Vitamin D Status in Distinct Types of Ichthyosis: Importance of Genetic Type and Severity of Scaling.

Data on vitamin D status of patients with inherited ichthyosis in Europe is scarce and unspecific concerning the genetic subtype. This study determined serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (25(OH)D3) in 87 patients with ichthyosis; 69 patients were additionally analysed for parathyroid hormone. Vitamin D deficiency was pronounced in keratinopathic ichthyosis (n = 17; median 25(OH)D3: 10.5 ng/ml), harlequin ichthyosis (n = 2;7.0 ng/ml) and rare syndromic subtypes (n = 3; 7.0 ng/ml). Vitamin D levels were reduced in TG1-proficient lamellar ichthyosis (n = 15; 8.9 ng/ml), TG1-deficient lamellar ichthyosis (n = 12; 11.7 ng/ml), congenital ichthyosiform erythroderma (n = 13; 12.4 ng/ml), Netherton syndrome (n = 7; 10.7 ng/ml) and X-linked ichthyosis (n = 8; 13.9 ng/ml). In ichthyosis vulgaris 25(OH)D3 levels were higher (n = 10; 19.7 ng/ml). Parathyroid hormone was elevated in 12 patients. Low 25(OH)D3 levels were associated with high severity of scaling (p = 0.03) implicating scaling as a risk factor for vitamin D deficiency. Thus, this study supports our recent guidelines for ichthyoses, which recommend screening for and substituting of vitamin D deficiency.

UP601, a standardized botanical composition composed of Morus alba, Yerba mate and Magnolia officinalis for weight loss.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of obesity is surging in an alarming rate all over the world. Pharmaceutical drugs are considered potential adjunctive therapy to lifestyle modification. However, for most, besides being too expensive, their long term usages are hindered by their severe adverse effects. Here we describe the effect of UP601, a standardized blend of extracts from Morus alba, Yerba mate and Magnolia officinalis, in modulating a number of obesity-related phenotypic and biochemical markers in a high-fat high-fructose (HFF)-induced C57BL/6J mouse model of obesity. METHOD: Adipogenesis activity of the composition was assessed in 3T3-L1 cells in vitro. Effects of UP601 on body weight and metabolic markers were evaluated. It was administered at oral doses of 300 mg/kg, 450 mg/kg and 600 mg/kg for 7 weeks. Orlistat (40 mg/kg/day) was used as a positive control. Body compositions of mice were assessed using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). Serum biomarkers were measured for liver function and lipid profiling. Relative organ weights were determined. Histopathological analysis was performed for non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) scoring. RESULTS: UP601 at 250 µg/ml resulted in 1.8-fold increase in lipolysis. Statistically significant changes in body weight (decreased by 9.1, 19.6 and 25.6% compared to the HFF group at week-7) were observed for mice treated with UP601 at 300, 450 and 600 mg/kg, respectively. Reductions of 9.1, 16.9, and 18.6% in total cholesterol; 45.0, 55.0, 63.6% in triglyceride; 34.8, 37.1 and 41.6% in LDL; 3.2, 21.6 (P = 0.03) and 33.7% (P = 0.005) in serum glucose were observed for UP601 at 300, 450 and 600 mg/kg, respectively. Body fat distribution was found reduced by 31.6 and 17.2% for the 450 mg/kg UP601 and orlistat, respectively, from the DEXA scan analysis. Up to an 89.1% reduction in mesenteric fat deposit was observed for UP601 in relative organ weight. Statistically significant improvements in NASH scores were observed for mice treated with UP601. CONCLUSION: UP601, a standardized botanical composition from Morus alba, Yerba mate and Magnolia officinalis could potentially be used for achieving healthy weight loss and maintenance.

Glucocorticoid Suppresses Connexin 43 Expression by Inhibiting the Akt/mTOR Signaling Pathway in Osteoblasts.

