Isolation of a Potential Probiotic Levilactobacillus brevis and Evaluation of Its Exopolysaccharide for Antioxidant and α-Glucosidase Inhibitory Activities.

The probiotic properties of ten lactic acid bacteria and antioxidant and α-glucosidase inhibitory activities of the exopolysaccharide (EPS) of the selected strain were investigated in this study. Levilactobacillus brevis L010 was one of the most active strains across all the in vitro tests. The cell-free supernatant (50 g/l) of L. brevis L010 showed high levels of both α-glucosidase inhibitory activity (98.73 ± 1.32%) and 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical-scavenging activity (32.29 ± 3.86%). The EPS isolated from cell-free supernatant of L. brevis L010 showed 2,2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) radical-scavenging activity (80.27 ± 2.51%) at 80 g/l, DPPH radical-scavenging activity (38.19 ± 9.61%) at 40 g/l, and ferric reducing antioxidant power (17.35 ± 0.20 mg/l) at 80 g/l. Further, EPS exhibited inhibitory activities against α-glucosidase at different substrate concentrations. Kinetic analysis suggests that the mode of inhibition was competitive, with a kinetic constant of Km = 2.87 ± 0.88 mM and Vmax = 0.39 ± 0.06 µmole/min. It was concluded that the EPS might be one of the plausible candidates for possible antioxidant and α-glucosidase activities of the L. brevis L010 strain.

Three-dimensional stereoscopic imaging modality based on a single optical channel and detector.

A three-dimensional stereoscopic imaging modality (3D-SIM) based on a single optical channel and detector was developed to overcome some of the limitations of conventional 3D-SIM. It produces 3-D stereoscopic images by adjusting the angle of a transparent rotating deflector (TRD) to generate disparity between left and right images. The angular effect of the TRD was demonstrated to investigate the feasibility of the proposed method in 3-D stereoscopic image generation. Results indicate that image disparity increased as a function of the rotation angles of the TRD, while maintaining adequate 3-D perception. These results are expected to facilitate the practical use of a 3D-SIM in medicine.

Dermatological feasibility of multimodal facial color imaging modality for cross-evaluation of facial actinic keratosis.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Digital color image analysis is currently considered as a routine procedure in dermatology. In our previous study, a multimodal facial color imaging modality (MFCIM), which provides a conventional, parallel- and cross-polarization, and a fluorescent color image, was introduced for objective evaluation of various facial skin lesions. This study introduces a commercial version of MFCIM, DermaVision-PRO, for routine clinical use in dermatology and demonstrates its dermatological feasibility for cross-evaluation of skin lesions. METHODS/RESULTS: Sample images of subjects with actinic keratosis or non-melanoma skin cancers were obtained at four different imaging modes. Various image analysis methods were applied to cross-evaluate the skin lesion and, finally, to extract valuable diagnostic information. DermaVision-PRO is potentially a useful tool as an objective macroscopic imaging modality for quick prescreening and cross-evaluation of facial skin lesions. CONCLUSION: DermaVision-PRO may be utilized as a useful tool for the cross-evaluation of widely distributed facial skin lesions and as an efficient database management of patient information.

Digital photographic imaging system for the evaluation of various facial skin lesions.

In dermatology, various imaging modalities have been developed as an assistant tool to objectively evaluate the treatment efficacy of facial skin lesion. In this study, we propose a digital photographic imaging system the evaluation of various facial skin lesions in order to maximize the clinical evaluation efficiency by integrating various independent imaging modalities. Our imaging system provides four different digital color images, such as standard digital color image, parallel and cross polarization digital color image, and UV-A induced fluorescent digital color image. In conclusion, by analyzing the color information and morphological features, we were able to simultaneously evaluate various skin lesions with one imaging system.

Multimodal facial color imaging modality for objective analysis of skin lesions.

We introduce a multimodal facial color imaging modality that provides a conventional color image, parallel and cross-polarization color images, and a fluorescent color image. We characterize the imaging modality and describe the image analysis methods for objective evaluation of skin lesions. The parallel and cross-polarization color images are useful for the analysis of skin texture, pigmentation, and vascularity. The polarization image, which is derived from parallel and cross-polarization color images, provides morphological information of superficial skin lesions. The fluorescent color image is useful for the evaluation of skin chromophores excited by UV-A radiation. In order to demonstrate the validity of the new imaging modality in dermatology, sample images were obtained from subjects with various skin disorders and image analysis methods were applied for objective evaluation of those lesions. In conclusion, we are confident that the imaging modality and analysis methods should be useful tools to simultaneously evaluate various skin lesions in dermatology.