Blue light photobiomodulation induced osteosarcoma cell death by facilitating ferroptosis and eliciting an incomplete tumor cell stress response.

To investigate the potential of blue light photobiomodulation (PBM) in inducing ferroptosis, a novel form of regulated cell death, in OS cells, considering its known effectiveness in various cancer models. In this investigation, we exposed human OS cell lines, HOS and MG63, to different wavelengths (420, 460 and 480 nm) of blue light at varying irradiances, and examined cellular responses such as viability, apoptosis, levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP). Transcriptome sequencing was employed to unravel the molecular mechanisms underlying blue light-induced effects, with validation via quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). Our findings revealed a wavelength- and time-dependent decrease in cell viability, accompanied by increased apoptosis and oxidative stress. Transcriptomic analysis identified differential expression of genes associated with ferroptosis, oxidative stress, and iron metabolism, further validated by qRT-PCR. These results implicated ferroptosis as a significant mechanism in the blue light-induced death of OS cells, potentially mediated by ROS generation and disruption of iron homeostasis. Also, An incomplete stress response was observed in MG63 cells induced by blue light exposure. Hence, blue light PBM holds promise as a therapeutic approach in OS clinical investigations; however, additional exploration of its underlying mechanisms remains imperative.

Induction of Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress and Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor Pathway Expression by Blue LED Irradiation in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Photobiomodulation therapy, as an emerging treatment modality, has been widely used in dentistry. However, reports on blue light therapy for oral cancer are scarce. This study investigated the effects of 457 and 475 nm LED irradiation on SCC-25 cells and explored the potential mechanisms underlying the impact of blue light. Both wavelengths were found to inhibit cell viability, induce oxidative stress, and cause cell cycle arrest without leading to cell death. Notably, the inhibitory effect of 457 nm blue light on cell proliferation was more sustained. Transcriptome sequencing was performed to explore the underlying mechanisms, revealing that blue light induced endoplasmic reticulum stress in SCC-25 cells, with 457 nm light showing a more pronounced effect. Moreover, 457 nm blue light upregulated the expression of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor pathway, indicating potential therapeutic prospects for the combined use of blue light and pharmacological agents.

Application of circular statistics in temporal distribution of adult mosquitoes in Qingdao, Shandong Province, China, 2021-2023.

BACKGROUND: Analyses of the temporal distribution of mosquitoes are presented in statistical charts, but it is difficult to prove in statistics whether differences in peak periods exist among different years or habitats. This study aimed to investigate the application of circular statistics in determining the peak period and a comparison of differences. METHODS: Surveillance of adult mosquitoes was conducted twice a month by light traps in five different habitats from March to November for 3 years (2021-2023) in Qingdao, Shandong Province, China. The Kruskal-Wallis test was performed to determine the differences in mosquito density among different years and habitats. Circular statistics and line charts were employed to determine the peak period and a comparison of differences. RESULTS: Among a total of 14,834 adult mosquitoes comprising five mosquito species from four genera, Culex pipiens pallens was dominant and accounted for 89.6% of the specimens identified. Aedes albopictus, Armigeres subalbatus, and Anopheles sinensis made up 5.7%, 4.2%, and 0.5%, respectively. Culex tritaeniorhynchus accounted for less than 0.1%. The mean mosquito density (females/trap night) for the trapping period was 10.3 in 2021, 5.6 in 2022, and 3.6 in 2023. Among five habitats, the highest mosquito density was 8.9 in livestock sheds, followed by 6.8 in parks, 5.9 in rural dwellings, 5.5 in urban dwellings, and 5.4 in hospitals. No statistically significant differences were found among different years (H = 1.96, d.f. 2, P = 0.376) and habitats (H = 0.45, d.f. 4, P = 0.978). Overall, the peak period of mosquito activity fell in the months from June to September. The peak period among 3 years differed significantly (F(2,7022) = 119.17, P < 0.01), but there were no statistically significant differences in peak period among different habitats (F(4,7020) = -159.09, P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Circular statistics could be effectively combined with statistical charts to elucidate the peak period of mosquitoes and determine the differences in statistics among different years and habitats. These findings will provide valuable information for mosquito control and public health management.

