Photobiomodulation use in ophthalmology - an overview of translational research from bench to bedside.

Photobiomodulation (PBM) refers to the process in which wavelengths of light are absorbed by intracellular photoacceptors, resulting in the activation of signaling pathways that culminate in biological changes within the cell. PBM is the result of low-intensity light-induced reactions in the cell in contrast to thermal photoablation produced by high-intensity lasers. PBM has been effectively used in the clinic to enhance wound healing and mitigate pain and inflammation in musculoskeletal conditions, sports injury, and dental applications for many decades.

Comparison of 2 open-sourced 3-dimensional modeling techniques for orthopaedic application.

Although 3-dimensional (3D) printing is becoming more widely adopted for clinical applications, it is yet to be accepted as part of standard practice. One of the key applications of this technology is orthopaedic surgical planning for urgent trauma cases. Anatomically accurate replicas of patients' fracture models can be produced to guide intervention.

Visualizing the Human Body Using an Artistic Approach.

This chapter describes an innovative approach to the cross-disciplinary study of anatomy and art to facilitate visualization of the human body. We draw upon the literature, together with our own experience of designing, delivering and researching a cross-disciplinary art and anatomy course, to indicate the critical elements of the approach that foster students' visualization of the anatomy of the human body.Visual arts have been linked with anatomy for centuries, but typically biomedical science has existed in a utilitarian relationship with art only used as an aid.

Technology enhanced assessment: Ottawa consensus statement and recommendations.

Introduction: In 2011, a consensus report was produced on technology-enhanced assessment (TEA), its good practices, and future perspectives. Since then, technological advances have enabled innovative practices and tools that have revolutionised how learners are assessed. In this updated consensus, we bring together the potential of technology and the ultimate goals of assessment on learner attainment, faculty development, and improved healthcare practices.

The question of dissection in medical training: Not just "if," but "when"? A student perspective.

While debate about the use of-and alternatives to-human cadaveric dissection in medical training is robust, little attention has been paid to questions about timing. This study explores the perspectives of medical students and recent graduates with regard to two key questions: when in the degree program do students prefer dissection opportunities and what are the students getting out of participating in dissection? Self-report survey data from students in preclinical years (n = 105), clinical years (n = 57), and graduates (n = 13) were analyzed. Most (89%) preferred dissection during the preclinical years, with no effect by training year (χ  = 1.

Examining the Short-, Medium-, and Long-Term Success of an Embodied Learning Activity in the Study of Hand Anatomy for Clinical Application.

A student's own body provides an often disregarded site of knowledge production and corporeal wisdom. Learning via cognitive processes anchored in physical movement and body awareness, known as embodied learning, may aid students to visualize structures and understand their functions and clinical relevance. Working from an embodied learning perspective, the current article evaluates the use of an offline physical learning tool (Anatomical Glove Learning System; AGLS) for teaching hand anatomy for clinical application in medical students.

Forced Disruption of Anatomy Education in Australia and New Zealand: An Acute Response to the Covid-19 Pandemic.

Australian and New Zealand universities commenced a new academic year in February/March 2020 largely with "business as usual." The subsequent Covid-19 pandemic imposed unexpected disruptions to anatomical educational practice. Rapid change occurred due to government-imposed physical distancing regulations from March 2020 that increasingly restricted anatomy laboratory teaching practices.

A method for gene knockdown in the retina using a lipid-based carrier.

Purpose: The use of small non-coding nucleic acids, such as siRNA and miRNA, has allowed for a deeper understanding of gene functions, as well as for development of gene therapies for complex neurodegenerative diseases, including retinal degeneration. For effective delivery into the eye and transfection of the retina, suitable transfection methods are required. We investigated the use of a lipid-based transfection agent, Invivofectamine 3.

Distinct effects of etoposide on glutamine-addicted neuroblastoma.

