Analysis of polarization features of human breast cancer tissue by Mueller matrix visualization.

Significance: Breast cancer ranks second in the world in terms of the number of women diagnosed. Effective methods for its early-stage detection are critical for facilitating timely intervention and lowering the mortality rate. Aim: Polarimetry provides much useful information on the structural properties of breast cancer tissue samples and is a valuable diagnostic tool. The present study classifies human breast tissue samples as healthy or cancerous utilizing a surface-illuminated backscatter polarization imaging technique. Approach: The viability of the proposed approach is demonstrated using 95 breast tissue samples, including 35 healthy samples, 20 benign cancer samples, 20 grade-2 malignant samples, and 20 grade-3 malignant samples. Results: The observation results reveal that element m23 in the Mueller matrix of the healthy samples has a deeper color and greater intensity than that in the breast cancer samples. Conversely, element m32 shows a lighter color and reduced intensity. Finally, element m44 has a darker color in the healthy samples than in the cancer samples. The analysis of variance test results and frequency distribution histograms confirm that elements m23, m32, and m44 provide an effective means of detecting and classifying human breast tissue samples. Conclusions: Overall, the results indicate that surface-illuminated backscatter polarization imaging has significant potential as an assistive tool for breast cancer diagnosis and classification.

Polarimetric imaging combining optical parameters for classification of mice non-melanoma skin cancer tissue using machine learning.

Polarimetric imaging systems combining machine learning is emerging as a promising tool for the support of diagnosis and intervention decision-making processes in cancer detection/staging. A present study proposes a novel method based on Mueller matrix imaging combining optical parameters and machine learning models for classifying the progression of skin cancer based on the identification of three different types of mice skin tissues: healthy, papilloma, and squamous cell carcinoma. Three different machine learning algorithms (K-Nearest Neighbors, Decision Tree, and Support Vector Machine (SVM)) are used to construct a classification model using a dataset consisting of Mueller matrix images and optical properties extracted from the tissue samples. The experimental results show that the SVM model is robust to discriminate among three classes in the training stage and achieves an accuracy of 94 % on the testing dataset. Overall, it is provided that polarimetric imaging systems and machine learning algorithms can dynamically combine for the reliable diagnosis of skin cancer.

Combined Mueller matrix imaging and artificial intelligence classification framework for Hepatitis B detection.

Significance: The combination of polarized imaging with artificial intelligence (AI) technology has provided a powerful tool for performing an objective and precise diagnosis in medicine. Aim: An approach is proposed for the detection of hepatitis B (HB) virus using a combined Mueller matrix imaging technique and deep learning method. Approach: In the proposed approach, Mueller matrix imaging polarimetry is applied to obtain 4 × 4 Mueller matrix images of 138 HBsAg-containing (positive) serum samples and 136 HBsAg-free (negative) serum samples. The kernel estimation density results show that, of the 16 Mueller matrix elements, elements M 22 and M 33 provide the best discriminatory power between the positive and negative samples. Results: As a result, M 22 and M 33 are taken as the inputs to five different deep learning models: Xception, VGG16, VGG19, ResNet 50, and ResNet150. It is shown that the optimal classification accuracy (94.5%) is obtained using the VGG19 model with element M 22 as the input. Conclusions: Overall, the results confirm that the proposed hybrid Mueller matrix imaging and AI framework provides a simple and effective approach for HB virus detection.

Single-Layer-Graphene-Coated and Gold-Film-Based Surface Plasmon Resonance Prism Coupler Sensor for Immunoglobulin G Detection.

A graphene-based surface plasmon resonance (SPR) prism coupler sensor is proposed for the rapid detection of immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies. The feasibility of the proposed sensor is demonstrated by measuring the IgG concentration in phantom mouse and human serum solutions over the range of 0-250 ng/mL. The results show that the circular dichroism and principal fast axis angle of linear birefringence increase in line with increases in IgG concentration over the considered range. Moreover, the proposed device has a resolution of 5-10 ng/mL and a response time of less than three minutes. In general, the sensor provides a promising approach for IgG detection and has significant potential for rapid infectious viral disease testing applications.

Characterization of Mueller matrix elements for classifying human skin cancer utilizing random forest algorithm.

