Search Results (4,887)

Physical activity wields a positive influence on atherosclerosis-related risk factors; however, the effects of high-intensity training on cardiovascular (CV) health are not unequivocal. The prevalence of coronary artery disease (CAD) in middle-aged sportsmen varies from 13.7% to 71%. Despite increased longevity and lower overall CV risk, CAD remains a serious problem in athletes, being responsible for the majority of sudden cardiac death (SCD) cases in sportsmen over 30 years. Endurance athletes engaging in high-intensity training are burdened with increased coronary artery calcification (CAC) of multifactorial pathophysiology, embracing i.a. wall shear stress, excessive reactive oxygen species, inflammatory mediators and increased levels of parathyroid hormone. Thanks to improved coronary vasodilatory capacity and coronary collateralization, sportsmen are rarely affected by hemodynamically significant coronary artery stenosis, and the atherosclerotic plaques are mostly of benign, calcified morphology. The basic screening should embrace medical history, CV risk assessment and rest electrocardiogram (ECG). Stress ECG tests, computed tomography (CT) with or without contrast, and functional imaging tests are additional diagnostic options. Because CAD in athletes remains a subject of research, the article aims at bringing closer the up-to-date findings on this matter, with a summary of diagnostic tools and clinical implications. Full article

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate clinical and functional factors associated with one-year mortality after intensive care unit (ICU) discharge among ICU survivors aged 80 years and older, with particular emphasis on comorbidity burden and post-discharge dependency. Methods: This retrospective, single-center observational study included 131 ICU survivors aged ≥ 80 years who were discharged alive from the ICU between January 2023 and April 2025. Patients were categorized according to one-year survival status after ICU discharge as survivors (n = 63) and non-survivors (n = 68). Demographic characteristics, comorbidities, acute illness severity scores, ICU- and hospital-related variables, discharge characteristics, post-discharge care requirements, respiratory support status, and nutritional routes were analyzed. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to identify factors independently associated with one-year mortality. Results: The one-year mortality rate after ICU discharge was 51.9%. Non-survivors were significantly older than survivors (85.41 ± 3.85 vs. 84.30 ± 4.26 years, p = 0.038). The Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) was significantly higher in non-survivors (5.69 ± 2.27 vs. 4.08 ± 2.07, p < 0.001) and remained independently associated with one-year mortality (OR = 1.432, 95% CI: 1.107–1.851; p = 0.006). Additionally, post-discharge care requirement was independently associated with increased mortality (OR = 6.35, 95% CI: 2.83–14.21; p < 0.001), while the presence of spontaneous breathing was associated with lower odds of mortality (OR = 0.32, 95% CI: 0.15–0.66; p = 0.002). ICU and hospital lengths of stay were longer in non-survivors, and vasopressor use was more frequent in this group. Survivors were more likely to be discharged home, were less likely to require post-discharge care, and had higher rates of spontaneous breathing. In contrast, non-survivors more frequently required post-discharge care and oxygen concentrator support. Conclusions: Among ICU survivors aged 80 years and older who were discharged alive from the ICU, one-year mortality after discharge was strongly associated with comorbidity burden and post-discharge dependency indicators. These findings highlight the importance of structured post-ICU follow-up, functional assessment, and individualized care planning for very elderly ICU survivors. Full article

Background and Objectives: Hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1α) is a central regulator of cellular responses to hypoxia and has been implicated in the pathophysiology of several neurological disorders. Parkinson’s disease (PD) and restless legs syndrome (RLS) have both been associated with alterations in oxygen sensing, mitochondrial dysfunction, and disturbances in amino acid metabolism; however, the relationship between HIF-1α and amino acid metabolic pathways in these disorders remains incompletely understood. The present study investigated circulating HIF-1α concentrations and amino acid metabolite profiles in patients with PD and RLS. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 55 participants were enrolled, including 30 healthy controls, 12 patients with PD, and 13 patients with RLS. Plasma HIF-1α concentrations were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and amino acid metabolites were quantified by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. Group comparisons were performed using non-parametric methods with FDR correction. Age- and sex-adjusted regression analyses, correlation analyses, and PCA were used to assess metabolic relationships and group discrimination. Results: Significant group differences were observed for HIF-1α and multiple amino acid metabolites. Compared with controls, both PD and RLS patients exhibited significantly higher concentrations of arginine, citrulline, homocitrulline, and HIF-1α, whereas ornithine concentrations were significantly lower. Arginine demonstrated the largest effect size among all biomarkers (ε² = 0.713). HIF-1α concentrations showed a progressive increase across groups, with the highest levels observed in RLS. Correlation analyses revealed strong positive associations of HIF-1α with arginine, citrulline, and homocitrulline, and an inverse association with ornithine. These findings remained significant after adjustment for age and sex. PCA showed clear separation between controls and disease groups. Conclusions: PD and RLS are characterized by a shared metabolic signature involving elevated HIF-1α, increased arginine-pathway metabolites, and reduced ornithine concentrations. The detected associations between HIF-1α and metabolites of the arginine–citrulline–ornithine pathway suggest a potential link between hypoxia-related signaling and metabolic dysregulation in both disorders. These findings support further investigation of HIF-1α-associated metabolic pathways as potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets in neurodegenerative and movement disorders. Full article

