A Selective Fluorescent Probe for the Determination and Imaging of Fluoride in Living Cells

Abstract Fluoride anions are indispensable trace elements required for sustaining life. To investigate the homeostasis and action of fluoride in the body, a new highly sensitive and selective fluorescence detection method was designed for fluoride in aqueous solutions. A fluorescent probe for fluoride (FP-F) was synthesized for imaging F- in living cells. The design strategy for the probe was based on the specific reaction between fluoride and silica to mediate deprotection of this probe to fluorescein. Upon treatment with F-, FP-F, a closed and weakly fluorescent lactone, was transformed into an open and strongly fluorescent product. Under the optimum conditions, the detection limit for fluoride was 0.526 nM. FP-F could detect micromolar changes in F- concentrations in living cells by confocal microscopy.

Hairy tongue: differential diagnosis by use of widefield optical fluorescence

Abstract Hairy tongue is a benign pathology, characterized clinically by hyperkeratinized plaques on the dorsal surface of the tongue, hairlike, whose coloration ranges from unpigment, whitish, yellowish, green, brown to black. Diagnosis is clinical, and, in cases of whitish plaques, it may be difficult to differentiate between oral hairy leukoplakia, potentially malignant leukoplakia or squamous cell carcinoma. Thus, widefield optical fluorescence complementary examination may allow a better visualization of the local hairlike pattern of hyperkeratinization, typical of the hairy tongue, facilitating the diagnosis. In this work, a 57-year-old man was referred to the Dental Specialties Department of the Divinópolis Health Department (MG, Brazil) by a general dental practitioner, aiming a differential diagnosis of possible malignant lesion on the dorsal tongue surface. The complementary examination by wide-field optical fluorescence was performed. For this, it was employed a device with high-power light-emitting diode emitting light centered at a wavelength of (400±10) nm and maximum irradiance of (0.040±0.008) W/cm2 was used for fluorescence visualization. Fluorescence images showed projections of hairlike appearance in tongue dorsal surface with no aspects of malignancy. Hairlike appearance is the principal feature of hairy tongue. In this way, the final diagnosis was established. In conclusion, in this case, the use of widefield optical fluorescence in oral diagnostic routine provided a differential diagnosis, with no need of an incisional biopsy.

Resumo A língua pilosa é uma patologia benigna, caracterizada clinicamente por placas hiperqueratinizadas na face dorsal da língua, semelhante a pelos, cuja coloração varia de despigmentada, esbranquiçada, amarelada, verde, acastanhada a preta. O diagnóstico é clínico, e em casos de placas esbranquiçadas, pode ser difícil diferenciar entre leucoplasia pilosa oral, leucoplasia potencialmente maligna ou carcinoma de células escamosas. Assim, o exame complementar de fluorescência óptica de campo amplo pode permitir uma melhor visualização do padrão local de hiperqueratinização semelhante à pelos, os quais são característicos de língua pilosa, facilitando o diagnóstico. Neste trabalho, um paciente do sexo masculino, 57 anos, foi encaminhado ao Departamento de Odontologia da Secretaria de Saúde de Divinópolis (Minas Gerais) por um clínico geral, visando o diagnóstico de uma possível lesão maligna na face dorsal da língua. O exame complementar por fluorescência óptica de campo amplo foi realizado. Para isso, foi empregado um dispositivo com diodo emissor de luz de alta potência, com luz centrada em um comprimento de onda de (400±10) nm e irradiância máxima de (0,04 ±0,008) W/cm2 para visualização de fluorescência. As imagens de fluorescência mostraram projeções de aparência semelhante à pelos na superfície dorsal da língua, sem aspectos de malignidade. A aparência similar à pelos é a principal característica da língua pilosa. Dessa maneira, o diagnóstico final foi estabelecido. Em conclusão, neste caso, o uso da fluorescência óptica de campo amplo permitiu um diagnóstico diferencial, sem a necessidade de uma biópsia incisional.