The inhibition of proliferation or functional alteration of osteoblasts by glucocorticoids (GCs) has been recognized as an important etiology of GC-induced osteoporosis (GIO). Connexin 43 (Cx43) is the most abundant connexin isoform in bone cells and plays important roles in bone remodeling. Despite the important role of Cx43 in bone homeostasis and the prevalence of GIO, the direct action of GCs on Cx43 expression in osteoblasts has been poorly described. The aim of the present study was to evaluate how GCs affect Cx43 expression in osteoblasts. Dexamethasone (Dex) treatment decreased expression of Cx43 RNA and protein in MC3T3-E1 mouse osteoblastic cells. Reduction of Cx43 expression by Dex was dependent on the glucocorticoid receptor (GR), as it was abolished by pretreatment with a GR blocker. Treatment with PTH (1-34), a medication used for GIO management, counteracted the suppression of Cx43 by Dex. Akt or mTOR signaling modulators revealed the involvement of the Akt/mTOR signaling pathway in Dex-induced reduction of Cx43 expression. Moreover, overexpression of Cx43 significantly attenuated Dex-inhibited cell viability and proliferation, as evidenced by MTT and bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) incorporation assay of MC3T3-E1 cells. To account for possible species or cell type differences, human primary osteoblasts were treated with Dex and similar downregulation of Cx43 by Dex was observed. In addition, immunofluorescent staining for Cx43 further demonstrated an apparent decrease in Dex-treated human osteoblasts, while analysis of lucifer yellow propagation revealed reduced gap junction intercellular communication by Dex. Collectively, these findings indicate that GCs suppress Cx43 expression in osteoblasts via GR and the Akt/mTOR signaling pathway and overexpression of Cx43 may, at least in part, rescue osteoblasts from GC-induced reductions in proliferation.

Comparison of non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants and warfarin on clinical outcomes in atrial fibrillation patients with renal dysfunction.

AIMS: We aimed to compare the efficacy and safety between non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs) and warfarin in atrial fibrillation (AF) patients according to renal dysfunction. METHODS AND RESULTS: We analysed 1319 patients who had been taken oral anticoagulants. They were classified into patients taking NOACs (n = 326) and warfarin (n = 993). Renal dysfunction was defined as the estimated glomerular filtration rate <60 mL/min by using the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration equation. The composite clinical outcomes were defined as the composite of death, hospitalization, and new-onset strokes. Safety outcomes were composed of major and minor bleeding. Subgroup analyses for clinical and safety outcomes were performed according to renal dysfunction during median 596 (506-612) follow-up days. The prevalence of renal dysfunction was similar between the two groups. The incidences of death, hospitalization, and strokes were not different between the two groups. However, the incidences of major bleeding was significantly higher in patients taking warfarin. In the subgroup analysis with renal dysfunction, the use of NOACs significantly improved the composite clinical outcomes (adjusted hazard ratio, HR, 0.30, 95% confidence interval, CI, 0.11-0.77, interaction P = 0.018) and major bleeding (adjusted HR 0.18, 95% CI 0.07-0.45, interaction P = 0.199) even after the covariate adjustment. However, in patients without renal dysfunction, there were no differences in the incidences of the composite clinical outcomes between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: The benefit of NOACs was more prominent in AF patients with renal dysfunction than without renal dysfunction. These results suggest that NOACs as the first choice oral anticoagulant in AF patients with renal dysfunction.

Red cell distribution width as a novel predictor for clinical outcomes in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.

AIMS: Elevated red cell distribution width (RDW) has been known to be associated with adverse long-term outcomes in patients with cardiovascular diseases. We aimed to evaluate relationship between RDW values and clinical outcomes in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF). METHODS AND RESULTS: We analysed 567 patients who were newly diagnosed as paroxysmal AF. Clinical outcomes were analysed after median 4.8 (3.4-6.9) years follow-up. The composite clinical outcomes were defined as the composite of death, hospitalization due to heart failure, and new-onset stroke. Bleeding events were composed of major and minor bleeding. The relationship of RDW with clinical outcomes was assessed using continuous or categorical variables as quartiles: <12.8, 12.8-13.2, 13.3-13.8, and ≥13.9%. Patients with the highest RDW quartile were the oldest and had more frequent history of heart failure. CHA2DS2-VASc score was increased along with increasing RDW quartiles (1.75 ± 1.48 vs. 1.77 ± 1.63 vs. 1.87 ± 1.61 vs. 2.33 ± 1.65, P = 0.008). Incidence of new-onset stroke (log-rank P = 0.032), the composite clinical outcomes (log-rank P = 0.014), and bleeding events (log-rank P = 0.001) were increased as increasing RDW quartiles. Multivariate analysis identified that RDW was a significant predictor for new-onset stroke [adjusted hazard ratio (HR) 1.32, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.06-1.65, P = 0.015], the composite clinical outcomes (adjusted HR 1.21, 95% CI 1.03-1.41, P = 0.017), and bleeding events (adjusted HR 1.36, 95% CI 1.13-1.64, P = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: RDW can be a new, useful, novel predictor of clinical and safety outcomes in patients with paroxysmal AF.

