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Bio-protocol Jun 2024Sleep is an essential behavior that is still poorly understood. Sleep abnormalities accompany a variety of psychiatric and neurological disorders, and sleep can serve as...
Sleep is an essential behavior that is still poorly understood. Sleep abnormalities accompany a variety of psychiatric and neurological disorders, and sleep can serve as a modifiable behavior in the treatment of these disorders. Zebrafish () has proven to be a powerful model organism to study sleep and the interplay between sleep and these disorders due to the high conservation of the neuro-modulatory mechanisms that control sleep and wake states between zebrafish and humans. The zebrafish is a diurnal vertebrate with a relatively simple nervous system compared to mammalian models, exhibiting conservation of sleep ontogeny across different life stages. Zebrafish larvae are an established high-throughput model to assess sleep phenotypes and the biological underpinnings of sleep disturbances. To date, sleep measurement in juvenile and adult zebrafish has not been performed in a standardized and reproducible manner because of the relatively low-throughput nature in relation to their larval counterparts. This has left a gap in understanding sleep across later stages of life that are relevant to many psychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders. Several research groups have used homemade systems to address this gap. Here, we report employing commercially available equipment to track activity and sleep/wake patterns in juvenile and adult zebrafish. The equipment allows researchers to perform automated behavior assays in an isolated environment with light/dark and temperature control for multiple days. We first explain the experimental procedure to track the sleep and activity of adult zebrafish and then validate the protocol by measuring the effects of melatonin and DMSO administration. Key features • Allows an isolated and controllable environment to carry out activity and sleep assays in juvenile and adult zebrafish. • Measures activity of zebrafish in life stages later than early development, which requires feeding animals during the assay. • Requires use of a commercially available equipment system and six tanks. • The activity of zebrafish can be tracked for five days including an acclimation step.
PubMed: 38948256
DOI: 10.21769/BioProtoc.5014 -
PeerJ 2024Iron deficiency is known to impair muscle function and reduce athletic performance, while vitamin D has been reported to induce iron deficiency. However, the mechanism...
BACKGROUND
Iron deficiency is known to impair muscle function and reduce athletic performance, while vitamin D has been reported to induce iron deficiency. However, the mechanism underlying exercise-induced changes in iron metabolism and the involvement of vitamins in this mechanism are unclear. The present study examined changes in biological iron metabolism induced by continuous training and the effects of vitamin D on these changes.
METHODS
Diet, physical characteristics, and blood test data were collected from 23 female high school students in a dance club on the last day of each of a 2-month continuous training period and a 2-week complete rest periods.
RESULTS
Serum hepcidin-25 levels were significantly lower during the training period than the rest period ( = 0.013), as were the red blood cell count, hemoglobin, and hematocrit (all < 0.001). Serum erythropoietin was significantly higher ( = 0.001) during the training period. Significant positive correlations were observed between 25(OH)D levels and serum iron, serum ferritin, and transferrin saturation during the training period. Multiple regression analysis with serum 25(OH)D level as the dependent variable and serum ferritin and iron levels as independent variables during the training period revealed a significant association with serum ferritin.
CONCLUSION
Continuous training may promote hemolysis and erythropoiesis, contributing to the suppression of hepcidin expression. The relationship between serum 25(OH)D and iron may be closely related to metabolic changes induced by the exercise load.
Topics: Humans; Hepcidins; Female; Adolescent; Vitamin D; Ferritins; Athletes; Iron; Exercise
PubMed: 38948227
DOI: 10.7717/peerj.17566 -
PeerJ 2024Abnormal gait is prevalent among the elderly population, leading to reduced physical activity, increased risk of falls, and the potential development of dementia and...
BACKGROUND
Abnormal gait is prevalent among the elderly population, leading to reduced physical activity, increased risk of falls, and the potential development of dementia and disabilities, thus degrading the quality of life in later years. Numerous studies have highlighted the crucial roles of lower limb muscle strength asymmetry and static postural control in gait, and the reciprocal influence of lower limb muscle strength asymmetry on static postural control. However, research exploring the interrelationship between lower limb muscle strength asymmetry, static postural control, and gait performance has been limited.