Background: Pulmonary rehabilitation is effective for people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), but access remains limited. Telerehabilitation with telemonitoring may improve access to home-based care; however, feasibility data are currently scarce. This study assessed the feasibility, acceptability, and occurrence of adverse effects in a videoconference-based pulmonary telerehabilitation program supported by wearable devices in individuals with COPD. Methods: Our one-group pre-post feasibility study evaluated an 8-week intervention comprising two supervised exercise sessions and one education session per week. Telemonitoring included wearable-device data capture (heart rate, peripheral oxygen saturation, step count) and symptom severity reporting. Feasibility outcomes included recruitment rate, study completion, dropout rate, session attendance, data-submission compliance, adverse events, and participant satisfaction. Exploratory clinical outcomes were assessed pre- and post-intervention. Results: Of 32 eligible individuals, 15 consented and attended baseline assessment (recruitment rate: 47%), and nine completed the study (completion: 60%; dropout: 40%). Among completers, median age was 67 years (interquartile range [IQR] 62–73), and seven (78%) were women. Mean session attendance was 94 ± 6.6%. Data submission rates averaged 86 ± 7.7% for the O2 ring and 97 ± 6.4% for symptom severity reporting, while smartwatch data were submitted by all participants (100%). No adverse events were reported, and participant satisfaction was high. No statistically significant pre-post changes were observed in clinical outcomes. Mean 6-min walk test distance increased by 29 m, a potentially clinically relevant but exploratory finding. Conclusions: A videoconference-based pulmonary telerehabilitation program supported by wearable devices appears to be operationally deliverable among participants who remained engaged, with no adverse events observed in this small, selected group of participants with COPD. Findings should be interpreted cautiously due to the small sample size, one-group design, and attrition. Full article

Aging of Styrene–butadiene–styrene (SBS)-modified asphalt accelerates the degradation of both the SBS polymer network and asphalt components, resulting in deterioration of the durability of asphalt concrete. This study investigates the use of zinc diethyldithiocarbamate (ZDC), a multifunctional antioxidant, in SBS-modified asphalt to improve its aging resistance. Physical property tests, dynamic rheological analysis, multiple stress creep recovery (MSCR) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) assays were conducted to evaluate the rheological and chemical properties of asphalt binders before and after thermo-oxidative and UV aging. The results indicate that the incorporation of ZDC improved the deformation resistance and elastic recovery of SBS-modified asphalt. After aging, the ZDC/SBS composite-modified asphalt exhibited lower performance change rate than conventional SBS-modified asphalt, indicating enhanced resistance to permanent deformation and aging-induced damage. FTIR analysis demonstrated that ZDC effectively inhibited the formation of oxygen-containing functional groups during aging, suggesting suppressed oxidative reactions within the asphalt binder. The 5% ZDC dosage reduces the carbonyl index of SBS-modified asphalt by 36.48% after thermo-oxidative aging, and by 21.89% after UV aging, showing a stronger chemical inhibition effect on thermo-oxidative reactions. From the perspective of rheological performance stability, ZDC lowers the variation amplitude of non-recoverable creep compliance by 35.32% before and after thermo-oxidative aging and 41.46% before and after UV aging, and delivers a more prominent mitigating effect on property fluctuations triggered by UV aging. This indicates that ZDC exerts differentiated anti-aging mechanisms on thermo-oxidative and UV aging, with considerable potential to improve the comprehensive aging resistance of polymer-modified asphalt binders. Full article

