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Background/Objectives: Three-dimensional (3D) cell culture technologies allow us to overcome the constraints of two-dimensional methods in different fields like biochemistry and cell biology and in pharmaceutical in vitro tests. In this study, a novel 3D hydrogel sponge scaffold, composed of a crosslinked polyacrylic acid forming a porous matrix, has been developed and characterized. Methods: The scaffold was obtained via an innovative procedure involving thermal treatment followed by a salt-leaching step on a matrix-containing polymer along with a gas-forming agent. Based on experimental design for mixtures, a series of formulations were prepared to study the effect of the three components (polyacrylic acid, NaHCO3 and NaCl) on the scaffold mechanical properties, density, swelling behavior and morphological changes. Physical appearance, surface morphology, porosity, molecular diffusion, transparency, biocompatibility and cytocompatibility were also evaluated. Results: The hydrogel scaffolds obtained show high porosity and good optical transparency and mechanical resistance. The scaffolds were successfully employed to culture several cell lines for more than 20 days. Conclusions: The developed scaffolds could be an important tool, as such or with a specific coating, to obtain a more predictive cellular response to evaluate drugs in preclinical studies or for testing chemical compounds, biocides and cosmetics, thus reducing animal testing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: This review comprehensively examines curcumin's therapeutic potential in cancer treatment. It addresses the limitations of curcumin therapy due to its low bioavailability and potential side effects. It discusses how modern approaches can overcome these limitations to support its consistent and effective use in cancer therapy. Indeed, the role of curcumin in photodegradation and photodynamic therapy is emphasized through its use in combination with phototherapy. In addition, improved therapeutic efficacy, increased cellular uptake, and enhanced cytotoxicity have been demonstrated in various cancer models using curcumin-loaded nanoparticle drug delivery. Overall, the present review highlights the promising impact of curcumin in cancer treatment and the importance of optimizing its therapeutic efficacy, considering potential interactions with drugs used to manage side effects and collateral effects of cancer treatment. Curcumin, a polyphenolic compound derived from Curcuma longa, exhibits significant therapeutic potential in cancer management. This review explores curcumin's mechanisms of action, the challenges related to its bioavailability, and its enhancement through modern technology and approaches. Curcumin demonstrates strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, contributing to its ability to neutralize free radicals and inhibit inflammatory mediators. Its anticancer effects are mediated by inducing apoptosis, inhibiting cell proliferation, and interfering with tumor growth pathways in various colon, pancreatic, and breast cancers. However, its clinical application is limited by its poor bioavailability due to its rapid metabolism and low absorption. Novel delivery systems, such as curcumin-loaded hydrogels and nanoparticles, have shown promise in improving curcumin bioavailability and therapeutic efficacy. Additionally, photodynamic therapy has emerged as a complementary approach, where light exposure enhances curcumin's anticancer effects by modulating molecular pathways crucial for tumor cell growth and survival. Studies highlight that combining low concentrations of curcumin with visible light irradiation significantly boosts its antitumor efficacy compared to curcumin alone. The interaction of curcumin with cytochromes or drug transporters may play a crucial role in altering the pharmacokinetics of conventional medications, which necessitates careful consideration in clinical settings. Future research should focus on optimizing delivery mechanisms and understanding curcumin's pharmacokinetics to fully harness its therapeutic potential in cancer treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The identification of fish species from a single dermal scale is intriguing in various contexts, including ecology, commerce/forensics, archaeology, and others. While molecular methods serve as the gold standard for species attribution in some cases, they may not always be feasible and, moreover, they are expensive and need specialized personnel. The prospect of attributing fish species through the analysis of dermal scale shape presents a cost-effective alternative that, after the development of dedicated software, could make the process nearly fully automated. The term "geometric morphometry" encompasses a range of techniques designed to quantify and statistically analyze shapes. In this study, after reviewing previous literature on geometric morphometry applied to fish scales, two distinct methods of geometric morphometry were employed on scales from five different fish species. The advantages of both methods were compared. While one method, referred to as landmark-based and commonly utilized in previous literature, was optimized through the introduction of technical enhancements. The second method, known as outline-based and less prevalent in the literature, demonstrated superior performance and holds promise for future automation. The possibility