Confocal laser endomicroscopy as a new diagnostic tool for poorly differentiated gastric adenocarcinoma

Gastric cancer(GC)is a multifactorial disease,where both environmental and genetic features can have an impact on its occurrence and development.GC represents one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide.GC is most frequent in males and is believed to arise from a series of premalignant lesions.The detection of GC at an early stage is crucial because early GC,which is an invasive stomach cancer confined to the mucosal or submucosal lining,may be curable with a reported 5-year survival rate of more than 90%.Advanced GC usually has a poor prognosis despite current treatment standards.The diagnostic efficacy of conventional endoscopy(with light endoscopy)is currently limited.Confocal laser endomicroscopy is a novel imaging technique that allows real-time in vivo histological examination of mucosal surfaces during endoscopy.Confocal laser endomicroscopy may be of great importance in the surveillance of precancerous gastric lesions and in the diagnosis of GC.In this editorial we commented on the article about this topic published by Lou et al in the recent issue of the World Journal of Clinical Cases.

Large-field objective lens for multi-wavelength microscopy at mesoscale and submicron resolution

Conventional microscopes designed for submicron resolution in biological research are hindered by a limited field of view,typically around 1 mm.This restriction poses a challenge when attempting to simultaneously analyze various parts of a sample,such as different brain areas.In addition,conventional objective lenses struggle to perform consistently across the required range of wavelengths for brain imaging in vivo.Here we present a novel mesoscopic objective lens with an impressive field of view of 8 mm,a numerical aperture of 0.5,and a working wavelength range from 400 to 1000 nm.We achieved a resolution of 0.74μm in fluorescent beads imaging.The versatility of this lens was further demonstrated through high-quality images of mouse brain and kidney sections in a wide-field imaging system,a confocal laser scanning system,and a two-photon imaging system.This mesoscopic objective lens holds immense promise for advancing multi-wavelength imaging of large fields of view at high resolution.

Clinical impact of confocal laser endomicroscopy in the management of gastrointestinal lesions with an uncertain diagnosis

To evaluate the clinical impact of confocal laser endomicroscopy (CLE) in the diagnosis and management of patients with an uncertain diagnosis. METHODSA retrospective chart review was performed. Patients who underwent CLE between November 2013 and October 2015 and exhibited a poor correlation between endoscopic and histological findings were included. Baseline characteristics, indications, previous diagnostic studies, findings at the time of CLE, clinical management and histological results were analyzed. Interventions based on CLE findings were also analyzed. We compared the diagnostic accuracy of CLE and target biopsies of surgical specimens. RESULTSA total of 144 patients were included. Of these, 51% (74/144) were female. The mean age was 51 years old. In all, 41/144 (28.4%) lesions were neoplastic (13 bile duct, 10 gastric, 8 esophageal, 6 colonic, 1 duodenal, 1 rectal, 1 ampulloma and 1 pancreatic). The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and observed agreement when CLE was used to detect N-lesions were 85.37%, 87.38%, 72.92%, 93.75% and 86.81%, respectively. Cohen’s Kappa was 69.20%, thus indicating good agreement. Changes in management were observed in 54% of the cases. CONCLUSIONCLE is a new diagnostic tool that has a significant clinical impact on the diagnosis and treatment of patients with uncertain diagnosis.

Neuroprotective effects of low-concentration alpha-tocopherol Confocal laser microscopy observations

