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        <title>Experimental Biology and Medicine | New and Recent Articles</title>
        <link>https://www.ebm-journal.org/journals/experimental-biology-and-medicine</link>
        <description>RSS Feed for Experimental Biology and Medicine | New and Recent Articles</description>
        <language>en-us</language>
        <generator>Frontiers Feed Generator,version:1</generator>
        <pubDate>2026-11-04T23:52:02.39+00:00</pubDate>
        <ttl>60</ttl>
        <item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.ebm-journal.org/articles/10.3389/ebm.2026.11173</guid>
        <link>https://www.ebm-journal.org/articles/10.3389/ebm.2026.11173</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Independent associations of gluteofemoral fat depots with hepatocellular carcinoma and the mediating role of the plasma lipidome: a mendelian randomization study]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-11-02T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Hang Liu</author><author>Fuming Wang</author><author>Jinming Tian</author><author>Rong Luo</author><author>Jianan Zhang</author><author>Xu Jiang</author><author>Jijin Yang</author>
        <description><![CDATA[As metabolic etiologies become increasingly important in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the causal roles of specific adipose depots independent of overall body size remain unclear. This study used Mendelian randomization (MR) to investigate the associations of MRI-derived fat-depot phenotypes with HCC and to explore potential mediation by plasma lipids. GWAS summary statistics for BMI- and height-adjusted fat-depot phenotypes were obtained from the UK Biobank, and HCC summary statistics were obtained from FinnGen, with replication in the Million Veteran Program. Univariable and multivariable MR were used to estimate total and independent effects, including analyses adjusted for smoking, alcohol consumption, type 2 diabetes, and childhood BMI. A two-step MR framework was applied to assess mediation by 179 plasma lipid species. Genetically predicted gluteofemoral adipose tissue adjusted for BMI and height (GFATadj) was associated with a lower risk of HCC (OR = 0.444, P = 1.00 × 10-4). This association remained robust after adjustment for other risk factors, and it was replicated in the Million Veteran Program (OR = 0.766). Mediation analysis identified six lipid species as potential partial mediators, each accounting for an estimated 7.0%–15.4% of the protective total effect, and colocalization provided only limited support for shared causal variants. Our results provide insight into depot-specific adiposity and lipid metabolic pathways in hepatocarcinogenesis, although further validation is needed to confirm the underlying causal mechanisms.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.ebm-journal.org/articles/10.3389/ebm.2026.11213</guid>
        <link>https://www.ebm-journal.org/articles/10.3389/ebm.2026.11213</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Multi-class classification of central and non-central geographic atrophy using optical coherence tomography]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-11-02T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Sadia Siraz</author><author>Hindolo Kamanda</author><author>Sina Gholami</author><author>Ahammed Sakir Nabil</author><author>Nitya Tangada Rao</author><author>Sally S. Ong</author><author>Minhaj Nur Alam</author>
        <description><![CDATA[This retrospective study aimed to develop and validate deep learning (DL)-based models for classifying geographic atrophy (GA) subtypes using Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) scans across four clinical classification tasks. A total of 455 OCT volumes from 91 patients at Wake Forest University School of Medicine were evaluated with 258 Central GA (CGA), 74 Non-Central GA (NCGA), and 123 no GA (NGA) cases. For GA classification, the dataset was supplemented with early and intermediate non-neovascular AMD and neovascular AMD cases, which were sourced from four public repositories. Two experimental approaches were tested: utilizing all B-scans within each OCT volume and selectively using B-scans containing foveal regions. Models were trained using transfer learning with patient-level data splitting at a 70:15:15 ratio, and performance was evaluated using area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC-ROC), F1 score, and accuracy as primary outcome measures. Vision Transformers (ViTs) demonstrated the most consistent performance across the evaluated architectures. For CGA versus NCGA classification, ViT-B/16 achieved a B-scan-level AUC-ROC of 0.728 ± 0.058 in Case 2, while volume/visit-level AUC-ROC was 0.837 ± 0.011 in Case 1 and 0.656 ± 0.070 in Case 2. NCGA recognition remained challenging, particularly in Case 2. In contrast, GA-versus-NGA and GA-versus-non-GA AMD classification showed substantially stronger discrimination. These findings support the feasibility of OCT-based automated GA phenotyping while highlighting NCGA recognition as an important area for further optimization and external validation.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.ebm-journal.org/articles/10.3389/ebm.2026.11455</guid>
        <link>https://www.ebm-journal.org/articles/10.3389/ebm.2026.11455</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Correction: Sickle cell retinopathy molecular investigation through proteomic analysis of Townes HbSS mice retinas]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-11-02T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Correction</category>
        <author>Júlia Nicoliello Pereira de Castro</author><author>Ana Rafaela Carvalho Monte</author><author>Ana Carolina Rodrigues de Oliveira</author><author>Julia Dezordi Acacio</author><author>Thiago Adalton Rosa Rodrigues</author><author>Mirella Telles Salgueiro Barboni</author><author>André Maurício Passos Liber</author><author>Daniela Maria Oliveira Bonci</author><author>Dora Fix Ventura</author><author>Fernando Ferreira Costa</author><author>Ana Carolina Lima Camargo</author><author>Mônica Barbosa de Melo</author>
