Clinical and autofluorescence findings in eyes with pinguecula and pterygium

Purpose: To assess the autofluorescence size and properties of pterygium and pinguecula by anterior segment autofluorescence (AS-AF) imaging and demonstrate the difference of autofluorescence size presented in AS-AF imaging compared to the extend size of the conjunctival lesion measured by anterior segment slit-lamp photography (AS-SLE). Methods: Twenty-five patients with primary pterygium and twenty-five with pinguecula were included in the study. In addition, 25 normal subjects were also enrolled as the control group. The AS-AF characteristics of pterygium and pinguecula lesions were analyzed. The size of lesions displayed in the AS-SLE photography versus the AS-AF images were also compared. AS-AF images were obtained using a Heidelberg retina angiograph which focused on the anterior segment. AS-SLE photography was acquired using a digital imaging system (BX900 HAAG STREIT). Results: There were 44 (58.7%) male and 31 (41.3%) female patients; 19 (76%) and 20 (80%) patients had bilateral pterygium and pinguecula, respectively. All pinguecula lesions reflected hyperautofluorescence pattern in the AS-AF imaging. In 24 (96%) patients, the hyperautofluoresecence pattern was larger than the size of the clinical lesions displayed with the AS-SLE photography. Twenty-one (84%) patients with pterygium reflected a hyperautofluorescence pattern in AS-AF images; in one (4%) patient, the hyperautofluorescence pattern was larger than the clinical lesion size and four (16%) patients had no autofluorescence patterns in the AS-AF images. In the control group, in 14 (56%) subjects, a hypoautofluorescent pattern was revealed in the conjunctiva in AS-AF images. However, in 11 (44%) patients, hyperautofluorescence patterns were detected. Conclusion: AS-AF is a useful modality to monitor vascularization in conjunctival lesions. Pingueculae and pterygium show hyperautofluorescence in AS-AF imaging. The real size of the pinguecula lesions may be estimated with AS-AF characteristics, mostly presenting larger than the area size in AS-SLE photography. The autofluorescence size of the pterygium is smaller than the extent of visible pterygium in slit-lamp photography.

Application of near infrared fluorescence imaging in detection of residual cancer in oral squamous cell carcinoma / 中华肿瘤杂志

Objective: Local recurrence is the main cause of treatment failure in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). This study was proposed to investigate the feasibility of near infrared fluorescence (NIF) via indocyanine green (ICG) for monitoring surgical marginal in operation for OSCC patients. Methods: In 35 patients with OSCC treated surgically in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Nanjing University School of Medicine, from January 2019 to June 2020, ICG (0.75 mg/kg) was administered intravenously via elbow vein at (12±1) hours before surgery, and NIF was performed intraoperatively on the surgical field and the cut edge of the surgically excised specimen, and fluorescence intensity was measured for OSCC tissue and normal oral mucosa, abnormal fluorescence signals were taken and subjected to rapid cryopathological examination. Correlation between NIF tumor boundary grading and pathological tumor boundary grading was analyzed by Spearman correlation analysis. Results: Clear ICG NIF was obtained for tumor lesions in all 35 patients, with a positive rate of 100%. The fluorescence intensity of OSCC tissue was (412.73±146.56) au, which was higher than that of normal oral mucosa tissue [(279.38±82.56) au, P<0.01]. Abnormal fluorescence signals were detected at the tumor bed and the cut edge of the surgical resection specimen in 4 patients, of which 2 cases were pathologically confirmed as cancer cell residue and 2 cases as inflammatory cell infiltration. The rate of positive detection of cut margins using ICG NIF technique in OSCC was 5.7% (2/35). Twenty of the 35 OSCC patients had grade 1, 11 of grade 2, and 4 of grade 3 tumor borders revealed by NIF of surgical resection specimens, which was positively correlated with pathological tumor border (r=0.809, P<0.001). Conclusions: ICG NIF technique can effectively detect the residual cancer cells at the incision margin, which is of great clinical value in reducing local recurrence of OSCC after surgery due to intraoperative cancer residue.

