title: PeerJ
description:  Articles published in PeerJ
link: https://peerj.com/articles/index.rss3?journal=peerj&page=176
creator: info@peerj.com PeerJ
errorsTo: info@peerj.com PeerJ
language: en

title: Surgical outcomes in patients with Achilles tendon rupture—a retrospective study
link: https://peerj.com/articles/18890
last-modified: 2025-01-27
description: BackgroundThere are two main methods used to treat Achilles tendon rupture (ATR): conservative treatment and surgical intervention. Surgical techniques are divided into three main categories: open surgical repair, mini-open surgical repair, and percutaneous repair (PR). We aimed to compare clinical outcomes in individuals with ATR who were treated with PR, primary repair, and flexor hallucis longus augmentation (FHL-A) with those treated with V-Y plasty and FHL-A.MethodsThe study involved 54 patients who underwent ATR surgical intervention retrospectively. Thirty-two of these were identified as acute and 22 were chronic rupture patients. PR was performed in 32 patients, primary repair and FHL-A in 14 patients, and V-Y plasty and FHL-A in eight patients.ResultsThe mean forward jump was 142.69 ± 7.14 cm in individuals who received PR, 137.71 ± 4.51 cm in those who received primary repair + FHL-A, and 123.88 ± 3.09 cm in those who received V-Y plasty + FHL-A (p < 0.001). The decrease in the mean vertical jump distance on the operated side compared to the contralateral extremity was 0.97 ± 0.93, 2.07 ± 0.99, and 3.00 ± 1.69 cm in individuals who underwent PR, primary repair + FHL-A, and V-Y plasty + FHL-A, respectively (p < 0.001). The decrease in the mean dorsiflexion of the operated side ankle compared to the contralateral extremity was found to be 4.34 ± 1.18, 1.93 ± 1.07, and 2.38 ± 0.92 degrees in individuals who underwent PR, primary repair + FHL-A, and V-Y plasty + FHL-A, respectively (p < 0.001).ConclusionAlthough no surgical technique is completely superior to another, better performance tests were observed after PR repair compared to open surgery in individuals involved in sports, but rerupture, dorsiflexion restriction, and painful ankle were disadvantages. FHL-A, which has gained popularity in recent years, showed better performance in tests by contributing to more stable and stronger ankles in sporting individuals with chronic ruptures who had undergone open surgery. FHL-A can be utilized in addition to primary surgical intervention in individuals with high performance expectations before and after injury.
creator: Hüseyin Kürüm
creator: Hacı Bayram Tosun
creator: Faruk Aydemir
creator: Orhan Ayas
creator: Kübra Orhan Kürüm
creator: Funda İpekten
uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.18890
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
rights: © 2025 Kürüm et al.

title: Safety profile of EZH2 inhibitors for cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis
link: https://peerj.com/articles/18871
last-modified: 2025-01-27
description: ObjectiveTo evaluate the safety profiles of EZH2-targeted inhibitors in cancer treatment, focusing on treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) across various clinical trials.MethodsWe conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis using data from clinical trials involving EZH2 inhibitors reported up to May 31, 2024. Databases searched included PubMed, Embase, CENTRAL (Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials), and ClinicalTrials.gov. Studies included were those involving patients treated with EZH2 inhibitors as monotherapy or in combination, specifically detailing the incidence of TRAEs. Data on all-grade TRAEs, grade 3 or higher TRAEs, and severe TRAEs were extracted and analyzed using random-effects models.ResultsOur systematic review and meta-analysis included 22 studies encompassing 1,002 patients who met the inclusion criteria. TRAEs were commonly observed during EZH2 inhibitor therapy, affecting 86% of patients (95% CI [79–94%]%; I2 = 89.5%). The incidence of grade 3 or higher TRAEs was 33% (95% CI [21–44%]; I2 = 93.5%), while severe TRAEs occurred in 15% of the cases (95% CI [9–22%]; I2 = 87.5%). The most frequently reported grade 3 or higher TRAEs in the pooled analysis were neutropenia (8%), thrombocytopenia (8%), and anemia (6%). Specifically, for tazemetostat, the most common grade 3 or higher TRAE was neutropenia (5%). For SHR2554, the most prevalent grade 3 or higher TRAEs were thrombocytopenia (17%), neutropenia (8%), and anemia (7%). Notably, treatment-related fatalities were rare, with only 0.9% of patients experiencing potentially fatal outcomes due to therapy.ConclusionEZH2 inhibitors demonstrate a manageable safety profile with a low incidence of severe TRAEs, emphasizing their potential as safe therapeutic options in cancer treatment. The low rate of severe TRAEs and the rare occurrences of treatment-related deaths support the continued clinical use and further investigation of EZH2 inhibitors.
creator: Zhou Zhao
creator: Xiufeng Chen
creator: Huayang Pang
creator: Yan Shi
creator: Hao Sun
uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.18871
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
rights: © 2025 Zhao et al.

