Objective This study aims to assess the efficacy of indocyanine green-mediated antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (ICG-aPDT) in enhancing disinfection following chemomechanical preparation in root canals infected with Enterococcus faecalis, characterized by varying cross-sectional morphologies. Methods A total of sixty extracted single-rooted teeth were categorized into groups based on canal morphology—round, oval, long-oval, or flattened—determined by the ratio of the maximum to minimum canal diameter measured 3 mm from the apical foramen (n = 15 per group). Following the establishment of a 70-day Enterococcus faecalis biofilm model, microbial samples were collected at three stages: prior to treatment, post-chemomechanical preparation using ProTaper Gold instruments, 3% sodium hypochlorite, and 17% EDTA, and subsequent to ICG-aPDT. During ICG-aPDT, indocyanine green was applied for 1 minute and irradiated with an 808 nm diode laser in pulsed-wave mode at 2.5 W for two 30-second cycles. Colony-forming units were quantified, antibacterial efficacy was calculated, and representative specimens were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy. The irradiation protocol was determined through external root-surface thermography and DPBF-based reactive oxygen species detection. Results Under the specified irradiation conditions, the peak external root-surface temperature reached 44.7°C, and a time-dependent decline in DPBF absorbance was observed, indicating the generation of reactive oxygen species. Baseline bacterial counts were statistically similar across the four groups (p = 0.987). Following chemomechanical preparation, the antibacterial rates were 84.4 ± 2.1% for round canals, 78.4 ± 3.4% for oval canals, 66.8 ± 3.0% for long-oval canals, and 53.8 ± 5.4% for flattened canals, with statistically significant differences among the groups (p < 0.05). Post-ICG-aPDT treatment, the antibacterial rates increased to 97.0 ± 0.7%, 94.4 ± 1.0%, 94.2 ± 0.9%, and 93.8 ± 1.1%, respectively. The final antibacterial rate remained highest in round canals, while no significant differences were observed among the three non-round canal groups (p = 0.268). Conclusion The cross-sectional morphology of root canals significantly affected the antibacterial efficacy of chemomechanical preparation. ICG-aPDT further reduced viable bacterial counts across all canal groups and minimized the differences in final antibacterial efficacy among oval, long-oval, and flattened canals. These findings warrant further exploration of ICG-aPDT as an adjunctive disinfection strategy.
Purpose To evaluate whether baseline subretinal hyperreflective material (SHRM) status is associated with optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA)-derived macular neovascularization (MNV) vessel density, complexity, and ramification in treatment-naive neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD). Methods This retrospective, single-center, cross-sectional imaging study included 89 eyes from 89 treatment-naive patients with nAMD. One eye per patient was included to avoid inter-eye correlation. SHRM was assessed on baseline structural optical coherence tomography (OCT). OCTA images were acquired using 6 × 6 mm scans, and MNV lesions were manually delineated as regions of interest. The primary OCTA-derived parameters were MNV vessel density, fractal dimension, and branch points. Multivariable linear regression models were adjusted for age, sex, central macular thickness, and MNV type. Results SHRM was present in 56 eyes (62.9%) and absent in 33 eyes (37.1%). Compared with SHRM-negative eyes, SHRM-positive eyes had worse baseline best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) (P < 0.001), greater central macular thickness (P < 0.001), and higher frequencies of subretinal fluid, intraretinal fluid, and retinal hemorrhage. SHRM-positive eyes also showed higher MNV vessel density (0.262 vs. 0.196; P = 0.017), fractal dimension (1.568 vs. 1.487; P = 0.024), and branch points (140.5 vs. 91.0; P = 0.035). After adjustment, SHRM remained associated with higher MNV vessel density (β = 0.045; P = 0.042), fractal dimension (β = 0.077; P = 0.029), and branch points (β = 98.74; P = 0.045). Conclusions These findings suggest that SHRM-positive status is associated with a denser, more complex, and more ramified OCTA-derived MNV vascular phenotype at baseline in treatment-naive nAMD.
