Search Results (66)

(1) Background: Elemental imaging methods such as XRF, SEM/TEM-EDS, LIBS and LA-ICP-MS are widely used in clinical diagnostics. Based on the results obtained, it is possible to assess the safety of both standard and innovative therapies, diagnose diseases, detect pathogens or determine intracellular processes. In addition to bioimaging, these techniques are used for semi-quantitative and quantitative analyses. Some of them also enable highly valuable speciation of analytes. However, the quality of information about elemental tissue composition depends on a number of different factors. Although the crucial parameters of quantitative analysis are the same for each technique, their impact varies depending on the bioimaging method. Due to the fact that imaging results are often crucial in clinical decision-making, it is important to clearly indicate and describe the parameters affecting the quality of results in each technique. Therefore, the aim of this review is to describe the influence of these crucial parameters on bioimaging results based on the methodology and results of studies published in the last ten years. (2) Methods: In order to collect relevant publications, the Scopus database was searched using the keywords “element AND imaging AND human tissue”. Next, studies were selected in which methodological aspects allowed relevant conclusions to be made regarding the quality of the results obtained. (3) Results: One of the most important parameters for all techniques is measurement selectivity resulting from the complexity of human tissue. Quantitative analyses using bioimaging techniques are difficult due to the lack of suitable calibration materials. For the same reason, it is challenging to assess the accuracy of the results obtained. Particular attention should be paid to the results obtained for trace elements. (4) Conclusions: The discussed bioimaging techniques are a powerful tool in the elemental analysis of human tissues. Nevertheless, in order to obtain reliable results, a number of factors influencing the measurements must be taken into account. Full article

Rare-earth nanoparticles (RE-NPs), particularly NaYF₄:Yb³⁺,Er³⁺, have emerged as a promising class of photoluminescent probes for bioimaging and sensing applications. These nanomaterials are characterized by their ability to absorb low-energy photons and emit higher-energy photons through an upconversion luminescence process. This process can be triggered by continuous-wave (CW) light excitation, providing a unique optical feature that is not exhibited by native biomolecules. However, the application of upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) in bioimaging requires systematic optimization to maximize the signal and ensure biological compatibility. In this work, we synthesized hexagonal-phase UCNPs (average diameter: 29 ± 3 nm) coated with polyacrylic acid (PAA) and established the optimal conditions for imaging human erythrocytes. The best results were obtained after a 4-h incubation in 100 mM HEPES buffer, using a nanoparticle concentration of 0.01 mg/mL and a laser current intensity of 250–300 mA. Under these conditions, the UCNPs exhibited minimal cytotoxicity and were found to predominantly localize at the erythrocyte membrane periphery, indicating surface adsorption rather than internalization. Additionally, a machine learning model (Random Forest) was implemented that classified the photoluminescent signal with 80% accuracy and 83% precision, with the signal intensity identified as the most relevant feature. This study establishes a quantitative and validated protocol that balances signal strength with cell integrity, enabling robust and automated image analysis. Full article

With the increasing prevalence of plastic pollution, understanding its impact on soil nematodes is crucial for environmental sustainability and food security. Traditional fluorescence-based probes have the limitations of high background noise and interference from autofluorescence. In this study, the luminous upconverted NaYF4:Yb³⁺/Er³⁺ nanoparticles acted as high-sensitivity probes for real-time visualization of ingestion and biodistribution of polystyrene microplastics (PS-MPs) and nanoplastics (PS-NPs) in Caenorhabditis elegans. The novel probes enabled efficient near-infrared-to-visible light conversion. This approach improved the precision of nano- and microplastic detection in biological tissues. Microscopic imaging revealed that the probes effectively distinguished size-dependent plastic distribution patterns, with microplastics remaining in the digestive tract, whereas nanoparticles penetrated intestinal walls and entered systemic circulation. Quantitative fluorescence analysis confirmed that PS-NPs exhibited higher bioavailability and deeper tissue penetration, providing crucial insights into plastic behavior at the organismal level. The different toxicities of PS-NPs and PS-MPs were further confirmed by measurement of the locomotor impairments and the physiological disruptions. These findings emphasize the broader applications of upconverted nanoparticles as advanced bio-imaging probes, offering a sensitive and non-invasive tool for tracking pollutant interactions in environmental and biological systems. Full article

