Biomolecules and Biomedicine

01/08/2025

Ni**le Sparing Mastectomy: Robotic vs Conventional vs Endoscopic with Immediate Prosthetic Reconstruction
Could a minimally invasive approach panel improve surgical outcomes?

A new systematic review and Bayesian network meta analysis of 10 studies (1,525 patients) shows that robotic NSM with IPBR yields the lowest overall and severe complication rates (–27% and –63%, respectively), virtually eliminates NAC necrosis and cuts recurrence by 94%, while endoscopic NSM delivers the smallest scars and highest patient satisfaction, and conventional NSM remains the fastest and most cost effective option.
By comparing incision length, operative time, blood loss, hospital stay, complication profiles, and oncologic safety head to head, this study ranks robotic, endoscopic, and conventional techniques, highlighting the trade offs between efficiency, cosmesis, and safety.
These findings support personalized surgical planning—matching technique to patient priorities—and call for larger randomized trials to validate minimally invasive NSM and inform resource allocation.
Read more:
Author summary: https://blog.bjbms.org/nipple%e2%80%91sparing-mastectomy-robotic-vs-conventional-vs-endoscopic-with-immediate-prosthetic-reconstruction/
Full study: https://www.bjbms.org/ojs/index.php/bjbms/article/view/11687

Ni**le‑Sparing Mastectomy: Robotic vs Conventional vs Endoscopic with Immediate Prosthetic Reconstruction – compare safety, cosmetics & recurrence.

31/07/2025

Call for Papers: Thematic Issues in Biomolecules and Biomedicine!

We invite submissions for thematic issues on:
Immune Prediction and Prognostic Biomarkers in Immuno-Oncology (Submission period: 1 January 2025 – 30 December 2025)
Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in disease diagnosis and treatment target identification (Submission period: 1 January 2025 – 30 December 2025)

Why Publish?
· High Visibility & Citations
· Rigorous Peer Review
· Impactful Contributions

🔗 Learn more and submit here: https://www.bjbms.org/ojs/index.php/bjbms/call-for-papers

30/07/2025

Advances in MSC & Exosome Therapy for Liver Injury
Could MSC-derived treatments transform outcomes in liver disease?

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) home to injured liver, dampen inflammation and fibrosis, and can differentiate into hepatocyte like cells to restore function.
MSC secreted exosomes deliver reparative proteins and RNAs without the risks of whole‐cell therapies, protecting against ferroptosis, modulating immune responses, and reversing scar formation.
Early clinical studies report improved liver function and survival in acute and chronic injury models, supporting further trials of standardized, scalable MSC/exosome assays to guide regenerative hepatology.
Read more:
Author summary: https://blog.bjbms.org/advances-in-msc-exosome-therapy-for-liver-injury/
Full review: https://www.bjbms.org/ojs/index.php/bjbms/article/view/12144

Advances in MSC & Exosome Therapy for Liver Injury: cell‑free exosomes curb inflammation, reverse fibrosis and promote liver repair.

28/07/2025

Tumor Hypoxia and Cancer Progression: Solid Tumors and the Oxygen Gap
Could oxygen starvation be cancer’s secret accelerator?

New research shows that sustained hypoxia—tumor cores dipping below 0.9 kPa O₂ (normal tissue > 5.3 kPa)—rewires gene expression to drive angiogenesis, invasion, immune escape, and therapy resistance.
Chronic diffusion hypoxia, seen in 65–86 % of solid‐tumor samples, stabilizes HIFs that upregulate VEGF/CA IX and fuel chaotic vessel growth.
Over 20 clinical trials are now testing hypoxia-targeted strategies (HIF inhibitors, hypoxia-activated prodrugs), opening the door to personalized oxygen-based cancer therapies.
These findings spotlight tumor oxygen profiling as a novel opportunity for precision diagnosis and tailored treatment.
Read more:
Author summary: https://blog.bjbms.org/tumor-hypoxia-and-cancer-progression/
Full study: https://www.bjbms.org/ojs/index.php/bjbms/article/view/12318

Discover the role of Tumor Hypoxia and Cancer Progression: how low oxygen drives metastasis, therapy resistance, and poor prognosis.

25/07/2025

SGLT2 Inhibitors Cut Liver Fat in MASLD
Can metabolic synergy tame hepatic steatosis?