Blue light irradiation suppresses oral squamous cell carcinoma through induction of endoplasmic reticulum stress and mitochondrial dysfunction.

The therapeutic potential of blue light photobiomodulation in cancer treatment, particularly in inhibiting cell proliferation and promoting cell death, has attracted significant interest. Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a prevalent form of oral cancer, necessitating innovative treatment approaches to improve patient outcomes. In this study, we investigated the effects of 420 nm blue LED light on OSCC and explored the underlying mechanisms. Our results demonstrated that 420 nm blue light effectively reduced OSCC cell viability and migration, and induced G2/M arrest. Moreover, we observed that 420 nm blue light triggered endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and mitochondrial dysfunction in OSCC cells, leading to activation of the CHOP signal pathway and alterations in the levels of Bcl-2 and Bax proteins, ultimately promoting cell apoptosis. Additionally, blue light suppressed mitochondrial gene expression, likely due to its damage to mitochondrial DNA. This study highlights the distinct impact of 420 nm blue light on OSCC cells, providing valuable insights into its potential application as a clinical treatment for oral cancer.

Effects of agricultural mulch film on swine manure composting: Film degradation and nitrogen transformation.

The utilization of biodegradable mulch films (bio-MFs) is essential for agricultural safety. This study explored the effects of no MF (CK), aging bio-MF (BM), non-aging bio-MF (NBM), and aging polyethylene (PE)-MF (PEM) on swine manure composting. The results demonstrated that outdoor aging (45 days) accelerated the macroscopic degradation of bio-MF in the BM. A reduction in NH4+-N and NH3 emissions in the initial composting was observed owing to an increase in the carbon source or the bulking effect provided by the MFs. N2O emissions from days 9 to 21 were higher in the PEM than other treatments because of the formation of anaerobic zone in the MF-based aggregates. An obvious increase of amoA in PEM indicated a promoted nitrification during the maturation phase, meanwhile the increase of NO2--N and aggregate promoted denitrification. Altogether, MF influenced composting through the synergistic effects of increasing the carbon source, bulking effect, and aggregates.

GINS1 promotes the initiation and progression of bladder cancer by activating the AKT/mTOR/c-Myc signaling pathway.

Bladder cancer(BC) is one of the most prevalent cancers in the urinary tract, with high recurrence and fatality rates. Research indicates that go-ichi-ni-san complex subunit 1 (GINS1) crucially influences cancer progression by regulating DNA replication through cell cycle modulation. Thus, suppressing the active proliferation of cells in tumor tissues may require silencing GINS1. However, the consequences of GINS1 in bladder cancer aren't to be determined. In this paper, we examine the role and mechanism of GINS1 in the development of bladder cancer. GINS1 expression levels and prognostic relevance in bladder cancer were validated using Western blotting, immunohistochemistry, and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. The influence of GINS1 on bladder cancer was investigated using a variety of approaches, including cell transfection, cell counts, transwell migrations, colony formation, and flow cytometry. Immunohistochemistry studies demonstrate that GINS1 expression is increased in bladder cancer tissues. GINS1 silencing resulted in an arrest of the cell cycle at the phase of G0/G1, which inhibited BC cell growth both in vitro and in vivo. GINS1 knockdown also hindered the AKT/mTOR pathway. Furthermore, increased GINS1 expression affects the cell cycle and stimulates the AKT/mTOR pathway, allowing BC to develop more quickly. Consequently, GINS1 occurs as a latent therapeutic target, particularly for individuals with BC.

Effect of 460 nm blue light PBM on human MeWo melanoma cells.

