Microwave hyperthermia enhances radiosensitization by decreasing DNA repair efficiency and inducing oxidative stress in PC3 prostatic adenocarcinoma cells.

PURPOSE: Radiotherapy (RT) is the primary treatment for prostate cancer (PCa); however, the emergence of castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) often leads to treatment failure and cancer-related deaths. In this study, we aimed to explore the use of microwave hyperthermia (MW-HT) to sensitize PCa to RT and investigate the underlying molecular mechanisms. METHODS: We developed a dedicated MW-HT heating setup, created an in vitro and in vivo MW-HT + RT treatment model for CRPC. We evaluated PC3 cell proliferation using CCK-8, colony experiments, DAPI staining, comet assay and ROS detection method. We also monitored nude mouse models of PCa during treatment, measured tumor weight, and calculated the tumor inhibition rate. Western blotting was used to detect DNA damage repair protein expression in PC3 cells and transplanted tumors. RESULTS: Compared to control, PC3 cell survival and clone formation rates decreased in RT + MW-HT group, demonstrating significant increase in apoptosis, ROS levels, and DNA damage. Lower tumor volumes and weights were observed in treatment groups. Ki-67 expression level was reduced in all treatment groups, with significant decrease in RT + MW-HT groups. The most significant apoptosis induction was confirmed in RT + MW-HT group by TUNEL staining. Protein expression levels of DNA-PKcs, ATM, ATR, and P53/P21 signaling pathways significantly decreased in RT + MW-HT groups. CONCLUSION: MW-HT + RT treatment significantly inhibited DNA damage repair by downregulating DNA-PKcs, ATM, ATR, and P53/P21 signaling pathways, leading to increased ROS levels, aggravate DNA damage, apoptosis, and necrosis in PC3 cells, a well-established model of CRPC.

1H NMR-based metabolomics combined with chemometrics to detect edible oil adulteration in huajiao (Zanthoxylum bungeanum Maxim.).

Huajiao is a highly valued spice that is susceptible to fraudulent adulteration, particularly the addition of edible oils to increase weight and improve color. Nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) and chemometrics were used to analyze 120 huajiao samples adulterated with different types and levels of edible oils. Using untargeted data and partial least squares-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA), the discrimination rate between types of adulteration reached 100% accuracy, and the R2 value of the prediction set for the level of adulteration using the targeted analysis dataset combined with PLS-regression methods reached 0.99. Triacylglycerols, major components of edible oils, were identified as a marker of adulteration through the variable importance in projection of the PLS-regression. A quantitative method based on the sn-3 triacylglycerol signal was developed that can achieve a detection limit of 0.11%. Testing of 28 market samples showed adulteration with various edible oils, with adulteration rates ranging from 0.96% to 4.41%.

Residual concentrations of micropollutants in benthic mussels in the coastal areas of Bohai Sea, North China.

Studies of heavy metals and organic pollutants in different benthic mussel species from Bohai Sea show that concentrations of Cd in mussels commonly exceed national biological quality standards. In addition, a site located in Laizhou Bay exhibits higher average concentrations of As, Hg and Pb with respect to the other sites. Residual levels of petroleum hydrocarbons at several sites in Liaodong Bay also exceed quality guidelines. Contents and compositional characteristics of DDT and its metabolites in mussels suggest the probability of recent inputs and potential ecological risks to the local benthic environment.