title: PeerJ description: Articles published in PeerJ link: https://peerj.com/articles/index.rss3?journal=peerj&page=241 creator: info@peerj.com PeerJ errorsTo: info@peerj.com PeerJ language: en title: Passive smoking and risk of pancreatic cancer: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis link: https://peerj.com/articles/18017 last-modified: 2024-10-08 description: BackgroundPrevious meta-analysis has demonstrated that no association was validated between passive smoking and pancreatic cancer. However, there is growing evidence on this issue recently. This study aimed to confirm this association.MethodsPubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases were searched up to April 2024 for retrieval of full articles. Studies with the exposure of passive smoking and outcome of pancreatic cancer were eligible for the analysis. We generated pooled relative risks (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using DerSimonian–Laird random-effects models. Quality of evidence was assessed using the GRADE system.ResultsFourteen studies were included, with 5,560 pancreatic cancer patients. Passive smoking was associated with a moderate increased risk of pancreatic cancer (RR = 1.20, 95% CI: 1.11–1.30, p < 0.001). The results were consistent in both case-control (p=0.013) and cohort studies (p < 0.001) and in studies with high (p = 0.007) and moderate quality (p < 0.001). In subgroup analysis, the risk was significant for both current (RR=1.91, 95% CI: 1.45-2.51, p < 0.001) and non-current smokers (RR = 1.17, 95% CI: 1.01-1.36, p = 0.037), for exposure both in adulthood (RR = 1.18, 95% CI: 1.06-1.31, p = 0.002) and childhood (RR = 1.20, 95% CI: 1.08-1.34, p = 0.001). However, only regular or daily exposure (RR=1.28, 95% CI: 1.08-1.50, p = 0.003), rather than exposing occasionally, seldom or few times per week (p = 0.421), to passive smoking could increase the risk of pancreatic cancer.ConclusionPassive smoking exposure confers a significant increased risk for pancreatic cancer. The risk was valid in both case-control and cohort, high and moderate quality studies, in current and non-current smokers, and for both childhood and adulthood exposure. Regular or daily exposure rather than exposing occasionally, seldom or few times per week could exert a detrimental effect on pancreatic cancer. creator: Xudong Wang creator: Zihan Wang creator: Xujie Wang uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.18017 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0 rights: ©2024 Wang et al. title: Bivalve microbiomes are shaped by host species, size, parasite infection, and environment link: https://peerj.com/articles/18082 last-modified: 2024-10-08 description: Many factors affect an organism’s microbiome including its environment, proximity to other organisms, and physiological condition. As filter feeders, bivalves have highly plastic microbiomes that are especially influenced by the surrounding seawater, yet they also maintain a unique core set of microbes. Using 16S ribosomal RNA sequencing, we characterized the bacterial microbiomes of four species of bivalves native to the Mid-Atlantic East Coast of North America: Crassostrea virginica, Macoma balthica, Ameritella mitchelli, and Ischadium recurvum and assessed the impact of their external environment, internal parasites, and size on their microbial communities. We found significant differences in bacterial amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) across species, with each species harboring a core ASV present across all individuals. We further found that some C. virginica co-cultured with I. recurvum had high abundances of the I. recurvum core ASV. We identified ASVs associated with infection by the parasites Perkinsus marinus and Zaops ostreum as well others associated with bivalve size. Several of these ASV are candidates for further investigation as potential probiotics, as they were found positively correlated with bivalve size and health. This research represents the first description of the microbiomes of A. mitchelli, I. recurvum, and M. balthica. We document that all four species have highly plastic microbiomes, while maintaining certain core bacteria, with important implications for growth, health, and adaptation to new environments. creator: Sarah Gignoux-Wolfsohn creator: Monserrat Garcia Ruiz creator: Diana Portugal Barron creator: Gregory Ruiz creator: Katrina Lohan uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.18082 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: © 2024 Gignoux-Wolfsohn et al. title: Brain tissue oxygen pressure combined with intracranial pressure monitoring may improve clinical outcomes for patients with severe traumatic brain injury: a systemic review and meta-analysis link: https://peerj.com/articles/18086 last-modified: 