An optical parameter imaging system with profile information fusion / 生物医学工程学杂志

There is a shared problem in current optical imaging technologies of how to obtain the optical parameters of biological tissues with complex profiles. In this work, an imaging system for obtaining the optical parameters of biological tissues with complex profile was presented. Firstly, Fourier transformation profilometry was used for obtaining the profile information of biological tissues, and then the difference of incident light intensity at different positions on biological tissue surface was corrected with the laws of illumination, and lastly the optical parameters of biological tissues were achieved with the spatial frequency domain imaging technique. Experimental results indicated the proposed imaging system could obtain the profile information and the optical parameters of biological tissues accurately and quickly. For the slab phantoms with height variation less than 30 mm and angle variation less than 40º, the maximum relative errors of the profile uncorrected optical parameters were 46.27% and 72.18%, while the maximum relative errors of the profile corrected optical parameters were 6.89% and 10.26%. Imaging experiments of a face-like phantom and a human's prefrontal lobe were performed respectively, which demonstrated the proposed imaging system possesses clinical application value for the achievement of the optical parameters of biological tissues with complex profiles. Besides, the proposed profile corrected method can be used to combine with the current optical imaging technologies to reduce the influence of the profile information of biological tissues on imaging quality.

Screening of the ubiquitin-proteasome system activators for anti-Alzheimer's disease by the high-content fluorescence imaging system / 中国天然药物

Ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) plays an important role in neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), and Huntington's disease (HD). The discovery of UPS activators for anti-neurodegenerative diseases is becoming increasingly important. In this study, we aimed to identify potential UPS activators using the high-throughput screening method with the high-content fluorescence imaging system and validate the neuroprotective effect in the cell models of AD. At first, stable YFP-CL1 HT22 cells were successfully constructed by transfecting the YFP-CL1 plasmid into HT22 cells, together with G418 screening. The degradation activity of the test compounds via UPS was monitored by detecting the YFP fluorescence intensity reflected by the ubiquitin-proteasome degradation signal CL1. By employing the high-content fluorescence imaging system, together with stable YFP-CL1 HT22 cells, the UPS activators were successfully screened from our established TCM library. The representative images were captured and analyzed, and quantification of the YFP fluorescence intensity was performed by flow cytometry. Then, the neuroprotective effect of the UPS activators was investigated in pEGFP-N1-APP (APP), pRK5-EGFP-Tau P301L (Tau P301L), or pRK5-EGFP-Tau (Tau) transiently transfected HT22 cells using fluorescence imaging, flow cytometry, and Western blot. In conclusion, our study established a high-content fluorescence imaging system coupled with stable YFP-CL1 HT22 cells for the high-throughput screening of the UPS activators. Three compounds, namely salvianolic acid A (SAA), salvianolic acid B (SAB), and ellagic acid (EA), were identified to significantly decrease YFP fluorescence intensity, which suggested that these three compounds are UPS activators. The identified UPS activators were demonstrated to clear AD-related proteins, including APP, Tau, and Tau P301L. Therefore, these findings provide a novel insight into the discovery and development of anti-AD drugs.

Integrated optical density analysis of the immunohistochemical expression of the progesterone receptor in the uterine endometrium of prepubertal araucana sheep / Análisis por densidad óptica integrada de la expresión inmunohistoquímica del receptor de progesterona en el endometrio uterino de ovejas prepúberes de raza araucana

SUMMARY: Progesterone receptors are expressed in the reproductive organs of adult sheep, where they regulate morphofunctional and reproductive development. However, various studies have shown the presence of these receptors in the uterus of prepubertal females. It is not clear what role these receptors have at this level of development in uterine tissue. Therefore, it is relevant as a first step in the investigation, to determine the expression and histological distribution of the progesterone receptor in prepubertal sheep in order to determine possible functions at this level of reproductive development. Immunohistochemical analysis allows visualizing the specific presence of a protein in the cellular and histological context, however, the results displayed through digital images are qualitative data and subject to the observer's criteria. In this work, a quantitative analysis method of immunohistochemical expression of the progesterone receptor in ovine endometrium is presented, using digital analysis of images, by means of integrated optical density of digital photographs of histological sections processed with immunohistochemical methods. The results show the possibility of quantitatively evaluating the expression of progesterone receptors in the endometrial stroma and prepubertal endometrial glands by applying the integrated optical density analysis of digital images.

