Multiple Trajectories and Predictors of Self-Esteem Change in Later Life: A Latent Growth Mixture Modeling Approach.

Applying latent growth mixture modeling (GMM), this study delves into the examination of self-esteem trajectories in a sample of 5,597 older adults over a nine-year period. Four distinct patterns of self-esteem changes have emerged: low, decreasing, increasing, and high. Additionally, the study explores the relationships between each trajectory and various predictors encompassing demographic factors, socioeconomic status, health, and interpersonal relationships. The findings highlight the significance of these factors in predicting the likelihood of an individual following a specific self-esteem trajectory. Notably, maintaining employment, fostering satisfactory social relationships, and being free of frequent depressive feelings emerged as strong predictors for the stability and increase of high self-esteem. Intriguingly, an average or above-average income was unexpectedly associated with lower levels of self-esteem. The study emphasizes the contribution of GMM to advancing aging research.

The In Vitro and In Vivo Anticancer Effect of Photomed for Photodynamic Therapy: Comparison with Photofrin and Radachlorin.

To overcome the limitation of conventional cancer treatments, photodynamic therapy (PDT) has been introduced as another treatment option. PDT provides a non-invasive, non-surgical way with reduced toxicity. To improve the antitumor efficacy of PDT, we synthesized a novel photosensitizer, a 3-substituted methyl pyropheophorbide-a derivative (Photomed). The purpose of the study was to evaluate the antitumor effect of PDT with Photomed comparing with the clinically approved photosensitizers Photofrin and Radachlorin. The cytotoxicity assay against SCC VII cells (murine squamous cell carcinoma) was performed to determine whether Photomed is safe without PDT and whether Photomed is effective against cancer cells with PDT. An in vivo anticancer efficacy study was also performed using SCC VII tumor-bearing mice. The mice were divided into small-tumor and large-tumor groups to identify whether Photomed-induced PDT is effective for not only small tumors but also large tumors. From in vitro and in vivo studies, Photomed was confirmed to be (1) a safe photosensitizer without laser irradiation, (2) the most effective photosensitizer with PDT against cancers compared to Photofrin and Radachlorin and (3) effective with PDT in treating not only small tumors but also large tumors. In conclusion, Photomed may contribute as a novel, potential photosensitizer for use in PDT cancer treatment.