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Journal of Microscopy and Ultrastructure 2020Modern light microscopes are available with built-in illuminator and facility of photomicrography. This enables the microscopy to be ready for telemedicine. However,...
INTRODUCTION
Modern light microscopes are available with built-in illuminator and facility of photomicrography. This enables the microscopy to be ready for telemedicine. However, resource-limited settings still find difficulty in procuring those microscopes.
AIM
The aim of this study was to upgrade a light microscope to a smartphone-connected digital microscope with minimal cost to make it ready for telemedicine.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
A commercially available (price: ₹389) Universal Serial Bus (USB) web camera was set on the eyepiece and fixed with the help of an aluminum sheet. Light emitting diodes (LEDs), covered with an optical diffuser, were set below the condenser. The camera was connected to an Android smartphone with an application for capturing image and video. Sixteen faculty members provided their opinion about the new device.
RESULTS
The smartphone-connected microscope was successfully used to focus and capture image and video of various slides. The images and videos were stored in the smartphone and shared via E-mail and other channels (e.g., WhatsApp and Telegram). This camera was also successfully connected to a laptop for projecting the real-time microscopic field on a screen. According to faculty members, focusing an object and capturing the image are the best features of the device; however, development of the device received lowest score.
CONCLUSION
A light microscope was upgraded to telemedicine ready microscope with nominal cost and moderate effort. It can also be used in medical teachings as it can project real-time images of a slide under the microscope. As it is equipped with LEDs, powered by the same smartphone, it can be operated without daylight or during a power outage.
PubMed: 32766118
DOI: 10.4103/JMAU.JMAU_35_19 -
Journal of Family Medicine and Primary... May 2020In recent years, a new concept has emerged at the forefront of slide-based diagnosis and telepathology. This is the concept of whole slide imaging. This has very...
CONTEXT
In recent years, a new concept has emerged at the forefront of slide-based diagnosis and telepathology. This is the concept of whole slide imaging. This has very recently also been tried with smartphones using complex software for photo analysis and stitching. This study is aimed to evaluate and compare the use of Jenoptik photomicrograph camera and smartphone camera-based whole slide imaging (WSI) for various microscopic preparations and slides. The study also uses a commonly available IOS smartphone device, a commonly available phone to microscope attachment, and the most commonly used Adobe Photoshop software for all stitching purposes.
AIM
To evaluate and compare smartphone and photomicrography-based whole slide imaging.
SUBJECTS AND METHODS
The study was conducted at the Department of Oral Pathology and Microbiology in Bapuji Dental College and Hospital, Davangere. The samples included in this study are 10 slides of routine hematoxylin and eosin stain slides and 10 ground section slides of teeth and bone samples. Continuous photographs of the entire slide were captured using an IOS device and a Jenoptik camera attached research microscope at 10× magnification. The photographs were stitched using Adobe Photoshop 2017 software to obtain a whole slide image. Then, two observers analyzed the whole slide image for a possible diagnosis and thus compared the efficiency of both the methods.
STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED
The statistical Chi-square test and analysis of variance (ANOVA) H test were done using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) 2010 Software.
RESULTS
Percentage of measure of agreement was 79.5%, 83.7% and 86.3%, 89.1% for the whole slide images taken in the smartphone and photomicrograph and analyzed by Observer 1 and Observer 2, respectively.
CONCLUSIONS
In this study, it can be seen that the WSI by research microscopes is better than that with a smartphone and a compound microscope but still both the methods are equally good and can be followed with accurate results.
PubMed: 32754495
DOI: 10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_18_20 -
Parasitology Oct 2020Parasitic castration of bivalves by trematodes is common, and may significantly reduce the reproductive capacity of ecologically important species. Understanding the...