of quick and cheap recognition of a fish species from a single dermal scale would be interesting in a wide range of contexts. The methods of geometric morphometry appear to be quite promising, although wide studies comparing different approaches are lacking. We aimed to apply two methods of geometric morphometry, landmark-based and outline-based, on a dataset of scales from five different teleost species: Danio rerio, Dicentrarchus labrax, Mullus surmuletus, Sardina pilchardus, and Sparus aurata. For the landmark-based method the R library "geomorph" was used. Some issues about landmark selection and positioning were addressed and, for the first time on fish scales, an approach with both landmarks and semilandmarks was set up. For the outline-based method the R library "Momocs" was used. Despite the relatively low number of scales analyzed (from 11 to 81 for each species), both methods achieved quite good clustering of all the species. In particular, the landmark-based method used here gave generally higher R2 values in testing species clustering than the outline-based method, but it failed to distinguish between a few couples of species; on the other hand, the outline-based method seemed to catch the differences among all the couples except one. Larger datasets have the potential to achieve better results with outline-based geometric morphometry. This latter method, being free from the problem of recognizing and positioning landmarks, is also the most suitable for being automatized in future applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nitrogen-based fertilizers represent the most common fertilization tools, particularly used in crop food agriculture, despite the low cost-efficiency and the high negative environmental impact. At present, there is still inadequate information available about the effects of urea on human health; nevertheless, previous studies in animals observed that high urea concentration exposure can damage different tissues, including the brain. In several vertebrates, a crucial factor involved in neuronal cell formation is represented by the gas molecule, nitric oxide (NO), derived from the conversion of arginine to citrulline through the enzymatic activity of nitric oxide synthases (NOS). In zebrafish, three different isoforms of the NOS gene are known: nos1, nos2a, and nos2b. In the present study we show that nos1 represents the unique isoform with a stable high expression in the brain and spinal cord during all the embryonic stages of zebrafish development. Then, by using a specific transgenic zebrafish line, Tg(HuC:GFP), to mark neuronal cells, we observed nos1 to be specifically expressed in neurons. Interestingly, we observed that urea exposure at sub-lethal doses affected cell proliferation and the number of nos1-expressing cells, inducing apoptosis. Consistently, brain NO levels were observed to be reduced in urea-treated animals compared to untreated ones. This finding represents the first evidence that urea exposure affects the expression of a key gene involved in neuronal cell formation during embryonic development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

POU genes are a family of evolutionarily conserved transcription factors with key functions in cell type specification and neurogenesis. In vitro experiments have indicated that the expression of some POU genes is controlled by the intercellular signaling molecule retinoic acid (RA). In this work, we aimed to characterize the roles of RA signaling in the regulation of POU genes in vivo. To do so, we studied POU genes during the development of the cephalochordate amphioxus, an animal model crucial for understanding the evolutionary origins of vertebrates. The expression patterns of amphioxus POU genes were assessed at different developmental stages by chromogenic in situ hybridization and hybridization chain reaction. Expression was further assessed in embryos subjected to pharmacological manipulation of endogenous RA signaling activity. In addition to a detailed description of the effects of these treatments on amphioxus POU gene expression, our survey included the first description of Pou2 and Pou6 expression in amphioxus embryos. We found that Pit-1, Pou2, Pou3l, and Pou6 expression are not affected by alterations of endogenous RA signaling levels. In contrast, our experiments indicated that Brn1/2/4 and Pou4 expression are regulated by RA signaling in the endoderm and the nerve cord, respectively. The effects of the treatments on Pou4 expression in the nerve cord revealed that, in developing amphioxus, RA signaling plays a dual role by (1) providing anteroposterior patterning information to neural cells and (2) specifying neural cell types. This finding is coherent with a terminal selector function of Pou4 for GABAergic neurons in amphioxus and represents the first description of RA-induced changes in POU gene expression in vivo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemotrophic choice as a metabolic source of energy has characterised animal cell evolution. However, light interactions with animal cell photoacceptors that are able to increase energetic metabolism (photo-biomodulation (PBM)) have been previously described. In the present study, we cut three specimens of Chondrosia reniformis into four equal parts (12 fragments), and we irradiated the regenerating edge of six fragments with the previously characterised 810 nm near-infrared light, delivered at 1 W, 60 J/cm2, 1 W/cm2, and 60 