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Guimarães P, Morgado M, Batista A. On the quantitative analysis of lamellar collagen arrangement with second-harmonic generation imaging. BIOMEDICAL OPTICS EXPRESS 2024; 15:2666-2680. [PMID: 38633085 PMCID: PMC11019681 DOI: 10.1364/boe.516817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2023] [Revised: 02/23/2024] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024]
Abstract
Second harmonic generation (SHG) allows for the examination of collagen structure in collagenous tissues. Collagen is a fibrous protein found in abundance in the human body, present in bones, cartilage, the skin, and the cornea, among other areas, providing structure, support, and strength. Its structural arrangement is deeply intertwined with its function. For instance, in the cornea, alterations in collagen organization can result in severe visual impairments. Using SHG imaging, various metrics have demonstrated the potential to study collagen organization. The discrimination between healthy, keratoconus, and crosslinked corneas, assessment of injured tendons, or the characterization of breast and ovarian tumorous tissue have been demonstrated. Nevertheless, these metrics have not yet been objectively evaluated or compared. A total of five metrics were identified and implemented from the literature, and an additional approach adapted from texture analysis was proposed. In this study, we analyzed their effectiveness on a ground-truth set of artificially generated fibrous images. Our investigation provides the first comprehensive assessment of the performance of multiple metrics, identifying both the strengths and weaknesses of each approach and providing valuable insights for future applications of SHG imaging in medical diagnostics and research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro Guimarães
- Coimbra Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Translational Research (CIBIT), Institute for Nuclear Sciences Applied to Health (ICNAS), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Miguel Morgado
- Coimbra Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Translational Research (CIBIT), Institute for Nuclear Sciences Applied to Health (ICNAS), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
- Department of Physics, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Ana Batista
- Coimbra Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Translational Research (CIBIT), Institute for Nuclear Sciences Applied to Health (ICNAS), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
- Department of Physics, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
- Centre for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology (CIBB), Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
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2
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Jeon H, Harvey M, Cisek R, Bennett E, Tokarz D. Characterization of pathological stomach tissue using polarization-sensitive second harmonic generation microscopy. BIOMEDICAL OPTICS EXPRESS 2023; 14:5376-5391. [PMID: 37854565 PMCID: PMC10581783 DOI: 10.1364/boe.500335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2023] [Revised: 08/16/2023] [Accepted: 09/09/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023]
Abstract
Alterations in collagen ultrastructure between human gastric adenocarcinoma and normal gastric tissue were investigated using polarization-resolved second harmonic generation (PSHG) microscopy. Cylindrical and trigonal symmetries were assumed to extract quantitative PSHG parameters, ρ, κ and S, from each image pixel. Statistically significant variations in these values were observed for gastric adenocarcinoma, indicating a higher disorder of collagen. Numerical focal volume simulations of crossing fibrils indicate increased S parameter is due to more intersecting collagen fibrils of varying diameters. These parameters were also able to distinguish between different grades of gastric adenocarcinoma indicating that PSHG may be useful for automated cancer diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hwanhee Jeon
- Department of Chemistry, Saint Mary’s University, 923 Robie Street, Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3H 3C3, Canada
| | - MacAulay Harvey
- Department of Chemistry, Saint Mary’s University, 923 Robie Street, Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3H 3C3, Canada
| | - Richard Cisek
- Department of Chemistry, Saint Mary’s University, 923 Robie Street, Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3H 3C3, Canada
| | - Elisha Bennett
- Department of Chemistry, Saint Mary’s University, 923 Robie Street, Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3H 3C3, Canada
| | - Danielle Tokarz
- Department of Chemistry, Saint Mary’s University, 923 Robie Street, Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3H 3C3, Canada
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3
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Saini K, Cho S, Tewari M, Jalil AR, Wang M, Kasznel AJ, Yamamoto K, Chenoweth DM, Discher DE. Pan-tissue scaling of stiffness versus fibrillar collagen reflects contractility-driven strain that inhibits fibril degradation. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.09.27.559759. [PMID: 37808742 PMCID: PMC10557712 DOI: 10.1101/2023.09.27.559759] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/10/2023]
Abstract
Polymer network properties such as stiffness often exhibit characteristic power laws in polymer density and other parameters. However, it remains unclear whether diverse animal tissues, composed of many distinct polymers, exhibit such scaling. Here, we examined many diverse tissues from adult mouse and embryonic chick to determine if stiffness ( E tissue ) follows a power law in relation to the most abundant animal protein, Collagen-I, even with molecular perturbations. We quantified fibrillar collagen in intact tissue by second harmonic generation (SHG) imaging and from tissue extracts by mass spectrometry (MS), and collagenase-mediated decreases were also tracked. Pan-tissue power laws for tissue stiffness versus Collagen-I levels measured by SHG or MS exhibit sub-linear scaling that aligns with results from cellularized gels of Collagen-I but not acellular gels. Inhibition of cellular myosin-II based contraction fits the scaling, and combination with inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) show collagenase activity is strain - not stress- suppressed in tissues, consistent with past studies of gels and fibrils. Beating embryonic hearts and tendons, which differ in both collagen levels and stiffness by >1000-fold, similarly suppressed collagenases at physiological strains of ∼5%, with fiber-orientation regulating degradation. Scaling of E tissue based on 'use-it-or-lose-it' kinetics provides insight into scaling of organ size, microgravity effects, and regeneration processes while suggesting contractility-driven therapeutics.
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4
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Tinasi ALSN, Silveira CPB, Honsho CS, Laus JL, Aldrovani M. Birefringence analysis of collagen supraorganization in cat corneas with tropical keratopathy. Vet Ophthalmol 2023; 26:398-406. [PMID: 37335898 DOI: 10.1111/vop.13124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2023] [Revised: 04/02/2023] [Accepted: 06/10/2023] [Indexed: 06/21/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To evaluate the birefringent properties of the cornea and examine the supraorganizational aspects of collagen fibers in cats with tropical keratopathy. PROCEDURE In this study, 10-micrometer-thick sections of corneal tissue from cats with tropical keratopathy were examined, both in the opaque and transparent areas of the anterior stroma. Control samples were obtained from healthy cat corneas. Polarized light microscopy was employed to evaluate the birefringent properties using two distinct methods. The first method involved measuring the optical retardation associated with corneal birefringence, while the second method assessed the alignment/waviness of the birefringent collagen fibers. Differences were significant when p < .05. RESULTS Tropical keratopathy resulted in a significant rise (p < .05) in optical retardation in both opaque and transparent regions of the cat cornea. In the anterior stroma, both the opaque zones and transparent tissue exhibited a higher degree of collagen fiber packing than the control corneas. However, no significant differences (p > .05) in alignment were observed between the transparent tissue of the diseased cornea and the healthy corneas. CONCLUSION Supraorganizational changes in collagen fiber packing are not restricted to lesion zones in cat corneas affected by tropical keratopathy. Such alterations also occur in the corneal tissue of the anterior stroma adjoining the lesions. Therefore, it is plausible that the transparent tissue of the anterior stroma in corneas affected by the disease may have functional abnormalities, despite its macroscopic healthy appearance. Additional investigations are required to clarify the implications of these potential defects and their conceivable contribution to tropical keratopathy.