The sentinel lymph node biopsy in penile carcinoma guided by multispectral separate-merge guided surgery device / 中华泌尿外科杂志

Objective To explore the method and clinical value of sentinel lymph node biopsy for penile carcinoma guided by multispectral separate-merge guided surgery device (MGS).Methods The clinical data of 7 patients with sentinel lymph node biopsy of penile cancer guided by MGS from April 2017 to April 2018 were analyzed retrospectively at First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University.They were 62-78 years old,with an average age of 65 years.All of carcinoma was located in the glans or coronal sulcus,which diameter was 1.0-3.5 cm,with an average of 2.5 cm.Three cases of inguinal lymph nodes could be non-palpable and the others palpable.All patients were injected 0.25 ml (2.5 mg/ml) of indocyanine greensolution with 1 ml syringe at 12,4,6 and 9 points in the proximal normal skin of penile tumors.Immediately,the imaging probe was aligned with the injection point to observe the dynamic changes of fluorescence image on MGS display.Results There were 14 sides of groin in 7 patients,except for 1 side without images,other 13 sides developed well.The images displayed by MGS include visible image,fluorescent image and merged image,and the merged image was green pseudo color.According to the dynamic changes of the image,it could be divided into five parts:injection point,penile body,pubic symphysis,inguinal region and sentinel lymph node.In 13 well-developed sides,fluorescence gradually disappeared in other parts about 15 minutes after injection,and the location of sentinel lymph nodes was determined in vitro by gradually consolidating and fixing the fluorescence images in the inguinal region.The lymph node-like tissue with strong fluorescence intensity was observed immediately after the skin incision.There was a clear boundary between the lymph node-like tissue and the surrounding tissue.Along this boundary,lymph nodes were separated,ligated,excised.No lymph nodes were found on the undetected side.Postoperative pathology confirmed that lymph nodes were located by fluorescence imaging in vitro and traced by fluorescence imaging in vivo,the coincidence rate was 100％.There were residual fluorescent tissues on three sides and lymphatic vessels were removed.Conclusions MGS-assisted intraoperative fluorescence imaging could improve the doctor's visual depth so that physicians can real-time,dynamic,accurate in vitro location and in vivo tracking of sentinel lymph nodes of penile cancer.

Illuminate hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgery using optical molecular imaging methods / 中华肝胆外科杂志

Since the concept of molecular imaging was put forward in 1999,optical molecular imaging techniques have been widely applied in the field of biomedical and clinical research.Its unique application value is especially shown in hepatobiliary surgery,such as in liver tumor imaging,anatomical liver resection,liver transplant angiography,cholangiography,and bile or pancreatic leakage prevention.Optical molecular imaging technique "lights up" targeted areas in surgical operations and provides convenience in carrying out precision operation.This paper reviewed the advantages of optical molecular imaging technology in clinical research and discussed its limitations in translational surgery,and put forward possible directions in improvement for the future.

Early Experience and the Feasibility of the Firefly Technology for Central Lymph Node Dissection (CLND) in Robotic Thyroidectomy Using the BABA

In the bilateral axillo-breast approach (BABA), the camera is inserted through the areolar incision, and this raises the concern it might be difficult to identify the lymph nodes (LN). The purpose of this study is to evaluate the feasibility of the Firefly for central lymph node dissection (CLND) in robotic thyroidectomy using the BABA. This study evaluated 18 patients who underwent robotic surgery using Firefly between December 2015 and March 2016. For LN mapping, 0.05 ml of ICG was injected into the thyroid 3~4 minutes before CLND. Green-stained LN could be detected easily through a near-infrared camera. The number of retrieved LNs was 7.8±3.0 after CLND using the Firefly, which was higher than the 6.7±0.2 reported in previous surgeries. In addition, it helped to distinguish between the parathyroid and the LNs. The Firefly technology was helpful in identifying the LNs, guiding the CLND and performing a complete CLND.