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International Journal of Laboratory... Jun 2024The manuscript discusses the historical evolution of observing blood cell morphology under an optical microscope, from the earliest microscopes in the 17th century to... (Review)
Review
The manuscript discusses the historical evolution of observing blood cell morphology under an optical microscope, from the earliest microscopes in the 17th century to the modern digital era, highlighting key advancements and contributions in the field. Blood has historically held symbolic importance in various cultures, with early medical observations dating back to Hippocrates and Galeno. The discovery of cells and subsequent advancements in microscopy by scientists like Hooke and van Leeuwenhoek paved the way for understanding blood cell morphology. Influential figures such as Hewson, Donné, and Ehrlich followed. Diagnostic cytology evolved from manual cell counting to the development of automated hematological systems. Automated complete blood counting came to support microscopic examination in diagnosing hematological disorders. Morphology is crucial in predicting disease outcomes and guiding treatment decisions, particularly hematological neoplasms. The introduction of flow cytometry and its integration with traditional morphological analysis and the new cytogenetic and molecular techniques revolutionized the classification and prognostication of hematologic disorders. Digital microscopy has emerged as a powerful tool in recent years, offering rapid acquisition and sharing of blood cell images. Integrating Artificial Intelligence with digital microscopy has further enhanced morphological analysis, improving diagnostic efficiency. We also discuss the prospects of AI in pre-classifying blood cells in bone marrow aspirate samples, potentially revolutionizing diagnostic pathways for hematologic diseases. Overall, the manuscript provides a comprehensive overview of the historical development, clinical significance and technological advancements in observing blood cell morphology, underscoring its continued relevance in modern hematology practice.
PubMed: 38898733
DOI: 10.1111/ijlh.14330 -
Quarterly Reviews of Biophysics Jan 2021Cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) has become the technique of choice for structural biology of macromolecular assemblies, after the 'resolution revolution' that has... (Review)
Review
Cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) has become the technique of choice for structural biology of macromolecular assemblies, after the 'resolution revolution' that has occurred in this field since 2012. With a suitable instrument, an appropriate electron detector and, last but not least, a cooperative sample it is now possible to collect images from which macromolecular structures can be determined to better than 2 Å resolution, where reliable atomic models can be built. By electron tomography and sub-tomogram averaging of cryo-samples, it is also possible to reconstruct subcellular structures to sub-nanometre resolution. This review describes the infrastructure that is needed to achieve this goal. Ideally, a cryo-EM lab will have a dedicated 300 kV electron microscope for data recording and a 200 kV instrument for screening cryo-samples, both with direct electron detectors, and at least one 120 kV EM for negative-stain screening at room temperature. Added to this should be ancillary equipment for specimen preparation, including a light microscope, carbon coater, plasma cleaner, glow discharge unit, a device for fast, robotic sample freezing, liquid nitrogen storage Dewars and a ready supply of clean liquid nitrogen. In practice, of course, the available budget will determine the number and types of microscopes and how elaborate the lab can be. The cryo-EM lab should be designed with adequate space for the electron microscopes and ancillary equipment, and should allow for sufficient storage space. Each electron microscope room should be connected to the image-processing computers by fibre-optic cables for the rapid transfer of large datasets. The cryo-EM lab should be overseen by a facility manager whose responsibilities include the day-to-day tasks to ensure that all microscopes are operating perfectly, organising service and repairs to minimise downtime, and controlling the budget. Large facilities will require additional support staff who help to oversee the operation of the facility and instruct new users.
Topics: Cryoelectron Microscopy; Humans; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; Laboratories; Macromolecular Substances; Specimen Handling
PubMed: 33413714
DOI: 10.1017/S003358352000013X -
Optics Letters Apr 2021X-ray microscopy offers the opportunity to image biological and radiosensitive materials without special sample preparations, bridging optical and electron microscopy...
X-ray microscopy offers the opportunity to image biological and radiosensitive materials without special sample preparations, bridging optical and electron microscopy capabilities. However, the performance of such microscopes, when imaging radiosensitive samples, is not limited by their intrinsic resolution, but by the radiation damage induced on such samples. Here, we demonstrate a novel, to the best of our knowledge, radio-efficient microscope, scanning Compton X-ray microscopy (SCXM), which uses coherently and incoherently (Compton) scattered photons to minimize the deposited energy per unit of mass for a given imaging signal. We implemented SCXM, using lenses capable of efficiently focusing 60 keV X-ray photons into the sub-micrometer scale, and probe its radio-efficient capabilities. SCXM, when implemented in high-energy diffraction-limited storage rings, e.g., European Synchrotron Radiation Facility Extremely Brilliant Source and PETRA IV, will open the opportunity to explore the nanoscale of unstained, unsectioned, and undamaged radiosensitive materials.