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5
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Gomes EFA, Paulino Junior E, de Lima MFR, Reis LA, Paranhos G, Mamede M, Longford FGJ, Frey JG, de Paula AM. Prostate cancer tissue classification by multiphoton imaging, automated image analysis and machine learning. JOURNAL OF BIOPHOTONICS 2023; 16:e202200382. [PMID: 36806587 DOI: 10.1002/jbio.202200382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2022] [Revised: 02/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Prostate carcinoma, a slow-growing and often indolent tumour, is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer among men worldwide. The prognosis is mainly based on the Gleason system through prostate biopsy analysis. However, new treatment and monitoring strategies depend on a more precise diagnosis. Here, we present results by multiphoton imaging for prostate tumour samples from 120 patients that allow to obtain quantitative parameters leading to specific tumour aggressiveness signatures. An automated image analysis was developed to recognise and quantify stromal fibre and neoplastic cell regions in each image. The set of metrics was able to distinguish between non-neoplastic tissue and carcinoma areas by linear discriminant analysis and random forest with accuracy of 89% ± 3%, but between Gleason groups of only 46% ± 6%. The reactive stroma analysis improved the accuracy to 65% ± 5%, clearly demonstrating that stromal parameters should be considered as additional criteria for a more accurate diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Egleidson F A Gomes
- Departamento de Física, Instituto de Ciências Exatas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Eduardo Paulino Junior
- Departamento de Anatomia Patológica e Medicina Legal, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | | | - Luana A Reis
- Departamento de Física, Instituto de Ciências Exatas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Giovanna Paranhos
- Departamento de Física, Instituto de Ciências Exatas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Marcelo Mamede
- Departamento Anatomia e Imagem, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | | | | | - Ana Maria de Paula
- Departamento de Física, Instituto de Ciências Exatas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
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6
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Martínez-Ojeda RM, Mugnier LM, Artal P, Bueno JM. Blind deconvolution of second harmonic microscopy images of the living human eye. BIOMEDICAL OPTICS EXPRESS 2023; 14:2117-2128. [PMID: 37206134 PMCID: PMC10191662 DOI: 10.1364/boe.486989] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2023] [Revised: 03/17/2023] [Accepted: 03/19/2023] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Second harmonic generation (SHG) imaging microscopy of thick biological tissues is affected by the presence of aberrations and scattering within the sample. Moreover, additional problems, such as uncontrolled movements, appear when imaging in-vivo. Deconvolution methods can be used to overcome these limitations under some conditions. In particular, we present here a technique based on a marginal blind deconvolution approach for improving SHG images obtained in vivo in the human eye (cornea and sclera). Different image quality metrics are used to quantify the attained improvement. Collagen fibers in both cornea and sclera are better visualized and their spatial distributions accurately assessed. This might be a useful tool to better discriminate between healthy and pathological tissues, especially those where changes in collagen distribution occur.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosa M. Martínez-Ojeda
- Laboratorio de Óptica,
Instituto Universitario de Investigación en
Óptica y Nanofísica, Universidad de
Murcia, Campus de Espinardo (Ed. 34), 30100 Murcia, Spain
| | | | - Pablo Artal
- Laboratorio de Óptica,
Instituto Universitario de Investigación en
Óptica y Nanofísica, Universidad de
Murcia, Campus de Espinardo (Ed. 34), 30100 Murcia, Spain
| | - Juan M. Bueno
- Laboratorio de Óptica,
Instituto Universitario de Investigación en
Óptica y Nanofísica, Universidad de
Murcia, Campus de Espinardo (Ed. 34), 30100 Murcia, Spain
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7
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Batista A, Guimarães P, Domingues JP, Quadrado MJ, Morgado AM. Two-Photon Imaging for Non-Invasive Corneal Examination. SENSORS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 22:9699. [PMID: 36560071 PMCID: PMC9783858 DOI: 10.3390/s22249699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2022] [Revised: 12/02/2022] [Accepted: 12/04/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Two-photon imaging (TPI) microscopy, namely, two-photon excited fluorescence (TPEF), fluorescence lifetime imaging (FLIM), and second-harmonic generation (SHG) modalities, has emerged in the past years as a powerful tool for the examination of biological tissues. These modalities rely on different contrast mechanisms and are often used simultaneously to provide complementary information on morphology, metabolism, and structural properties of the imaged tissue. The cornea, being a transparent tissue, rich in collagen and with several cellular layers, is well-suited to be imaged by TPI microscopy. In this review, we discuss the physical principles behind TPI as well as its instrumentation. We also provide an overview of the current advances in TPI instrumentation and image analysis. We describe how TPI can be leveraged to retrieve unique information on the cornea and to complement the information provided by current clinical devices. The present state of corneal TPI is outlined. Finally, we discuss the obstacles that must be overcome and offer perspectives and outlooks to make clinical TPI of the human cornea a reality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Batista
- Coimbra Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Translational Research (CIBIT), University of Coimbra, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal
- Institute for Nuclear Sciences Applied to Health (ICNAS), University of Coimbra, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal
- Department of Physics, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Coimbra, 3004-516 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Pedro Guimarães
- Coimbra Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Translational Research (CIBIT), University of Coimbra, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal
- Institute for Nuclear Sciences Applied to Health (ICNAS), University of Coimbra, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - José Paulo Domingues
- Coimbra Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Translational Research (CIBIT), University of Coimbra, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal
- Institute for Nuclear Sciences Applied to Health (ICNAS), University of Coimbra, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal
- Department of Physics, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Coimbra, 3004-516 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Maria João Quadrado
- Department of Ophthalmology, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra, 3004-561 Coimbra, Portugal
- Coimbra Institute for Clinical and Biomedical Research (iCBR), Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - António Miguel Morgado
- Coimbra Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Translational Research (CIBIT), University of Coimbra, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal
- Institute for Nuclear Sciences Applied to Health (ICNAS), University of Coimbra, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal
- Department of Physics, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Coimbra, 3004-516 Coimbra, Portugal
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8
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Dental Age Estimation Using Multiphoton Microscopy: A Potential Tool for Forensic Science. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 2022:3328818. [PMID: 35937389 PMCID: PMC9355766 DOI: 10.1155/2022/3328818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2022] [Accepted: 07/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Normal aging affects the different structures of teeth, in particular, the dentine. These changes are useful in forensic disciplines as a tool for age estimation. Although multiphoton (MP) microscopy has been used to explore dental pieces, a relationship between age and MP response of the human dentine has not been proposed yet. The relationship between MP signals and natural dentine aging is investigated herein. An index of age (INAG) combining two-photon excitation fluorescence (TPEF) and second harmonic generation (SHG) images has been used to quantify these changes. The results show that the INAG significantly decreases with age. Moreover, peritubular dentine size and collagen internal properties are also modified with age. This information confirms the usefulness of this technique in forensic age estimation after disasters (natural or manmade) with a lack of comprehensive fingerprint database. Courts and other government authorities might also benefit from this tool when the official age of individuals under special circumstances is required for legal or medical reasons.