Photobiomodulation (PBM) using 460 nm blue light has been shown to have an inhibitory effect on skin cancer cells. In this study, we used a continuous LED light source with a wavelength of 460 nm and designed various combinations of power density (ranging from 6.4 to 25.6 mW) and dose (ranging from 0.96 to 30.72 J/cm2) to conduct treatment experiments on MeWo cells to investigate the effects of blue light on MeWo melanoma cells. We are focusing on cell viability, cytotoxicity, mitochondrial function, oxidative stress, and apoptosis. We found that blue light inhibits these melanoma cells through oxidative stress and DNA damage, and this inhibition intensifies at higher irradiance levels. Although the cells initially attempt to resist the stress induced by the treatment, they eventually undergo apoptosis over time. These findings contribute to understanding melanoma's molecular response to blue light PBM, lay the groundwork for future clinical applications.

Naphtho[1,8-ef]isoindole-7,8,10(9H)-trione as Novel Theranostic Agents for Photodynamic Therapy and Multi-Subcellular Organelles Localization.

A series of naphtho[1,8-ef]isoindole-7,8,10(9H)-trione derivatives as novel theranostic agents for photodynamic therapy and multi-subcellular organelles localization were designed and synthesized. Most of them possess moderate fluorescence quantum yield and long wavelength absorption simultaneously, which made them possible for dual effects of imaging and therapy. Notably, compounds 7 b and 7 d exhibited significant light-toxicity but slight dark-toxicity. Confocal fluorescence microscopy experiments demonstrated that compound 7 b can locate and image in special multi-subcellular organelles. All the research results implied that naphtho[1,8-ef] isoindole-7,8,10(9H)-trione derivatives can be applied as a new series of theranostic agents with the characteristics of photodynamic therapy and multi-subcellular organelles imaging.

Effect of photobiomodulation on alleviating primary dysmenorrhea caused by PGF2α.

Photobiomodulation (PBM) has attracted widespread attention in suppressing various pain and inflammation. Primary dysmenorrhea (PD) primarily occurs in adolescents and adult females, and the limited effectiveness and side effects of conventional treatments have highlighted the urgent need to develop and identify new adjunct therapeutic strategies. In this work, the results of pain and PGs demonstrated that 850 nm, 630 nm, and 460 nm all exhibited pain inhibition, decreased PGF2α and upregulated PGE2, while 630 nm PBM has better effectiveness. Then to explore the underlying biological mechanisms of red light PBM on PD, we irradiated prostaglandin-F2α induced HUSM cells and found that low-level irradiance can restore intracellular calcium ion, ROS, ATP, and MMP levels to normal levels. And, red light enhanced cell viability and promoted cell proliferation for normal HUSM cells. Therefore, this study proposes that red light PBM may be a promising approach for the future clinical treatment of PD.

Study on anisotropy orientation due to well-ordered fibrous biological microstructures.

Significance: Most biological fibrous tissues have anisotropic optical characteristics, which originate from scattering by their fibrous microstructures and birefringence of biological macromolecules. The orientation-related anisotropic interpretation is of great value in biological tissue characterization and pathological diagnosis. Aim: We focus on intrinsic birefringence and form birefringence in biological tissue samples. By observing and comparing the forward Mueller matrix of typical samples, we can understand the interpretation ability of orientation-related polarization parameters and further distinguish the sources and trends of anisotropy in tissues. Approach: For glass fiber, silk fiber, skeletal muscle, and tendon, we construct a forward measuring device to obtain the Mueller matrix image and calculate the anisotropic parameters related to orientation. The statistical analysis method based on polar coordinates can effectively analyze the difference in anisotropic parameters. Results: For those birefringent fibers, the statistical distribution of fast-axis values derived from Mueller matrix polar decomposition was found to exhibit bimodal characteristics, which is a key point in distinguishing the single-layer birefringent fiber sample from a layered, multioriented fibrous sample. The application conditions and interference factors of anisotropic orientation parameters are analyzed. Based on the parameters extracted from the orientation bimodal distribution, we can evaluate the relative change trend of intrinsic birefringence and form birefringence in anisotropic samples. Conclusions: The cross-vertical bimodal distribution of the fast axis of anisotropic fibers is beneficial to accurately analyze the anisotropic changes in biological tissues. The results imply the potential of anisotropic orientation analysis for applications in pathological diagnosis.