Parasitic castration of bivalves by trematodes is common, and may significantly reduce the reproductive capacity of ecologically important species. Understanding the intensity of infection is desirable, as it can indicate the time that has passed since infection, and influence the host's physiological and reproductive response. In addition, it is useful to know the developmental stage of the trematode, to understand trematode population trends and reproductive success. However, most existing methods (e.g. visually estimating the degree of infection) to assess intensity are approximate only and not reproducible. Here, we present a method to accurately quantify the percentage of bivalve gonad filled with digenean trematode tissue, based on small squashes of gonad tissue rapidly photographed under light microscopy. A maximum of 15 photographs is required to determine the percentage of the whole gonad occupied by trematodes with a minimum of 90% confidence, with smaller mussels requiring fewer. In addition, the stage of trematode infection can be assessed because full sporocysts, spent sporocysts and free cercariae are clearly distinguishable. Although variation exists in the distribution of trematodes in gonad tissue, and thus in the estimate of percentage of the gonad filled with trematodes, this method represents a marked improvement on current coarse assessments of infection which typically focus on binary presence/absence measures. This technique can be used to facilitate a more sophisticated understanding of host-parasite interactions in bivalves, and can inform the conservation and reproductive biology of environmentally crucial species.
Topics: Animals; Bivalvia; Castration; Cercaria; Gonads; Life Cycle Stages; Photomicrography; Trematoda; Trematode Infections
PubMed: 32729439
DOI: 10.1017/S0031182020001213 -
Journal of Cutaneous Pathology Mar 2021Pilomatricoma, also known as calcifying epithelioma of Malherbe, is a common benign skin adnexal tumor with differentiation toward hair cortex cells, commonly seen in... (Review)
Review
Pilomatricoma, also known as calcifying epithelioma of Malherbe, is a common benign skin adnexal tumor with differentiation toward hair cortex cells, commonly seen in head and neck region of children. It is usually solitary. Herein, we present a rare case of pilomatricoma with extensive osseous metaplasia as a thigh swelling in an adult female, considered clinically to be a sebaceous cyst. Florid osseous metaplasia is extremely rare in cases of pilomatricoma. To date, fewer than 10 cases of pilomatricoma with extensive osseous metaplasia at different sites have been reported in the English literature.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Cell Differentiation; Child; Diagnosis, Differential; Epidermal Cyst; Female; Fibrous Dysplasia of Bone; Follow-Up Studies; Hair Diseases; Head; Humans; Male; Metaplasia; Middle Aged; Neck; Osteomyelitis; Photomicrography; Pilomatrixoma; Skin Neoplasms; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 32621564
DOI: 10.1111/cup.13796 -
Aquatic Toxicology (Amsterdam,... May 2020Larval toxicity of ethanolic extract of C. parvula (Ex-Cp) was prominent in the second and the third instars at the maximum lethal dosage of 100 ppm with 98 and 97 %...
Toxicological screening of marine red algae Champia parvula (C. Agardh) against the dengue mosquito vector Aedes aegypti (Linn.) and its non-toxicity against three beneficial aquatic predators.
Larval toxicity of ethanolic extract of C. parvula (Ex-Cp) was prominent in the second and the third instars at the maximum lethal dosage of 100 ppm with 98 and 97 % mortality rate respectively. The LC and LC was displayed at 43 ppm and 88 ppm dosage respectively. Correspondingly, the sub-lethal dosage (65 ppm) of Ex-Cp significantly alters the carboxylesterase (α and β), GST and CYP450 enzyme level in both III and IV instar larvae in dose-dependent manner. Similarly, the Ex-Cp displayed significant repellent activity (97 %) with a maximum level of protection time (210 min). Photomicrography assay of Ex-Cp (65 ppm) were toxic to dengue larvae as compared to control. The non-target toxicity of Ex-Cp against the beneficial mosquito predators displayed less toxicity at the maximum dosage of 600 ppm as compared to Temephos. Thus the present research delivers the target and non-target toxicity of red algae C. parvula against the dengue mosquito vector.
Topics: Aedes; Animals; Aquatic Organisms; Carboxylesterase; Dengue; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Insect Repellents; Larva; Lethal Dose 50; Mosquito Vectors; Plant Extracts; Rhodophyta; Water Pollutants, Chemical
PubMed: 32259658
DOI: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2020.105474 -
BioMed Research International 2020The purpose of this study was to evaluate the quality of surface contouring of chondromalacic cartilage by bipolar radio frequency energy using different treatment...