METHODS
A total of 55 elderly participants aged 60 to 75 years were recruited. Isokinetic muscle strength testing was used to assess bilateral knee extension strength, and asymmetry values were calculated. Participants with asymmetry greater than 15% were categorized as the Asymmetry Group (AG), while those with asymmetry less than 15% were classified in the Symmetry Group (SG). Gait parameters were measured using a plantar pressure gait analysis system to evaluate gait performance, and static postural control was assessed through comfortable and narrow stance tests.
RESULTS
First, participants in the AG demonstrated inferior gait performance, characterized by slower gait speed, longer stance time and percentage of stance time in gait, and smaller swing time and percentage of swing time in gait. Spatial-temporal gait parameters of the weaker limb tended to be abnormal. Second, static postural control indices were higher in AG compared to SG in all aspects except for the area of ellipse during the comfortable stance with eyes open test. Third, abnormal gait parameters were associated with static postural control.
CONCLUSION
Firstly, elderly individuals with lower limb muscle strength asymmetry are prone to abnormal gait, with the weaker limb exhibiting poorer gait performance. Secondly, lower limb muscle strength asymmetry contributes to diminished static postural control in the elderly. Thirdly, the mechanism underlying abnormal gait in the elderly due to lower limb muscle strength asymmetry may be linked to a decline in static postural control.
Topics: Humans; Aged; Muscle Strength; Male; Female; Postural Balance; Lower Extremity; Gait; Middle Aged
PubMed: 38948226
DOI: 10.7717/peerj.17626 -
The effects of occupational disruption during COVID-19 lockdowns on health: a cross-sectional study.PeerJ 2024The disruption in daily activity performance during COVID-19 lockdowns is widely understood to have impacted health, but a better understanding of how restricted...
The disruption in daily activity performance during COVID-19 lockdowns is widely understood to have impacted health, but a better understanding of how restricted performance of specific activities are associated with health is needed. This cross-sectional study answers the following question: How were changes in the performance of 16 daily activities associated with health during COVID-19 lockdowns? A total of 116 participants completed an online survey rating their health before and during COVID-19 lockdowns and comparing their recollection of the performance of 16 activities before COVID-19 with their performance during lockdowns. Multiple stepwise linear regression analysis was used to estimate the relationship between self-reported changes in activities during lockdowns and concurrent (during-lockdown) health status, while controlling for pre-COVID-19 health status. Only changes in activities that were uniquely and significantly associated with lockdown health status were retained in the final model. Health before COVID-19 accounted for 3.7% ( = 0.039) of the variance in health during COVID-19 lockdowns. After controlling for health before COVID-19, five types of activity were significantly and uniquely predictive of health during lockdowns, together accounting for 48.3% of the variance. These activities and the variances they accounted for were rest and sleep (29.5%, < 0.001), play and recreational activities (8%, < 0.001), work (4.8%, = 0.002), personal hygiene (3.2%, = 0.01), and healthy eating (2.8%, = 0.013). The study suggests that these five types of activity should be prioritized in policy or interventions when participation in activity is constrained by lockdowns or comparable factors.
Topics: Humans; COVID-19; Cross-Sectional Studies; Male; Female; Health Status; Adult; Middle Aged; SARS-CoV-2; Quarantine; Communicable Disease Control; Surveys and Questionnaires
PubMed: 38948220
DOI: 10.7717/peerj.17594 -
PeerJ 2024crown rot (FCR), caused by spp., is a devastating disease in wheat growing areas. Previous studies have shown that FCR is caused by co-infection of and in Hubei...