Patients with erythropoietic protoporphyria (EPP) have highly variable, increased levels of erythrocyte protoporphyrin IX (PpIX). Upon exposure to visible light, the PpIX is released from the erythrocytes to the skin, producing phototoxic reactions. Severe photosensitivity heavily impacts the patients’ daily behavior regarding sun exposure and outdoor life. As patients with EPP in Northern European countries may be free of symptoms during winter, their individual evaluation of sun behavior in summer, the severity of summer symptoms, and effect of oral treatment with Cimetidine and/or zinc sulphate may vary greatly depending on season when answering our EPP DLQI questionnaire. Nineteen patients with EPP answered questions in both mid-summer and the following mid-winter, respectively. The patients’ sun behavior was identical when asked both summer and winter. Symptoms were reported as worse in winter than in summer. Treatment effect on symptoms was reported as better in summer than recalled when patients were asked the same question in winter. Erythrocyte PpIX decreased by 14 µmol/L during treatment. These observations may help the clinician decide when to schedule follow-up consultations for patients with EPP.
Purpose This systematic review evaluates the role of optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA)-based biomarkers in detecting and predicting macular neovascularization (MNV) in age-related macular degeneration (ARMD). Methods A comprehensive literature search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus and Google Scholar up to 20 May 2026, following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Inclusion criteria encompassed original cohort and cross-sectional studies reporting OCTA-derived quantitative and qualitative biomarkers associated with MNV. Results : A total of 203 articles were initially identified, with 11 studies meeting the eligibility criteria, comprising 642 eyes. Key OCTA biomarkers included vascular density, MNV area, total vessel length, and choroidal vascularity index, which demonstrated strong associations with disease activity and progression. Conclusion OCTA-derived biomarkers offer a non-invasive and effective means for detecting and monitoring MNV in ARMD. Despite current challenges in standardization and interpretation, integrating these biomarkers into clinical practice could improve early diagnosis and personalized treatment strategies.
Purpose This study is to investigate the short-term effects of virtual reality (VR) visual training on fusion and stereopsis in presbyopia. Methods 40 eyes of 20 patients with presbyopia (mean age 47.3 ± 3.5 years; male:female=8:12) were included in this study. Routine examinations included slit-lamp microscopy, visual acuity, refraction, and binocular vision function. VR-based visual function training was administered twice daily, 5 minutes per session. Uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA), uncorrected near visual acuity (UCNVA), best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), addition (ADD), negative relative accommodation (NRA), positive relative accommodation (PRA), near point of convergence (NPC), horizontal deviation, vertical deviation, divergence range, convergence range, random-dot stereopsis, and stereogram stereopsis were observed at baseline, 3 weeks during mid-training, and 6 weeks upon completion of training. Results No statistically significant differences were observed in spherical error, cylindrical error, UCVA, UCNVA, NRA, PRA, NPC, or ADD in follow-ups compared to baseline (p > 0.05). All patients maintained BCVA ≥ 20/20 throughout follow-up. At 6 weeks post-training, divergence (p = 0.03*) and convergence (p < 0.01*) range significantly increased, while random-dot stereopsis time significantly decreased (p = 0.02*), and stereogram stereopsis significantly increased (p < 0.01*). Changes in random-dot stereopsis at 6 weeks post-training showed a significant positive correlation with age (p < 0.01*). Conclusion Short-term VR visual training effectively improves fusion and stereoscopic visual functions in presbyopia.
Background Histopathologic differentiation of cutaneous melanoma from pigmented nevus can be difficult when morphology is subtle. Microscopic hyperspectral imaging records tissue in contiguous narrow spectral bands across the visible and near-infrared range and may provide quantitative optical information beyond routine bright-field microscopy. We developed MelanoSpec-SSM, a patient-level spectral-spatial state-space algorithm for label-free hyperspectral pathology diagnosis. Methods This secondary methodological analysis used frozen sections from 100 patients (50 melanoma and 50 pigmented nevus) imaged from 400 to 1000 nm in 125 bands. After white-dark reflectance calibration, tissue extraction, spectral denoising, and strictly patient-level partitioning, MelanoSpec-SSM was compared with spectral classifiers, convolutional baselines, and a spectral-spatial transformer. The algorithm combines spectral state-space encoding, spatial patch learning, gated fusion, and attention-based multiple-instance aggregation. Results In patient-level cross-validation, MelanoSpec-SSM achieved an accuracy of 0.940, sensitivity of 0.940, specificity of 0.940, F1-score of 0.940, and an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.972. In the held-out test set, 19 of 20 patients were correctly classified, with an area under the curve of 0.980. Model saliency and wavelength-removal analyses consistently assigned high task-specific importance to the 500-675 nm interval, while complementary near-infrared differences were also observed. Conclusions MelanoSpec-SSM provides an interpretable patient-level framework for visible-near-infrared hyperspectral differentiation of melanoma and pigmented nevus. The findings are preliminary because they arise from a single-center cohort of 100 patients and require external, multi-scanner, and prospective validation before clinical use.
