Quantitative biomarkers of human skin photoaging based on intrinsic second harmonic generation signal.

Collagen change is a major feature in the photoaged human skin. Here, we present the use of intrinsic second harmonic generation (SHG) signal as a novel means to quantify collagen change with photoaging. We obtain the SHG images of the superficial dermis from ex vivo the cheek skin and the abdomen skin of eight patients aged 55-60 years.

[Correlation between mitral regurgitation grading and left ventricular ejection fraction in elderly patients: a follow-up study].

Objective: To analyze the correlation between mitral regurgitation grading and left ventricular ejection fraction in elderly patients (>60 years of age) in a 2-year follow-up.

Methods: A total of 455 patients with the diagnosis of at least mild mitral regurgitation by echocardiography were divided into ischemic mitral regurgitation (IMR) group and non-ischemic regurgitation (NIMR) group. The patients were followed up with echocardiography every 6 months and the data were analyzed at the end of 24 months.

[Analytical figures of merit of Hildebrand grid and ultrasonic nebulizations in inductively coupled plasma atomic emission].

Hildebrand grid nebulizer is a kind of improved Babington nebulizer, which can nebulize solutions with high total dissolved solids. And the ultrasonic nebulizer (USN) possesses advantage of high nebulization efficiency and fine droplets. In the present paper, the detection limits, matrix effects, ICP robustness and memory effects of Hildebrand grid and ultrasonic nebulizers for ICP-AES were studied.

Label-free imaging of basement membranes differentiates normal, precancerous, and cancerous colonic tissues by second-harmonic generation microscopy.

Since changes in the basement membranes are the critical indicators for differentiating normal, precancerous, and cancerous colonic tissues, direct visualization of these warning signs is essential for the early diagnosis and treatment of colonic cancer. Here, we present that second harmonic generation (SHG) microscopy can probe the changes of basement membranes in different colonic cancer stages. Our results also show the capability of using the quantitative analyses of images for quantifying these changes in different cancer stages.

Visualization of epidermal and dermal alteration in papulonodular mucinosis by multiphoton microscopy.

Papulonodular mucinosis (PM) is a cutaneous clue to the presence and activity of silent lupus erythematosus (LE), but the exact pathogenesis is still under secret. Moreover, the currently available treatments for PM are not satisfactory. To demonstrate the possibility of multiphoton microscopy (MPM) to trace the pathological state of PM and evaluate the treatment efficacy, epidermal and dermal alteration in skin lesion with PM before and after treatment was examined using MPM.

Distribution, historical trends and inventories of polychlorinated biphenyls in sediments from Yangtze River Estuary and adjacent East China Sea.

A large portion of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) from e-waste released into the coastal areas may be the potential source of PCBs to the global oceans. The paper presents data of PCBs concentrations in fifty surface sediment samples and a dated sediment core in Yangtze River Delta (YRE) and adjacent East China Sea (ECS). The total PCBs levels varied from 5.

[Nonlinear spectral imaging of DNA specimens derived from tumor cells based on second harmonic generation].

Second harmonic generation (SHG) is a second-order nonlinear optical process that has symmetry constraints confining signal to regions lacking a center of symmetry. Using SHG microscopy, a variety of tissue structures have noninvasively been imaged by virtue of intrinsic signal generated by structured proteins such as collagen fibrils in connective tissues or the actomyosin lattice of muscle cells. In biochemistry and structure biology, the high-level structures of DNA and protein macro-molecules are similar in constructing mechanism, although DNAs consist of deoxynucleotides and proteins of amino acid residues.

Preclinical study of using multiphoton microscopy to diagnose liver cancer and differentiate benign and malignant liver lesions.

Recently, the miniaturized multiphoton microscopy (MPM) and multiphoton probe allow the clinical use of multiphoton endoscopy for diagnosing cancer via "optical biopsy". The purpose of this study was to establish MPM optical diagnostic features for liver cancer and evaluate the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of MPM optical diagnosis. Firstly, we performed a pilot study to establish the MPM diagnostic features by investigating 60 surgical specimens, and found that high-resolution MPM images clearly demonstrated apparent differences between benign and malignant liver lesions in terms of their tissue architecture and cell morphology.

