Two-photon live imaging of direct glia-to-neuron conversion in the mouse cortex

Over the past decade,a growing number of studies have reported transcription factor-based in situ reprogramming that can directly conve rt endogenous glial cells into functional neurons as an alternative approach for n euro regeneration in the adult mammalian central ne rvous system.Howeve r,many questions remain regarding how a terminally differentiated glial cell can transform into a delicate neuron that forms part of the intricate brain circuitry.In addition,concerns have recently been raised around the absence of astrocyte-to-neuron conversion in astrocytic lineage-tra cing mice.In this study,we employed repetitive two-photon imaging to continuously capture the in situ astrocyte-to-neuron conversion process following ecto pic expression of the neural transcription factor NeuroD1 in both prolife rating reactive astrocytes and lineage-tra ced astrocytes in the mouse cortex.Time-lapse imaging over several wee ks revealed the ste p-by-step transition from a typical astrocyte with numero us short,tapered branches to a typical neuro n with a few long neurites and dynamic growth cones that actively explored the local environment.In addition,these lineage-converting cells were able to migrate ra dially or to ngentially to relocate to suitable positions.Furthermore,two-photon Ca2+imaging and patch-clamp recordings confirmed that the newly generated neuro ns exhibited synchronous calcium signals,repetitive action potentials,and spontaneous synaptic responses,suggesting that they had made functional synaptic connections within local neural circuits.In conclusion,we directly visualized the step-by-step lineage conversion process from astrocytes to functional neurons in vivo and unambiguously demonstrated that adult mammalian brains are highly plastic with respect to their potential for neuro regeneration and neural circuit reconstruction.

In vivo imaging reveals a synchronized correlation among neurotransmitter dynamics during propofol and sevoflurane anesthesia

General anesthesia is widely applied in clinical practice.However,the precise mechanism of loss of consciousness induced by general anesthetics remains unknown.Here,we measured the dynamics of five neurotransmitters,includingγ-aminobutyric acid,glutamate,norepinephrine,acetylcholine,and dopamine,in the medial prefrontal cortex and primary visual cortex of C57BL/6 mice through in vivo fiber photometry and genetically encoded neurotransmitter sensors under anesthesia to reveal the mechanism of general anesthesia from a neurotransmitter perspective.Results revealed that the concentrations of γ-aminobutyric acid,glutamate,norepinephrine,and acetylcholine increased in the cortex during propofol-induced loss of consciousness.Dopamine levels did not change following the hypnotic dose of propofol but increased significantly following surgical doses of propofol anesthesia.Notably,the concentrations of the five neurotransmitters generally decreased during sevoflurane-induced loss of consciousness.Furthermore,the neurotransmitter dynamic networks were not synchronized in the non-anesthesia groups but were highly synchronized in the anesthetic groups.These findings suggest that neurotransmitter dynamic network synchronization may cause anesthetic-induced loss of consciousness.

Magnetic resonance imaging of extraocular rectus muscles abnormalities in acute acquired concomitant esotropia

AIM:To investigate the difference of medial rectus(MR)and lateral rectus(LR)between acute acquired concomitant esotropia(AACE)and the healthy controls(HCs)detected by magnetic resonance imaging(MRI).METHODS:A case-control study.Eighteen subjects with AACE and eighteen HCs were enrolled.MRI scanning data were conducted in target-controlled central gaze with a 3-Tesla magnetic resonance scanner.Extraocular muscles(EOMs)were scanned in contiguous image planes 2-mm thick spanning the EOM origins to the globe equator.To form posterior partial volumes(PPVs),the LR and MR cross-sections in the image planes 8,10,12,and 14 mm posterior to the globe were summed and multiplied by the 2-mm slice thickness.The data were classified according to the right eye,left eye,dominant eye,and non-dominant eye,and the differences in mean cross-sectional area,maximum cross-sectional area,and PPVs of the MR and LR muscle in the AACE group and HCs group were compared under the above classifications respectively.RESULTS:There were no significant differences between the two groups of demographic characteristics.The mean cross-sectional area of the LR muscle was significantly greater in the AACE group than that in the HCs group in the non-dominant eyes(P=0.028).The maximum cross-sectional area of the LR muscle both in the dominant and non-dominant eye of the AACE group was significantly greater than the HCs group(P=0.009,P=0.016).For the dominant eye,the PPVs of the LR muscle were significantly greater in the AACE than that in the HCs group(P=0.013),but not in the MR muscle(P=0.698).CONCLUSION:The size and volume of muscles dominant eyes of AACE subjects change significantly to overcome binocular diplopia.The LR muscle become larger to compensate for the enhanced convergence in the AACE.

