Search Results (1,409)

Accurate assessment of vitreous inflammation is essential for the diagnosis, monitoring and management of uveitis. Traditionally, vitritis has been evaluated using subjective clinical grading systems based on vitreous haze and cellular infiltration, which are limited by interobserver variability and poor reproducibility, particularly in cases of mild or subclinical inflammation. In recent years, advances in ocular imaging have enabled the development of more objective, quantitative approaches. Ultra-widefield imaging, optical coherence tomography (OCT) and ultrasound-based techniques have provided new insights into structural alterations within the vitreous. In parallel, automated image analysis and artificial intelligence (AI)-based methods have improved the detection and quantification of inflammatory biomarkers, including vitreous hyperreflective foci and signal intensity-based metrics. Despite these advances, important limitations remain, including a restricted field of view, a lack of standardized segmentation algorithms and an incomplete representation of the entire vitreous cavity. No single modality currently provides a comprehensive and fully reproducible assessment of vitreous inflammation. This review summarizes current qualitative and quantitative methods for evaluating vitreous inflammation, highlighting their respective strengths and limitations. In addition, emerging diagnostic strategies, including multimodal imaging integration, AI-driven analysis and molecular biomarker profiling, are discussed as potential tools to improve accuracy, standardization and clinical applicability. The transition from subjective grading toward objective quantification of inflammatory burden represents a key step in advancing both clinical management and research in ocular inflammatory diseases. Full article

Background: Treatment monitoring in pulmonary tuberculosis increasingly requires assessment of residual inflammatory burden and structural lung damage beyond microbiologic response alone. High-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) can provide this information, but interpretation of serial examinations is time-consuming and partly subjective. This study did not aim to evaluate AI for the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis. Instead, it explored whether artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted quantitative HRCT analysis could support longitudinal assessment of treatment-related imaging changes in patients with microbiologically confirmed pulmonary tuberculosis. Methods: We conducted a retrospective, single-center, exploratory longitudinal study of patients receiving treatment for pulmonary tuberculosis. HRCT examinations acquired at diagnosis and during follow-up were anonymized, reviewed by an expert thoracic radiologist, and processed using AVIEW Lung Texture (Coreline Soft v2.0). The software quantified total lung volume and six predefined parenchymal categories: normal lung, ground-glass opacity, consolidation, reticulation, honeycombing, and emphysema. Results: Ninety-six patients contributed 256 HRCT examinations. The most frequent software-detected abnormalities were ground-glass opacity, consolidation, and emphysema-labeled low-attenuation areas. Ground-glass opacity and consolidation showed the clearest decline across serial examinations, consistent with regression of active inflammatory disease during treatment. Reticulation showed a heterogeneous course, likely reflecting both inflammatory resolution and residual structural remodeling. Honeycombing was infrequent and quantitatively limited. Lung volume changed variably and did not consistently parallel visual improvement. A key methodological limitation was the absence of a dedicated cavity class. As a result, emphysema-labeled low-attenuation areas should not be interpreted as conventional emphysema alone, because tuberculous cavities and post-destructive abnormalities were frequently included in this category. Conclusions: AI-assisted HRCT quantification may support longitudinal assessment of pulmonary tuberculosis by providing structured and reproducible measures of interval change. However, tuberculosis-specific interpretation remains dependent on expert radiologic oversight, particularly in cavitary disease. Full article

Background/Objectives: Intraoperative fluorescence imaging (FI) with tumor-targeted tracers offers a promising approach to improve surgical precision in cancer surgery. cRGD-ZW800-1, an integrin-targeted fluorescent tracer, has previously demonstrated safety, tumor specificity, and utility in detecting inadequate margins in oral cancer. During this study, we observed variability in background fluorescence between different subsites of the oral cavity. Therefore, this study aimed to systematically evaluate intraoperative in vivo and ex vivo mucosal contrast ratios across various oral cavity subsites using FI with cRGD-ZW800-1. Methods: Thirty-one patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma underwent intraoperative FI following intravenous injection of cRGD-ZW800-1 at least 18 h preoperatively. In vivo imaging was performed using the Quest Spectrum platform. In addition, ex vivo FI of the resected specimen was performed using the Pearl Trilogy Small Animal Imaging System. As these ex vivo images were obtained under uniform and controlled acquisition conditions, they allow for direct comparison with the intraoperative fluorescence signals. Fluorescence intensities and tumor-to-background ratios (TBRs) were assessed per oral subsite using manually drawn regions of interest (ROIs) on the tumor and adjacent healthy mucosa using Quest’s Spectrum Software, version 4.8.2, (in vivo images) and the Pearl’s integrated software ImageStudio version 6.2 (ex vivo images). A TBR ≥ 1.5 was considered sufficient. Results: Under uniform imaging settings, all samples exhibited adequate contrast (TBR ≥ 2.3), allowing clear tumor visualization and precise evaluation of mucosal margins on final histopathology. Notably, intraoperative in vivo contrast in the posterior located maxillary alveolar process was comparatively lower, which was attributable to suboptimal imaging conditions and subsite-specific background fluorescence. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that, although contrast varies across different oral subsites, all specimens exhibited sufficient ex vivo mucosal contrast to allow reliable tumor delineation. As in vivo imaging may be affected by subsite-specific background fluorescence and inherent limitations of intraoperative imaging geometry, fluorescence signals should be interpreted in conjunction with standard visual and tactile assessment. Due to anatomical constraints, different oral subsites may appear within the same field of view, which can influence perceived signal intensity. Therefore, intraoperative ex vivo fluorescence evaluation is recommended for signal interpretation. Full article