        <description></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.ebm-journal.org/articles/10.3389/ebm.2026.11350</guid>
        <link>https://www.ebm-journal.org/articles/10.3389/ebm.2026.11350</link>
        <title><![CDATA[SEL1L: molecular gatekeeper of the endoplasmic reticulum quality control network]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-10-30T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Review</category>
        <author>Zhenxuan Shen</author><author>Yiting Niu</author><author>Hedong Chen</author><author>Meikun Pan</author><author>Fan Yang</author><author>Meiying Li</author><author>Chong Zhang</author><author>Yali Zhou</author><author>Jianguo Yan</author>
        <description><![CDATA[SEL1L (suppressor/enhancer of lin-12-like) is an endoplasmic reticulum (ER) transmembrane protein that serves as a key regulatory molecule in the endoplasmic reticulum-associated degradation (ERAD) pathway, playing a central role in maintaining intracellular protein homeostasis. This paper provides a systematic review of SEL1L’s structural characteristics, the molecular mechanisms by which it forms a functional complex with the E3 ubiquitin ligase HMG-CoA reductase degradation protein 1 (HRD1, encoded by SYVN1) to synergistically execute ERAD, and its pathophysiological significance in the onset and progression of various diseases. Research indicates that SEL1L dysfunction is closely associated with pathogenic protein aggregation in neurodegenerative diseases (e.g., Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), protein homeostasis imbalances during tumorigenesis, cellular metabolic dysregulation in metabolic disorders (e.g., diabetes, lipid metabolism disorders), and immune system dysfunction. Furthermore, the expression levels or variants of SEL1L exhibit specific alterations across different tumor tissues, suggesting its potential as a disease biomarker and therapeutic target. This paper aims to synthesize existing research, elucidate the ‘gatekeeper’ role of SEL1L in multiple physiological and pathological processes, and explore the prospects for developing novel therapeutic strategies by targeting the SEL1L-HRD1 complex and related pathways.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.ebm-journal.org/articles/10.3389/ebm.2026.11233</guid>
        <link>https://www.ebm-journal.org/articles/10.3389/ebm.2026.11233</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Oral colchicine improves shoulder motion and reduces capsular fibrosis in a rat frozen shoulder model]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-10-28T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Gökay Eken</author><author>Adnan Kantarci</author><author>Teoman Atici</author><author>Ahmet Akkoc</author><author>Selcan Akesen</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Primary frozen shoulder is driven by capsular inflammation followed by progressive fibrosis. Current conservative treatments target inflammation alone and do not address the fibrosis that sustains the loss of motion. Since colchicine has both anti-inflammatory and antifibrotic activity, we tested whether oral colchicine limits inflammation, fibrosis, and the loss of shoulder motion in a rat immobilization model of frozen shoulder. Sixty female Wistar albino rats aged 8 months were randomly assigned to five groups of 12: a healthy sham group, a 3-week untreated control, a 3-week treatment group, a 6-week untreated control, and a 6-week treatment group. Frozen shoulder was induced by plaster immobilization in all groups except the sham group. The treated animals received 0.6 mg of oral colchicine daily by gavage, which is approximately equivalent to 2.2 mg/kg/day. Abduction and external rotation were measured radiographically on harvested specimens, and the joint capsule was graded histopathologically for synovial hyperplasia, inflammatory changes, pannus formation, capillary vessel formation, and connective tissue formation. At 6 weeks, the mean abduction angle was greater in the treatment group than in the matched control (109.6° versus 88.1°), as was the mean external rotation angle (26.8° versus 18.9°), whereas the 3-week groups did not differ significantly in abduction angles. Connective tissue formation was lower in both treatment groups than in their respective controls, and inflammatory changes were reduced at both time points. Immunohistochemistry showed that collagen III was lower in the 3-week treatment group than in its control (2.17 versus 3.50) and collagen I was lower in the 6-week treatment group than in its control (2.50 versus 3.50), a phase-dependent pattern. Differences in synovial hyperplasia, pannus formation, and capillary vessel formation did not reach significance. In this model, colchicine improved shoulder abduction and external rotation and reduced capsular fibrosis and inflammation. Colchicine, already used widely for rheumatologic disease, may have anti-inflammatory and antifibrotic potential in frozen shoulder, although further preclinical and clinical studies are needed before any clinical use. These findings concern the development and progression of capsular fibrosis during continued immobilization; whether colchicine can reverse established contracture was not tested.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.ebm-journal.org/articles/10.3389/ebm.2026.11373</guid>
        <link>https://www.ebm-journal.org/articles/10.3389/ebm.2026.11373</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Epigenetic reprogramming of NK cell-mediated antitumor immunity in urothelial carcinoma: a mini-review]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-10-28T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Mini Review</category>