BACKGROUND:Actinic keratosis (AK) is a common ultraviolet-induced keratinocyte lesion. Conventional photodynamic therapy (C-PDT) is effective as a field-directed treatment, but pain and treatment burden may limit acceptability. Indoor, simulated, or artificial daylight PDT (Indoor/SDL-PDT) may offer a more tolerable and controllable alternative. This systematic review and meta-analysis compared the efficacy, tolerability, and patient preference of Indoor/SDL-PDT versus C-PDT for AK. METHODS:Four major databases were searched from their establishment to 30 June 2026. Eligible studies enrolled adults with AK and compared Indoor/SDL-PDT with conventional lamp-based PDT using aminolevulinic acid or methyl aminolevulinate. For continuous variables, combined effects were documented as mean differences with corresponding 95% confidence intervals, whereas binary outcomes were summarized using risk ratios with 95% confidence intervals. For split-face, split-site, and intra-patient studies, the main analysis assumed a within-participant correlation coefficient of 0.5. RESULTS:Four studies including 171 treated or analyzed participants were included. Indoor/SDL-PDT was associated with lower lesion complete response or clearance at 3 months than C-PDT (RR = 0.86, 95% CI 0.83 to 0.89, p < 0.001). Continuous lesion response or clearance rate did not differ significantly across groups. Indoor/SDL-PDT significantly reduced pain during illumination (MD = -4.44 points, 95% CI -7.18 to -1.71, p = 0.001) and was more frequently preferred by patients. No significant difference was found in erythema or local skin reaction score. CONCLUSION:Indoor/SDL-PDT is better tolerated and more acceptable than C-PDT, but complete lesion clearance favored C-PDT. It may be useful for selected patients when tolerability is a priority.
Background The treatment of giant condyloma acuminatum in immunodeficient children remains change. In immunodeficient children, human papillomavirus infection may progress to extensive condyloma acuminatum (CA), where 5-aminolevulinic acid photodynamic therapy (ALA-PDT) has shown favorable tissue-sparing properties. This case aims to highlight the safety and efficacy of ALA-PDT on giant condyloma acuminatum in an immunodeficient child induced by BCL11B mutation. Methods This report examines two affected siblings presenting with combined neurological and dermatological symptoms. Clinical assessments were conducted to evaluate intellectual development and skin manifestations. Genetic testing was performed to identify underlying mutations. The CA lesions were treated with the combined regimen of liquid nitrogen cryotherapy and ALA-PDT (90 mW/cm2, 20min). Results The CA lesions achieved nearly complete resolution with an absence of notable side effects by ALA-PDT with cryotherapy. In addition, both siblings exhibited pronounced intellectual developmental disorder alongside atopic dermatitis-like lesions. Genetic analysis revealed a previously unreported pathogenic mutation in the BCL11B gene (c.1585G>T[p.Glu529*]) in both patients. The recommended diagnosis was IDDSFTA with concomitant Hyper-IgE Syndrome (HIES). Notably, the dermatological manifestations showed improvement following treatment with Dupilumab. Conclusion This case provides novel evidence supporting the safety and potential advantages of ALA-PDT for CA in the immunodeficient pediatric settings. Meanwhile, these findings deepen the understanding of the clinical implications of the neurological gene BCL11B mutation (c.1585G>T[p.Glu529*]) in skin disorders.