BACKGROUND： Alpha-tocopherol （ α-tocopherol） can effectively relieve neuronal damage induced by oxygen-centered free radicals. However, the effective dose remains controversial. OBJECTIVE： To evaluate the protective effects of low-concentration α-tocopherol on neuronal membranes. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING： Contrast observation and in vitro study, performed at Laboratory of Neurosurgery, Tianjin Huanhu Hospital between April and September 2006. MATERIALS： Fetal cortical neurons were derived from two 14-day pregnant SD rats, and α-tocopherol was provided by Sigma, USA. METHODS： The neurons were randomly assigned to six groups： （1） normal： neurons were cultured under normal conditions; （2） oxidative damage： oxidative free radicals was damaged using the Fenton reaction; （3） α-tocopherol： neurons were cultured in different concentrations of -tocopherol 10, 20, 40, and 80 mg/L for 2 hours, respectively. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES： Neuronal membrane damage was observed using a confocal laser microscope, and malonaldehyde production was detected using the thiobarbituric acid method. RESULTS： At normal, biological concentrations （10 mg/L）, α-tocopherol induced no change in the damaged neurons （P 〉 0.05）. However, at a concentration of 80 mg/L, the number of damaged neurons was significantly reduced, compared with the damage group （P 〈 0.05）. Malonaldehyde levels following 80 mg/L α-tocopherol treatment were less than the oxygen free radical damage group （P 〈 0.05）, but greater than the control group （P 〈 0.01）. CONCLUSION： A concentration of 80 mg/L α-tocopherol can effectively protect the neuronal cell membrane from oxidative damage

Laser Ablated Superconducting and Related Thin Films:A Microscopical Investigation

Laser ablated high temperature superconducting and related thin films are investigated with a microscopical point of view.The microstructure and microchemistry of three thin films(Y-Ba-Cu-O, Bi-Pb-Sr-Ca-Cu-O and Sr-Ca-Cu-O)are demonstrated as examples of laser ablation products.

Synchrotron-Infrared Microscopy Analysis of Amyloid Fibrils Irradiated by Mid-Infrared Free-Electron Laser

Amyloid fibrils are widely recognized as a cause of serious amyloidosis such as Alzheimer’s disease. Although dissociation of amyloid fibril aggregates is expected to lead to a decrease in the toxicity of the fibrils in cells, the fibril structure is robust under physiological conditions. We have irradiated amyloid fibrils with a free-electron laser (FEL) tuned to mid-infrared frequencies to induce dissociation of the aggregates into monomer forms. We have previously succeeded in dissociating fibril structures of a short peptide of the thyroid hormone by tuning the oscillation frequency to the amide I band, but the detailed structural changes of the peptide have not yet been determined at a high spatial resolution. Synchrotron-radiation infrared microscopy (SR-IRM) is a powerful tool for in situ analysis of minute structural changes of various materials, and in this study, the feasibility of SR-IRM for analyzing the microscopic conformational changes of amyloid fibrils after FEL irradiation was investigated. Reflection spectra of the amyloid fibril surface showed that the amide I peaks shifted to higher wave numbers after the FEL irradiation, indicating that the initial β-sheet-rich structure transformed into a mixture of non-ordered and turn-like peptide conformations. This result demonstrates that conformational changes of the fibril structure after the FEL irradiation can be observed at a high spatial resolution using SR-IRM analysis and the FEL irradiation system can be useful for dissociation of amyloid aggregates.

Laser Produced Plasma X-Ray Sources for Nanoscale Resolution Contact Microscopy: A Candidate in Cancerous Stem Cells Imaging

Plasma X-ray sources for biological microscopy have been produced by focusing single shots from Nd:glass laser onto carbon rod targets at irradiances between 1 × 1013 W⋅cm−2 and 3 × 1013 W⋅cm−2 to expose test objects. The optimum parameters needed for obtaining high accurate information on the samples under test namely: the minimum energies and irradiances at a range of angles between the incoming laser beam and the normal to the resist, the depth of exposure of the photoresist as a function of incident laser energy (and irradiance) were concluded in this work.

Fiber laser technologies for photoacoustic microscopy

Fiber laser technology has experienced a rapid growth over the past decade owing to increased applications in precision measurement and optical testing,medical care,and industrial applications,including laser welding,cleaning,and manufacturing.A fiber laser can output laser pulses with high energy,a high repetition rate,a controllable wavelength,low noise,and good beam quality,making it applicable in photoacoustic imaging.Herein,recent developments in fiber-laser-based photoacoustic microscopy(PAM)are reviewed.Multispectral PAM can be used to image oxygen saturation or lipid-rich biological tissues by applying a Q-switched fiber laser,a stimulated Raman scattering-based laser source,or a fiber-based supercontinuum source for photoacoustic excitation.PAM can also incorporate a single-mode fiber laser cavity as a high-sensitivity ultrasound sensor by measuring the acoustically induced lasing-frequency shift.Because of their small size and high flexibility,compact head-mounted,wearable,or hand-held imaging modalities and better photoacoustic endoscopes can be enabled using fiber-laser-based PAM.

