Eun Hae Lee^1,2,3, Minjae Choi^4,5, Hanul Park^3,6, Joon Hee Han^3,6,7, Sujeong Yu^3,8, Joshua Kirabo Sempungu^1,2,3,6, Inbae Sohn^4,6, Yo Han Lee^3,6,*

International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, Vol.28, No.1, 2026, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2025.073735 - 28 January 2026

Abstract Background: That Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia (CEECA) experienced a major mortality crisis in the 1990s is a well-established finding, with most analyses focusing on singular causes like alcohol-related deaths. However, the utility of the integrated “deaths of despair” framework, which views alcohol, drug, and suicide deaths as a unified socio-economic phenomenon, remains under-explored in this context. Crucially, the long-term evolution of the composition of despair within the region remains a largely unexplored area of inquiry. Therefore, this study aims to analyze the long-term trends, changing composition, and regional heterogeneity of deaths from despair… More >

Yuyang Nie^1,2,#, Kunkun Jiang^2,3,#, Tianci Wang⁴, Cong Liu^1,2, Kangli Du^1,2, Yuxian Cao², Guofeng Qu^2,*, Lijia Hou^2,*

International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, Vol.28, No.1, 2026, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2025.073592 - 28 January 2026

Abstract Background: Amid the global rise in adolescent sedentary behavior and psychological distress, extant research has largely focused on variable-level associations, neglecting symptom-level interactions. This study applies network analysis, aims to delineate the interconnections among sedentary time, social support, social exclusion, and psychological distress in Chinese students, and to identify core and bridge symptoms to inform targeted interventions. Methods: This study employed a cross-sectional design to investigate the complex relationships among sedentary behavior, social support, social exclusion, and psychological distress among Chinese students. The research involved 459 high school and university students, using network analysis and mediation… More >

Yue Cui¹, Ziqing Yang², Hao Gao^1,*

International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, Vol.28, No.1, 2026, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2025.072986 - 28 January 2026

Abstract Background: In the Chinese context, the impact of short video applications on the psychological well-being of older adults is contested. While often examined through a pathological lens of addiction, this perspective may overlook paradoxical, context-dependent positive outcomes. Therefore, the main objective of this study is to challenge the traditional Compensatory Internet Use Theory by proposing and testing a chained mediation model that explores a paradoxical pathway from social support to life satisfaction via problematic social media use. Methods: Data were collected between July and August 2025 via the Credamo online survey platform, yielding 384 valid responses… More >

Ramazan İnci^1,*, Davut Açar², Osman Tayyar Çelik³, Yunus Tunç⁴

International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, Vol.28, No.1, 2026, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2025.072072 - 28 January 2026

Abstract Background: Bullying during adolescence is shaped by numerous psychosocial factors such as family dynamics, attachment, and peer relationships. This study aims to examine parental acceptance-rejection, attachment styles, and social exclusion factors as key psychosocial variables predicting bullying behavior in adolescents. Methods: In a cross-sectional study conducted with 349 high school students in Hakkari, Türkiye. Data were collected using the Olweus Bullying Scale, the Parental Acceptance-Rejection Scale, the Social Exclusion Scale, and the Three-Dimensional Attachment Styles Scale. Independent samples t-tests, one-way ANOVAs, Pearson correlations, and hierarchical regression analyses were performed. Results: Research findings reveal that peer bullying varies… More >

Jimin Chae¹, Youngbin Lym^2,*, Geiguen Shin^2,3,*

International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, Vol.28, No.1, 2026, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2025.071482 - 28 January 2026

Abstract Background: Social connection is widely recognized as a protective determinant of health, yet its direct and indirect effects on mental health remain underexplored. This study examines the relationship between social connection and mental health, focusing on the mediating role of quality of life (QoL) and the moderating effect of regional differences. Methods: We analyzed data from the 2019 Korean Community Health Survey, comprising 229,099 adults. Mental health was assessed through validated measures of depressive symptoms and psychological well-being. Social connection was measured using indicators of interpersonal ties and community participation, and QoL was assessed via self-reported… More >

Douglas M. Ruden^*

BIOCELL, Vol.50, No.1, 2026, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2025.072273 - 23 January 2026