Background/Objectives: Evaluation of artifact expression in CBCT images caused by different intracanal medications (IMs) considering variations in scanning and reconstruction protocols. Reconstruction protocols refer to the specific parameters and image processing techniques applied during CBCT acquisition, including voxel size, slice thickness, and artifact reduction settings. MicroCT was used as the reference standard. Methods: Root canal preparation (45./05) of upper canines was performed, and the teeth were divided into four groups (n = 10) according to the IM used: G1: Ultracal XS (UC); G2: Bio-C Temp (BCT); G3: Metapex (MT); and G4: Metapaste (MP). The specimens were sealed with temporary provisional material and stored at 37 °C and 100% humidity for 7 days. Then, they were scanned using microCT (SkyScan 1174) and two CBCTs in high and low resolutions: EagleX3D and OP300. Image registration was performed using FIJI ImageJ software (v. 1.54k). Axial, sagittal, and coronal reconstructions were quali-quantitatively evaluated by two calibrated examiners following the scores for the artifacts (dark streaks, hypodense areas, and distortion): definitely absent; probably absent; not sure; probably present and definitely present; and the possibility of using the images for endodontic diagnosis: No/Yes. Statistical analysis was performed using Fleiss’ kappa test and two-way ANOVA (α = 95%). Results: CBCT images showed greater volume distortion of intracanal medication (p < 0.05) compared to microCT images. X3D CBCT showed the highest values of distortion, regardless of resolution, compared to OP300 (p < 0.05). The highest and lowest volume distortion for intracanal medications was observed in the UC and BCT groups, respectively (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Intracanal medication generates metallic artifact expression in CBCT images, hampering endodontic diagnosis. Full article

Human hair, commonly considered a discarded organic waste, is a keratin-rich material with remarkable potential for sustainable agriculture as an innovative resource. This study systematically explored the potential of non-composted human hair hydrolysates as eco-friendly and nutrient-rich liquid fertilizers, emphasizing their ability to enhance agricultural sustainability and mitigate organic waste accumulation. Eight distinct hydrolysates prepared with alkaline solutions were evaluated for their effects on plant growth using red-hot chili pepper (Capsicum frutescens) as the primary model under greenhouse conditions. The present study introduces a novel approach by employing an advanced digital image analysis technique to quantitatively assess 37 distinct plant growth parameters, providing an unprecedented depth of understanding regarding the impact of liquid human hair hydrolysates on plant development. Additionally, the integration of pilot-scale field trials and multi-species evaluations highlights the broader applicability and scalability of these hydrolysates as sustainable fertilizers. Collectively, these features establish this research as a pioneering contribution to sustainable agriculture and bio-waste management. The top-performing hydrolysates (KCaMgN, KMgN, KCaN) demonstrated significant enhancements in plant growth metrics, with fresh weight reaching up to 3210 mg, projected leaf area of approximately 132 cm², and crown diameter of 20.91 cm for the best-performing formulations, outperforming a commercial organomineral fertilizer by 20–46% in overall growth performance. Furthermore, observational studies on various species (such as bird of paradise flower (Strelitzia reginae), avocado (Persea americana), lemon (Citrus limon L.), Mazafati date (Phoenix dactylifera L.), and red mini conical hot pepper (Capsicum annuum var. conoides) and field trials on long sweet green peppers (Capsicum annuum) confirmed the broad applicability of these hydrolysates. Toxicity assessments using shortfin molly fish (Poecilia sphenops) validated the environmental safety of plants cultivated with hydrolysates. These findings highlight that human hair hydrolysates offer a sustainable alternative to synthetic fertilizers, contributing to waste management efforts while enhancing agricultural productivity. Full article