Fast repetition rate fs pulsed lasers for advanced PLIM microscopy

Simultaneous metabolic and oxygen imaging is promising to follow up therapy response,dis-ease development and to determine prognostic factors.FLIM of metabolic coenzymes is now widely accepted to be the most reliable method to determine cellular bioenergetics.Also,oxygen consumption has to be taken into account to understand treatment responses.The phosphorescence lifetimne of oxygen sensors is able to indicate local oxygen changes.For phosphorescence lifetime imaging(PLIM)dyes based on ruthenium(I)coordination com-plexes are useful,in detaill TLD1433 which possesses a variety of different triplet states,enables complex photochemistry and redox reactions.PLIM is usally reached by two photon exci-tation of the drug with a femtosecond(fs)pulsed Ti:Sapphire laser working at 80 MHz repe-tition rate and(time-correlated single photon counting)(TCSPC)detection electronics.The interesting question was whether it is possible to follow up PLIM 1using faster repetition rates.Faster repetition rates could be advantageous for the induction of specific photochemical reactions because of similar light doses used normally in standard CW light treatments.For this,a default 2p-FLIM-PLIM system was expanded by adding a second fs pulsed laser("helixx")which provides 50 fs pulses at a repetition rate of 250 MHz,more than 2.3 w average power and tunable from 720 nm to 920 nm.The laser beam was coupled into the AOM instead of the default 80 MHz laser.We demonstrated siuccessful applications of the 250 MHz laser for PLIM which correlates well with measurements done by excitation with the conventional 80MHx laser source.

High-speed high-resolution laser diode-based photoacoustic microscopy for in vivo microvasculature imaging

Laser diodes(LDs)have been considered as cost-effective and compact excitation sources to overcome the requirement of costly and bulky pulsed laser sources that are commonly used in photoacoustic microscopy(PAM).However,the spatial resolution and/or imaging speed of previously reported LD-based PAM systems have not been optimized simultaneously.In this paper,we developed a high-speed and high-resolution LD-based PAM system using a continuous wave LD,operating at a pulsed mode,with a repetition rate of 30 kHz,as an excitation source.A hybrid scanning mechanism that synchronizes a one-dimensional galvanometer mirror and a two-dimensional motorized stage is applied to achieve a fast imaging capability without signal averaging due to the high signal-to-noise ratio.By optimizing the optical system,a high lateral resolution of 4.8μm has been achieved.In vivo microvasculature imaging of a mouse ear has been demonstrated to show the high performance of our LD-based PAM system.

Laser scanning fluorescence microscopic measurement of the movement of cleaving egg surface of Rana Amurensis

By laser scanning fluorescence microscopy for quan-titative measurement of fluorescence intensity changes on egg surface stained with fluorescein isothiocyanate duxing cleavage furrow extending forward, it was found that in area of presumptive cleavage furrow the scanning curve became ∨ shape, indicating dark stripe appeared in that place. Then the fluorescence intensity increased at the place where the botton of ∨ shape had located, and the scanning curve tuxned to ∧ shape, indicating single stripe was formed. While enhanced fluorescence appeared on the borders of ∧ shape, an M shape curve was found, show-ing double stripe occurred. During the distance between two borders of M shape incresing from 50 μm to 100μm,a fluorescence peak came to sight in the middle of the M shape, which being the cleavge furrow bottom. The two lateral sides of furrow bottom with decreasing fluorescence were nascent membrane. At that time the curve became W shape. By the sides of cleavage furrow the the stress folds became conspicous after double stripe stage, showing the stretching of the egg surface being increased. With our[31, 33] and others[32] reports that polylysine could induce the appearance of nascent membrane and phyto-hemagglutinins could decrease or prevent the appearance of nascent membrane, we believed the idea of Schroeder[25] that increasing mechanical stress could initiate nascent membrane formation and thought that the stress lay to the outsides of cleavage furrow.