Abstract Stem cell fate decisions are increasingly understood through the dynamic interplay of two fundamental stress-adaptive programs: the integrated stress response (ISR) and the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP). These pathways act as a Yin–Yang system, balancing beneficial and detrimental outcomes across development, tissue homeostasis, and disease. On the yin (protective) side, transient ISR activation and acute SASP signaling foster adaptation, embryonic patterning, wound healing, and regeneration. On the yang (maladaptive) side, chronic ISR signaling and unresolved SASP output drive stem cell exhaustion, fibrosis, inflammation, and tumorigenesis. This duality highlights their roles as both guardians and disruptors More > Graphic Abstract

TOSHIYUKI HABU^*

BIOCELL, Vol.50, No.1, 2026, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2025.071798 - 23 January 2026

Abstract RING protein 213 (RNF213), the susceptibility gene for Moyamoya disease (MMD), possesses two active AAA+ ATPase (ATPases Associated with diverse cellular Activities) modules, a RING, and RNF213-ZNFX1 finger (RZ finger) domains. Several RNF213 variants have been reported in MMD patients, including the p.R4810K variant (rs112735431), which is a founder polymorphism associated with MMD in East Asia. To elucidate the function of RNF213 and its variant, we investigated the localization of RNF213 and the R4810K variant in this study. RNF213 induced circular hole structures near the nucleus, similar to lipid droplets (LDs), in U-2 OS cells. More >

Hang Zhang^1,#, Meng-Yuan Chu^1,#, Guohui Lv¹, You-Jie Li¹, Xuhang Liu², Fei Jiao^1,*, Yun-Fei Yan^1,*

BIOCELL, Vol.50, No.1, 2026, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2025.068322 - 23 January 2026

Abstract Objectives: Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains a leading cause of cancer-related mortality, with limited understanding of lncRNA-driven mechanisms in tumor progression. This study aimed to identify differentially expressed lncRNAs in NSCLC tissues and elucidate the functional role of the significantly upregulated RP3-340N1.2 in promoting malignancy. Methods: RNA sequencing was used to screen dysregulated lncRNAs. RP3-340N1.2 was functionally characterized via gain/loss-of-function assays in NSCLC cells, assessing proliferation, migration, and macrophage polarization. Mechanisms of interleukin 6 (IL-6) regulation were explored using cytokine profiling, Actinomycin D assays, and RNA Immunoprecipitation (RIP) assays to study RP3-340N1.2 interactions with… More >

Yang Wu^1,#,*, Dong Xu^1,#, Run Shi¹, Mingwei Zhan², Shaohui Xu³, Xin Wang⁴, Jianpeng Zhang⁵, Zhaokai Zhou⁶, Weizhuo Wang⁷, Yongjie Wang⁸, Minglun Li⁹, Zihao Xu^10,*, Kaifeng Su^11,*

Oncology Research, Vol.34, No.2, 2026, DOI:10.32604/or.2025.073265 - 19 January 2026

Abstract Prostate cancer (PCa) remains a major cause of cancer-related mortality in men, largely due to therapy resistance and metastatic progression. Increasing evidence highlights the tumor microenvironment (TME), particularly cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), as a critical determinant of disease behavior. CAFs constitute a heterogeneous population originating from fibroblasts, mesenchymal stem cells, endothelial cells, epithelial cells undergoing epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT), and adipose tissue. Through dynamic crosstalk with tumor, immune, endothelial, and adipocyte compartments, CAFs orchestrate oncogenic processes including tumor proliferation, invasion, immune evasion, extracellular matrix remodeling, angiogenesis, and metabolic reprogramming. This review comprehensively summarizes the cellular origins, phenotypic More >

Ke Liu^1,2,3,#, Xia Xue^1,2,3,#, Haiming Qin^4,5,#, Jiaying Zhu^6,#, Meng Jin^1,6, Die Dai⁶, Youcai Tang¹, Ihtisham Bukhari¹, Hangfan Liu¹, Chunjing Qiu¹, Feifei Ren¹, Pengyuan Zheng^1,2,3, Yang Mi^1,2,3,*, Weihua Chen^6,7,*

Oncology Research, Vol.34, No.2, 2026, DOI:10.32604/or.2025.072661 - 19 January 2026

Abstract Background: The gut microbiome has emerged as a critical modulator of cancer immunotherapy response. However, the mechanisms by which gut-associated metabolites influence checkpoint blockade efficacy in prostate cancer (PC) remain not fully explored. The study aimed to explore how gut metabolites regulate death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) blockade via exosomes and boost immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in PC. Methods: We recruited 70 PC patients to set up into five subgroups. The integrated multi-omics analysis was performed. In parallel, we validated the function of gut microbiome-associated metabolites on PD-L1 production and immunotherapy treatment efficacy in PC cell lines… More >