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Purpose: We report the usefulness of intraoperative sodium fluorescein (SF) in the surgical treatment of relapsed high-grade brain tumors in pediatric neurosurgery. Methods: We describe our protocol for intraoperative SF and three cases of patients between 5 and 11 years diagnosed and surgically treated for relapsed high-grade brain tumors using SF. Results: The 560-nm microscope filter enables the use of low doses of this fluorochrome. A dose of 3 mg/kg of patient weight of 10% SF, administered intravenously, is safe and effective in children. The effect of SF was immediate, providing a clear margin between the tumor and healthy tissue, which enabled good tumor resection. We observed no adverse effects in the postoperative period, and the patients evolved satisfactorily. Conclusions: To the best of our knowledge, we describe for the first time the use of fluorescein in reoperations of relapsed high-grade brain tumors in childhood with promising results. Using SF in children is a safe, affordable, and effective technique that offers an excellent intraoperative image, being a feasible option to improve oncological resection. This study is one of the few that uses SF in pediatric neurosurgery, where it could be very beneficial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction : Surgical resection represents the mainstay of treatment, in pediatric central nervous system (CNS) tumors, and aggressive resection correlates with prognosis for several histotypes. Sodium fluorescein (SF), a green, water-soluble dye, is used as neurosurgical fluorescent tracer thanks to its property to accumulate in cerebral regions of blood–brain barrier disruption, acting as a valid tool to improve the extent of resection in tumors enhancing at preoperative MRI. Brain neoplasms represent a heterogeneous group of tumors in the pediatric age, constituting the most common solid cancers; they typically show a varying degree of contrast enhancement on MRI. Materials and methods: In March 2016, the authors started a prospective, observational trial to evaluate intraoperative fluorescence's characteristics of CNS tumors, the percentage of extent of resection, thanks to fluorescein aid, and side effects related to fluorescein administration. This report is based on a retrospective analysis of a group of 33 consecutive pediatric patients harboring a supratentorial lesion. Results: In 17 of 33 (51.5%) procedures, fluorescence was reported as intense; in 14 of 33 (42.4%), moderate; and in 2 of 33 (6.1%), slight. Intraoperative fluorescence corresponds to preoperative-MRI-documented contrast enhancement. In 28 of 33 (84.8%) surgical procedures, SF was considered useful; in 2 of 33 (6.1%), partial useful; and in 3 of 33 (9.1%), not essential because the tumor was already recognizable. No adverse effect to SF administration was registered. Conclusion: Fluorescein-guided surgery with a dedicated filter on the microscope is a safe and effective technique to improve visualization and resection of different pediatric brain tumors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sodium fluorescein (SF) is routinely used in several centers as a valid intraoperative adjunct in adult oncological neurosurgery. Its use in pediatric neurosurgery is increasing, although its role is not yet well-defined in children. We reviewed the current literature in order to evaluate the use of SF in children with CNS and PNS lesions. Methods: For this systematic review, we searched PubMed, Scopus, and Embase databases, and forward and backward citations for studies published between database inception and July 31st, 2022. We included any article type or congress abstract adding at least a new case, without restrictions of language or publication status, concerning the use of SF in neurosurgical procedures in patients under 18 years of age. We excluded studies concerning purely vascular cases and cerebrospinal fluid leaks. Results: Of 4094 records identified, 19 articles were eligible and included for further analysis. As per July 31st, 2022, at least 119 patients aged from 11 months to 17.9 years underwent surgery with SF. No serious adverse events were reported. A large variety of tumor types was operated, in most cases resected under the specific YELLOW 560 nm filter after a low-dose SF injection (2–5 mg/kg) at the end of anesthesia induction. SF was reported particularly useful in gangliogliomas and pilocytic astrocytomas. Discussion/conclusion: Given its easy-to-use profile, low cost, and safety, SF seems to be a feasible and valid adjunct in the pediatric population when aiming at individuating a biopsy target or maximizing extent of resection, particularly in some tumor types. Further studies are required to strengthen the evidence on its impact on outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sodium fluorescein (SF) is currently considered a valid intraoperative adjunct in the resection of high-grade brain lesions in adults. Experiences in pediatric groups and in low-grade gliomas and other low-grade lesions are still limited in literature, and subjective evaluation of