        <author>Himani Kumari</author><author>Chih-Chieh Chou</author><author>Yu-Ting Lee</author><author>Cheng-Huang Shen</author><author>Michael W. Y. Chan</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Urothelial carcinoma (UC) is a dynamic malignancy characterized by a complex epigenetic landscape. Epigenetic modifications are pivotal in modulating the innate immune response, particularly within the tumor microenvironment (TME), where they profoundly influence natural killer (NK) cell function. Aberrant epigenetic regulation often promotes immune evasion by silencing activating ligands on tumor cells, thereby impairing NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity. Emerging epigenetic therapies, such as histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACis) and DNA methyltransferase inhibitors (DNMTis), offer significant potential to reprogram the immune landscape and restore anti-tumor immunity. Despite this promise, clinical implementation faces challenges, including the immunosuppressive nature of the TME, NK cell exhaustion, and complex manufacturing limitations. Combining epigenetic agents with NK cell-based immunotherapies represents a robust strategy to overcome these barriers and improve therapeutic outcomes. This review elucidates the epigenetic regulatory mechanisms in UC and emphasizes the necessity of personalized, biomarker-driven treatment strategies to optimize cancer immunotherapy outcomes.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.ebm-journal.org/articles/10.3389/ebm.2026.11196</guid>
        <link>https://www.ebm-journal.org/articles/10.3389/ebm.2026.11196</link>
        <title><![CDATA[CLEC4E deletion in cardiac resident cells reduces infarct size and improves cardiac remodeling following myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-10-26T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Michiel Algoet</author><author>Ming Wu</author><author>Hilde Gillijns</author><author>Matic Pusovnik</author><author>Ellen Caluwe</author><author>Kasia Blazejczyk</author><author>Willy Gsell</author><author>Lotte Geerkens</author><author>Senne De Groote</author><author>Tatiana Kuznetsova</author><author>Uwe Himmelreich</author><author>Wouter Oosterlinck</author><author>Stefan Janssens</author>
        <description><![CDATA[The c-type lectin receptor CLEC4E plays a critical role in innate immune responses to ischemic tissue damage, and is expressed on infiltrating immune cells and tissue resident cells. We investigated whether inhibition of CLEC4E signaling in resident cells or infiltrating immune cells, mediates cardioprotection in myocardial ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury, and explored associated molecular pathways. Methods: We generated chimeric mice via sublethal total body irradiation followed by adoptive transfer of WT C57Bl6/J bone marrow cells (BMCs) in CLEC4E−/− mice and CLEC4E−/− BMCs in WT mice (n = 86). Four weeks after BMC transfer, we induced I/R injury by 30 min LAD occlusion. Myocardial necrosis was measured using troponin I (TnI) at 90 min; infarct size and LV remodeling were assessed by gadolinium-enhanced MRI at 24 h and 28 d. Hearts and bones were harvested at 28 d for immunohistochemistry, Olink-based myocardial proteomic analysis, and genotyping. Results: BMC analysis confirmed successful CLEC4E chimerism after transfer of CLEC4E−/− vs. WT progenitors. TnI levels and infarct size at 24 h were similar in both groups, but at 28 d, CLEC4E−/− mice with WT BMCs (n = 26) showed better LV function (LVEF 62% vs. 47%, p < 0.05) and smaller infarcts (6.9% vs. 19.8% LVmass, p < 0.01) than WT with CLEC4E−/− BMCs (n = 22). Proteomic analysis revealed enhanced pro-inflammatory and pro-fibrotic protein expression in WT with CLEC4E−/− BMCs. Conclusion: Deletion of CLEC4E in non–bone marrow–derived cardiac resident cells confers cardioprotection post-I/R. Targeting CLEC4E signaling and its downstream effectors in cardiac tissue may offer a novel therapeutic strategy for I/R injury.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.ebm-journal.org/articles/10.3389/ebm.2026.11307</guid>
        <link>https://www.ebm-journal.org/articles/10.3389/ebm.2026.11307</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Correction: Bioinformatics and systems biology approach to identify the pathogenetic link of neurological pain and major depressive disorder]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-10-26T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Correction</category>
        <author>Jinjing Hu</author><author>Jia Fu</author><author>Yuxin Cai</author><author>Shuping Chen</author><author>Mengjian Qu</author><author>Lisha Zhang</author><author>Weichao Fan</author><author>Ziyi Wang</author><author>Qing Zeng</author><author>Jihua Zou</author>
        <description></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.ebm-journal.org/articles/10.3389/ebm.2026.11091</guid>
        <link>https://www.ebm-journal.org/articles/10.3389/ebm.2026.11091</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Ultrasound-guided platelet-rich plasma injection for peripheral nerve injury: a retrospective exploratory study]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-10-26T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Juanjuan He</author><author>Li Jiang</author><author>Anna Tu</author><author>Na Li</author><author>Hongyan Zhu</author><author>Ying Lu</author><author>Xiaomei Wei</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Although experimental studies have demonstrated that platelet-rich plasma (PRP) promotes peripheral nerve repair, its clinical efficacy in treating peripheral nerve injuries remains unclear. The present study aims to evaluate safety and functional outcomes of ultrasound-guided PRP injection for peripheral nerve injury. This retrospective study analyzed consecutive patients receiving ultrasound-guided PRP injections for peripheral nerve injuries between January 2021 and March 2025. Outcomes were assessed at 1, 3, and 6 months post-treatment, defined as: (1) a ≥2-point reduction in the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) for sensory recovery, and (2) a ≥1-grade improvement in the Medical Research Council (MRC) scale for motor function. Patients were divided based on symptom duration into short-duration (<1 year) and