title: PeerJ description: Articles published in PeerJ link: https://peerj.com/articles/index.rss3?journal=peerj&page=119 creator: info@peerj.com PeerJ errorsTo: info@peerj.com PeerJ language: en title: Sex differences in absolute and relative changes in muscle size following resistance training in healthy adults: a systematic review with Bayesian meta-analysis link: https://peerj.com/articles/19042 last-modified: 2025-02-25 description: BackgroundMuscle hypertrophy may be influenced by biological differences between males and females. This meta-analysis investigated absolute and relative changes in muscle size following resistance training (RT) between males and females and whether measures of muscle size, body region assessed, muscle fibre type, and RT experience moderate the results.MethodsStudies were included if male and female participants were healthy (18–45 years old) adults that completed the same RT intervention, and a measure of pre- to post-intervention changes in muscle size was included. Out of 2,720 screened studies, 29 studies were included in the statistical analysis. Bayesian methods were used to estimate a standardised mean difference (SMD), log response ratio (lnRR) with exponentiated percentage change (Exp. % Change of lnRR), and probability of direction (pd) for each outcome.ResultsAbsolute increases in muscle size slightly favoured males compared to females (SMD = 0.19 (95% HDI: 0.11 to 0.28); pd = 100%), however, relative increases in muscle size were similar between sexes (Exp. % Change of lnRR = 0.69% (95% HDI: −1.50% to 2.88%)). Outcomes were minimally influenced by the measure of muscle size and not influenced by RT experience of participants. Absolute hypertrophy of upper-body but not lower-body regions was favoured in males. Type I muscle fibre hypertrophy slightly favoured males, but Type II muscle fibre hypertrophy was similar between sexes.ConclusionOur findings strengthen the understanding that females have a similar potential to induce muscle hypertrophy as males (particularly when considering relative increases in muscle size from baseline) and findings of our secondary analyses should inform future research that investigates sex differences in highly trained participants and muscle fibre type-specific hypertrophy. creator: Martin C. Refalo creator: Greg Nuckols creator: Andrew J. Galpin creator: Iain J. Gallagher creator: D. Lee Hamilton creator: Jackson J. Fyfe uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.19042 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: ©2025 Refalo et al. title: Assessment of the potential of drug-drug interactions among population-based oldest-old people in Turkiye link: https://peerj.com/articles/19032 last-modified: 2025-02-25 description: BackgroundThe risk of potential drug‒drug interactions is highest in oldest-old people. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the frequency and type of potential drug‒drug interactions in population-based oldest-old people.MethodsThe type of study was descriptive. Ethical permission was obtained (13.04.2022/153). All participants were informed, and their written consent was obtained. The “oldest-old” were defined as those who were ≥85 years of age during the study period and living in Turkiye. These people were reached from every region of Turkiye via the snowball method and were visited at their homes. Data were collected via face-to-face interviews. Age, sex, city of residence, and generic names of regularly used medications were recorded. The medications used were analyzed according to the Beers 2019® Criteria and UpToDate® Lexicomp® drug interaction guides. SPSS was used for statistical analysis, and p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.ResultsData were collected from the 549 oldest-old people throughout Turkiye. Among the participants, 61.2% (n = 336) were women. The median age of the women was 88.00 years (minimum = 85, maximum = 101), and the median age of the men was 88.00 years (minimum = 85, maximum = 102). The distributions of men and women in the different age groups were similar (p = 0.341). The distributions of men and women across regions were similar (p = 0.826), most of whom (n = 300, 54.6%) had ≥1 potential drug‒drug interaction, according to the UpToDate analysis. The median number of medications used continuously was 4.0 (minimum = 0, maximum = 19). The median number of potential drug‒drug interactions was 1.0 (minimum = 0, maximum = 21). As the number of medications used increased, the number of potential drug‒drug interactions also increased (r = 0.737; p = 0.001). The number of potential drug‒drug interactions decreased with increasing age (r = −0.104; p = 0.015). According to the Beers 2019® Criteria, potential drug‒drug interactions were detected in only eight patients. The concordance between the Beers 