Jae Suk Baek¹, Soo-Jin Kim^2,*, Sang-Yun Lee³, Chang-Ha Lee⁴, Chun Soo Park⁵, Eun Seok Choi⁵, Hoon Ko⁶, Hyo Soon An³, I. Seok Kang⁷, Ja Kyoung Yoon⁷, Jae-Young Lee⁸, Jinyoung Song⁷, Joo Won Lee⁹, June Huh⁷, Kyung-Jin Ahn¹⁰, Se-Yong Jung¹¹, Seul Gi Cha¹, Yeo-Hyang Kim¹², Young-Seok Lee¹³, Sang-Hoon Cho¹⁴

Structural and Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.21, No.2, 2026, DOI:10.32604/schd.2026.077034 - 11 June 2026

Abstract Background: Systemic right ventricular morphology is associated with poor Fontan outcomes, but its independent effect remains uncertain due to confounding by atrioventricular valve regurgitation (AVVR). The prognostic role of two adequately sized ventricles is also unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the independent impact of ventricular morphology on long-term Fontan outcomes after adjustment for AVVR, using a large national registry. Methods: A total of 1631 Fontan survivors were analyzed. Death or heart transplantation and Fontan failure were primarily evaluated using inverse probability of treatment weighting. Fontan failure was defined as death, heart transplantation, Fontan takedown… More > Graphic Abstract

Shotaro Nozaki, Hiroyuki Oikawa, Naofumi F. Sumitomo^*, Kentaro Tomita, Satoshi Narumi

Structural and Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.21, No.2, 2026, DOI:10.32604/schd.2026.076771 - 11 June 2026

Abstract Background: Many anesthetics suppress atrioventricular conduction and may exacerbate atrioventricular block (AVB), which has led to the establishment of pediatric perioperative guidelines. However, the perioperative management of patients with a history of AVB who have recovered to an apparent sinus rhythm remains unclear. Case presentation: We report the case of a 13-year-old girl who developed complete AVB following surgery for congenital heart disease in infancy and subsequently recovered sinus rhythm. She experienced a recurrence of AVB after anesthesia induction for scoliosis surgery. An implantable pacemaker was inserted in infancy after the onset of complete AVB.… More >

Aygül Kaya Akıllı¹, Osman Akdeniz², Celal Özcan^3,*

Structural and Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.21, No.2, 2026, DOI:10.32604/schd.2026.076628 - 11 June 2026

Abstract Background: Congenital heart disease (CHD) refers to malformations of the heart or great vessels that occur during the intrauterine period. Critical CHD refers to heart conditions that require medical intervention or surgical procedures in the early stages of life. Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, newborns aged 0 to 28 days who were admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and the Pediatric Cardiovascular Surgery Clinic of our hospital with a diagnosis of critical CHD between January 2019 and September 2024 were evaluated. Results: Among 160 patients, 52 (32.5%) had a prenatal diagnosis. Overall mortality was significantly… More >

Guoxu Ma, Yonglu Huang, Fan Gong, Jianke Wu, Yi Ding, Ziyang Zhang, Xiaoliang Li, Jian Gao, Tingting Dang, Bowen Zhang^*

BIOCELL, Vol.50, No.6, 2026, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2026.078402 - 09 June 2026

Abstract Objectives: Sciatic nerve injury (SNI) impairs quality of life, and Lycium barbarum polysaccharides (LBP) may exert therapeutic effects via regulating Schwann cell (SC) mitochondrial stability, though the mechanism remains unclear. The study aimed to elucidate the therapeutic mechanisms of LBP in mitigating sciatic nerve injury by protecting Schwann cells via the estrogen receptor 1 (ESR1)/thioredoxin 2 (Trx2) pathway. Methods: An in vitro SNI model was established by inducing RSC96 cells with H₂O₂. Cell counting kit-8 (CCK8) assay, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), Western blot, reactive oxygen species (ROS) and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) quantification, and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) detection were… More >

Jernej Jorgačevski^1,2, Maja Potokar^1,2,*

BIOCELL, Vol.50, No.6, 2026, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2026.077871 - 09 June 2026

Abstract Astrocytes contribute to central nervous system (CNS) homeostasis by taking up and releasing various transmitters, ions, water, and energy molecules, thereby modulating neuronal function and maintaining the blood-brain barrier. The dynamic delivery, retrieval, and recycling of transporters, channels, receptors, and vesicular cargo at the astrocyte plasma membrane are regulated by the cytoskeleton networks composed of microtubules, actin filaments, and intermediate filaments. Increasing evidence indicates that changes in vesicle trafficking disrupt astrocyte–neuron communication and contribute to CNS dysfunction in pathological conditions. This review presents recent findings on vesicle trafficking in astrocytes with emphasis on the cytoskeletal More >

