title: PeerJ description: Articles published in PeerJ link: https://peerj.com/articles/index.rss3?journal=peerj&page=192 creator: info@peerj.com PeerJ errorsTo: info@peerj.com PeerJ language: en title: Non-obese non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and the risk of chronic kidney disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis link: https://peerj.com/articles/18459 last-modified: 2024-12-17 description: BackgroundData on risk of developing chronic kidney disease (CKD) between non-obese and obese non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) patients are limited. We aimed to reveal the risk difference of incident CKD between non-obese and obese NAFLD patients.MethodsWe searched PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases for studies which reported the incidence of CKD in non-obese and obese NAFLD from inception to 10 March 2024. The primary and secondary outcomes were pooled. Subgroup analysis was used to examine the heterogeneity.ResultsA total of 15 studies were incorporated. The incidence of CKD in non-obese and obese NAFLD were 1,450/38,720 (3.74%) and 3,067/84,154 (3.64%), respectively. Non-obese NAFLD patients had a comparable risk of CKD as obese NAFLD (odds ratio [OR] 0.92, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] [0.72–1.19], I2 = 88%). No differences in estimated glomerular filtration rate and serum creatinine between non-obese and obese NAFLD were found. The mean differences (MD) and 95% CI were 0.01 [−0.02 to 0.04] and 0.50 [−0.90 to 1.90], respectively. In subgroup analyses, non-obese NAFLD had higher eGFR when diagnosed with ultrasound (MD 1.45, 95% CI [0.11–2.79], I2 = 21%). Non-obese NAFLD had higher creatinine in non-Asian (MD 0.06, 95% CI [0.01–0.11], I2 = 55%) and when taking BMI > 30 as the criterion for obesity (MD 0.06, 95% CI [0.00–0.12], I2 = 76%). The occurrence of CKD did not differ when non-obese NAFLD were categorized into overweight and normal-weight types.ConclusionsNon-obese NAFLD patients experienced the same risk of CKD compared to obese NAFLD. creator: Yixian You creator: Xiong Pei creator: Wei Jiang creator: Qingmin Zeng creator: Lang Bai creator: Taoyou Zhou creator: Xiaoju Lv creator: Hong Tang creator: Dongbo Wu uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.18459 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: © 2024 You et al. title: Coral reef rehabilitation following Hurricane Irma using nano-engineered artificial reefs in Sint Maarten link: https://peerj.com/articles/18487 last-modified: 2024-12-17 description: Artificial reefs are being increasingly deployed as a coral reef restoration strategy. Additional reef habitats made from conventional substrates (e.g., metal, concrete, etc.) have had limited success in addressing conservation objectives on degraded coral reefs due to structure size and lack of standardized monitoring, and inability to enhance select ecological, and species variables. Technological advances and new restoration methods must be quickly tested and applied on a large scale to curb further deterioration of coral reefs. Here, we present the results of the first deployment of Oceanite artificial reefs (ARs). We compare the composition of the benthic community and associated fish assemblages on Oceanite ARs 14 months after deployment in a marine protected area (MPA) and two unprotected sites in Philipsburg, Sint Maarten. We also examined fish abundance and behaviour on the ARs. The initial results from this pilot study suggest that Oceanite mineral matrices can enhance local biodiversity, attract coral recruits, provide food and protection for large fish communities, and develop an early stage, healthy coral reef community in 14 months. We suggest that further research and testing of Oceanite capabilities will allow us to develop site-, species-, and function-specific nanotechnology-enabled substrates to optimize AR conservation goals. Oceanite mix designs can be tuned to precise parameters to promote reef restoration and stressor mitigation (e.g., pH, leachate emissions, surface texture, porosity, void structure, and hydrophobic, heat-absorbing, and disease-fighting properties). Using both bottom-up and top-down restoration processes, we suggest that deploying bio-enhancing habitats with targeted microclimate stressor treatments on the world’s critical reefs will allow to build global refuges resilient to climate change and provide much needed ecosystem services. creator: Emily Higgins creator: Kyralai Duppel creator: Megan Connell creator: Guyon Brenna creator: Konstantin Sobolev uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.18487 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: © 2024 Higgins et al. title: Prognostic value of inflammatory and nutritional indexes among patients with unresectable advanced gastric cancer receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors combined with chemotherapy—a retrospective study link: https://peerj.com/articles/18659 last-modified: 2024-12-17 description: BackgroundRecent studies have revealed that inflammatory factors and nutritional status of patients with advanced gastric cancer (AGC) are related to the efficacy of drug therapy and patient prognosis. This study seeks to evaluate the correlation between inflammatory markers, nutritional status, and clinical outcomes of immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI)-based therapies