Effects of alternative sweeteners with or without xanthan gum on the physicochemical properties of scone products.

The physicochemical properties of scones made with alternative sweeteners (stevia, sucralose, and allulose) at different ratios (30, 70, and 100%) with or without xanthan gum were investigated. Nineteen samples were evaluated for crust color, moisture content, specific volume, and texture properties. Scones with allulose had lower L values but higher a and b values due to the Maillard and caramelization reactions. The moisture content increased with xanthan gum addition, thereby decreasing the specific volume. The sample with 30% of stevia (ST30), 30% of sucralose (SC30), and 30% of allulose and xanthan gum (AL30G) had similar characteristics to the sample with sucrose (CON). In the consumer acceptance test, CON was the most preferred, but ST30 showed no significant difference. AL30G was less preferred because of its lack of sweetness. Overall, the physicochemical properties and consumer acceptance of ST30 were closest to those of CON, suggesting its potential use in scone products. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10068-023-01416-9.

E-portfolio utilization in medical school clinical practice: assessing satisfaction and learning advantages.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate the difference in satisfaction and learning benefits between e-portfolios compared to paper portfolios during clinical practice in medical schools. METHODS: Utilization of and satisfaction with e-portfolios among 40 third-year medical students in the medicine department of Ajou University School of Medicine was collected using an online survey in December 2020. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and an analysis of variance. RESULTS: Students perceived that e-portfolios were highly beneficial for consistently documenting activities during clinical practice, when compared to paper-based portfolios (mean±standard deviation [SD]=2.60±1.22). However, the least rated aspect was that e-portfolios require less time than paper-based portfolios (mean±SD=1.80±1.14). Additionally, among the various clinical practice courses using e-portfolios, the highest satisfaction was observed with the fewest content items in the e-portfolio. CONCLUSION: To maximize the potential benefits of e-portfolios, improvements in implementation and usability are essential. Additionally, for effective utilization of e-portfolios in clinical practice, it is necessary to clearly define students' required competencies and ultimate goals, and structure content accordingly.

Variation of volatile compounds and sensory profile for Protaetia brevitarsis larvae fermented with lactic acid bacteria and yeast.

This study aimed to investigate the correlation between the composition of volatile compounds, consumer acceptance, and drivers of (dis)liking of Protaetia brevitarsis larvae fermented using lactic acid bacteria and yeast. Volatile compounds were analyzed using HS-SPME-Arrow-GC-MS, and a sensory evaluation was conducted with 72 consumers. A total of 113 volatile compounds were detected, and principal component analysis indicated that the samples could be divided into three groups. The calculated relative odor activity values (ROAV) revealed the presence of 27 compounds (ROAV >1). Volatile compounds with high ROAV were predominantly found during yeast fermentation. The sensory evaluation results indicated a strong correlation between low levels of off-odor intensity and high odor liking, emphasizing that odor profile had a more direct association with consumer acceptance than odor intensity. These findings suggest that yeast fermentation using volatile compounds, which positively influences consumer acceptance, is appropriate for Protaetia brevitarsis larvae.

Tribological properties of real foods using extended Stribeck curves and their relationship with nutritional and rheological parameters.