Variable Temperature Laser Light Scattering Microscopy (VTLLSM) Studies on 10-100 μm Size High Purity Gold and Commercial Grade Zinc Grains

The VTLLS microscopy studies were made on high purity gold and commercial grade zinc grains in a temperature range of 30-230?C. Differential area ω and surface activity Sa were estimated from photomicrographs. The ω vs dT/dt (rate of heating) curve was seen to differ from those of silver and titanium. The nature of curve between normalized ω and dT/dt was seen to be non-exponential. The characteristic relation between sectorized differential area ωsec and mean temperature was examined. The present study further establishes the simplicity and versatility of the VTLLS technique, in studying the defect-sub-structure of metal particles such as Au and Zn in presence of an imposed temperature gradient in a reasonable way. As such an attempt was made to connect the ω and defect-sub-structure related parameters.

基于细胞微观形态定量的桃果实硬度变化差异性研究

为定量表征不同质地桃果实细胞微观形态及硬度变化的差异性,利用质构仪、多元显微成像结合计算机处理技术,追踪分析了贮藏期间不同质地桃果实(“美瑞”、“深州水蜜”及“金童5号”)果肉、果皮的硬度和细胞形态参数变化。结果表明,贮藏期间桃果肉、果皮硬度均呈现显著下降趋势,其中果肉硬度降低幅度(58.68%~78.20%)显著大于果皮硬度降低幅度(35.53%~65.19%),更适用于桃硬度软化表征。贮藏初期(贮藏1 d),桃果肉细胞形态规则、排列紧密,其中“深州水蜜”细胞截面积(A)最大(1500~33000μm 2);“金童5号”果实细胞圆度为0.70~0.90的细胞占比约为92.80%。随贮藏时间延长,“深州水蜜”细胞融合现象加剧,出现了部分巨大细胞(A>35000μm 2);“美瑞”细胞截面孔隙率呈现持续增长趋势,细胞出现皱缩现象;“金童5号”细胞截面周长增幅最小,细胞形变幅度最低。扫描电镜和透射电镜结果进一步印证了,贮藏期间溶质桃“深州水蜜”细胞结构最为疏松,细胞壁解聚严重,细胞质溶出最为明显;不溶质桃“金童5号”细胞结构相对完整,细胞质少量溶出;硬质桃“美瑞”细胞由圆形转变为椭圆形,且其结构改变程度介于溶质桃与不溶质桃之间。研究基于细胞形态的定量表征,明确不同质地桃果实硬度的差异性改变,旨在为基于质地差异的桃果实分等分级和定量表征桃果实细胞形态与硬度改变提供理论依据。

用于荧光显微技术的多波长激光耦合系统

为了满足荧光显微镜技术对多波长单模耦合输出激光的需求,研究了400~680 nm内多波长激光耦合进单模光纤的技术,设计了三片式耦合透镜组很好地消除了不同波长耦合时的色差以提高耦合效率,同时考虑光纤耦合调试难度大的问题,设计了能快速简单完成耦合调节的耦合光纤部件结构以及耦合调试的方法,通过实验测试荧光成像常用的4种波段激光(405,488,561,638 nm),耦合效率均大于65%。实验结果达到了较高的光纤耦合水平,证明该多波长激光耦合器性能优异。同时,由于耦合器装调简单且成本低,本文的工作具有进一步商业化的价值,且为多波长单模耦合激光器国产化打下了坚实的基础。

Revealing the F_actin Networks in Interphase Nuclei of Garlic Clove Cells by Confocal Fluorescence Microscopy

The interphase nuclei of parenchyma cells and epidermal cells of garlic ( Allium sativum L.) clove were labelled with rabbit anti_actin antibody and FITC_conjugated goat anti_rabbit IgG antibody. The authors observed results with fluorescence microscopy and confocal laser scanning microscopy. The nuclei showed prominent green_yellow fluorescence, indicating the presence of actin in the nuclei. Fluorescence examination with TRITC_phalloidin showed distinctive red fluorescence in the nuclei, indicating that F_actin is present in the nuclei. Confocal laser scanning microscopy indicated the presence of F_actin containing network structures in the nuclei, but the network structures were absent and the nuclei still showed red fluorescence when the cells were treated with cytochalasin D before fixation; the red fluorescence in the nuclei was hard to be observed when the cells were treated with unlabelled phalloidin before the cells were stained with TRITC_phalloidin. These results indicate that F_actin is in the nuclei and forms network structures in the nuclei of garlic cells.