Bohan Lin^#, Wei Liu^#, Xiu Ni, Fuyi Shen^*

BIOCELL, Vol.50, No.6, 2026, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2026.077413 - 09 June 2026

Abstract Background: Postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) is a common neurological complication in elderly patients. However, the mechanism by which glutamate ionotropic receptor NMDA type subunit 2B (GluN2B) contributes to POCD development remains incompletely understood. This study aimed to investigate the effects of GluN2B overexpression on POCD improvement and elucidate its underlying molecular mechanisms. Methods: In vitro, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was used to induce inflammation in mouse primary microglia, and a microglia-HT22 neuron co-culture system was established to simulate the neurotoxic environment. Overexpression and knockdown constructs for GluN2B and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) were generated. Western blot, ELISA, immunofluorescence, and… More >

Desirée Victoria-Montesinos^*, Pablo Barcina-Pérez^*, Ana María García-Muñoz

BIOCELL, Vol.50, No.6, 2026, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2026.077286 - 09 June 2026

Abstract Mitochondrial dysfunction is a central hallmark of metabolic, hepatic, cardiovascular, and neurodegenerative diseases. Dietary polyphenols modulate mitochondrial pathways, but their integrated effects remain poorly appreciated. This narrative review synthesizes preclinical and clinical evidence on four polyphenols (resveratrol, epigallocatechin-3-gallate, quercetin, and oleuropein) and examines their mechanisms in mitochondrial biogenesis, mtDNA protection, and mitophagy. Experimental studies indicate that these compounds activate conserved adaptive pathways, including sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1 alpha (PGC-1α), AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), and PTEN-induced kinase 1 (PINK1) with Parkin, therapy enhancing mitochondrial biogenesis, reducing oxidative stress, and promoting More >

Moo Hyun Kim¹, Yongdae Yoon², Chang Wan Kim¹, Jun-Won Lee³, Bhupendra Regmi², Saher Fatima², Moon Young Kim^2,3, Soon Koo Baik^2,3, Pil Young Jung^1,*, Young Woo Eom^2,*

BIOCELL, Vol.50, No.6, 2026, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2026.076364 - 09 June 2026

Abstract Background: Although transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) drives hepatic stellate cell activation and fibrogenesis, the mechanisms by which 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) modulates these processes in TGF-β1-activated hepatic stellate cells remain to be determined. Therefore, we investigated whether TPA alleviates fibrosis in TGF-β1-treated hepatic stellate cells and regulates both canonical and non-canonical pathways. Further, we assessed whether inhibitors of these pathways similarly affect proliferation and fibrosis in LX-2 cells. Methods: LX-2 hepatic stellate cells were used as the experimental model. Cells were treated with TPA, TGF-β, or TGF-β plus TPA, and Yes-associated protein (YAP) and protein kinase B (PKB;… More >

Weina Xu¹, Yi Xia¹, Qing Shen¹, Ling Ai¹, Yingye Lu^2,*

BIOCELL, Vol.50, No.6, 2026, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2026.076001 - 09 June 2026

Abstract Background: Dysfunction of decidual macrophages (dMφ) mediated by high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) is related to unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion (URSA), but its upstream regulatory mechanism remains unclear. The research explores whether miR-216a-5p regulates the toll-like receptor 4/nuclear factor-κB/nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor protein 3 (TLR4/NF-κB/NLRP3) signaling axis by targeting HMGB1, thereby affecting the M1 polarization and pyroptosis of dMφ in URSA. Methods: The URSA mouse model was established, and primary dMφ was isolated and cultured. HMGB1 and miR-216a-5p were overexpressed or knocked down. Their expressions were examined. Their targeting relationship was verified through a bioinformatics… More > Graphic Abstract

Debasish Bandyopadhyay^1,*, Romit Majumder^1,2,#, Madhuri Datta^1,2,#, Adrita Banerjee^1,2, Aindrila Chattopadhyay²

BIOCELL, Vol.50, No.6, 2026, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2026.075963 - 09 June 2026

Abstract Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are widely prescribed, but their long-term use frequently results in gastric mucosal injury. Emerging evidence indicates that, beyond cyclooxygenase inhibition, mitochondrial dysfunction represents a central mechanism driving NSAID-induced gastric epithelial damage. This review aims to critically synthesize current evidence on mitochondria-centered pathways involved in NSAID-induced gastric ulceration and to evaluate the therapeutic relevance of melatonin in this context. We highlight how NSAIDs impair mitochondrial bioenergetics, promote excessive reactive oxygen species generation, disrupt membrane potential, and activate apoptotic signaling, thereby compromising mucosal integrity. Importantly, melatonin exerts multifaceted gastroprotective actions by preserving mitochondrial More >