The tribological properties of 19 commercial food products, grouped into six categories (yogurt, dressings, spreads, porridges, emulsified sauces, and syrups) were investigated in relation to their rheological (dynamic oscillatory shear test) and nutritional properties (fat, carbohydrate, and protein). A tribological system (a glass ball and three polydimethylsiloxane pins) generated the extended Stribeck curve, monitoring friction factors (f) over an extended range of sliding speed (v) (10-8 to 100 m/s). Tribological parameters (f, v) at four inflection points dividing the frictional regimes (X1, breakaway point between the static and kinetic regimes; X1-X2, boundary; X2-X3, mixed; X3-X4, hydrodynamic regimes) and the slope between X3 and X4 (s) were subjected to principal component analysis and hierarchical clustering on principal components, using rheological and nutritional parameters as quantitative supplementary variables. Tribological patterns were predominantly influenced by viscosity, viscoelasticity, yield stress, fat content, and the presence of particles (e.g., sugar, proteins, and fibers) and pasting materials (e.g., starches and modified starches). The 19 tribological patterns were classified into 3 clusters: low f and s for fat- and/or viscoelastic-dominant foods (Cluster 1), low f and high s for food emulsions and/or those with low extent of shear-thinning (Cluster 2), and high f at the boundary regime either for the most viscous foods or for those in the presence of particulates (Cluster 3). These results suggest that the compositional and rheological properties have a more profound impact on the classification of complex tribological patterns than the categories of food products.

α6* nicotinic acetylcholine receptor expression and function in a visual salience circuit.

Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) containing α6 subunits are expressed in only a few brain areas, including midbrain dopamine (DA) neurons, noradrenergic neurons of the locus ceruleus, and retinal ganglion cells. To better understand the regional and subcellular expression pattern of α6-containing nAChRs, we created and studied transgenic mice expressing a variant α6 subunit with green fluorescent protein (GFP) fused in-frame in the M3-M4 intracellular loop. In α6-GFP transgenic mice, α6-dependent synaptosomal DA release and radioligand binding experiments confirmed correct expression and function in vivo. In addition to strong α6* nAChR expression in glutamatergic retinal axons, which terminate in superficial superior colliculus (sSC), we also found α6 subunit expression in a subset of GABAergic cell bodies in this brain area. In patch-clamp recordings from sSC neurons in brain slices from mice expressing hypersensitive α6* nAChRs, we confirmed functional, postsynaptic α6* nAChR expression. Further, sSC GABAergic neurons expressing α6* nAChRs exhibit a tonic conductance mediated by standing activation of hypersensitive α6* nAChRs by ACh. α6* nAChRs also appear in a subpopulation of SC neurons in output layers. Finally, selective activation of α6* nAChRs in vivo induced sSC neuronal activation as measured with c-Fos expression. Together, these results demonstrate that α6* nAChRs are uniquely situated to mediate cholinergic modulation of glutamate and GABA release in SC. The SC has emerged as a potential key brain area responsible for transmitting short-latency salience signals to thalamus and midbrain DA neurons, and these results suggest that α6* nAChRs may be important for nicotinic cholinergic sensitization of this pathway.

[Conceptual Analysis of Career Anchors of Nurses].

PURPOSE: This study aimed to provide a theoretical basis for career anchors of nurses by defining and organizing its concept. METHODS: Using the Walker and Avant concept analysis, a total of 29 articles were analyzed through a literature search in this study. RESULTS: The career anchors of nurses are individual career choice motives, a self-concept where in competency and values are harmonized, which act as a desire for growth and development in nursing, and are actions that maintain careers. Additionally, they indicate the direction for achieving individual career goals and act as a core value expected of nurses by nursing organizations, indicating continuous and integrated professional growth and development of the nursing profession. CONCLUSION: The career anchors of nurses identified in the results contribute to securing patient safety, providing quality care through policies, institutionalizing bases for career development, preventing nurse turnover, and retaining skilled nurses.

Optimizing Contact Between Older Adults and Senior Services: South Korean users' Perceptions of Gateway Institutions.

In response to the growing need for effective policy implementation strategies for older adults in South Korea, we propose the establishment of a user-centered institution tightly integrated with policies, termed, "comprehensive gateway institution for older adults." This research addresses the challenges 231 older adult users face when navigating various health policies. Our survey findings revealed that these users experienced difficulties in dealing with the current policy approach for older adults. The respondents expressed their expectations for improved service access through the proposed gateway institution. They emphasized the importance of universal access to services and the need for personalized offerings that consider their unique circumstances, physical abilities, and skills. By incorporating these research outcomes into practice, we can help lay the groundwork for more effective policies measures and create a system that better meets the needs of older adults in the future.

Hovenia dulcis Thunb. Fruit Extract Attenuates Psoriatic Skin Inflammation in Tumor Necrosis Factor-α-Stimulated Human Keratinocyte HaCaT Cells In Vitro.

