title: PeerJ description: Articles published in PeerJ link: https://peerj.com/articles/index.rss3?journal=peerj&page=635 creator: info@peerj.com PeerJ errorsTo: info@peerj.com PeerJ language: en title: Effectiveness of a community-based peer support service among persons suffering severe mental illness in China link: https://peerj.com/articles/14091 last-modified: 2022-10-10 description: BackgroundCommunity-based peer support service is widely and effectively deployed for persons suffering severe mental illness (SMI) in countries with well-developed outpatient mental health systems. The objective of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of a 1-year peer service project among persons with SMI implemented in China.MethodsA total of 101 consumers (service recipients) and 66 family caregivers were recruited at baseline from communities located in Beijing and Chengdu. Severity of psychiatric symptoms, personal and social functioning, self-esteem, life satisfaction, and medication adherence were evaluated among consumers. Self-esteem, life satisfaction, anxiety, and depressive symptoms were assessed among family caregivers. Participants were reevaluated at 1 year with the same measures. Changes in outcomes from baseline to 1-year follow-up were examined using paired sample t tests or Stuart-Maxwell tests.ResultsConsumers’ psychiatric symptoms were decreased at 1 year (p < 0.001). Their personal and social functioning (p = 0.003) and life satisfaction (p < 0.001) were increased. There were no improvements in self-esteem (p = 0.108) and medication adherence (ps ≥ 0.827) among consumers. For caregivers, no increases were presented in outcomes at the 1-year assessment (ps ≥ 0.164).ConclusionsThe findings suggest that peer support services could be sustainably implemented across China, with positive impacts on the psychiatric symptoms, social functioning, and life satisfaction of participants suffering SMI. creator: Yunge Fan creator: Ning Ma creator: Aili Ouyang creator: Wufang Zhang creator: Manxi He creator: Yong Chen creator: Jin Liu creator: Zhongxiang Li creator: Junlan Yang creator: Liang Ma creator: Eric D. Caine uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.14091 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: ©2022 Fan et al. title: Differentially expressed genes related to plant height and yield in two alfalfa cultivars based on RNA-seq link: https://peerj.com/articles/14096 last-modified: 2022-10-10 description: BackgroundAlfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is a kind of forage with high relative feeding value in farming and livestock breeding, and is of great significance to the development of animal husbandry. The growth of the aboveground part of alfalfa is an important factor that limits crop yield. Clarifying the molecular mechanisms that maintain vigorous growth in alfalfa may contribute to the development of molecular breeding for this crop.MethodsHere, we evaluated the growth phenotypes of five cultivars of alfalfa (WL 712, WL 525HQ, Victoria, Knight 2, and Aohan). Then RNA-seq was performed on the stems of WL 712, chosen as a fast growing cultivar, and Aohan, chosen as a slow growing cultivar. GO enrichment analysis was conducted on all differentially expressed genes (DEGs).ResultAmong the differentially expressed genes that were up-regulated in the fast growing cultivar, GO analysis revealed enrichment in the following seven categories: formation of water-conducting tissue in vascular plants, biosynthesis and degradation of lignin, formation of the primary or secondary cell wall, cell enlargement and plant growth, cell division and shoot initiation, stem growth and induced germination, and cell elongation. KEGG analysis showed that differentially expressed genes were annotated as being involved in plant hormone signal transduction, photosynthesis, and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis. KEGG analysis also showed that up-regulated in the fast growing cultivar were members of the WRKY family of transcription factors related to plant growth and development, members of the NAC and MYB gene families related to the synthesis of cellulose and hemicellulose, and the development of secondary cell wall fibres, and finally, MYB family members that are involved in plant growth regulation. Our research results not only enrich the transcriptome database of alfalfa, but also provide valuable information for explaining the molecular mechanism of fast growth, and can provide reference for the production of alfalfa. creator: Jiangjiao Qi creator: Xue Yu creator: Xuzhe Wang creator: Fanfan Zhang creator: Chunhui Ma uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.14096 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: ©2022 Qi et al. title: Rapid and convenient detection of SARS-CoV-2 using a colorimetric triple-target reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification method link: https://peerj.com/articles/14121 last-modified: 2022-10-10 description: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by SARS-CoV-2 poses a significant threat to global public health. Early detection with reliable, fast, and simple assays is crucial to contain the spread of SARS-CoV-2. The real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay is currently the gold standard for SARS-CoV-2 detection; however, the reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification method (RT-LAMP) assay may allow for faster, simpler and cheaper screening of SARS-CoV-2. In this study, the triple-target RT-LAMP assay was first established to simultaneously detect three different target regions (ORF1ab, N and E genes) of SARS-CoV-2. The results revealed that the developed triplex RT-LAMP assay was able to detect down to 11 copies of SARS-CoV-2 RNA per 25 µL reaction, with greater sensitivity than singleplex or duplex RT-LAMP assays. Moreover, two different indicators, hydroxy naphthol blue (HNB) and cresol red, were studied in the colorimetric RT-LAMP assay; our results suggest that both indicators are suitable for RT-LAMP reactions with an obvious color change. In conclusion, our developed triplex colorimetric RT-LAMP assay may be useful for the screening of COVID-19 cases in limited-resource areas. creator: Zhu Yang creator: Nicole Y. Liu creator: Zhiwei Zhu creator: Minmin Xiao creator: Shuzhi Zhong creator: Qiqi Xue creator: Lina Nie creator: Jinhong Zhao uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.14121 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: ©2022 Yang et al. title: The impact of children’s temperament on recurrent unintentional injuries: the role of paternal parenting styles as a mediator link: https://peerj.com/articles/14128 last-modified: 2022-10-10 description: BackgroundUnintentional injuries (UIs) pose a threat to the health of children all over the world and are a major global health problem. The recurrence of UIs are influenced by the host itself or environmental factors. Children’s temperament and paternal parenting styles (PPS) are important potential factors for poor health outcomes, including recurrent unintentional injuries (recurrent UIs). Therefore, exploring the relationship among these variables may help reduce the likelihood of recurrent UIs in children.PurposeTo elucidate the mediating effect of PPS in the relationship of children’s temperament characteristics and recurrent UIs among children.MethodsBy multistage random cluster sampling method, a total of 2,850 pupils in grades four and five from 10 different schools were included. The survey included the characteristics of UIs in the past year, parenting styles, and children’s temperament. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to examine the possible mediating effect of PPS between children’s temperament and recurrent UIs.ResultsIn this study, the incidence rate of recurrent UIs was 3.8%. In temperament, children with recurrent UIs had higher mean scores than the non-recurrent UIs group (t = −3.40, −3.52, −3.45, respectively; p < 0.001) in the activity, predictability, persistence. Meanwhile, the scores of negative PPS (punishing, over-interference, rejection, and overprotection) were higher in the recurrent UIs group than in the non-recurrent UIs group (t = −5.78, −5.05, −5.56, and −3.29; p < 0.001, < 0.001, < 0.001, < 0.001, respectively). Using a stepwise binary logistic regression model, grade (OR = 0.23, 95% CI [0.12–0.41], p < 0.001), activity (OR = 1.61, 95% CI [1.14–2.26], p = 0.007) and over-interference (OR = 2.28, 95% CI [1.37–3.80], p = 0.002) had a significant independent relationship with recurrent UIs. The SEM results indicated that children’s temperament was significantly related to negative PPS (β = 0.26, p < 0.001) and recurrent UIs (β = 0.11, p = 0.029). The results of the bootstrap test confirmed the significance of the mediating effect of PPS (β = 0.06, p < 0.001) between children’s temperament and recurrent UIs.ConclusionsThese results suggest that negative PPS plays an important role in mediating children’s temperament and recurrent UIs. It is essential to consider PPS when creating tailored intervention programs to reduce children’s recurrent UIs. creator: Liuyuan Zhang creator: Jin Liu creator: Ying Tang creator: Li Wang uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.14128 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: © 2022 Zhang et al. title: Evaluation of physical activity among undergraduate students in Mogadishu Universities in the aftermath of COVID-19 restrictions link: https://peerj.com/articles/14131 last-modified: 2022-10-10 description: BackgroundInternational restrictions were enacted during the COVID-19 pandemic to limit social interaction and viral transmission. These measures had a negative impact on physical activity (PA), creating changes in students’ health and lifestyles. The present study aimed to evaluate the levels of PA among undergraduate students in three different universities in Mogadishu after the relaxation of COVID-19 lockdown using the international physical activity questionnaire-long version (IPAQ-L) and its potential associated factors.MethodsThis study is a multicentral study conducted at Somali International University, Horn of Africa University, and Daha International University. A total of 1,189 respondents were asked to answer the online questionnaire provided via a link shared using their social media.ResultsAfter COVID-19 restrictions approximately ≥ 150 minutes of PA per week was reported by 500 men (97.3%) and 652 women (96.6%) at work. While 7 (1.4%) of men and 20 (3%) of women participate in < 150 minutes each week, respectively. Furthermore, only seven (1.4%) of males and three (0.4%) of women reported to have not performed any PA at work.ConclusionThe majority of the undergraduate students at the selected universities in Mogadishu were physically active after the relaxation of COVID-19 rules in Somalia. Such a high level of PA is a significant advantage to public health. creator: Sameer Badri AL-Mhanna creator: Wan Syaheedah Wan Ghazali creator: Mahaneem Mohamed creator: Abdulrahman Mohammed Sheikh creator: Abedelmalek Kalefh Tabnjh creator: HafeezAbiola Afolabi creator: Yahkub Babatunde Mutalub creator: Azeez Omoniyi Adeoye creator: Mariam Mohamed Nur creator: Monira I. Aldhahi uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.14131 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: ©2022 AL-Mhanna et al. title: Impact of ventilator settings during venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation on clinical outcomes in influenza-associated acute respiratory distress syndrome: a multicenter retrospective cohort study link: https://peerj.com/articles/14140 last-modified: 2022-10-10 description: BackgroundPatients with influenza-associated acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) requiring venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (vv-ECMO) support have a high mortality rate. Ventilator settings have been known to have a substantial impact on outcomes. However, the optimal settings of mechanical ventilation during vv-ECMO are still unknown.MethodsThis multicenter retrospective cohort study was conducted in the intensive care units (ICUs) of three tertiary referral hospitals in Taiwan between July 2009 and December 2019. It aims to describe the effect of ventilator settings during vv-ECMO on patient outcomes.ResultsA total of 93 patients with influenza receiving ECMO were screened. Patients were excluded if they: were receiving venoarterial ECMO, died within three days of vv-ECMO initiation, or were transferred to the tertiary referral hospital >24 hours after vv-ECMO initiation. A total of 62 patients were included in the study, and 24 (39%) died within six months. During the first three days of ECMO, there were no differences in tidal volume (5.1 vs. 5.2 mL/kg, p = 0.833), dynamic driving pressure (15 vs. 14 cmH2O, p = 0.146), and mechanical power (11.3 vs. 11.8 J/min, p = 0.352) between survivors and non-survivors. However, respiratory rates were significantly higher in non-survivors compared with survivors (15 vs. 12 breaths/min, p = 0.013). After adjustment for important confounders, a higher mean respiratory rate of >12 breaths/min was still associated with higher mortality (adjusted hazard ratio = 3.31, 95% confidence interval = 1.10–9.97, p = 0.034).ConclusionsIn patients with influenza-associated ARDS receiving vv-ECMO support, we found that a higher respiratory rate was associated with higher mortality. Respiratory rate might be a modifiable factor to improve outcomes in this patient population. creator: Ting-Yu Liao creator: Sheng-Yuan Ruan creator: Chien-Heng Lai creator: Li-Jung Tseng creator: Li-Ta Keng creator: You-Yi Chen creator: Chih-Hsien Wang creator: Jung-Yien Chien creator: Huey-Dong Wu creator: Yih-Sharng Chen creator: Chong-Jen Yu uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.14140 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: ©2022 Liao et al. title: A conserved role of bam in maintaining metabolic homeostasis via regulating intestinal microbiota in Drosophila link: https://peerj.com/articles/14145 last-modified: 2022-10-10 description: BackgroundPrevious studies have proven that bag-of-marbles (bam) plays a pivotal role in promoting early germ cell differentiation in Drosophila ovary. However, whether it functions in regulating the metabolic state of the host remains largely unknown.MethodsWe utilized GC-MS, qPCR, and some classical kits to examine various metabolic profiles and gut microbial composition in bam loss-of-function mutants and age-paired controls. We performed genetic manipulations to explore the tissue/organ-specific role of bam in regulating energy metabolism in Drosophila. The DSS-induced mouse colitis was generated to identify the role of Gm114, the mammalian homolog of bam, in modulating intestinal homeostasis.ResultsWe show that loss of bam leads to an increased storage of energy in Drosophila. Silence of bam in intestines results in commensal microbial dysbiosis and metabolic dysfunction of the host. Moreover, recovery of bam expression in guts almost rescues the obese phenotype in bam loss-of-function mutants. Further examinations of mammalian Gm114 imply a similar biological function in regulating the intestinal homeostasis and energy storage with its Drosophila homolog bam.ConclusionOur studies uncover a novel biological function of bam/Gm114 in regulating the host lipid homeostasis. creator: Jiale Wang creator: Yangyang Zhu creator: Chao Zhang creator: Renjie Duan creator: Fanrui Kong creator: Xianrui Zheng creator: Yongzhi Hua uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.14145 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: ©2022 Wang et al. title: A new bilaterally injured trilobite presents insight into attack patterns of Cambrian predators link: https://peerj.com/articles/14185 last-modified: 2022-10-10 description: Durophagous predation in the Cambrian is typically recorded as malformed shells and trilobites, with rarer evidence in the form of coprolites and shelly gut contents. Reporting novel evidence for shell-crushing further expands the understanding of where and when in the Cambrian durophagy was present. To expand the current documentation and present new records of malformed trilobites from the Cambrian of China, we present an injured Redlichia (Pteroredlichia) chinensis from the lower Cambrian Balang Formation, western Hunan, South China. The specimen has two distinct injuries along the thorax. The injuries show different degrees of regeneration, suggesting that the specimen was attacked twice. We propose that the individual may have been targeted more readily for the second attack. This predatory approach would have been highly energy efficient, maximizing net energy gain during the attack. creator: Ruiwen Zong creator: Russell D.C. Bicknell uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.14185 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: ©2022 Zong and Bicknell title: Self-rated oral health among elderly patients attending a university dental hospital in Thailand: a telephone-based cross-sectional survey study link: https://peerj.com/articles/14191 last-modified: 2022-10-10 description: BackgroundOral health perception is an influential predictor of both current and future health among the elderly. However, limited research has focused on self-rated oral health among older patients attending tertiary dental care. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the potential factors associated with self-rated oral health among elderly patients attending a university dental hospital in Thailand.MethodsThis telephone-based cross-sectional study was carried out among elderly patients older than 60 years who attended at least one dental visit at the university dental hospital in 2020. Hospital numbers (HN) were used to identify eligible candidates for this study. We calculated the sample size by assuming a finite population of 70,028 elderly patients with valid telephone numbers. The minimum sample required for this study was 398 participants. Trained interviewers conducted telephone calls between July 2021 and January 2022 using the validated modified oral health questionnaire. Self-rated oral health was assessed using a conventionally used global oral health question: “How would you describe your dental health?” with three response options: good, fair, and poor. Descriptive statistics, Fisher’s