among inoperable AGC patients.MethodThis retrospective study included 88 AGC patients who received ICIs combined with chemotherapy. Inflammatory and nutritional indicators from patients before and after two cycles of treatment were collected. Finally, the correlations between these indicators and the clinical response and survival of AGC patients with ICI treatment were examined.ResultsThe results revealed that an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (ECOG PS) score of 0, neutrophil count to lymphocyte count ratio (NLR) < 2.84, platelet count to lymphocyte count ratio (PLR) < 82.23, lymphocyte count to monocyte count ratio ≥ 2.35, the hemoglobin, albumin, lymphocyte and platelet score (HALP) ≥ 31.17, prognostic nutritional index (PNI) ≥ 46.53, albumin ≥ 41.65, the decreased HALP group and the decreased PNI group were significantly correlated with improved objective response rate. Additionally, an ECOG PS score of 0, NLR < 2.84 and the decreased HALP group was associated with a superior disease control rate. Meanwhile, an ECOG PS score of 0 (progression-free survival (PFS): P = 0.003; overall survival (OS): P = 0.001) and decreased PLR following treatment (PFS: P = 0.011; OS: P = 0.008) were significant independent predictors of PFS and OS. Lastly, a systemic immune inflammation index ≥ 814.8 was also a positive independent predictor of OS among AGC patients.ConclusionOur study supports the potential of inflammatory and nutritional factors to serve as predictors of the efficacy and prognosis in patients undergoing ICI-based therapies for AGC. However, further investigations are necessary to validate these findings. creator: Meiqin Zhu creator: Lin-Ting Zhang creator: Wenjuan Lai creator: Fang Yang creator: Danyang Zhou creator: Ruilian Xu creator: Gangling Tong uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.18659 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0 rights: © 2024 Zhu et al. title: The relationship between mitochondrial DNA haplotype and its copy number on body weight and morphological traits of Wuliangshan black-bone chickens link: https://peerj.com/articles/17989 last-modified: 2024-12-16 description: Mitochondria play a pivotal role as carriers of genetic information through their circular DNA molecules. The rapid evolution of the D-loop region in mitochondria makes it an ideal molecular marker for exploring genetic differentiation among individuals within species and populations with close kinship. However, the influence of mtDNA D-loop region haplotypes and mtDNA copy numbers on phenotypic traits, particularly production traits in chickens, remains poorly understood. In this comprehensive study, we conducted D-loop region amplification and sequencing in the blood mitochondria of 232 female Wuliangshan black-bone chickens. Our investigation identified a total of 38 haplotypes, with a focus on 10 haplotypes that included more than five individuals. We meticulously analyzed the correlations between these haplotypes and a range of traits, encompassing body weight, tibial length, tibial circumference, body oblique length, chest width, and chest depth. The results unveiled significant disparities in specific tested traits across different haplotypes, indicating a tangible association between mtDNA haplotypes and traits in chickens. These findings underscore the potential impact of mitochondrial DNA variations on energy metabolism, ultimately leading to divergent chicken phenotypes. Furthermore, our examination revealed positive correlations between mtDNA copy numbers and tested traits for select haplotypes, while other haplotypes exhibited non-uniform relationships between traits and mtDNA copy numbers. In addition, phylogenetic analysis disclosed the involvement of two subspecies of red jungle chicken in the origin of Wuliangshan black-bone chickens. Consequently, our research contributes novel insights into mitochondrial genomic selection, augments comprehension of the roles played by haplotypes and mtDNA copy numbers in chicken population genetics and phylogenetic analysis, and furnishes fundamental data crucial for the preservation and provenance determination of black-bone chickens. creator: Wenpeng Li creator: Zhen Yang creator: Chao Yan creator: Siyu Chen creator: Xingbo Zhao uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.17989 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: © 2024 Li et al. title: Hydrogen gas inhalation prior to high-intensity training reduces attenuation of nitric oxide bioavailability in male rugby players link: https://peerj.com/articles/18503 last-modified: 2024-12-16 description: BackgroundInhalation of hydrogen gas (H2) as an antioxidant supplement may alleviate exercise-induced oxidative damage and protect post-exercise hydrogen peroxide signaling, which may help mediate beneficial exercise adaptation. The aims of this study were to determine the effects of H2 inhalation on plasma nitric oxide (NO) level and its synthesis precursor in professional athletes.MethodsA randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, crossover trial was conducted with professional male rugby players for 3 weeks. Participants underwent 1 week of H2 supplementation and 1 week of placebo treatment prior to daily sessions of high-intensity exercise training, separated by 1 week of low-intensity training as a washout.ResultsTwo-way (supplementation and time) repeated-measures