Objective To investigate the intergroup differences in choroidal thickness (CT), choroidal vascularity index (CVI), and choroidal vascular volume (CVV) across non-autoimmune type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) subtypes defined by beta-cell function and insulin resistance. Methods This cross-sectional study enrolled 22 healthy controls (22 eyes) and 85 T2DM patients (85 eyes). T2DM patients were categorized into 4 groups using K-means clustering: Severe Insulin-deficient Diabetes (SIDD) =22, Severe Insulin-resistant Diabetes (SIRD)=26, Mild Obesity-related Diabetes (MOD)=16, and Mild Age-related Diabetes (MARD)=21. CT, CVI, CVV were measured by widefield swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography (WSS-OCTA) across three concentric annular regions(0 - 10 mm, 10 - 15 mm, and 15 - 20 mm), subdivided into 12 sectors. Linear mixed-effects and multivariate regression models were constructed to evaluate intergroup differences. Results Compared with the control group, both CT and CVV decreased significantly in most of the 12 analyzed regions across all T2DM groups, whereas the MOD and SIRD groups exhibited no statistically significant global changes. In contrast, CVI exhibited pronounced spatial and subtype-specific heterogeneity. In the SIDD group, CVI decreased in most regions, with significant reductions in the nasal sector of the 0 - 10 mm annulus (P<0.01]), and in the nasal and inferior sectors of the 10 - 15 mm annulus (P<0.01] and -0.065 (P<0.01). Conversely, the SIRD group demonstrated a widespread increase in CVI, with significant increased in the nasal (P < 0.05), superior (P < 0.05), and temporal (P < 0.05]) sectors of the 15 - 20 mm annulus. Conclusion Compared with CT and CVV, CVI shows the highest spatial heterogeneity. This indicates that divergent metabolic drivers may exert opposing effects on choroidal vascular remodeling. This subtype-specific characterization enhances our understanding of diabetic choroidopathy pathophysiology and holds potential for guiding personalized screening and therapeutic strategies.
PURPOSE:To investigate the changes in microcirculation and structural characteristics of the retina and choroid in children with different refractive statuses using swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography (SS‑OCTA). METHODS:A total of 161 eyes from 105 healthy children aged 5-18 years were enrolled and divided into seven groups according to spherical equivalent (SE), ranging from high myopia to high hyperopia. A 6 × 6 mm macular SS‑OCTA scan was performed to measure the foveal avascular zone (FAZ), superficial and deep retinal vessel densities and vessel length densities, choroidal capillary and choroidal flow areas, choroidal vascularity index (CVI), retinal thickness (RT), and choroidal thickness (CT). Generalized estimating equations (GEE) were used to analyze the effects of SE and axial length (AL). RESULTS:Significant differences were found among groups in FAZ, retinal vessel density, RT, choroidal flow area, CVI, and CT. The high hyperopia group exhibited enlarged FAZ, reduced foveal superficial and deep vessel densities and vessel length densities, and thinner foveal retina; the high myopia group showed decreased perifoveal vessel density and vessel length densities, thinner retina and choroid, along with increased choroidal flow area and CVI. No significant intergroup differences were observed in choriocapillaris flow area. GEE analysis revealed that both SE and AL were independent influencing factors for multiple OCTA parameters, with CT and CVI showing the strongest associations with refractive status. CONCLUSION:Refractive changes in children are accompanied by selective remodeling of macular blood flow and structure, with differential alterations between the foveal and peripheral regions. SS‑OCTA can effectively detect fundus microstructural and flow changes related to refractive development in children, and SVP‑VD, RT, CT, and CVI are potential monitoring indicators.