辛烯基琥珀酸木薯淀粉钠无醇酯化制备与表征

辛烯基琥珀酸淀粉钠(starch sodium octenyl succinate,SSOS)是以淀粉与辛烯基琥珀酸酐(octenyl succinic anhydride,OSA)酯化制得的食品添加剂。本研究采用OSA乳化法替代有机试剂分散OSA对木薯淀粉进行酯化制备辛烯基琥珀酸木薯淀粉钠(tapioca starch sodium octenyl succinate,TSSOS)并对其进行表征。结果表明:大豆卵磷脂(soybean phospholipid,SP)为乳化剂制备的OSA乳液体系具有较好的稳定性和分散性,SP添加量为1.00%制备的SSOS(1.00%SP-SSOS)比异丙醇分散OSA制备的SSOS(IPA-SSOP)具有更高的辛烯基琥珀酸基团(OS基团)含量、取代度(DS)以及取代效率(SE)。傅里叶红外光谱显示,1.00%SP-SSOS和IPA-SSOS均在1572 m^(-1)和1726 m^(-1)处出现了2个新的特征峰,其中1.00%SP-SSOS的特征峰强度更强。激光共聚焦扫描显微镜分析也证实了荧光标记的OS基团在1.00%SP-SSOS中荧光强度略强,少部分淀粉颗粒内部显示亦有OS基团,这说明利用高压均质以及SP乳化剂将OSA分散为微米级乳液再进行酯化,可以提高OSA与淀粉的接触面积从而提高酯化反应效率。综上所述,采用OSA乳化法替代有机试剂分散OSA制备SSOS的方法可行,本研究为无醇酯化反应体系应用在SSOS大规模工业化生产中提供参考依据。

NiO外延薄膜的显微结构与光学、电学性能研究

本文利用脉冲激光沉积技术在MgO(100)和Al_(2)O_(3)(0001)衬底上生长了NiO薄膜,并应用高分辨X射线衍射仪、X射线光电子能谱仪和透射电子显微镜表征了两种薄膜的物相、化学成分和显微结构。结果表明,MgO衬底上的NiO薄膜为单晶外延薄膜,薄膜内部存在位错和由衬底扩散来的Mg元素,Al_(2)O_(3)衬底上的NiO薄膜为多晶外延薄膜。采用霍尔效应测试系统和紫外分光光度计测量了NiO薄膜的电阻、可见光透过率和能隙。结果表明,单晶NiO薄膜具有较低的电阻,更高的可见光透过率和更大的能隙。本研究表明可以通过选择不同的衬底来调控NiO薄膜的显微结构、光学和电学性质。

Dissolution behavior of Al_(2)O_(3)inclusions into CaO-MgO-SiO_(2)-Al_(2)O_(3)-TiO_(2)system ladle slags