The majority of anticancer drugs are DNA-damaging agents, and whether or not they may directly target mitochondria remains unclear. In addition, tumors such as neuroblastoma exhibit addiction to glutamine in spite of it being a nonessential amino acid. Our aim was to evaluate the direct effect of widely used anticancer drugs on mitochondrial activity in combination with glutamine withdrawal, and possible apoptotic effects of such interaction.

How Can We Show You, If You Can't See It? Trialing the Use of an Interactive Three-Dimensional Micro-CT Model in Medical Education.

Teaching internal structures obscured from direct view is a major challenge of anatomy education. High-fidelity interactive three-dimensional (3D) micro-computed tomography (CT) models with virtual dissection present a possible solution. However, their utility for teaching complex internal structures of the human body is unclear.

Sex, but not skin tone affects penetration of red-light (660 nm) through sites susceptible to sports injury in lean live and cadaveric tissues.

Red-light treatment is emerging as a novel therapy for promoting tissue recovery but data on red-light penetration through human tissues are lacking. We aimed to: (1) determine the effect of light irradiance, tissue thickness, skin tone, sex and bone/muscle content on 660 nm light penetration through common sites of sports injuries, and (2) establish if cadaver tissues serve as a useful model for predicting red-light penetration in live tissues. Live and cadaver human tissues were exposed to 660 nm light at locations across the skull, spinal cord and upper and lower limbs.

Photoreceptor Survival Is Regulated by GSTO1-1 in the Degenerating Retina.

Purpose: Glutathione-S-transferase omega 1-1 (GSTO1-1) is a cytosolic glutathione transferase enzyme, involved in glutathionylation, toll-like receptor signaling, and calcium channel regulation. GSTO1-1 dysregulation has been implicated in oxidative stress and inflammation, and contributes to the pathogenesis of several diseases and neurological disorders; however, its role in retinal degenerations is unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of GSTO1-1 in modulating oxidative stress and consequent inflammation in the normal and degenerating retina.

MicroRNA-124 Dysregulation is Associated With Retinal Inflammation and Photoreceptor Death in the Degenerating Retina.

Purpose: We sought to determine the role and retinal cellular location of microRNA-124 (miR-124) in a neuroinflammatory model of retinal degeneration. Further, we explored the anti-inflammatory relationship of miR-124 with a predicted messenger RNA (mRNA) binding partner, chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 2 (Ccl2), which is crucially involved in inflammatory cell recruitment in the damaged retina.

Methods: Human AMD donor eyes and photo-oxidative damaged (PD) mice were labeled for miR-124 expression using in situ hybridization.

Dynamic Interplay of Innate and Adaptive Immunity During Sterile Retinal Inflammation: Insights From the Transcriptome.

The pathogenesis of many retinal degenerations, such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD), is punctuated by an ill-defined network of sterile inflammatory responses. The delineation of innate and adaptive immune milieu among the broad leukocyte infiltrate, and the gene networks, which construct these responses, are poorly described in the eye. Using photo-oxidative damage in a rodent model of subretinal inflammation, we employed a novel RNA-sequencing framework to map the global gene network signature of retinal leukocytes.

The use of the vaccinia virus complement control protein (VCP) in the rat retina.

The complement system is highly implicated in both the prevalence and progression of Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD). Complement system inhibitors therefore have potential therapeutic value in managing excessive activation of the complement pathways in retinal degenerations. The vaccinia virus complement control protein (VCP) has been shown to be effective as a complement inhibitor in neuroinflammatory models including traumatic brain injury and spinal cord injury.

Obesity-induced metabolic disturbance drives oxidative stress and complement activation in the retinal environment.

Purpose: Systemic increases in reactive oxygen species, and their association with inflammation, have been proposed as an underlying mechanism linking obesity and age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Studies have found increased levels of oxidative stress biomarkers and inflammatory cytokines in obese individuals; however, the correlation between obesity and retinal inflammation has yet to be assessed. We used the leptin-deficient (ob/ob) mouse to further our understanding of the contribution of obesity to retinal oxidative stress and inflammation.

Cell death-based treatment of neuroblastoma.