RESUMEN: Los receptores de progesterona se expresan en los órganos reproductores de ovejas adultas, donde regulan el desarrollo morfofuncional y reproductivo. Sin embargo, diversos estudios han demostrado la presencia de estos receptores en útero de hembras prepúberes. No está claro, el papel que estos receptores tienen en este nivel de desarrollo en tejido uterino. Por lo que, es relevante como primer paso en la investigación, determinar la expresión y distribución histológica del receptor de progesterona en ovejas prepúberes con el fin determinar posibles funciones en este nivel de desarrollo reproductivo. El análisis inmuno- histoquímico permite visualizar la presencia específica de una proteína en el contexto celular e histológico, sin embargo, los resultados visualizados a través de imágenes digitales, son datos cualitativos y sujeto al criterio del observador. En este trabajo se presenta un método de análisis cuantitativo de expresión inmunohistoquímica del receptor de progesterona en endometrio ovino, utilizando análisis digital de imágenes, mediante densidad óptica integrada de fotografías digitales de cortes histológicos procesados con métodos inmunohistoquímicos. Los resultados muestran la posibilidad de evaluar cuantitativamente la expresión de los receptores de progesterona en el estroma endometrial y las glándulas endometriales prepúberes aplicando el análisis de densidad óptica integrado de imágenes digitales.

Punctate inner choroidopathy with atypical presentation / Coroidopatia interna ponteada de apresentação atípica

ABSTRACT We report a case of a young Caucasian female presenting with sudden decrease of vision in the left eye, metamorphopsia, and nasal scotoma. Past medical history revealed a diagnosis of myasthenia gravis, which was currently treated with azathioprine, pyridostigmine, and prednisone. Ophthalmological examination showed fundus with clear vitreous and yellow-white lesions that were isolated and perimacular in the right eye, multiple and confluent in the macula, and punctate in periphery in the left eye. Laboratory workup ruled out the presence of infectious and inflammatory diseases. Fundus autofluorescence disclosed hypoautoflurescence with hyperfluorescent margins corresponding to the lesions observed in both eyes and the angiogram revealed hyperfluorescence since early phases without late leakage. Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography showed areas of intermittent retinal pigment epithelium elevations and disruption of the ellipsoid zone. She was diagnosed with punctate inner choroidopathy and then treated with an increased dose of daily prednisone, which resulted in progressive improvement of her visual acuity and anatomical status.(AU)

RESUMO Relato de caso de mulher jovem, caucasiana, com súbita diminuição de acuidade visual de olho esquerdo, metamorfopsia e escotoma nasal. Apresentava diagnóstico de Miastenia gravis, em tratamento com Azatioprina, Piridostigmina e Prednisona. Fundo de olho demonstrava vítreo límpido e lesões amarelo-esbranquiçadas, perimaculares e isoladas em olho direito, múltiplas e confluentes em mácula e pontilhadas em periferia no olho esquerdo. Exames laboratoriais descartaram doenças infecciosas e inflamatórias. Auto-fluorescência revelou lesões hipoautofluorescentes com margens hiperfluorescentes correspondentes às observadas em ambos os olhos, enquanto angiofluoresceinografia mostrou hiperfluorescência desde as fases iniciais sem vazamento tardio. Tomografia de coerência óptica de domínio espectral revelou áreas de elevações intermitentes do epitélio pigmentar da retina e interrupção da zona elipsóide correspondente. Definiu-se como diagnóstico a coroidopatia interna ponteada, sendo instituído aumento na dose diária de Prednisona, com melhoria progressiva da acuidade visual e do aspecto de fundo de olho da paciente.(AU)