2019® Criteria and the UpToDate®Lexicomb® drug interaction data was poor compared with the number of potential drug‒drug interactions (kappa = 0.024, p < 0.001). Central nervous system medications are a common group that can cause potential drug‒drug interactions according to both guidelines. Moreover, potentially inappropriate medications defined by the Beers 2019® Criteria were the most common causes of potential drug‒drug interactions, according to UpToDate®Lexicomb® drug interactions. The frequency of potential drug‒drug interactions was found to be high in the population-based oldest-old people interviewed in Turkiye. It has been determined that the use of more than one guide in the evaluation of potential drug‒drug interactions is safer. creator: Fuat Nihat Özaydın creator: Ayşe Nilüfer Özaydın uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.19032 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: © 2025 Özaydın and Özaydın title: Morphofunctional changes in the immune system in colitis-associated colorectal cancer in tolerant and susceptible to hypoxia mice link: https://peerj.com/articles/19024 last-modified: 2025-02-25 description: BackgroundOne of the effective strategies for the treatment of tumor diseases, including colitis-associated colorectal cancer (CAC), is immunotherapy. During inflammation, NF-κB is activated, which is connected with the hypoxia-inducible factor—HIF, regulating the immune cells functioning and influences the CAC development. Organisms differ according to their hypoxia resistance and HIF expression. Therefore, the aim of the study was to characterize the thymus, spleen and mesenteric lymph nodes morphofunctional features, as well as changes in the subpopulation composition of peripheral blood cells and mesenteric lymph nodes in tolerant and susceptible to hypoxia C57Bl/6 mice in CAC.MethodsHypoxia tolerance was assessed by gasping time measurement in hypobaric decompression chamber. Based on the outcome, the mice were assigned to three groups characterized as ‘tolerant to hypoxia’, ‘normal’, and ‘susceptible to hypoxia’. A month after determining hypoxia resistance CAC was modeled by intraperitoneal azoxymethane (AOM) administration and three cycles of dextran sulfate sodium consumption. Mice were sacrificed on the 141st day after the AOM administration, a morphological, morphometric and immunohistochemical study of tumors, morphological and morphometric study of thymus and spleen, and subpopulation composition of peripheral blood cells and mesenteric lymph nodes assessment were carried out.ResultsTumors in tolerant and susceptible to hypoxia mice were represented by glandular intraepithelial neoplasia and adenocarcinomas, the area of which was larger in susceptible mice. Immunohistochemical study revealed a more pronounced Ki-67+ staining in tumors of susceptible mice. In CAC, only in tolerant mice, expansion of the thymic cortex was observed relative to the control group, while in susceptible ones, no changes were detected. Only in susceptible to hypoxia mice, spleen germinal centers of lymphoid follicles enlargement were observed. Only in susceptible mice during CAC, in comparison to the control group, the relative and absolute number of B-lymphocytes and relative—cytotoxic T-lymphocytes in blood increased. The relative cytotoxic T-lymphocytes and NK cells number in peripheral blood during CAC was higher in susceptible to hypoxia mice compared to tolerant ones. In susceptible to hypoxia mice, more pronounced changes in the mesenteric lymph nodes subpopulation composition of cells were revealed—only in them the absolute and relative number of B-lymphocytes and NK cells, the absolute number of cytotoxic T-lymphocytes increased, and the relative number of macrophages decreased.ConclusionsMorphofunctional differences in the thymus, spleen, mesenteric lymph nodes and blood immune cells reactions indicated the more pronounced immune response to the CAC development in susceptible to hypoxia mice, which should be taken into account in experimental studies. creator: Dzhuliia Dzhalilova creator: Maria Silina creator: Anna Kosyreva creator: Nikolai Fokichev creator: Olga Makarova uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.19024 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: ©2025 Dzhalilova et al. title: Comparison of fracture resistance between immediate and delayed composite restorations with or without fiber after root canal treatment: a field-emission-gun scanning electron microscope study link: https://peerj.com/articles/19018 last-modified: 2025-02-25 description: BackgroundThis study aimed to evaluate the fracture resistance of immediate and delayed restorations after root canal treatment (RCT).MethodsSixty human intact premolar teeth were used. Teeth were prepared disto-occlusally. After RCT, teeth were randomly