exact test, and binary logistic regression were performed to analyze the data.ResultsA total of 836 telephone numbers were called. There were 402 (48.10%) elderly patients who agreed to and completed the telephone interview. Most of the study participants were women (61.4%) between 61–74 years of age (83.1%) with a mean age of 69.18 years. Bivariate analyses showed associations between poor self-rated oral health and lower subjective oral functions: chewing discomfort (p < 0.001) and speaking discomfort (p = 0.013). However, the multivariate regression model indicated a significant association between poor self-rated oral health and chewing discomfort (p < 0.001). Therefore, elderly patients with chewing discomfort were more likely to perceive poor oral health.ConclusionsThese findings indicate that difficulty chewing could be a potential factor influencing self-rated adverse oral health among older patients attending the university dental hospital. Furthermore, our study adds that the predictive power of a single-item self-measurement supports its value as a standard measure to predict oral health risk in tertiary care institutions, as well as primary care settings and community-based survey research. Therefore, healthcare providers should routinely evaluate self-rated oral health among elderly patients to detect early signs and symptoms of oral health problems, assess the success of dental treatments, and monitor general health and well-being. creator: Nithimar Sermsuti-anuwat creator: Narongrit Nampikul creator: Rawitsara Suwannimit creator: Weerachon Panthueng uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.14191 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: ©2022 Sermsuti-anuwat et al. title: PLA2R-IgG4 antibody as a predictive biomarker of treatment effectiveness and prognostic evaluation in patients with idiopathic membranous nephropathy: a retrospective study link: https://peerj.com/articles/14193 last-modified: 2022-10-10 description: BackgroundThe Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) 2021 guidelines recommend Rituximab (RTX) as the first-line therapy and phospholipase A2 receptor (PLA2R) antibody as a biomarker for remission and prognosis in patients with idiopathic membranous nephropathy (IMN).MethodsThis study was a retrospective analysis of 70 patients with IMN treated with either rituximab (RTX) or cyclophosphamide (CTX) and steroid. Quantitative detection of PLA2R-IgG and PLA2R-IgG4 antibodies at sixth month after treatment, determined using time-resolved fluoroimmunoassay (TRFIA), were used for treatment effectiveness analysis and prognostic evaluation in patients with IMN.ResultsAfter 12 months of therapy, the remission rate of proteinuria, including complete remission (CR) and partial remission (PR) in the RTX group and the CTX group, were 74% versus 67.5% (P = 0.114), respectively. Both PLA2R-IgG and PLA2R-IgG4 levels were decreased in patients with remission of proteinuria after 6 months of therapy. Receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) curve analysis exhibited that the AUC of PLA2R-IgG4 and the PLA2R-IgG as laboratory criteria for proteinuria remission were 0.970 versus 0.886 (P = 0.0516), respectively, after 6 months of treatment. The cut-off value of PLA2R-IgG4 was 7.67 RU/mL and the sensitivity and specificity of remission rate at 6th month were 90.9% and 100%, respectively. Furthermore, the AUC of the PLA2R-IgG4 and PLA2R-IgG to predict the outcome after 12 months of treatment were 0.922 versus 0.897 (P = 0.3270), respectively. With the cut-off value of PLA2R-IgG4 being 22.985 RU/mL, the sensitivity and specificity of remission rate at 12th month were 100% and 87.1%, respectively. Logistic regression analysis revealed that the PLA2R-IgG4 level (P = 0.023), the rate of decrease of PLA2R-IgG4 level (P = 0.034), and eGFR level (P = 0.012) were significantly associated with remission.ConclusionsWe found that the patients in the RTX group and CTX group achieved effective remission of proteinuria after 12 months of treatment. PLA2R-IgG4 may be a more effective biomarker for treatment effectiveness analysis and prognostic assessment, compared with anti-PLA2R-IgG for PLA2R associated IMN. creator: Yiqing Huang creator: Junyi Zhou creator: Kezhi Zhou creator: Biao Huang creator: Jing Xue creator: Xiran Zhang creator: Bin Liu creator: Zhijian Zhang creator: Leting Zhou creator: Ting Cai creator: Yi Zhang creator: Zhigang Hu creator: Liang Wang creator: Xiaobin Liu uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.14193 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: ©2022 Huang et al.