Cirurgia robótica guiada por fluorescência com indocianina verde: aplicações, dicas e truques / Indocyanine green fluorescence imaging in robotic surgery: state of art, tips and tricks in current applications

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Fluorescent imaging with indocyanine green is an emerging technology whose benefits are put in perspective. OBJECTIVE: This article reports essential principles and approaches of intraoperative fluorescence in general surgery bringing familiarity to its practical usage. Our group describes possible pitfalls and provides tips and tricks for training surgeons making their attempts easier and reproducible during practice. METHODS: This study overviews the most structured concepts, practical applications and its tricks in robotic fluorescence guided imaging surgery with indocyanine green. Possible pitfalls are emphasized and emerging fields of application are put in a perspective. RESULTS: Guided information and practical applications in several surgical fields are described for a safe and reproducible indocyanine green fluorescence imaging use. CONCLUSION: Robotic assisted surgery combined to fluorescence imaging technology represents a logical evolution in image guided surgery and technology familiarity with guided information may represent a wider and safer spectrum of use in surgeons' hands.

RESUMO CONTEXTO: A imagem fluorescente com verde de indocianina (VI) é uma técnica cirúrgica emergente na cirurgia robótica. OBJETIVO: Este artigo relata princípios e abordagens essenciais da fluorescência intraoperatória para sua prática em cirurgia geral. Nosso grupo descreve possíveis armadilhas e apresenta dicas e truques para treinar cirurgiões, tornando o uso do VI reprodutível. MÉTODOS: Este estudo apresenta uma visão geral dos conceitos e aplicações práticas da imagem guiada por fluorescência com VI na cirurgia robótica. As possíveis armadilhas são enfatizadas e os campos de aplicação emergentes são colocados em perspectiva. RESULTADOS: Aplicações práticas em vários campos cirúrgicos são descritas para um uso seguro e reprodutível de imagens de fluorescência com VI. CONCLUSÃO: A cirurgia assistida por robótica combinada à tecnologia de imagem de fluorescência representa uma evolução lógica na cirurgia guiada por imagem e a familiaridade desta técnica pode representar um ganho da qualidade cirúrgica.

Oral ID® as an adjunctive tool for surgical margin assessment in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma: a comparative study / Oral ID® como uma ferramenta adjuvante para avaliação da margem cirúrgica em pacientes com carcinoma oral de células escamosas: um estudo comparativo

Objective: The condition of the resected margin in oral squamous cell carcinoma continues to be an important prognostic factor; the use of optic technology could help surgeons in determining the margin status at real time. This study aims to evaluate Oral ID, a hand held device that uses the principal of auto-fluorescence to determine surgical safe margins in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma, and to compare the results with those of the conventional 1 cm margin method. Material and Methods: This study was a descriptive, comparative analytical study carried out at Khartoum Dental Teaching Hospital and Oral Histopathology Diagnostic Laboratory, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Khartoum. A total of 92 margins obtained from 31 patients, 46 margins were taken by Oral ID and the other 46 were taken by the traditional 1cm method. All margins were examined histologically with conventional Hematoxylin and Eosin stain. Results: It was found that all tumors showed fluorescence loss; A significant association was found between the use of Oral ID and obtaining a free margin P (0.02) the sensitivity of Oral ID was found to be 74% the specificity was found to be 89%. Ten out of the 46 margins obtained by fluorescence showed mild dysplasia and two margins showed high grade dysplasia. The 46 margins obtained by the traditional 1cm margin showed different field alterations two were involved, one was close, five showed high grade dysplasia and 14 showed mild dysplasia yielding a specificity of 52.2%. Conclusion: Using Oral ID for surgical margin assessment increases the accuracy to 74% compared to the conventional method which was found to be 52.2%. The results of the device are comparable to other auto-fluorescence devices of different trademarks. Further development of the device to help overcome its limitations is strongly advised (AU)