Growth of highly oriented hydroxyapatite arrays tuned by quercetin.

Crystal calls: the remarkable crystal modulation ability of quercetin (QUE) in highly oriented hydroxyapatite (HAp) array crystallization is reported. Organized HAp crystals were obtained by hydrothermal exchange of α-tricalcium phosphate (α-TCP) precursor in solution with a progressive increase in QUE concentration. Experimental results revealed that QUE would be a potentially effective crystal modulation assistant.

[Effect of cultivation for snail control on schistosomiasis in Changsha urban section of Xiangjiang River].

Objective: To study a reliable, friendly environmental and sustainable Oncomelania snail control method in marshlands of the Xiangjiang River.

Methods: According to the special characteristics of the marshlands of the Xiangjiang River, smoothing and cultivating in beaches were applied for snail control. In sections with scarce distribution of snails, lowering parts of 4.

Use of multiphoton microscopy to diagnose liver cancer and lung metastasis in an orthotopic rat model.

Liver or lung biopsy for suspicious lesions has several disadvantages such as bleeding, bile leak or pneumothorax, needle track seeding, and time-consuming histopathological procedure. The ability to directly observe cellular and subcellular details and then perform "optical biopsy" is a major goal in the development of new interventional techniques. Multiphoton microscopy (MPM) enables real-time noninvasive visualization of tissue architecture and cell morphology in live tissue.

Soy germ isoflavones improve menopausal symptoms but have no effect on blood lipids in early postmenopausal Chinese women: a randomized placebo-controlled trial.

Objective: Estrogen therapy is, to date, the most effective treatment of menopausal syndrome and also has a favorable effect on lipid profiles. Because of its potential adverse effects, however, a more acceptable alternative therapy needs to be identified. This study examines the effect of soy germ isoflavones on menopausal symptoms and serum lipids.

Upconversion and downconversion fluorescent graphene quantum dots: ultrasonic preparation and photocatalysis.

A facile ultrasonic route for the fabrication of graphene quantum dots (GQDs) with upconverted emission is presented. The as-prepared GQDs exhibit an excitation-independent downconversion and upconversion photoluminescent (PL) behavior, and the complex photocatalysts (rutile TiO(2)/GQD and anatase TiO(2)/GQD systems) were designed to harness the visible spectrum of sunlight. It is interesting that the photocatalytic rate of the rutile TiO(2)/GQD complex system is ca.

Quantitative biomarkers of colonic dysplasia based on intrinsic second-harmonic generation signal.

Most colorectal cancers arise from dysplastic lesions, such as adenomatous polyps, and these lesions are difficult to be detected by the current endoscopic screening approaches. Here, we present the use of an intrinsic second-harmonic generation (SHG) signal as a novel means to differentiate between normal and dysplastic human colonic tissues. We find that the SHG signal can quantitatively identify collagen change associated with colonic dysplasia that is indiscernible by conventional pathologic techniques.

Multiple recent horizontal transfers of the cox1 intron in Solanaceae and extended co-conversion of flanking exons.

Background: The most frequent case of horizontal transfer in plants involves a group I intron in the mitochondrial gene cox1, which has been acquired via some 80 separate plant-to-plant transfer events among 833 diverse angiosperms examined. This homing intron encodes an endonuclease thought to promote the intron's promiscuous behavior. A promising experimental approach to study endonuclease activity and intron transmission involves somatic cell hybridization, which in plants leads to mitochondrial fusion and genome recombination.

Multiphoton microscopic imaging of in vivo hair mouse skin based on two-photon excited fluorescence and second harmonic generation.

Mouse is an important animal model to investigate skin physiological and pathological states. In this article, multiphoton microscopic imaging of in vivo hair mouse skin based on two-photon excited fluorescence and second harmonic generation was examined. Our results show that multiphoton microscopy can clearly display microstructure of stratum corneum, stratum spinosum, and dermis of in vivo mouse skin.