Intravascular photoacoustic and optical coherence tomography imaging dual-mode system for detecting spontaneous coronary artery dissection: A feasibility study

In this work,we present an intravascular dual-mode endoscopic system capable of both intravascular photoacoustic imaging(IVPAI)and intravascular optical coherence tomography(IVOCT)for recognizing spontaneous coronary artery dissection(SCAD)phantoms.IVPAI provides high-resolution and high-penetration images of intramural hematoma(IMH)at different depths,so it is especially useful for imaging deep blood clots associated with imaging phantoms.IVOCT can readily visualize the double-lumen morphology of blood vessel walls to identify intimal tears.We also demonstrate the capability of this dual-mode endoscopic system using mimicking phantoms and biological samples of blood clots in ex vivo porcine arteries.The results of the experiments indicate that the combined IVPAI and IVOCT technique has the potential to provide a more accurate SCAD assessment method for clinical applications.

Outcomes and efficacy of magnetic resonance imaging-compatible sacral nerve stimulator for management of fecal incontinence: A multi-institutional study

BACKGROUND Fecal incontinence(FI)is an involuntary passage of fecal matter which can have a significant impact on a patient’s quality of life.Many modalities of treatment exist for FI.Sacral nerve stimulation is a well-established treatment for FI.Given the increased need of magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)for diagnostics,the In-terStim which was previously used in sacral nerve stimulation was limited by MRI incompatibility.Medtronic MRI-compatible InterStim was approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration in August 2020 and has been widely used.AIM To evaluate the efficacy,outcomes and complications of the MRI-compatible InterStim.METHODS Data of patients who underwent MRI-compatible Medtronic InterStim placement at UPMC Williamsport,University of Minnesota,Advocate Lutheran General Hospital,and University of Wisconsin-Madison was pooled and analyzed.Patient demographics,clinical features,surgical techniques,complications,and outcomes were analyzed.Strengthening the Reporting of Observational studies in Epidemiology(STROBE)cross-sectional reporting guidelines were used.RESULTS Seventy-three patients had the InterStim implanted.The mean age was 63.29±12.2 years.Fifty-seven(78.1%)patients were females and forty-two(57.5%)patients had diabetes.In addition to incontinence,overlapping symptoms included diarrhea(23.3%),fecal urgency(58.9%),and urinary incontinence(28.8%).Fifteen(20.5%)patients underwent Peripheral Nerve Evaluation before proceeding to definite implant placement.Thirty-two(43.8%)patients underwent rechargeable InterStim placement.Three(4.1%)patients needed removal of the implant.Migration of the external lead connection was observed in 7(9.6%)patients after the stage I procedure.The explanation for one patient was due to infection.Seven(9.6%)patients had other complications like nerve pain,hematoma,infection,lead fracture,and bleeding.The mean follow-up was 6.62±3.5 mo.Sixty-eight(93.2%)patients reported significant improvement of symptoms on follow-up evaluation.CONCLUSION This study shows promising results with significant symptom improvement,good efficacy and good patient outcomes with low complication rates while using MRI compatible InterStim for FI.Further long-term follow-up and future studies with a larger patient population is recommended.