Objective To compare the preventive effect of daily repeated low-level red light (RLRL) and 0.01% low-dose atropine eye drops (LDA) on myopia. Methods This was a 12-month prospective comparative study. 216 Children aged 7-12 years using either RLRL or LDA for myopia prevention were enrolled between July 10, 2024 to August 15, 2024. 192 completed the 12-month follow-up, last case went for clinical visit on August 28, 2025. The primary outcome was the 12-month myopia incidence. Secondary outcomes included changes in the spherical equivalent error (SER) and changes in the axial length (AL). Results The 12-month myopia incidence was 30.7% (36/117) and 13.3% (10/75) for the LDA and RLRL groups, respectively. The former was significantly higher than the latter (difference, 17.4%, 95% CI: 5.2% to 28.1%; p=0.028). 69 pairs of children were matched from each group using propensity matching score method, where age, gender, baseline SER, and baseline AL were balanced between groups. The 12-month myopia incidence was 29.0% (20/69) and 11.6% (8/69) for the LDA and RLRL groups, respectively. The LDA group was still significantly higher than the RLRL group (difference, 17.4%, 95% CI: 3.9% to 30.3%; p=0.038). The 12-month changes in the SER were 0.08 D and -0.49 D for the RLRL group and the LDA group, respectively, the mean difference was -0.57 (95% CI:-0.73 to -0.41) D, p<0.001. The average changes in AL were 0.02 mm and 0.29 mm for the RLRL group and LDA group, respectively, the mean difference was 0.27 (95% CI: 0.11 to 0.43) mm, p<0.001. 19.7% (23/117) Children in the LDA group reported photophobia, no adverse event was observed in the RLRL group. Conclusion and relevance In this 12-month study, daily RLRL demonstrated superior myopia prevention compared to 0.01% LDA. Myopia incidence was significantly lower with RLRL, with a 60% reduced risk. Propensity-matched analysis confirmed RLRL’s efficacy, which better stabilized refractive status and axial elongation. No adverse events occurred with RLRL, while 19.7% of LDA users reported photophobia. RLRL emerges as a safer, more effective preventive intervention for childhood myopia.
BACKGROUND:Transverse macular measurements from optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) depend on ocular magnification, which varies with axial length (AL); in growing children, whether correcting for magnification alters macular thickness and vessel-density measurements enough to matter clinically is unclear, and no anchor-based clinical threshold exists. METHODS:In this cross-sectional study, retinal and choroidal thickness (RT, ChT) and retinal and choroidal vessel density (RVD, CVD) -each in the central fovea, parafovea, perifovea and whole-grid average (16 parameters) -were measured before and after magnification correction in 339 children and adolescents aged 4-17 years (central 6 × 6 mm macula, swept-source OCTA [SS - OCTA]); vessel length density (VLD) and matched superficial retinal vessel density (SRVD) were also compared. Clinical relevance was tested against a distribution-based 0.5 × standard deviation (SD) threshold by equivalence testing, and the correction difference was modelled across AL. RESULTS:Correction produced statistically detectable changes in many parameters, but the mean difference for all 16 parameters lay within ±0.5 × SD (population-level equivalence). Only perifoveal and average RT crossed the threshold, at the extremes of AL (< 21.4 or > 26.6 mm and > 27.7 mm, respectively); choroidal thickness and areal vessel density were essentially unaffected (relative change ≤ 0.3%). In contrast, VLD scaled inversely with the magnification factor and crossed the threshold within the observed range (AL < 22.3 or > 25.7 mm; 11.5% of eyes), whereas SRVD crossed nowhere. The AL-RT association weakened after correction; vessel density related mainly to age. CONCLUSION:In this pediatric cohort, magnification correction was clinically important chiefly for retinal thickness in very short or very long eyes and for vessel length density outside AL 22.3-25.7 mm; choroidal thickness and areal vessel density were little affected. A parameter's need for correction is thus set by its dimensions. Age should also be considered when interpreting macular microvasculature in children.
Severe acne conglobate (AC) with concurrent follicular occlusion diseases strongly resists standard therapies. Therefore, we evaluated a novel combined treatment for these complex cases. This retrospective study included eight male patients with refractory syndromic AC. First, patients underwent localized surgical deroofing to remove deep-seated lesions. Immediately afterward, we applied 20% ALA-PDT once weekly for three consecutive weeks. Concurrently, all patients received systemic secukinumab as maintenance therapy. Clinical and patient-reported outcomes were assessed at 64 weeks. The combined therapy yielded significant clinical improvements. Mean lesion counts dropped dramatically from 19.9 to 3.1 (P=0.012). By week 64, five patients (62.5%) achieved a “clear” or “almost clear” status. Furthermore, this approach greatly relieved the patients’ psychosocial burden. Mean DLQI scores fell from 18.1 to 5.9 (P=0.012), and most patients (87.5%) reported maximum satisfaction. The treatment was well-tolerated, with no severe adverse events or excessive scarring observed. Combining surgical deroofing and ALA-PDT with secukinumab is highly effective. This combined strategy provides a safe and durable solution for severe syndromic AC.