long-duration (≥1 year) groups. All procedure-related complications were recorded. Among 48 treated nerves, PRP therapy resulted in gradual functional improvement and was well-tolerated. Sensory recovery rates remained stable (70.8% at 1 month to 68.8% at 6 months), while motor function improved gradually (from 50.0% to 69.4%). In an exploratory subgroup analysis, the short-duration group (n = 25) showed numerically higher rates than the long-duration group (n = 23) at 6 months (sensory: 80.0% vs. 56.5%, p = 0.08; motor: 85.0% vs. 50.0%, p = 0.034). However, after Bonferroni correction for multiple comparisons (corrected α = 0.0167), the motor improvement did not remain statistically significant. No severe adverse events occurred. The present study suggests that ultrasound-guided PRP injection appears safe and may be associated with functional improvement. The observed subgroup findings are hypothesis-generating and require confirmation in prospective randomized controlled trials.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.ebm-journal.org/articles/10.3389/ebm.2026.11228</guid>
        <link>https://www.ebm-journal.org/articles/10.3389/ebm.2026.11228</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Sickle cell retinopathy molecular investigation through proteomic analysis of Townes HbSS mice retinas]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-10-14T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Júlia Nicoliello Pereira de Castro</author><author>Ana Rafaela Carvalho Monte</author><author>Ana Carolina Rodrigues  de Oliveira</author><author>Julia Dezordi Acacio</author><author>Thiago Adalton Rosa Rodrigues</author><author>Mirella Telles Salgueiro Barboni</author><author>André Maurício Passos Liber</author><author>Daniela Maria Oliveira Bonci</author><author>Dora Fix Ventura</author><author>Fernando Ferreira Costa</author><author>Ana Carolina Lima Camargo</author><author>Mônica Barbosa de Melo</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Sickle cell retinopathy (SCR) is the most important ocular manifestation in sickle cell disease (SCD). Retinal tissue is highly sensible to vaso-occlusion and hypoxia observed in SCR pathophysiology, with consequent vessel remodeling and ultimately neovascularization in its proliferative form. Severe cases are followed by vitreous hemorrhage and retinal detachment, with 10–20% of vision loss in affected eyes. Current treatment options such as anti-VEGF (Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor) injections and laser photocoagulation are based on other proliferative retinopathies, without pre-clinical and clinical studies specific for SCR. To gain insights into disease-associated molecular pathways and to support the identification of candidate biomarkers and therapeutic targets, we performed comparative proteomic analysis in retinas of Townes HbSS mice, a humanized mouse model of sickle cell anemia (SCA), and C57BL/6J as controls. Blood hematological and metabolic features, retinal activity, and morphology were characterized. Comparative label-free proteomic analysis of retinas from Townes HbSS (N = 5) and control (N = 7) groups was performed in a LTQ Orbitrap Velos equipment, followed by functional enrichment and interaction analysis. The Townes HbSS group presented blood parameters consistent with the SCA phenotype, and retinal degeneration was indicated by functional and morphological alterations in external layers. Pathways of energetic metabolism and phototransduction were enriched among the downregulated proteins, and the molecular downregulation profile of Cnga1 and Slc24a1, related to photoreceptor activation, was validated by RT-qPCR. These findings highlight hypoxia-associated molecular adaptations in metabolic respiration and phototransduction linked to retinal degeneration. Taken together, our results contribute to a more comprehensive characterization of the molecular landscape underlying sickle cell retinopathy.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.ebm-journal.org/articles/10.3389/ebm.2026.11329</guid>
        <link>https://www.ebm-journal.org/articles/10.3389/ebm.2026.11329</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Application of natural products combined with plant-derived extracellular vesicles in cancer therapy]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-10-09T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Review</category>
        <author>Ruyue Wang</author><author>Menglin Ren</author><author>Yuanjian Xu</author><author>Yan Sun</author><author>Zenghui Xu</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Cancer remains a leading cause of mortality worldwide. The success of plant-derived chemotherapeutic agents, such as paclitaxel and vinblastine, underscores the significant potential of plant-derived natural products (PDNPs) in oncology. Despite this success, the poor solubility, metabolic instability, and nonspecific distribution of many PDNPs pose a fundamental barrier to their full clinical potential. Plant-derived extracellular vesicles (PDEVs) have garnered considerable attention as biocompatible nanocarriers, and numerous reviews have examined their biological activities and delivery applications. However, few have systematically addressed their synergistic combination with PDNPs in cancer therapy. This review distinguishes itself by centering on the synergistic interplay between PDNPs and PDEVs as an integrated therapeutic strategy. Specifically, we examine: (1) how PDEVs enhance the bioavailability and anticancer efficacy of PDNPs by improving their solubility, stability, and targeted delivery, and (2) how the intrinsic antitumor activity of PDEVs complements that of PDNPs to achieve enhanced therapeutic efficacy and reduced systemic toxicity compared with either agent alone. By integrating current evidence on the combined use of PDNPs and PDEVs, this review aims to enhance the field’s understanding of the progress made by PDNPs and PDEVs in cancer therapy, clarify their mechanisms of action, and identify the critical challenges facing the current research stage.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.ebm-journal.org/articles/10.3389/ebm.2026.11244</guid>