Hovenia dulcis Thunb. fruit (HDF) is traditionally used for treating liver diseases and alcohol poisoning. The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of HDF on hyperproliferation, levels of inflammatory cytokines, and signaling mechanisms in human psoriatic keratinocyte HaCaT cells. HDF showed a preventive effect on tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)-induced abnormal proliferation of psoriatic keratinocytes. Furthermore, real-time reverse transcription-PCR analysis showed that HDF suppressed the expressions of inflammatory cytokines; interleukin (IL)-1α and IL-1ß and chemokines; CCL-20 and CXCL-8 in TNF-α-induced HaCaT cells. Western blotting revealed that HDF suppressed the levels of phosphorylated IκB and STAT3 together with a decline in the levels of phosphorylated mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs). These outcomes indicate that HDF prevents the abnormal proliferation of keratinocytes and modulates inflammatory responses by suppressing nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) and STAT3 activation through downregulation of the MAPK signaling pathway in TNF-α-induced psoriatic keratinocytes. Our study demonstrates that HDF is prospective and beneficial for psoriatic skin inflammation.

Effects of Test Location and Sample Number on the Liking Ratings of Almond Beverage and Vegan Ramen Products.

The present study investigated the effects of the evaluation environment and sample number on liking ratings within the same testing session. It comprised two experiments that determined consumer taste ratings of the following food products: (1) almond beverage and (2) vegan ramen, as rated by 322 and 287 Korean consumers, respectively. Consumers tasted each food product under either laboratory or home-used test conditions. Additionally, three levels of sample numbers were established for evaluation (almond beverage test: 1, 2, and 4; vegan ramen test: 1, 3, and 5) in each test condition. A target sample was selected for each of the two food products to directly ascertain the effects of the evaluation environment and sample number on the liking ratings. The results revealed that during the same evaluation session, the sample number affected the liking ratings of the target sample more than the testing location. Moreover, the sample number effect was product item dependent, that is, no significant change was noted in the liking ratings of the target almond beverage sample according to sample number, whereas significant differences were observed in the liking ratings of the target vegan ramen sample. Furthermore, the sample number effect was more prominent under laboratory test conditions than under home-used test conditions probably due to the serving order effect driven by hedonic contrast, carry over effect, and sensory specific satiety. The findings demonstrate that home-used tests should be recommended over laboratory tests when measuring the liking of a small number of multiple sample food items with high flavor complexity.

Comparison of Sensory Profiling by Descriptive Analysis, Free-Choice Profiling, and Polarized Sensory Positioning on Bottled Water.

Consumer-oriented rapid profiling methodologies, including free-choice profiling (FCP) and polarized sensory positioning (PSP), have been studied in recent decades, highlighting alternative aspects of conventional descriptive analysis (DA). In the present study, water samples were evaluated using DA, FCP, and PSP with open-ended questions to compare the sensory profiles. Ten bottled water samples and one filtered water sample were evaluated by a trained panel for DA (n = 11), a semi-trained panel for FCP (n = 16), and naïve consumers for PSP (n = 63). The results were analyzed using principal component analysis for DA and multiple factor analysis for FCP and PSP data. The water samples were discriminated by their total mineral content, which was mainly associated with heavy mouthfeel. The overall discrimination patterns for the samples were similar between FCP and PSP, whereas DA showed different patterns. Sample discrimination through confidence ellipses from DA, FCP, and PSP showed that two consumer-oriented methodologies distinguished samples more clearly than DA. Throughout this study, consumer-oriented profiling methodologies were able to be used to investigate sensory profiles and provide rich information on consumer-derived sensory attributes even for subtly different samples.

Comparison of rheological properties between Mixolab-driven dough and bread-making dough under various salt levels.

The properties of wheat dough according to salt level and type of mixer were investigated, and parameters derived from each analysis were comprehensively compared. Mixolab analysis showed that water absorption decreased with salt level while the dough strength increased. In the Mixolab C2 stage, related with thermal strength, C2 temperature and time had stronger correlation with other dough strength parameters than C2 torque. Thickness increase of gluten strand was dominant in the doughs prepared by vertical mixer (VMD) than in those prepared by Mixolab device (MLD), for the same salt level. In large deformation, increase in resistance to extension by salt level was much greater in VMD than in MLD. In small deformation, relationships of salt level with G', G'' and power-law exponent (n) were linear and non-linear in MLD and VMD, respectively. Since MLD could not perfectly reflect VMD, properties of dough should be considered in multiple ways for its comprehensive understanding.