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9
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García-Mendívil L, Pérez-Zabalza M, Mountris K, Duwé S, Smisdom N, Pérez M, Luján L, Wolfs E, Driesen RB, Vallejo-Gil JM, Fresneda-Roldán PC, Fañanás-Mastral J, Vázquez-Sancho M, Matamala-Adell M, Sorribas-Berjón JF, Bellido-Morales JA, Mancebón-Sierra FJ, Vaca-Núñez AS, Ballester-Cuenca C, Oliván-Viguera A, Diez E, Ordovás L, Pueyo E. Analysis of age-related left ventricular collagen remodeling in living donors: Implications in arrhythmogenesis. iScience 2022; 25:103822. [PMID: 35198884 PMCID: PMC8850748 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.103822] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2021] [Revised: 12/14/2021] [Accepted: 01/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Age-related fibrosis in the left ventricle (LV) has been mainly studied in animals by assessing collagen content. Using second-harmonic generation microscopy and image processing, we evaluated amount, aggregation and spatial distribution of LV collagen in young to old pigs, and middle-age and elder living donors. All collagen features increased when comparing adult and old pigs with young ones, but not when comparing adult with old pigs or middle-age with elder individuals. Remarkably, all collagen parameters strongly correlated with lipofuscin, a biological age marker, in humans. By building patient-specific models of human ventricular tissue electrophysiology, we confirmed that amount and organization of fibrosis modulated arrhythmia vulnerability, and that distribution should be accounted for arrhythmia risk assessment. In conclusion, we characterize the age-associated changes in LV collagen and its potential implications for ventricular arrhythmia development. Consistency between pig and human results substantiate the pig as a relevant model of age-related LV collagen dynamics. Collagen remodeling traits change from youth to adulthood, not from midlife onwards In humans, collagen remodeling traits relate with the biological age-pigment lipofuscin Beyond collagen amount, its distribution also influences ventricular arrhythmogenesis Consistent age-related remodeling was observed amid healthy farm pigs and living donors
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura García-Mendívil
- Biomedical Signal Interpretation and Computational Simulation Group (BSICoS), Aragón Institute of Engineering Research, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza 50018, Spain.,BSICoS, IIS Aragón, Zaragoza 50018, Spain
| | - María Pérez-Zabalza
- Biomedical Signal Interpretation and Computational Simulation Group (BSICoS), Aragón Institute of Engineering Research, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza 50018, Spain.,BSICoS, IIS Aragón, Zaragoza 50018, Spain
| | - Konstantinos Mountris
- Biomedical Signal Interpretation and Computational Simulation Group (BSICoS), Aragón Institute of Engineering Research, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza 50018, Spain.,BSICoS, IIS Aragón, Zaragoza 50018, Spain
| | - Sam Duwé
- Advanced Optical Microscopy Centre, Biomedical Research Institute, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek 3500, Belgium
| | - Nick Smisdom
- Biomedical Research Institute, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek 3500, Belgium
| | - Marta Pérez
- Department of Anatomy, Embryology and Animal Genetics, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza 50013, Spain.,Instituto Universitario de Investigación Mixto Agroalimentario de Aragón (IA2), University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza 50013, Spain
| | - Lluís Luján
- Instituto Universitario de Investigación Mixto Agroalimentario de Aragón (IA2), University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza 50013, Spain.,Department of Animal Pathology, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza 50013, Spain
| | - Esther Wolfs
- Biomedical Research Institute, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek 3500, Belgium
| | - Ronald B Driesen
- Biomedical Research Institute, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek 3500, Belgium
| | - José María Vallejo-Gil
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, University Hospital Miguel Servet, Zaragoza 50009, Spain
| | | | - Javier Fañanás-Mastral
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, University Hospital Miguel Servet, Zaragoza 50009, Spain
| | - Manuel Vázquez-Sancho
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, University Hospital Miguel Servet, Zaragoza 50009, Spain
| | - Marta Matamala-Adell
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, University Hospital Miguel Servet, Zaragoza 50009, Spain
| | | | | | | | | | - Carlos Ballester-Cuenca
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, University Hospital Miguel Servet, Zaragoza 50009, Spain
| | - Aida Oliván-Viguera
- Biomedical Signal Interpretation and Computational Simulation Group (BSICoS), Aragón Institute of Engineering Research, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza 50018, Spain.,BSICoS, IIS Aragón, Zaragoza 50018, Spain.,Biomedical Research Networking Center in Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), Zaragoza 50018, Spain
| | - Emiliano Diez
- Institute of Experimental Medicine and Biology of Cuyo (IMBECU), CONICET, Mendoza 5500, Argentina
| | - Laura Ordovás
- Biomedical Signal Interpretation and Computational Simulation Group (BSICoS), Aragón Institute of Engineering Research, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza 50018, Spain.,BSICoS, IIS Aragón, Zaragoza 50018, Spain.,ARAID Foundation, Zaragoza 50018, Spain
| | - Esther Pueyo
- Biomedical Signal Interpretation and Computational Simulation Group (BSICoS), Aragón Institute of Engineering Research, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza 50018, Spain.,BSICoS, IIS Aragón, Zaragoza 50018, Spain.,Biomedical Research Networking Center in Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), Zaragoza 50018, Spain
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10
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Aldrovani M, Pereira AG, Tinasi ALSN, Brito VJDSC, Raposo ACS, Honsho CDS, Oriá AP. Birefringence Analyses Reveal Differences in Supramolecular Characteristics of Corneal Stromal Collagen Fibrils Between Falconiformes and Strigiformes. Integr Comp Biol 2021; 62:124-138. [PMID: 34313760 DOI: 10.1093/icb/icab171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
This study aimed to assess the birefringent properties of corneal stromal collagen fibrils in birds of the orders Falconiformes (diurnal) and Strigiformes (predominantly nocturnal) to compare their supramolecular organizations. Twenty-two corneas of Falconiformes (Caracara plancus, n = 8; Rupornis magnirostris, n = 10; and Falco sparverius, n = 4) and 28 of Strigiformes (Tyto furcata, n = 16; Pseudoscops clamator, n = 6; and Athene cunicularia, n = 6) were processed histotechnically into 8 μm thick sections. Corneal optical retardation values related to the form and intrinsic fractions of the total birefringence of collagen fibrils were measured using a polarized light microscope equipped with phase compensators. In addition, the coherence coefficients that inform the local orientation of the fibrils were calculated through video image analysis. All assessments were conducted both in the anterior and posterior stroma of the cornea. Differences were significant when p < 0.05. The results showed supraorganizational differences between fibrils in the anterior stroma of Falconiformes and Strigiformes. The optical retardation values were greater (p < 0.0001) for Falconiformes, indicating that the corneas of these birds contain more collagen fibrils or more aggregated collagen fibrils. In contrast, the coherence coefficients were higher (p = 0.016) for Strigiformes, indicating that the collagen fibers in these birds are highly aligned and have few undulations. A multivariate data matrix constructed for Euclidean distance calculations showed that the dissimilarity between Falconiformes and Strigiformes corneas, in terms of the supraorganization of stromal collagen fibrils, was 4.56%. In conclusion, it is possible that the supraorganizational differences reported in this study may be sources of variation in the visual quality of Falconiformes and Strigiformes. This study provides the necessary evidence to encourage further research associating corneal optical performance to supramolecular characteristics of corneal stromal collagen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcela Aldrovani