fluorescence is still a limitation. Material and methods: This study retrospectively reviewed all patients with brain or spine lesions operated on from September 2021 to July 2022 in the Pediatric Neurosurgery Unit of Hôpital Femme Mère Enfant, Lyon, who had received 5 mg/kg of 10%. Surgery was performed using a YELLOW560 filter at crucial times. At the end of surgery, the first operator completed a questionnaire, including his opinion on whether SF had been useful in tumor resection, recorded as a binary variable. Post hoc, surgical images were reviewed using ImageJ, an open-source Java image processing platform. In order to compare independent discrete variables, we applied the Student's t test, and we applied the Chi-square or Fisher exact test for binary variables. A threshold of p < 0.05 was set for statistical significance. Results: We included 50 pediatric patients (0.2–17.6 years old). Forty/50 lesions showed SF uptake (80%). The differentiation between healthy and affected tissue, thanks to SF, subjectively evaluated by the surgeon, had as objective counterpart the statistically significant higher brightness of green in lesions, registered by the software (p < 0.001). SF overall allowed a good differentiation in 33/50 lesions, and overall utility of SF has been noted in 67% of them. When specifically considering gliomas, overall utility reached 75%. Conclusion: SF is a feasible, safe, and useful intraoperative adjunct in pediatric neurosurgery. In particular, it seems to have a promising role in some low-grade infiltrating glial tumors. The subjective evaluation of fluorescence seems to be reliable with respect to image analyses software. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aimed to verify the feasibility, safety, and benefit of using fluorescein sodium (FL) and a YELLOW 560 nm filter in posterior fossa tumors in children. Methods: All cases of pediatric posterior fossa tumors that have undergone surgery using fluorescein (2018–2022) have been included and were examined retrospectively. In those cases where resection of the tumor was planned, a blinded neuroradiologist distinguished gross total resection and subtotal resection according to the postoperative MRI findings. The surgical report and medical files were reviewed regarding the intraoperative staining grade and adverse events. The grade of fluorescent staining of the targeted lesion was assessed as described in the surgical reports. The screening was conducted for any reference to the degree of fluorescent staining: "intense," "medium," "slight," and "no staining." Results: 19 cases have been included. In 14 cases, a complete resection was initially intended. In 11 of these cases, a gross total resection could be achieved (78.6%). Staining was described as intense in most cases (58.8%). Except for yellow-colored urine, no side effects obviously related to FL were found throughout the observation period. Conclusion: In combination with a specific filter, FL is a reliable, safe, and feasible tool in posterior fossa surgery in children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study 20 dogs of 4 to 14 years of age of either sex with history of vision impairment were examined. History regarding duration of blindness, age, breed and sex of dog were recorded. All the animals were subjected to examination of adnexal structures, series of ophthalmic examination tests like evaluation of different reflexes, Schirmer's tear test, fluorescein dye test, tonometry, direct/indirect ophthalmoscopyand ultrasonography to diagnose the ophthalmic affections. Ultrasonography of the eyes helped in the evaluation of the posterior segment of the eye for any abnormalities like lens luxation, vitreal degeneration and retinal detachments. The protocol followed during the study was found to be helpful in the diagnosis of white cataract in dogs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simultaneous short-pulse injections of two tracers (sodium bromide [Br–] and fluorescein dye) were made in a losing reach of Snake Creek in Great Basin National Park, Nevada, USA, to evaluate the quantity of stream loss through permeable carbonates that resurfaces at a spring approximately 10 km down drainage. A revised hydrogeologic cross section for a possible flow path of the infiltrated Snake Creek water is presented, and the results may inform water management in the region. First arrival and peak concentration of the two tracers occurred at 9.5 and 12.7 days after injection, respectively. Fracture transport simulations indicate that Br– preferentially diffuses into immobile regions of the aquifer, and this diffusive flux is likely responsible for the major differences in the breakthrough curves. When considering the diffusive tracer flux, total apparent Br– and fluorescein dye recoveries were 16.9–22.1% and 21.7–24.3%, respectively. These findings imply that consideration of diffusive flux and long-term monitoring in fracture-dominated flow may support accurate quantification of tracer recovery. In addition, the apparent power law slopes of the breakthrough tails for both tracers were steeper at early times than have been