Potential applications of 7 Tesla magnetic resonance imaging in paediatric neuroimaging:Feasibility and challenges

The integration of 7 Tesla magnetic resonance imaging(7 T MRI)in adult patients has marked a revolutionary stride in radiology.In this article we explore the feasibility of 7 T MRI in paediatric practice,emphasizing its feasibility,applications,challenges,and safety considerations.The heightened resolution and tissue contrast of 7 T MRI offer unprecedented diagnostic accuracy,particularly in neuroimaging.Applications range from neuro-oncology to neonatal brain imaging,showcasing its efficacy in detecting subtle structural abnormalities and providing enhanced insights into neurological conditions.Despite the promise,challenges such as high cost,discomfort,and safety concerns necessitate careful consideration.Research suggests that,with precautions,7 T MRI is feasible in paediatrics,yet ongoing studies and safety assessments are imperative.

In vivo imaging of the neuronal response to spinal cord injury:a narrative review

Deciphering the neuronal response to injury in the spinal cord is essential for exploring treatment strategies for spinal cord injury(SCI).However,this subject has been neglected in part because appropriate tools are lacking.Emerging in vivo imaging and labeling methods offer great potential for observing dynamic neural processes in the central nervous system in conditions of health and disease.This review first discusses in vivo imaging of the mouse spinal cord with a focus on the latest imaging techniques,and then analyzes the dynamic biological response of spinal cord sensory and motor neurons to SCI.We then summarize and compare the techniques behind these studies and clarify the advantages of in vivo imaging compared with traditional neuroscience examinations.Finally,we identify the challenges and possible solutions for spinal cord neuron imaging.

Topic highlight on texture and color enhancement imaging in gastrointestinal diseases

Olympus Corporation developed texture and color enhancement imaging(TXI)as a novel image-enhancing endoscopic technique.This topic highlights a series of hot-topic articles that investigated the efficacy of TXI for gastrointestinal disease identification in the clinical setting.A randomized controlled trial demonstrated improvements in the colorectal adenoma detection rate(ADR)and the mean number of adenomas per procedure(MAP)of TXI compared with those of white-light imaging(WLI)observation(58.7%vs 42.7%,adjusted relative risk 1.35,95%CI:1.17-1.56;1.36 vs 0.89,adjusted incident risk ratio 1.48,95%CI:1.22-1.80,respectively).A cross-over study also showed that the colorectal MAP and ADR in TXI were higher than those in WLI(1.5 vs 1.0,adjusted odds ratio 1.4,95%CI:1.2-1.6;58.2%vs 46.8%,1.5,1.0-2.3,respectively).A randomized controlled trial demonstrated non-inferiority of TXI to narrow-band imaging in the colorectal mean number of adenomas and sessile serrated lesions per procedure(0.29 vs 0.30,difference for non-inferiority-0.01,95%CI:-0.10 to 0.08).A cohort study found that scoring for ulcerative colitis severity using TXI could predict relapse of ulcerative colitis.A cross-sectional study found that TXI improved the gastric cancer detection rate compared to WLI(0.71%vs 0.29%).A cross-sectional study revealed that the sensitivity and accuracy for active Helicobacter pylori gastritis in TXI were higher than those of WLI(69.2%vs 52.5%and 85.3%vs 78.7%,res-pectively).In conclusion,TXI can improve gastrointestinal lesion detection and qualitative diagnosis.Therefore,further studies on the efficacy of TXI in clinical practice are required.

Epileptic brain network mechanisms and neuroimaging techniques for the brain network

Epilepsy can be defined as a dysfunction of the brain network,and each type of epilepsy involves different brain-network changes that are implicated diffe rently in the control and propagation of interictal or ictal discharges.Gaining more detailed information on brain network alterations can help us to further understand the mechanisms of epilepsy and pave the way for brain network-based precise therapeutic approaches in clinical practice.An increasing number of advanced neuroimaging techniques and electrophysiological techniques such as diffusion tensor imaging-based fiber tra ctography,diffusion kurtosis imaging-based fiber tractography,fiber ball imagingbased tra ctography,electroencephalography,functional magnetic resonance imaging,magnetoencephalography,positron emission tomography,molecular imaging,and functional ultrasound imaging have been extensively used to delineate epileptic networks.In this review,we summarize the relevant neuroimaging and neuroelectrophysiological techniques for assessing structural and functional brain networks in patients with epilepsy,and extensively analyze the imaging mechanisms,advantages,limitations,and clinical application ranges of each technique.A greater focus on emerging advanced technologies,new data analysis software,a combination of multiple techniques,and the construction of personalized virtual epilepsy models can provide a theoretical basis to better understand the brain network mechanisms of epilepsy and make surgical decisions.