2024-10-08 description: BackgroundAlthough the optimization of brain oxygenation is thought to improve the prognosis, the effect of brain tissue oxygen pressure (PbtO2) for patients with severe traumatic brain injury (STBI) remains controversial. Therefore, the present study aimed to determine whether adding PbtO2 to intracranial pressure (ICP) monitoring improves clinical outcomes for patients with STBI.MethodsPubMed, Embase, Scopus and Cochrane Library were searched for eligible trials from their respective inception through April 10th, 2024. We included clinical trials contrasting the combined monitoring of PbtO2 and ICP versus isolated ICP monitoring among patients with STBI. The primary outcome was favorable neurological outcome at 6 months, and secondary outcomes including the in-hospital mortality, long-term mortality, length of stay in intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital.ResultsA total of 16 studies (four randomized studies and 12 cohort studies) were included in the meta-analysis. Compared with isolated ICP monitoring, the combined monitoring was associated with a higher favorable neurological outcome rate at 6 months (RR 1.33, 95% CI [1.17–1.51], P < 0.0001, I2 = 0%), reduced long-term mortality (RR 0.72, 95% CI [0.59–0.87], P = 0.0008, I2 = 2%). No significant difference was identified in the in-hospital mortality (RR 0.81, 95% CI 0.66 to 1.01, P = 0.06, I2 = 32%), length of stay in ICU (MD 2.10, 95% CI [−0.37–4.56], P = 0.10, I2 = 78%) and hospital (MD 1.07, 95% CI [−2.54–4.67], P = 0.56, I2 = 49%) between two groups. However, the pooled results of randomized studies did not show beneficial effect of combined monitoring in favorable neurological outcome and long-term mortality.ConclusionsCurrently, there is limited evidence to prove that the combined PbtO2 and ICP monitoring may contribute to improved neurological outcome and long-term mortality for patients with STBI. However, the benefit of combined monitoring should be further validated in more randomized studies. creator: Chengcheng Zhang creator: Lingmin Zhou creator: Kai Zhang creator: Jian Huang creator: Lanxin Cao creator: Yuhang Lou creator: Yushi Fan creator: Xinyun Zhang creator: Yesong Wang creator: Wei Cui creator: Lihua Hu creator: Gensheng Zhang uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.18086 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: ©2024 Zhang et al. title: A preliminary study of carbon dioxide and methane emissions from patchy tropical seagrass meadows in Thailand link: https://peerj.com/articles/18087 last-modified: 2024-10-08 description: BackgroundSeagrass meadows are a significant blue carbon sink due to their ability to store large amounts of carbon within sediment. However, the knowledge of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from seagrass meadows is limited, especially from meadows in the tropical region. Therefore, in this study, CO2 and CH4 emissions and carbon metabolism were studied at a tropical seagrass meadow under various conditions.MethodsCO2 and CH4 emissions and carbon metabolism were measured using benthic chambers deployed for 18 h at Koh Mook, off the southwest coast of Thailand. The samples were collected from areas of patchy Enhalus acoroides, Thalassia hemprichii, and bare sand three times within 18 h periods of incubation: at low tide at 6 pm (t0), at low tide at 6 am (t1), and at high tide at noon (t2).ResultsSeagrass meadows at Koh Mook exhibited varying CO2 and CH4 emissions across different sampling areas. CO2 emissions were higher in patchy E. acoroides compared to patchy T. hemprichii and bare sand areas. CH4 emissions were only detected in vegetated areas (patchy E. acoroides and T. hemprichii) and were absent in bare sand. Furthermore, there were no significant differences in net community production across sampling areas, although seagrass meadows were generally considered autotrophic. Koh Mook seagrass meadows contribute only slightly to GHG emissions. The results suggested that the low GHG emissions from Koh Mook seagrass meadows do not outweigh their role as significant carbon sinks, with a value 320 t CO2−eq. This study provided baseline information for estimating GHG emissions in seagrass meadows in Thailand. creator: Muhammad Halim creator: Milica Stankovic creator: Anchana Prathep uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.18087 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: © 2024 Halim et al. title: The departure of sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) in response to the declining jumbo squid (Dosidicus gigas) population in the central portion of the Gulf of California link: https://peerj.com/articles/18117 last-modified: 2024-10-08 description: As sperm whales are important predators that control energy flux in the oceans, changes