divided into two groups according to restoration times (immediate or 3 months delayed). The three month delay was imitated by thermomechanical aging. Then, samples were divided into six subgroups (n = 10). While I (Composite resin), II (Flowable bulk-fill) and III (Ribbond+Flowable bulk-fill) were restored immediately, Groups IV, V and VI were restored with temporary filling material and stored in distilled. After subjected to thermo-cycling (2,500 cycles, 5–55 °C) and exposed to 60,000 cycles in a chewing simulator, Group IV (Composite resin), V (Flowable bulk-fill) and VI (Ribbond+Flowable bulk-fill) were restored. All of the teeth were fractured on the universal testing machine. Failure modes were analyzed using scanning electron microscope. Data were analyzed using the Shapiro-Wilk and two-way ANOVA tests (p < 0.05).ResultsThe highest fracture resistance was recorded in Group III while the lowest in Group VI. No statistically significant difference was observed among groups (p > 0.05). Most of the repairable fractures were seen in Groups I and II.ConclusionDelaying the permanent restorations of teeth for 3 months did not affect fracture resistance. However, it was suggested to avoid delaying restorations for obtaining repairable surfaces. creator: Zeynep Buket Kaynar creator: Gözde Akbal Dinçer creator: Nazmiye Donmez uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.19018 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: © 2025 Kaynar et al. title: Development of LAMP assay for early detection of Yersinia ruckeri in aquaculture link: https://peerj.com/articles/19015 last-modified: 2025-02-25 description: Yersinia ruckeri is the causative agent of yersiniosis or enteric red mouth disease (ERM) that causes significant economic losses in the salmonid aquaculture industry. Due to an increasing number of outbreaks, lack of effective vaccines and the bacteria’s ability to survive in the environment for long periods, there is a necessity for novel measures to control ERM. New techniques capable of rapidly detecting Y. ruckeri are critical to aid effective control programs. Molecular methods, like real-time polymerase chain reaction, can detect Y. ruckeri; however, that methodology is not field-deployable and cannot support local decision-making during an outbreak. We present a field-deployable molecular assay using loop mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) and water filtering method for the detection of Y. ruckeri eDNA from water samples to improve current surveillance methods. The assay was optimised to amplify the glutamine synthetase gene (glnA) of Y. ruckeri in under 20 min. The assay demonstrated high specificity and sensitivity, as it did not amplify any non-target bacteria typically present in water sources. It achieved a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.5 × 10−7 ng/µl, significantly surpassing the LOD of 0.5 × 10−4 ng/µl obtained through conventional polymerase chain reaction (cPCR). When applied to environmental water samples spiked with transformed Escherichia coli containing the G-block of the Yersinia ruckeri (glnA) target gene, the Yr-LAMP method exhibited an analytical sensitivity of 0.08 cells/µl from the initial filtered water sample. Notably, the cumulative time for sample preparation and amplification was under 1 h. The simplicity of the developed field-deployable Yr-LAMP assay makes it suitable as a routine procedure to monitor fish for ERM infection. This will enable informed decision-making on mitigating pathogen prevalence in aquaculture farms. creator: Hoda Abbas creator: Nickala Best creator: Gemma Zerna creator: Travis Beddoe uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.19015 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: © 2025 Abbas et al. title: Role of contrast-enhanced ultrasound with time-intensity curve analysis about thyroid nodule and parenchyma for differentiating BRAF V600E mutation status link: https://peerj.com/articles/19006 last-modified: 2025-02-25 description: BackgroundThe BRAF V600E mutation was proven associated with papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) which has more aggressive behavior and could affect the outcome of PTC. The objective of this study was to observe more contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) time-intensity curve (TIC)—based quantitative parameters in nodules and surrounding parenchyma and analyze the association between the TIC-based quantitative parameters and BRAF V600E mutation status in patients with PTC.MethodsA retrospective analysis of 447 PTC patients was conducted. Prior to thyroidectomy or fine needle aspiration (FNA), all patients had CEUS and had their BRAF V600E mutations examined. Based on their mutation status, the patients were split into two groups. The two groups were compared in terms of