- Post-Graduation Program in Animal Science, Franca University, Franca, Brazil
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Arianne Pontes Oriá
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Zootechny, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, Brazil
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11
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Garcia APV, Reis LA, Nunes FC, Longford FGJ, Frey JG, de Paula AM, Cassali GD. Canine mammary cancer tumour behaviour and patient survival time are associated with collagen fibre characteristics. Sci Rep 2021; 11:5668. [PMID: 33707516 PMCID: PMC7952730 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-85104-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2020] [Accepted: 02/19/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Precise diagnosis and prognosis are key in prevention and reduction of morbidity and mortality in all types of cancers. Here we show that changes in the collagen fibres in the main histological subtypes of canine mammary gland carcinomas are directly associated with the tumour behaviour and the animal survival time and could become a useful tool in helping with diagnosis. Imaging by second harmonic generation and multiphoton excited fluorescence microscopy were performed to evaluate the collagen and cellular segment parameters in cancer biopsies. We present a retrospective study of 45 cases of canine mammary cancer analysing 836 biopsies regions including normal mammary gland tissue, benign mixed tumours, carcinoma in mixed tumour, carcinosarcoma, micropapillary carcinoma and solid carcinoma. The image analyses and the comparison between the tumour types allowed to assess the collagen fibre changes during tumour progression. We demonstrate that the collagen parameters correlate with the clinical and pathological data, the results show that in neoplastic tissues, the collagen fibres are more aligned and shorter as compared to the normal tissues. There is a clear association of the mean fibre length with the dogs survival times, the carcinomas presenting shorter collagen fibres indicate a worse survival rate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana P. V. Garcia
- grid.8430.f0000 0001 2181 4888Laboratório de Patologia Comparada, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG 31270-901 Brazil
| | - Luana A. Reis
- grid.8430.f0000 0001 2181 4888Departamento de Física, Instituto de Ciências Exatas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG 31270-901 Brazil
| | - Fernanda C. Nunes
- grid.8430.f0000 0001 2181 4888Laboratório de Patologia Comparada, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG 31270-901 Brazil
| | | | - Jeremy G. Frey
- grid.5491.90000 0004 1936 9297University of Southampton, Southampton, SO17 1BJ UK
| | - Ana M. de Paula
- grid.8430.f0000 0001 2181 4888Departamento de Física, Instituto de Ciências Exatas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG 31270-901 Brazil
| | - Geovanni D. Cassali
- grid.8430.f0000 0001 2181 4888Laboratório de Patologia Comparada, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG 31270-901 Brazil
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12
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Bueno JM, Ávila FJ, Lorenzo-Martín E, Gallego-Muñoz P, Carmen Martínez-García M. Assessment of the corneal collagen organization after chemical burn using second harmonic generation microscopy. BIOMEDICAL OPTICS EXPRESS 2021; 12:756-765. [PMID: 33680540 PMCID: PMC7901323 DOI: 10.1364/boe.412819] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2020] [Accepted: 12/22/2020] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
The organization of the corneal stoma is modified due to different factors, including pathology, surgery or external damage. Here the changes in the organization of the corneal collagen fibers during natural healing after chemical burn are investigated using second harmonic generation (SHG) imaging. Moreover, the structure tensor (ST) was used as an objective tool for morphological analyses at different time points after burn (up to 6 months). Unlike control corneas that showed a regular distribution, the collagen pattern at 1 month of burn presented a non-organized arrangement. SHG signal levels noticeably decreased and individual fibers were hardly visible. Over time, the healing process led to a progressive re-organization of the fibers that could be quantified through the ST. At 6 months, the stroma distribution reached values similar to those of control eyes and a dominant direction of the fibers re-appeared. The present results show that SHG microscopy imaging combined with the ST method is able to objectively monitor the temporal regeneration of the corneal organization after chemical burn. Future implementations of this approach into clinically adapted devices would help to diagnose and quantify corneal changes, not only due to chemical damages, but also as a result of disease or surgical procedures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan M. Bueno
- Laboratorio de Óptica, Instituto Universitario de Investigación en Óptica y Nanofísica, Universidad de Murcia, Campus de Espinardo (Ed. 34), 30100 Murcia, Spain
| | | | - Elvira Lorenzo-Martín
- Dpto. Biología Celular, Histología y Farmacología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Valladolid, 47005 Valladolid, Spain
| | - Patricia Gallego-Muñoz
- Dpto. Biología Celular, Histología y Farmacología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Valladolid, 47005 Valladolid, Spain
| | - M. Carmen Martínez-García
- Dpto. Biología Celular, Histología y Farmacología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Valladolid, 47005 Valladolid, Spain
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13
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Benboujja F, Hartnick C. Quantitative evaluation of the human vocal fold extracellular matrix using multiphoton microscopy and optical coherence tomography. Sci Rep 2021; 11:2440. [PMID: 33510352 PMCID: PMC7844040 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-82157-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2020] [Accepted: 01/11/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Identifying distinct normal extracellular matrix (ECM) features from pathology is of the upmost clinical importance for laryngeal diagnostics and therapy. Despite remarkable histological contributions, our understanding of the vocal fold (VF) physiology remains murky. The emerging field of non-invasive 3D optical imaging may be well-suited to unravel the complexity of the VF microanatomy. This study focused on characterizing the entire VF ECM in length and depth with optical imaging. A quantitative morphometric evaluation of the human vocal fold lamina propria using two-photon excitation fluorescence (TPEF), second harmonic generation (SHG), and optical coherence tomography (OCT) was investigated. Fibrillar morphological features, such as fiber diameter, orientation, anisotropy, waviness and second-order statistics features were evaluated and compared according to their spatial distribution. The evidence acquired in this study suggests that the VF ECM is not a strict discrete three-layer structure as traditionally described but instead a continuous assembly of different fibrillar arrangement anchored by predominant collagen transitions zones. We demonstrated that the ECM composition is distinct and markedly thinned in the anterior one-third of itself, which may play a role in the development of some laryngeal diseases. We further examined and extracted the relationship between OCT and multiphoton imaging, promoting correspondences that could lead to accurate 3D mapping of the VF architecture in real-time during phonosurgeries. As miniaturization of optical probes is consistently improving, a clinical translation of OCT imaging and multiphoton imaging, with valuable qualitative and quantitative features, may have significant implications for treating voice disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fouzi Benboujja
- Department of Otolaryngology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Harvard Medical School, 243 Charles Street, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
| | - Christopher Hartnick
- Department of Otolaryngology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Harvard Medical School, 243 Charles Street, Boston, MA, 02114, USA.