The introduction of respiratory multiplex PCR in the post-pandemic world has improved the detection of viral infections, whose clinical relevance is still being characterized. Patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) exhibit altered innate immune responses, yet the effect of concurrent viral infection on their inflammatory trajectory and clinical outcomes remains poorly characterized. This study examined whether diabetes is associated with a more pronounced inflammatory response, delayed resolution, and worse multi-organ outcomes during viral respiratory infections. A prospective, longitudinal cohort of 430 hospitalized adults (DM: n = 211; non-DM: n = 219) with PCR-confirmed viral respiratory infections was stratified into four groups by diabetes and co-infection status using a respiratory multiplex PCR panel. Serum IL-6, CRP, NLR, procalcitonin, and urea were measured at admission (Day 1) and at clinical stabilization (Day 6). All variables failed normality testing (Shapiro–Wilk p < 0.0001); non-parametric methods were applied. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was used to identify candidate biomarker cutoffs for mortality prediction. SARS-CoV-2 was the predominant pathogen (29.1%). In an exploratory comparison limited by small subgroup sizes (n = 8 vs. n = 14), co-infected diabetic patients had higher baseline inflammatory markers than co-infected non-diabetic patients: median IL-6 32.87 vs. 6.20 pg/mL (Mann–Whitney p = 0.0006) and median CRP 103.83 vs. 23.03 mg/L (p = 0.0012). At the Day 6 checkpoint, co-infected diabetic survivors had higher IL-6 (12.01 vs. 6.13 pg/mL, p = 0.0183) and showed little within-group NLR change (Wilcoxon p = 0.2367); these Day 6 estimates are subject to survivor selection and should be interpreted accordingly. In-hospital mortality was 25.6% in diabetic vs. 3.7% in non-diabetic patients (p < 0.0001). Diabetic patients more frequently required orotracheal intubation (6.4% vs. 1.0%, p = 0.0207) and high-flow nasal oxygen (HFNO) support (7.9% vs. 1.8%, p = 0.0166). In an internal ROC analysis, baseline IL-6 showed the highest discriminatory performance for in-hospital mortality (AUC 0.812, 95% CI 0.772–0.848), with a candidate cutoff of > 55.78 pg/mL (sensitivity 71.0%, specificity 79.1%); IL-6 outperformed CRP (AUC 0.706, DeLong p = 0.0029) and NLR (AUC 0.656, DeLong p = 0.0001). As this cutoff was derived and evaluated in the same cohort, it is reported as exploratory and requires external validation. In this single-center cohort, diabetes was associated with a more pronounced baseline inflammatory profile, slower resolution of the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, and greater multi-organ involvement during viral respiratory infection, including in the small co-infected subgroup. In the full cohort, diabetes remained associated with higher mortality, IL-6, and CRP after adjustment for age, sex, and BMI; however, the small co-infected subgroups could not be adjusted, so those specific comparisons should be regarded as hypothesis-generating and need confirmation in larger, adequately powered multi-center cohorts. Full article

The Z-scheme Ag₂MoO₄/BiOCl heterojunction with oxygen vacancies was successfully fabricated at a low temperature via a simple in situ precipitation method. The morphological, structural, and optical characteristics of the Ag₂MoO₄/BiOCl heterojunction were systematically examined. The optimized synthesized Ag₂MoO₄/BiOCl heterojunction achieved a removal rate of 80.44% for ciprofloxacin within 180 min of simulated solar irradiation, which was 3.27 and 1.90 times higher than that of pure Ag₂MoO₄ and BiOCl, respectively. The fabricated Z-scheme heterojunction and oxygen vacancies optimize the electron transfer route, enhancing the separation efficiency of photogenerated electrons and holes. Moreover, the active species trapping experiments and ESR analyses demonstrated that holes were the primary reactive species involved in the photocatalytic process. It was hypothesized that the Ag₂MoO₄/BiOCl heterojunction adhered to a Z-scheme mechanism for charge transfer. The straightforward approach opened up novel avenues for the synthesis of efficient BiOCl-based photocatalysts aimed at environmental remediation. Full article