sex, age, quantitative CEUS characteristics, pathological findings, vascular invasion, capsular invasion, and cervical lymph node metastases.ResultsA total of 240 patients were in the mutation negative group and 207 patients were in the BRAF mutation positive group. The BRAF-positive group exhibited significantly higher arrival time (AT) and time to peak enhancement (TTP) of the nodules, among other direct quantitative characteristics. The BRAF-positive mutant nodules showed significantly higher arrival time change and time to peak change compared to the surrounding parenchyma for indirect quantitative metrics.ConclusionThe time-dependent quantitative parameters of CEUS time intensity curve in nodules and surrounding parenchyma have clinical value in distinguishing BRAF V600E mutation positive nodules from gene mutation negative nodules. Quantitative CEUS characteristics may be beneficial in detecting the BRAF V600E mutation status and informing the subsequent clinical choice. creator: Zhipeng Hu creator: Rong Xue creator: Zhixi Liu creator: Liang Liu creator: Zheli Gong uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.19006 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: © 2025 Hu et al. title: When safety becomes the priority: defensive nursing practice and its associated factors among nurses in Egypt: a cross-sectional study link: https://peerj.com/articles/19005 last-modified: 2025-02-25 description: BackgroundDefensive nursing practices, which prioritize legal protection over patient care, are becoming increasingly common. This study aims to explore the prevalence and factors associated with defensive nursing practices among nurses in Egypt, considering the impact of workplace violence and legal threats.MethodsA descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted from February to April 2024 using a self-report online questionnaire. The target population included clinical nurses working in various hospitals in Egypt. A sample size of 1,267 nurses was achieved through convenience sampling. The questionnaire assessed demographic data, experiences of workplace violence, legal consequences, and defensive nursing practices, categorized into positive and negative behaviors.ResultsThe sample consisted of 1,267 nurses, predominantly female (75.9%), with a mean age of 28.57 years. Positive defensive practices, such as detailed documentation (79%) and thorough explanation of procedures (58.5%), were highly prevalent. Negative practices included avoiding high-risk procedures (15.9%) and patients more likely to file lawsuits (13.6%). Older nurses and those with higher educational qualifications were more likely to engage in positive defensive practices. Nurses who experienced workplace violence or legal threats were significantly more likely to avoid high-complication procedures.ConclusionThe study identified a high engagement in both positive and negative defensive practices among nurses in Egypt. These practices are influenced by factors such as age, education level, and experiences of workplace violence and legal threats. The findings underscore the need for strategies to support nurses, reduce reliance on defensive practices, and ensure better patient outcomes. creator: Ahmed Zaher creator: Yasmine M. Osman creator: Salwa Sayed creator: Sally Mohammed Farghaly Abdelaliem creator: Amany Anwar Saeed Alabdullah creator: Ahmed Hendy creator: Zainab Attia Abdallah creator: Mohammed Musaed Ahmed Al-Jabri creator: Abdelaziz Hendy uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.19005 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: ©2025 Zaher et al. title: Redescription of Aspidosiphon (Paraspidosiphon) steenstrupii Diesing, 1859 (Sipuncula: Aspidosiphonidae) and the reinstatement of three species link: https://peerj.com/articles/19003 last-modified: 2025-02-25 description: Sipuncula, specifically the family Aspidosiphonidae, faces taxonomic challenges due to brief original descriptions and the poor condition or loss of the type material. Detailed standardized redescriptions are essential to understanding the diversification in this group. Herein, a comprehensive redescription of Aspidosiphon (Paraspidosiphon) steenstrupii based on an extensive material collection from the tropical Western Atlantic is provided. Based on morphological data and the analysis of COI sequences, we delimited A. (P.) steenstrupii morphologically, restricting its distribution to the tropical Western Atlantic. Also, the redescriptions and proposals for reinstatement of A. (P.) exostomum, A. (P.) ochrus, and A. (P.) speculator, previously considered junior synonyms of A. (P.) steenstrupii, are included. Furthermore, a comprehensive discussion on diagnostic morphological features to recognize aspidosiphonid species and a detailed revision of synonyms of A. (P.) steenstrupii are