Background/Objectives: Burns are a prevalent health concern that manifest on the skin’s surface or within organs due to various traumas and necessitate prompt intervention. The healing process of the skin involves a sequence of time-dependent events, commencing with the activation of growth factors and culminating in the expression of various genes. To expedite the healing process of burn wounds, there is a need to develop biodegradable materials and new technologies that are compatible with the skin. Methods: In this study, the roles of tilapia (TL, Oreochromis niloticus) fish skin in burn wound treatment processes were investigated. TL or TL-alginate hydrogels (AGTL) were applied to a burn wound created in Sprague Dawley rats for 7 and 14 days. Following the administration of treatment, the levels of hydroxyproline, a critical element in tissue reorganization, along with the gene expression levels of COL1A1, COL3A1, MMP-2, and MMP-9, and the protein expression levels of MMP-2 and MMP-9 were evaluated. Results: Wound closure processes were faster in AGTL-groups compared to TL-groups, and hydroxyproline levels were found to be higher. While the increase in MMP-2 levels was less, the increase in MMP-9 gene and protein levels was greater in the AGTL-group. Concurrently, COL1A1 levels decreased over 14 days, while COL3A1 levels increased in the AGTL-group. Conclusions: Consequently, it was determined that the biological substances in the TL structure, in conjunction with alginate, were effective in the healing and reorganization of the wound tissue. This finding suggests that tilapia may provide a valuable source of insights for future studies aimed at developing effective wound dressings for wound tissues.

Objective: The goal of this study was to investigate the efficacy and underlying mechanisms of combined treatment with pemetrexed and mitomycin-C for metastatic bladder cancer. Pemetrexed reduces cancer cell proliferation by impairing DNA and RNA biosynthesis, whereas mitomycin-C induces cytotoxicity through disruption of DNA. Materials and Methods: The cytotoxic effects of the pemetrexed–mitomycin-C combination was evaluated in human bladder cancer cells (UM-UC-3) via Annexin V/PI-based flow cytometric analysis, followed by evaluation of DNMT1 mRNA and protein levels. Statistical analyses were performed using independent t-tests. Results: The combined treatment significantly induced apoptosis in bladder cancer cells at low concentrations, demonstrating a pronounced synergistic effect. Moreover, the combination markedly suppressed DNMT1 mRNA expression and protein levels, indicating inhibition of aberrant DNA methylation mechanisms associated with cancer progression. Conclusion: These results indicate that co-treatment with pemetrexed and mitomycin-C holds therapeutic potential in metastatic bladder cancer and may inform future efforts to design DNMT1-targeted inhibitory strategies.

Chlorpyrifos (CPF) exposure has been demonstrated to induce permanent damage to the nervous system, attributable to its toxic effect on the neuronal system and its inhibitory effect on acetylcholine esterase (AChE). Quercetin, a flavonoid found in numerous plant sources, has been shown to cross the blood-brain barrier and possesses the capacity to repair cellular damage. The present study sought to investigate the neurotoxicity that developed due to CPF exposure in SH-SY5Y cells and the changes in cellular functions such as DNA damage, apoptosis, and autophagy. It was observed that CPF increased DNA damage and induced apoptosis and autophagy in SH-SY5Y cells, while quercetin reversed this effect at low doses. The study determined that the lipophilic structure of quercetin, in addition to its capacity to block AChE activity at high doses by affecting membrane stability, hindered its ability to reverse cellular damage and counteract CPF neurotoxicity. The findings revealed that the combination of low doses of CPF and quercetin led to the suppression of DNA tail, caspase-3, and LC3B gene expression in cells, accompanied by an enhancement in cell viability. Consequently, the quantity of quercetin present in nutrients and the dosages to be ingested as supplements are pivotal for the restoration of cellular functions in reducing the damage that develops in the neuronal system due to CPF exposure.