Quadruple ultrasound, photoacoustic, optical coherence, and fluorescence fusion imaging with a transparent ultrasound transducer.

Ultrasound and optical imagers are used widely in a variety of biological and medical applications. In particular, multimodal implementations combining light and sound have been actively investigated to improve imaging quality. However, the integration of optical sensors with opaque ultrasound transducers suffers from low signal-to-noise ratios, high complexity, and bulky form factors, significantly limiting its applications. Here, we demonstrate a quadruple fusion imaging system using a spherically focused transparent ultrasound transducer that enables seamless integration of ultrasound imaging with photoacoustic imaging, optical coherence tomography, and fluorescence imaging. As a first application, we comprehensively monitored multiparametric responses to chemical and suture injuries in rats' eyes in vivo, such as corneal neovascularization, structural changes, cataracts, and inflammation. As a second application, we successfully performed multimodal imaging of tumors in vivo, visualizing melanomas without using labels and visualizing 4T1 mammary carcinomas using PEGylated gold nanorods. We strongly believe that the seamlessly integrated multimodal system can be used not only in ophthalmology and oncology but also in other healthcare applications with broad impact and interest.

Simplified Classification of Tear Film Break-Up Patterns and Their Clinicopathological Correlations in Patients With Dry Eye Disease.

PURPOSE: To analyze the pathophysiological differences between patients with dry eye disease (DED) having different tear film break-up patterns (TBUPs). METHODS: This investigative analysis involved 91 eyes of 91 patients with DED who were divided into two groups: those with "dot" break-up pattern (group I) and those with "random" break-up pattern (group II). Clinical severity was evaluated using the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI), Oxford stain score system (OSS) score, and tear film break-up time (TF-BUT). Eighteen patients in group I and 17 patients in group II were selected for sampling of tears and the conjunctiva, and the concentrations of inflammatory cytokines and mucin in the tears and conjunctival tissue were measured. RESULTS: Thirty-seven patients were classified as group I and 54 patients as group II. Patients in group I had a statistically lower TF-BUT and a higher OSS score than those in group II, whereas the OSDI was not statistically different between the groups. The concentrations of interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-8 were statistically higher in group I than those in group II. Impression cytology showed that the expression of IL-1ß and IL-8 was higher in group I, whereas that of other genes was not statistically different. CONCLUSIONS: We were able to clearly classify patients with DED with different TBUPs into two groups, and each group had different clinical and pathophysiological characteristics. In patients with the dot break-up pattern, the disease was strongly associated with ocular surface inflammation, as opposed to that in patients without this pattern.

A macrolactonization approach to the total synthesis of the antimicrobial cyclic depsipeptide LI-F04a and diastereoisomeric analogues.

The cyclic peptide core of the antifungal and antibiotic cyclic depsipeptide LI-F04a was synthesised by using a modified Yamaguchi macrolactonization approach. Alternative methods of macrolactonization (e.g., Corey-Nicolaou) resulted in significant epimerization of the C-terminal amino acid during the cyclization reaction. The D-stereochemistry of the alanine residue in the naturally occurring cyclic peptide may be required for the antifungal activity of this natural product.

Comparison of the Thickness and Volume of the Macula and Fovea in Patients with Anisometropic Amblyopia Prior to and after Occlusion Therapy.

PURPOSE: To compare the thickness of superior, temporal, inferior, and nasal macula and foveal thickness and volume in patients with anisometropic amblyopia prior to and after successful occlusion therapy using optical coherence tomography (OCT) measurement. METHODS: Data were collected prospectively on 30 patients with unilateral anisometropic amblyopia from December 2006 to August 2007. All patients had anisometropia of 2.0 diopters or more. OCT scans were obtained for all patients at diagnosis. Occlusion therapy was then prescribed and OCT scans were obtained again at the time of successful occlusion therapy (defined as interocular difference of <0.1 log units). The Stratus OCT-3 was used to measure fovea thickness and volume and the thickness of superior, temporal, inferior, and nasal macula (within a diameter of 3 mm). RESULTS: Of 30 patients, 22 (mean age of 5.8 years) had successful resolution of amblyopia. The mean duration of occlusion was 11.24 months and mean best-corrected visual acuity at diagnosis was 0.35 ± 0.12 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution. The mean thicknesses of the superior, temporal, inferior, and nasal macula prior to and after occlusion were not significantly different (p > 0.05). However, mean foveal volume prior to occlusion therapy (0.15 ± 0.02 mm³) decreased after occlusion (0.14 ± 0.01 mm³) with statistical significance (Wilcoxon signed rank test, p = 0.025). CONCLUSIONS: There was a meaningful decrease in foveal volume in patients with anisometropic amblyopia after successful occlusion therapy. Whether this decrease relates to visual improvement of the amblyopic eye remains to be determined.

Mixed germ cell tumor in intra-abdominal testis associated with ipsilateral ectopic dysplastic kidney.

Testicular tumor of the cryptorchid testis associated with renal dysplasia is relatively infrequent and indicates maldevelopment during embryogenesis. We report a case of a 31-year-old man with a mixed germ cell tumor found in an intra-abdominal testis associated with an ipsilateral ectopic dysplastic kidney. He underwent orchiectomy with partial cystectomy. Simple nephrectomy was also performed. No evidence of disease recurrence was found at 16 months of follow-up.