crown rot (FCR), caused by spp., is a devastating disease in wheat growing areas. Previous studies have shown that FCR is caused by co-infection of and in Hubei Province, China. In this study, a method was developed to simultaneously detected DNAs of and that can efficiently differentiate them. Whole genome sequence comparison of these four spp. was performed and a 20 bp sequence was designed as an universal upstream primer. Specific downstream primers of each pathogen was also designed, which resulted in a 206, 482, 680, and 963 bp amplicon for each pathogen, respectively. Multiplex PCR specifically identified and but not from other 46 pathogens, and the detection limit of target pathogens is about 100 pg/μl. Moreover, we accurately determined the FCR pathogen species in wheat samples using the optimized multiplex PCR method. These results demonstrate that the multiplex PCR method established in this study can efficiently and rapidly identify , , , and , which should provide technical support for timely and targeted prevention and control of FCR.
Topics: Fusarium; Triticum; Plant Diseases; Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction; China; DNA, Fungal
PubMed: 38948216
DOI: 10.7717/peerj.17656 -
PeerJ 2024This study aimed to assess the accuracy of Mac-2 binding protein glycosylation isomer (M2BPGi) in predicting the stage of liver fibrosis. (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to assess the accuracy of Mac-2 binding protein glycosylation isomer (M2BPGi) in predicting the stage of liver fibrosis.
METHODS
Articles published until October 10, 2023, were searched in the PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases. Pooled sensitivity, specificity, diagnostic odds ratio (DOR), summary receiver-operator curves (SROC), and Spearman's rank correlation coefficient were used to examine the accuracy of M2BPGi in predicting the stage of liver fibrosis. A 95% confidence interval (CI) was provided for each estimate.
RESULTS
Twenty-four studies were included in this meta-analysis, including 3,839 patients with liver fibrosis, 409 of whom progressed to stage 4 or above. The pooled sensitivity, specificity, and area under the ROC (AUC) for M2BPGi predicting liver fibrosis ≥F3 were 0.74 (95% CI [0.65-0.82]), 0.84 (95% CI [0.76-0.89]), and 14.99 (95% CI [9.28-24.21]), respectively. The pooled sensitivity, specificity, and AUC for ≥F4 were 0.80 (95% CI [0.70-0.88]), 0.80 (95% CI [0.73-0.86]), and 16.43 (95% CI [0.84-0.90]), respectively.
CONCLUSION
Among different sample partitions, M2BPGi has the best diagnostic performance for liver fibrosis stage ≥4. Furthermore, the cutoff of 1-2 is more accurate than that of 0-1 or 2-3 for fibrosis ≥ F3 and ≥ F4.
REGISTRATION
CRD42023483260.
Topics: Humans; Liver Cirrhosis; Biomarkers; Glycosylation; Antigens, Neoplasm; ROC Curve; Sensitivity and Specificity; Membrane Glycoproteins
PubMed: 38948207
DOI: 10.7717/peerj.17611 -
PeerJ 2024Gastric cancer (GC), one of the highest venous thromboembolism (VTE) incidence rates in cancer, contributes to considerable morbidity, mortality, and, prominently, extra...
OBJECTIVE
Gastric cancer (GC), one of the highest venous thromboembolism (VTE) incidence rates in cancer, contributes to considerable morbidity, mortality, and, prominently, extra cost. However, up to now, there is not a high-quality VTE model to steadily predict the risk for VTE in China. Consequently, setting up a prediction model to predict the VTE risk is imperative.
METHODS
Data from 3,092 patients from December 15, 2017, to December 31, 2022, were retrospectively analyzed. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to assess risk factors for GC, and a nomogram was constructed based on screened risk factors. A receiver operating curve (ROC) and calibration plot was created to evaluate the accuracy of the nomogram.