included. Notable differences in morphology and genetic data suggest the need for revising the taxonomic status of several synonyms within the family, highlighting underestimated diversity in sipunculans. creator: Itzahi Silva-Morales creator: Luis F. Carrera-Parra uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.19003 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: ©2025 Silva-Morales and Carrera-Parra title: Prediction of clinical deterioration within one year in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease using the systemic coagulation-inflammation index: a retrospective study employing multiple machine learning method link: https://peerj.com/articles/18989 last-modified: 2025-02-25 description: BackgroundInflammatory response and the coagulation system are pivotal in the pathogenesis of clinical deterioration in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), prompting us to hypothesize that the systemic coagulation-inflammation (SCI) index is associated with clinical deterioration in COPD.MethodsA cohort of 957 COPD patients (mean age: 68.4 ± 7.8 years; 74.4% male) from January 2018 to December 2021 was analyzed. Six machine learning models (XGBoost, logistic regression, Random Forest, elastic net (ENT), support vector machine (SVM), and K-nearest neighbors (KNN)) were evaluated using accuracy, precision, recall, F1-score, and the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC-ROC).ResultsOur study encompassed 957 patients, out of which 171 were classified in the clinical deterioration of COPD (cd-COPD) cohort. Significant disparities in age, comorbidities like respiratory failure, C-reactive protein, lymphocyte count, red blood cell distribution width (RDW), SCI, procalcitonin (PCT), and D-dimer were depicted between the cd-COPD and non-cd-COPD groups. Concerning machine learning and model comparison, the SVM model showcased consistent performance and strong generalization capabilities on both the training and testing sets compared to the other five machine learning (ML) models. The SCI index, as the most influential predictor, demonstrated a median of 93.08 in cd-COPD compared to 81.67 in non-cd-COPD patients.ConclusionThe SCI is markedly elevated in cd-COPD patients compared to COPD patients, and SVM demonstrates reliable performance in cd-COPD prediction. creator: Ling Hou creator: Ming Min creator: Rui Hou creator: Wei Tan creator: Minghua Zhang creator: Qianfei Liu uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.18989 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: ©2025 Hou et al. title: Effects of sex and season (breeding and non-breeding) on microhabitat selection in Stejneger’s bamboo pitviper (Viridovipera stejnegeri) link: https://peerj.com/articles/18970 last-modified: 2025-02-25 description: Habitat quality and availability are crucial for the survival and reproduction of animal species. Intraspecific and seasonal differences in habitat selection reflect adaptations to changing biological requirements and environmental factors. To investigate the effects of season (breeding and non-breeding) and sex on microhabitat selection in snakes, here we employed field surveys to analyze microhabitat selection data for Stejneger’s bamboo pitviper (Viridovipera stejnegeri) across different sexes and seasons. Results indicated that although no significant difference was observed between groups, marked differences in certain microhabitat factors were noted. Specifically: (1) Non-breeding season females (NBF) displayed distinct differences in altitude, slope position, distance from roads compared to other groups. (2) Temperature exerted a lesser effect on non-breeding season individuals compared to breeding season individuals. Additionally, distance from roads only significantly impacted breeding season males, not females. (3) Regarding sexual differences, males and females differed in slope position and distance from residential sites, reflecting their distinct ecological requirements. Regarding seasons, differences in habitat selection between breeding and non-breeding seasons were primarily related to temperature, indicating behavioral changes linked to seasons. (4) Non-breeding season females exhibited the narrowest microhabitat niche width and the least microhabitat niche overlap with other groups, potentially due to their pronounced foraging requirements, which compel them to explore limited habitats with higher human disturbance but richer food sources. This study contributes novel insights into the habitat selection behaviors of snakes. creator: Songwen Tan creator: Yayong Wu creator: Jiajun Wang creator: Bing Lyu creator: Min Yu creator: He Zhang creator: Peng Guo creator: Lei Shi uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.18970 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: ©2025 Tan et al.