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Background: Thyrotoxicosis refers to a condition where there is an excess of thyroid hormone production by the thyroid gland itself, leading to a form of hyperthyroidism.

Objective: This study is based on systematic review and network meta-analysis methods, aiming to provide a more reliable basis for the selection of clinical treatment plans by comprehensively considering the efficacy and safety of different drugs in treating hyperthyroidism, including the regulation of thyroid hormone levels and potential adverse reactions.

Methods: Computerized searches were conducted in eight major domestic and international databases (PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, Web of Science, CBM, CNKI, WANFANG DATA, VIP) for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on the efficacy of oral medications in improving the treatment outcomes of patients with hyperthyroidism. The search period covered from the inception of each database to October 2025. All researchers independently screened the literature, extracted data, and assessed the quality of the studies. For studies meeting the quality criteria, data analysis was performed using Stata 17.0 and RevMan 5.4 software.

Results: A total of 151 articles were ultimately included, involving 14,158 patients, with 7,084 in the treatment group and 7,074 in the control group. The network meta-analysis showed that in terms of total effective rate, the top three interventions with the highest Surface Under the Cumulative Ranking Curve (SUCRA) probability ranking curve area were I-131 (Iodine-131)+LC (lithium carbonate), MMI (Methimazole)+PHT (Propranolol), and I-131; in terms of reducing Free Triiodothyronine (FT3), the top three interventions with the highest SUCRA probability ranking curve area were MMI+PDN (prednisone), I-131+LC, and I-131; in terms of reducing free tetraiodothyronine (FT4), the top three interventions with the highest SUCRA probability ranking curve area were I-131+PTU (Propylthiouracil), I-131+LC, and I-131; in terms of increasing thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), the top three interventions with the highest SUCRA probability ranking curve area were I-131+PTU, I-131, and MMI+PDN; in terms of reducing adverse reactions, the top three interventions with the highest SUCRA probability ranking curve area were I-131+PTU, I-131, and I-131+MMI.

Conclusion: This study indicates that among the interventions for treating hyperthyroidism, I-131+LC has a higher efficacy rate compared to other treatments, I-131+PTU is superior in reducing FT3, increasing TSH and reducing adverse reactions compared to other treatments. Due to the limitations in the quantity and quality of the included studies, the aforementioned conclusions await further validation from more large-sample, high-quality, and multicenter studies. PROSPERO study number CRD42024566298.

Background: Although previous research has explored the involvement of the choroid in the pathogenesis of non- arteritic anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy (NAION), the relationship between optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) findings and choroidal features remains unclear. An understanding of this relationship may help clarify the vascular mechanisms underlying this disease. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationships between OCTA and choroidal parameters in patients with NAION during the post-acute phase, after the resolution of optic disc oedema.

Methods: This retrospective analysis included the affected eyes of patients with unilateral NAION, their unaffected fellow eyes, and the eyes of age- and sex-matched healthy controls. The three groups were compared with regard to OCTA and choroidal parameters. Retinal imaging was conducted approximately 2 months after NAION occurrence to allow for the spontaneous resolution of characteristic optic disc oedema.

Results: A total of 75 eyes were included in the final analysis: 25 NAION-affected eyes, 25 fellow eyes, and 25 control eyes (13 women and 12 men). Age and sex distributions were similar across groups. The peripapillary vessel density (pVD), flow area (FA), retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) thickness, and choroidal vascularity index (CVI) in all quadrants were significantly lower in NAION eyes than in unaffected and control eyes. Unaffected eyes also demonstrated significantly lower radial peripapillary capillary (RPC) mean, RPC temporal, and RPC FA values than did the healthy controls. A moderate correlation was observed between RPC pVD and the mean RNFL thickness in NAION eyes and between RPC FA and the mean RNFL thickness in both NAION and unaffected eyes. The strong relationship between RPC perfusion and RNFL thinning could not be statistically confirmed after false discovery rate correction; thus, a direct cause-and-effect relationship could not be validated.