RESULTS
The risk factors of suffering from VTE were older age (OR = 1.02, 95% CI [1.00-1.04]), Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) ≥ 70 (OR = 0.45, 95% CI [0.25-0.83]), Blood transfusion (OR = 2.37, 95% CI [1.47-3.84]), advanced clinical stage (OR = 3.98, 95% CI [1.59-9.99]), central venous catheterization (CVC) (OR = 4.27, 95% CI [2.03-8.99]), operation (OR = 2.72, 95% CI [1.55-4.77]), fibrinogen degradation product (FDP) >5 µg/mL (OR = 1.92, 95% CI [1.13-3.25]), and D-dimer > 0.5 mg/L (OR = 2.50, 95% CI [1.19-5.28]). The area under the ROC curve (AUC) was 0.82 in the training set and 0.85 in the validation set.
CONCLUSION
Our prediction model can accurately predict the risk of the appearance of VTE in gastric cancer patients and can be used as a robust and efficient tool for evaluating the possibility of VTE.
Topics: Humans; Nomograms; Venous Thromboembolism; Stomach Neoplasms; Retrospective Studies; Male; Female; Middle Aged; Risk Factors; Aged; China; Risk Assessment; ROC Curve; Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products; Adult
PubMed: 38948205
DOI: 10.7717/peerj.17527 -
PeerJ 2024Over the last few decades, diabetes-related mortality risks (DRMR) have increased in Florida. Although there is evidence of geographic disparities in pre-diabetes and...
BACKGROUND
Over the last few decades, diabetes-related mortality risks (DRMR) have increased in Florida. Although there is evidence of geographic disparities in pre-diabetes and diabetes prevalence, little is known about disparities of DRMR in Florida. Understanding these disparities is important for guiding control programs and allocating health resources to communities most at need. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate geographic disparities and temporal changes of DRMR in Florida.
METHODS
Retrospective mortality data for deaths that occurred from 2010 to 2019 were obtained from the Florida Department of Health. Tenth International Classification of Disease codes E10-E14 were used to identify diabetes-related deaths. County-level mortality risks were computed and presented as number of deaths per 100,000 persons. Spatial Empirical Bayesian (SEB) smoothing was performed to adjust for spatial autocorrelation and the small number problem. High-risk spatial clusters of DRMR were identified using Tango's flexible spatial scan statistics. Geographic distribution and high-risk mortality clusters were displayed using ArcGIS, whereas seasonal patterns were visually represented in Excel.
RESULTS
A total of 54,684 deaths were reported during the study period. There was an increasing temporal trend as well as seasonal patterns in diabetes mortality risks with high risks occurring during the winter. The highest mortality risk (8.1 per 100,000 persons) was recorded during the winter of 2018, while the lowest (6.1 per 100,000 persons) was in the fall of 2010. County-level SEB smoothed mortality risks varied by geographic location, ranging from 12.6 to 81.1 deaths per 100,000 persons. Counties in the northern and central parts of the state tended to have high mortality risks, whereas southern counties consistently showed low mortality risks. Similar to the geographic distribution of DRMR, significant high-risk spatial clusters were also identified in the central and northern parts of Florida.
CONCLUSION
Geographic disparities of DRMR exist in Florida, with high-risk spatial clusters being observed in rural central and northern areas of the state. There is also evidence of both increasing temporal trends and Winter peaks of DRMR. These findings are helpful for guiding allocation of resources to control the disease, reduce disparities, and improve population health.
Topics: Humans; Florida; Retrospective Studies; Diabetes Mellitus; Female; Male; Bayes Theorem; Health Status Disparities; Middle Aged; Risk Factors; Seasons; Aged; Adult
PubMed: 38948203
DOI: 10.7717/peerj.17408 -
PeerJ 2024Reviewers rarely comment on the same aspects of a manuscript, making it difficult to properly assess manuscripts' quality and the quality of the peer review process. The...
BACKGROUND
Reviewers rarely comment on the same aspects of a manuscript, making it difficult to properly assess manuscripts' quality and the quality of the peer review process. The goal of this pilot study was to evaluate structured peer review implementation by: 1) exploring whether and how reviewers answered structured peer review questions, 2) analysing reviewer agreement, 3) comparing that agreement to agreement before implementation of structured peer review, and 4) further enhancing the piloted set of structured peer review questions.
