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BIOCELL, Vol.49, No.8, pp. 1311-1338, 2025, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2025.066108 - 29 August 2025
（This article belongs to the Special Issue: Human Microbiota: Current Knowledge and Perspectives)
Abstract The vaginal microbiome plays a pivotal role in maintaining vaginal health and protecting the host from various diseases. There is a broad agreement within the scientific community that the vaginal microbiome exhibits stable bacterial diversity, influenced by age and gonadal hormone levels, and is classified into distinct Community-State Types. A healthy vaginal microbiome is typically characterized by a predominance of Lactobacillus spp., which acidifies the vaginal environment and is essential in defending against invading microbial pathogens. This review examines the evolution of the vaginal microbiome’s composition throughout a woman’s life. It also explores how exogenous factors More >

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651

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BIOCELL, Vol.49, No.8, pp. 1339-1362, 2025, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2025.064916 - 29 August 2025
（This article belongs to the Special Issue: Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of Exercise in Aging and Chronic Disease)
Abstract Chronic kidney disease (CKD) affects a significant fraction of the global population and is closely associated with elevated cardiovascular risk and poor clinical outcomes. Its pathophysiology entails complex molecular and cellular disturbances, including reduced nitric oxide bioavailability, persistent low-grade inflammation, oxidative stress, endothelial dysfunction, altered mineral metabolism, genetic predispositions, and uremic toxin accumulation. As current pharmacological treatments provide only partial risk reduction, complementary approaches are imperative. Exercise training, both aerobic and resistance, has emerged as a potent non-pharmacological intervention targeting these underlying molecular pathways. Regular exercise can enhance nitric oxide signaling, improve antioxidant defenses, attenuate… More >

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683

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BIOCELL, Vol.49, No.8, pp. 1363-1390, 2025, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2025.065891 - 29 August 2025
（This article belongs to the Special Issue: Genetic Biomarkers of Cancer: Insights into Molecular and Cellular Mechanisms)
Abstract Cancer rates are increasing globally, making it more urgent than ever to enhance research and treatment strategies. This study aims to investigate how innovative technology and integrated multi-omics techniques could help improve cancer diagnosis, knowledge, and therapy. A complete literature search was undertaken using PubMed, Elsevier, Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, Embase, and NCBI. This review examined the articles published from 2010 to 2025. Relevant articles were found using keywords and selected using inclusion criteria New sequencing methods, like next-generation sequencing and single-cell analysis, have transformed our ability to study tumor complexity and genetic mutations, paving the… More >

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847

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BIOCELL, Vol.49, No.8, pp. 1391-1412, 2025, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2025.066320 - 29 August 2025
（This article belongs to the Special Issue: Mitochondrial Dynamics and Oxidative Stress in Disease: Cellular Mechanisms and Therapeutic Targets)
Abstract Rotenone is a lipophilic herbicide extensively utilized in experimental neurodegenerative models because of its capacity to disrupt complex I of the mitochondrial electron transport chain. This inhibition results in reduced ATP synthesis, elevated reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation, and mitochondrial malfunction, which instigates oxidative stress and cellular damage, critical elements in neurodegenerative disorders like Parkinson’s disease (PD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and Alzheimer’s disease (AD). In addition to causing direct neuronal injury, rotenone significantly contributes to the activation of glial cells, specifically microglia and astrocytes. Activated microglia assumes a proinflammatory (M1) phenotype, distinguished by the… More >

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BIOCELL, Vol.49, No.8, pp. 1413-1433, 2025, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2025.064982 - 29 August 2025
Abstract Gastric cancer remains a leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide, with its complex tumor microenvironment (TME) playing a crucial role in tumor initiation, progression, and therapeutic response. As key components of the TME, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) influence tumor cell proliferation, invasion, and treatment resistance through cytokine secretion, exosomal communication, and metabolic regulation. MSCs enhance cancer stemness and therapy resistance by modulating glycolysis and fatty acid oxidation (FAO), while also promoting tumor progression through immune modulation and interactions with surrounding microenvironmental elements. Despite their potential for therapeutic applications, the clinical use of MSCs in gastric… More >

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546

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BIOCELL, Vol.49, No.8, pp. 1435-1448, 2025, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2025.065199 - 29 August 2025
（This article belongs to the Special Issue: Understanding Cellular Mechanisms in Wound Healing During Therapeutic Interventions)
Abstract Background: The efficient transdermal delivery of biologically active molecules remains a major challenge because of the structural barrier of the stratum corneum, which limits the penetration of large or hydrophilic molecules. Low-molecular-weight protamine (LMWP) has a structure similar to that of the HIV TAT protein-derived peptide and is a representative cell-penetrating peptide (CPP) used to increase cell permeability. However, protamine has been reported to have many toxicities and side effects. Objectives: We developed human-derived low-molecular-weight protamine (hLMWP), which is based on fish-derived LMWP but designed using human protein sequences to improve safety and functionality. As… More >