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14
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Reis LA, Garcia APV, Gomes EFA, Longford FGJ, Frey JG, Cassali GD, de Paula AM. Canine mammary cancer diagnosis from quantitative properties of nonlinear optical images. BIOMEDICAL OPTICS EXPRESS 2020; 11:6413-6427. [PMID: 33282498 PMCID: PMC7687940 DOI: 10.1364/boe.400871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2020] [Revised: 09/20/2020] [Accepted: 10/04/2020] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
We present nonlinear microscopy imaging results and analysis from canine mammary cancer biopsies. Second harmonic generation imaging allows information of the collagen structure in the extracellular matrix that together with the fluorescence of the cell regions of the biopsies form a base for comprehensive image analysis. We demonstrate an automated image analysis method to classify the histological type of canine mammary cancer using a range of parameters extracted from the images. The software developed for image processing and analysis allows for the extraction of the collagen fibre network and the cell regions of the images. Thus, the tissue properties are obtained after the segmentation of the image and the metrics are measured specifically for the collagen and the cell regions. A linear discriminant analysis including all the extracted metrics allowed to clearly separate between the healthy and cancerous tissue with a 91%-accuracy. Also, a 61%-accuracy was achieved for a comparison of healthy and three histological cancer subtypes studied.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luana A. Reis
- Departamento de Física, Instituto de Ciências Exatas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, 31270-901 Belo Horizonte-MG, Brazil
| | - Ana P. V. Garcia
- Laboratório de Patologia Comparada, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, 31270-901 Belo Horizonte-MG, Brazil
| | - Egleidson F. A. Gomes
- Departamento de Física, Instituto de Ciências Exatas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, 31270-901 Belo Horizonte-MG, Brazil
| | | | - Jeremy G. Frey
- University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, United Kingdom
| | - Geovanni D. Cassali
- Laboratório de Patologia Comparada, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, 31270-901 Belo Horizonte-MG, Brazil
| | - Ana M. de Paula
- Departamento de Física, Instituto de Ciências Exatas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, 31270-901 Belo Horizonte-MG, Brazil
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15
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McLean JP, Fang S, Gallos G, Myers KM, Hendon CP. Three-dimensional collagen fiber mapping and tractography of human uterine tissue using OCT. BIOMEDICAL OPTICS EXPRESS 2020; 11:5518-5541. [PMID: 33149968 PMCID: PMC7587264 DOI: 10.1364/boe.397041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2020] [Revised: 07/23/2020] [Accepted: 07/30/2020] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Automatic quantification and visualization of 3-D collagen fiber architecture using Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) has previously relied on polarization information and/or prior knowledge of tissue-specific fiber architecture. This study explores image processing, enhancement, segmentation, and detection algorithms to map 3-D collagen fiber architecture from OCT images alone. 3-D fiber mapping, histogram analysis, and 3-D tractography revealed fiber groupings and macro-organization previously unseen in uterine tissue samples. We applied our method on centimeter-scale mosaic OCT volumes of uterine tissue blocks from pregnant and non-pregnant specimens revealing a complex, patient-specific network of fibrous collagen and myocyte bundles.
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Affiliation(s)
- James P. McLean
- Department of Electrical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA
| | - Shuyang Fang
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA
| | - George Gallos
- Department of Anesthesiology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Kristin M. Myers
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA
| | - Christine P. Hendon
- Department of Electrical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA
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THE EYE OF CRAB-EATING FOX ( CERDOCYON THOUS): ANATOMICAL CHARACTERISTICS AND NORMATIVE VALUES OF SELECTED DIAGNOSTIC TESTS, MORPHOMETRY OF CORNEAL TISSUE, AND ARRANGEMENTS OF CORNEAL STROMAL COLLAGEN FIBERS. J Zoo Wildl Med 2020; 51:280-289. [PMID: 32549556 DOI: 10.1638/2018-0129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/22/2019] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
This study aimed to evaluate the ophthalmic parameters, morphometric features of corneal tissue, and arrangements of corneal stromal collagen fibers in crab-eating fox (Cerdocyon thous), a species of neotropical wild canid. We conducted the study on six juvenile crab-eating foxes (12 eyes), whilst 16 eyes were obtained post mortem from eight adult crab-eating foxes. The research was divided into two stages. In the first stage, eye anatomical characteristics, tear production (Schirmer 1 tear test, STT1), intraocular pressure (IOP), ocular echobiometry, and specular microscopy parameters related to morphology of corneal endothelium were studied in juvenile animals. In the second stage, morphometric features of corneal tissue (central corneal thickness [CCT] and corneal epithelium thickness) and arrangements of stromal collagen fibers were studied using eyes from adult animals. The main findings were that crab-eating fox eyes have vertical-slit pupils, holangiotic retina, and reference values (mean ± SD) of 13.37 ± 3.79 mm/min for STT1 and of 10.43 ± 3.84 mmHg for IOP. The ocular echobiometric features observed in crab-eating foxes are different from those reported for domestic dogs (Canis familiaris). Conversely, the corneal endothelial parameters are similar to those of domestic dogs. The CCT measured by tissue morphometry was 0.54 ± 0.06 mm, and the corneal epithelium thickness was 60.13 ± 8.71 µm. Mean coherency related to alignment of collagen fibers was 0.66 ± 0.12. The crab-eating fox cornea had predominantly thick collagen fibers. Crab-eating fox eyes have morphofunctional peculiarities. They resemble the eyes of domestic dogs in some aspects, but diverge in others.
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Bueno JM, Ávila FJ, Hristu R, Stanciu SG, Eftimie L, Stanciu GA. Objective analysis of collagen organization in thyroid nodule capsules using second harmonic generation microscopy images and the Hough transform. APPLIED OPTICS 2020; 59:6925-6931. [PMID: 32788782 DOI: 10.1364/ao.393721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2020] [Accepted: 06/29/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Papillary carcinoma is the most prevalent type of thyroid cancer. Its diagnosis requires accurate and subjective analyses from expert pathologists. Here we propose a method based on the Hough transform (HT) to detect and objectively quantify local structural differences in collagen thyroid nodule capsules. Second harmonic generation (SHG) microscopy images were acquired on non-stained histological sections of capsule fragments surrounding the healthy thyroid gland and benign and tumoral/malignant nodules. The HT was applied to each SHG image to extract numerical information on the organization of the collagen architecture in the tissues under analysis. Results show that control thyroid capsule samples present a non-organized structure composed of wavy collagen distribution with local orientations. On the opposite, in capsules surrounding malignant nodules, a remodeling of the collagen network takes place and local undulations disappear, resulting in an aligned pattern with a global preferential orientation. The HT procedure was able to quantitatively differentiate thyroid capsules from capsules surrounding papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) nodules. Moreover, the algorithm also reveals that the collagen arrangement of the capsules surrounding benign nodules significantly differs from both the thyroid control and PTC nodule capsules. Combining SHG imaging with the HT results thus in an automatic and objective tool to discriminate between the pathological modifications that affect the capsules of thyroid nodules across the progressions of PTC, with potential to be used in clinical settings to complement current state-of-the-art diagnostic methods.