PubMed: 33857104
DOI: 10.1364/OL.421232 -
Indian Journal of Pathology &... 2021The last two decades have seen considerable progress in the use of digital technology in histopathology. Digital photography of microscopic slides and the use of static... (Review)
Review
The last two decades have seen considerable progress in the use of digital technology in histopathology. Digital photography of microscopic slides and the use of static images gave way to robotic microscopes. These technologies had their own limitations that precluded their widespread use. Creation of whole slide scanners that can produce digitized whole slide images (WSI) and the "comparable to conventional microscope" experience opened multiple avenues for their utilization not only in specific applications such as expert consults, quality assessment programs, education and archiving, but also for routine day-to-day reporting. Industry pressures driven by consumer requirements have led to great development in image quality, speed of scanning, size of stored files, and capital cost of scanners. User-friendly software and analytical algorithms have further enhanced user experience. Challenges that need to be either accepted or overcome would include capital expense not significantly yielding a return on investment, and management of storage space. This review attempts to take the reader through the evolution of WSI scanners and to share the author's experience with WSI for routine histopathology reporting, education, and external quality assessment along with a review of available literature.
Topics: Humans; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; Microscopy
PubMed: 33433403
DOI: 10.4103/IJPM.IJPM_356_20 -
Sensors (Basel, Switzerland) Oct 2021Lightfield microscopy has raised growing interest in the last few years. Its ability to get three-dimensional information about the sample in a single shot makes it...
Lightfield microscopy has raised growing interest in the last few years. Its ability to get three-dimensional information about the sample in a single shot makes it suitable for many applications in which time resolution is fundamental. In this paper we present a novel device, which is capable of converting any conventional microscope into a lightfield microscope. Based on the Fourier integral microscope concept, we designed the lightfield microscope eyepiece. This is coupled to the eyepiece port, to let the user exploit all the host microscope's components (objective turret, illumination systems, translation stage, etc.) and get a 3D reconstruction of the sample. After the optical design, a proof-of-concept device was built with off-the-shelf optomechanical components. Here, its optical performances are demonstrated, which show good matching with the theoretical ones. Then, the pictures of different samples taken with the lightfield eyepiece are shown, along with the corresponding reconstructions. We demonstrated the functioning of the lightfield eyepiece and lay the foundation for the development of a commercial device that works with any microscope.
Topics: Lighting; Microscopy
PubMed: 34640939
DOI: 10.3390/s21196619 -
Wellcome Open Research 2021We have developed "Microscope-Cockpit" (Cockpit), a highly adaptable open source user-friendly Python-based Graphical User Interface (GUI) environment for precision...
We have developed "Microscope-Cockpit" (Cockpit), a highly adaptable open source user-friendly Python-based Graphical User Interface (GUI) environment for precision control of both simple and elaborate bespoke microscope systems. The user environment allows next-generation near instantaneous navigation of the entire slide landscape for efficient selection of specimens of interest and automated acquisition without the use of eyepieces. Cockpit uses "Python-Microscope" (Microscope) for high-performance coordinated control of a wide range of hardware devices using open source software. Microscope also controls complex hardware devices such as deformable mirrors for aberration correction and spatial light modulators for structured illumination via abstracted device models. We demonstrate the advantages of the Cockpit platform using several bespoke microscopes, including a simple widefield system and a complex system with adaptive optics and structured illumination. A key strength of Cockpit is its use of Python, which means that any microscope built with Cockpit is ready for future customisation by simply adding new libraries, for example machine learning algorithms to enable automated microscopy decision making while imaging.
PubMed: 37283605
DOI: 10.12688/wellcomeopenres.16610.1 -
BioEssays : News and Reviews in... Jun 2021Embryos and microscopes share a long, remarkable history and biologists have always been intrigued to watch how embryos develop under the microscope. Here we discuss the... (Review)
Review
Embryos and microscopes share a long, remarkable history and biologists have always been intrigued to watch how embryos develop under the microscope. Here we discuss the advances in microscopy which have greatly influenced our current understanding of embryogenesis. We highlight the evolution of microscopes and the optical technologies that have been instrumental in studying various developmental processes. These imaging modalities provide mechanistic insights into the dynamic cellular and molecular events which drive lineage commitment and morphogenetic changes in the developing embryo. We begin the journey with a brief history of microscopy to study embryos. First, we review the principles and optics of light, fluorescence, confocal, and electron microscopy which have been key techniques for imaging cellular and molecular events during embryonic development. Next, we discuss recent key imaging modalities such as light-sheet microscopy, which are suitable for whole embryo imaging. Further, we highlight imaging techniques like multiphoton and super resolution microscopy for beyond light diffraction limit, high resolution imaging. Lastly, we review some of the scattering-based imaging methods and techniques used for imaging human embryos.