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the quality of surface contouring of chondromalacic cartilage by bipolar radio frequency energy using different treatment patterns in an animal model, as well as examining the impact of the treatment onto chondrocyte viability by two different methods. Our experiments were conducted on 36 fresh osteochondral sections from the tibia plateau of slaughtered 6-month-old pigs, where the thickness of the cartilage is similar to that of human wrist cartilage. An area of 1 cm was first treated with emery paper to simulate the chondromalacic cartilage. Then, the treatment with RFE followed in 6 different patterns. The osteochondral sections were assessed for cellular viability (live/dead assay, caspase (cell apoptosis marker) staining, and quantitative analysed images obtained by fluorescent microscopy). For a quantitative characterization of none or treated cartilage surfaces, various roughness parameters were measured using confocal laser scanning microscopy (Olympus LEXT OLS 4000 3D). To describe the roughness, the Root-Mean-Square parameter (Sq) was calculated. A smoothing effect of the cartilage surface was detectable upon each pattern of RFE treatment. The Sq for native cartilage was Sq = 3.8 ± 1.1 m. The best smoothing pattern was seen for two RFE passes and a 2-second pulsed mode (B2p2) with an Sq = 27.3 ± 4.9 m. However, with increased smoothing, an augmentation in chondrocyte death up to 95% was detected. Using bipolar RFE treatment in arthroscopy for small joints like the wrist or MCP joints should be used with caution. In the case of chondroplasty, there is a high chance to destroy the joint cartilage.
Topics: Animals; Arthroplasty; Arthroscopy; Body Contouring; Cartilage Diseases; Cartilage, Articular; Cell Death; Chondrocytes; Disease Models, Animal; Humans; Microscopy, Confocal; Photomicrography; Radio Waves; Radiofrequency Therapy; Swine; Tibia
PubMed: 32190645
DOI: 10.1155/2020/1242086 -
Journal of Neuro-ophthalmology : the... Jun 2021Compression of the optic chiasm typically leads to bitemporal hemianopia. This implies that decussating nasal fibers are selectively affected, but the precise mechanism...
BACKGROUND
Compression of the optic chiasm typically leads to bitemporal hemianopia. This implies that decussating nasal fibers are selectively affected, but the precise mechanism is unclear. Stress on nasal fibers has been investigated using finite element modeling but requires accurate anatomical data to generate a meaningful output. The precise shape of the chiasm is unclear: A recent photomicrographic study suggested that nasal fibers decussate paracentrally and run parallel to each other in the central arm of an "H." This study aimed to determine the population variation in chiasmal shape to inform future models.
METHODS
Sequential MRI scans of 68 healthy individuals were selected. 2D images of each chiasm were created and analyzed to determine the angle of elevation of the chiasm, the width of the chiasm, and the offset between the points of intersection of lines drawn down the centers of the optic nerves and contralateral optic tracts.
RESULTS
The mean width of the chiasm was 12.0 ± 1.5 mm (SD), and the mean offset was 4.7 ± 1.4 mm generating a mean offset:width ratio of 0.38 ± 0.09. No chiasm had an offset of zero. The mean incident angle of optic nerves was 56 ± 7°, and for optic tracts, it was 51 ± 7°.
CONCLUSIONS
The human optic chiasm is "H" shaped, not "X" shaped. The findings are consistent with nasal fibers decussating an average of 2.4 mm lateral to the midline before travelling in parallel across the midline. This information will inform future models of chiasmal compression.
Topics: Adult; Aged; Female; Healthy Volunteers; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Middle Aged; Optic Chiasm; Optic Nerve; Photomicrography; Young Adult
PubMed: 32141976
DOI: 10.1097/WNO.0000000000000907 -
Microscopy and Microanalysis : the... Feb 2020Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a main cause of death and disabilities in young adults. Although learning and memory impairments are a major clinical manifestation of...