title: Correlation of diabetes and adverse outcomes in hospitalized COVID-19 patients admitted to a tertiary hospital in China during a small-scale COVID-19 outbreak
link: https://peerj.com/articles/18865
last-modified: 2025-01-27
description: BackgroundThe aim of this study was to investigate the impact of diabetes on mortality and adverse outcomes in COVID-19 patients and to analyse the associated risk factors.MethodsThis is a retrospective cohort study in 500 hospitalized patients with COVID-19 infection (214 with diabetes and 286 without diabetes) admitted to a tertiary hospital in China from December 2022 to February 2023. Demographic information, clinical characteristics and outcomes were collected. Survival status was investigated at discharge and at 6 months after discharge.ResultsThe mortality rate of COVID-19 patients with diabetes was higher than the rate of non-diabetic COVID-19 patients, both at discharge, and at 6 months after discharge. Body mass index (BMI), C-reactive protein (CRP), pH, D-dimer, blood osmotic pressure, serum creatinine, white blood cell count, creatine kinase and hospitalization expenses were significantly different between diabetic group and non-diabetic group (p < 0.05). Compared with the survivors, non-survived COVID-19 patients with diabetes had worse diabetes control indicators, with random blood glucose increased by 3.58 mmol/L (p < 0.05), and fasting blood glucose increased by 2.77 mmol/L (p < 0.01). In addition, there were significant differences in age, heart rate, CRP, pH, potassium (K+), serum creatinine, white blood cell count, creatine kinase, the proportion with diabetic complications, treatment in ICU and mechanical ventilation between survivors and non-survivors of COVID-19 patients with diabetes. By multivariate logistic regression analysis, the death of COVID-19 patients with diabetes is positively correlated with age and CRP (p < 0.05), and has a trend towards significance with fasting blood glucose (p < 0.1).ConclusionInfection with COVID-19 on the basis of diabetes can significantly increase mortality, which was further associated with diabetes control indicators.
creator: Yu Li
creator: Guanni Li
creator: Jiahong Li
creator: Zirui Luo
creator: Yaxuan Lin
creator: Ning Lan
creator: Xiaodan Zhang
uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.18865
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
rights: © 2025 Li et al.

title: Clusters explaining the relation between menopause and self-reported periodontal disease: a cross-sectional study
link: https://peerj.com/articles/18861
last-modified: 2025-01-27
description: BackgroundMenopause is an important milestone in the women’s life continuum and is associated with potentially adverse effects, including those related to oral health. This study assessed self-reported periodontal disease in relation to menopausal status.MethodsA cross-sectional study involving a convenience sample of female university dental hospital attendees was conducted using a validated, self-administered, self-reported periodontal disease questionnaire. A two-step cluster analysis was used to categorize the participants based on menstrual period (MP) continuity, systemic diseases and age. Differences between clusters were analyzed using chi-square test.ResultsFrom 112 included participants, three clusters resulted from the analysis: Cluster #1 (37 ± 8 years, no systemic diseases and continued MP), Cluster #2 (40 ± 10, with systemic diseases and continued MP) and Cluster #3 (54 ± 9, with systemic diseases and discontinued MP). Cluster #3 tended to have less optimal oral hygiene habits and more missing teeth (p > 0.05). Clusters #1 and #2 insignificantly reported more gingival bleeding, tooth sensitivity and calculus (p > 0.05). Cluster #3, on the other hand, presented with more self-reported oral dryness (p ≤ 0.05).ConclusionsWithin study limits, clusters of menopausal women with systemic diseases reported high symptoms of periodontal disease that were not significantly different from younger individuals, with the exception of oral dryness.
creator: Hani T. Fadel
creator: Lujain A. Qarah
creator: Manal O. Alharbi
creator: Alla Al-Sharif
creator: Doaa S. Al-Harkan
creator: Saba Kassim
creator: Osama Abu-Hammad
creator: Najla Dar-Odeh
uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.18861
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
rights: © 2025 Fadel et al.