Topics: Embryo, Mammalian; Embryonic Development; Female; Humans; Microscopy; Pregnancy
PubMed: 33837551
DOI: 10.1002/bies.202000238 -
Indian Journal of Otolaryngology and... Aug 2022Endoscopes are presently used as an adjunct to microscopic surgery for better visualization of hidden areas of middle ear or they are used as a primary modality...
Endoscopes are presently used as an adjunct to microscopic surgery for better visualization of hidden areas of middle ear or they are used as a primary modality replacing the microscopes. We performed primary endoscopic ear surgery at a tertiary care center to evaluate the scope of endoscopic ear surgeries and to evaluate the anatomical, functional and quality of life outcomes. We evaluated 103 cases of which included patients with chronic otitis media mucosal disease (64), chronic otitis media squamous disease (29), otosclerosis (6), and benign ear tumors (4). In our study, the structural and functional outcomes of endoscopic ear surgeries were comparable to microscopic techniques however it conferred superior patient related outcomes of cosmesis, post-operative pain and early return to daily routine. Thus endoscopic ear surgery is a minimally invasive alternative option to microscopic techniques in the field of otology.
PubMed: 36032880
DOI: 10.1007/s12070-020-02042-1 -
Journal of Microbiology & Biology... Apr 2022The rapid switch to remote teaching with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic forced educators to become resourceful and creative to meet course learning objectives. This...
The rapid switch to remote teaching with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic forced educators to become resourceful and creative to meet course learning objectives. This was especially challenging for undergraduate microbiology laboratory exercises. The American Society for Microbiology (ASM) Recommended Curriculum Guidelines for Undergraduate Microbiology Education includes providing students with a microscopy experience. To meet these learning objectives in an at-home setting, we utilized two methods which we present as options for remote teaching of microscopy. One method involves students taking home microscopes equipped with oil immersion objective lenses. The other employs the remote operation of a confocal and/or scanning electron microscope through participation in the University of Toledo's SCOPE (Scientists Changing Our Pre-College Education) program. These techniques allowed students to develop competency and confidence in the operation of a microscope. The SCOPE program provided experience with types of microscopes not commonly available to undergraduate students even when in person. In addition to these unique experiences, students can gain microscopy expertise utilizing various virtual microscopy simulations. Together these techniques provide an exciting and robust online microscopy experience for undergraduate microbiology students that can be employed for use in regularly taught online microbiology courses.
PubMed: 35496698
DOI: 10.1128/jmbe.00332-21 -
Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive &... Oct 2023Microsurgery is most commonly used in the anastomosis of vessels, flap harvesting, lymphedema, and nerve reconstruction, among others. During the 1920s the first... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Microsurgery is most commonly used in the anastomosis of vessels, flap harvesting, lymphedema, and nerve reconstruction, among others. During the 1920s the first microscope was invented by Nylen and Holmgren, quickly becoming the gold standard for microsurgery. However, technological advances have come forth in the form of exoscopes.
METHODS
A search for full-text articles where using an exoscope was compared with a traditional operating microscope was conducted on the databases PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Embase. The following terms were used to guide our search: Microscope AND exoscope AND plastic surgery; Microscope AND exoscope AND microvascular surgery.
RESULTS
Our search yielded 69 studies, of which 12 were included. Five exoscope systems were used by the authors. All studies reported the exoscope as a valid alternative to the standard operating microscope. The exoscope was reported as non-inferior to the operating microscope. Although some studies reported lower quality of image, this did not seem to influence the outcome of surgeries. Newer models may have bridged the gap between the operating microscope's image quality and the exoscope. Superior ergonomics was always reported among the included studies.
CONCLUSION
Based on our search, we conclude that the exoscope is a safe and valid alternative to the operating microscope in plastic surgery. As newer models are now commercially available, these have overcome difficulties in image quality and zoom capabilities, responsible for the main drawbacks of the first exoscope systems.
Topics: Humans; Surgery, Plastic; Microscopy; Neurosurgical Procedures; Plastic Surgery Procedures; Microsurgery
PubMed: 37549541
DOI: 10.1016/j.bjps.2023.07.028