in their population can be used as a sentinel to measure of ecosystem health. The present study conducted a sperm whale survey of the eastern Midriff Islands Region in the Gulf of California over the course of nine years, recording sightings and collecting photographs of the fluke of sperm whale individuals. A photo-identification catalog was compiled, while individual recapture data were used to estimate the population size in the central portion of the Gulf of California, using a Jolly-Seber POPAN open population model. The results obtained show a yearly population of between 20 and 167 sperm whales, with a super population of 354 sperm whales observed between 2009 and 2015. However, from 2016 to 2018, no sightings of the species were recorded, which coincides with the decline observed in landings of their main prey, the jumbo squid, in the region. General additive model conducted on sperm whale sightings per unit of effort vs jumbo squid landings obtained an adjusted R2 of 0.644 and a deviance explained of 60.3%, indicating a good non-linear relationship between sightings of this odontocete and its prey availability. This evidence suggests that sperm whales departed the region between 2016 and 2018, due to a documented fishery collapse alongside changes of their main prey into its small phenotype, possibly as the result of increase warming conditions in surface and subsurface waters in the Gulf of California in the last three decades. creator: Héctor Pérez-Puig creator: Alejandro Arias Del Razo creator: Daniela Ahuatzin Gallardo creator: Jaime Bolaños uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.18117 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: ©2024 Pérez-Puig et al. title: Assessment of combined serum sST2 and AFP levels in the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma link: https://peerj.com/articles/18142 last-modified: 2024-10-08 description: BackgroundHepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common malignant tumor with high morbidity and mortality. Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is the most widely used diagnostic serum biomarker, but it still has limited accuracy in detecting HCC, suggesting the necessity of seeking more ideal biomarkers with high sensitivity and specificity. Soluble growth stimulation gene 2 (sST2) form of growth stimulating expression gene 2 (ST2), is expressed in various organs and can bind competitively to interleukin 33 (IL-33). Whether sST2 can serve as a serum biomarker for HCC is largely unknown.ObjectiveTo investigate the value of sST2 as a serum diagnostic marker for HCC.MethodsThis study included 93 newly diagnosed HCC patients (HCC group), 90 chronic hepatitis B patients (CHB group), and 90 healthy individuals (HCs group). Spearman correlation analysis was used to explore the relationships between sST2 and the experimental indicators in HCC group. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve evaluated the efficacy of sST2 alone or in combination with AFP in the diagnosis of HCC.ResultThe median level of sST2 was significantly higher in HCC group (24.00 [15.20-49.90] ng/mL) compared to CHB group (19.55 [15.23-24.95] ng/mL) and HCs group (7.65 [5.20-10.53] ng/mL). No significant correlations were found between sST2 and other clinical indicators in HCC group. The Area Under Curve (AUC) of ROC curve to distinguish HCC patients from healthy controls and CHB group was 0.861 (sensitivity 82.80%, specificity 72.10%) and 0.709 (sensitivity 80.60%, specificity 52.50%), respectively. When combined with AFP, the AUC increased to 0.963 (sensitivity 82.90%, specificity 94.20%), and 0.895 (sensitivity 72.0%, specificity 100%), respectively.ConclusionsThe serum level of sST2 increased in HCC and its diagnostic performance is comparable to that of AFP, supporting its potential as a promising biomarker for detection of HCC. The combined use of sST2 and AFP enhances diagnostic efficacy for HCC. creator: Xiuxin Tang creator: Dong Wang creator: Tangdan Ding creator: Rongqi Lin creator: Meifang He creator: Ruizhi Wang creator: Liubing Li uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.18142 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: ©2024 Tang et al. title: Increased CD14+HLA-DR-/low myeloid-derived suppressor cells can be regarded as a biomarker on disease severity and response to therapy in acute coronary syndrome link: https://peerj.com/articles/18154 last-modified: 2024-10-08 description: PurposeThis study aimed to investigate the dynamic changes in monocytic myeloid-derived suppressor cells (M-MDSCs) and their implications in the pathogenesis of acute coronary syndrome (ACS), shedding light on potential therapeutic targets.Experimental DesignPeripheral blood samples were collected from 68 ACS patients, 35 stable angina pectoris (SAP) patients, and 