Combination of vitamin D and photodynamic therapy enhances immune responses in murine models of squamous cell skin cancer.

Improved treatment outcomes for non-melanoma skin cancers can be achieved if Vitamin D (Vit D) is used as a neoadjuvant prior to photodynamic therapy (PDT). However, the mechanisms for this effect are unclear. Vit D elevates protoporphyrin (PpIX) levels within tumor cells, but also exerts immune-modulatory effects.

High Sensitivity Singlet Oxygen Luminescence Sensor Using Computational Spectroscopy and Solid-State Detector.

This paper presents a technique for high sensitivity measurement of singlet oxygen luminescence generated during photodynamic therapy (PDT) and ultraviolet (UV) irradiation on skin. The high measurement sensitivity is achieved by using a computational spectroscopy (CS) approach that provides improved photon detection efficiency compared to spectral filtering methodology. A solid-state InGaAs photodiode is used as the CS detector, which significantly reduces system cost and improves robustness compared to photomultiplier tubes.

Combination of 5-Fluorouracil with Photodynamic Therapy: Enhancement of Innate and Adaptive Immune Responses in a Murine Model of Actinic Keratosis.

We previously showed that a combination of differentiation-inducing agents (5-fluorouracil [5FU], vitamin D3 or methotrexate) and aminolevulinate-based photodynamic therapy (PDT) improves clinical responses by enhancing protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) photosensitizer levels and cell death. Here, we show that in addition to its previously known effects, 5FU enhances PDT-induced tumor-regressing immunity. Murine actinic keratoses were treated with topical 5FU or vehicle for 3 days prior to aminolevulinic acid application, followed by blue light illumination (~417 nm).

Revealing the flexoelectricity in the mixed-phase regions of epitaxial BiFeO3 thin films.

Understanding the elastic response on the nanoscale phase boundaries of multiferroics is an essential issue in order to explain their exotic behaviour. Mixed-phase BiFeO3 films, epitaxially grown on LaAlO3 (001) substrates, have been investigated by means of scanning probe microscopy to characterize the elastic and piezoelectric responses in the mixed-phase region of rhombohedral-like monoclinic (MI) and tilted tetragonal-like monoclinic (MII,tilt) phases. Ultrasonic force microscopy reveal that the regions with low/high stiffness values topologically coincide with the MI/MII,tilt phases.

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering of graphene with photo-assisted-synthesized gold nanoparticles.

This paper presents a convenient and reliable method to prepare gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) on graphene. Photo-assisted synthesis (PAS) was employed to grow AuNPs in AuCl(4)(-) electrolyte on graphene. The size of AuNPs could be as large as 130 nm.

[Comparison of different clinical staging systems for hepatocellular carcinoma].

Objective: To compare the prognostic efficacy of three clinical staging systems: the Chinese system (CS), CLIP scores, and TNM for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods: 107 cases diagnosed as HCC between January 2000 and October 2003 were retrospectively analyzed. Their clinical stages were decided on the basis of data in CLIP or Chinese staging system when the HCC diagnosis had been confirmed.