        <link>https://www.ebm-journal.org/articles/10.3389/ebm.2026.11244</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Mitochondrial metabolic plasticity in cancer: hybrid bioenergetic states and translational targeting in surgical oncology]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-09-28T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Review</category>
        <author>Debdeep Chattopadhyay</author><author>Ramya Lakshmi Rajendran</author><author>Nida Mubin</author><author>Durva Tendulkar</author><author>Thoudam Debraj Singh</author><author>Subhrojyoti Ghosh</author><author>Saurabh Kumar Jha</author><author>Prakash Gangadaran</author><author>Byeong-Cheol Ahn</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Mitochondrial metabolism is increasingly recognized as an active determinant of tumor growth and cancer-cell adaptation rather than solely a source of cellular energy. Mitochondrial metabolism supports tumor anabolism, while mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) alterations can affect respiratory chain function, redox homeostasis, and adaptation to changing tumor environments. At the same time, tumor metabolism is heterogeneous and flexible and cannot be explained by a uniform Warburg model. Tumor cells may use glycolysis, oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS), or hybrid glycolysis/OXPHOS states, with the relative contribution of these pathways varying across tumor types, tumor regions, microenvironmental conditions, and therapeutic pressure. This metabolic flexibility may contribute to tumor progression, metastasis, and treatment resistance. In this review, we examine mitochondrial metabolic phenotypes in cancer and their relevance to therapeutic targeting and surgical oncology. We discuss OXPHOS-dependent tumor states, mitochondrial DNA mutations, mitochondrial dynamics, reactive oxygen species, mitochondrial membrane potential, and mitochondrial regulation of intrinsic apoptosis. We further evaluate therapeutic strategies targeting these vulnerabilities, including OXPHOS inhibitors, BCL-2 family inhibitors, ROS modulators, mitochondrial dynamics modulators, mitochondrial genome-editing approaches, and emerging mitochondria-directed immunotherapies. Clinical evidence indicates that broad mitochondrial-targeted interventions may be limited by toxicity, narrow therapeutic windows, limited efficacy, or lack of benefit in unselected populations, supporting the need for metabolic phenotype classification, biomarker-guided patient selection, and rational combination strategies. Particular emphasis is placed on the potential integration of mitochondrial targeting with surgical oncology. Metabolic heterogeneity within tumors and the tumor microenvironment may influence treatment response, residual disease, and recurrence. Emerging approaches such as mass spectrometry imaging, single-cell sequencing, and spatial transcriptomic analysis may allow metabolic features to be mapped within anatomically defined regions of surgical specimens and linked to specific malignant, stromal, and immune-cell populations. Such approaches may help identify OXPHOS-dependent, glycolytic, and metabolically flexible tumor populations and provide clinically relevant biomarkers for treatment selection and monitoring. Overall, mitochondrial vulnerabilities represent a context-dependent therapeutic opportunity rather than a universal metabolic target. Better characterization of mtDNA alterations, metabolic plasticity, spatial heterogeneity, and tumor-specific metabolic dependencies will be important for developing biomarker-guided mitochondrial therapies and for determining how these interventions can be safely integrated into neoadjuvant, adjuvant, and perioperative cancer care.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.ebm-journal.org/articles/10.3389/ebm.2026.11165</guid>
        <link>https://www.ebm-journal.org/articles/10.3389/ebm.2026.11165</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Refined protocol for quantifying hippocampal neurogenesis in organotypic slice cultures]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-09-28T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Irem Akyel</author><author>Graham K. Sheridan</author>
        <description><![CDATA[While human iPSC-derived models of the brain provide valuable genetic context, organotypic slice cultures from rodents remain essential for capturing the physiological complexity of intact neural tissue. This protocol describes a refinement of the interface method originally established by Stoppini and colleagues in 1991, providing a robust platform for the long-term cultivation of rodent hippocampal slices. Unlike dissociated monolayer systems, these 3-dimensional (3D) brain slices preserve the endogenous cytoarchitecture and the native extracellular matrix (ECM) of the central nervous system (CNS). This structural integrity is paramount for investigating hippocampal neurogenesis, as the proliferation, migration, and circuit integration of neural progenitors are governed by mechanical and biochemical cues present in the specialized local niche. By maintaining the spatial relationships between neurons, astrocytes, and microglia, this organotypic system replicates the arrangement of hippocampal neural networks more precisely than emergent stem cell models. Our protocol outlines an optimized workflow for McIlwain tissue chopper-based sectioning and maintenance of slices on porous hydrophilic membranes, ensuring efficient nutrient exchange and sustained tissue viability for several weeks. This configuration provides simultaneous access to the hippocampal slices and culture medium, facilitating the use of multiple investigative techniques such as live-cell imaging, electrophysiology, or pharmacological treatments. Despite relying predominantly on rodent tissue due to the scarcity of live human brain samples; the ability to observe developmental processes within the preserved architectural framework of the hippocampus makes this technique a cornerstone for studying neurogenesis and circuit assembly. Importantly, this refined approach bridges the gap between disorganised monolayers of in vitro neural networks and complex in vivo studies, offering accessible and reproducible physiological models to interrogate biochemical enhancers of neurogenesis or the pathological mechanisms of neurodevelopmental disorders.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.ebm-journal.org/articles/10.3389/ebm.2026.10935</guid>