Objetivo: A condição da margem ressecada no carcinoma oral de células escamosas continua sendo um importante fator prognóstico; o uso de tecnologia óptica pode ajudar cirurgiões a determinar o status da margem em tempo real. O objetivo deste estudo é avaliar o Oral ID, um aparelho portátil que utiliza o princípio da autofluorescência para determinar margens de segurança cirúrgicas em pacientes com carcinoma oral de células escamosas, e comparar os resultados com o método convencional de margem de 1 cm. Material e Métodos: Este estudo foi um estudo descritivo, analítico e comparativo realizado no Khartoum Dental Teaching Hospital e no Laboratório de Diagnóstico de Histopatologia Oral da Faculdade de Odontologia, Universidade de Khartoum. Um total de 92 margens foram obtidas de 31 pacientes, 46 margens foram obtidas por Oral ID e as outras 46 foram obtidas pelo método tradicional de 1 cm. Todas as margens foram examinadas histologicamente com coloração convencional de Hematoxilina e Eosina. Resultados: Verificou-se que todos os tumores apresentaram perda de fluorescência; uma associação significativa foi encontrada entre o uso de Oral ID e a obtenção de uma margem livre P (0,02), a sensibilidade de Oral ID foi de 74% e a especificidade de 89%. Dez das 46 margens obtidas por fluorescência mostraram displasia leve e duas margens mostraram displasia de alto grau. As 46 margens obtidas pela margem tradicional de 1cm apresentaram diferentes alterações de campo, duas estavam envolvidas, uma estava próxima, cinco apresentaram displasia de alto grau e 14 apresentaram displasia leve com especificidade de 52,2%. Conclusão: O uso de Oral ID para avaliação da margem cirúrgica aumenta a acurácia para 74% em comparação com o método convencional, que foi encontrado em 52,2%. Os resultados do dispositivo são comparáveis a outros dispositivos de autofluorescência de diferentes marcas comerciais. O desenvolvimento do dispositivo para ajudar a superar suas limitações é fortemente recomendado. (AU)

Application of organic fluorescent probe-assisted near infrared fluorescence imaging in cervical cancer diagnosis / 生物工程学报

Fluorescence imaging has been widely used in the fields of biomedicine and clinical diagnosis. Compared with traditional fluorescence imaging in the visible spectral region (400-760 nm), near-infrared (NIR, 700-1 700 nm) fluorescence imaging is more helpful to improve the signal-to-noise ratio and the sensitivity of imaging. Highly-sensitive fluorescent probes are required for high-quality fluorescence imaging, and the rapid development of nanotechnology has led to the emergence of organic dyes with excellent fluorescent properties. Among them, organic fluorescent probes with the advantages of high safety, good biocompatibility, and high optical stability, are more favorable than inorganic fluorescent probes. Therefore, NIR fluorescence imaging assisted with organic fluorescent probes can provide more structural and dynamic information of biological samples to the researchers, which becomes a hot spot in the interdisciplinary research field of optics, chemistry and biomedicine. This review summarizes the application of NIR organic fluorescent probes in cervical cancer imaging. Several typical organic fluorescent probes (such as indocyanine green, heptamethine cyanine dye, rhodamine and polymer fluorescent nanoparticles) assisted NIR fluorescence imaging and their applications in cervical cancer diagnosis were introduced, and the future development and application of these techniques were discussed.

Progress in application of near-infrared fluorescence imaging in the diagnosis and treatment of oral cancer / 中南大学学报(医学版)

The preliminary screening of oral cancer mostly depends on the experience of clinicians, The surgical margin of tumor is mostly based on physical examination and preoperative imaging examination. It lacks real-time and objective intraoperative evaluation methods. Indocyanine green (ICG), as a safe and pollution-free organic fluorescent pigments, combined with near-infrared fluorescence imaging can be applied in the screening of early oral cancer, the determination of tumor resection margins, sentinel lymph node biopsy, cervical lymph node dissection, targeted chemotherapy, and other aspects. Near-infrared fluorescence imaging may become a key link in the early diagnosis and accurate treatment for oral cancer in the future.