Development and prospect of acoustic reflection imaging logging processing and interpretation method

Acoustic reflection imaging logging technology can detect and evaluate the development of reflection anomalies,such as fractures,caves and faults,within a range of tens of meters from the wellbore,greatly expanding the application scope of well logging technology.This article reviews the development history of the technology and focuses on introducing key methods,software,and on-site applications of acoustic reflection imaging logging technology.Based on the analyses of major challenges faced by existing technologies,and in conjunction with the practical production requirements of oilfields,the further development directions of acoustic reflection imaging logging are proposed.Following the current approach that utilizes the reflection coefficients,derived from the computation of acoustic slowness and density,to perform seismic inversion constrained by well logging,the next frontier is to directly establish the forward and inverse relationships between the downhole measured reflection waves and the surface seismic reflection waves.It is essential to advance research in imaging of fractures within shale reservoirs,the assessment of hydraulic fracturing effectiveness,the study of geosteering while drilling,and the innovation in instruments of acoustic reflection imaging logging technology.

Self-confocal NIR-II fluorescence microscopy for multifunctional in vivo imaging

Fluorescence imaging in the second near-infrared window(NIR-II,900–1880 nm)with less scattering background in biological tissues has been combined with the confocal microscopic system for achieving deep in vivo imaging with high spatial resolution.However,the traditional NIR-IIfluorescence confocal microscope with separate excitation focus and detection pinhole makes it possess low confocal e±ciency,as well as di±cultly to adjust.Two types of upgraded NIR-IIfluorescence confocal microscopes,sharing the same pinhole by excitation and emission focus,leading to higher confocal e±ciency,are built in this work.One type is-ber-pinhole-based confocal microscope applicable to CW laser excitation.It is constructed forfluorescence intensity imaging with large depth,high stabilization and low cost,which could replace multiphotonfluorescence microscopy in some applications(e.g.,cerebrovascular and hepatocellular imaging).The other type is air-pinhole-based confocal microscope applicable to femtosecond(fs)laser excitation.It can be employed not only for NIR-IIfluorescence intensity imaging,but also for multi-channelfluorescence lifetime imaging to recognize different structures with similarfluorescence spectrum.Moreover,it can be facilely combined with multiphotonfluorescence microscopy.A single fs pulsed laser is utilized to achieve up-conversion(visible multiphotonfluorescence)and down-conversion(NIR-II one-photonfluorescence)excitation simultaneously,extending imaging spectral channels,and thus facilitates multi-structure and multi-functional observation.

A synthetic diagnostics platform for microwave imaging diagnostics in tokamaks

Interpreting experimental diagnostics data in tokamaks,while considering non-ideal effects,is challenging due to the complexity of plasmas.To address this challenge,a general synthetic diagnostics(GSD)platform has been established that facilitates microwave imaging reflectometry and electron cyclotron emission imaging.This platform utilizes plasma profiles as input and incorporates the finite-difference time domain,ray tracing and the radiative transfer equation to calculate the propagation of plasma spontaneous radiation and the external electromagnetic field in plasmas.Benchmark tests for classical cases have been conducted to verify the accuracy of every core module in the GSD platform.Finally,2D imaging of a typical electron temperature distribution is reproduced by this platform and the results are consistent with the given real experimental data.This platform also has the potential to be extended to 3D electromagnetic field simulations and other microwave diagnostics such as cross-polarization scattering.