title: A novel ddPCR™ assay for eDNA detection and quantification of Greater Amberjack Seriola dumerilli and three congeners in US waters: challenges and application to fisheries independent surveys
link: https://peerj.com/articles/18778
last-modified: 2025-01-27
description: BackgroundFour Seriola species support recreational and commercial fisheries along the U.S. Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico, with the S. dumerili Gulf of Mexico stock being overfished for over three decades. The study presented here is part of a fisheries-independent project initiated to determine an absolute abundance of S. dumerili, to expand biological knowledge of the species and to develop novel tools for fisheries management. Environmental DNA (eDNA) tools aimed at the detection and quantification of target species are starting to emerge in support of marine fisheries surveys. Key to progressing the field is Droplet Digital™ PCR (ddPCR™), a highly sensitive technique with advanced multiplexing and direct quantification capabilities that can provide fisheries scientists with improved interpretation of eDNA data.MethodsWe developed and validated a novel tetraplex ddPCR™ assay able to detect and distinguish between S. dumerili, S. fasciata, S. rivoliana, and S. zonata from seawater eDNA samples. In order to groundtruth ddPCR™ data, and explore its capacity to provide abundance estimates, we compared ddPCR™ detections and quantifications to abundance data inferred from multiple camera (ROV, S-BRUV, chevron trap) and acoustic (VPS array) gears deployed during a fisheries research gear-calibration cruise.ResultsWe demonstrated that with eDNA contamination controls and best practice protocols, it is viable to conduct eDNA research as part of a fisheries survey cruise. eDNA sampling was completed in less time than camera gears (15 min vs 2 h). Both eDNA and camera gears detected the presence of S. dumerili and S. rivoliana at both sites and all sampling days, but not S. fasciata and S. zonata. eDNA concentration data was higher for S. dumerili than S. rivoliana at both sites for all sampling days, in line with abundance patterns obtained from camera gears. The highest correlation (r = 0.97) was obtained between the measures of eDNA between gear deployments and ROV.DiscussionIncorporating eDNA in fisheries surveys would not require additional days at sea and could improve precision in fish detection and abundance. eDNA can be a valuable complement to camera gears deployed in geographic areas or seasons with poor visibility conditions, where fish may be present but cannot be confidently identified to the species level. The high correlation obtained between ROV and eDNA data collected between gear deployments adds to a growing number of studies demonstrating the potential of eDNA as an indicator of abundance for fisheries stock assessments. Time-series data from a carefully designed eDNA survey, that estimates relative abundance, could be used as an index of relative abundance for the S. dumerili stock assessment. To achieve this, investment into follow-up studies with increased sample sizes and spatial and temporal replication would be necessary to allow for year-to-year comparisons and validate the robustness of the correlation observed.
creator: P. Joana Dias
creator: Ryan Lehman
creator: Bryan L. Huerta-Beltrán
creator: Ana Wheeler
creator: Crystal L. Hightower
creator: Jessica Heise
creator: Theodore Switzer
creator: Clint Rhode
creator: J. Marcus Drymon
creator: Lynne Stokes
creator: Mark A. Albins
creator: Sean Powers
creator: Nicole Phillips
uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.18778
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
rights: © 2025 Dias et al.

