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Keratoconus is an eye disorder that causes the cornea to take an abnormal conical shape, thus impairing its refractive functions and causing blindness. The late diagnosis of keratoconus is among the principal reasons for corneal surgical transplantation. This pathology is characterized by a reduced corneal stiffness in the region immediately below Bowman's membrane, probably due to a different lamellar organization, as suggested by previous studies. Here, the lamellar organization in this corneal region is characterized in three dimensions by means of second-harmonic generation (SHG) microscopy. In particular, a method based on a three-dimensional correlation analysis allows to probe the orientation of sutural lamellae close to the Bowman's membrane, finding statistical differences between healthy and keratoconic samples. This method is demonstrated also in combination with an epi-detection scheme, paving the way for a potential clinical ophthalmic application of SHG microscopy for the early diagnosis of keratoconus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Results and perspectives on the biomedical exploitation of gold nanorods with plasmon resonances in the near infrared window are reported. The authors describe experimental studies of laser-activated nanoparticles in the direct welding of connective tissues, which may become a valuable technology in biomedicine. In particular, colloidal gold nanorods excited by diode laser radiation at 810 nm were used to mediate functional photothermal effects and weld eye's lens capsules and arteries. The preparation of biopolymeric matrices including gold nanorods is also described, as well as preliminary tests for their application in the closure of wounds in vessels and tendons. Finally, the use of these nanoparticles for future applications in the diagnosis, imaging and therapy of cancer is discussed. (© 2011 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wavefront shaping technology can correct for wavefront distortion in turbid media and restore the diffraction‐limited imaging. However, the extent of each correction's validity, or the isoplanatic patch, in bone is unknown. In this paper, we present 1) direct measurement and 2) an in‐situ modeling method of the isoplanatic patch in the murine skull. (The authors thank Ms. Rachel Carlyle for her help with the design of the cover illustration.) Further details can be found in the article by Kayvan Forouhesh Tehrani, Nektarios Koukourakis, Jürgen Czarske, and Luke J. Mortensen (e202000160). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]