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18
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Hsiao CY, Teng X, Su TH, Lee PH, Kao JH, Huang KW. Improved quantitative assessment of HBV-associated liver fibrosis using second-harmonic generation microscopy with feature selection. Clin Res Hepatol Gastroenterol 2020; 44:12-20. [PMID: 31076362 DOI: 10.1016/j.clinre.2019.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2018] [Revised: 04/08/2019] [Accepted: 04/09/2019] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIM Quantitative assessments of liver fibrosis using second-harmonic generation/two-photon excited fluorescence microscopy provide greater sensitivity and accuracy than collagen proportionate area while eliminating operator-dependent variation in the staining process. In conjunction with sophisticated image analysis algorithms and feature selection, we might reduce the computation cost in future and narrow down the candidates for further clinical studies. METHODS We sampled a total of 244 liver specimens from patients with hepatitis B viral infections who underwent liver biopsy or liver resection at the National Taiwan University Hospital. The samples were then imaged using a Genesis (HistoIndex Pte. Ltd, Singapore) system, wherein second-harmonic generation microscopy was used to visualize collagen, and two-photon excited fluorescence microscopy was used to visualize other cell structures. We used 100 morphological features extracted from the images to assess correlations with METAVIR fibrosis scores. RESULTS Out of 100 quantitative measurements, 76 showed significant correlation with METAVIR scoring, thereby enabling the statistical discrimination of patients in various stages of the disease. These 76 features were also narrowed down by the nonlinear test to 10 candidate measurements, which can be further investigated in detail. CONCLUSIONS Our experimental results showed that the model with 10 selected features can beat the one with second-harmonic generation only, and performed equivalently well compared the model with 76 features, especially for early-stage discrimination. Features presenting significant correlation were used to fit a single combined index in order to predict pathological staging, thereby making it possible to reveal incremental progress during treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- C-Y Hsiao
- Department of Surgery, National Taiwan University Hospital Yun-Lin Branch, Yun-Lin County, Taiwan; Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - X Teng
- HistoIndex Pte Ltd, Singapore
| | - T-H Su
- Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Hepatitis Research Center, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - P-H Lee
- Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Surgery, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - J-H Kao
- Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Hepatitis Research Center, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - K-W Huang
- Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan; Hepatitis Research Center, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Surgery, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
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19
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Abstract
Two-photon (2P) microscopy is a powerful tool for imaging and exploring label-free biological tissues at high resolution. Although this type of microscopy has been demonstrated in ex vivo ocular tissues of both humans and animal models, imaging the human eye in vivo has always been challenging. This work presents a novel compact 2P microscope for non-contact imaging of the anterior part of the living human eye. The performance of the instrument was tested and the maximum permissible exposure to protect ocular tissues established. To the best of our knowledge, 2P images of the in vivo human cornea, the sclera and the trabecular meshwork are shown for the very first time. Acquired images are of enough quality to visualize collagen arrangement and morphological features of clinical interest. Future implementations of this technique may constitute a potential tool for early diagnosis of ocular diseases at submicron scale.
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20
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Ávila FJ, Artal P, Bueno JM. Quantitative Discrimination of Healthy and Diseased Corneas With Second Harmonic Generation Microscopy. Transl Vis Sci Technol 2019; 8:51. [PMID: 31293806 PMCID: PMC6601709 DOI: 10.1167/tvst.8.3.51] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2018] [Accepted: 04/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose To analyze the spatial organization of pathological corneas with second harmonic generation (SHG) imaging and to provide a proof of concept to objectively distinguish these from the healthy corneas. Methods A custom-built SHG microscope was used to image the anterior stroma of ex vivo corneas, both control and affected by some representative pathologies. The structure tensor (ST) was employed as a metric to explore and quantify the alterations in the spatial distribution of the collagen lamellae. Results The collagen arrangement differed between healthy and pathological samples. The former showed a regular distribution and a low structural dispersion (SD < 40°) within the stroma with a well-defined dominant orientation. This regular arrangement drastically turns into a disorganized pattern in pathological corneas (SD > 40°). Conclusions The combination of SHG imaging and the ST allows obtaining quantitative information to differentiate the stromal collagen organization in healthy and diseased corneas. This approach represents a feasible and powerful technique with potential applications in clinical corneal diagnoses. Translational Relevance The ST applied to SHG microscopy images of the corneal stroma provides an experimental objective score to differentiate control from pathological or damaged corneas. Future implementations of this technique in clinical environments might might be a promising tool in Ophthalmology, not only to diagnose and monitor corneal diseases, but also to follow-up surgical outcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisco J Ávila
- Laboratorio de Óptica, Instituto Universitario de Investigación en Óptica y Nanofísica, Universidad de Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - Pablo Artal
- Laboratorio de Óptica, Instituto Universitario de Investigación en Óptica y Nanofísica, Universidad de Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - Juan M Bueno
- Laboratorio de Óptica, Instituto Universitario de Investigación en Óptica y Nanofísica, Universidad de Murcia, Murcia, Spain
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21
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McLean JP, Gan Y, Lye TH, Qu D, Lu HH, Hendon CP. High-speed collagen fiber modeling and orientation quantification for optical coherence tomography imaging. OPTICS EXPRESS 2019; 27:14457-14471. [PMID: 31163895 PMCID: PMC6825605 DOI: 10.1364/oe.27.014457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2019] [Revised: 04/18/2019] [Accepted: 04/24/2019] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Quantifying collagen fiber architecture has clinical and scientific relevance across a variety of tissue types and adds functionality to otherwise largely qualitative imaging modalities. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is uniquely suited for this task due to its ability to capture the collagen microstructure over larger fields of view than traditional microscopy. Existing image processing techniques for quantifying fiber architecture, while accurate and effective, are very slow for processing large datasets and tend to lack structural specificity. We describe here a computationally efficient method for quantifying and visualizing collagen fiber organization. The algorithm is demonstrated on swine atria, bovine anterior cruciate ligament, and human cervical tissue samples. Additionally, we show an improved performance for images with crimped fiber textures and low signal to noise when compared to similar methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- James P. McLean
- Electrical Engineering, Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science, Columbia University, 1300 West 120th Street, New York, NY 10025,
USA
| | - Yu Gan
- Electrical Engineering, Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science, Columbia University, 1300 West 120th Street, New York, NY 10025,
USA
| | - Theresa H. Lye
- Electrical Engineering, Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science, Columbia University, 1300 West 120th Street, New York, NY 10025,
USA
| | - Dovina Qu
- Biomedical Engineering, Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science, Columbia University, 1300 West 120th Street, New York, NY 10025,
USA
| | - Helen H. Lu
- Biomedical Engineering, Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science, Columbia University, 1300 West 120th Street, New York, NY 10025,
USA
| | - Christine P. Hendon
- Electrical Engineering, Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science, Columbia University, 1300 West 120th Street, New York, NY 10025,
USA
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22
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Bueno JM, Ávila FJ, Artal P. Comparing the performance of a femto fiber-based laser and a Ti:sapphire used for multiphoton microscopy applications. APPLIED OPTICS 2019; 58:3830-3835. [PMID: 31158196 DOI: 10.1364/ao.58.003830] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2019] [Accepted: 04/16/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Ti:sapphire laser systems are the more extended excitation sources in multiphoton (MP) microscopy. Although tunable, the cost, size, and lack of portability often limit their use in some research fields. Femtosecond fiber-based lasers represent an attractive alternative since they are portable, compact, and affordable. Most MP applications using these devices employ wavelengths beyond 1000 nm. This work evaluates the performance of a mode-locked fiber-based laser emitting at 780 nm (within the spectral region often used with Ti:sapphire devices) for use in MP imaging microscopy. MP images acquired with this laser system have been compared with those obtained with a "regular" solid-state source. Results herein show that the images recorded with both laser sources were similar, independently of the depth location of the imaged plane. The structural information contained in the images hardly differed. Moreover, the images of deeper layers improved by means of adaptive optics were also similar. These ultrafast laser sources are expected to enhance the impact of MP microscopy in basic research, as well as in biomedical environments.