(1) Background: Reactive oxygen species (ROS) act as physiological signaling mediators but contribute to oxidative damage, cellular dysfunction, and age-related disease when redox homeostasis fails. Forkhead box O4 (FOXO4) has emerged as a redox-sensitive regulator linking stress adaptation, antioxidant defense, and cellular senescence. This structured narrative review critically evaluates which redox- and aging-related conclusions are supported directly for FOXO4 and which remain inferred from other FOXO isoforms. (2) Methods: PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched from inception to May 2026; Google Scholar was used only for supplementary citation tracking and did not contribute a separate platform-level count. Of 420 records, 300 remained after deduplication, 110 full texts were assessed, and 89 publications were retained. FOXO4-related evidence was classified as directly FOXO4-specific (n = 18), FOXO-family/conserved (n = 24), or extrapolated predominantly from FOXO1/FOXO3/DAF-16 (n = 20); 27 contextual publications on redox biology, senescence, disease, and NRF2 were tracked separately. (3) Results: The strongest FOXO4-specific evidence supports three mechanistic axes: cysteine-dependent redox sensing, stress-regulated nuclear trafficking and coactivator engagement through transportin-1 and p300/CBP, and FOXO4–p53-mediated survival of senescent cells. By contrast, direct FOXO4 regulation of commonly cited antioxidant targets, including SOD2, catalase, sestrins, and GADD45, remains insufficiently demonstrated and is inferred mainly from FOXO3 or broader FOXO-family studies. FOXO4-DRI has shown senolytic activity in preclinical models, including vascular endothelium, but has not been clinically validated. (4) Conclusions: FOXO4 is a redox-responsive transcriptional regulator with well-supported roles in cysteine-based signaling and senescent-cell survival, whereas its target-gene-level antioxidant program remains incompletely resolved. Clinical translation of FOXO4–p53 disruption requires isoform- and tissue-specific validation, pharmacokinetic and delivery studies, long-term toxicology, and explicit assessment of p53-dependent tumor surveillance. Full article

Background: Among infants undergoing cardiac surgery, AKI may affect as many as 40% of this population and carries an unfavorable prognosis. A range of contributors has been implicated, including early age, cyanotic physiology, and extended time on cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Nadir-indexed oxygen delivery (DO₂) is an important determinant for early detection of hypoperfusion and anaerobic metabolism during CPB. This study aimed to explore the relationship between nadir DO₂ during pediatric CPB and postoperative acute kidney injury. Methods: Between 1 October 2024 and 1 December 2024, we enrolled 40 children who underwent cardiac surgery with CPB [median age 6 months (IQR 4–8), median weight 5.5 kg (IQR 5–7 kg)] into an observational cohort. DO₂ was tracked intraoperatively for every patient, and pre- as well as intraoperative variables were examined for independent links to AKI. Postoperative outcomes were then compared between patients who did and did not develop AKI. Results: In our patient population (n = 40), 16 patients (40%) developed AKI according to the pRIFLE criteria (75% risk; 18.7% injury; 6.2% failure; no patient was in the loss or end-stage renal disease categories). Lower nadir DO₂ values were associated with postoperative AKI in this exploratory pilot cohort. ROC analysis identified an exploratory nadir DO₂ threshold of 360 mL/min/m² (sensitivity 70%, specificity 80%) associated with postoperative AKI. Because this threshold was both derived and evaluated within the same cohort without validation, it should be regarded only as a preliminary, hypothesis-generating observation with no implication of clinical applicability and requires validation in larger independent cohorts. Conclusions: In this exploratory pilot cohort, lower nadir DO₂ during cardiopulmonary bypass was independently associated with postoperative AKI. An exploratory ROC-derived threshold of 360 mL/min/m² was identified; however, this threshold should be considered hypothesis-generating rather than clinically validated. The consistency of findings across both dichotomous and continuous DO₂ analyses strengthens the robustness of the observed association, although larger prospective studies are required to externally validate this threshold, which at present carries no implication of clinical applicability. Full article