Laser-matter interaction plays an important role in dental bleaching. Aim This in vitro study evaluated whether a charcoal-containing hydrogen peroxide paste irradiated with different powers of an 810 nm diode laser for a short application time could enhance bleaching efficacy while maintaining intrapulpal temperature below 5.5°C and enamel surface integrity compared with a standard commercial in-office hydrogen peroxide system. Methods A total of 112 extracted human premolars were divided into two groups. Fifty-six samples were artificially stained for color measurement, and 56 non-stained samples were used for intrapulpal temperature, surface roughness, and representative scanning electron microscopy assessment. Each group was divided into seven subgroups: commercial in-office hydrogen peroxide system, experimental paste without laser irradiation, and experimental paste irradiated with an 810 nm diode laser at 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, or 3 W for 30 s. Color change was calculated using the CIE Lab* system. Color change and surface roughness change were analyzed using one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey’s HSD post hoc test, whereas intrapulpal temperature change was analyzed using the Kruskal-Wallis test followed by Dunn-Bonferroni post hoc comparisons. Results The experimental paste without laser produced the lowest color change (Tukey’s HSD, p<0.05 vs. all other subgroups), whereas laser-irradiated subgroups at 1, 1.5, and 2 W produced ΔE values comparable to the commercial system (Tukey’s HSD, p>0.05) and laser irradiated subgroups at 2.5 and 3 W produced more color change than the commercial system (Tukey’s HSD, p<0.05) despite the shorter application time. Mean ΔE increased from 9.01 ± 2.32 at 1 W to 14.91 ± 2.72 at 3 W. Mean Intrapulpal temperature change increased with laser power (Kruskal-Wallis, p<0.05); 1, 1.5, 2 and 2.5 W remained below the 5.5 °C safety threshold, while 3 W exceeded it. Surface roughness changes were greater at higher powers, with the 3 W subgroup showing a greater change than the commercial system subgroup (Tukey’s HSD, p<0.05). Conclusion The 810 nm diode laser enhanced bleaching efficacy of the experimental paste. New laser protocol produces color change comparable or more of commercial in-office bleaching system within short application time with or without additional side effects depending on laser power.
Regenerative endodontics seeks to restore the structure and function of the pulp-dentin complex by harnessing endogenous or transplanted stem cells, bioactive signals, and scaffold-based microenvironments. Among the candidate biologic regulators, the canonical Wnt/β-catenin pathway is pivotal in pulp homeostasis, odontogenic differentiation, and dentin regeneration. Low-level laser therapy (LLLT), also termed photobiomodulation, has emerged as a non-invasive adjunct capable of modulating cell proliferation, viability, migration, and lineage commitment. This review synthesizes current knowledge on Wnt/β-catenin signaling in pulp regeneration and evaluates whether LLLT may influence this pathway to enhance regenerative endodontic outcomes. Wnt ligands, membrane receptors, and intracellular effectors coordinate odontogenic repair through canonical and non-canonical signaling. In dental stem cells, Wnt activity promotes proliferation and migration, while prolonged activation or context-dependent signaling can alter mineralization. LLLT has repeatedly been shown to improve dental pulp stem cell survival, proliferation, migration, and odontogenic/osteogenic differentiation, with effects varying by wavelength, fluence, timing, and nutritional context. Emerging evidence suggests crosstalk between LLLT-responsive pathways, especially Wnt/β-catenin, BMP/Smad, ERK1/2, and growth factor signaling. However, direct evidence connecting LLLT to Wnt/β-catenin activation in human dental pulp stem cells and stem cells from the apical papilla remains limited. LLLT is a biologically plausible adjuvant for regenerative endodontics, potentially acting in part through Wnt/β-catenin-dependent mechanisms. Well-designed mechanistic and translational studies are needed to define optimal irradiation parameters and confirm pathway-specific effects in clinically relevant dental stem cell models.