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a major opportunistic pathogen frequently associated with nosocomial infections, such as pneumonia, urinary tract infections, and wound infections, particularly in immunocompromised or hospitalized patients. These infections are often difficult to treat due to the pathogen’s intrinsic antibiotic resistance and biofilm-forming ability. Therefore, rapid and selective detection of P. aeruginosa is essential for early diagnosis and effective infection control. In this study, a novel surface-imprinted MIP design uniquely combines methacrylamide (MAM), acrylamide (AAM), and vinylpyrrolidone (VP) monomers to generate recognition cavities that are complementary to the surface morphology and physicochemical properties of Pseudomonas aeruginosa cells. Unlike traditional MIP approaches, this surface imprinting strategy provides improved stability and reproducibility, without relying on biological recognition elements like antibodies or aptamers. This novel approach enabled us to achieve an ultralow LOD of 1 CFU/mL over a linear range of 1–10⁴ CFU/mL, demonstrating excellent analytical performance. In addition, the sensor exhibited good reproducibility with an RSD of 5–12%. The novelty of this work lies in the use of a surface-imprinted MIP strategy combined with a multi-monomer system to enhance bacterial recognition and sensing performance. Overall, the proposed MIP-based electrochemical biomimetic sensor offers a rapid, cost-effective, and portable platform with strong potential for the detection of P. aeruginosa in clinical and environmental applications. Full article

This paper introduces a weak-magnetic-field measurement system characterized by a large-scale uniform magnetic field and a low magnetic limit of detection (LOD). The system employs a four-ring coil assembly housed within a multi-layer magnetic shielding cavity, generating a uniform magnetic field region of 120 mm while achieving a minimum LOD of less than 10 pT. The performance of the weak-magnetic-field measurement system is appropriately validated using a bulk magnetic–electric (ME) sensor. The experimental results confirm the system’s dual functionalities in both magnetic sensor calibration and the measurement of weak magnetic parameters. Notably, this methodology is readily applicable to various forms of weak-magnetic-field measurement. Full article

One-lung ventilation (OLV) is performed during lung surgeries by ventilating a single lung, while collapsing the operative lung to provide surgical exposure within the thoracic cavity. While a lung-protective ventilation strategy is recommended during OLV, increasing the fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO₂) or tidal volume (V_T) may be required to prevent hypoxemia during surgery. Unfortunately, these increases are associated with postoperative lung injury. Using a porcine model of OLV, our project aims to determine if high FiO₂ or V_T during OLV contributes to elevation of pro-inflammatory lipid mediators postoperatively. Fifteen three-month-old farm-bred pigs underwent left upper lobectomy requiring OLV. Pigs were exposed to one of three ventilation parameters: normoxic low V_T lung-protective ventilation LPV-NO, n = 5, FiO₂ < 50%, V_T = 6 mL/kg), hyperoxic lung-protective ventilation (LPV-HO, n = 5, FiO₂ >100%, V_T = 6 mL/kg), or normoxic high V_T (injurious mechanical ventilation) (IMV, n = 5, FiO₂ < 50%, V_T = 10–12 mL/kg). Arterial plasma was collected before and after OLV, and lipids were detected via LC-MS-MS. Lipidomic analysis demonstrated a statistically significant increase (FC = 2, p ≤ 0.05) in lysophosphatidylethanolamines (LPE 18:3, LPE 20:4, LPE 18:2, LPE 22:6), free fatty acids (FFA 20:4), phosphatidylserine (PS 38:5), lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC 18:1, LPC 18:3, LPC 22:6), triglyceride (TG 18:2-18:2-20:4), free fatty acids (FFA 20:5), linoleyl-carnitine molecules (C18-2 Linoleoyl Carnitine), and phosphatidylethanolamines (PE 36:5) in LPV-HO. IMV resulted in a significant increase (FC = 2, p ≤ 0.05) in triglyceride (TG 18:2-18:2-20:4), diglyceride (DG 18:1-20:4, DG 16:0-20:4), linoleyl-carnitine molecules (C18-2 Linoleoyl Carnitine), and free fatty acids (FFA 20:5). There was no significant change in lipid biomarker levels following LPV-NO post-surgery. Our lipidomic analysis supports that both high FiO₂ and V_T contribute to systemic lipid metabolic derangements. Lipids that were elevated in LPV-HO and IMV are associated with multiple inflammatory pathways implicated in lung injury. This suggests that intra-operative anti-inflammatory therapies targeted to these lipid pathways may reduce or prevent postoperative pulmonary complications after lung surgery. Full article