Predicting pain in physical rehabilitation is challenging due to subjectivity, patient variability, and self-report bias, especially in telerehabilitation. This study aims to determine whether machine-learning models based on heart rate (HR), heart rate variability (HRV), and peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO₂) can reliably detect clinically meaningful pain during real rehabilitation sessions, including home-based settings where self-report is least reliable; we hypothesized that these low-cost, non-invasive markers carry sufficient information to flag low-to-moderate pain episodes without relying on self-report. We combined these markers with machine-learning models. These markers were selected for their association with autonomic pain responses and ease of measurement with only two low-cost, non-invasive sensors (a wearable band providing HR and HRV, and a fingertip oximeter providing SpO₂) suitable for clinical and home-based rehabilitation. We evaluated linear regression (LR), random forest (RF), and artificial neural networks (ANNs) using data from 25 participants (aged 20–50) undergoing lower-limb rehabilitation. Signals acquired at 1 Hz were processed via temporal filtering, quality screening, and three missing-value strategies (interpolation, zero imputation, deletion) before normalization and training. LR showed limited predictive power. RF achieved 97.77% accuracy in detecting low-pain episodes, and balanced per-class performance under deletion (76.64%). ANN models contributed a more balanced three-class profile on interpolated data but remained sensitive to class imbalance. Given high-pain scarcity in supervised therapy and underreporting at home, reliable detection of low-to-moderate pain enables timely therapy adjustments. Unlike prior studies using experimentally induced pain, this work captured naturally occurring pain during real rehabilitation, making findings applicable to clinical and telerehabilitation contexts. Physiology-based models with low-cost sensors show promise for personalized rehabilitation, improving adherence and enabling proactive adjustments without added complexity. Full article

Thermal runaway (TR) in batteries remains a key safety challenge, yet its prediction is hindered by strongly coupled physics and many interdependent influencing factors. This review bridges the gap between mechanistic TR overviews and narrowly scoped experimental studies by conducting a broad database-driven review of published TR experiments. Therefore, the largest publicly available TR database to date is curated. It comprises 1703 tests from 257 papers and 203 variables describing cell properties, test conditions, and TR outcomes. Descriptive and pairwise inferential methods are applied to identify recurring patterns reported across the literature and to enable structured description of observed trends. Cathode chemistry, specific energy, and state of charge (SOC) emerge as the key associates of characteristic TR temperatures, with oxygen release from nickel-rich cathodes significantly amplifying TR severity. Aging-related effects strongly depend on the specific aging history and remain insufficiently characterized. Relative mass loss can reach 90% and is linked to the severity of TR reactions and the associated gas generation. On average, vent gas volume scales at 1.7 L/Ah, but capacity-normalized volume varies significantly with cell chemistry and SOC. H₂, CO, and CO₂ dominate vent gas compositions, with dependence on chemistry, SOC, and overall explosivity, while toxic and condensable species are clearly under-reported. The influence of abuse type and test setup on measured TR characteristics is highlighted, and emerging battery technologies are discussed. The database and derived trends provide a basis for benchmarking cell safety, informing pack-level design and modeling, suggesting future research directions, and supporting the development of standardized TR test protocols. Full article

Neuroinflammation, driven by microglial activation and oxidative stress, is a key pathological feature of various neurodegenerative diseases. Dendropanax morbifera Léveille (DM) is a medicinal plant known for its diverse pharmacological activities; however, the influence of leaf developmental stage on its neuroprotective potential remains poorly understood. In this study, we compared the phytochemical profiles of young DM (YDM) and mature DM leaves and evaluated their effects on neuronal metabolism and microglia-mediated neuroinflammation. HPLC analysis revealed that YDM contained approximately 2.4-fold higher levels of chlorogenic acid than DM, while DM exhibited higher quercetin content. In differentiated N2A neuronal cells, YDM treatment significantly upregulated the expression of key metabolic and mitochondrial regulators, including PGC-1α, PPARγ, and CPT2, suggesting enhanced mitochondrial and metabolic regulatory signaling related to biogenesis and fatty acid β-oxidation. Under inflammatory conditions, YDM more potently suppressed the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6 and TNF-α) in LPS-stimulated BV2 microglia compared to DM. Furthermore, in N2A cells treated with BV2-conditioned medium, both extracts effectively mitigated reactive oxygen species production and restored brain-derived neurotrophic factor expression. These findings demonstrate that leaf age is a critical determinant of the phytochemical composition and biological activity of DM. Our results suggest that chlorogenic acid-rich YDM preparations may offer superior therapeutic advantages in targeting neuroinflammatory and metabolic dysregulation in the central nervous system. Full article