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a main cause of death and disabilities in young adults. Although learning and memory impairments are a major clinical manifestation of TBI, the consequences of TBI on the hippocampus are still not well understood. In particular, how lesions to the sensorimotor cortex damage the hippocampus, to which it is not directly connected, is still elusive. Here, we study the effects of sensorimotor cortex ablation (SCA) on the hippocampal dentate gyrus, by applying a highly sensitive gray-level co-occurrence matrix (GLCM) analysis. Using GLCM analysis of granule neurons, we discovered, in our TBI paradigm, subtle changes in granule cell (GC) morphology, including textual uniformity, contrast, and variance, which is not detected by conventional microscopy. We conclude that sensorimotor cortex trauma leads to specific changes in the hippocampus that advance our understanding of the cellular underpinnings of cognitive impairments in TBI. Moreover, we identified GLCM analysis as a highly sensitive method to detect subtle changes in the GC layers that is expected to significantly improve further studies investigating the impact of TBI on hippocampal neuropathology.
Topics: Animals; Brain Injuries; Dentate Gyrus; Disease Models, Animal; Hippocampus; Male; Neurons; Photomicrography; Rats, Wistar
PubMed: 31948501
DOI: 10.1017/S143192762000001X -
Veterinary Clinical Pathology Mar 2020
Topics: Animals; Ascitic Fluid; Dog Diseases; Dogs; Epididymis; Inflammation; Lethargy; Male; Photomicrography; Spermatocele; Spermatozoa; Testis; Ultrasonography; Vasectomy
PubMed: 31927771
DOI: 10.1111/vcp.12815 -
PloS One 2020Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is associated with an increased risk of myocardial infarction and stroke but it remains unclear how to identify... (Comparative Study)
Comparative Study Observational Study
BACKGROUND
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is associated with an increased risk of myocardial infarction and stroke but it remains unclear how to identify microvascular changes in this population.
OBJECTIVES
We hypothesized that simple non-mydriatic retinal photography is feasible and can be used to assess microvascular damage in COPD.
METHODS
Novel Vascular Manifestations of COPD was a prospective study comparing smokers with and without COPD, matched for age. Non-mydriatic, retinal fundus photographs were assessed using semi-automated software.
RESULTS
Retinal images from 24 COPD and 22 control participants were compared. Cases were of similar age to controls (65.2 vs. 63.1 years, p = 0.38), had significantly lower Forced Expiratory Volume in one second (FEV1) (53.4 vs 100.1% predicted; p < 0.001) and smoked more than controls (41.7 vs. 29.6 pack years; p = 0.04). COPD participants had wider mean arteriolar (155.6 ±15 uM vs. controls [142.2 ± 12 uM]; p = 0.002) and venular diameters (216.8 ±20.7 uM vs. [201.3± 19.1 uM]; p = 0.012). Differences in retinal vessel caliber were independent of confounders, odds ratios (OR) = 1.08 (95% confidence intervals [CI] = 1.02, 1.13; p = 0.007) and OR = 1.05 (CI = 1.01, 1.09; p = 0.011) per uM increase in arteriolar and venular diameter respectively. FEV1 remained significantly associated with retinal vessel dilatation r = -0.39 (p = 0.02).
CONCLUSIONS
Non-mydriatic retinal imaging is easily facilitated. We found significant arteriole and venous dilation in COPD compared to age-matched smokers without COPD associated with lung function independent of standard cardiovascular risk factors. Retinal microvascular changes are known to be strongly associated with future vascular events and retinal photography offers potential to identify this risk.
TRIAL REGISTRATION
clinicaltrials.gov NCT02060292.
Topics: Adult; Aged; Case-Control Studies; Feasibility Studies; Female; Fundus Oculi; Humans; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; Male; Microvessels; Middle Aged; Photomicrography; Prospective Studies; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive; Retinal Diseases; Retinal Vessels; Smokers; Smoking
PubMed: 31923188
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0227175