J in a continuous-wave mode for 60 s through a flat-top hand-piece with a rounded spot-size area of 1 cm2. Six fragments were irradiated with 0 W for 60 s as the controls. We performed irradiation at the time 0 h and every 24 h for a total of five administrations. We monitored the regeneration process for five days (120 h) in aquaria by examining the macroscopic and histological changes. We analysed the gene expression profile of the inflammatory processes, apoptosis, heat stress, growth factors, and collagen production and determined oxidative stress enzyme activity and the total prokaryotic symbiont content. PBM sped up C. reniformis regeneration when compared to the controls. Particularly, transforming growth factor TGF3 and TGF6 upregulation during the early phase of regeneration and TGF5 upregulation 120 h postinjury in the irradiated samples supports the positive effect of PBM in sponge tissue recovery. Conversely, the expression of TGF4, a sponge fibroblast growth factor homologue, was not affected by irradiation, indicating that multiple, independent pathways regulate the TGF genes. The results are consistent with our previous data on a wide range of organisms and humans, suggesting that PBM interaction with primary and secondary cell targets has been conserved through the evolution of life forms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the literature providing compelling evidence for the medical efficacy of photobiomodulation (PBM) therapy, its consistency in terms of accuracy and standardization needs improving. Identification of new technology and reliable and ethical biological models is, therefore, a challenge for researchers working on PBM. We tested the reliability of PBM irradiation through a novel delivery probe with a flat-top beam profile on the regenerating amphioxus Branchiostoma lanceolatum. The caudalmost 9 ± 1 myotomes, posterior to the anus, were excised using a sterile lancet. Animals were randomly split into three experimental groups. In the control group, the beam area was bounded with the 635-nm red-light pointer (negligible power, <0.5 mW) and the laser device was coded to irradiate 810 nm and 0 W. In Group laser-1, the beam area was bounded with the same 635-nm red-light pointer and irradiated at 810 nm, 1 W in CW for 60 s, spot-size 1 cm2, 1 W/cm2, 60 J/cm2, and 60 J; irradiation was performed every day for two weeks. In Group laser-2, the beam area was bounded with the same 635-nm red-light pointer and irradiated at 810 nm, 1 W in CW for 60 s, spot-size 1 cm2, 1 W/cm2, 60 J/cm2, and 60 J; irradiation was performed on alternate days for four weeks. We observed that PBM improved the natural wound-healing and regeneration process. The effect was particularly evident for the notochord. Daily irradiation better supported the regenerative process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: How animals perceive their surrounding environment is crucial to their reactions and behavior. Olfaction, among others, is one of the more important senses for wide-range communication and in low-light environments. This study aims to give a morphological description of the peripheral olfactory system of the Antarctic silverfish, which is a key species in the coastal Antarctic ecosystem. The head of the Antarctic silverfish is specialized to assure that the olfactory organ keeps in contact with a large volume of water, even when the fish is not actively swimming. The sensory surface area and the number of neurons in the primary olfactory brain region show that this fish invests energy in the detection and elaboration of olfactory signals. In the cold waters of the Southern Ocean, the Antarctic silverfish is therefore likely to rely considerably on olfaction. The olfactory system is constituted in a consistent way across vertebrates. Nasal structures allow water/air to enter an olfactory cavity, conveying the odorants to a sensory surface. There, the olfactory neurons form, with their axons, a sensory nerve projecting to the telencephalic zone—named the olfactory bulb. This organization comes with many different arrangements, whose meaning is still a matter of debate. A morphological description of the olfactory system of many teleost species is present in the literature; nevertheless, morphological investigations rarely provide a quantitative approach that would help to provide a deeper understanding of the structures where sensory and elaborating events happen. In this study, the peripheral olfactory system of the Antarctic silverfish, which is a keystone species in coastal Antarctica ecosystems, has also been described, employing some quantitative methods. The olfactory chamber of this species is connected to accessory nasal sacs, which probably aid water movements in the chamber; thus, the head of the Antarctic silverfish is specialized to assure that the olfactory organ keeps in contact with a large volume of water—even when the fish is not actively swimming. Each olfactory organ, shaped like an asymmetric rosette, has, in adult fish, a sensory surface area of about 25 mm2, while each olfactory bulb contains about 100,000 neurons. The sensory surface area and the number of neurons in the primary olfactory brain region show that this fish invests energy in the detection and elaboration of olfactory signals and allow comparisons among different species. The mouse, for example—which is considered a macrosmatic vertebrate—has a sensory surface area of the same order of magnitude