Polystyrene (PS), particularly expanded polystyrene (EPS), is an environmentally significant commodity polymer that contributes substantially to secondary microplastic and nanoplastic pollution through environmental weathering and fragmentation. During aging, PS undergoes nano-scale physicochemical transformations, including chain scission, surface oxidation, and the formation of oxygen-containing functional groups, which profoundly influence its environmental fate, microbial colonization, and biodegradation behavior. Conventional remediation technologies remain energy-intensive and often fail to achieve complete mineralization, highlighting the need for sustainable and integrated remediation strategies. Recent studies have demonstrated that diverse microorganisms, including Pseudomonas, Rhodococcus, Bacillus, and Exiguobacterium, can colonize PS surfaces and initiate oxidative depolymerization through extracellular biofilm formation and oxidative enzymes such as styrene monooxygenase, laccases, and peroxidases. In parallel, insect-based systems, particularly Tenebrio molitor and Zophobas morio, provide unique biological platforms in which gut microbiota facilitate partial PS degradation and mineralization through synergistic host–microbe interactions. This review critically integrates recent advances in nano-scale PS transformation, microbial colonization, oxidative enzymatic pathways, insect gut-mediated biodegradation, and advanced analytical techniques used to characterize degradation processes. Emphasis is placed on nano–bio interactions and emerging nanotechnology-enabled remediation strategies, including engineered microbial consortia, biofilm-based bioreactors, and nanomaterial-assisted treatment systems. Finally, current limitations and future research priorities are discussed, including degradation kinetics, byproduct toxicity, standardized evaluation methods, and the integration of biological and nanomaterial-based approaches for scalable PS microplastic remediation. Full article

Metformin and aerobic exercise are routinely co-prescribed in the management of metabolic syndrome, yet evidence regarding their interaction on cardiorespiratory fitness and substrate oxidation adaptations remains inconsistent. This study aimed to investigate the effects of combined metformin and aerobic training on peak oxygen uptake (VO₂peak), maximal fat oxidation (MFO), submaximal substrate utilization, and perceived exertion in metformin-naïve adults with metabolic syndrome. In this randomized, placebo-controlled trial, 24 metformin-naïve adults with metabolic syndrome were allocated to receive either metformin (1000 mg/day; MET-EX) or a matched placebo (PLA-EX) combined with supervised aerobic training (5 sessions/week, 60% VO₂peak, 500 kcal/session) for five weeks; 22 participants (n = 11 per group) completed the protocol. VO₂peak, MFO, fat and carbohydrate oxidation, energy expenditure, and rating of perceived exertion (Borg 6–20) were assessed before and after the intervention. The absolute VO₂peak gain was modestly attenuated in MET-EX relative to PLA-EX (group × time interaction p = 0.042; +0.11 vs. +0.26 L·min⁻¹), whereas the interaction for relative VO₂peak did not reach significance (p = 0.088). In contrast, MFO increased substantially more in MET-EX than in PLA-EX (+0.13 vs. +0.04 g·min⁻¹; p = 0.001), accompanied by greater fat oxidation, energy expenditure, and perceived exertion during moderate-to-high submaximal exercise intensities. Moreover, VO₂peak improvement was negatively correlated with age exclusively in MET-EX (r = −0.87, p < 0.001). These findings suggest that metformin induces a dissociated adaptation profile during aerobic training in metabolic syndrome, characterized by enhanced lipid oxidation alongside attenuated cardiorespiratory adaptations and greater perceived effort, particularly in older individuals. Full article

Oxidative stress and inflammation are central environmental contributors to skin aging, accelerating extracellular matrix (ECM) breakdown and loss of dermal structure. Although Nypa fruticans is recognized for its antioxidant properties, the constituents responsible for these effects remain undefined. To address this, we screened five major polyphenols—protocatechuic acid (PA), hydroxybenzoic acid (HA), procyanidin B1 (PB), catechin (CA), and epicatechin (EC)—for protective activity in two inflammatory skin cell models: human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs) stimulated with tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and human epidermal keratinocytes (HEKs) co-stimulated with TNF-α and interferon-γ (IFN-γ). PB emerged as the most consistently active compound. In fibroblasts, it suppressed intracellular reactive oxygen species, limited matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) release, and restored pro-collagen I α1 output. In keratinocytes, it reduced both pro-inflammatory cytokines—interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, and IL-1β and inflammatory mediators, including prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and nitric oxide (NO). At the transcriptional level, PB shifted the ECM balance by lowering MMP expression while elevating collagen- and hyaluronan-associated genes. Collectively, these results position PB as a principal driver of the protective activity of Nypa fruticans (N. fruticans) leaves under inflammatory conditions. Mechanistically, PB suppressed nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) activation and promoted nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) nuclear translocation in keratinocytes, supporting its dual anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities. Full article