a significant cardiovascular complication in individuals with end-stage renal disease. This review aims to explore the multifaceted landscape of UC, including the key pathophysiological mechanisms, diagnostic challenges, and current therapeutic approaches. The prevalence of cardiac hypertrophy, as a hallmark of UC, is highlighted and some new insights to its intricate pathogenesis, involving uremic toxins, oxidative stress, and inflammatory responses is elucidated. Diagnostic complexities, including the absence of specific biomarkers, are discussed, and the need for advanced imaging modalities and emerging diagnostic strategies are emphasized. Current therapeutic interventions, although lacking specificity, are addressed, paving its way to the potential future directions in targeted therapies. The review concludes new insights into the critical importance of ongoing research and technological advancements which will enhance early detection, precision treatment, and ultimately improve outcomes for individuals with UC. creator: Qiong Song creator: Pengbo Wang creator: Yunfang Wu creator: Zhuan’e Yao creator: Wei Wang creator: Guangbo Tang creator: Peng Zhang uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.18978 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: ©2025 Song et al. title: A new specimen of Plesiopterys wildi reveals the diversification of cryptoclidian precursors and possible endemism within European Early Jurassic plesiosaur assemblages link: https://peerj.com/articles/18960 last-modified: 2025-03-31 description: BackgroundA virtually complete and articulated plesiosaur skeleton (MH 7) is described from the Lower Jurassic (Toarcian) Posidonienschiefer Formation near Holzmaden in southern Germany. Plesiosaur remains are rare in this rock unit compared to those of other marine reptiles, such as ichthyosaurs and thalattosuchian crocodylomorphs. The new specimen offers an opportunity to assess the biodiversity of Early Jurassic plesiosaurs documented from what is now Central Europe.MethodsThe osteology of MH 7 is described and compared with other Early Jurassic plesiosaurs based on first-hand observations. Phylogenetic analyses using both equal weighting and weighted parsimony determined phylogenetic placement within Plesiosauria.ResultsPlesiopterys wildi is an early-diverging plesiosauroid and a sister taxon to Franconiasaurus brevispinus and Cryptoclidia. MH 7 represents a subadult individual, providing an updated character state diagnosis of Plesiopterys wildi, which has hitherto only been known from the osteologically immature holotype SMNS 16812. The presence of multiple regionally distinct plesiosaur genera and species within the European epicontinental marine basins suggests possible paleobiogeographical segregation during the Toarcian. creator: Miguel Marx creator: Sven Sachs creator: Benjamin P. Kear creator: Mats E. Eriksson creator: Klaus Nilkens creator: Johan Lindgren uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.18960 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: © 2025 Marx et al. title: Fisetin may protect early porcine embryos from oxidative stress by down-regulating GRP78 levels link: https://peerj.com/articles/19198 last-modified: 2025-03-28 description: Fisetin is a natural flavonol with a variety of biological activities, including anti-inflammatory and antitumor activities. However, the effect of fisetin on mammalian oocyte and embryo development is unknown, so in this study, we used porcine oocytes as an experimental model, and added optimal concentrations of fisetin to the in vitro culture medium after parthenogenetic activated to investigate the effect of fisetin on porcine embryo development. It was found that 0.1 µM fisetin significantly increased the cleavage rate and blastocyst formation rate, and the quality of blastocysts was also improved. Staining results showed that the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), autophagy, endoplasmic reticulum stress and apoptosis were significantly reduced, while glutathione levels and mitochondrial function were significantly increased in the 0.1 µM fisetin-treated group of early porcine embryos compared with the control group. Meanwhile, fisetin decreased the expression level of the endoplasmic reticulum stress marker protein GRP78 (0.71 ± 0.19). In addition, fisetin decreased the expression of genes related to pro-apoptosis, autophagy and endoplasmic reticulum stress and increased the expression of genes related to antioxidant, pluripotency and mitochondrial. According to our results, fisetin promotes early embryonic development in porcine, and this effect may be realized by down-regulating the expression level of GRP78. creator: Xiu-Wen Yuan creator: Hao Guo creator: ChaoRui Wang creator: HeWei Ji creator: YongNan Xu creator: Xue Rui Yao creator: Lin Wang creator: QiLong Cao creator: Nam-Hyung Kim creator: Ying-Hua Li uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.19198 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: ©2025 Yuan et al. title: The role of endoplasmic reticulum stress in type 2 diabetes mellitus mechanisms and impact on islet function link: https://peerj.com/articles/19192 last-modified: 2025-03-28 description: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a globally prevalent metabolic disorder characterized by insulin resistance and dysfunction of islet cells. Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis and progression of T2DM, especially in the function and survival of β-cells. β-cells are particularly sensitive to ER stress because they require substantial insulin synthesis and secretion energy. In the early stages of T2DM, the increased demand for insulin exacerbates β-cell ER stress. Although the unfolded protein response (UPR) can temporarily alleviate this stress, prolonged or excessive stress leads to pancreatic cell dysfunction and apoptosis, resulting in insufficient insulin secretion. This review explores the mechanisms of ER stress in T2DM, particularly its impact on islet cells. We discuss how ER stress activates UPR signaling pathways to regulate protein folding and degradation, but when stress becomes excessive, these pathways may contribute to β-cell death. A deeper understanding of how ER stress impacts islet cells could lead to the development of novel T2DM treatment strategies aimed at improving islet function and slowing disease progression. creator: Zhaxicao He creator: Qian Liu creator: Yan Wang creator: Bing Zhao creator: Lumei Zhang creator: Xia Yang creator: Zhigang Wang uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.19192 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: ©2025 He et al. title: A retrospective analysis of anti-osteoporosis medication trends among patients under 50 years old in nine major regions of China from 2016 to 2019 link: https://peerj.com/articles/19187 last-modified: 2025-03-28 description: PurposeThis study aimed to assess the national trends in osteoporosis prescriptions among Chinese adult outpatients aged less than 50 years with osteoporosis, from 2016 to 2019.Patients and methodsPrescriptions for adult outpatients with osteoporosis from hospitals in nine major areas were extracted from the database of the Hospitals Prescription Analysis Cooperative Project. Trends in the annual prescriptions and expenditure of osteoporosis were analyzed.ResultsThe number of osteoporosis hospital visits showed an increasing trend year by year from 18,412 in 2016 to 23,447 in 2019 (P = 0.029), and the corresponding cost increased from 2,083,872.94 Chinese yuan (CNY) to 2,643,508.59 CNY in 2019 (P = 0.032). The result showed that the share of newer osteoporotic use of medicines increased continuously, accounting for 34.3% of prescriptions and 26.8% of expenditures in 2019. The study found that in osteoporosis hospital visits under 50 years of age, the use of medicine increased year by year. However, bone resorption inhibitors and bone formation promoters in this group did not change significantly, accounting for only small proportion.ConclusionThe development of osteoporosis prescription in this study reflected the current situation of research in China. Meanwhile, in this study, we also investigated the epidemiology of osteoporosis in China in patients under 50 years of age, for whom the incidence of osteoporosis showed an increasing trend, which reminded us to accelerate the prevention of osteoporosis. creator: Bo Chen creator: Liying Chen creator: Zhenwei Yu creator: Yanting Sun creator: Yuzhen Wang creator: Chen Wang creator: Siqi Wang creator: Yan Hu creator: Lian-Di Kan creator: Liu-Cheng Li uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.19187 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: © 2025 Chen et al. title: A comparative analysis of the rhizosphere microbial communities among three species of the Salix genus link: https://peerj.com/articles/19182 last-modified: 2025-03-28 description: Rhizosphere microorganisms exert a significant influence in counteracting diverse external stresses and facilitating plant nutrient uptake. While certain rhizosphere microorganisms associated with Salix species have been investigated, numerous rhizosphere microorganisms from various Salix species remain underexplored. In this study, we employed high-throughput sequencing to examine the rhizosphere bacterial and fungal communities composition and diversity of three Salix species: Salix zangica (SZ), Salix myrtilllacea (SM), and Salix cheilophila (SC). Furthermore, the BugBase and FUNGuild were utilized to predict the functional roles of bacterial and fungal microorganisms. The findings revealed notable variations in the alpha and beta diversities of bacterial and fungal communities among the three Salix species exhibited significant differences (p < 0.05). The relative abundance of Flavobacterium was highest in the SZ samples, while Microvirga exhibited significant enrichment in the SM samples. Microvirga and Vishniacozyma demonstrate the highest number of nodes within their respective bacterial and fungal community network structures. The functions of bacterial microorganisms, including Gram-positive, potentially pathogenic, Gram-negative, and stress-tolerant types, exhibited significant variation among the three Salix species (p < 0.05). Furthermore, for the function of fungal microbe, the ectomycorrhizal guild had the highest abundance of symbiotic modes. This results demonstrated the critical role of ectomycorrhizal fungi in enhancing nutrient absorption and metabolism during the growth of Salix plants. Additionally, this findings also suggested that S. zangica plant was better well-suited for cultivation in stressful environments. These findings guide future questions about plant-microbe interactions, greatly enhancing our understanding of microbial communities for the healthy development of Salix plants. creator: Tianqing Feng creator: Juan Li creator: Xiaoning Mao creator: Xionglian Jin creator: Liang Cheng creator: Huichun Xie creator: Yonggui Ma uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.19182 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: © 2025 Feng et al.