Effects of added cereal fibers on the quality characteristics of black pudding prepared with duck blood.

We investigated the physicochemical and rheological properties of black pudding prepared with duck blood using various combinations of cereal fiber sources: oat, buckwheat, quinoa, amaranth, and sorghum. The processing yield of black pudding made with duck blood and the cereals was higher than that of the control (without cereals) in all cases (P < 0.05). The moisture content of the black pudding was the highest in the buckwheat and amaranth groups (P < 0.05). The water activity, pH, and yellowness of the black pudding combined with duck blood and cereals were lower than that of the control (P < 0.05). The hardness of the black pudding with duck blood and cereals was higher than that of the control (P < 0.05), except for the amaranth group. The cohesiveness, gumminess, and chewiness of the black pudding with duck blood and cereals were higher than that of the control (P < 0.05). Differential scanning colorimetry showed distinct peak points according to treatment at the same temperature, and all treatments exhibited 2 peak temperatures, except for sorghum. The viscosities of all samples, including the control, decreased as the shear rate increased, and the viscosity of the black pudding with oat was slightly lower than that of the other samples. Thus, black pudding prepared with duck blood and cereal fibers showed excellent physicochemical and rheological properties, suggesting an improved processing method. These findings can further the development of products using duck blood as a valuable nutritional source rather than being lost as a by-product during slaughter.

Therapeutic Potentials of Secoiridoids from the Fruits of Ligustrum lucidum Aiton against Inflammation-Related Skin Diseases.

Ligustrum lucidum Aiton is a flowering plant of the Oleaceae family, and its fruits have been traditionally used for skin nourishment and the treatment of skin diseases. However, the anti-inflammatory constituents for skin disease are not well-characterized. Phytochemical investigation of L. lucidum fruits resulted in the isolation of a new secoiridoid, secoligulene (1), together with (E)-3-(1-oxobut-2-en-2-yl)pentanedioic acid (2) and trans-(E)-3-(1-oxobut-2-en-2-yl)glutaric acid (3). Secoligulene (1) displayed the potent inhibitory effect on NO production with an IC50 value of 12.0 µg/mL. Secoligulene (1) also downregulated mRNA transcriptional levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1 α, IL-1ß, IL-6 and COX-2 in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. Further investigation showed that secoligulene (1) inhibited the phosphorylation of IκB and JNK activated by LPS. In addition, secoligulene (1) downregulated the expression of chemokines such as CXCL8 and CCL20 in the TNF-α/IL-17/IFN-γ induced HaCaT psoriasis model. Taken together, these findings support the beneficial effects of L. lucidum and its constituents on inflammation-related skin diseases and can be further developed as therapeutic treatments for related diseases.

Effect of a photoactivated rhodium complex in melanoma.

cis-Dichlorobis (3,4,7,8-tetramethyl-1,10-phenanthroline) rhodium(III) chloride (OCTBP) is an octahedral complex that has been shown to react with nucleic acids when irradiated with light. Earlier studies on its phototoxicity toward human esophageal, bladder, pancreas, and colon cancer cells have been extended to in-vitro and in-vivo evaluation of its effect on malignant melanoma cells using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium proliferation assay and xenograft model of melanoma. Tumor volume and the percentage of tumor growth delay were used to assess the antitumor effect of light-activated OCTBP. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick-end labeling assays and immunohistochemistry were also performed on tumor tissue samples. Photoactivated OCTBP was found to inhibit melanoma cell growth by 40% at 100 µmol/l concentration. Phototherapy with OCTBP was most efficacious with optimal percentage treated/control values observed early in the course of the experiment. At the end of the experiment (60 days), there was a 50% tumor inhibition compared with vehicle or drug controls. OCTBP treatment resulted in a tumor growth delay of 16 days (tumor growth of 24%) compared with the untreated control, whereas cisplatin resulted in 10 days tumor growth delay. This antitumor activity was found to be closely associated with the induction of apoptosis. The use of photoactivated OCTBP as an adjuvant therapy for the treatment of melanoma may provide a new targeted therapy to prevent progression of this disease.