METHODS
Structured peer review consisting of nine questions was piloted in August 2022 in 220 Elsevier journals. We randomly selected 10% of these journals across all fields and IF quartiles and included manuscripts that received two review reports in the first 2 months of the pilot, leaving us with 107 manuscripts belonging to 23 journals. Eight questions had open-ended fields, while the ninth question (on language editing) had only a yes/no option. The reviews could also leave and . Answers were independently analysed by two raters, using qualitative methods.
RESULTS
Almost all the reviewers ( = 196, 92%) provided answers to all questions even though these questions were not mandatory in the system. The longest answer (Md 27 words, IQR 11 to 68) was for reporting methods with sufficient details for replicability or reproducibility. The reviewers had the highest (partial) agreement (of 72%) for assessing the flow and structure of the manuscript, and the lowest (of 53%) for assessing whether interpretation of the results was supported by data, and for assessing whether the statistical analyses were appropriate and reported in sufficient detail (52%). Two thirds of the reviewers ( = 145, 68%) filled out the section, of which 105 (49%) resembled traditional peer review reports. These reports contained a Md of 4 (IQR 3 to 5) topics covered by the structured questions. Absolute agreement regarding final recommendations (exact match of recommendation choice) was 41%, which was higher than what those journals had in the period from 2019 to 2021 (31% agreement, = 0.0275).
CONCLUSIONS
Our preliminary results indicate that reviewers successfully adapted to the new review format, and that they covered more topics than in their traditional reports. Individual question analysis indicated the greatest disagreement regarding the interpretation of the results and the conducting and the reporting of statistical analyses. While structured peer review did lead to improvement in reviewer final recommendation agreements, this was not a randomized trial, and further studies should be performed to corroborate this. Further research is also needed to determine whether structured peer review leads to greater knowledge transfer or better improvement of manuscripts.
Topics: Pilot Projects; Peer Review, Research; Periodicals as Topic; Humans; Editorial Policies; Peer Review
PubMed: 38948202
DOI: 10.7717/peerj.17514 -
PeerJ 2024Combining ability status of the inbred lines is crucial information for hybrid breeding program. Diallel or line × tester mating designs are frequently used to evaluate...
Combining ability status of the inbred lines is crucial information for hybrid breeding program. Diallel or line × tester mating designs are frequently used to evaluate the combining ability. In the current study a modified diallel model was used, wherein the Griffing's combining ability effects were further partitioned to understand the effects due to maternal and reciprocal. To do this, eight parental lines of maize were crossed in full diallel method and the generated hybrids along with parents were phenotyped. The field data on the quantitative traits was analyzed using both Griffing's and the modified model to determine how well the parents' and the F hybrids combined. For each of the traits, a sizable reciprocal and maternal variance was observed. The number of kernel rows per cob variable had a ratio of additive variance to dominance variance greater than one. All other traits including grain yield had a ratio close to zero, suggesting that non-additive gene action was primarily responsible for the genetic control of most of the traits. The narrow sense heritability was low to moderate for majority of the variables, except for number of kernel rows per cob. With the help of the improved model, it was possible to choose superior parents and cross-parent pairings with accuracy. Based on the modified general combining ability effects and maternal effects, the parental line P5 was recognized as a potential female parent and P7 as a good male parent for grain yield and yield-attributing characteristics. The cross combination of P8×P1 had the highest specific combining ability effect on grain yield. P5×P6 cross had the highest reciprocal effect. The correlation analysis implies that the Griffing's general combining ability effects and specific combining ability effects were found to be less efficient in predicting F performance as compared to the modified model.
Topics: Zea mays; Plant Breeding; Phenotype; Models, Genetic; Maternal Inheritance; Hybridization, Genetic
PubMed: 38948201
DOI: 10.7717/peerj.17600