Jie Wu^1,#, Guiwen Liang^1,#, Ya Pan^1,#, Talaibaike Maimaijuma^2,3, Xianggui Xu^2,3, Juying Lu¹, Zhongwei Huang^1,*, Lei Qi^1,*, Haiyan Jiang^1,*

Structural and Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.21, No.2, 2026, DOI:10.32604/schd.2026.077080 - 11 June 2026

Abstract Background: Children with congenital heart disease (CHD) complicated by severe infection often present with immature immune function and poor prognosis. Evidence supporting the use of glucocorticoids in this population, particularly with dynamic immune monitoring, remains limited. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 183 CHD children with severe infections admitted to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) from 2019 to 2023. Patients were divided into two groups: the glucocorticoid intervention group (n = 92, methylprednisolone + standard treatment) and the control group (n = 91, standard treatment). Immune indicators (Interleukins-6 (IL-6), C-reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin (PCT), CD4⁺/CD8⁺ ratio… More >

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

Fang-Ying Chiu^1,2,3,*, Yun Yen^2,4,5,6

Oncology Research, Vol.34, No.6, 2026, DOI:10.32604/or.2026.077076 - 21 May 2026

Abstract Objective: Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common primary malignant brain tumor and is characterized by significant intratumoral heterogeneity. This study aimed to investigate the clinical and genomic landscapes of GBM across diverse ethnic populations to identify potential prognostic markers. Methods: Leveraging The Cancer Imaging Archive (TCIA) and bioinformatics modeling, White, African, and Asian American cohorts were analyzed. Patients were stratified according to the 2021 WHO classification of central nervous system (CNS) tumors. Population-specific genomic drivers and phenotypic markers were evaluated for their impact on outcomes. Survival rates across age, sex, and ethnicity were estimated using the… More >

Renata Pacholczak-Madej^1,2,*, Mirosława Püsküllüoğlu^3,*, Anna Polakiewicz-Gilowska⁴, Małgorzata Pieniążek⁵, Iveta Kolářová⁶, Miroslava Malejčíková⁷, Lenka Rušinová⁸, Miloš Holánek⁹, Renata Soumarová¹⁰, Karolina Winsko-Szczęsnowicz¹¹, Justyna Żubrowska¹², Aleksandra Konieczna¹³, Agnieszka Młodzińska¹³, Daniel Krejčí¹⁴, Iwona Danielewicz¹⁵, Magdalena Szymanik-Resko¹⁵, Tomasz Ciszewski¹⁶, Maja Lisik-Habib¹⁷, Anika Pękala¹⁷, Hana Študentová¹⁸, Jan Šustr¹⁹, Bogumiła Czartoryska-Arłukowicz¹¹, Aleksandra Łacko⁵, Jolanta Smok-Kalwat¹², Michał Jarząb⁴, Zuzana Bielčiková²⁰, Marcin Kubeczko⁴

Oncology Research, Vol.34, No.6, 2026, DOI:10.32604/or.2026.076384 - 21 May 2026

Abstract Background: Germline breast cancer susceptibility gene 1/2 (BRCA1/2) variants guide breast cancer treatment, but their clinical relevance in metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (mTNBC) treated with sacituzumab govitecan (SG) remains unclear. The study aimed to evaluate the association between BRCA status and outcomes in SG-treated mTNBC. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 264 patients with mTNBC and known germline BRCA1/2 (gBRCA1/2) status who received SG between August 2021 and May 2025 across multiple oncology centers in Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Survival outcomes were compared between patients with gBRCA1/2 mutations (gBRCA1/2m) and those with gBRCA1/2 wild-type (gBRCA1/2wt) using Kaplan–Meier estimates, the log-rank… More >

Zizhen Wang, Shitian Su^*

International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, Vol.28, No.4, 2026, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2026.076161 - 28 April 2026

Abstract Objectives: Structural and cognitive social capital are increasingly recognized as key factors influencing mental well-being. In China, older adults from minority groups often experience different levels of network support, trust, and social connection compared with their Han counterparts. These differences may contribute to the mental health gap observed between the two groups. This study aims to examine how structural and cognitive social capital are associated with mental health outcomes among Han and minority older adults in China, and to assess the extent to which these dimensions of social capital explain mental health disparities between the two… More >

Shu-Yu Wu^1,2, Ching-Chia Li^3,4,5, Wen-Jeng Wu^3,4,5, Kuan-Hua Huang^6,7, Chien-Liang Liu^8,9, Shian-Shiang Wang^10,11,12, Jian-Ri Li^10,11, Han-Yu Weng¹³, Ta-Yao Tai¹³, Pi-Che Chen¹⁴, Ian-Seng Cheong¹⁴, Chung-You Tsai^15,16, Pai-Yu Cheng^15,17, Jian-Hua Hong^18,19, Chung-Hsin Chen¹⁹, Jen-Shu Tseng^20,21,22, Wun-Rong Lin^20,21, Yuan-Hong Jiang^2,23, Yu-Khun Lee^2,23, Po-Hung Lin^24,25,26, See-Tong Pang²⁴, Yung-Tai Chen²⁷, Wei-Chieh Chen²⁸, Chia-Chang Wu^29,30,31, Thomas Y. Hsueh^32,33, Hsu-Che Huang^34,35, Wei-Yu Lin^36,37,38, Chia-Cheng Yu³⁹, Jen-Kai Fang⁴⁰, Chih-Chin Yu^1,2, Yao-Chou Tsai^1,2,28,*