This study examines the differences in particulate matter (PM) properties and microbial compositions between natural and urban environments, providing foundational data for environmental monitoring and biothreat detection. Air samples were collected during the spring and early summer from two distinct locations: a forest/lake area, and an urban parking lot adjacent to a high-traffic roadway. Quantitative phase imaging microscopy and genomic sequencing were employed to characterize particle size distributions, statistical properties, and microbial community structures in these environments. The results revealed significant differences in PM properties between the two locations. Urban air exhibited higher particle concentrations that reflect pollution sources, whereas the natural environment displayed greater variability in particle size and distribution, correlating with diverse biological content. Genomic sequencing showed a lower diversity of microbial communities compared to the forest/lake area but with greater uniformity. To sum up, by integrating optical microscopy and genomic sequencing, this research demonstrates the feasibility of establishing environmental baselines for PM characteristics and bio-component diversity. The findings underscore the potential of combining real-time optical sensing with genomic tools for early biothreat detection and improved environmental monitoring in diverse settings. Full article

Crohn’s Disease (CD) is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease affecting the gastrointestinal tract. The search continues for new markers for assessing the activity of CD. Among them, pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines appear promising. We performed the analysis of cytokine concentrations in blood serum using the Bio-Plex Multiplex system (Bio-Rad), and their correlations with radiological parameters were assessed by magnetic resonance enterography (MRE), and fecal calprotectin levels were measured quantitatively by ELISA and clinical evaluation according to the Crohn’s Disease Activity Index (CDAI). Our study found that measuring cytokine serum concentrations can be a valuable tool in the diagnosis and treatment of CD. Positive correlations were reported between contrast enhancement on DCE-MRE and the concentrations of PDGF-BB and RANTES. Also, a positive correlation was found between the delayed-phase of DCE and IL-10 concentration, a strong negative correlation between the delayed-phase of DCE and IL-12 concentration, and a strong positive correlation between the delayed-phase of DCE and RANTES concentrations. A strong positive correlation was also observed between the thickness of the intestinal wall on T2-weighted images and RANTES concentration. Therefore, concentrations of PDGF-BB, RANTES, IL-10 and IL-12 are promising markers of CD activity. The study also demonstrated significant correlations between the severity of disease activity assessed by the CDAI and the concentrations of IL-5, IL-8 and IL-9, as well as positive correlations between the levels of fecal calprotectin and the concentrations of IL-1RA and VEGF. Therefore, the levels of IL-5, IL-8, IL-9, VEGF and IL-1RA may be useful markers in the diagnosis and clinical assessment of disease activity. Full article

Wound and injury healing processes are intricate and multifaceted, involving a sequence of events from coagulation to scar tissue formation. Effective wound management is crucial for achieving favorable clinical outcomes. Understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying wound healing, inflammation, and regeneration is essential for developing innovative therapeutics. This review explored the interplay of cellular and molecular processes contributing to wound healing, focusing on inflammation, innervation, angiogenesis, and the role of cell surface adhesion molecules. Additionally, it delved into the significance of calcium signaling in skeletal muscle regeneration and its implications for regenerative medicine. Furthermore, the therapeutic targeting of cellular senescence for long-term wound healing was discussed. The integration of cutting-edge technologies, such as quantitative imaging and computational modeling, has revolutionized the current approach of wound healing dynamics. The review also highlighted the role of nanotechnology in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, particularly in the development of nanomaterials and nano–bio tools for promoting wound regeneration. Moreover, emerging nano–bio interfaces facilitate the efficient transport of biomolecules crucial for regeneration. Overall, this review provided insights into the cellular and molecular mechanisms of wound healing and regeneration, emphasizing the significance of interdisciplinary approaches and innovative technologies in advancing regenerative therapies. Through harnessing the potential of nanoparticles, bio-mimetic matrices, and scaffolds, regenerative medicine offers promising avenues for restoring damaged tissues with unparalleled precision and efficacy. This pursuit marks a significant departure from traditional approaches, offering promising avenues for addressing longstanding challenges in cellular and tissue repair, thereby significantly contributing to the advancement of regenerative medicine. Full article

Monitoring moving bio-objects is currently of great interest for both fundamental and practical research. The advent of deep-learning algorithms has made it possible to automate the qualitative and quantitative analysis of the behavior of bio-objects recorded in video format. When processing such data, it is necessary to consider additional factors, such as background noise in the frame, the speed of the bio-object, and the need to reflect information about the previous (past) and subsequent (future) pose of the bio-object in one video frame. The preprocessed dataset must be suitable for verification by experts. This article proposes a method for preprocessing data to identify the behavior of a bio-object, a clear example of which is experiments on laboratory animals with the collection of video data. The method is based on combining information about a behavioral event presented in a sequence of frames with the addition of a native image and subsequent boundary detection using the Sobel filter. The resulting representation of a behavioral event is easily perceived by both human experts and neural networks of various architectures. The article presents the results of training several neural networks on the obtained dataset and proposes an effective neural network architecture (F1-score = 0.95) for identifying discrete events of biological objects’ behavior. Full article