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BIOCELL, Vol.49, No.8, pp. 1449-1480, 2025, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2025.068034 - 29 August 2025
（This article belongs to the Special Issue: Exploring the Role of Cancer Stem Cells)
Abstract Background: Triple-negative (TN) breast cancer, the most aggressive subtype of breast cancer, is usually treated with high doses of paclitaxel (PX), which induces resistance. To prevent this adverse effect, metronomic chemotherapy based on administering low doses of PX plus carbachol (Carb), a muscarinic acetylcholine receptor (mAChR) agonist, has emerged as an alternative. Other acetylcholine receptors also present in breast tissue are nicotinic ones. When activated by nicotine (Nic), these receptors can decrease the effectiveness of conventional chemotherapy. However, whether metronomic chemotherapy with PX and Carb is affected by Nic has not yet been described. This… More >

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355

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BIOCELL, Vol.49, No.8, pp. 1481-1504, 2025, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2025.066205 - 29 August 2025
（This article belongs to the Special Issue: Genetic Biomarkers of Cancer: Insights into Molecular and Cellular Mechanisms)
Abstract Background: Small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO)-specific proteases (SENPs) cleave the isopeptidic bond between SUMO1/2/3 and protein substrates, thus regulating the structure, activity, and lifetime of a variety of proteins. Recently, accumulating evidence has suggested that SENPs play a role in the initiation and progression of human cancers. Nevertheless, the potential role of the SENP family of proteins in liver cancer has yet to be fully elucidated. Methods: This study conducted a comprehensive bioinformatics analysis of the SENP family in liver cancer, including differential expression profiling, survival analysis, mutation and copy number variations (CNVs) assessment, immune infiltration… More >

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434

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BIOCELL, Vol.49, No.8, pp. 1505-1528, 2025, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2025.066504 - 29 August 2025
Abstract Objectives: A common side effect of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is intestinal fibrosis, which frequently leads to intestinal blockage and stricture formation. Although Thalidomide (THD) has shown anti-fibrotic benefits in hepatic and renal models, little is known about how it affects intestinal fibrosis and the underlying processes. The present research examines the molecular targets of THD and its potential as a treatment for intestinal fibrosis brought on by colitis. Methods: Clinical samples from Crohn’s disease (CD) patients with intestinal strictures treated with infliximab (IFX) and THD combined with IFX were collected. Dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)… More >

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439

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BIOCELL, Vol.49, No.8, pp. 1529-1543, 2025, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2025.066479 - 29 August 2025
Abstract Objectives: The present study investigated whether Tripartite Motif-Containing Protein 32 (TRIM32) contributes to the aberrant activation of keloid fibroblasts (KFs) via glycolysis. Methods: The expression levels of TRIM32, pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 1 (PDK1), hexokinase 2 (HK2), and glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1) in normal human skin fibroblasts (NFs) and KFs were analyzed using RT-qPCR analyses and western blotting. Cellular proliferation, invasion, and migration were evaluated using Transwell, wound healing, 5-ethynyl-2^′-deoxyuridine (EdU), and cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assays. The extracellular acidification rate (ECAR) was measured using the XF96 Extracellular Flux Analyzer. Glucose uptake and ATP production were measured using… More >

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350

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BIOCELL, Vol.47, No.2, pp. 239-244, 2023, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2023.025357
Abstract An organism’s survival depends on its ability to adapt to stress. Mitochondria are the cellular integrators of environmental stressors that ultimately translate their responses at the organismal level, and are thus central to the process whereby organisms adapt to their respective environments. Mitochondria produce molecular energy via oxidative phosphorylation that then allows cells to biosynthetically respond and adapt to changes in their environment. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are by-products of oxidative phosphorylation that can be either beneficial or damaging, depending on the context; ROS are hence both the conveyors of environmental stress as well as More >

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BIOCELL, Vol.47, No.1, pp. 51-69, 2023, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2022.023392
（This article belongs to the Special Issue: Cellular and Molecular Toxicology in Reproductive and Developmental Biology)
Abstract Exposure to some toxic compounds causes structural and behavioral anomalies associated with the neurons in the later stage of life. Those toxic compounds are termed as a neurotoxicant, which can be a physical factor, a toxin, an infection, radiation, or maybe a drug. The incongruities caused due to a neurotoxicant further depend on the toxicity of the compound. More importantly, the neurotoxicity of the compound is associated with the concentration and the time point of exposure. The neurodevelopmental defect appears depending on the toxicity of the compound. A neurodevelopmental defect may be associated with a More >

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BIOCELL, Vol.47, No.11, pp. 2321-2334, 2023, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2023.043796
Abstract The biointerface dynamics influence any cancer spreading through the epithelium since it is documented in the early stages some malignancies (like epithelial cancer). The altered rearrangement of epithelial cells has an impact on the development of cancer. Therefore, it is necessary to comprehend the underlying biological and physical mechanisms of this biointerface dynamics for early suppression of cancer. While the biological mechanisms include cell signaling and gene expression, the physical mechanisms are several physical parameters such as the epithelial-cancer interfacial tension, epithelial surface tension, and compressive stress accumulated within the epithelium. Although the segregation of… More >