analyses of variance showed that NO, L-arginine, and tetrahydrobiopterin levels in the H2 inhalation group were significantly higher than those in the placebo group after exercise (D6) and remained higher after 24 h of rest (D7). Levels of hydroxydeoxyguanosine and interleukin 6 were lower in the H2 inhalation week than in the placebo week on D6 and D7. In addition, total antioxidant levels were significantly higher with H2 inhalation than with placebo.SignificanceThese results suggest that H2 inhalation helps to maintain NO signaling after exercise and to alleviate inflammation and oxidative stress induced by high-intensity exercise training in professional athletes. creator: Yuqi Zhao creator: Chaoqun Li creator: Shi Zhou creator: Zhiguang Xu creator: Xin Huang creator: Li Wen uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.18503 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0 rights: © 2024 Zhao et al. title: Characteristics, source apportionment and health risks of indoor and outdoor fine particle-bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in Jinan, North China link: https://peerj.com/articles/18553 last-modified: 2024-12-16 description: To investigate the pollution characteristics of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) indoors and outdoors and their influencing factors, PM2.5 samples were systematically collected from both environments in Jinan during the summer and autumn seasons. During the observation period, the concentration of ∑ 19PAHs was 18.57 ± 10.50 ng/m3 indoors and 23.79 ± 16.13 ng/m3 outdoors. Most PAHs exhibited indoor-to-outdoor (I/O) ratios less than 1, indicating that indoor PAHs were primarily derived from the infiltration of outdoor sources. Correlation analysis underscored the significant influence of temperature on both outdoor concentrations and I/O ratios of PAHs. By utilizing diagnostic ratios and principal component analysis (PCA), vehicle emissions were identified as the predominant source of outdoor PAHs. Our study found that the toxic equivalents of benzo[a]pyrene (TEQBaP) values exceeded the European Commission’s standard of 1 ng/m3, with indoor values at 2.78 ng/m3 and outdoor values at 3.57 ng/m3. Moreover, the total incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCRTotal) associated with exposure to PM2.5-bound PAHs surpassed the acceptable level of 10E-6, indicating potential adverse health effects. These results underscore the urgent necessity for more stringent regulatory measures to reduce PAH emissions. Additionally, our findings provide valuable insights into how environmental factors shape the relationship between indoor and outdoor PAHs. creator: Xiaomei Gao creator: Ziyi Wang creator: Xiaoyan Sun creator: Weidong Gao creator: Wei Jiang creator: Xi Wang creator: Fenfen Zhang creator: Xinfeng Wang creator: Lingxiao Yang creator: Yang Zhou uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.18553 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: ©2024 Gao et al. title: Length-mass relationships of pond macroinvertebrates do not hold between Southern and Northern Europe link: https://peerj.com/articles/18576 last-modified: 2024-12-16 description: The lack of reliable data on length-mass relationships, essential to obtain accurate biomass estimates, limits our ability to easily assess secondary production by aquatic invertebrates. In the absence of published equations from similar habitat conditions, authors often borrow equations developed in geographic regions with different climate conditions, which may bias biomass estimates. A literature overview of published size-mass relationships for Portugal and Sweden highlights the need for further data within these biogeographic regions. We increased the number of equations available to Southern and Northern Europe, developing 18 new length-mass relationships for two families and 10 genera in Portugal and Sweden. All equations were published for the first time for these countries, except the genus Asellus. Our length-mass relationships were obtained from specimens collected on a one-time sampling of eight ponds in Portugal and five ponds in Sweden during late spring in 2023. Dry mass (DM) was modelled as a function of body length (BL), using the natural log-linear function with a power model (ln DM = ln a + b × ln BL). The equations obtained were compared with linear mixed models testing the fixed effects of “body length” and “country”, as well as their interaction. A comparison of the equations developed in this study showed country-specific differences for all taxa, expect the genus Caenis, indicating a low potential transferability of the equations between Southern and Northern Europe. In contrast, the comparison of the equation obtained for A. aquaticus in this study with an equation published for this taxon in Sweden showed great similarities, suggesting a high transferability. Recommending caution in the borrowing of published length-mass equations, that can differ drastically between different geographic and climatic regions, especially at larger sizes, we provide a series of guidelines and good practices in this field. creator: Vladimíra Dekanová creator: Marek Svitok creator: Sara Bento creator: João Caramelo creator: Pedro Peixe e Sousa creator: Bruno M. Carreira uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.18576 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: © 2024 Dekanová