        <link>https://www.ebm-journal.org/articles/10.3389/ebm.2026.10935</link>
        <title><![CDATA[CERKL-related inherited retinal dystrophy in a Brazilian cohort: genotype-phenotype correlation]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-09-23T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>E. S. Yasaki</author><author>M. V. Salles</author><author>F. L. Motta</author><author>J. M. F. Sallum</author>
        <description><![CDATA[The purpose of this study was to analyze the genotype-phenotype of CERKL-related inherited retinal dystrophy in an outpatient clinic. For the study, 2841 medical records of Brazilian patients with a diagnosis of an inherited retinal dystrophy (IRD) registered at Instituto de Genética Ocular, Brazil, between January 2006 and July 2025 were retrospectively reviewed and 52 patients from 50 unrelated families with a molecular diagnosis of an IRD related to the CERKL gene were selected. Clinical data and molecular tests results were analyzed for genotype-phenotype correlation. Most patients (50/52) presented with the cone rod dystrophy (CORD) and two patients presented with the macular dystrophy (MD) phenotype. Age of presenting symptoms ranged from early childhood (7 years old) to adulthood (40 years old). BCVA Snellen measured at the first visit ranged from 20/25 to light perception, corresponding to 0.1 to 2.7 in log MAR visual acuity. Visual acuity data according to disease duration at the first visit of 37 double null (DN) alleles patients disclosed a Pearson coefficient R2 of 0.315 for the right eye and 0.405 for the left eye, respectively. A highly significant association between disease duration and visual acuity loss was found suggesting consistent and predictable visual deterioration in patients with complete CERKL loss-of-function over time. Twenty-four different variants described in the CERKL gene were identified. The c.847C>T (p.Arg283) nonsense variant in exon 6 was the most common variant in this cohort, identified in 24 homozygous out of 52 individuals and in 12 compound heterozygous. The phenotype of CERKL-related IRD is CORD with an early age of presentation and fast decrease in visual acuity. In addition to OMIM classifying this gene as an retinitis pigmentosa IRD, we believe CERKL has CORD phenotype, in concordance with evidence described in the literature.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.ebm-journal.org/articles/10.3389/ebm.2026.10940</guid>
        <link>https://www.ebm-journal.org/articles/10.3389/ebm.2026.10940</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Primary biliary cirrhosis and inflammatory bowel disease: a two-sample bidirectional Mendelian randomization study]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-09-17T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Mingyi Yang</author><author>Jiale Xie</author><author>Jing Hu</author><author>Pengfei Wen</author><author>Lin Liu</author><author>Zhi Yang</author><author>Ming Zhang</author><author>Changliang Zhu</author><author>Yani Su</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Observational studies have frequently reported an association between primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). In this study, we leveraged summary-level data from genome-wide association studies (GWAS) to conduct a two-sample bidirectional Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis, with the primary objective of investigating the genetic causal relationship between PBC and IBD, comprising ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn’s disease (CD). Additionally, a validation analysis was performed by repeating the bidirectional MR framework, alternately defining PBC and IBD as the exposure and outcome variables to confirm the directionality of the observed associations. A comprehensive panel of sensitivity analyses was implemented to test the robustness of the findings. We first examined the genetic causality at the subtype level. In the forward MR, PBC exerted a significant positive causal effect on UC (P < 0.001, OR 95% CI = 1.081 [1.037–1.127]) and on CD (P = 0.002, OR 95% CI = 1.136 [1.047–1.232]). In the reverse MR, only UC showed a significant negative causal influence on PBC (P > 0.003, OR 95% CI = 0.788 [0.672–0.924]), whereas no significant effect was detected from CD on PBC (P = 0.431, OR 95% CI = 0.956 [0.856–1.068]). We then extended the analysis to the overall IBD phenotype. The forward MR demonstrated a significant positive genetic relationship between PBC on IBD (P < 0.001, OR 95% CI = 1.076 [1.042–1.110]). Conversely, the reverse MR did not support a causal effect of IBD on PBC (P = 0.357, OR 95% CI = 0.898 [0.714–1.129]). The robustness of all these findings was confirmed by comprehensive sensitivity analyses, which showed no evidence of heterogeneity, horizontal pleiotropy, or undue influence from individual instrumental variables. Our MR analysis demonstrates that PBC serves as a genetic determinant of IBD as a whole and of UC/CD separately, whereas reverse causation is limited to a protective effect of UC on PBC. This direction-dependent and subtype-specific causal architecture provides novel insights into the shared etiological pathways between PBC and IBD.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.ebm-journal.org/articles/10.3389/ebm.2026.11238</guid>
        <link>https://www.ebm-journal.org/articles/10.3389/ebm.2026.11238</link>