SIGNIFICANCE: The Mueller matrix decomposition method is widely used for the analysis of biological samples. However, its presumed sequential appearance of the basic optical effects (e.g., dichroism, retardance, and depolarization) limits its accuracy and application. AIM: An approach is proposed for detecting and classifying human melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer lesions based on the characteristics of the Mueller matrix elements and a random forest (RF) algorithm. APPROACH: In the proposal technique, 669 data points corresponding to the 16 elements of the Mueller matrices obtained from 32 tissue samples with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), basal cell carcinoma (BCC), melanoma, and normal features are input into an RF classifier as predictors. RESULTS: The results show that the proposed model yields an average precision of 93%. Furthermore, the classification results show that for biological tissues, the circular polarization properties (i.e., elements m44, m34, m24, and m14 of the Mueller matrix) dominate the linear polarization properties (i.e., elements m13, m31, m22, and m41 of the Mueller matrix) in determining the classification outcome of the trained classifier. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, our study provides a simple, accurate, and cost-effective solution for developing a technique for classification and diagnosis of human skin cancer.

Dual-Retarder Mueller Polarimetry System for Extraction of Optical Properties of Serum Albumin Protein Media.

A dual liquid-crystal variable retarder Mueller polarimetry system incorporating a gold-based surface plasmon resonance prism coupler was proposed for extracting the optical properties of serum albumin protein media in the reflectance configuration. The feasibility of the proposed system was demonstrated by measuring the circular dichroism and circular birefringence properties of glucose tissue phantom solutions with different albumin concentrations. The results showed that the circular dichroism increased with albumin concentration, while the optical rotation angle increased with glucose concentration. Both properties reduced over time as a result of the protein glycation effect, which led to a gradual reduction in the glucose content of the sample.

Surface plasmon resonance prism coupler for enhanced circular birefringence sensing and application to non-invasive glucose detection.

A surface plasmon resonance (SPR) prism coupler is proposed for the high-resolution non-invasive (NI) measurement of the circular birefringence (CB) properties of turbid media. The feasibility of the proposed device is demonstrated by means of numerical simulations. It is shown that the SPR sensor enables the CB properties to be detected with a resolution of up to 8.9 × 10-7 RIU (refractive index units) for refractive indices in the range of 1.3∼1.4. Moreover, for tissue phantom solutions containing 2% lipofundin, the device has a detection limit of 3.72 mg/dL. This resolution performance satisfies the detection limit of 10 mg/dL stipulated by the U.S FDA for point-of-care glucose monitoring devices. Thus, the proposed SPR sensor has significant potential for NI glucose sensing in such applications as diabetes detection and management.

Isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation-based proteome analysis of Vietnamese colorectal carcinoma tissues.

CONTEXT: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common malignancies and one of the leading causes of cancer death worldwide. Establishing early detection methods or markers of CRC is central to improve the survival rate of CRC patients. Nowadays, new molecular tools have been developed to acquire further knowledge on tumor progression. AIMS: Comparative proteomics analysis of Vietnamese colorectal carcinoma in different stages was performed to gain an insight into the molecular events taking place in CRC and metastasis. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: In this study, the comparative protein expression analysis of ten paired CRC and its corresponding noncancerous tissue samples was performed using the combination of isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation labeling and mass spectrometry (MS). The data obtained were further analyzed with Ingenuity Pathways Analysis (IPA) system. RESULTS: Based on the MS/MS spectra analyzed by ProteinPilot software, 684 proteins were identified, out of which 215 were observed to be differentially expressed in at least 1 sample pair. Individual protein expression and variation have been identified for each patient. IPA system demonstrated cytoskeletal signaling as the top-ranked functional pathway network associated with the oncogenic function. CONCLUSIONS: Our study supplemented the understanding about proteome of Vietnamese CRC patients and identified statistically protein expression differences among samples assisting in finding effective biomarkers for CRC diagnostics.

A terpolymeric hydrogel of hyaluronate-hydroxyethyl acrylate-gelatin methacryloyl with tunable properties as biomaterial.

Here, we report synthesis of a terpolymeric covalently crosslinked hydrogel of hyaluronate (HA) as biomaterial with elasticity, mechanical properties and cell interactions via conventional free radical polymerization technique. To provide elasticity and mechanical properties, 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate (HEA) was grafted in HA, while to tune cellular interactions, gelatin methacryloyl (GM) was used as crosslinker. The composition and probable structure of the terpolymer (HA-g-pHEA-x-GM) were analysed by FTIR, 1H HR-MAS-NMR, and TGA analyses. The SEM and texture analyses of hydrogel showed interconnected micro-porous network and high mechanical properties, respectively. In vitro biocompatibility was studied against human chondrocytes, whereas, in vivo biocompatibility and tissue regeneration were confirmed using mouse model. The hydrogel releases model protein-bovine serum albumin, and corticosteroid drug-dexamethasone in a sustain way at pH 7.4 and 37 °C. Overall, the tunable mechanical properties, micro-porous network, and cytocompatibility of the HA-g-pHEA-x-GM hydrogel highlights its potential applicability in cartilage tissue engineering and drug delivery.