30 healthy controls (HC). Multi-parameter flow cytometry was employed for analysis of M-MDSCs, explored with disease characteristics and progression.ResultsACS patients exhibited an increased frequency of circulating M-MDSCs compared to SAP patients and HC. M-MDSCs levels demonstrated associations with ACS type, coronary artery lesions, multi-vessel disease, and cardiac dysfunction severity. Higher M-MDSCs levels were found in obese patients. Notably, therapy led to a significant decrease in M-MDSCs frequency. Furthermore, ACS patients exhibited elevated levels of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-10, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in the cytokine profile associated with M-MDSCs. Increased expression of arginase-1(Arg-1) was observed in ACS patients, with positive correlations between M-MDSCs levels and IL-6, GM-CSF, and Arg-1 expression. The diagnostic performance of triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and M-MDSCs levels varied in predicting the severity of coronary artery stenosis, with TG showing higher specificity, HDL-C displaying higher sensitivity, and M-MDSCs levels demonstrating balanced sensitivity and specificity.ConclusionsAssessment of M-MDSCs frequency holds promise as a predictive marker for disease progression and therapy response of coronary artery stenosis. The elevated presence of M-MDSCs suggests their potential role in modulating ACS-related inflammation. creator: Yinsheng Tan creator: Mingde Ren creator: Jie Hou creator: Tao Hou creator: Xianhe Lin uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.18154 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: ©2024 Tan et al. title: The vaginal metabolomics profile with features of polycystic ovary syndrome: a pilot investigation in China link: https://peerj.com/articles/18194 last-modified: 2024-10-08 description: BackgroundPolycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common metabolic disorder and reproductive endocrine disease, posing an elevated risk to women of reproductive age. Although metabolism differences in serum, amniotic fluid and urine have been documented in PCOS, there remains a paucity of evidence for vaginal fluid. This study aimed to identify the metabolic characteristics and potential biomarkers of PCOS in Chinese women of reproductive age.MethodsWe involved ten newly diagnosed PCOS women who attended gynecology at Zhongda Hospital and matched them with ten healthy controls who conducted health check-up programs at Gulou Maternal and Child Health Center in Nanjing, China from January 1st, 2019 to July 31st, 2020. Non-targeted metabolomics based on ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) was applied to differentially screen vaginal metabolites between PCOS group and healthy controls. Principal component analysis (PCA), orthogonal partial least-squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) and enrichment analysis were used to observe differences, search for potential biomarkers and enrich related pathways.ResultsAmong the 20 participants, a total of 195 different metabolites were detected between PCOS group and healthy control group. PCOS and control groups were effectively separated by vaginal fluid. Lipids and lipid-like molecules constituted the majority of differential metabolites. Notably, dopamine exhibited an increased trend in PCOS group and emerged as the most significant differential metabolite, suggesting its potential as a biomarker for identifying PCOS. The application of UHPLC-MS/MS based vaginal metabolomics methods showed significant differences between PCOS and non-PCOS healthy control groups, especially linoleic acid metabolism disorder. Most differential metabolites were enriched in pathways associated with linoleic acid metabolism, phenylalanine metabolism, tyrosine metabolism, nicotinate and nicotinamide metabolism or arachidonic acid metabolism.ConclusionsIn this pilot investigation, significant metabolomics differences could be obtained between PCOS and healthy control groups. For PCOS women of reproductive age, vaginal metabolism is a more economical, convenient and harmless alternative to provide careful personalized health diagnosis and potential targets for therapeutic intervention. creator: Yan Xuan creator: Xiang Hong creator: Xu Zhou creator: Tao Yan creator: Pengfei Qin creator: Danhong Peng creator: Bei Wang uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.18194 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: ©2024 Xuan et al. title: Contribution of socio-demographic factors in prevalence of soil-transmitted helminth infections among newly arrived laborers in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia link: https://peerj.com/articles/18216 last-modified: 2024-10-08 description: BackgroundSoil-transmitted