A new meta-analysis of 13 RCTs (791 participants) shows SGLT2 inhibitors significantly reduce liver fat content (SMD = –0.73, 95% CI –0.97 to –0.50, p < 0.001), with effects consistent across age, diabetes status, drug type and treatment duration.
Mechanistic insights point to enhanced fatty-acid oxidation, AMPK activation and anti-inflammatory actions as complementary pathways driving de-steatosis.
These findings support repurposing SGLT2 inhibitors for MASLD and warrant large, long-term trials with histological and clinical endpoints.
Read more:
Author summary: https://blog.bjbms.org/sglt2-inhibitors-cut-liver-fat-in-masld/
Full study: https://www.bjbms.org/ojs/index.php/bjbms/article/view/12203

SGLT2 Inhibitors Cut Liver Fat in MASLD: Meta-analysis of 13 RCTs shows meaningful hepatic fat reductions, highlighting therapeutic promise.

23/07/2025

Fibroblast Gene Signature Predicts Colorectal Cancer Survival
Could a stromal gene panel improve CRC prognosis?

A new study identifies a seven-gene signature derived from cancer-associated fibroblasts that stratifies colorectal cancer patients into high- and low-risk groups with good accuracy.
By combining single-cell RNA-seq data with machine learning, the panel boosts prognostic models beyond traditional clinical factors and suggests links between fibroblast activity and treatment response.
These findings support further validation of fibroblast-focused assays for guiding adjuvant therapy decisions.

Read more:
Author summary: https://blog.bjbms.org/fibroblast-gene-signature-predicts-colorectal-cancer-survival/
Full study: https://www.bjbms.org/ojs/index.php/bjbms/article/view/12038

Fibroblast Gene Signature Predicts Colorectal Cancer Survival using seven key genes to refine prognosis and personalize therapy.

21/07/2025

Three-Gene ICD Score Predicts Colorectal Cancer Survival
Can a trio of genes outpace clinical factors in CRC prognosis?

A novel Immunogenic Cell Death–related Risk Score (ICDRS), based on CLMP, NRP1 and PLEKHO1, reliably stratifies patient survival across two cohorts—independent of age, stage or lymphatic invasion.
• Hot-but-suppressed TME: high scores link to heavy immune/stromal infiltration plus regulatory T-cell and TGF-β activation.
• Genomic instability: marked by PTEN/COL27A1 mutations and widespread copy-number changes in high-risk tumors.
• Therapeutic clues: low-score cancers predict sensitivity to AZ960; high-score to BI-2536 and ERK inhibitors.
These findings suggest immune-death signatures, not just tumor load, could guide personalized CRC care.
Read more:
Author summary: https://blog.bjbms.org/three%e2%80%91gene-icd-score-predicts-colorectal-cancer-survival/
Full study: https://www.bjbms.org/ojs/index.php/bjbms/article/view/12028

Three-Gene ICD Score Predicts Colorectal Cancer Survival by identifying high-risk patients via immune signatures for personalized therapy.

18/07/2025

TBRG4 Biomarker Predicts Lung Cancer Survival and Drives EMT

Could TBRG4 transform LUAD prognosis and therapy?
New research reveals that tumour TBRG4 levels outpace traditional staging in forecasting lung adenocarcinoma survival—patients with high TBRG4 face markedly worse outcomes.
• Growth brake: Silencing TBRG4 in A549/H1299 cells induced G₁ arrest and apoptosis, with Cyclin D1, CDK4 and Cyclin E1 all dropping.
• EMT reversal: Knock-down cut mesenchymal markers (vimentin, N-cadherin) and restored E-cadherin, curbing invasiveness.
• In vivo proof: Xenografts of TBRG4-deficient cells formed significantly smaller tumours.
• Immunotherapy edge: Low TBRG4 correlated with higher immunophenoscores, hinting at better checkpoint-inhibitor response.
These findings highlight a paradigm shift: TBRG4 is both a powerful prognostic flag and a promising therapeutic target in LUAD.
Read more:
Author summary: https://blog.bjbms.org/tbrg4-biomarker-predicts-lung-cancer-survival-and-drives-emt/
Full study: https://www.bjbms.org/ojs/index.php/bjbms/article/view/11353

TBRG4 Biomarker Predicts Lung Cancer Survival and Drives EMT, spotlighting early warning and therapeutic target in aggressive lung adenocarcinoma.