attributed to heterogeneous advection or channeling in meter-scale tests, but the late-time Br– power law slope becomes less steep than has been attributed to diffusive exchange. These deviations may reflect fracture transport patterns that occur at larger scales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To explain the experimentally observed effect of silver nanoparticles on the fluorescence of organic dyes and the nonradiative intermolecular transfer of electronic excitation energy in multilayer nanostructures, the previously proposed theoretical model of plasmon resonance in spherical nanoparticles of metals was used. The rates of radiative and nonradiative (FRET) processes in film structures with Ag nanoparticles were calculated for fluorescein and rhodamine B molecules, as well as for two-component systems fluorescein–nile red (NR) and rhodamine B–NR. A version of the model was used that takes into account the effect of NPs on FRET between molecules, the radiative decay of donor and acceptor molecules, and the energy transfer from the dye to plasmonic nanoparticles. The calculation of the UDA rate for pairs with different energy transfer efficiency showed a greater increase in the UDA parameter for the fluorescein–nile red pair than for the rhodamine B–nile red pair. Estimation of the fluorescence enhancement factor of donor and energy acceptor molecules and the rate of energy transfer from the dye to silver NPs showed their insignificant contribution to the formation of the resulting energy transfer efficiency enhancement in the presence of plasmonic NPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel electrophoretic separation technique is presented, where continuous electrophoretic separation is demonstrated using free flowing liquid foams. Continuous foam electrophoresis combines the principle of capillary electrophoresis and interactions between analytes and the electrical double layer, with the ability of Free Flow Electrophoresis to continuously separate and recover analytes automatically. A liquid foam is used to provide a network of deformable micro and nano channels with a high surface area, presenting a novel platform for electrophoresis, where interfacial phenomena could be exploited to modify analyte migration. The main purpose of this paper is to present a proof-of-concept study and provide fundamental understanding of a complex foam system in continuous separation mode, i.e., flowing liquid foam under an external electric field with electrophoresis and chemical reactions at the electrodes continuously changing the system. Liquid foam is generated using a mixture of anionic and non-ionic surfactants and pumped through a microfluidic separation chamber between two electrodes. The effectiveness of the device is demonstrated using a dye mixture containing a neutral dye and an anionic dye. At the outlet, the foam is separated and collected into five fractions which are individually probed for the concentration of the two dyes used. The anionic dye was concentrated up to 1.75 (±0.05) times the initial concentration in a select outlet, while the neutral dye concentration remained unchanged in all outlets, demonstrating the potential for electrophoretic foam separations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fluorescence induced by the excitation of a fluorophore with plane-polarized light has a different polarization depending on the size of the fluorophore-containing reagent and the rate of its rotation. Based on this effect, many analytical systems have been implemented in which an analyte contained in a sample and labeled with a fluorophore (usually fluorescein) competes to bind to antibodies. Replacing antibodies in such assays with aptamers, low-cost and stable oligonucleotide receptors, is complicated because binding a fluorophore to them causes a less significant change in the polarization of emissions. This work proposes and characterizes the compounds of the reaction medium that improve analyte binding and reduce the mobility of the aptamer–fluorophore complex, providing a higher analytical signal and a lower detection limit. This study was conducted on aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), a ubiquitous toxicant contaminating foods of plant origins. Eight aptamers specific to AFB1 with the same binding site and different regions stabilizing their structures were compared for affinity, based on which the aptamer with 38 nucleotides in length was selected. The polymers that interact reversibly with oligonucleotides, such as poly-L-lysine and polyethylene glycol, were tested. It was found that they provide the desired reduction in the depolarization of emitted light as well as high concentrations of magnesium cations. In the selected optimal medium, AFB1 detection reached a limit of 1 ng/mL, which was 12 times lower than in the tris buffer commonly used for anti-AFB1 aptamers. The assay time was 30 min. This method is suitable for controlling almond samples according to the maximum permissible levels of their contamination by AFB1. The proposed approach could be applied to improve other aptamer-based analytical systems.