Conclusions: There were no significant correlations between OCTA and choroidal parameters across all groups. These findings suggest that the retina and choroid are affected through distinct mechanisms in NAION. However, reductions in OCTA parameters, including CVI, were evident in NAION eyes. Overall, the study findings underscore the potential of OCTA as a non-invasive tool for identifying risk factors and monitoring disease progression in NAION.

Parkinson's disease (PD), the world's second most prevalent neurodegenerative disorder, is characterized by progressive neuronal degeneration mediated through intricate pathological mechanisms. Phosphorylation signaling pathways have been increasingly recognized as critical modulators in the development and progression of PD. Meanwhile, short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), primarily produced by gut microbiota, have shown considerable neuroprotective potential by promoting autophagy, alleviating mitochondrial dysfunction, and regulating neuroinflammatory responses. Recent research suggests that SCFAs may influence the phosphorylation dynamics of key signaling pathways, including MAPKs, NF-κB, JAK/STAT, PI3K/Akt, AMPK, and Nrf2/Keap1/ARE, thereby modulating disease pathophysiology. This review aims to systematically evaluate how SCFAs modulate phosphorylation pathways to influence neuroinflammation, α-synuclein aggregation, and mitochondrial dysfunction in PD. By investigating this issue, we identify potential molecular targets and propose future research directions, offering new insighreviewts and strategies for the development of novel therapeutic and preventive interventions for PD.

Background: The prognostic heterogeneity of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) necessitates robust biomarkers. Although hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF1α) is implicated in ESCC progression, its interplay with ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme E2S (UBE2S) remains uncharacterized.

Methods: We investigated UBE2S and HIF1α expression via immunohistochemistry (IHC) in a cohort of 259 ESCC patients. Transcriptomic data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) databases were used for validation. Prognostic value was assessed using Kaplan-Meier and multivariate Cox regression analyses. Stratified analysis was employed to identify high-risk subgroups.

Results: UBE2S and HIF1α were significantly overexpressed in ESCC tissues at both protein and mRNA levels. UBE2S expression correlated with nationality (Kazak vs. Han, p = 0.001) and vessel invasion (p = 0.020), while HIF1α associated with gender (p = 0.040) and depth of invasion (p = 0.050). Multivariate analysis identified UBE2S as an independent prognostic factor for overall survival (OS; HR = 1.685, p = 0.041). Notably, co-expression analysis revealed that patients with UBE2S-positive/HIF1α-positive tumors had the poorest prognosis.

Conclusion: In conclusion, our multi-platform data suggest that UBE2S and HIF1α may represent critical biomarkers in ESCC. Their consistent overexpression and association with adverse outcomes support their potential for improving risk stratification and lay the groundwork for exploring them as future therapeutic targets.

Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by insulin resistance and hyperglycemia. The role of trace elements such as zinc and chromium in the pathophysiology of T2DM has garnered significant attention due to their involvement in glucose metabolism and insulin regulation.

Objective: This cross-sectional study evaluated the clinical correlation between serum zinc and chromium levels in T2DM patients with and without complications in Pakistan.

Methods: A total of 145 participants were included, comprising 100 T2DM patients (80 with complications: retinopathy, nephropathy, cardiovascular disease, and neuropathy; 20 without complications) and 45 healthy controls. Serum zinc and chromium levels were measured using atomic absorption spectrometry and their associations with glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), demographic factors, and clinical profiles were evaluated.

Results: The results showed that serum zinc and chromium levels were significantly lower in T2DM patients as compared to healthy controls (p value = 0.02 and p value = 0.001, respectively). Among diabetic subgroups, patients with diabetic neuropathy had the lowest zinc levels (p = 0.0001), while those with cardiovascular disease had significantly reduced chromium levels (p = 0.0002). Multivariate regression analysis showed that HbA1c levels were significantly associated with both zinc (β = 1.588, p value = 0.02) and chromium (β = 1.485, p value = 0.001), suggesting that deficiencies in these trace elements may contribute to poor glycemic control and the progression of diabetic complications.