Characterization of healthy and nonmelanoma-induced mouse utilizing the Stokes-Mueller decomposition.

Skin cancer is one of the most common cancers, including melanoma and nonmelanoma cancer. Melanoma can be easily detected by the observation of abnormal moles, but nonmelanoma signs and symptoms are not apparent in the early stages. We use the Stokes-Mueller matrix decomposition method to detect nonmelanoma at the early stage by decomposing the characteristics of polarized light interacting with normal and cancerous tissues. With this decomposition method, we extract nine optical parameters from biological tissues, namely the LB orientation angle (α), the LB phase retardance (ß), the CB optical rotation angle (γ), the LD orientation angle (θd), the linear dichroism (D), the circular dichroism (R), the degrees of linear depolarization (e1 and e2), the degree of circular depolarization (e3), and the depolarization index (Δ). The healthy skin and the induced nonmelanoma skin cancer of mice are analyzed and compared based on their optical parameters. We find distinctive ranges of values for normal skin tissue and nonmelanoma skin cancer, in which ß and D in cancerous tissue are larger and nonmelanoma skin becomes less depolarized. This research creates an innovative solid foundation for the diagnosis of skin cancer in the future.

Characterizations of hyaluronate-based terpolymeric hydrogel synthesized via free radical polymerization mechanism for biomedical applications.

In the present study, a novel terpolymeric hydrogel was developed using sodium hyaluronate (HA), 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate (2-HEA), and poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA) via free radical polymerization for biomedical applications. To achieve elasticity, swelling ability, porous architecture and sufficient gel strength, hyaluronate was chemically modified by grafting and crosslinking methods using 2-HEA and PEGDA, respectively. The structure and compositions of the fabricated terpolymer (HA-g-p(2-HEA)-x-PEGDA) were verified by FTIR, 1H HR-MAS-NMR, and TGA analyses. The surface morphology and cross-section of the hydrogel was detected by SEM analysis. The gel nature of terpolymer in aqueous medium at 37 °C was confirmed from swelling study, and rheological experiment. Non-cytotoxicity and biocompatibility of the HA-g-p(2-HEA)-x-PEGDA hydrogel were ascertained by in vitro mouse osteoblastic cells (MC3T3) proliferation, and viability studies. Hematoxylin and eosin Y, and Masson's trichrome stainings were performed to show tissue regeneration ability on the prepared hydrogel. In vitro release results of proangiogenic drug-dimethyloxalylglycine (DMOG), and antibiotics-tetracycline (TCN) showed sustained release behaviour from the prepared hydrogel under different pHs at 37 °C. The mathematical models fitted data imply that both DMOG and TCN release follow first order kinetics, while, the release mechanism is primarily controlled by diffusion as well as erosion process. Finally, the novel biocompatible HA-g-p(2-HEA)-x-PEGDA gel, which showed sustained drugs release, and regeneration ability of extracellular matrix and collagen, could be employed in biomedical applications, especially, for the delivery of DMOG/TCN, and in tissue engineering.

Extraction of effective parameters of turbid media utilizing the Mueller matrix approach: study of glucose sensing.

An analytical technique based on Stokes polarimetry and the Mueller matrix method is proposed for extracting the effective linear birefringence, linear dichroism, circular birefringence, circular dichroism, linear depolarization, and circular depolarization properties of turbid media. In contrast to existing analytical models, the model proposed extracts the effective parameters in a decoupled manner and considers not only the circular dichroism properties of the sample, but also the depolarization properties. The results show that the proposed method enables all of the effective parameters to be measured over the full range. Moreover, it is shown that the extracted value of the depolarization index is unaffected by the order in which the depolarizing Mueller matrix is decomposed during the extraction procedure. Finally, a method is proposed for calibrating the optical rotation angle of a polystyrene microsphere suspension containing dissolved D-glucose (C6H12O6) powder in accordance with the distance between the sample and the detector. The experimental results show that the sensitivity of the resulting D-glucose measurement is equal to approximately 1.73 deg/M.