Canadian Journal of Urology, Vol.33, No.2, pp. 325-337, 2026, DOI:10.32604/cju.2025.069390 - 20 April 2026

Abstract Introduction: Upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) is a rare malignancy, particularly in the ureter, and is associated with high rates of recurrence and metastasis. Although body mass index (BMI) has been associated with prognosis in multiple cancer types, its role as a predictive factor in UTUC is still debated. This study aimed to investigate how BMI influences survival outcomes in patients with UTUC treated with radical nephroureterectomy (RNU). Methods: This multi-center retrospective analysis by the Taiwan UTUC Collaboration Group involved 2503 patients who underwent treatment across 19 hospitals from 1988 to 2022. Patients were… More >

Jiafei He^1,2, Ailixiati Alifu², Haifan Wang², Renwei Chen^1,2,*

Structural and Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.21, No.1, 2026, DOI:10.32604/schd.2026.075858 - 31 March 2026

Abstract Hyperglycemia in pregnancy (HIP) is an important independent risk factor for congenital heart disease (CHD) in offspring. With an increasing number of women of childbearing age experiencing gestational hyperglycemia, the impact of an intrauterine hyperglycemic environment on fetal development has drawn significant attention. However, the teratogenic mechanisms underlying its effects on cardiac development remain incompletely understood. This review systematically analyzes relevant literature to summarize its underlying mechanisms and key findings: A hyperglycemic environment disrupts cardiac neural crest cell migration, differentiation, and the proliferation/apoptosis balance of cardiomyocytes by inducing oxidative stress, endoplasmic reticulum stress, and inflammatory… More >

Francesco Chiari^1,*, Giovanni Motta², Daria Maria Filippini³, Claudio Donadio Caporale¹, Pierre Guarino¹

Oncology Research, Vol.34, No.4, 2026, DOI:10.32604/or.2026.073086 - 23 March 2026

Abstract Objective: Mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC) of the larynx is an extremely rare malignancy, accounting for less than 1% of primary laryngeal tumors. The optimal role of adjuvant therapy, particularly radiotherapy (RT), remains unclear due to limited evidence. This systematic review aimed to evaluate oncologic outcomes and the impact of adjuvant treatment in patients with early- and advanced-stage laryngeal MEC. Methods: A systematic literature search was performed according to PRISMA 2020 guidelines in PubMed/Embase, Scopus, and Cochrane for studies published up to 31 July 2025. Results: Twenty-two studies, encompassing 55 patients, were included. Early-stage (T1–T2) patients (n =… More >

Gilberto Chéchile Toniolo¹, Nuria Jornet^1,*, Jady Rojas¹, Natalia Tejedor¹, Santiago Carrara¹, Alicia Maccagno², Teresa Brufau¹

Canadian Journal of Urology, Vol.33, No.1, pp. 93-103, 2026, DOI:10.32604/cju.2026.069182 - 28 February 2026

Abstract Background: Low-dose rate (LDR) prostate brachytherapy is a recommended treatment of localized prostate cancer in current guidelines. The study aimed to determine biochemical relapse-free survival (BRFS) in patients treated with dynamic real-time low-dose rate (LDR) brachytherapy using Iodine 125 (I¹²⁵). Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 499 patients with localized prostate cancer treated with I¹²⁵ LDR real-time brachytherapy between 2003 and 2021. The mean patient age was 65 years (range: 45–84 years). Based on the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) risk classification, 230 patients (46.1%) were categorized as low risk, 235 (47.1%) as intermediate risk, and 34 (6.8%)… More >

Gianluca Spena¹, Francesco Passaro¹, Achille Aveta¹, Roberto Contieri^1,*, Alessandro Izzo¹, Giuseppe Quarto¹, Giovanni Grimaldi¹, Luigi Castaldo¹, Dario Franzese¹, Raffaele Muscariello¹, Savio Domenico Pandolfo², Antonio Tufano³, Sisto Perdonà¹

Canadian Journal of Urology, Vol.33, No.1, pp. 117-123, 2026, DOI:10.32604/cju.2025.068026 - 28 February 2026

Abstract Background: The Da Vinci Single-Port Robotic System (Da Vinci-SP), introduced by Intuitive (CA, USA) in 2018 in the USA and in 2024 in Europe, integrates advanced features like a flexible camera and articulating instruments. It has garnered significant interest in urology. Our report presents the first described European series of Radical Prostatectomies using the Da Vinci SP at the leading Italian center, Istituto Nazionale Tumori di Napoli, IRCCS “G. Pascale” Foundation, detailing the technical differences and challenges faced by experienced multiport robotic surgeons. Methods: Sixteen patients have been enrolled and underwent Single-Port (SP) Robot-Assisted Radical… More >