Background/Objectives: Establishing laparoscopic access remains a critical and complication-prone step in minimally invasive surgery. Previous work has shown that proximal vibroacoustic sensing can identify peritoneal puncture events in porcine cadavers. The present pilot study evaluated whether these findings translate to human anatomy under controlled, ex vivo conditions. Methods: A vibroacoustic sensing prototype was proximally attached to a standard Veress needle during 14 insertions into a fresh human body donor (within 48 h post-mortem). An endoscope was introduced laterally to provide visual ground truth of peritoneal entry. Vibroacoustic signals were recorded at the proximal end of the instrument. Time–frequency analyses, transient excitation detection, and statistical comparisons were performed to assess whether (1) peritoneal puncture can be identified in the vibroacoustic signal, (2) signal phases and dynamics correspond to those previously observed in porcine cadavers, and (3) peritoneal punctures can be statistically differentiated from non-peritoneal events. Results: All 14 peritoneal punctures were identifiable in the vibroacoustic signal under the experimental conditions. Characteristic signal phases previously described in porcine tissue, including transient excitation associated with cavity entry, were consistently reproduced with comparable temporal and spectral profiles. Statistical analyses demonstrated group-level differences between peritoneal and non-peritoneal events, and the peritoneal puncture was the highest-energy event of its insertion in 13 of 14 cases (92.9%). Conclusions: Under the controlled ex vivo conditions of this single-donor pilot study, vibroacoustic sensing was feasible for identifying peritoneal puncture in human tissue and reproduced signal dynamics observed in porcine models. To our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of the proximal vibroacoustic sensing concept on a human body donor and the first cross-species replication of the previously reported puncture phase structure, establishing an important translational stepping stone between animal cadaver studies and in vivo investigations. The study demonstrates feasibility rather than clinical reliability: the single-donor design and the retrospective annotation framework limit generalizability. Prospective validation in living patients, across multiple subjects and operators, is required before clinical deployment. Full article

Olfactory (or odorant) receptors (ORs) were initially characterized in 1991 by Drs. Richard Axel and Linda Buck, and subsequent additional efforts have contributed to our understanding of their canonical function in odorant identification in the nasal cavity, including ligands for many of the ORs and the signaling pathways involved. More recently, OR transcripts and proteins have been identified in cells and organs outside of the nasal cavity, ranging from skin to sperm to tumors, suggesting that they have biological roles in ectopic locations other than their canonical function of odorant molecule detection in the nose. This mini narrative review discusses ectopic human ORs and their potential ligand-activated functions in the skin, lung, and sperm, as well as in diseases such as nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), melanoma and prostate cancer. Full article

Intraperitoneal (I.P.) delivery of cell-based therapeutics represents a promising strategy for treating regional peritoneal diseases; however, rapid cellular clearance severely limits therapeutic durability. A critical unmet need is the development of implantable biomaterial platforms that can both mechanically integrate within the dynamic I.P. cavity and sustain viable cell persistence in vivo. Here, we establish a Continuous Liquid Interface Production (CLIP)-based 3D bioprinting strategy to engineer transplantable, cell-laden hydrogel scaffolds optimized for I.P. implantation. Through systematic bioresin design, we identify a GelMA-PEGDA formulation that achieves a balance between high-resolution printability, tissue-matched mechanical characteristics (Young’s modulus 10–15 kPa), and controlled biodegradation (~75% mass loss over 14 days). The resulting constructs support sustained cell viability and proliferation for over 30 days in vitro. Importantly, in an animal study conducted in 6–8 weeks of female nude mice, in vivo I.P. implantation demonstrates a ~10-fold extension in cellular persistence compared to direct cell injection, prolonging the time to 50% signal decay from ~3 days to ~30 days, with detectable cell retention approaching two months in select animals. The platform further accommodates multiple clinically relevant cell types, including human mesenchymal stem cells and neural stem cells, highlighting its translational versatility. Collectively, this work defines key material and architectural parameters required for I.P. implantable cell therapeutics and establishes CLIP-based bioprinting as a scalable strategy for regional delivery of living therapeutics. Full article