Amorphous silica particles (ASPs) have been reported to exhibit bioactive properties and are becoming the focus of attention as bioceramics. However, their interactions with proteins in living organisms remain to be understood and need to be investigated in order to achieve wider applications. Our research group found that chlorine (Cl)-containing ASPs are useful for protein immobilization. Photofunctional dyes (fluorescein (FS−), methylene blue (MB+)) that have the carboxy and amino groups as the main functional groups were immobilized on the Cl-containing ASPs via the mechanochemical method as the model molecule and their spectral properties were used to investigate and discuss the organic/inorganic interfacial bonding states. In FS−, the oxygen atoms of the carboxy groups in the molecule were immobilized by the hydrogen bonds with the silanol groups on the ASPs surfaces, indicating that there is an optimum Cl content for the immobilization as the monomer state. In the case of MB+, as the Cl concentration in the ASPs increases, the immobilization via the electrostatic interactions between the Cl in the ASPs and the terminal dimethylamino group, and the hydrogen bonding between the N atoms of the MB+ hetero ring and the particle silanol group were enhanced. These results mainly suggest that the protein adsorption system occurs through the hydrogen bonding between the carboxy groups of the protein and the silanol groups on the particles and via electrostatic interactions between the amino groups of the protein and the dissociated silanol groups and the contained Cl at the particles. Thus, the spectral characterization using dyes as probes is expected to predict the protein interactions with the amorphous silica particles.

PurposeTo examine the effects of volume and method on fluorescein tear breakup time (TBUT) values and to evaluate test efficacy in an independent sample free of selection bias.MethodsSubjects were assessed using a battery of dry eye tests (DETs). Efficacy study: Subjects were randomized to the DET, standard strip, and liquid NaFl on separate days. A masked examiner measured TBUTs from video recordings. Verification study: Subjects were investigated for efficacy using volumes of 5.0 and 2.0 μL mL of NaFl for TBUT.ResultsEfficacy study: 46 subjects completed the study. Log-transformed TBUTs were significantly different, normal subjects versus dry subjects, for all 3 methods (all P values < 0.001). Area under the curves (AUCs), cut-points, sensitivity, and specificity were 1) DET: 0.873, 4.4 seconds, 0.97, and 0.67, respectively; 2) 2.0 mL: 0.901, 3.22 seconds, 0.90, and 0.87, respectively; and 3) standard strip: 0.912, 3.42 seconds, 0.97, and 0.80, respectively. Verification study: Data splitting analysis for the 2.0 μL data (n = 174 dry subjects and 97 normal subjects) generated an AUC of 0.917 and a cut-point of 6.05 seconds for a sensitivity of 0.87 and a specificity of 0.81. The 5.0 μL sample yielded an AUC of 0.940, with a sensitivity and specificity of 0.92 and 0.83, respectively, at a cut-point of 5.5 seconds.ConclusionsLittle difference in TBUT was found using the 3 clinical methods with video recordings. Analysis using liquid NaFl suggests that the TBUT test has excellent diagnostic accuracy and that a cut-point of 5.3 to 6.0 seconds is the optimum to differentiate normals from persons with dry eye.

