Thanks to its photocatalytic property, graphitic carbon nitride (g‐C3N4) is a promising candidate in various applications including nanomedicine. However, studies focusing on the suitability of g‐C3N4 for cancer therapy are very limited and possible underlying molecular mechanisms are unknown. Here, it is demonstrated that photoexcitation of g‐C3N4 can be used effectively in photodynamic therapy, without using any other carrier or additional photosensitizer. Upon light exposure, g‐C3N4 treatment kills cancer cells, without the need of any other nanosystem or chemotherapeutic drug. The material is efficiently taken up by tumor cells in vitro. The transcriptome and proteome of g‐C3N4 and light treated cells show activation in pathways related to both oxidative stress, cell death, and apoptosis which strongly suggests that only when combined with light exposure, g‐C3N4 is able to kill cancer cells. Systemic administration of the mesoporous form results in elimination from urinary bladder without any systemic toxicity. Administration of the material significantly decreases tumor volume when combined with local light treatment. This study paves the way for the future use of not only g‐C3N4 but also other 2D nanomaterials in cancer therapy.

No abstract

No abstract

Background The scleral ring in birds consists of ossicles that are fixed as small plates by cartilage joints and have no articulation to other parts of the skeleton. Objective Due to inadequate examination of the scleral ring anatomy and its specific form in owls, this study aimed to investigate the exact structure of the scleral ring and some morphometric characteristics of the eyeball in a long‐eared owl (Asio otus). Methods The eyes of 20 alive and 10 dead male and female owls were examined. In addition to common anatomical methods, computed tomography scans and radiographic and ultrasonographic imaging techniques were used in this study. Results The structure consisted of 15 ossicles. In the ventral part of the ring, these tubercles were observed in the scleral rings of all owls; in each ring, there were four bones with these tubercles. Additionally, there was no significant difference between the left and right eye parameters. Most ocular parameters in female owls were larger than those in males, but in the case of some parameters, such as optic nerve length and optic nerve sheath diameter, this difference was not observed. Conclusions According to this study, the scleral ring in the Asio otus has anterior and posterior parts, and the lens is in the immediate vicinity of the anterior part. The right and left scleral rings and eyeballs are bilaterally symmetrical in terms of the shape, size, and number of ossicles that form the ring.

PurposeThere is currently an emerging need for developing improved approaches for preventing urinary tract infections (UTIs) occurring during diagnostic or interventional procedures of the lower urinary tract. We aimed to establish a rat model to assess the use of transurethral antibiotic administration and to provide evidence that this could be used as a preventive therapy.MethodsAnimals received fosfomycin trometamol (FOF) either urethrally or orally prior to the procedure. A third group was generated as treatment controls and did not receive any medication. Urethral dilation was conducted to recapitulate an interventional procedure prior to intravesical Escherichia coli administration in all three groups. Finally, sham-operated animals were introduced as a fourth group which did not receive antibiotics or E. coli. Colony counts of urine and tissue cultures for the identification of E. coli and histopathological examinations of the bladder and prostate were conducted.ResultsEvaluation of infection intensities in cultures as well as histopathological examination of the bladder and prostate demonstrated a preventative role of transurethral FOF administration. In terms of efficiency, local administration of FOF was similar to oral administration.ConclusionsThese results suggest that transurethral antibiotic administration is a promising alternative for preventing UTIs occurring during diagnostic or interventional procedures of the lower urinary tract.