diseases are caused by intestinal worms transmitted via various routes into the human body resulting in various clinical manifestations. This study aimed to investigate the socio-demographic factors contributing mainly to the prevalence of soil-transmitted helminths (STHs) among newly arrived laborers in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.MethodsA total of 188 stool specimens were collected and examined macroscopically and microscopically using different techniques. In addition, real-time PCR was used as a molecular tool to detect several STHs. The descriptive analysis was used to evaluate demographic data and categorical variables in association with STHs infection.ResultsOf all participants, the mean age was 26.08 ± 2.67 years, including 103 females and 85 males. A total of 86 (45.70%) were illiterate, followed by 60 (31.90%) of participants belonging to elementary level. STHs and other intestinal parasites were detected among 35 newly arrived laborers (18.61%). Nineteen cases (10.11%) were infected with STHs, including 15 cases with one STHs (four A. lumbricoides, four N. americanus, four T. trichiura, two S. stercoralis, one A. duodenale) and four cases with two STHs (two T. trichiura and N. americanus; one S. stercoralis and A. duodenale; one T. trichiura and S. stercoralis). High rates of STHs infection were detected among drivers (11.70%) followed by housemaids (11.20%), but with no significant association to occupation. Higher rates of STHs infection were detected among those used to walk on soil barefoot in their home countries before arriving in Jeddah.ConclusionThis study found that none of the newly arrived expatriate laborers in Jeddah was aware of STHs. About 10% of them had infection with one or two STHs, mainly among newly arrived laborers from Asian countries. There is a need for awareness programs and regular screening for STHs and other intestinal parasites among newly arrived expatriate laborers. creator: Majed H. Wakid creator: Mohammad F. Al-Refai uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.18216 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: ©2024 Wakid and Al-Refai title: Cross-cultural adaptation and psychometric properties of the Arabic version of the Central Sensitization Inventory in people with chronic musculoskeletal pain link: https://peerj.com/articles/18251 last-modified: 2024-10-08 description: BackgroundThe Central Sensitization Inventory (CSI) is a patient-reported screening instrument that can be used to identify and assess central sensitization (CS)/Central Sensitization Syndrome (CSS)-related symptoms.ObjectiveThe aim was to translate the CSI into Arabic (CSI-Ar) and to subsequently validate its psychometric properties.DesignCross-sectional.MethodsThe CSI was translated and cross-culturally adapted into Arabic, and validated following international standardized guidelines. This study included patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain (n = 264) and healthy control participants (n = 56). Patients completed the CSI-Ar, Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS), Depression, Anxiety, and Stress scale (DASS-21), Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia (TSK), and 5-level EuroQol-5D (EQ-5D). Patients completed the CSI-Ar twice to assess test–retest reliability. To evaluate discriminative validity, healthy controls participants completed the CSI-Ar. Statistical analyses were conducted to test the internal consistency, reliability, and structural, construct and discriminant validity of CSI-Ar.ResultsThe CSI-Ar showed acceptable internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.919) and excellent test–retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.874). The CSI-Ar scale had significant correlations (P < 0.001) with all PCS subscales and total score (Spearman’s rho = 0.459–0.563, P < 0.001), all DASS-21 subscales and total score (Spearman’s rho = 0.599–0.685, P < 0.001), the TSK (Spearman’s rho = 0.395, P < 0.001), and the EQ-5D (Spearman’s rho = −0.396, P < 0.001). The Mann-Whitney U-test showed a statistically significant difference between the patient group and the healthy control group (P < 0.001), with the healthy controls displaying a lower average CSI-Ar score (12.27 ± 11.50) when compared to the patient group (27.97 ± 16.08). Factor analysis indicated that the CSI-Ar is a unidimensional tool.ConclusionThe CSI-Ar is a reliable and valid screening tool that can be used to assess CS/CSS-related symptoms in Arabic-speaking people with chronic musculoskeletal pain. creator: Sarah E. Tamboosi creator: Hosam Alzahrani creator: Fahad H. Alshehri creator: Msaad Alzhrani creator: Yasir S. Alshehri uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.18251 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: © 2024 Tamboosi et al.