title: Super Partition: fast, flexible, and interpretable large-scale data reduction in R
link: https://peerj.com/articles/18580
last-modified: 2025-01-27
description: MotivationAs data sets increase in size and complexity with advancing technology, flexible and interpretable data reduction methods that quantify information preservation become increasingly important.ResultsSuper Partition is a large-scale approximation of the original Partition data reduction algorithm that allows the user to flexibly specify the minimum amount of information captured for each input feature. In an initial step, Genie, a fast, hierarchical clustering algorithm, forms a super-partition, thereby increasing the computational tractability by allowing Partition to be applied to the subsets. Applications to high dimensional data sets show scalability to hundreds of thousands of features with reasonable computation times.Availability and implementationSuper Partition is a new function within the partition R package, available on the CRAN repository (https://cran.r-project.org/web/packages/partition/index.html).
creator: Katelyn J. Queen
creator: Malcolm Barrett
creator: Joshua Millstein
uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.18580
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
rights: © 2025 Queen et al.

title: Beyond support: exploring the dynamic and static biomechanical changes induced by preventive ankle taping: a novel cross-sectional study
link: https://peerj.com/articles/18472
last-modified: 2025-01-27
description: IntroductionIn sports, 80% of all ankle injuries are sprains of the external compartment. Functional bandages are usually used preventively, specially in individuals with a history of lateral ankle injuries. To this day, the actual benefits of such taping remain unknown as important modifications are introduced in the ankle biomechanics.ObjectiveThe aim of the present study is to describe the biomechanical processes underlying these effects, such as modification during stance times, balance, contact surface and maximum and average pressures in the rearfoot, forefoot and midfoot, using a sprain preventive taping for the external ankle compartment.MethodsAn observational, analytic, cross-sectional study was designed. Data from static and dynamic plantar pressures with a pressure platform and balance data assessed with the Y Balance Test (YBT) were analysed in 50 participants (age = 21.00 ± 2.34 years, weight = 71.11 ± 13.12 kg, height = 1.75 ± 00.9 m, BMI = 22.94 ± 2.50 kg/m2, foot size = 41.60 ± 3.00) with and without preventive functional taping for lateral ankle sprain (LAS).ResultsA statistically significant decrease in YBT was observed in the taped participants toward anterior (p = 0.001) and posterolateral (p = 0.005) motion. On the static measures at the pressure platform, an increase in peak pressure at the midfoot (p = 0.001), a decrease in the maximum pressure in the forefoot (p = 0.003) and a decrease in the contact surface in the rearfoot (p = 0.003) were recorded. Dynamic measures at the pressure platform analysis showed a statistically significant decrease in contact surface at the rearfoot (p = 0.001), an increase in mean pressure in both the midfoot (p = 0.044) and forefoot (p = 0.001) and a significant decrease in velocity in the forefoot (p = 0.003).ConclusionsIn conclusion, we observed that ankle taping led to increased peak pressures in the midfoot and decreased maximum pressures in the forefoot, indicating a shift in load distribution within the plantar surface. Simultaneously, a significant reduction in the velocity at the forefoot during dynamic tasks suggests that taping may alter natural gait dynamics, potentially affecting movement efficiency and stride characteristics. In addition, the application of ankle taping significantly altered balance, as evidenced by a decrease of YBT scores anterior and posterolateral directions. Prophylactic taping in patients with no prior history of LAS is not recommended.
creator: María Bravo-Aguilar
creator: Vanesa Abuín-Porras
creator: María Blanco-Morales
creator: Carlos Romero Morales
creator: Jaime Almazán-Polo
creator: Jorge Hugo Villafañe
creator: Lorena Canosa-Carro
uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.18472
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
rights: ©2025 Bravo-Aguilar et al.