Multispectral imaging can provide objective quantitative data on various clinical pathologies, e.g., abnormal content of bio-substances in human skin. Performance of diagnostics increases with decreased spectral bandwidths of imaging; from this point, ultra-narrowband laser spectral line imaging is well suited for diagnostic applications. In this study, 40 volunteers participated in clinical validation tests of a newly developed prototype device for triple laser line whole-body skin imaging. The device comprised a vertically movable high-resolution camera coupled with a specific illumination unit—a side-emitting optical fiber spiral that emits simultaneously three RGB laser spectral lines at the wavelengths 450 nm, 520 nm, and 628 nm. The prototype’s design details, skin spectral image processing, and the obtained first clinical data are reported and discussed. Full article

Imaging of microscopic objects is of fundamental importance, especially in life sciences. Recent fast progress in electronic detection and control, numerical computation, and digital image processing, has been crucial in advancing modern microscopy. Digital holography is a new field in three-dimensional imaging. Digital reconstruction of a hologram offers the remarkable capability to refocus at different depths inside a transparent or semi-transparent object. Thus, this technique is very suitable for biological cell studies in vivo and could have many biomedical and biological applications. A comprehensive review of the research carried out in the area of digital holographic microscopy (DHM) for live-cell imaging is presented. The novel microscopic technique is non-destructive and label-free and offers unmatched imaging capabilities for biological and bio-medical applications. It is also suitable for imaging and modelling of key metabolic processes in living cells, microbial communities or multicellular plant tissues. Live-cell imaging by DHM allows investigation of the dynamic processes underlying the function and morphology of cells. Future applications of DHM can include real-time cell monitoring in response to clinically relevant compounds. The effect of drugs on migration, proliferation, and apoptosis of abnormal cells is an emerging field of this novel microscopic technique. Full article

(1) Background: In 2022, the World Stroke Organization said there were more than 12.2 million new cases of stroke each year, between all ages and sexes. Six and a half million people die each year from stroke. Ischemic stroke accounts for 7.6 million (62%) cases, with 3.3 million (51%) deaths. Stroke is mainly linked to the atherosclerosis of a large artery. (2) Objective: Since the carotid artery directly supplies the brain, we used age-dependent mechanical mapping on the healthy common carotid artery (CCA) with the aim of being able to predict and thus potentially prevent ischemic stroke. (3) Methods: We assessed the CCA stiffness of 95 healthy control (CTL) females (2.23–39.46 years) and 107 healthy CTL males (2.85–40 years). Cine-loops of B-mode CCA data were digitally recorded with conventional medical ultrasound devices. Arterial wall elastic moduli were estimated offline using a proprietary non-invasive imaging-based biomarker algorithm (ImBioMark). Statistical analyzes were carried out with Excel software. (4) Results: Females showed a linear regression profile of CCA elastic moduli ranging from 41 ± 2 kPa to 54 ± 17 kPa (R² = 0.88), while males showed one ranging from 38 ± 5 kPa to 63 ± 22 kPa (R² = 0.83). For qualitative and quantitative illustrations, the elastic modulus data of CTLs were compared with those of subjects with Kawasaki disease and subjects born prematurely, respectively. (5) Conclusions: This study introduced some fundamental features of the mechanical evolution of the CCA as a function of age (2–40 years). Since atherosclerotic arteriopathy starts early in life, this gives the ability to predict risks of stroke and other cardiovascular diseases with the possibility of applying a more comprehensive range of potential preventive measures early in life. This is consistent with preventive medicine objectives which aim to be more predictive to implement pre-emptive measures as opposed to diagnostic and curative approaches. Full article