Conclusion: These findings highlight the potential role of zinc and chromium supplementation as an adjunctive therapeutic approach in managing T2DM and preventing its complications. Further longitudinal studies are needed to establish causality and explore the underlying mechanisms of trace element deficiency in diabetic patients.

Background: Esophageal cancer (ESCA), a leading cause of cancer-related mortality, lacks reliable biomarkers for early detection and prognosis. Dysregulated microRNAs (miRNAs) have emerged as pivotal regulators of tumor progression, yet their context-specific roles and interactions with target genes in ESCA remain underexplored.

Methods: Multi-omics data from The Cancer Genome Atlas-esophageal cancer (TCGA-ESCA) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) datasets were integrated to identify differentially expressed miRNAs and mRNAs. A miRNA-mRNA regulatory network was constructed using FunRich and validated through functional assays, including dual-luciferase reporter, quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and in vitro proliferation/migration/invasion experiments. Prognostic signatures were developed using Cox regression, least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO)-Cox and nomogram analysis.

Results: We identified 1,131 differentially expressed mRNAs and 69 miRNAs in ESCA. The miR-15b-5p/BTG2 axis emerged as a central regulatory hub. miR-15b-5p was significantly upregulated in ESCA tissues and showed an inverse correlation with B-cell translocation gene 2 (BTG2) expression. Survival analyses established both molecules as independent prognostic factors. Mechanistically, miR-15b-5p directly targeted BTG2 3'UTR, suppressing its expression. Functional studies demonstrated that miR-15b-5p overexpression promoted proliferation, migration and invasion in ESCA cells, whereas BTG2 restoration reversed these effects. A prognostic nomogram integrating miR-15b-5p, BTG2 and clinical parameters demonstrated robust predictive accuracy (C-index: 0.78).

Conclusions: The miR-15b-5p/BTG2 axis represents a novel regulatory mechanism in ESCA progression with significant potential as both a prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target.

This study investigated the effects of two dark septate endophytic (DSE) fungi, Cladophialophora inabaensis EUCL1 and Exophiala sp. BCM1, on maize growth under no-stress, drought, saline, and alkaline salt conditions. Maize was cultivated in agar and soil-based systems, and growth parameters including shoot and root lengths, biomass, chlorophyll content, and stem diameter were evaluated to assess the efficacy of DSE inoculation. Both C. inabaensis EUCL1 and Exophiala sp. BCM1 showed promising effects to ameliorate negative effects of drought, saline, and alkaline salt stress. Maize inoculated with C. inabaensis EUCL1 exhibited significantly enhanced growth under no-stress conditions. Under drought stress, C. inabaensis EUCL1 increased shoot length by 148.94% in vitro, while Exophiala sp. BCM1 improved shoot and root dry mass by 196.55 and 188.21% respectively, on soil cultivation compared with the control. Notably, C. inabaensis EUCL1 also demonstrated strong potential in supporting maize growth under both saline and alkaline salt stress in soil-based systems. In response to saline stress, C. inabaensis EUCL1-treated plants exhibited marked increases in shoot and root dry mass by 176.15 and 152.77%, respectively. Under alkaline salt stress, shoot and root dry mass increased by 352.28 and 153.3%, respectively, compared with the control. Overall improvements in observed growth parameters indicate that DSE inoculation successfully mitigated the negative effects of abiotic stress. This study is the first to report the efficacy of C. inabaensis EUCL1 and Exophiala sp. BCM1 as effective bioinoculants for enhancing maize resilience under multiple abiotic stresses.

Background: The presence of a septate uterus combined with endometrial polyps significantly impacts women's fertility. There is currently no study on whether medication is needed after surgery and which postoperative regimen is more beneficial for uterine recovery and pregnancy outcomes. This study aims to compare the reproductive outcomes and complications of artificial cycle therapy with those of short-acting contraceptives or no hormonal treatment after hysteroscopic resection of the uterine septum with coexisting endometrial polyps.

Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on 189 women with a history of infertility or adverse pregnancy who underwent hysteroscopic resection of uterine septum with endometrial polyps between December 2017 and February 2023 . According to the postoperative medication regimens, patients were divided into three groups: artificial cycle (Group A), short-acting contraceptive (Group B), and no hormonal treatment (Group C). The primary outcome was pregnancy rates leading to live birth within 12 months post-surgery.

Results: There were 92 patients in Group A, 52 in Group B, and 45 in Group C. The live birth rates were 40.2% in Group A, 34.6% in Group B, and 31.1% in Group C (χ ² = 1.192, P = 0.547). A multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed incorporating confounding variables including age, body mass index (BMI), types of fertility problems, and types of uterine septum. The results showed that only age (adjusted odds ratio (OR) = 0.892, 95%CI [0.822-0.968], P = 0.006) was significantly associated with live birth after surgery. The mean time to pregnancy resulting in live birth was 9.6 months in Group A, 10.2 months in Group B, and 10.4 months in Group C (log-rank P = 0.468). There were no significant differences in clinical pregnancy rate, pregnancy loss rate, preterm birth rate, placental abnormality rate, postoperative intrauterine adhesion rate, and endometrial polyp recurrence rate among the three groups (P > 0.05).

Conclusions: Hormonal therapy, including artificial cycles and short-acting contraceptives, may not be necessary after hysteroscopic septum resection with polypectomy for patients with short-term fertility requirements.

Background: Cutibacterium acnes (C. acnes) is a causative agent in the development of acne vulgaris, and this bacteria has been reported to show resistance against conventional antibiotics. One of the vital factors contributing to antibiotic resistance is the ability of C. acnes to form biofilms. Thus, the purpose of this review is to assess the efficacy of various recent developments and to identify acceptable methods for preventing infections associated with C. acnes biofilms.

Methodology: A variety of criteria considered in the selection process, such as the site of infection, the mechanism of action against biofilms, and the methodology used to evaluate antibiofilm activity, were taken into consideration when choosing the studies.

Results: The findings of existing research on the antibiofilm potential of conventional anibiotics, natural products and novel treatment strategies against C. acnes were compiled and compared. Clinical trials demonstrated that dalbavancin reduced biofilm formation while niosomes effectively decreased inflammation in acne lesions. Some studies have shown promising results with bacteriophages, plant-based and nanomaterial treatments, but lack further validation in the way of pre-clinical and clinical trials to accurately measure treatment effectiveness.

Conclusions: The review examines a range of effective agents and explores their potential applications in acne management, offering valuable insights for clinicians-especially dermatologists-seeking to optimize patient care. In addition, this review provides an understanding about the different agents and their antibiofilm properties that enable researchers to develop effective therapeutic approaches against C. acnes biofilm-related infectious diseases for the benefit of human health.

Glioma, the most frequent primary intracranial tumor, is characterized by infiltrative growth in the central nervous system, pronounced invasiveness, high malignancy, and poor clinical prognosis. The existing treatment methods include surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy, but the efficacy is still limited. Analysis of The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) dataset reveals marked downregulation of acid-sensing ion channel 2 (ASIC2) expression in glioma tissues, which significantly correlates with reduced patient survival. Moreover, ASIC2 expression is inversely associated with the extent of immune cell infiltration and glioma stem cell markers. Functional experiments demonstrate that both knockdown and overexpression of ASIC2 critically regulate glioma cell proliferation, invasion, and metastatic potential through mechanisms mediated by matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP2), calcineurin, and nuclear factor of activated T cells 1 (NFAT1) signaling pathways. These findings delineate a pivotal role for ASIC2 in governing glioma malignant behavior and establish its relevance as a potential molecular target for therapeutic intervention.