Leonardo Acuña¹, Mariam Ahumada Sabagh², Víctor David Osorio Castillo^1,2, Caverly Gooden³, María Luisa Veisaga⁴, Juan Liuzzi^5,6, Manuel A. Barbieri^2,3,5,6,7,*

BIOCELL, Vol.50, No.9, 2026, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2026.079670 - 26 August 2026

Abstract Costunolide, a sesquiterpene lactone from Saussurea lappa Clarke, exhibits broad pharmacological properties, including anti-inflammatory and anticancer effects. This review examines its emerging potential as a host-directed antiviral compound. Costunolide modulates conserved host signaling pathways frequently exploited during viral infection, including nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB), the NOD-like receptor family pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome, and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascades. Inhibition of NF-κB may suppress viral transcription in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) infection, while NLRP3 blockade may limit inflammasome-driven viral reactivation in Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) infection and attenuate hyperinflammation in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) More >

Long Ma¹, Tao Li¹, Ruohao Sun², Quan Du², Dali Jiang³, Dalin He³, Xiaoliang Fu², Nan Li^2,*, Xiaofeng Xu^2,*, Guoxiong Liu^2,*

Canadian Journal of Urology, Vol.33, No.4, pp. 943-950, 2026, DOI:10.32604/cju.2026.070096 - 21 August 2026

Abstract Objectives: Lasers show promising application in partial nephrectomy due to their excellent hemostatic effect. This study aimed to evaluate the suction effect of the novel laser operating handle on the smoke generated by a 980-nm diode laser (DL) and a 532-nm potassium-titanyl-phosphate (KTP) green laser (GL) in laparoscopic partial nephrectomy (LPN) and to analyse the surgical smoke generated by the laser treatment. Methods: Fresh porcine kidneys were purchased from a slaughterhouse. Electrocoagulation knife (EK), ultrasonic knife (UK), DL, and GL were utilised in LPN. The operation time and the composition and concentration of the surgical… More >

Yanhong Wang^1,#, Junbo Liu^2,#, Qiaoping Xu^3,#, Zhao Ma^4,*

Oncology Research, Vol.34, No.9, 2026, DOI:10.32604/or.2026.082432 - 13 August 2026

Abstract In renal cell carcinoma (RCC), alterations in cellular metabolism are a defining feature, among which impaired mitochondrial function stands out as a key factor influencing both tumor aggressiveness and patient responses to therapy. The aim of this review is to systematically synthesize current knowledge on the role of mitochondrial dysfunction in RCC pathogenesis and to explore emerging therapeutic strategies targeting mitochondrial vulnerabilities. This comprehensive analysis examines the integrated dysregulation of core mitochondrial processes—bioenergetic metabolism, organelle dynamics, programmed cell death pathways, redox homeostasis, and selective autophagy—in driving RCC pathogenesis. Our synthesis reveals how genetic drivers, molecular… More >

Meng-Zhen Zhang^1,#, Ming Li^2,#, Peng-Ju Wen¹, Yue-Heng Wu^1,*, Ling Sun^3,*

Structural and Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.21, No.3, 2026, DOI:10.32604/schd.2026.077380 - 31 July 2026

Abstract Background: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is increasingly recognized as a disease of impaired myocardial energetics, but integrated proteomic–metabolomic data from human myocardium are scarce. This study combined quantitative proteomics and untargeted metabolomics to obtain a systems-level view of myocardial remodeling and to identify pathways jointly dysregulated at the protein and metabolite levels. Methods: Myocardial tissue from 7 patients with HCM who underwent surgical myectomy and 5 healthy control donors at Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital was analyzed by data-independent acquisition-based quantitative proteomics and Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry–based untargeted metabolomics. Differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) and metabolites were identified using… More >

Laura Schaltz^1,2, Simon Lassnig^1,2, Karola Schlote^1,2, Christian Schwerk³, Horst Schroten³, Nicole de Buhr^1,2,*

BIOCELL, Vol.50, No.8, 2026, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2026.079046 - 27 July 2026

Abstract Objectives: Streptococcus suis (S. suis) is a worldwide occurring pathogen in pigs and humans that can cross the blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier (BCSFB) to cause meningitis, while host neutrophils counter infection through mechanisms including the release of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs). NET-formation involves the release of nuclear DNA with antimicrobial components, which can bind and kill bacteria. We aimed to characterize the host-pathogen interaction between S. suis and neutrophils within the CSF compartment, focusing on NET-formation. Methods: A 3D cell culture model of the porcine BCSFB was used by cultivating a porcine choroid plexus epithelial cell line (PCP-R) on filter… More >