Activatable fluorescent probes for imaging and diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis(RA)is a systemic autoimmune disease that is primarily manifested as synovitis and polyarticular opacity and typically leads to serious joint damage and irreversible disability,thus adversely affecting locomotion ability and life quality.Consequently,good prognosis heavily relies on the early diagnosis and effective therapeutic monitoring of RA.Activatable fluorescent probes play vital roles in the detection and imaging of biomarkers for disease diagnosis and in vivo imaging.Herein,we review the fluorescent probes developed for the detection and imaging of RA biomarkers,namely reactive oxygen/nitrogen species(hypochlorous acid,peroxynitrite,hydroxyl radical,nitroxyl),pH,and cysteine,and address the related challenges and prospects to inspire the design of novel fluorescent probes and the improvement of their performance in RA studies.

Microwave-induced thermoacoustic elastic imaging:A simulation study

Microwave-induced thermoacoustic imaging(MTI)has the advantages of high resolution,high contrast,non-ionization,and non-invasive.Recently,MTI was used in the¯eld of breast cancer screening.In this paper,based on the¯nite element method(FEM)and COMSOL Multiphysics software,a three-dimensional breast cancer model suitable for exploring the MTI process is proposed to investigate the in°uence of Young's modulus(YM)of breast cancer tissue on MTI.It is found that the process of electromagnetic heating and initial pressure generation of the entire breast tissue is earlier in time than the thermal expansion process.Besides,compared with normal breast tissue,tumor tissue has a greater temperature rise,displacement,and pressure rise.In particular,YM of the tumor is related to the speed of thermal expansion.In particular,the larger the YM of the tumor is,the higher the heating and contraction frequency is,and the greater the maximum pressure is.Di®erent Young's moduli correspond to di®erent thermoacoustic signal spectra.In MTI,this study can be used to judge di®erent degrees of breast cancer based on elastic imaging.In addition,this study is helpful in exploring the possibility of microwave-induced thermoacoustic elastic imaging(MTAE).

Performance optimization of the neutron-sensitive image intensifier used in neutron imaging

As a non-destructive testing technology,neutron imaging plays an important role in various fields,including material science,nuclear engineering,and fundamental science.An imaging detector with a neutron-sensitive image intensifier has been developed and demonstrated to achieve good spatial resolution and timing resolution.However,the influence of the working voltage on the performance of the neutron-sensitive imaging intensifier has not been studied.To optimize the performance of the neutron-sensitive image intensifier at different voltages,experiments have been performed at the China Spallation Neutron Source(CSNS)neutron beamline.The change in the light yield and imaging quality with different voltages has been acquired.It is shown that the image quality benefits from the high gain of the microchannel plate(MCP)and the high accelerating electric field between the MCP and the screen.Increasing the accelerating electric field is more effective than increasing the gain of MCPs for the improvement of the imaging quality.Increasing the total gain of the MCP stack can be realized more effectively by improving the gain of the standard MCP than that of the n MCP.These results offer a development direction for image intensifiers in the future.

Efficient single-pixel imaging encrypted transmission based on 3D Arnold transformation

Single-pixel imaging(SPI)can transform 2D or 3D image data into 1D light signals,which offers promising prospects for image compression and transmission.However,during data communication these light signals in public channels will easily draw the attention of eavesdroppers.Here,we introduce an efficient encryption method for SPI data transmission that uses the 3D Arnold transformation to directly disrupt 1D single-pixel light signals and utilizes the elliptic curve encryption algorithm for key transmission.This encryption scheme immediately employs Hadamard patterns to illuminate the scene and then utilizes the 3D Arnold transformation to permutate the 1D light signal of single-pixel detection.Then the transformation parameters serve as the secret key,while the security of key exchange is guaranteed by an elliptic curve-based key exchange mechanism.Compared with existing encryption schemes,both computer simulations and optical experiments have been conducted to demonstrate that the proposed technique not only enhances the security of encryption but also eliminates the need for complicated pattern scrambling rules.Additionally,this approach solves the problem of secure key transmission,thus ensuring the security of information and the quality of the decrypted images.