as that of the Antarctic silverfish, but ten times more neurons in the olfactory bulb. Catsharks, on the other hand, have a sensory surface area that is two orders of magnitude higher than that of the Antarctic silverfish, while the number of neurons has the same order of magnitude. The Antarctic silverfish is therefore likely to rely considerably on olfaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photobiomodulation (PBM) is a form of low-dose light therapy that acts through energy delivery from non-ionizing sources. During the recent two decades, there has been tremendous progress with PBM acceptance in medicine. However, PBM effects on potential stimulation of existing malignant or pre-malignant cells remain unknown. Thus, the primary endpoint was to assess the safety of PBM treatment parameters on head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) proliferation or survival. The secondary endpoint was to assess any putative anti-cancer effects of PBM treatments. Cell viability, energy metabolism, oxidative stress, and pro- and anti-apoptotic markers expression were investigated on a Human Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma cellular model (OHSU-974 FAcorr cell line). PBM therapy was administered through the 810 nm diode laser (GaAlAs) device (Garda Laser, 7024 Negrar, Verona, Italy) at the powers of 0, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75, 1.00, or 1.25 W in continuous wave (CW) mode for an exposure time of 60 s with a spot-size of 1 cm2 and with a distance of 1.86 cm from the cells. Results showed that 810-nm PBM affected oxidative phosphorylation in OHSU-971 FAcorr, causing a metabolic switch to anaerobic glycolysis. In addition, PBM reduced the catalase activity, determining an unbalance between oxidative stress production and the antioxidant defenses, which could stimulate the pro-apoptotic cellular pathways. Our data, at the parameters investigated, suggest the safeness of PBM as a supportive cancer therapy. Pre-clinical and clinical studies are necessary to confirm the in vitro evidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Collagen filaments derived from the two marine demosponges Ircinia oros and Sarcotragus foetidus were for the first time isolated, biochemically characterised and tested for their potential use in regenerative medicine. SDS-PAGE of isolated filaments revealed a main collagen subunit band of 130 kDa in both of the samples under study. DSC analysis on 2D membranes produced with collagenous sponge filaments showed higher thermal stability than commercial mammalian-derived collagen membranes. Dynamic mechanical and thermal analysis attested that the membranes obtained from filaments of S. foetidus were more resistant and stable at the rising temperature, compared to the ones derived from filaments of I. oros. Moreover, the former has higher stability in saline and in collagenase solutions and evident antioxidant activity. Conversely, their water binding capacity results were lower than that of membranes obtained from I. oros. Adhesion and proliferation tests using L929 fibroblasts and HaCaT keratinocytes resulted in a remarkable biocompatibility of both developed membrane models, and gene expression analysis showed an evident up-regulation of ECM-related genes. Finally, membranes from I. oros significantly increased type I collagen gene expression and its release in the culture medium. The findings here reported strongly suggest the biotechnological potential of these collagenous structures of poriferan origin as scaffolds for wound healing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemotrophic choice as a metabolic source of energy has characterised animal cell evolution. However, light interactions with animal cell photoacceptors that are able to increase energetic metabolism (photo-biomodulation (PBM)) have been previously described. In the present study, we cut three specimens of Chondrosia reniformis into four equal parts (12 fragments), and we irradiated the regenerating edge of six fragments with the previously characterised 810 nm near-infrared light, delivered at 1 W, 60 J/cm 2 , 1 W/cm 2 , and 60 J in a continuous-wave mode for 60 s through a flat-top hand-piece with a rounded spot-size area of 1 cm 2 . Six fragments were irradiated with 0 W for 60 s as the controls. We performed irradiation at the time 0 h and every 24 h for a total of five administrations. We monitored the regeneration process for five days (120 h) in aquaria by examining the macroscopic and histological changes. We analysed the gene expression profile of the inflammatory processes, apoptosis, heat stress, growth factors, and collagen production and determined oxidative stress enzyme activity and the total prokaryotic symbiont content. PBM sped up C. reniformis regeneration when compared to the controls. Particularly, transforming growth factor TGF3 and TGF6 upregulation during the early phase of regeneration and TGF5 upregulation 120 h postinjury in the irradiated samples supports the positive effect of PBM in sponge tissue recovery. Conversely, the expression of TGF4, a sponge fibroblast growth factor homologue, was not affected by irradiation, indicating that multiple, independent pathways regulate the TGF genes. The results are consistent with our previous data on a wide range of organisms and humans, suggesting that PBM interaction with primary and secondary cell targets has been conserved through the evolution of life forms.