        <title><![CDATA[The causal relationship between antibody-mediated immune responses to infections and Graves’ disease: a bi-directional Mendelian randomization analysis]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-09-16T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Xinwei Zhang</author><author>Wenyu Xu</author><author>Zhou Liu</author><author>Jinan Zhang</author><author>Xiaorong Yang</author>
        <description><![CDATA[The pathogenesis of Graves’ disease (GD) has not been fully elucidated, and antibody-mediated immune responses following microbial infection may be involved in its development. We conducted a bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization analysis using genetic variants associated with GD and 46 antibody-mediated immune-response phenotypes obtained from large-scale genome-wide association studies. In the forward analysis, none of the antibody-mediated immune-response phenotypes was significantly associated with GD risk after Bonferroni or false discovery rate (FDR) correction. Three Epstein–Barr virus antibody phenotypes showed nominal inverse associations with GD under the inverse-variance weighted method, but these findings did not survive multiple-testing correction and showed evidence of heterogeneity, with additional evidence of horizontal pleiotropy for the ZEBRA antibody phenotype. In the reverse analysis, several associations survived multiple-testing correction, although sensitivity analyses indicated heterogeneity or horizontal pleiotropy for the corrected associations except anti-polyomavirus 2 IgG seropositivity. After jointly considering multiple-testing correction and sensitivity analyses, genetic liability to GD was associated with higher anti-polyomavirus 2 IgG seropositivity (OR = 1.156, 95% CI: 1.050–1.273; P = 0.003), which remained significant after FDR correction but did not reach the Bonferroni-corrected threshold. Four additional associations—lower cytomegalovirus pp52 and pp150 antibody levels and higher Helicobacter pylori UreA antibody levels and anti-Merkel cell polyomavirus IgG seropositivity—were nominally significant and should be considered hypothesis-generating. Overall, this bidirectional MR study suggests that genetic liability to GD may influence selected humoral immune-response phenotypes. Notably, the association with anti-polyomavirus 2 IgG seropositivity remained significant after FDR correction, while additional suggestive associations were observed for antibody responses related to CMV, Helicobacter pylori, and Merkel cell polyomavirus. These findings provide new genetic insights into the potential relationship between GD and infection-related humoral immunity, while the potential influence of antibody-mediated immune responses on GD risk warrants further investigation.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.ebm-journal.org/articles/10.3389/ebm.2026.11023</guid>
        <link>https://www.ebm-journal.org/articles/10.3389/ebm.2026.11023</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Causal effects of gut microbiota on functional gastrointestinal disorders: a bidirectional Mendelian randomization study]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-09-10T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Yutong Cheng</author><author>Qiuai Shu</author><author>Ziwei Wang</author><author>Jian Wu</author><author>Yuxin Peng</author><author>Jiale Xie</author><author>Xiru Liang</author><author>Zhiwei Tao</author><author>Haitao Shi</author><author>Zhongcao Wei</author><author>Jinhai Wang</author><author>Ning Xie</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Emerging evidence suggests that gut microbiota is associated with functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs). However, findings regarding microbial alterations in FGIDs have been inconsistent across observational studies, and the direction and causality of these associations remain unclear. We conducted a bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) study to investigate potential causal associations between gut microbiota and two common FGIDs, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and functional dyspepsia (FD). Genome-wide association study (GWAS) summary statistics of gut microbiota, IBS, and FD were obtained from public databases and applied to our MR analysis. The inverse-variance-weighted method was used as the primary analysis, with weighted median and complementary sensitivity analyses used to assess the consistency and robustness of the findings. Higher genetically predicted abundances of order Bifidobacteriales (OR: 0.741, 95% CI: 0.570 to 0.963, P = 0.025) and genus Eubacterium ventriosum group (OR: 0.684, 95% CI: 0.524 to 0.893, P = 0.005) were associated with a lower risk of IBS. Genus Lachnospiraceae NK4A136 group (OR: 1.368, 95% CI: 1.086 to 1.722, P = 0.008) correlated to a high risk of FD while family Desulfovibrionaceae and order Desulfovibrionales (OR: 0.649, 95% CI: 0.471 to 0.893, P = 0.008) were protective for FD. In the reverse MR analysis, genetically predicted IBS risk was associated with lower abundances of Turicibacter and Slackia, whereas no robust reverse associations were observed for FD. These findings identify several microbial taxa as candidates for further mechanistic and clinical validation rather than established risk factors or therapeutic targets. Further experimental research to investigate the underlying mechanisms is warranted.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.ebm-journal.org/articles/10.3389/ebm.2026.11199</guid>
        <link>https://www.ebm-journal.org/articles/10.3389/ebm.2026.11199</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Maternal high-fat diet and risk of cardiovascular disease in offspring: a review of mechanisms, controversies, and interventions]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-09-01T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Review</category>
        <author>Heyu Meng</author><author>Jianjun Ruan</author><author>Qing Wang</author><author>Fanbo Meng</author>