Extraction of effective parameters of anisotropic optical materials using a decoupled analytical method.

A decoupled analytical technique based on the Mueller matrix method and the Stokes parameters is proposed for extracting effective parameters of anisotropic optical materials in linear birefringence (LB), linear dichroism (LD), circular birefrinegence (CB), and circular dichroism (CD) properties. This technique is essential in determining the optical properties of opto-electric or biomedical materials for the development of advanced inspection and/or diagnostic applications. The error and resolution analysis of the proposed approach is demonstrated by extracting the effective parameters given an assumption of errors ranging ± 0.005 in the values of the output Stokes parameters. The results confirm the ability of the proposed method to yield full-range measurements of all the optical parameters. The decoupled nature of the analytical model yields several important advantages, including an improved accuracy and the ability to extract the parameters of optical samples with only LB, CB, LD, or CD property without using compensation technique or pretreatment. Moreover, by decoupling the extraction process, the "multiple solutions" problem inherent in previous models presented by the current group is avoided.

Characterization on five effective parameters of anisotropic optical material using Stokes parameters-Demonstration by a fiber-type polarimeter.

An analytical technique based on the Mueller matrix method and the Stokes parameters is proposed for extracting five effective parameters on the principal axis angle, phase retardance, diattenuation axis angle, diattenuation and optical rotation angle of anisotropic optical materials. The linear birefringence (LB) / circular birefringence (CB) properties and linear diattenuation (LD) properties are decoupled within the analytical model. The analytical method is then integrated with a genetic algorithm to extract the optical properties of samples with linear birefringence property using a fiber-based polarimeter. The result demonstrates the feasibility of analytical model in characterizing five effective parameters of anisotropic optical material. Also, it confirms that the proposed fiber-based polarimeter provides a simple alternative to existing fiber-based probes for parameter measurement in the near field or the remote environment. A low birefringence fiber-based polarimeter based on effective parameters and genetic algorithm without using a fiber polarization controller is first proposed confirmatively.

Full-field and full-range sequential measurement of the slow axis angle and phase retardation of linear birefringent materials.

A method is proposed for obtaining full-range sequential measurements of the slow axis angle and phase retardation of linear birefringent materials (LBMs) using a full-field heterodyne interferometer with a charge-coupled device (CCD) camera and an image processing algorithm based on a three-frame integrating-bucket method. The dynamic ranges of the principal axis and phase retardation measurements extend from 0 degrees to 180 degrees and from 0 degrees to 360 degrees , respectively. The proposed method not only enables full-range measurements of the slow axis angle to be obtained, but also allows a decision to be made as to whether the principal axis labeled by the manufacturer is the slow axis or the fast axis. The standard deviations of the slow axis angle and phase retardation measurements are found to be 0.14 degrees and 0.27 degrees, respectively. In addition, it is shown that the noises induced by environmental disturbances are reduced by elimination of the dc component of the output light intensity in the image processing algorithm. We also investigate the sensitivity of the measured error caused by the orientation of LBM.

The new advantages in treatment of endodontics

Introduction of 2 new instruments to help improve the quality of endodontics treatment nowadays, it was turning brooch system, especially was protapers and digital tomorgraphy machine. The appearance of Protaper system was a remarkable advantage in endodontics field, having more advantage than older ones such as: more flexible in big brooch, larger tapering helping marrow tube was cleaned and filled in better, the effect of cutting higher, safer in using, completely controlling with touch, decreased ivory crushed in top area, minimum decreased the pressure on brooch and less using brooch, less step, therefore, saving a lots of time. Digital tomorgraphy system was a solution to save tomography time, especially, Visualix USB system was produced by Gendex-Dentsply company. It had more advantage than general tomography system, such as reducing radioactive ray so that it could be put in clinics, no need to darkroom and chemicals, receiving rays by CCD, saving alots of time

Approach to children: the clef of success for dental care in children

To get a better dental care in children, the dentist needs to approach with the dentist who treats for them. This responsibility is belonging to both society and the dentist. A child’s parent knows how to persuade her/his to see the dentist, don’t let them terrify. The parents also should spend more time for their children to help the dentist can give them the better dental care. The dentist must learn more about the children’ psychology and understand their behaviour. Each child has own character and behaviours and they effect from different environment so it is necessary to have the combination of the dentist and other health workers in the dentist’s clinic for a better dental care in children