Drusas papilares asociadas a pérdida de campo visual / Optic disc drusen associated to visual field loss

Paciente de 14 años remitida para valorar fondo de ojo por cefalea. Presenta agudeza visual de 8/10 en ambos ojos y en fundoscopia se visualizan papilas de contornos escasamente definidos. Se solicita Autofluorescencia identificando lesiones autofluorescentes compatibles con drusas (Figura 1A,B). La OCT de fibras revela afectación sectorial bilateral sin papiledema (Figura 1C,D) y el campo visual mostró una afectación del hemicampo nasal bilateral (Figura 1E,F). Las drusas en el nervio óptico representan habitualmente un hallazgo casual. Pueden progresar paulatinamente generando gran deterioro campimétrico. No existe un tratamiento eficaz. Solo en casos donde aparezca neovascularización asociada, puede estar indicado el tratamiento con fármacos antiangiogénicos.

Evaluation of fundus autofluorescence maging of diabetic patients without retinopathy / Avaliação do exame de imagem de autofluorescência do fundo do olho em pacientes diabéticos sem retinopatia

ABSTRACT Purpose: To evaluate the usefulness of fundus autofluorescence imaging of diabetic patients without retinopathy to investigate early retinal damage. Methods: Fundus autofluorescence images of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus without retinopathy (diabetic group) and age-sex matched healthy patients (control group) were recorded with a CX-1 digital mydriatic retinal camera after detailed ophthalmologic examinations. MATLAB 2013a software was used to measure the average pixel intensity and average curve width of the macula and fovea. Results: Fifty-six eyes of 28 patients, as the diabetic group, and 54 eyes of 27 healthy patients, as the control group, were included in this study. The mean aggregation index was 168.32 ± 37.18 grayscale units (gsu) in the diabetic group and 152.27 ± 30.39 gsu in the control group (p=0.014). The mean average pixel intensity value of the fovea was 150.87 ± 35.83 gsu the in diabetic group and as 141.51 ± 31.10 gsu in the control group (p=0.060). The average curve width value was statistically higher in the diabetic group than in the control group (71.7 ± 9.2 vs. 59.4 ± 8.6 gsu, respectively, p=0.03). Conclusion: Fundus autofluorescence imaging analysis revealed that diabetic patients without retinopathy have significant fluorescence alterations. Therefore, a noninvasive imaging technique, such as fundus autofluorescence, may be valuable for evaluation of the retina of diabetic patients without retinopathy.

RESUMO Objetivo: Avaliar a utilidade da autofluorescência do fundo de olho de pacientes diabéticos sem retinopatia para investigar lesões precoces na retina. Métodos: Imagens de autofluorescência do fundo de olho de pacientes com diabetes mellitus do tipo 2 sem retinopatia (grupo diabético) e indivíduos saudáveis pareados por idade e sexo (grupo controle) foram registrados com uma câmera retiniana digital midriática CX-1 após exames oftalmológicos detalhados. O software MATLAB 2013a foi usado para medir a intensidade média do pixel e a largura média da curva da mácula e fóvea. Resultados: Cinquenta e seis olhos de 28 pacientes, como o grupo diabético, e 54 olhos de 27 indivíduos saudáveis, como grupo controle, foram incluídos neste estudo. O índice médio de agregação foi de 168,32 ± 37,18 unidades de escala de cinza (gsu) no grupo diabético e em 152,27 ± 30,39 gsu no grupo controle (p = 0,014). O valor médio da intensidade de pixel na fóvea foi de 150,87 ± 35,83 gsu no grupo diabético e de 141,51 ± 31,10 gsu no grupo controle (p=0,060). O valor médio da largura da curva foi estatisticamente maior no grupo diabético do que no grupo controle (71,7 ± 9,2 vs. 59,4 ± 8,6 gsu, respectivamente; p = 0,03). Conclusão: A análise por imagens de autofluorescência de fundo de olho revelou que pacientes diabéticos sem retinopatia apresentam alterações significativas de fluorescência. Portanto, uma técnica de imagem não invasiva, como a autofluorescência de fundo de olho, pode ser valiosa para a avaliação da retina de pacientes diabéticos sem retinopatia.