Multiple Fluorescences in Situ Hybridization Status in Excreted Urine Improve Diagnostic Efficacy for Upper Urinary Tract Urothelial Carcinomas.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of single and multiple fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) tests for upper urinary tract cancer (UTUC), we analyzed the diagnostic efficacy of FISH in patients with UTUC and the difference between it and the Tumor Node Metastasis (TNM) stage and grade of the tumor. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients treated for UTUC at our institution between 2011 and 2021 who had not been previously diagnosed with UTUC were included. Patients were divided into single, two, and multiple (three times or four times) FISH groups based on the number of FISH tests performed on different samples from the same patient, and the diagnostic efficiency of single, two, and multiple FISH tests for muscle-invasive tumors and highgrade tumors were assessed. RESULTS: We included a total of 207 patients with UTUC, and when compared to single FISH, the sensitivity of multiple and double FISH for the diagnosis of UTUC increased from 62% to 76% and 78%, respectively. It went from 67% to 78% and 80% for muscle-invasive UTUC (> = pT2) and from 71% to 79% and 81% for the highest- grade UTUC. CONCLUSION: Multiple FISH improves the diagnostic efficacy of UTUC and helps to differentiate aggressive tumors.

Effects of oxytetracycline on variation in intracellular and extracellular antibiotic resistance genes during swine manure composting.

This research aimed to investigate the alterations in extracellular (eARGs) and intracellular (iARGs) antibiotic resistance genes in response to oxytetracycline (OTC), and unravel the dissemination mechanism of ARGs during composting. The findings revealed both low (L-OTC) and high contents (H-OTC) of OTC significantly enhanced absolute abundance (AA) of iARGs (p < 0.05), compared to CK (no OTC). Composting proved to be a proficient strategy for removing eARGs, while AA of eARGs was significantly enhanced in H-OTC (p < 0.05). OTC resulted in an increase in AA of mobile genetic elements (MGEs), ATP levels, antioxidant and DNA repair enzymes in bacteria in compost product. Structural equation model further demonstrated that OTC promoted bacterial DNA repair and antioxidant enzyme activities, altered bacterial community and enhanced MGEs abundance, thereby facilitating iARGs dissemination. This study highlights OTC can increase eARGs and iARGs abundance, underscoring the need for appropriate countermeasures to mitigate potential hazards.

Historical Misdiagnosis of Recurrent Solitary Fibroma Tumor of the Prostate: A Cases Report and Current Evidence.

BACKGROUND: Solitary fibrous tumors (SFTs) manifest in various anatomical locations but are seldom encountered in the prostate. Despite their rare occurrence in this region, SFTs demonstrate a marked propensity for recurrence. This study elucidates a case of recurrent prostate SFT, previously misdiagnosed, and delineates the salient features and diagnostic criteria pertaining for SFTs. METHODS: Through a meticulous analysis of the patient's antecedent medical records and corroborative diagnostic evaluations, we hypothesized that the presenting pathology was indicative of a prostate SFT. In order to substantiate this supposition, we re-examined archival pathological specimens from the patient. The ensuing pathological assessment validated our conjecture. To address the recurrence, we conducted an open surgical procedure to excise the tumor. Subsequent postoperative pathological evaluations further corroborated the diagnosis of prostate SFT. RESULTS: Upon re-evaluation of the patient's earlier pathological specimens, we discerned that what had been previously classified as a "seminal vesicle tumor" was, in fact, a prostate SFT. During the surgical intervention, it was observed that the prostatic tumor had invaded the bladder, yet there was no seminal vesicle involvement. The tumor dimensions were approximately 7 × 5 × 4 cm, and the margin between the tumor and the surgical resection edge was less than 0.1 cm. The postoperative histological analysis confirmed the diagnosis of recurrent prostate SFT, substantiating our designation of the patient's condition as such. A year-long follow-up revealed no conspicuous signs of tumor recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: Therapeutic intervention for prostate SFT is predominantly surgical. However, given the tumor's marked predisposition for recurrence, the specific mechanisms underlying its etiology and pathogenesis remain enigmatic. Hence, a comprehensive understanding of its pathogenic and recurrent characteristics, coupled with regular postoperative surveillance, is imperative for efficacious treatment and prevention of prostate SFT.

