In vivo coronary lesion differentiation with computed tomography angiography and intravascular ultrasound as compared to optical coherence tomography

Background

In vitro studies have shown the feasibility of coronary lesion grading with computed tomography angiography (CTA), intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) as compared to histology, whereas OCT had the highest discriminatory capacity.

基于光学相干层析离体牙图像的去噪算法研究

目的光学相干层析成像因其高分辨率、无损等优点,适于早期龋检测;但由于系统中存在的噪声,影响其成像质量。为了重建牙齿的原貌信息,需寻找一种适于早期龋检测的光学相干层析成像实时图像去噪算法。方法比较平均曲率流滤波、非线性扩散拉普拉斯金字塔算法、非局部均值滤波3种滤波方法对光学相干层析人离体牙图像的去噪效果,从噪声抑制、边界保持、运算时间3方面分析上述3种算法的实时去噪性能及其优缺点。结果非局部均值滤波在噪声抑制和边界保持2个方面能达到很好的平衡,但实时性差;而非线性扩散拉普拉斯金字塔算法则能在滤波效果和运算效率达到较好的平衡;平均曲率流滤波次之。结论非线性扩散拉普拉斯金字塔算法较适于早期龋检测的光学相干层析成像实时图像去噪。     

Retinal nerve fiber layer structure abnormalities in early Alzheimer's disease: Evidence in optical coherence tomography

Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients often have visual disorders which may be due to retinal nerve degenerative changes. The aim of the current study was to determine the thickness changes of retina nerve fibers with optical coherence tomography (OCT) in AD patients. The OCT was used to assess the thickness of retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) from 22 AD patients and 22 healthy age-matched controls. The corrected visual acuity and intraocular pressure were measured and the dilated fundus examination and fundus image acquisition were also performed in those subjects. Compared with healthy age-matched controls, the RNFL thickness of AD patients were much thinner (p < 0.05), especially in supra-retina and infra-retina, while no difference was found in the other retinal area. These changes were also confirmed by the fundus images. In conclusion, retinal nerve degeneration is present in the retina of AD patients and this degeneration is likely localized preferentially to the superior and inferior quadrant.     

Morphology of hepatitis C and hepatitis B virus particles as detected by immunogold electron microscopy

We performed indirect immunogold electron microscopy (EM) for immunological identification and characterization of hepatitis C virus (HCV). To clarify the morphology of HCV, an indirect immunogold EM of two plasma samples from patients with high HCV RNA titers was carried out using antibodies specific for the putative HCV envelope protein (E) 1. Spherical virus particles 55–65 nm in diameter with delicate spike projections were detected in the 1.14–1.16 g/ml fractions after sucrose density gradient centrifugation. Polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies to the putative HCV E1 specifically recognized these particles. In addition, immunogold EM of the samples was also performed to uncover the morphology of HCV core particles. Spherical particles 33–40 nm in diameter (average, 37 nm) were detected in the 1.22- to 1.25-g/ml fractions by conventional EM after sucrose density gradient centrifugation. Immunogold EM using rabbit polyclonal antibody (RR8) specific for the putative HCV core protein and colloidal gold-labeled goat antirabbit IgG showed binding of the gold particles with RR8. Some of the HCV core particles showed icosahedric morphology. Optical rotation technique showed that the HCV core particles exhibit sixfold symmetry and that the length of the regular hexagon side is approximately 20 nm, suggesting that they have an icosahedric structure. Further, the detection limit of the indirect immunogold EM was evaluated in 11 plasma samples from chronic hepatitis B patients with different degrees of hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA titers using antihepatitis B surface antigen antibody. The study showed that the detection limit of virus using this method is 10⁷ virions/ml.     

Multimodal imaging and treatment of bone metastasis

The role of molecular imaging in pre-clinical research is continuously evolving. Particularly in small animal models in biomedical research, optical imaging technologies are frequently used to visualize normal as well as aberrant cellular processes at a molecular-genetic or cellular level of function. Also in cancer metastasis research, whole body bioluminescent and fluorescent imaging techniques have become indispensable tools that allow non-invasive and real-time imaging of gene expression, tumor progression and metastasis, and response to therapeutic intervention. In this paper, we discuss the use of optical imaging strategies—either alone or in combination with CT- to study intrabone tumor growth, tumor progression and to monitor efficacy of therapeutic agents in metastatic bone disease.     