title: The correlation of region-specific lifestyle and subjective perception of oral health with oral health-related quality of life among Tibetan early adolescents in Ganzi: a cross-sectional study
link: https://peerj.com/articles/18842
last-modified: 2025-01-24
description: BackgroundThe oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) of Tibetan adolescents has been largely overlooked.AimThis cross-sectional study examined the association of region-specific lifestyle, subjective perception, and clinician conditions of oral health with Tibetan adolescents’ OHRQoL in Ganzi, Sichuan.MethodsThe OHRQoL was measured using standardized Child Oral Impacts on Daily Performances (sC-OIDP) scores. Binary logistic regression was used to explore the association between region-specific lifestyle, subjective perception of oral health, clinician oral health conditions (gingival bleeding on probing (BOP), dental calculus (DC), and decayed, missing, and filled teeth (DMFT)), and OHRQoL.ResultsIn total, 485 Tibetan adolescents were included. In relation to region-specific lifestyle, the factors associated with poorer OHRQoL were residence altitude of 3,300 m (compared to 1,400 m), buttered tea consumption by adolescents or mother, and being a boarding student. Regarding the subjective perception of oral health, adolescents that rated bad or very bad oral health or self-reported dental pain had poorer OHRQoL. Interestingly, clinician oral health conditions were not related to OHRQoL.ConclusionsThis study underscores the relationship between region-specific lifestyle, subjective oral health perceptions, and OHRQoL among Tibetan adolescents. Addressing these factors through tailored health initiatives can play a pivotal role in improving oral health outcomes and overall quality of life in remote regions like Ganzi. Future research should focus on longitudinal studies to better understand the causality and long-term impact of targeted interventions.
creator: Shaoying Duan
creator: Renjie Tang
creator: Chenchen Zhang
creator: Qianqian Su
creator: Huiyu Yang
creator: He Cai
creator: Tao Hu
uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.18842
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
rights: © 2025 Duan et al.

title: Single-cell analysis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis with diverse drug resistance using surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS)
link: https://peerj.com/articles/18830
last-modified: 2025-01-24
description: In this work, we investigated individual bacteria M. tuberculosis belonging to strains of the Beijing family with different drug sensitivity (sensitive, multi and extensive drug-resistant) by surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) in the fingerprint region. The latter is focused on the spectral bands, which correspond to a set of glutathione bands and DNA methylation patterns revealed due to 5-methylcytosine spectral biomarkers. It is shown that these spectral features can be correlated with drug sensitivity and DNA methylation. Thus, since this kind of diagnostics is fast and operates with individual cells, it can be considered a promising tool, which significantly shortens the time required for a strain’s type identification necessary to prescribe adequate therapy.
creator: Andrey Zyubin
creator: Anastasia Lavrova
creator: Marine Dogonadze
creator: Evgenii Borisov
creator: Eugene B. Postnikov
uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.18830
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
rights: © 2025 Zyubin et al.

title: A plant-derived biostimulant Aminolom Enzimatico® application stimulates chlorophyll content, electrolyte leakage, stomata density and root yield of radishes under salinity stress
link: https://peerj.com/articles/18804
last-modified: 2025-01-24
description: Biostimulants stimulate plant growth and tolerance to salinity stress, which creates unfavorable conditions for plant growth from emergence to harvest; however, little is known about their roles in triggering salt tolerance. Therefore, the study aimed to determine how applying a foliar plant-derived biostimulant (Aminolom Enzimatico® 24%) affects the growth (leaf area, biomass weight, root diameter, root fresh weight, and water-soluble dry matter), physiology (chlorophyll content, electrolyte leakage, cell membrane stability, and relative water content), and stomata of the lower and upper parts of leaves in radish plants (Raphanus sativus L.) under salinity stress. Radish plantlets at 7 d old were irrigated with saline water (i.e., 50, 100, 150, and 200 mM NaCl), and the biostimulant was sprayed twice at 7 d intervals. Under salinity stress, increased water-soluble dry matter content was detected, along with reduced plant biomass weight, root fresh weight, and root diameter. Meanwhile, the foliar biostimulant increased the mean root fresh weight, biomass fresh weight, and leaf area by 12%, 13.6%, and 24% compared to the control, respectively. Increasing NaCl dramatically reduced leaf area and relative water content, whereas chlorophyll content and stomata densities on both sides of the leaves improved. By regulating physiological parameters and thereby promoting root and leaf growth, the biostimulant application improved the radish plants’ tolerance to salinity stress up to 100 mM NaCl. Spraying the biostimulant can also boost plant growth, root yield, and radish quality under moderate salinity stress.
creator: Gamze Kaya
uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.18804
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
rights: © 2025 Kaya