et al. title: Charting the global footprint of borderline oxacillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (BORSA): the first systematic review and meta-analysis link: https://peerj.com/articles/18604 last-modified: 2024-12-16 description: Borderline oxacillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (BORSA) has been a persistent yet under-researched concern in the realm of antibiotic resistance, characterized by unique resistance mechanisms and potential for severe infections. This systematic review and meta-analysis consolidates data from 29 studies encompassing 18,781 samples, revealing a global BORSA prevalence of 6.6% (95% CI [4.0–10.7]). The highest prevalence was found in animals (46.3%), followed by food (8.9%), and humans (5.1%). Notably, significant regional disparities were observed, with Brazil exhibiting the highest prevalence at 70.0%, while The Netherlands reported just 0.5%. These findings underscore the multifaceted nature of BORSA epidemiology, influenced by local antibiotic usage practices and healthcare infrastructures. The analysis also reveals substantial heterogeneity (I2 = 96.802%), highlighting the need for improved reporting practices and tailored surveillance protocols that account for the specific contexts of each study. As antibiotic resistance continues to escalate, understanding BORSA’s global footprint is crucial for informing targeted interventions and optimizing antibiotic stewardship programs. This study fills critical gaps in current knowledge of BORSA and highlights the need for coordinated efforts among researchers, healthcare providers, and policymakers to develop effective strategies for addressing the rising threat of antibiotic-resistant pathogens like BORSA, including further exploration of its genetic and phenotypic characteristics. creator: Engku Nur Syafirah Engku Abd Rahman creator: Ahmad Adebayo Irekeola creator: Dina Yamin creator: Abdirahman Hussein Elmi creator: Yean Yean Chan uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.18604 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: © 2024 Engku Abd Rahman et al. title: Comparative effectiveness and safety of Angio-Seal and StarClose vascular closure devices: a systematic review and meta-analysis link: https://peerj.com/articles/18652 last-modified: 2024-12-16 description: ObjectiveThis systematic review and meta-analysis aims to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of Angio-Seal and StarClose vascular closure devices (VCDs) in achieving hemostasis after interventional surgery.MethodsRandomized controlled trials (RCTs) and observational studies comparing Angio-Seal and StarClose were identified through systematic searches. Data on vascular closure success rate, complication rates, hematoma formation, pseudoaneurysm, arterial occlusion, and surgical intervention were extracted and pooled using a random effects model.ResultsNine studies met the inclusion criteria, total 5,466 patients. The meta-analysis revealed a slight, statistically significant difference in the success rate of vascular closure in favor of Angio-Seal (risk ratio (RR) 1.05, 95% confidence interval (CI) [1.00–1.09], p = 0.03). No significant difference was found in the overall complication rate, hematoma formation, pseudoaneurysm, arterial occlusion, or surgical intervention.ConclusionsAngio-Seal demonstrated a slightly higher success rate in vessel closure compared to StarClose. Both devices had a comparable safety profile with no significant differences in major complications. creator: Kun Lai creator: Jingquan Chen creator: Qiang Tan creator: Lan Luo uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.18652 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: © 2024 Lai et al. title: Identification of chromosome ploidy and karyotype analysis of cherries (Prunus pseudocerasus Lindl.) in Guizhou link: https://peerj.com/articles/18668 last-modified: 2024-12-16 description: The present study aimed to characterize the chromosome features of cherry (Prunus pseudocerasus Lindl.) germplasm in Guizhou Province, China, in order to facilitate the selection and breeding programs of this economically and ornamentally valuable species. The stem tip chromosome preparation technique was employed for ploidy identification and karyotype analysis, and the results were further validated by flow cytometry. The findings revealed that the 28 cherry accessions from Guizhou province exhibited a chromosomal base of x = 8, comprising 19 tetraploid and nine hexaploid individuals. Karyotype analysis showed two chromosome types, “m” and “sm,” with the longest chromosome/shortest chromosome (Lc/Sc) ranging from 1.6 to 2.65, the mean arm ratio (MAR) varying from 1.15 to 1.56, and index of the karyotypic asymmetry (As.K) ranging from 53.74 to 61.6. Three karyotype types, “1A,” “1B,” and “2B,” were identified among the studied accessions. The most evolutionarily advanced accession was HZ152, while DCZC27 represented the most primitive karyotype. This study expands the ploidy database of Chinese cherry and provides valuable information for the conservation and utilization of cherry germplasm resources in Guizhou province. creator: Nian Chen creator: Yali Wang creator: Mei He creator: Fei An creator: Jiyue Wang creator: Changmei Song uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.18668 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: © 2024 Chen et al.