        <description><![CDATA[A high-fat diet (HFD) is a well-established risk factor for coronary artery disease (CAD). Accumulating evidence indicates that maternal nutritional status before and during pregnancy critically influences long-term cardiovascular outcomes in offspring. This review systematically synthesizes current mechanistic, epidemiological, and clinical evidence regarding the impact of HFD on CAD while also examining its effects on broader cardiovascular phenotypes that are integral to CAD pathogenesis, such as endothelial dysfunction, cardiac remodeling, and metabolic derangements. A particular focus is placed on the potential effects of maternal pre-pregnancy HFD exposure on offspring CAD risk in adulthood. Existing studies suggest that HFD induces coronary injury primarily through metabolic dysregulation, endothelial dysfunction, and epigenetic reprogramming. Notably, maternal exposure to HFD during the perinatal period may predispose offspring to coronary artery disease via these mechanisms. Conversely, appropriate maternal nutritional interventions during pregnancy have shown promise in mitigating these adverse effects, although their long-term efficacy and underlying molecular mechanisms remain to be fully elucidated. Future research should prioritize large-scale prospective cohort studies with extended follow-up to determine the optimal timing, mechanisms, and efficacy of dietary interventions. Such evidence would provide a scientific foundation for developing preventive and therapeutic strategies aimed at reducing cardiovascular disease risk from the earliest developmental stages.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.ebm-journal.org/articles/10.3389/ebm.2026.11246</guid>
        <link>https://www.ebm-journal.org/articles/10.3389/ebm.2026.11246</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Extracellular vesicles for abdominal aortic aneurysm: mechanisms, therapeutic potential, and translational challenges]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-08-28T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Review</category>
        <author>Huibo Ma</author><author>Zongyou Xie</author><author>Yihang Cai</author><author>Fangda Li</author><author>Jianqiang Wu</author><author>Yuehong Zheng</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a progressive and potentially fatal vascular disease for which no effective pharmacological therapy is currently available. While surgical repair remains the only definitive treatment for advanced aneurysms, patients with small AAAs are mainly managed by surveillance, highlighting the need for disease-modifying strategies. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) have emerged as promising cell-free therapeutic tools because of their biocompatibility, ability to transfer bioactive cargo, and capacity to regulate multiple pathological processes involved in AAA progression. This review summarizes recent advances in EV-based therapies for AAA, focusing on mesenchymal stromal cell-derived EVs, immune cell-derived EVs, and engineered EV platforms. Preclinical studies suggest that therapeutic EVs can attenuate aneurysm formation by suppressing macrophage-driven inflammation, regulating macrophage polarization, inhibiting neutrophil extracellular trap-associated injury, protecting vascular smooth muscle cells from senescence, ferroptosis, apoptosis, and mitochondrial dysfunction, and limiting extracellular matrix degradation. Engineered EVs, including cargo-enriched, peptide-targeted, magnetically guided, chemotaxis-enabled, and biomaterial-assisted systems, may further improve lesion targeting, vascular retention, and therapeutic potency. However, EV-based AAA therapy remains at an early preclinical stage. Key barriers include unclear biodistribution and clearance, insufficient evidence of lesion-specific target engagement, heterogeneous EV isolation and characterization methods, uncertain dosing strategies, and the need for standardized potency, safety, manufacturing, and regulatory frameworks. Overall, EVs offer a biologically rational platform for non-surgical AAA therapy, but clinical translation requires rigorous standardization and robust evidence linking EV delivery to vascular repair.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.ebm-journal.org/articles/10.3389/ebm.2026.11146</guid>
        <link>https://www.ebm-journal.org/articles/10.3389/ebm.2026.11146</link>
        <title><![CDATA[The interaction between oxidative stress and Schwann cells]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-08-27T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Review</category>
        <author>Sihan Yang</author><author>Zijun Zhang</author><author>Qing Liao</author><author>Qipeng Ouyang</author><author>Yongyou Ye</author><author>Wei Lu</author><author>Zhendong Jiang</author>
        <description><![CDATA[After peripheral nerve injury (PNI), a moderate increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels can promote the proliferation and differentiation of Schwann cells (SCs) and participate in signal transduction. However, excessive ROS can trigger oxidative stress, and its harmful effects can overshadow the beneficial ones, such as inducing apoptosis, activating inflammation, disrupting environmental stability, and severely hindering neural processes. Therefore, if the damage caused by oxidative stress to SCs can be effectively alleviated, it will provide a new approach for the precise regeneration between peripheral nerves and target organs, thereby reducing the complications of PNI. With the advancements in materials science and neural tissue engineering, functional and precisely designed neural scaffolds and conduits have emerged as highly promising therapeutic strategies. This article focuses on revealing the interaction between SCs and oxidative stress during nerve injury, as well as the innovative tissue engineering technologies and new paradigms for damage repair that have emerged based on this interaction. It aims to provide effective new methods for addressing temporary or permanent functional impairments of PNI/peripheral neuropathies.]]></description>
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