Optical Microsphere Nano-Imaging:Progress and Challenges

The optical diffraction effect imposes a radical obstacle preventing conventional optical microscopes from achieving an imaging resolution beyond the Abbe diffraction limit and thereby restricting their usage in a multitude of nanoscale applications.Over the past decade,the optical microsphere nanoimaging technique has been demonstrated to be a cost-effective solution for overcoming the diffraction limit and has achieved an imaging resolution of up to about k6k8 in a real-time and label-free manner,making it highly competitive among numerous super-resolution imaging technologies.In this review,we summarize the underlying nano-imaging mechanisms of the microsphere nanoscope and key advancements aimed at imaging performance enhancement:first,to change the working environment or modify the peripheral hardware of a single microsphere nanoscope at the system level;second,to compose the microsphere compound lens;and third,to engineer the geometry or ingredients of microspheres.We also analyze challenges yet to be overcome in optical microsphere nano-imaging,followed by an outlook of this technique.

Quantification of the adulteration concentration of palm kernel oil in virgin coconut oil using near-infrared hyperspectral imaging

The adulteration concentration of palm kernel oil(PKO)in virgin coconut oil(VCO)was quantified using near-infrared(NIR)hyperspectral imaging.Nowadays,some VCO is adulterated with lower-priced PKO to reduce production costs,which diminishes the quality of the VCO.This study used NIR hyperspectral imaging in the wavelength region 900-1,650 nm to create a quantitative model for the detection of PKO contaminants(0-100%)in VCO and to develop predictive mapping.The prediction equation for the adulteration of VCO with PKO was constructed using the partial least squares regression method.The best predictive model was pre-processed using the standard normal variate method,and the coefficient of determination of prediction was 0.991,the root mean square error of prediction was 2.93%,and the residual prediction deviation was 10.37.The results showed that this model could be applied for quantifying the adulteration concentration of PKO in VCO.The prediction adulteration concentration mapping of VCO with PKO was created from a calibration model that showed the color level according to the adulteration concentration in the range of 0-100%.NIR hyperspectral imaging could be clearly used to quantify the adulteration of VCO with a color level map that provides a quick,accurate,and non-destructive detection method.

Experimental Study on the Variation of Optical Imaging Characteristics with Zenith Angle due to Internal Solitary Waves in Sunglint

Internal solitary waves(ISWs)change the roughness of the sea surface,thus producing dark and bright bands in optical images.However,reasons for changes in imaging characteristics with the solar zenith angle remain unclear.In this paper,the optical imaging pattern of ISWs in sunglint under different zenith angles of the light source is investigated by collecting optical images of ISWs through physical simulation.The experiment involves setting 10 zenith angles of the light source,which are divided into area a the optical images of ISWs in the three areas show dark-bright mode,single bright band,and bright-dark mode,which are consistent with those observed by optical remote sensing.In addition,this study analyzed the percentage of the dark and bright areas of the bands and the change in the relative gray difference and found changes in both areas under different zenith angles of the light source.The MODIS and ASAR images display a similar brightness-darkness distance of the same ISWs.Therefore,the relationship between the brightness-darkness distance and the characteristic half-width of ISWs is determined in accordance with the eKdV theory and the imaging mechanism of ISWs of the SAR image.Overall,the relationship between them in the experiment is almost consistent with the theoretical result.

Development of a 2D spatial displacement estimation method for turbulence velocimetry of the gas puff imaging system on EAST

A gas puff imaging(GPI)diagnostic has been developed and operated on EAST since 2012,and the time-delay estimation(TDE)method is used to derive the propagation velocity of fluctuations from the two-dimensional GPI data.However,with the TDE method it is difficult to analyze the data with fast transient events,such as edge-localized mode(ELM).Consequently,a method called the spatial displacement estimation(SDE)algorithm is developed to estimate the turbulence velocity with high temporal resolution.Based on the SDE algorithm,we make some improvements,including an adaptive median filter and super-resolution technology.After the development of the algorithm,a straight-line movement and a curved-line movement are used to test the accuracy of the algorithm,and the calculated speed agrees well with preset speed.This SDE algorithm is applied to the EAST GPI data analysis,and the derived propagation velocity of turbulence is consistent with that from the TDE method,but with much higher temporal resolution.