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BIOCELL, Vol.47, No.2, pp. 245-260, 2023, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2023.025311
Abstract The association of gut microflora and human health is being increasingly recognized, and the impact of gut microflora on the host is well characterized, including the body’s energy metabolism and immune system maintenance. Several human diseases, including metabolic, autoimmune, obesity, hypothyroidism, and intestinal disorders, are closely associated with gut dysbiosis. Inorganic nanoparticles (NPs) are extensively utilized in numerous fields due to their distinctive, attractive physicochemical properties. Estimation of the potential impacts of NPs, with a high number of microorganisms inside the human body (microbiota) and its genomes (microbiome), represents one of the most important aspects… More >

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BIOCELL, Vol.47, No.4, pp. 677-695, 2023, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2023.026081
Abstract Indian medicinal plants are referred to as the “nectar of life” owing to their phytochemicals and bioactive complexes that are beneficial in treating diseases. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a global health issue without any proper medication. The indigenous plants of India can be exploited to control the precise signs of SARS-CoV-2. The Ministry of AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy) has advised routine usage of medicinal plants for COVID-19. Medicinal plants like Zingiber officinalis, Azadirachta indica, Ocimum sanctum, Nigella sativa, Withania somnifera, Curcuma longa, Piper nigrum, Allium sativum, Tinospora cordifolia, etc. have More >

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BIOCELL, Vol.47, No.1, pp. 91-107, 2023, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2023.024310
（This article belongs to the Special Issue: Bioinformatics Study of Diseases)
Abstract In recent years, microbial metabolomics, a new field that has attracted wide attention, provides a map of metabolic pathways and clarifies the interaction mechanism between microorganisms and hosts. Many microorganisms are found in the human intestine, oral cavity, vagina, etc. Probiotics could maintain the good health of the host, while pathogens and an imbalance of bacterial flora lead to a series of diseases of the body and mind. Metabolomics is a science for qualitative and quantitative analysis of all metabolites in an organism or biological system, which could provide key information to understand the related… More >

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BIOCELL, Vol.47, No.6, pp. 1225-1241, 2023, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2023.027884
（This article belongs to the Special Issue: Bioinformatics Study of Diseases)
Abstract The advent of genomic big data and the statistical need for reaching significant results have led genome-wide association studies to be ravenous of a huge number of genetic markers scattered along the whole genome. Since its very beginning, the so-called genotype imputation served this purpose; this statistical and inferential procedure based on a known reference panel opened the theoretical possibility to extend association analyses to a greater number of polymorphic sites which have not been previously assayed by the used technology. In this review, we present a broad overview of the genotype imputation process, showing More >

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BIOCELL, Vol.47, No.1, pp. 187-194, 2023, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2022.023030
Abstract Liver cancer is the seventh most common malignant tumor in the world and is the second highest cause of death due to cancer. Quercetin, a flavonoid with low toxicity, widely exists in various fruits and vegetables. It has the potential to be a therapeutic agent against various cancers. This study aimed to demonstrate the anti-tumor effect of quercetin on HepG2 cells. Quercetin suppressed the HepG2 cell proliferation in a dose-dependent manner in cell viability assay. Induction of cell apoptosis was confirmed by apoptotic cells population (sub-G1 peak) detected by flow cytometer. A decrease in mitochondrial More >

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BIOCELL, Vol.47, No.1, pp. 81-89, 2023, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2023.024635
Abstract Bacterial endotoxins are a major concern in periodontal health and diseases owing to their structure and biological activity. With up-to-date knowledge of endotoxins and the recent findings about the influence of endotoxins in dental health, their probable mode of pathogenesis, and standard detection methods, this review analyzes the potential efficacy and benefits of probiotics in combination with conventional and contemporary treatment measures. In the oral cavity, Gram-negative bacteria are documented to predominate in the pulpal lesions with radiolucent areas and in the root canal with pulp necrosis, where they pose an absolute threat by promoting… More >

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BIOCELL, Vol.47, No.1, pp. 109-123, 2023, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2023.024620
（This article belongs to the Special Issue: Bioinformatics Study of Diseases)
Abstract ATP binding cassette subfamily C member 8 (ABCC8) encodes a protein regulating the ATP-sensitive potassium channel. Whether the level of ABCC8 mRNA in lower grade glioma (LGG) correlates with immune cell infiltration and patient outcomes has not been evaluated until now. Comparisons of ABCC8 expression between different tumors and normal tissues were evaluated by exploring publicly available datasets. The association between ABCC8 and tumor immune cell infiltration, diverse gene mutation characteristics, tumor mutation burden (TMB), and survival in LGG was also investigated in several independent datasets. Pathway enrichment analysis was conducted to search for ABCC8-associated… More >

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