Classification of fundus autofluorescence abnormal patterns in diabetic macular edema

Introduction: Patients with diabetic macular edema can develop fundus autofluorescence alterations; thus far, these alterations have been more widely studied with scanning or confocal laser systems. Objective: To describe and classify fundus autofluorescence abnormal patterns in patients with diabetic macular edema using the fundus autofluorescence system with a flash camera. Method: Observational, retrospective, cross-sectional, descriptive study. Fundus autofluorescence digital images of non-comparative cases with untreated diabetic macular edema, obtained and stored with a flash camera system, were assessed. Inter-observer variability was evaluated. Results: 37 eyes of 20 patients were included. Lens opacity was the most common cause of inadequate image quality. Five different fundus autofluorescence patterns were observed: decreased (13%), normal (40%), single-spot hyper-autofluorescent (17 %), multiple-spot hyper-autofluorescent (22 %) and plaque-like hyper-autofluorescent (8 %). The kappa coefficient was 0.906 (p = 0.000). Conclusions: Different fundus autofluorescence phenotypic patterns are observed with flash camera systems in patients with diabetic macular edema. A more accurate phenotypic classification could help establish prognostic factors for visual loss or for the design of clinical trials for diabetic macular edema.

Autofluorescência em um caso de distrofia macular anular concêntrica benigna / Fundus autofluorescence in a case of benign concentric annular macular dystrophy

Resumo A distrofia macular anular concêntrica benigna (DMACB) é uma patologia retiniana rara e provavelmente subdiagnosticada em nosso meio, que se caracteriza por um defeito retiniano em bull's eye sem uso prévio de antimaláricos, associado à preservação relativa da acuidade visual. Devido à escassez de publicações sobre o tema, existem poucos dados referentes aos resultados dos exames complementares nesta patologia. No presente artigo, apresenta-se a descrição da autofluorescência em um caso clássico de DMACB, ainda inédita na literatura, podendo acrescentar achados importantes para auxiliar no diagnóstico e seguimento da doença.

Abstract The benign concentric annular macular dystrophy (BCAMD) is a very rare and probably underdiagnosed eye disease, characterized by a retinal fault in bull's eye pattern, without the association with antimalarial use, but related with good visual acuity. Since there aren't many publications about this condition, is hard to find data regarding the results of complementary examination. In this article, is presented the description of fundus autofluorescence in a classic BCAMD case, yet unpublished, and capable of helping the diagnosis and follow-up of this pathology.

Mucosal vitiligo in angles of the mouth: clinical and fluorescence aspects

SUMMARY Vitiligo is the most common depigmenting, chronic acquired disease of the skin and mucosa. However, vitiligo of an unclassified type and mucosal subtype affecting only one area of the mucosa is considered quite uncommon. The diagnosis of vitiligo, regardless of its type, is clinical. Nonetheless, a device that allows the visualization of the tissue fluorescence may be useful for confirming the diagnosis. We present the use of wide-field optical fluorescence device for complementary examination and diagnosis of unusual cases of mucosal vitiligo located only in angles of the mouth.

RESUMO O vitiligo é a doença crônica adquirida despigmentante mais comum da pele e/ou da mucosa. Entretanto, o vitiligo do tipo não classificado e subtipo de mucosa afetando apenas uma área da mucosa é considerado bastante incomum. O diagnóstico de vitiligo, independentemente do seu tipo, é clínico. No entanto, o uso de um dispositivo que permite a visualização da fluorescência tecidual pode ser útil para a confirmação do diagnóstico de vitiligo. Apresentamos o uso do dispositivo de exame complementar de fluorescência óptica de campo amplo para o diagnóstico de um caso incomum de vitiligo de mucosa localizado apenas em ângulos da boca.