Shallow lunar subsurface characterization is a key requirement for future exploration activities, particularly for in situ resource utilization and the identification of protected environments for human and robotic operations. This work presents the preliminary design and performance assessment of an orbital very high frequency (VHF) radar sounder tailored to the detection of subsurface water ice deposits and lava tubes at depths relevant to exploration. The analysis combines physically based modeling of acquisition geometry, electromagnetic properties, and surface roughness with quantitative evaluation of signal-to-noise and signal-to-clutter ratios. Results indicate that surface clutter constitutes the primary limitation for subsurface detectability in orbital sounding, thereby driving both instrument design and mission geometry. Quantitative performance bounds are derived for penetration depth and spatial resolution, providing guidance for identifying regions where subsurface access may be achieved with reduced operational risk. One-dimensional electromagnetic simulations further demonstrate the advantages of operating in the VHF regime. While lower-frequency systems retain sensitivity to some subsurface interfaces, their limited vertical resolution prevents reliable separation of closely spaced structures, such as the roof and floor of lava tubes. In contrast, the proposed VHF sounder enables clear separation of multiple subsurface interfaces, allowing geometric characterization of cavities and improved discrimination of ice-bearing layers. These results establish the feasibility and relevance of a VHF orbital radar sounder as a dedicated tool for shallow lunar subsurface investigations in support of future exploration missions. Full article

As part of conservation efforts for Pinna nobilis, a critically endangered bivalve endemic to the Mediterranean Sea, laboratory programs have been developed to maintain and breed specimens. However, progress in the ex situ conservation of the species remains limited and challenging. This study aims to advance the knowledge required to establish effective reproductive protocols for P. nobilis, specifically focusing on the population in the Mar Menor lagoon, one of the last two surviving populations along the Spanish coast. The first phase of this study involved characterizing the reproductive events in the lagoon. Subsequently, two ex situ reproduction experiments were conducted under conditions designed to replicate the lagoon’s natural environment. Three reproductive events were detected in the lagoon between 2019 and 2022, and five successful spawning events occurred across the two ex situ experiments. The conditions for maintenance, maturation, and induction of the individuals are described. In all cases, the percentage of fertilized oocytes released was remarkably high, suggesting internal fertilization, but not self-fertilization, within the pallial cavity. Additionally, ex situ individuals exhibited simultaneous hermaphroditism, with synchronous maturation and alternating release of gametes, effectively preventing self-fertilization. These findings represent a significant step forward in understanding the reproductive biology of P. nobilis and contribute to efforts aimed at ensuring the species’ long-term survival. Full article

Preterm birth is a major cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality, and many spontaneous cases remain idiopathic. Increasing evidence suggests that intrauterine inflammation may occur in the absence of detectable infection, leading to the recognition of sterile intrauterine inflammation as an important mechanism contributing to threatened preterm labor and spontaneous preterm birth. This review summarizes current knowledge regarding the role of damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs), alarmins, pattern recognition receptors, inflammasome activation, cellular senescence, and pyroptosis in the initiation of sterile inflammatory pathways associated with labor. Key mediators including HMGB1, IL-1α, fetal cell-free DNA, platelet-activating factor, and S100 proteins appear to promote inflammatory activation within fetal membranes and the amniotic cavity. The review also discusses the emerging contribution of fetal immune activation, maternal–fetal immune dysregulation, maternal microchimerism, and epigenetic mechanisms to idiopathic preterm birth. Current diagnostic and therapeutic options remain limited, and no targeted treatment for sterile intrauterine inflammation has yet been established. Future approaches may include precision biomarkers, multiomics-based risk stratification, targeted immunomodulatory therapies, and modulation of maternal–fetal immune interactions. Improved understanding of sterile inflammatory mechanisms may ultimately support development of personalized strategies to prevent preterm birth and improve perinatal outcomes. Full article