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Pijanka JK, Markov PP, Midgett D, Paterson NG, White N, Blain EJ, Nguyen TD, Quigley HA, Boote C. Quantification of collagen fiber structure using second harmonic generation imaging and two-dimensional discrete Fourier transform analysis: Application to the human optic nerve head. JOURNAL OF BIOPHOTONICS 2019; 12:e201800376. [PMID: 30578592 PMCID: PMC6506269 DOI: 10.1002/jbio.201800376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2018] [Revised: 12/13/2018] [Accepted: 12/19/2018] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Second harmonic generation (SHG) microscopy is widely used to image collagen fiber microarchitecture due to its high spatial resolution, optical sectioning capabilities and relatively nondestructive sample preparation. Quantification of SHG images requires sensitive methods to capture fiber alignment. This article presents a two-dimensional discrete Fourier transform (DFT)-based method for collagen fiber structure analysis from SHG images. The method includes integrated periodicity plus smooth image decomposition for correction of DFT edge discontinuity artefact, avoiding the loss of peripheral image data encountered with more commonly used windowing methods. Outputted parameters are as follows: the collagen fiber orientation distribution, aligned collagen content and the degree of collagen fiber dispersion along the principal orientation. We demonstrate its application to determine collagen microstructure in the human optic nerve head, showing its capability to accurately capture characteristic structural features including radial fiber alignment in the innermost layers of the bounding sclera and a circumferential collagen ring in the mid-stromal tissue. Higher spatial resolution rendering of individual lamina cribrosa beams within the nerve head is also demonstrated. Validation of the method is provided in the form of correlative results from wide-angle X-ray scattering and application of the presented method to other fibrous tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacek K. Pijanka
- Structural Biophysics Group, School of Optometry and
Vision Sciences, Cardiff University, CF24 4HQ, Cardiff, UK
| | - Petar P. Markov
- Structural Biophysics Group, School of Optometry and
Vision Sciences, Cardiff University, CF24 4HQ, Cardiff, UK
| | - Dan Midgett
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The Johns Hopkins
University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
- Department of Materials Science, The Johns Hopkins
University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
| | - Neil G. Paterson
- Diamond Light Source, Harwell Science and Innovation
Campus, Harwell, UK
| | - Nick White
- Vivat Scientia Bioimaging Labs, School of Optometry and
Visual Sciences, Cardiff University, CF24 4HQ, Cardiff, UK
| | - Emma J. Blain
- Arthritis Research UK Biomechanics and Bioengineering
Centre, Cardiff University, CF10 3AX, Cardiff, UK
| | - Thao D. Nguyen
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The Johns Hopkins
University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
- Department of Materials Science, The Johns Hopkins
University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
| | - Harry A. Quigley
- Wilmer Ophthalmological Institute, School of Medicine, The
Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Craig Boote
- Structural Biophysics Group, School of Optometry and
Vision Sciences, Cardiff University, CF24 4HQ, Cardiff, UK
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Quantitative Analysis of the Corneal Collagen Distribution after In Vivo Cross-Linking with Second Harmonic Microscopy. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2019; 2019:3860498. [PMID: 30756083 PMCID: PMC6348900 DOI: 10.1155/2019/3860498] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2018] [Revised: 10/24/2018] [Accepted: 12/04/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Corneal cross-linking (CXL) is a surgical procedure able to modify corneal biomechanics and stabilize keratoconus progression. Although it is known that CXL produces changes in corneal collagen distribution, these are still a topic of discussion. Here we quantitatively compare the corneal stroma architecture between two animal models four weeks after in vivo conventional CXL treatment, with second harmonic generation (SHG) imaging microscopy and the structure tensor (ST). The healing stage and the stroma recovery were also analyzed by means of histological sections. Results show that the CXL effects depend on the initial arrangement of the corneal collagen. While the treatment increases the order in corneas with a low level of initial organization, corneas presenting a fairly regular pattern are hardly affected. Histological samples showed active keratocytes in anterior and middle stroma, what means that the recovery is still in progress. The combination of SHG imaging and the ST is able to objectively discriminate the changes suffered by the collagen arrangement after the CXL treatment, whose effectiveness depends on the initial organization of the collagen fibers within the corneal stroma.
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25
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Hristu R, Eftimie LG, Stanciu SG, Tranca DE, Paun B, Sajin M, Stanciu GA. Quantitative second harmonic generation microscopy for the structural characterization of capsular collagen in thyroid neoplasms. BIOMEDICAL OPTICS EXPRESS 2018; 9:3923-3936. [PMID: 30338165 PMCID: PMC6191628 DOI: 10.1364/boe.9.003923] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2018] [Revised: 07/13/2018] [Accepted: 07/14/2018] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Quantitative second harmonic generation microscopy was used to investigate collagen organization in the fibrillar capsules of human benign and malignant thyroid nodules. We demonstrate that the combination of texture analysis and second harmonic generation images of collagen can be used to differentiate between capsules surrounding the thyroid follicular adenoma and papillary carcinoma nodules. Our findings indicate that second harmonic generation microscopy can provide quantitative information about the collagenous capsule surrounding both the thyroid and thyroid nodules, which may complement traditional histopathological examination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Radu Hristu
- Center for Microcopy-Microanalysis and Information Processing, University Politehnica of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Lucian G Eftimie
- Center for Microcopy-Microanalysis and Information Processing, University Politehnica of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania
- Central University Emergency Military Hospital, Pathology Department, 134 Calea Plevnei, 010825 Bucharest, Romania
- Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 37 Dionisie Lupu, 030167 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Stefan G Stanciu
- Center for Microcopy-Microanalysis and Information Processing, University Politehnica of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Denis E Tranca
- Center for Microcopy-Microanalysis and Information Processing, University Politehnica of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Bogdan Paun
- Faculty of Energetics, University Politehnica of Bucharest, 313 Splaiul Independentei, 060042 Bucharest, Romania
- Currently with Faculty of Automation and Computer Science, Technical University of Cluj-Napoca, 26-28 George Baritiu St, 40002 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Maria Sajin
- Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 37 Dionisie Lupu, 030167 Bucharest, Romania
| | - George A Stanciu
- Center for Microcopy-Microanalysis and Information Processing, University Politehnica of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania
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Bueno JM, Skorsetz M, Bonora S, Artal P. Wavefront correction in two-photon microscopy with a multi-actuator adaptive lens. OPTICS EXPRESS 2018; 26:14278-14287. [PMID: 29877468 DOI: 10.1364/oe.26.014278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2018] [Accepted: 03/15/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
A multi-actuator adaptive lens (AL) was incorporated into a multi-photon (MP) microscope to improve the quality of images of thick samples. Through a hill-climbing procedure the AL corrected for the specimen-induced aberrations enhancing MP images. The final images hardly differed when two different metrics were used, although the sets of Zernike coefficients were not identical. The optimized MP images acquired with the AL were also compared with those obtained with a liquid-crystal-on-silicon spatial light modulator. Results have shown that both devices lead to similar images, which corroborates the usefulness of this AL for MP imaging.
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Garcia AM, Magalhes FL, Soares JS, Junior EP, Lima MFRD, Mamede M, Paula AMD. Second harmonic generation imaging of the collagen architecture in prostate cancer tissue. Biomed Phys Eng Express 2018. [DOI: 10.1088/2057-1976/aaa379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
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Germann JA, Martinez-Enriquez E, Marcos S. Quantization of collagen organization in the stroma with a new order coefficient. BIOMEDICAL OPTICS EXPRESS 2018; 9:173-189. [PMID: 29359095 PMCID: PMC5772573 DOI: 10.1364/boe.9.000173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2017] [Revised: 11/20/2017] [Accepted: 11/21/2017] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Many optical and biomechanical properties of the cornea, specifically the transparency of the stroma and its stiffness, can be traced to the degree of order and direction of the constituent collagen fibers. To measure the degree of order inside the cornea, a new metric, the order coefficient, was introduced to quantify the organization of the collagen fibers from images of the stroma produced with a custom-developed second harmonic generation microscope. The order coefficient method gave a quantitative assessment of the differences in stromal collagen arrangement across the cornea depths and between untreated stroma and cross-linked stroma.