Quantitative image of fluorescence of ceramic and resin-cement veneers

Abstract The main of the study was quantify the effect of two ceramics with two underlying resin cements on apparent fluorescence levels. Buccal surfaces of two bovine incisors were ground flat producing one enamel and one dentin substrate. The veneers were fabricated (0.5 and 1.0 mm thickness) using two ceramics (IPSe.max Press and IPSe.max Zirpress, Ivoclar Vivadent). Veneers were cemented using either light-cured (Variolink II, Ivoclar Vivadent) or self-adhesive dual (Rely X U200, 3M ESPE) cement. The layered Control group materials had no cement application. Semi-quantitative fluorescence image analysis (Matlabs software, Matworks) involved processing the images as captured under each daylight (DL, Gretagmacbeth) and ultraviolet illuminants (UVA, Sylvania) within a neutral-gray lightbox (Macbeth Spectral Light). Statistical analysis of the quantitative fluorescence values was performed using two-way ANOVA and Tukey's test (p < 0.05). The e.max Zirpress on the dentin substrate produced greater fluorescence (p < 0.05) when subjected to UV illumination and more fluorescence (p < 0.05) than e.max Press in both cement groups. Light-cured cement produced higher (p < 0.05) fluorescence than the dual-cement with e.max Press on enamel under UV illumination. The fluorescence for e.max Press on the dentin substrate was greater (p < 0.05) than for e.max Zirpress using dual self-adhesive cement subjected to daylight illumination. Thus, it is possible to conclude that the combination of ceramic and cement produce definite, significant effects on the apparent fluorescence, vital quality for restorative dentistry.

Unique Red Blood Cell Morphology Detected in a Patient with Myelodysplastic Syndrome by Three-dimensional Refractive Index Tomography

The three-dimensional (3-D) shape of erythrocytes is strongly associated with various diseases. However, conventional optical imaging approaches with Wright's staining only provide information on two-dimensional morphology. Here, we employed optical diffraction tomography (ODT), a label-free 3-D quantitative phase imaging technique, and observed uniquely shaped red blood cells (RBCs) in the peripheral blood of a patient diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndrome. Peripheral blood samples were collected when the patient visited our hospital for his two out-patient follow-ups in May 2018. The 3-D tomograms of randomly chosen RBCs were reconstructed using a commercial ODT setup. From the reconstructed 3-D RBCs, 37.5% and 32.8% of RBCs demonstrated cup-like shapes at the first and the second out-patient follow-up, respectively. Even though this is a single case report, the finding is novel and can be a potential dyserythropoietic feature found in peripheral blood.

Targeted Near-Infrared Fluorescence Imaging for Regenerative Medicine

BACKGROUND: Advances in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine over the last three decades have made great progress in the development of diagnostic and therapeutic methodologies for damaged tissues. However, regenerative medicine is still not the first line of treatment for patients due to limited understanding of the tissue regeneration process. Therefore, it is prerequisite to develop molecular imaging strategies combined with appropriate contrast agents to validate the therapeutic progress of damaged tissues. METHODS: The goal of this review is to discuss the progress in the development of near-infrared (NIR) contrast agents and their biomedical applications for labeling cells and scaffolds, as well as monitoring the treatment progress of native tissue in living organisms. We also discuss the design consideration of NIR contrast agents for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine in terms of their physicochemical and optical properties. RESULTS: The use of NIR imaging system and targeted contrast agents can provide high-resolution and high sensitivity imaging to track/monitor the in vivo fate of administered cells, the degradation rate of implanted scaffolds, and the tissue growth and integration of surrounding cells during the therapeutic period. CONCLUSION: NIR fluorescence imaging techniques combined with targeted contrast agents can play a significant role in regenerative medicine by monitoring the therapeutic efficacy of implanted cells and scaffolds which would enhance the development of cell therapies and promote their successful clinical translations.