To investigate the dissolution behaviors of Al_(2)O_(3)inclusions in CaO-5wt%MgO-SiO_(2)-30wt%Al_(2)O_(3)-TiO_(2)system ladle slags,confocal scanning laser microscopy was conducted on the slags with different TiO_(2)contents(0-10wt%),and scanning electron microscopy was performed to study the interfacial reaction between Al_(2)O_(3)and this slag system.The results disclose that the dissolution of Al_(2)O_(3)inclusions does not result in the formation of new phases at the boundary between the slag and the inclusions.In TiO_(2)-bearing and TiO_(2)-free ladle slags,there is no difference in the dissolution mechanism of Al_(2)O_(3)inclusions at steelmaking temperatures.Boundary layer diffusion is found as the controlling step of the dissolution of Al_(2)O_(3),and the diffusion coefficient is in the range of 4.18×10^(-10)to 2.18×10^(-9)m^(2)/s at 1450-1500℃.Compared with the solubility of Al_(2)O_(3)in the slags,slag viscosity and temperature play a more profound role in the dissolution of Al_(2)O_(3)inclusions.A lower viscosity and a lower melting point of the slags are beneficial for the dissolution.Suitable addition of TiO_(2)(e.g.,5wt%)in ladle slags can enhance the dissolution of Al_(2)O_(3)inclusions because of the low viscosity and melting point of the slags,while excessive addition of TiO_(2)(e.g.,10wt%)shows the opposite trend.

Changes in physicochemical characteristics of wheat flour and quality of fresh wet noodles induced by microwave treatment

Fresh wet noodles(FWN) are popular staple foods due to its unique chewy texture and favorable taste. However,the development of FWN is limited by its short shelf life and high browning rate. It has been found that the quantity of original microorganisms in wheat flour produced by traditional method is relatively high, which is detrimental to the processing quality and storage stability of FWN. Consequently, it becomes imperative to decrease microorganisms in wheat flour. Microwave treatment has been regarded as a promising method in the food industry due to its potential in inhibiting microbial growth and inactivating enzymes without causing adverse effect on the food quality. This study aims to investigate the effects of microwave treatment of wheat kernels under different powers(1, 2, 3, 4, 5 kW) on the physicochemical properties of wheat flour and the quality of FWN. The results revealed that microwave treatment had a significant effect on microbial inhibition and enzyme inactivation, wherein the total plate count(TPC) and yeast and mold counts(YMC) decreased by 0.87 lg(CFU/g) and 1.13 lg(CFU/g) respectively, and PPO activity decreased from 11.40 U to 6.31 U. The dough quality properties, such as stability, extensibility, and starch viscosity, improved significantly under different microwave conditions. Confocal laser scanning microscopy(CLSM) images indicated that starch and proteins aggregated gradually in treated flour, altering rheological properties of dough. From the results of scanning electron microscopy(SEM), microwave treatment led to the appearance of disrupted structure in the gluten proteins, but the secondary structure of proteins altered slightly. Rheological properties of dough confirmed that the microwave treatment greatly affected processing characteristics of wheat flour products, with significant advantageous consequences on product quality, especially for textural properties of FWN. Furthermore, FWN darkening could be inhibited noticeably after microwave treatment, thereby prolonging its shelf life. Therefore, microwave treatment could thus be an effective, practical technology to produce low-bacterial flour and thereby enhance its product quality.

活体激光共聚焦显微镜观察蠕形螨感染与麦粒肿关系的临床研究

目的 采用活体激光共聚焦显微镜(IVCM)观察麦粒肿和霰粒肿患者眼部蠕形螨感染情况,为分析蠕形螨感染对麦粒肿发生的影响提供参考依据。方法 选取2022年6—12月在上海爱尔眼科医院就诊为霰粒肿的患者45例(45眼)称霰粒肿组及无霰粒肿史的麦粒肿患者45例(45眼)称麦粒肿组。每位患者采取活体激光共聚焦显微镜观察患眼睑缘蠕形螨感染情况,上下睑缘选取累及所在位置8个毛囊、8个睑板腺。以蠕形螨检出≥3只为阳性、1≤蠕形螨<3只为可疑阳性、未检出为阴性。结果 活体激光共聚焦显微镜下,麦粒肿组和霰粒肿组蠕形螨感染阳性率分别为73.30%(33眼)、44.44%(20眼),可疑阳性率为31.11%(14眼)、11.10%(5眼),阴性率为15.60%(7眼)、24.44%(11眼);麦粒肿组阳性感染率明显高于霰粒肿组,差异具有统计学意义(P=0.013)。结论 与霰粒肿患者相比,麦粒肿患者的蠕形螨感染率更高,蠕形螨感染可能亦是麦粒肿发生的致病因素之一。