Photo-CIDNP is one among different promising techniques to improve nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) sensitivity. Being sensitive to particular amino acids makes it a promising candidate with respect to biological NMR. Our goal is to exploit new sensitizers and compare them to the present working horses flavin mononucleotide, bipyridyl, and the recently applied fluorescein. Among the investigated dyes, we found a new and very efficient one, Atto Thio 12, conveniently used in fluorescence microscopy with 2–3 fold enhanced polarization when compared to the established ones. We also show that diode lasers which are now available from near UV to IR can be efficiently used in photo-CIDNP. Results are obtained with the amino acids tyrosine and tryptophan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PurposeTo perform a comprehensive clinical, diagnostic, and imaging characterization of the ocular surface in West Highland White Terriers (WHWTs) diagnosed with aqueous deficient dry eye (ADDE) disease.MethodsSix ADDE-affected and 13 ADDE-unaffected WHWT dogs were enrolled and underwent clinical assessment and disease scoring, tear osmolarity, phenol red thread test, Schirmer tear test, tear film breakup time, fluorescein staining, Rose bengal and lissamine green vital dye staining, meibometry, corneal esthesiometry, ultrasound pachymetry, optical coherence tomography, in vivo confocal microscopy, and conjunctival biopsy. Subjective assessment of their condition was provided by owner-reported surveys.ResultsADDE-affected WHWT dogs had higher median clinical disease (conjunctiva: 5.75 vs. 0.00; cornea: 14.00 vs. 5.00; total: 17.50 vs. 5.00), vital staining (Rose bengal: 2.25 vs. 1.50; lissamine green: 2.00 vs. 1.00), and histologic disease (conjunctiva: 2 vs. 0) scores when compared with the controls. In addition, ADDE-affected WHWTs had significantly lower phenol red thread test (5.0 vs. 17.5, mm/15 s), Schirmer tear test (3 vs. 20, mm/min), tear film breakup time (3.6 vs. 13.9, s) values and higher area under the curve values for meibometry (394 vs. 245, meibometry units [MU]). There were no significant differences in other tear film tests performed. Advanced imaging revealed decreased tear meniscus height (optical coherence tomography) and variable pigment deposition within corneal epithelial cells (in vivo confocal microscopy).ConclusionsThis comprehensive assessment of ADDE-affected WHWTs depicts the ocular surface changes associated with quantitative lacrimal gland dysfunction. Importantly, ADDE-affected WHWTs may prove a valuable naturally occurring ADDE model for investigating underlying pathophysiological mechanisms and the development of novel therapeutics.

Limited reports on the use of nanobodies (Nbs) in fluorescence polarization immunoassay (FPIA) aroused us to explore if the small size of Nbs is a drawback for the development of sensitive FPIA to small molecular compounds, particularly since FPIA is a technology strongly dependent on molecular weight. In the present work, three different molecular weight Nbs against 3-phenoxybenzoic acid (3-PBA), an exposure biomarker of pyrethroid insecticides, including bare Nbs (15 kDa), Nbs-Avidin (Nbs-AV, 60 kDa), and Nbs-Alkaline phosphatase (Nbs-AP, 130 kDa) were specifically generated to cover distinct regions on the polarization and molecular weight relationship curve for a fluorescein tracer. In competitive FPIA, similar half-maximal inhibitory concentrations (IC50) of 3-PBA of 16.4, 12.2, and 14.8 ng mL-1 were obtained for Nbs, Nbs-AV, and Nbs-AP, respectively, indicating that the size of Nbs in the range tested had no significant effect on the sensitivity of the resulting competitive FPIA. An IC50 of 20.2 ng mL-1 for an anti-3-PBA polyconal antibody based FPIA further demonstrated the performance of Nbs, which was comparable to that of traditional antibodies in FPIA. Spike-recovery studies showed good and reproducible recovery of 3-PBA in urine samples, demonstrating the applicability of Nb-based FPIA. Overall, our results show that Nb-based FPIA achieves sensitivity levels of FPIA based on conventional antibodies and further indicate that Nb absolutely meets the sensitivity requirement of FPIA.

Copper is essential for life, and beyond its well-established ability to serve as a tightly bound, redox-active active site cofactor for enzyme function, emerging data suggest that cellular copper also exists in labile pools, defined as loosely bound to low-molecular-weight ligands, which can regulate diverse transition metal signaling processes spanning neural communication and olfaction, lipolysis, rest-activity cycles, and kinase pathways critical for oncogenic signaling. To help decipher this growing biology, we report a first-generation ratiometric fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) copper probe, FCP-1, for activity-based sensing of labile Cu(I) pools in live cells. FCP-1 links fluorescein and rhodamine dyes through a Tris[(2-pyridyl)methyl]amine bridge. Bioinspired Cu(I)-induced oxidative cleavage decreases FRET between fluorescein donor and rhodamine acceptor. FCP-1 responds to Cu(I) with high metal selectivity and oxidation-state specificity and facilitates ratiometric measurements that minimize potential interferences arising from variations in sample thickness, dye concentration, and light intensity. FCP-1 enables imaging of dynamic changes in labile Cu(I) pools in live cells in response to copper supplementation/depletion, differential expression of the copper importer CTR1, and redox stress induced by manipulating intracellular glutathione levels and reduced/oxidized glutathione (GSH/GSSG) ratios. FCP-1 imaging reveals a labile Cu(I) deficiency induced by oncogene-driven cellular transformation that promotes fluctuations in glutathione metabolism, where lower GSH/GSSG ratios decrease labile Cu(I) availability without affecting total copper levels. By connecting copper dysregulation and glutathione stress in cancer, this work provides a valuable starting point to study broader cross-talk between metal and redox pathways in health and disease with activity-based probes.

