Development of a beam propagation method to simulate the point spread function degradation in scattering media

Scattering is one of the main issues that limit the imaging depth in deep tissue optical imaging. To characterize the role of scattering, we have developed a forward model based on the beam propagation method and established the link between the macroscopic optical properties of the media and the statistical parameters of the phase masks applied to the wavefront. Using this model, we have analyzed the degradation of the point-spread function of the illumination beam in the transition regime from ballistic to diffusive light transport. Our method provides a wave-optic simulation toolkit to analyze the effects of scattering on image quality degradation in scanning microscopy. Our open-source implementation is available at https://github.com/BUNPC/Beam-Propagation-Method.Accepted manuscrip

Influence of components of tumour microenvironment on the response of HCT-116 colorectal cancer to the ruthenium-based drug NAMI-A

Solid tumours are constituted of tumour cells, healthy cells recruited from the host tissues and soluble factors released by both these cell types. The present investigation examines the capacity of co-cultures between the HCEC colon epithelial cells and the HCT-116 colorectal cancer cells (mimicking the primary site of tumour growth) and between IHH hepatocytes and the HCT-116 colorectal cancer cells (metastatic site) to influence the effects of NAMI-A (imidazolium trans-imidazoledimethylsulphoxidetetrachloro ruthenate) on the tumour cells themselves. The growth of HCT-116 cells is significantly influenced when the cancer cells are sown on a monolayer of HCEC. The release of soluble factors by the healthy cells promotes, in HCT-116 colorectal cancer cells, the transcription of genes involved in growth, invasion and migration. NAMI-A is not cytotoxic to HCT-116 cells grown on plastics or co-cultured with HCEC or IHH cells, and maintains its ability to control the cell pseudo-metastatic ability, mimicked by the migration in the scratch test. The effects of NAMI-A on HCT-116 migration are supported by its inhibition of the transcription of the ABL-2, ATF-3 and RND-1 genes. In conclusion the study highlights the need of test systems more complex than a single cancer cell culture to study an anticancer drug in vitro and reinforces the hypothesis that NAMI-A targets the ability of the cancer cell to interact with the tumour microenvironment and with the signals that support its metastatic ability

Expert-based development of a standard in CO2 sequestration monitoring technology

Bureau of Economic Geolog

Inhibition of endothelial cell functions and of angiogenesis by the metastasis inhibitor NAMI-A

NAMI-A is a ruthenium-based compound with selective anti-metastasis activity in experimental models of solid tumours. We studied whether this activity was dependent on anti-angiogenic ability of NAMI-A. We thus investigated its in vitro effects on endothelial cell functions necessary for angiogenesis to develop, as well as its in vivo effects in the chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane model. Endothelial cell proliferation, chemotaxis, and secretion of the matrix-degrading enzyme metalloproteinase-2 were inhibited by NAMI-A in a dose-dependent manner, and without morphologic signs of cell apoptosis or necrosis. Lastly, NAMI-A displayed a dose-dependent in vivo anti-angiogenic activity in the chorioallantoic membrane model. These data suggest that the anti-angiogenic activity of NAMI-A can contribute to its anti-metastatic efficacy in mice bearing malignant solid tumours

Human adult dental pulp CD117/c-kit-positive networks of stromal cells

Dental pulp tissue was collected from 6 healthy adult patients, prior to prosthetic treatments, in order to evaluate the in situ phenotype of dental pulp stromal cells and compare with that of dental pulp stem cells. A CD34–/CD44+/CD105–/CD117+/CD146–/nestin– phenotype of stromal cells in the dental pulp core was found. Cells with a similar phenotype, but CD44–, were found in the cell richzone. Dental pulp stromal networks (DPSNs) were found CD117+/CD44+ in the pulp core, but CD117+/CD44– in the cell rich zone. The c-kit-positive DPSNs were contacting pulp nerves and were, in this regard only, comparable to interstitial Cajal cells. Stromal signalling in dental pulp needs further evaluation, in normal tissue as well as a possible cause of persisting pain after endodontic treatment

Efficient non-degenerate two-photon excitation for fluorescence microscopy

Non-degenerate two-photon excitation (ND-TPE) has been explored in two-photon excitation microscopy. However, a systematic study of the efficiency of ND-TPE to guide the selection of fluorophore excitation wavelengths is missing. We measured the relative non-degenerate two-photon absorption cross-section (ND-TPACS) of several commonly used fluorophores (two fluorescent proteins and three small-molecule dyes) and generated 2-dimensional ND-TPACS spectra. We observed that the shape of a ND-TPACS spectrum follows that of the corresponding degenerate two-photon absorption cross-section (D-TPACS) spectrum, but is higher in magnitude. We found that the observed enhancements are higher than theoretical predictions.Published versio

Bioindicative values of microfungi in starch and possible deficiencies of the new Serbian regulation on food hygiene

The results of tests on the presence of yeasts and molds in cornstarch [AD ‘IPOK’ Zrenjanin, 2007-2008, made at the time when previous Regulations were valid] were analyzed in terms of bioindicative values of microfungi as indicators of quality and safety of raw material or final food products. Microbiological analysis was used to detect the presence of a number of microorganisms MMI-0001, and a questionnaire was designed at the Department of Public Health in Zrenjanin town (Republic of Serbia), where the anal­yses were done, regarding the microbiological tests on starch. In order to rationalize the analyses and make them more economical, several areas of product quality control (water, food, raw materials, space) were recommended either to be excluded or regarded as optional. Thus, analysis of presence of microfungi as indicators of product quality was categorized as optional. The results obtained from this research suggest a different conclusion because the bacteria in the samples indicated ˮmicrobiologically“, namely bacteriologically, safe samples of food, while, on the contrary, the presence of some microfungi as distinct xerophilous or xerotolerant microorganisms, indicated that the food was mycologically non-safe. The obtained data are crucial for questioning the decision to exclude the earlier required (mycological) analysis of the samples (in the production of starch, or end products, etc.) and categorize such analyses in new Regulations as optional, depending on the manufacturer’s preference. Bioindicative values of microfungi as indicators of the quality of starch, clearly point to the shortsightedness of the new Regulations on food hygiene and safety, where tests on certain microorganisms (in this case, yeasts and molds) are not legally defined as mandatory, but the Law leaves manufacturers a possibility to choose (or not to choose) the testing and frequency of testing on the presence (absence) of microorganisms, which can be risky, both in the production and marketing of the finial products. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. OI-179079

In Vivo Imaging of Cerebral Energy Metabolism with Two-Photon Fluorescence Lifetime Microscopy of NADH

Minimally invasive, specific measurement of cellular energy metabolism is crucial for understanding cerebral pathophysiology. Here, we present high-resolution, in vivo observations of autofluorescence lifetime as a biomarker of cerebral energy metabolism in exposed rat cortices. We describe a customized two-photon imaging system with time correlated single photon counting detection and specialized software for modeling multiple-component fits of fluorescence decay and monitoring their transient behaviors. In vivo cerebral NADH fluorescence suggests the presence of four distinct components, which respond differently to brief periods of anoxia and likely indicate different enzymatic formulations. Individual components show potential as indicators of specific molecular pathways involved in oxidative metabolism