16/07/2025

Gut Hormones Predict Human Insulin Sensitivity

Can your gut hormones unlock better metabolic health?

New research reveals that gut-derived signals—especially gastric inhibitory polypeptide (GIP)—may better predict insulin sensitivity than body fat after plastic surgery. In a cohort of patients undergoing body-contouring procedures, a rise in GIP significantly reduced the odds of insulin-sensitive status.

But that’s not the whole story.
Pancreatic polypeptide (PP) buffered this effect, while leptin and LEAP2 blunted sensitivity gains—pointing to complex hormonal interactions after fat loss. Surprisingly, total body fat percentage didn’t predict outcomes once hormones were factored in.
These findings highlight a paradigm shift: hormonal balance, not just fat mass, may drive post-surgical metabolic health.

Read more:
Author summary: https://blog.bjbms.org/gut-hormones-predict-human-insulin-sensitivity/
Full study: https://www.bjbms.org/ojs/index.php/bjbms/article/view/12210

Gut Hormones Predict Human Insulin Sensitivity after body-contouring surgery: GIP, PP, leptin & LEAP2 outclass fat mass in forecasting recovery.

14/07/2025

How VHL and HDAC6 Genes Shape Treatment Response in Bladder Cancer
Can gene profiles unlock personalized treatment strategies?
A new analysis highlights the role of the VHL gene in bladder cancer, showing that high VHL expression is linked to better survival outcomes and increased sensitivity to chemotherapy and immunotherapy.
VHL also shows a strong structural and expression-level correlation with HDAC6, suggesting a functional partnership that influences tumor progression through angiogenesis and stemness pathways.
Patients were classified into two molecular subtypes based on gene expression—each with distinct prognoses and predicted drug responses. One group showed higher sensitivity to chemotherapy; the other, a stronger likelihood of responding to immune checkpoint inhibitors.
These findings point to VHL as a powerful biomarker for treatment response and support molecular profiling as a tool for guiding bladder cancer therapy.
Read more:
Author summary: https://blog.bjbms.org/how-vhl-and-hdac6-genes-shape-treatment-response-in-bladder-cancer/
Full study: https://www.bjbms.org/ojs/index.php/bjbms/article/view/12046

How VHL and HDAC6 Genes Shape Treatment Response in Bladder Cancer by impacting angiogenesis, stemness, and therapy sensitivity.

11/07/2025

New Hope Against MRSA: A Promising Antibiotic Combination

Can targeted synergy restore antibiotic efficacy?

A new study investigates the combination of vancomycin and 3-hydrazinoquinoxaline-2-thiol (3HL) against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). All 23 clinical isolates tested showed synergistic effects (FICI ≤ 0.5), with vancomycin MICs reduced up to 16-fold.
In silico docking revealed that vancomycin and 3HL bind distinct sites on PBP2a—suggesting a complementary mechanism that disrupts resistance pathways.
These findings provide a mechanistic rationale for combination therapy and support its further evaluation in biofilm-associated and drug-resistant infections.
Read more:
Author summary: https://blog.bjbms.org/new-hope-against-mrsa-a-promising-antibiotic-combination/
Full study: https://www.bjbms.org/ojs/index.php/bjbms/article/view/11886

New Hope Against MRSA: A Promising Antibiotic Combination of vancomycin and 3HL shows strong synergy against resistant and biofilm-related infections.

10/07/2025

Reviewer of the Month for July 2025: Zdenko Sonicki, MD, PhD

We are proud to honor Prof. Zdenko Sonicki, MD, PhD as the Reviewer of the Month for July 2025 at Biomolecules and Biomedicine.
Prof. Sonicki is a Tenured Professor at the Department of Medical Statistics, Epidemiology, and Medical Informatics, Andrija Stampar School of Public Health, University of Zagreb, School of Medicine.
His dedication to the peer-review process sets an exceptional standard in scientific integrity, clarity, and constructive evaluation. Through his careful and insightful feedback, he contributes to the advancement of high-quality, evidence-based research.
We also had the pleasure of interviewing Prof. Sonicki, where he shared his views on peer review, research ethics, and the future of academic publishing.
Read the full interview here: https://blog.bjbms.org/the-reviewer-of-the-month-for-july-2025-zdenko-sonicki-md-phd/

The Reviewer of the Month for July 2025: Zdenko Sonicki, MD, PhD, honored for outstanding peer review and dedication to scientific excellence.