Corneal lesions account for at least 1/4 of all ocular pathologies. This frequency is due to the fact that the outer eye’ shell is constantly exposed to adverse environmental factors and is quickly involved in the pathological process. The most spread disease is corneal erosion, the main treatment of which is the prevention of infectious complications. The widespread prevalence of corneal erosion and antibiotic resistance, which develops with the use of antibacterial drugs, led to the search for alternative therapies, one of which is lactoferrin.The purpose of our work was to study the effect of lactoferrin solution on the rate of corneal erosion epithelization in the experiment, to assess the effect of lactoferrin solution on the growth of pathogenic microflora against the background of corneal deepithelization in the experiment. An experimental model of corneal erosion was reproduced on 12 male chinchilla rabbits, divided into 2 groups (lactoferrin group and placebo group). Total scarification of the cornea was performed with an eye scalpel after preliminary epibulbar anesthesia with 0.4 % oxybuprocaine solution. Inoculations from the conjunctiva of the rabbits’ eyes to whey broth were carried out on the 0th, 3rd and 7th days of the experiment using sterile glass rods in the clinical diagnostic center of the city of Ryazan. Complete epithelialization of the cornea occurred in group 1 from 3 to 5 days, in group 2 — from 4 to 7 days. The average period of epithelialization in group 1 was 3.75 ± 0.62 days. In the second group — 5.42 ± 0.79 days. The use of a lactoferrin solution at a concentration of 0.5 mg/ml 3 time per day led to an acceleration of corneal epithelialization. In both groups, regardless of therapy, complete epithelialization of the cornea occurred by the 7th day. As a result of the experiment, there was no growth of microflora against the background of corneal de-epithelialization. Our data indicate that the use of a lactoferrin solution led to the suppression of the growth of pathogenic microflora, while placebo did not affect the growth of pathogenic microorganisms.

Abstract Background and Aim Goldman Applanation Tonometry (GAT), the gold standard of tonometry, is used without fluorescein in low‐resource settings. Nevertheless, corneal biomechanics differ among population groups. Purpose The aim of the study is to assess the relationship between GAT findings with and without fluorescein among glaucomatous and nonglaucomatous adults in Malawi. Methods This was a cross‐sectional quantitative study involving 22 glaucoma patients and 22 nonglaucoma patients at Mzuzu Central Hospital. We used a purposive sampling technique to select participants into the two groups. Next, we measured intraocular pressure using GAT with and without fluorescein. Then we entered the data into SPSS version 25. We employed the Wilcoxon test to make comparisons based on age and gender. We considered the value of p

Light‐harvesting system is an important way for capturing, transferring and utilizing light energy. It remains a key challenge to develop highly efficient artificial light‐harvesting systems. Herein, we report a supramolecular co‐assembly based on 5,10,15,20‐tetrakis (4‐hydroxyphenyl) porphyrin (THPP) and fluorescein derivatives as an artificial light‐harvesting systems. The assemblies use fluorescein derivatives as a donor and porphyrin (THPP) as an acceptor unit by covalent linkage and achieved fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) owing to their strong spectral overlap and short distance. Firstly, three linkers of different chain lengths were synthesized through bromoalkane, and three fluorescein derivatives were obtained by connecting the linker and fluorescein through covalent bonds according to the principle of substitution reaction. Then, FRET systems between fluorescein derivatives and THPP were developed. As a result, a nanocapsule with an ultrathin shell designed for mimicking natural light‐harvesting systems was successfully constructed based on the covalent assembly of donor molecule called fluorescein and acceptor molecule called THPP. To our delight, the covalent FRET probes achieved enhanced energy transfer and a longer fluorescence lifetime. The covalent FRET probes also showed the obvious growth inhibition of Staphylococcus aureus cells in photodynamic antibacterial. Therefore, this study provides a new and efficient strategy to construct artificial light‐harvesting systems and they hold great promise for photophysical and photochemical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relative abundance of