Blue light photobiomodulation induced apoptosis by increasing ROS level and regulating SOCS3 and PTEN/PI3K/AKT pathway in osteosarcoma cells.

Blue light photobiomodulation (PBM) has attracted great attention in diminishing proliferation and inducing death of cancer cells recently. Osteosarcoma (OS) primarily occurring in children and adolescents, the limitations of drug resistance and limb salvage make it urgent to develop and identify new adjuvant therapeutic strategies. In this work, we attempted to research the anticancer effects and biological mechanisms of blue light PBM in human OS MG63 cells. The effects of various blue light parameters on MG63 cells indicated that suppressed cell proliferation and cell migration, induced cell apoptosis which are experimentally assessed using multiple assays including CCK, LDH, wound healing assay and Hoechst staining. Concurrently, the increases of ROS level and the inhibition of PI3K and AKT expression were identified under high-dose blue light PBM in MG63 cells. Meanwhile, SOCS3 is a major inducible anti-tumor molecule, we also found that blue light LED substantially promoted its expression. Thus, this study proposed that bule light PBM may be a hopeful therapeutic approach in OS clinical treatment in the future.

Designing nanohesives for rapid, universal, and robust hydrogel adhesion.

Nanoparticles-based glues have recently been shown with substantial potential for hydrogel adhesion. Nevertheless, the transformative advance in hydrogel-based application places great challenges on the rapidity, robustness, and universality of achieving hydrogel adhesion, which are rarely accommodated by existing nanoparticles-based glues. Herein, we design a type of nanohesives based on the modulation of hydrogel mechanics and the surface chemical activation of nanoparticles. The nanohesives can form robust hydrogel adhesion in seconds, to the surface of arbitrary engineering solids and biological tissues without any surface pre-treatments. A representative application of hydrogel machine demonstrates the tough and compliant adhesion between dynamic tissues and sensors via nanohesives, guaranteeing accurate and stable blood flow monitoring in vivo. Combined with their biocompatibility and inherent antimicrobial properties, the nanohesives provide a promising strategy in the field of hydrogel based engineering.

Simultaneous passivation of heavy metals and removal of antibiotic resistance genes by calcium peroxide addition during sewage sludge composting.

This research evaluated the effects of calcium peroxide (CP) at 0% (CK, w/w), 5% (T1, w/w), and 10% (T2, w/w), on heavy metals (HMs) mobility and prevalence of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) during sludge composting. T1 and T2 significantly reduced (p < 0.05) the mobility of Cu (29.34%, and 32.94%, respectively), Ni (24.07%, and 31.48%, respectively) and Zn (33.28%, and 54.11%, respectively) compared to CK after the composting. CP addition resulted in a decrease in mobile genetic elements (MGEs) and ARGs during composting. Together with structural equation model and random forest analysis depicted MGEs had a primary association with total ARGs variations during composting. Microbial analysis indicated CP downregulated the expression of the genes associated with two-component and type IV secretion system, thus reducing the prevalence of ARGs. This study demonstrates that application of CP is a feasible strategy to mitigate both ARGs and HMs hazards during composting.

STIL Promotes Tumorigenesis of Bladder Cancer by Activating PI3K/AKT/mTOR Signaling Pathway and Targeting C-Myc.

SCL/TAL1 interrupting locus (STIL) regulates centriole replication and causes chromosome instability, which is closely related to malignant tumors. The purpose of our study was to investigate the role of STIL in bladder cancer (BC) tumorigenesis for the first time. The public database indicated that STIL is highly expressed and correlated with the cell cycle in BC. Immunohistochemistry staining showed that STIL expression is significantly elevated in BC tissues compared with paracancer tissues. CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing technology was used to induce BC cells to express STIL-specific sgRNA, revealing a significantly delayed growth rate in STIL knockout BC cells. Moreover, cell cycle arrest in the G0/G1 phase was triggered by decreasing STIL, which led to delayed BC cell growth in vitro and in vivo. Mechanically, STIL knockout inhibited the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway and down-regulated the expression of c-myc. Furthermore, SC79 (AKT activating agent) partially reversed the inhibitory effects of STIL knockout on the proliferation and migration of BC cells. In conclusion, STIL enhanced the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway, resulting in increased expression of c-myc, ultimately promoting BC occurrence and progression. These results indicate that STIL might be a potential target for BC patients.