Pulse pressure waveform estimation using distension profiling with contactless optical probe

The pulse pressure waveform has, for long, been known as a fundamental biomedical signal and its analysis is recognized as a non-invasive, simple, and resourceful technique for the assessment of arterial vessels condition observed in several diseases. In the current paper, waveforms from non-invasive optical probe that measures carotid artery distension profiles are compared with the waveforms of the pulse pressure acquired by intra-arterial catheter invasive measurement in the ascending aorta. Measurements were performed in a study population of 16 patients who had undergone cardiac catheterization. The hemodynamic parameters: area under the curve (AUC), the area during systole (AS) and the area during diastole (AD), their ratio (AD/AS) and the ejection time index (ETI), from invasive and non-invasive measurements were compared. The results show that the pressure waveforms obtained by the two methods are similar, with 13% of mean value of the root mean square error (RMSE). Moreover, the correlation coefficient demonstrates the strong correlation. The comparison between the AUCs allows the assessment of the differences between the phases of the cardiac cycle. In the systolic period the waveforms are almost equal, evidencing greatest clinical relevance during this period. Slight differences are found in diastole, probably due to the structural arterial differences. The optical probe has lower variability than the invasive system (13% vs 16%). This study validates the capability of acquiring the arterial pulse waveform with a non-invasive method, using a non-contact optical probe at the carotid site with residual differences from the aortic invasive measurements.     

Multimodal SPION-CREKA peptide based agents for molecular imaging of microthrombus in a rat myocardial ischemia-reperfusion model

Microthrombosis plays a key role in many cardiovascular diseases. Although it is not difficult to localize thrombus within large or middle-sized vessels, the noninvasive diagnostic regimen for the detection of microthrombus remains scarce. Here we developed a nanoagent by conjucting superparamagnetic iron-oxide nanoparticle with fluorophore and a targeting element, CREKA, a peptide with special affinity for fibrin. In a rat model of myocardial ischemia–reperfusion (MI/R), the multimodal nanoagents were readily and selectively accumulated within microthrombosis, which was detectable by both magnetic resonance and optical imaging modalities. The fibrin-targeted nanoagent could be expected to have utility not only in molecular imaging of fibrin, understanding the mechanisms of microcirculation disorders, but also in targeted therapy with fibrinolytic agents.     

In vivo monitoring of neural stem cells after transplantation in acute cerebral infarction with dual-modal MR imaging and optical imaging

Stem cell therapies are promising strategies for the treatment of stroke. However, their clinical translation has not been fully realized due, in part, to insufficient ability to track stem cell migration and survival longitudinally over long periods of time in vivo. In this work, we synthesized a new class of manometer-sized cationic polymersomes loaded with superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles and quantum dots for in vivo dual-modal imaging of stem cells. The results demonstrated that the synthesized cationic polymersomes can act as an effective and safety carrier to transfer image labels into neural stem cells, upon which the distribution and migration of grafted stem cells could be monitored by MR imaging up to 6 weeks and by fluorescence imaging within 4 weeks in the context of ischaemic brain injury. Cationic polymersomes hold great promise in the longitudinal monitoring of transplanted stem cells by using dual-modal MRI and optical imaging.     

利用光学相干断层图像平均灰度值定量研究牛恒牙早期人工脱矿

目的 研究经酸蚀脱矿后牛恒牙光学相干断层图像平均灰度值的变化,探讨平均灰度值作为一个参数指标定量检测牛恒牙早期脱矿的可行性.方法 以正常离体牛恒牙为样本,采用凝胶酸蚀法制备人工脱矿模型;用光学相干断层摄影术对人工脱矿模型扫描成像,利用Matlab软件计算不同酸蚀时间脱矿区牙体层110 μm范围内的平均灰度值.将测得图像灰度和归一化后图像灰度,分别进行单因素方差分析.结果 牙体表层110 μm范围内不同时间酸蚀脱矿区的平均灰度值从大到小依次为30 min酸蚀脱矿区、1O min酸蚀脱矿区、0 min酸蚀脱矿区,图像灰度归一化后做单因素方差分析,P＜0.05.结论 牙体表层110 μm范围内不同酸蚀时间脱矿区平均灰度值差异有统计学意义,并随脱矿时间增加而增大,即平均灰度值可以用于光学相干断层摄影术定量检测牙齿的早期脱矿.光学相干断层图像灰度归一化使得不同酸蚀脱矿区的平均灰度值更有可比性,减小了由于样本之间差异引起的误差,提高了平均灰度值作为参数指标定量检测牙齿早期脱矿的可靠性.