PURPOSE: This study aimed to develop a multi-channel near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) and ultrasonography (USG) fusion imaging system for imaging prostate cancer and to verify its diagnostic capability by applying the hybrid imaging system to a prostate cancer phantom. METHODS: A multi-channel NIRS system using the near-infrared 785-nm wavelength with 12 channels and four detectors was developed. After arranging the optical fibers around a USG transducer, we performed NIRS imaging and grayscale USG imaging simultaneously. Fusion imaging was obtained by processing incoming signals and the spatial reconstruction of NIRS, which corresponded with grayscale USG acquired at the same time. The NIRS-USG hybrid system was applied to a silicone-based optical phantom of the prostate gland containing prostate cancer to verify its diagnostic capability qualitatively. RESULTS: The NIRS-USG hybrid imaging system for prostate cancer imaging simultaneously provided anatomical and optical information with 2-dimensional registration. The hybrid imaging system showed more NIR attenuation over the prostate cancer model than over the model of normal prostate tissue. Its diagnostic capability to discriminate a focal area mimicking the optical properties of prostate cancer from the surrounding background mimicking the optical properties of normal prostate tissue was verified by applying the hybrid system to a silicone-based optical phantom of prostate cancer. CONCLUSION: This study successfully demonstrated that the NIRS-USG hybrid system may serve as a new imaging method for improving the diagnostic accuracy of prostate cancer, with potential utility for future clinical applications.
Diagnosis ; Methods ; Optical Fibers ; Prostate ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared ; Transducers ; Ultrasonography

Objective: The HEART score is a fast and simple cardiovascular disease (CVD) prediction tool useful in the emergency department (ED). This study evaluates the predictive value of the HEART score when applying other obesity indices such as waist circumference (WC) or waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) instead of body mass index (BMI). Methods: Data were prospectively collected from the pre-made registry of patients who had visited the ED with chest pain. Based on their final diagnoses and coronary imaging study results, patients were classified as acute coronary syndrome (ACS), non-ACS, significant coronary arterial stenosis (SCS), and non-SCS. We compared the HEART score for each group and modified it with variable obesity indices. Multivariable logistic regression and the area under the curve were calculated to determine the most suitable obesity index for the HEART score in predicting ACS or SCS. In addition, we compared the gender-dependent relationship between obesity and ACS or SCS. Results: Of the total 689 patients examined, 281 were diagnosed with ACS. The odds ratio (OR) of the HEART score for ACS was 12.1. The ORs were 13.2 and 11.2 when the HEART score was modified with WC or WHtR, respectively. Obesity was determined as the meaningful factor to predict ACS (OR: BMI, 2.38; WC, 3.39) and SCS (OR: BMI, 3.07; WC, 4.03) in women but not men. Conclusion The HEART score showed good predictive value regardless of obesity index modification. Furthermore, obesity is associated with CVD in women with chest pain, but not in men.

BACKGROUND: Various cell-culture systems have been used to evaluate drug toxicity in vitro. However, factors that affect cytotoxicity outcomes in drug toxicity evaluation systems remain elusive. In this study, we used multilayered sheets of cardiac-mimetic cells, which were reprogrammed from human fibroblasts, to investigate the effects of the layer number on drug cytotoxicity outcomes. METHODS: Cell sheets of cardiac-mimetic cells were fabricated by reprogramming of human fibroblasts into cardiacmimetic cells via coculture with cardiac cells and electric stimulation, as previously described. Double-layered cell sheets were prepared by stacking the cell sheets. The mono- and double-layered cell sheets were treated with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), an anticancer drug, in vitro. Subsequently, apoptosis and lipid peroxidation were analyzed. Furthermore, effects of cardiacmimetic cell density on cytotoxicity outcomes were evaluated by culturing cells in monolayer at various cell densities. RESULTS: The double-layered cell sheets exhibited lower cytotoxicity in terms of apoptosis and lipid peroxidation than the mono-layered sheets at the same 5-FU dose. In addition, the double-layered cell sheets showed better preservation of mitochondrial function and plasma membrane integrity than the monolayer sheets. The lower cytotoxicity outcomes in the double-layered cell sheets may be due to the higher intercellular interactions, as the cytotoxicity of 5-FU decreased with cell density in monolayer cultures of cardiac-mimetic cells. CONCLUSION The layer number of cardiac-mimetic cell sheets affects drug cytotoxicity outcomes in drug toxicity tests.The in vitro. cellular configuration that more closely mimics the in vivo configuration in the evaluation systems seems to exhibit lower cytotoxicity in response to drug.

BACKGROUND: Various cell-culture systems have been used to evaluate drug toxicity in vitro. However, factors that affect cytotoxicity outcomes in drug toxicity evaluation systems remain elusive. In this study, we used multilayered sheets of cardiac-mimetic cells, which were reprogrammed from human fibroblasts, to investigate the effects of the layer number on drug cytotoxicity outcomes. METHODS: Cell sheets of cardiac-mimetic cells were fabricated by reprogramming of human fibroblasts into cardiacmimetic cells via coculture with cardiac cells and electric stimulation, as previously described. Double-layered cell sheets were prepared by stacking the cell sheets. The mono- and double-layered cell sheets were treated with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), an anticancer drug, in vitro. Subsequently, apoptosis and lipid peroxidation were analyzed. Furthermore, effects of cardiacmimetic cell density on cytotoxicity outcomes were evaluated by culturing cells in monolayer at various cell densities. RESULTS: The double-layered cell sheets exhibited lower cytotoxicity in terms of apoptosis and lipid peroxidation than the mono-layered sheets at the same 5-FU dose. In addition, the double-layered cell sheets showed better preservation of mitochondrial function and plasma membrane integrity than the monolayer sheets. The lower cytotoxicity outcomes in the double-layered cell sheets may be due to the higher intercellular interactions, as the cytotoxicity of 5-FU decreased with cell density in monolayer cultures of cardiac-mimetic cells. CONCLUSION The layer number of cardiac-mimetic cell sheets affects drug cytotoxicity outcomes in drug toxicity tests.The in vitro. cellular configuration that more closely mimics the in vivo configuration in the evaluation systems seems to exhibit lower cytotoxicity in response to drug.