Moderate-Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) Nadir Bidirectional Reflectance Distribution Function (BRDF)-Adjusted Reflectance (NBAR) products are being increasingly used for the quantitative remote sensing of vegetation. However, the assumption underlying the MODIS NBAR product’s inversion model—that surface anisotropy remains unchanged over the 16-day retrieval period—may be unreliable, especially since the canopy structure of vegetation undergoes stark changes at the start of season (SOS) and the end of season (EOS). Therefore, to investigate the MODIS NBAR product’s temporal effect on the quantitative remote sensing of crops at different stages of the growing seasons, this study selected typical phenological parameters, namely SOS, EOS, and the intervening stable growth of season (SGOS). The PROBA-V bioGEOphysical product Version 3 (GEOV3) Fractional Vegetation Cover (FVC) served as verification data, and the Pearson correlation coefficient (PCC) was used to compare and analyze the retrieval accuracy of FVC derived from the MODIS NBAR product and MODIS Surface Reflectance product. The Anisotropic Flat Index (AFX) was further employed to explore the influence of vegetation type and mixed pixel distribution characteristics on the BRDF shape under different stages of the growing seasons and different FVC; that was then combined with an NDVI spatial distribution map to assess the feasibility of using the reflectance of other characteristic directions besides NBAR for FVC correction. The results revealed the following: (1) Generally, at the SOSs and EOSs, the differences in PCCs before vs. after the NBAR correction mainly ranged from 0 to 0.1. This implies that the accuracy of FVC derived from MODIS NBAR is lower than that derived from MODIS Surface Reflectance. Conversely, during the SGOSs, the differences in PCCs before vs. after the NBAR correction ranged between –0.2 and 0, suggesting the accuracy of FVC derived from MODIS NBAR surpasses that derived from MODIS Surface Reflectance. (2) As vegetation phenology shifts, the ensuing differences in NDVI patterning and AFX can offer auxiliary information for enhanced vegetation classification and interpretation of mixed pixel distribution characteristics, which, when combined with NDVI at characteristic directional reflectance, could enable the accurate retrieval of FVC. Our results provide data support for the BRDF correction timescale effect of various stages of the growing seasons, highlighting the potential importance of considering how they differentially influence the temporal effect of NBAR corrections prior to monitoring vegetation when using the MODIS NBAR product. Full article

Imaging technologies are used to observe the morphology and function of various organs in the body and have become indispensable in a multitude of fields, ranging from basic research to clinical medicine. The luminescence technology based on the luciferin–luciferase reaction has been used in many research fields as an imaging technique, enabling quantitative analysis and detection at high sensitivity. Specifically in gene therapy and cell therapy, it has been developed as an in vivo bioimaging technique mainly for small animal models because of its non-invasive and time-sequential analysis. Currently, translational research using this luminescence imaging technology in pigs for clinical applications is ongoing. In this review, we discuss the progress of these technologies and issues for their clinical application, focusing on pigs, by comparing conventional imaging techniques, including fluorescent probes, with luminescence imaging techniques. Full article

In the field of studies on the “Neural Synapses” in the nervous system, its experts manually (or pseudo-automatically) detect the bio-molecule clusters (e.g., of proteins) in many TIRF (Total Internal Reflection Fluorescence) images of a fluorescent cell and analyze their static/dynamic behaviors. This paper proposes a novel method for the automatic detection of the bio-molecule clusters in a TIRF image of a fluorescent cell and conducts several experiments on its performance, e.g., mAP @ IoU (mean Average Precision @ Intersection over Union) and F1-score @ IoU, as an objective/quantitative means of evaluation. As a result, the best of the proposed methods achieved 0.695 as its mAP @ IoU = 0.5 and 0.250 as its F1-score @ IoU = 0.5 and would have to be improved, especially with respect to its recall @ IoU. But, the proposed method could automatically detect bio-molecule clusters that are not only circular and not always uniform in size, and it can output various histograms and heatmaps for novel deeper analyses of the automatically detected bio-molecule clusters, while the particles detected by the Mosaic Particle Tracker 2D/3D, which is one of the most conventional methods for experts, can be only circular and uniform in size. In addition, this paper defines and validates a novel similarity of automatically detected bio-molecule clusters between fluorescent cells, i.e., SimMolCC, and also shows some examples of SimMolCC-based applications. Full article