Progress of phototherapy for osteosarcoma and application prospect of blue light photobiomodulation therapy.

Osteosarcoma (OS) is the most common primary malignant bone tumor that mainly affects the pediatric and adolescent population; limb salvage treatment has become one of the most concerned and expected outcomes of OS patients recently. Phototherapy (PT), as a novel, non-invasive, and efficient antitumor therapeutic approach including photodynamic therapy (PDT), photothermal therapy (PTT), and photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT), has been widely applied in superficial skin tumor research and clinical treatment. OS is the typical deep tumor, and its phototherapy research faces great limitations and challenges. Surprisingly, pulse mode LED light can effectively improve tissue penetration and reduce skin damage caused by high light intensity and has great application potential in deep tumor research. In this review, we discussed the research progress and related molecular mechanisms of phototherapy in the treatment of OS, mainly summarized the status quo of blue light PBMT in the scientific research and clinical applications of tumor treatment, and outlooked the application prospect of pulsed blue LED light in the treatment of OS, so as to further improve clinical survival rate and prognosis of OS treatment and explore corresponding cellular mechanisms.

Effect of calcium peroxide dosage on organic matter degradation, humification during sewage sludge composting and application as amendment for Cu (II)-polluted soils.

In this research, it was the first time to investigate the effect of two dosages (5% (T1) and 10% (T2), w/w) of calcium peroxide (CP) on organic matter degradation, humification during sewage sludge composting. Additionally, the complexation of Cu to humic substance (HS) derived from CP-compost compared to no CP addition-compost (CK) was also studied. Results showed that compared to CK, T1 and T2 significantly enhanced organic matter degradation and promoted the formation of HS. Two-dimensional correlation Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (2D-FTIR-COS) and Parallel factor (PARAFAC) analysis revealed that the addition of CP accelerated the synthesis of HS with high aromatization degree and molecular weight than those in CK, owing to the oxidation of small molecules to form carboxyl. The stability constant (log KM) of Cu with CP-derived HS (log KM = 4.22-5.13) indicated a greater complexation ability than CK-derived HS (log KM = 4.05-4.45), due to the faster response of polysaccharides binding to Cu (II) and the higher humification degree of CP-derived HS. This study revealed the potential mechanisms of CP addition on the synthesis of HS and utilization of CP-compost product might provide an effective way to remedy Cu (II)-contaminated soils.

NCAPG promotes tumorigenesis of bladder cancer through NF-κB signaling pathway.

The non-SMC condensin I complex subunit G (NCAPG) is a subunit of the condensin complex, many studies have shown that NCAPG is aberrantly expressed in different tumors and closely associated with poor prognosis, but its role in bladder cancer is unclear. In this paper, we found that NCAPG expression was upregulated in bladder cancer in tumor-related databases, and further verified the expression of NCAPG in bladder cancer tissues as well as bladder cancer cell lines by tissue microarray, qPCR, and WB. Next, we explored the changes in bladder cancer cell proliferation as well as migration after NCAPG knockdown by cell growth curve, colony formation, soft agar assay, and xenograft model. Finally, we examined the changes in downstream signaling pathways after NCAPG knockdown using RNA-Seq, and we found that the NF-κB signaling pathway was inhibited with NCAPG gene knockdown, which was verified by luciferase reporter assay as well as WB. In conclusion, our results illustrate that NCAPG knockdown can inhibit the proliferation of bladder cancer cells through the NF-κB signaling pathway. This finding demonstrates that NCAPG could be a potential target for the treatment of bladder cancer.