Bin Lan¹, Jie Tan¹, Qing Wang¹, Siyuan Zeng^2,*

Oncology Research, Vol.34, No.8, 2026, DOI:10.32604/or.2026.081711 - 16 July 2026

Abstract Backgrounds: Cyclin-dependent kinase 7 (CDK7) plays key roles in transcription and cell cycle regulation, and its inhibition has been proposed as a potential therapeutic strategy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The primary research objective of this study is to identify and validate CDK7-associated prognostic genes in HCC using bioinformatics approaches, construct a reliable prognostic risk model, and explore the functional role of CDK7 in HCC progression through in vitro and in vivo experiments, with a specific focus on its association with RelA/p65 phosphorylation, so as to provide evidence supporting CDK7 as a potential prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target for… More >

Juan Wu^1,2, Yue Wang³, Honglin Yan¹, Juanjuan Li², Chuntao Quan^4,*, Jingping Yuan^1,*, Shengrong Sun^2,*

Oncology Research, Vol.34, No.8, 2026, DOI:10.32604/or.2026.081653 - 16 July 2026

Abstract Objectives: Despite the success of CDK4/6 inhibitors (CDK4/6i) in treating HR+/HER2- breast cancer (BC), some patients experience treatment failure due to CDK4/6i resistance. This study aimed to investigate whether targeting Aurora A kinase enhances CDK4/6 inhibitor sensitivity. Methods: An Abemaciclib-resistant cell line (MCF7AR) was developed by treating MCF7 cells with gradually increasing concentrations of Abemaciclib. We evaluated the relative protein levels of p-RB, p-Aurora A, Aurora A, and USP22 in cell cultures, animal tissues, and clinical samples. The effect of Aurora A inhibition on reversing CDK4/6i resistance was assessed using cell viability assays and tumor… More >

Fiorella Carnevali^1,*, Maria Chiara Muollo², Lucia Biagini², Giacomo Rossi²

European Cytokine Network, Vol.37, No.2, pp. 55-77, 2026, DOI:10.32604/ecn.2026.082188 - 30 June 2026

Abstract Severe immune-mediated complications following viral infections and vaccinations, including COVID-19 and anti–SARS-CoV-2 immunization, display remarkable clinical overlap despite occurring in distinct biological contexts. In a previous hypothesis-driven work, we proposed that metabolic incorporation of the non-human sialic acid N-glycolylneuraminic acid (Neu5Gc) into human glycoconjugates—defined as xenosialylation—may contribute to post-infectious and post-vaccination immune dysregulation. We further suggest that this phenomenon may represent a form of “immunological chimerism”, in which host glycoconjugates incorporate non-self molecular structures that predispose the immune system to varying degrees of immune imbalance. In its most severe manifestation, this process may culminate in… More > Graphic Abstract

K. Tilouche-Guerdelli, C. Lacoste^*, D. Perrin, A. Bergeret^*

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.14, No.6, 2026, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2026.02025-0229 - 29 June 2026

Abstract In this study, tannins were investigated as sustainable flame retardants. The thermal and structural properties of tannic acid, chestnut, oak, and quebracho extracts were first characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), and Pyrolysis Combustion Flow Calorimetry (PCFC). Quebracho exhibited the most promising thermal performance, showing the lowest heat release and the highest char yield (≈38 wt.%). To further improve their efficiency, quebracho tannins were phosphorylated using phytic acid (QPHYA) or phosphoric acid (QPHOA). Phosphorus contents reached 13% and 15%, respectively, as confirmed by ICP and SEM–EDX analyses, while FTIR and NMR… More > Graphic Abstract

Gang Yang^#, Xiongwu Long^#, Xingchang Fu^*

BIOCELL, Vol.50, No.7, 2026, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2026.075362 - 29 June 2026

Abstract Objectives: Macrophage ferroptosis is linked to the pathogenesis of gouty arthritis (GA), yet the precise regulatory mechanism needs to be elucidated. This study aimed to investigate the role of macrophage ferroptosis in GA and its potential mechanisms. Methods: THP-1 macrophages were stimulated with monosodium urate (MSU) crystals to simulate the GA model. The co-culture system of macrophages and primary chondrocytes (hCDs) was employed to analyze the effects of macrophage-mediated inflammation on chondrocyte degeneration. Results: MSU stimulation induced ferroptosis in macrophages, accompanied by increased methyltransferase-like 3 (METTL3) expression (p = 0.003) and total m6A modification level (p = 0.0058).… More >