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Stanciu SG, Ávila FJ, Hristu R, Bueno JM. A Study on Image Quality in Polarization-Resolved Second Harmonic Generation Microscopy. Sci Rep 2017; 7:15476. [PMID: 29133836 PMCID: PMC5684207 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-15257-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2017] [Accepted: 10/24/2017] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Second harmonic generation (SHG) microscopy represents a very powerful tool for tissue characterization. Polarization-resolved SHG (PSHG) microscopy extends the potential of SHG, by exploiting the dependence of SHG signals on the polarization state of the excitation beam. Among others, this dependence translates to the fact that SHG images collected under different polarization configurations exhibit distinct characteristics in terms of content and appearance. These characteristics hold deep implications over image quality, as perceived by human observers or by image analysis methods custom designed to automatically extract a quality factor from digital images. Our work addresses this subject, by investigating how basic image properties and the outputs of no-reference image quality assessment methods correlate to human expert opinion in the case of PSHG micrographs. Our evaluation framework is based on SHG imaging of collagen-based ocular tissues under different linear and elliptical polarization states of the incident light.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan G Stanciu
- Center for Microscopy-Microanalysis and Information Processing, University Politehnica of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania.
| | | | - Radu Hristu
- Center for Microscopy-Microanalysis and Information Processing, University Politehnica of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Juan M Bueno
- Laboratorio de Óptica, Universidad de Murcia, Murcia, Spain.
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Bueno JM, Ávila FJ, Artal P. Comparison of second harmonic microscopy images of collagen-based ocular tissues with 800 and 1045 nm. BIOMEDICAL OPTICS EXPRESS 2017; 8:5065-5074. [PMID: 29188103 PMCID: PMC5695953 DOI: 10.1364/boe.8.005065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2017] [Revised: 10/11/2017] [Accepted: 10/17/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Second harmonic generation (SHG) imaging is a well-suited multiphoton technique allowing visualization of biological tissues mainly composed of collagen with submicron resolution. Despite its inherent confocal properties, imaging of deeper layers within thick samples has still some limitations. Although the use of longer wavelengths might help to overcome this, the dependence between SHG signals and wavelength is still under discussion. We report here on the dependence with wavelength of SHG signals from collagen-based ocular tissues. The quality of SHG images for two commonly used excitation wavelengths (800 and 1045 nm) is studied. The analysis of the collagen structural information reveals that the information provided by both wavelengths is similar. It was also found that, independently of the depth location, 1045-nm SHG images presented always lower signal levels than those acquired with 800 nm. However, the contrast of the former images was higher, what may improve the visualization of certain features of interest.
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Multimodal imaging quality control of epithelia regenerated with cultured human donor corneal limbal epithelial stem cells. Sci Rep 2017; 7:5154. [PMID: 28698576 PMCID: PMC5506064 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-05486-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2016] [Accepted: 05/30/2017] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Current imaging techniques for the characterization of differentiated corneal limbal stem cells are destructive and cannot be used in eye bank for monitoring the regenerated epithelium in culture. We presented a minimally invasive, multimodal, marker-free imaging method for the investigation of epithelia regenerated with cultured human donor corneal limbal epithelial stem cells. Two-photon fluorescence and harmonic generation signals were collected from specimens in culture and used for evaluating the structure and morphology of epithelia cultured on two different bio-scaffolds; in addition, donor human corneal tissues were used as controls. The method provided reliable information on the organization of cellular and extracellular components of biomaterial substrates and was highly sensitive to determine differences between the density packing arrangement of epithelial cells of different biomaterials without relying on inferences from exogenous labels. The present minimally invasive standardized quality control methodology can be reliably translated to eye banks and used for monitoring harvested corneal limbal stem cells growth and differentiation in bioengineered materials.
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Abstract
Second harmonic (SH) microscopy has proven to be a powerful imaging modality over the past years due to its intrinsic advantages as a multiphoton process with endogenous contrast specificity, which allows pinhole-less optical sectioning, non-invasive observation, deep tissue penetration, and the possibility of easier signal detection at visible wavelengths. Depending on the relative orientation between the polarization of the incoming light and the second-order susceptibility of non-centrosymmetric structures, SH microscopy provides the unique capacity to probe the absolute molecular structure of a broad variety of biological tissues without the necessity for additional labeling. In addition, SH microscopy, when working with polarimetry, provides clear and in-depth insights on the details of molecular orientation and structural symmetry. In this review, the working principles of the polarization resolving techniques and the corresponding implements of SH microscopy are elucidated, with focus on Stokes vector based polarimetry. An overview of the advancements on SH anisotropy measurements are also presented. Specifically, the recent progresses on the following three topics in polarization resolved SH microscopy will be elucidated, which include Stokes vector resolving for imaging molecular structure and orientation, 3-D structural chirality by SH circular dichroism, and correlation with fluorescence lifetime imaging (FLIM) for in vivo wound healing diagnosis. The potentials and challenges for future researches in exploring complex biological tissues are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nirmal Mazumder
- Department of Biophysics, School of Life Sciences, Manipal University, Manipal 576104, India.
| | - Gitanjal Deka
- Department of Physics, National Taiwan University, No. 1, Sec. 4, Roosevelt Road, Taipei 10617, Taiwan
| | - Wei-Wen Wu
- Division of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Heping Fuyou Branch, Taipei City Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Ankur Gogoi
- Institute of Biophotonics, National Yang-Ming University, No. 155, Sec. 2, Linong St., Taipei 112, Taiwan; Department of Physics, Jagannath Barooah College, Jorhat 785001, Assam, India
| | - Guan-Yu Zhuo
- Institute of Medical Science & Technology, National Sun Yat-sen University, No. 70, Lienhai Rd., Kaohsiung 80424, Taiwan
| | - Fu-Jen Kao
- Institute of Biophotonics, National Yang-Ming University, No. 155, Sec. 2, Linong St., Taipei 112, Taiwan.
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Ávila FJ, Del Barco O, Bueno JM. Polarization response of second-harmonic images for different collagen spatial distributions. JOURNAL OF BIOMEDICAL OPTICS 2016; 21:66015. [PMID: 27330006 DOI: 10.1117/1.jbo.21.6.066015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2016] [Accepted: 06/01/2016] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
The response to polarization of second-harmonic generation (SHG) microscopy images of samples with different collagen distributions (quasialigned, partially organized, and nonorganized) has been analyzed. A linear decay relationship between the external arrangement and polarization sensitivity was found. SHG signal from nonorganized samples presented a large structural dispersion and a weak dependence with incident polarization. Polarization dependence is also associated with the internal organization of the collagen fibers, directly related to the ratio of hyperpolarizabilities ρ. This parameter can experimentally be computed from the modulation of the SHG signal. The results show that both external and internal collagen structures are closely related. This provides a tool to obtain information of internal properties from the polarimetric response of the external spatial distribution of collagen, which might be useful in clinical diagnosis of pathologies related to changes in collagen structure.
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