Objectives This study assessed the effect of photodynamic therapy (PDT) with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and indocyanine green (ICG) on the viability and adhesion of human gingival fibroblasts (HGFs) to root cementum. Materials and Methods In this in vitro study, 64 root sections of extracted molar and premolar teeth were randomly divided into 4 groups (n=16) of (I) scaling and root planing (SRP; control), (II) SRP+40% citric acid, (III) SRP+H2O2+ laser irradiation (980 nm, 2.5 W), and (IV) SRP+ICG+ laser irradiation (808 nm, 200 mW). HGFs were cultured at a density of 5×104 cells. Cell viability was assessed after 24, 48, and 72 hours while cell adhesion was evaluated after 24 hours using the methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay. Comparisons were made using ANOVA and Tukey HSD test (alpha=0.05). Results The H2O2 group showed the highest cell viability at all time points. The ICG group showed the highest cell adhesion, followed by the H2O2 group. The citric acid group showed the lowest cell adhesion, and moderate cell viability while the control group had the poorest performance. The difference in both cell viability and adhesion was significant among the groups (P<0.05), with the H2O2 group being significantly superior in cell viability, and the ICG group being significantly superior in cell adhesion (P<0.05). Conclusion PDT specially with H2O2 significantly enhanced the viability of HGFs under in vitro conditions. H2O2 provided a suitable environment for cell proliferation while ICG enhanced cell adhesion.
Fluorescence-guided surgery using photodynamic diagnosis (PDD) has reshaped the local management of urothelial cancer by overcoming the limitations of white light endoscopy. Leveraging tumor-selective protoporphyrin IX accumulation after 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) or hexaminolevulinate (HAL) administration, PDD reliably highlights flat and subtle lesions that are frequently missed under white light, particularly carcinoma in situ. This narrative review synthesized randomized trials, patient-level meta-analyses, multicenter cohorts, and real-world studies to assess the diagnostic and therapeutic potential of PDD across the bladder and upper urinary tract. In non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer, PDD-assisted transurethral resection of bladder tumor improves resection completeness, reduces residual tumor, but its impact on recurrence remains inconsistent. In upper tract disease, integrating PDD into ureteroscopic assessment and laser ablation enhances margin definition and early oncologic control, complementing nephron-sparing strategies. Although Japanese experience with oral ALA and European experience with intravesical ALA or HAL collectively highlight the clinical utility of PDD, differences in their safety profiles, particularly in terms of the risk of hypotension associated with oral ALA administration, underscore the need for careful perioperative risk stratification. Fluorescence-guided local therapy represents a pragmatic, organ-preserving advancement in urothelial oncology and a template for the broader adoption of optical molecular guidance in cancer surgery. Thus, it serves as a bridge between molecular imaging and minimally invasive oncology.
Objective This study aimed to investigate the molecular mechanism by which cordycepin (Cor) combined with photodynamic therapy (PDT) exerts cytotoxicity against human breast cancer cells in vitro. Methods CCK‑8 assay, colony formation assay and Calcein‑AM/PI staining were used to evaluate cell proliferation. DCFH‑DA and JC‑1 staining combined with flow cytometry were performed to detect intracellular ROS and mitochondrial membrane potential. LDH release assay, ELISA and western blot were adopted to assess cell damage, inflammatory cytokine secretion and pyroptosis‑related protein expression. Results Combined Cor and PDT treatment produced robust anti‑tumour effects and oxidative stress accumulation in breast cancer cell lines. This combinatorial regimen modulated the expression of core pyroptotic molecules and stimulated the secretion of pro‑inflammatory mediators. Pharmacological inhibition of ROS or caspase‑1 attenuated the anti‑tumour effects induced by combined treatment. Conclusions Cor synergistically enhances the anti-proliferative effect of PDT on breast cancer cells. This combinatorial treatment induces GSDMD-dependent pyroptosis via caspase-1 activation. Our findings offer new experimental evidence and research insights for the potential use of active components from traditional Chinese medicine in tumor therapy.