Concrete wall cavities are common hidden defects in construction engineering that seriously reduce structural safety, durability, and construction quality, especially in old buildings and projects without complete design documents. Traditional detection methods have obvious limitations: the manual tapping method relies heavily on subjective experience and lacks quantitative standards, while advanced non-destructive testing methods such as ultrasonic testing and infrared thermography are expensive, complex to operate, and difficult to apply on a large scale. At present, the quantitative correlation between acoustic signal characteristics and cavity defects has not been fully studied. To address these problems, this study combines literature analysis, controlled experiments, and acoustic signal processing to propose a quantitative identification method for concrete wall cavities based on autocorrelation analysis of sound signals. Tapping signals from normal and cavity walls are collected and processed using band-pass filtering and amplitude normalization. The autocorrelation function (ACF) is then used to extract characteristic parameters. The results show that the proposed method exhibits significantly improved accuracy and efficiency compared with traditional manual detection. Obvious differences in autocorrelation characteristics can be observed between normal and cavity walls. The method realizes the transformation from subjective auditory judgment to objective quantitative identification, with low cost, strong anti-interference ability, and high sensitivity to small defects. It provides a reliable technical tool for the rapid and quantitative non-destructive testing of concrete wall cavities in engineering practice. Full article

Mastication and swallowing are complex physiological processes involving the coordinated activity of multiple tissues in the oral cavity, facial region, and laryngeal system. Some detection methods suffer from limitations such as insufficient information acquisition and inadequate temporal feature analysis. To address these issues, this study proposes a conceptual method for analyzing the state of masticatory and swallowing movements. It integrates maxillofacial electromyographic (EMG) signals with laryngeal movement signals. The goal is to preliminarily explore state analysis of masticatory and swallowing movements over time. A designed gain-adjustable conditioning circuit processes and acquires these signals: maxillofacial EMG signals from EMG electrodes and laryngeal movement signals from flexible PVDF piezoelectric sensors. These two signal streams complement each other’s missing information, enabling comprehensive detection of the state of masticatory and swallowing movements. To address time-point labeling in mastication and swallowing, a sliding-window-based dispersion calculation method was employed to extract characteristic signal nodes, which were then accurately associated with their corresponding physiological motion states. We combined temporal features such as the zero point, onset of fluctuations, characteristic peaks, and baseline recovery from electromyographic (EMG) signals and laryngeal movement signals. This allowed us to establish a correspondence between key time points in the mastication and swallowing processes. The coefficient of determination (R²) for the pressure–voltage linear fit of the PVDF flexible piezoelectric sensor was 0.99446. The pressure resolution was approximately 0.08 kPa. Response times were no more than 15 ms for the EMG channel and no more than 10 ms for the PVDF pressure channel. These results indicate that this method is feasible for extracting oral movement time parameters in healthy subjects. Full article

Conventional drilling and coring methods are inherently limited to providing one-dimensional geological data, which hinders accurate characterization of the spatial distribution of rock mass structures and properties. Mechanical disturbances during drilling often cause core breakage, further compromising the fidelity of in situ geological representation. This study proposes an integrated approach combining borehole optical imaging and GPR to enhance the characterization of rock mass structures. A dynamic exploration method is introduced, defined as an adaptive drilling layout workflow based on phased information feedback. The fundamental concept, key assumptions, boundary conditions, and field implementation procedures of this dynamic survey are systematically described. The integrated method is applied to a high-speed railway investigation project in the Tengzhou section, Shandong Province, China, where six boreholes were surveyed using both techniques. Results demonstrate that fused analysis of borehole optical images and GPR data effectively reveals rock morphology, fracture distribution, joint systems, and fractured zones. Optical imaging provides high-resolution orientation data at the borehole wall. Borehole GPR extends detection radially into the surrounding rock mass. Together, the two methods enable spatially enhanced characterization and partially mitigate the azimuthal ambiguity inherent in single-borehole radar measurements. A triangular borehole survey scheme is shown to be feasible for locating subsurface anomalies. The proposed method effectively reduces borehole requirements compared to conventional grid layouts. Through the integrated analysis of optical imaging and GPR data, common anomalous features can be successfully identified. The method demonstrates practical applicability for detecting fractures with apertures greater than 1 cm and meter-scale cavities. Good consistency between the two techniques validates the feasibility of this integrated approach. The method’s limitations, including resolution constraints and detection omission risks, are explicitly acknowledged, and risk control strategies are proposed. Overall, the dynamic exploration approach reduces investigation costs and accelerates project timelines. It also provides a practical framework for the spatial characterization of rock mass discontinuities with minimal borehole requirements. Full article