Synergistic Anti-Tumor Effects of Combination of Photodynamic Therapy and Arsenic Compound in Cervical Cancer Cells: In Vivo and In Vitro Studies

The effects of As4O6 as adjuvant on photodynamic therapy (PDT) were studied. As4O6 is considered to have anticancer activity via several biological actions, such as free radical production and inhibition of VEGF expression. PDT or As4O6 significantly inhibited TC-1 cell proliferation in a dose-dependent manner (P<0.05) by MTT assay. The anti-proliferative effect of the combination treatment was significantly higher than in TC-1 cells treated with either photodynamic therapy or As4O6 alone (62.4 and 52.5% decrease compared to vehicle-only treated TC-1 cells, respectively, P<0.05). In addition, cell proliferation in combination of photodynamic therapy and As4O6 treatment significantly decreased by 77.4% (P<0.05). Cell survival pathway (Naip1, Tert and Aip1) and p53-dependent pathway (Bax, p21Cip1, Fas, Gadd45, IGFBP-3 and Mdm-2) were markedly increased by combination treatment of photodynamic therapy and As4O6. In addition, the immune response in the NEAT pathway (Ly-12, CD178 and IL-2) was also modulated after combination treatment, suggesting improved antitumor effects by controlling unwanted growth-stimulatory pathways. The combination effect apparently reflected concordance with in vitro data, in restricting tumor growth in vivo and in relation to some common signaling pathways to those observed in vitro. These findings suggest the benefit of combinatory treatment with photodynamic therapy and As4O6 for inhibition of cervical cancer cell growth

Use of human predictive patch test (HPPT) data for the classification of skin sensitization hazard and potency

&lt;jats:title&gt;Abstract&lt;/jats:title&gt;&lt;jats:p&gt;Since the 1940s, patch tests in healthy volunteers (Human Predictive Patch Tests, HPPTs) have been used to identify chemicals that cause skin sensitization in humans. Recently, we reported the results of a major curation effort to support the development of OECD Guideline 497 on Defined Approaches (DAs) for skin sensitization (OECD in Guideline No. 497: Defined Approaches on Skin Sensitisation, 2021a. &lt;jats:ext-link xmlns:xlink='http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink' ext-link-type='doi' xlink:href='10.1787/b92879a4-en'&gt;https://doi.org/10.1787/b92879a4-en&lt;/jats:ext-link&gt;). In the course of this work, we compiled and published a database of 2277 HPPT results for 1366 unique test substances (Strickland et al. in Arch Toxicol 97:2825–2837, 2023. &lt;jats:ext-link xmlns:xlink='http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink' ext-link-type='doi' xlink:href='10.1007/s00204-023-03530-3'&gt;https://doi.org/10.1007/s00204-023-03530-3&lt;/jats:ext-link&gt;). Here we report a detailed analysis of the value of HPPT data for classification of chemicals as skin sensitizers under the United Nations’ Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS). As a result, we propose the dose per skin area (DSA) used for classification by the GHS to be replaced by or complemented with a dose descriptor that may better reflect sensitization incidence [e.g., the DSA causing induction of sensitization in one individual (DSA1+) or the DSA leading to an incidence of induction in 5% of the tested individuals (DSA05)]. We also propose standardized concepts and workflows for assessing individual HPPT results, for integrating multiple HPPT results and for using them in concert with Local Lymph Node Assay (LLNA) data in a weight of evidence (WoE) assessment. Overall, our findings show that HPPT results are often not sufficient for deriving unambiguous classifications on their own. However, where they are, the resulting classifications are reliable and reproducible and can be integrated well with those from other skin sensitization data, such as the LLNA.&lt;/jats:p&gt

Assessment of groundwater quality using DEA and AHP: A case study in the Sereflikochisar region in Turkey

WOS: 000374413100011PubMed: 27359000This study investigated the spatial distribution of groundwater quality in Sereflikochisar Basin, in the Central Anatolian region of Turkey using different hydrochemical, statistical, and geostatistical methods. A total of 51 groundwater samples were collected from the observation wells in the study area to evaluate the characteristics of the groundwater quality. As a relatively simple and practical method, a groundwater quality index (GWQI) was developed to evaluate the overall groundwater quality. In this process, complex decisionmaking techniques such as analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and data envelopment analysis (DEA) were used. Based on these models, two new indices (A-GWQI and D-GWQI) were proposed. According to the D-GWQI score (from 0.6 to 1), water quality was classified in four categories as unsuitable (0.6-0.7), permissible (0.7-0.8), good (0.8-0.9), and excellent (0.9-1). The spatial distribution maps of the groundwater quality were created using the Kriging method. For each map, seven different semivariogram models were tested and the best-fitted model was chosen based on their root mean square standardized error. These maps showed that the areas with high groundwater quality were in the eastern and southern parts of the study area where the D-GWQI scores were greater than 0.8. Depending on the distance from the Salt Lake, the characteristics of groundwater changed from NaCl to NaHCO3 and CaHCO3 facies. This study shows how to determine the spatial distribution of the groundwater quality and identify the impact of salt lakes on the groundwater quality in inland aquifers. The findings of this study can be applied to ensure the quality of groundwater used for drinking and irrigation purposes in the study area

Evaluation of groundwater quality using a GIS-MCDA-based model: a case study in Aksaray, Turkey

WOS: 000384333000025Evaluation of water resources and the protection of these resources from environmental pollutants is a difficult and complex process. In this study, a development of model to estimate the water quality and identify the most suitable regions based on good water quality was aimed. For this purpose, 40 water samples were taken through water wells in Aksaray region of Turkey. A groundwater quality index (AWQI) based on water chemistry data has been developed to assessment the groundwater quality using the techniques of the multi-criteria decision analysis. Based on this index, four suitability classes were defined as excellent, good, permissible and unsuitable. Kriging method was used to determine the spatial distribution of groundwater quality parameters in the study area. For each map, different semivariogram models were tested by cross-validation and the best model was selected. The exponential model having a minimum standard error was selected the most suitable model for deriving water quality maps. The areas that are excellent for groundwater quality are concentrated in the northeastern and southeastern parts of the region where the AWQI-II scores were greater than 0.9. This study provides general information on how to determine the spatial distribution of the groundwater quality and identify the performance scores of criteria affecting water quality in inland aquifers