Neuroblastoma (NB) is the most common solid childhood tumor outside the brain and causes 15% of childhood cancer-related mortality. The main drivers of NB formation are neural crest cell-derived sympathoadrenal cells that undergo abnormal genetic arrangements. Moreover, NB is a complex disease that has high heterogeneity and is therefore difficult to target for successful therapy.

670nm light treatment following retinal injury modulates Müller cell gliosis: Evidence from in vivo and in vitro stress models.

Photobiomodulation (PBM) with 670 nm light has been shown to accelerate wound healing in soft tissue injuries, and also to protect neuronal tissues. However, little data exist on its effects on the non-neuronal components of the retina, such as Müller cells (MCs), which are the principal macroglia of the retina that play a role in maintaining retinal homeostasis. The aim of this study was to explore the effects of 670 nm light on activated MCs using in vivo and in vitro stress models.

Photobiomodulation with 670 nm light ameliorates Müller cell-mediated activation of microglia and macrophages in retinal degeneration.

Müller cells, the supporting cells of the retina, play a key role in responding to retinal stress by releasing chemokines, including CCL2, to recruit microglia and macrophages (MG/MΦ) into the damaged retina. Photobiomodulation (PBM) with 670 nm light has been shown to reduce inflammation in models of retinal degeneration. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether 670 nm light had an effect on Müller cell-initiated inflammation under retinal photo-oxidative damage (PD) in vivo and in vitro.

Retinal metabolic events in preconditioning light stress as revealed by wide-spectrum targeted metabolomics.

Introduction: Light is the primary stimulus for vision, but may also cause damage to the retina. Pre-exposing the retina to sub-lethal amount of light (or preconditioning) improves chances for retinal cells to survive acute damaging light stress.

Objectives: This study aims at exploring the changes in retinal metabolome after mild light stress and identifying mechanisms that may be involved in preconditioning.

Retinal Macrophages Synthesize C3 and Activate Complement in AMD and in Models of Focal Retinal Degeneration.

Purpose: Complement system dysregulation is strongly linked to the progression of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Deposition of complement including C3 within the lesions in atrophic AMD is thought to contribute to lesion growth, although the contribution of local cellular sources remains unclear. We investigated the role of retinal microglia and macrophages in complement activation within atrophic lesions, in AMD and in models of focal retinal degeneration.

Microglia-derived IL-1β promotes chemokine expression by Müller cells and RPE in focal retinal degeneration.

Background: Chemokine signalling is required for the homing of leukocytes during retinal inflammation, and is associated with pathogenesis of diseases such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Here, we explore the role of interleukin-1β (IL-1β) in modulating AMD-associated chemokines Ccl2, Cxcl1, and Cxcl10 during photo-oxidative retinal damage, and the effect on both the accumulation of outer-retinal macrophages, and death of photoreceptors.

Methods: Inhibition of retinal IL-1β expression was performed using either siRNA or antibody neutralisation, which was intravitreally injected in SD rats prior to photo-oxidative damage.

A label-retaining but unipotent cell population resides in biliary compartment of mammalian liver.

Cells with slow proliferation kinetics that retain the nuclear label over long time periods-the label-retaining cells (LRCs)-represent multipotent stem cells in a number of adult tissues. Since the identity of liver LRCs (LLRCs) had remained elusive we utilized a genetic approach to reveal LLRCs in normal non-injured livers and characterized their regenerative properties in vivo and in culture. We found that LLRCs were located in biliary vessels and participated in the regeneration of biliary but not hepatocyte injury.

Contrasting effects of glutamine deprivation on apoptosis induced by conventionally used anticancer drugs.

Tumor cells dependence on glutamine offers a rationale for their elimination via targeting of glutamine metabolism. The aim of this work was to investigate how glutamine deprivation affects the cellular response to conventionally used anticancer drugs. To answer this question, neuroblastoma cells were pre-incubated in a glutamine-free medium and treated with cisplatin or etoposide.