Real-time noninvasive optical diagnosis for colorectal cancer using multiphoton microscopy.

In contrast to colonoscopy biopsy, which contains several disadvantages such as bleeding, sampling error, crush artifact, and time-consuming pathological procedure, multiphoton microscopy (MPM) enables direct noninvasive visualization of tissue architecture and cell morphology in live tissues without the administration of exogenous contrast agents. We performed a proof-of-principle study to evaluate the feasibility of using MPM to make real-time noninvasive optical diagnosis of colorectal cancer by investigating 30 fresh, unfixed, and unstained full-thickness colorectal specimens. We found that MPM images demonstrated irregular tubular structures, reduced stroma, and cellular and nuclear pleomorphism in the cancerous tissues.

Real-time in vivo imaging collagen in lymphedematous skin using multiphoton microscopy.

Changes of dermal collagen are characteristic for chronic lymphedema. To evaluate these changes, a real-time imaging based on two-photon excited fluorescence and second-harmonic generation was developed for investigating collagen of lymphedematous mouse and rat tail skin in vivo. Our findings showed that the technique could image the morphological changes and distribution of collagen in lymphedematous mouse and rat tail skin in vivo.

The relationships between erythrocyte membrane n-6 to n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids ratio and blood lipids and C-reactive protein in Chinese adults: an observational study.

Objective: To investigate the relationships between erythrocyte membrane n-6:n-3 PUFAs ratio and blood lipids and high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP).

Methods: The observational study consisted of a population-based cross-sectional study of 456 Chinese and a subsequent 1-year follow-up study of 171 subjects with the fasting plasma total cholesterol of 5.13-8.

Multiphoton microscopy study of the morphological and quantity changes of collagen and elastic fiber components in keloid disease.

Multiphoton microscopy was used to study the extracellular matrix of keloid at the molecular level without tissue fixation and staining. Direct imaging of collagen and elastin was achieved by second harmonic generation and two-photon excited fluorescence, respectively. The morphology and quantity of collagen and elastin in keloid were characterized and quantitatively analyzed in comparison to normal skin.

Label-free discrimination of normal and fibroadenomal breast tissues using second harmonic generation imaging.

Early detection of fibroadenoma (FA) is critical for preventing subsequent breast cancer. In this work, we show that label-free second harmonic generation (SHG) imaging is feasible and effective in quantitatively differentiating the fibroadenomal tissue from normal breast tissue. With the advent of the clinical portability of miniature SHG microscopy, we believe that the technique has great potential in offering a noninvasive in vivo imaging tool for early detection of FA and monitoring the treatment responses of FA in clinics.

Quantification of scar margin in keloid different from atrophic scar by multiphoton microscopic imaging.

Multiphoton microscopy (MPM) was applied to examine the marginal region at dermis of keloid compared with atrophic scar. High-resolution large-area image showed an obvious boundary at the scar margin and different morphological patterns of elastin and collagen on the two sides, further visualized by the focused three-dimensional images. Content alteration of elastin or collagen between the two sides of boundary was quantified to show significant difference between keloid and atrophic scar.

Establishing diagnostic features for identifying the mucosa and submucosa of normal and cancerous gastric tissues by multiphoton microscopy.

Background: Establishing diagnostic features is essential and significant for developing multiphoton endoscopy to make an early diagnosis of gastric cancer at the cellular level. Until now, these diagnostic features have not been clearly described and understood.

Design: Study of diagnostic features based on multiphoton microscopy (MPM).

Label-free monitoring of colonic cancer progression using multiphoton microscopy.

Real-time histology or virtual biopsy for the diagnosis of colonic cancer is of great medical significance. In this work, we show that label-free multiphoton imaging is feasible and effective in monitoring colonic cancer progression by providing cellular and subcellular details in fresh, unfixed, unstained colonic specimens. Our results also demonstrate the capability of using tissue quantitative analysis of the redox ratio for quantifying colonic cancer progression.