functional genes used to quantify the abundance of functional genes in communities is controversial. Quantitative PCR (qPCR) technology offers a powerful tool for quantifying functional gene abundance. However, humic substances can inhibit qPCR in sediment/soil samples. Therefore, finding a convenient and effective quantitative analysis method for sediment/soil samples is necessary. The functional genes and physicochemical properties in sediments with different-level pollutions were analyzed in this study. Correlations between physicochemical properties and the relative abundance of functional genes were used to test whether relative abundance in gene prediction quantifies the abundance of functional genes. The abundance of functional genes could be corrected by multiplying the fluorescein diacetate (FDA) hydrolytic rates by the relative abundance of functional genes since the FDA assay has been widely used as a rapid and sensitive method for quantifying microbial activity in sediments. Redundancy analysis showed significant interrelations between the functional genes and the physicochemical properties of sediments. The relative abundance of functional genes is unreliable for quantifying the abundance of functional genes because of the weak correlation (R < 0.5, P < 0.05) between different pollutants and the relative abundance of functional genes. However, a significant positive correlation between concentrations of different pollutants and the activities of associated enzymes was obtained (R > 0.933, P < 0.05), which revealed that the abundance of functional genes could be reliably quantified by the relative abundance and FDA hydrolytic rate. This study proposed an alternative method besides qPCR to quantify the absolute abundance of functional genes, which overcomes the problem of humic interference in the quantitative analysis of sediment/soil samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Solid-phase fluorescence spectroscopy (SPFS) is a very useful non-destructive technique for directly analyzing samples in solid form without the use of solvents. However, due to the so-called inner-filter effect, it is sometimes necessary to dilute solid samples using non-fluorescent solids as diluents. Objective: This study aimed to explore the potential of SPFS in the quantitative analysis of fluorescent species based on: (1) the type of solid diluent; and (2) the sampling method used in the SPFS analysis. Methods: Four different solids were used as solid diluents in the preparation of standard mixtures having different concentrations of rhodamine b and fluorescein as model compounds. Standard mixtures of model compounds were sampled by two different methods called: (1) the powder-cell method; and (2) the adhesive tape method. LOQ and calibration sensitivity calculated from the calibration graphs were used to assess the measurement performance. The usability of SPFS in real-sample analyses was also evaluated in detail. Results: Among the solid diluents studied, the best results were obtained with sodium carbonate. The powder-cell method yielded a significant advantage over the adhesive tape method. The lowest LOQs for rhodamine b and fluorescein were obtained by sodium carbonate and the powder-cell method as 0.06 and 0.11 mg/kg, respectively. The results of real-sample analyses were verified using conventional liquid-phase fluorescence spectroscopy (LPFS). Conclusion: Solid-diluent type and sampling method were found to affect the performance of the SPFS technique. A combination of sodium carbonate and the powder-cell method gave the best results. According to the t-test, no difference was observed between the means obtained by SPFS and LPFS techniques in real-sample analyses. Highlights: In SPFS, toxic organic solvents and difficult sample preparation steps are not required. This makes the method advantageous over conventional fluorescence analyses performed in the liquid phase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To develop a fluorescent probe for hydrogen polysulfides (H2Sn, n≥2) based on protection‐deprotection chemistry, we protected fluorescein with nitrobenzenesulfonyl groups bearing various substituents with different electrophilic reactivities, and evaluated their responsiveness toward H2Sn. 3′‐O‐(2‐Nitrobenzenesulfonyl)fluorescein (1 c) provided the best sensitivity toward H2Sn and selectivity over hydrogen sulfide and glutathione. Further evaluation demonstrated that 1 c was an excellent probe, comparable with PSP‐3, one of the best H2Sn probes developed to date. The attractive features of 1 c were capitalized on by synthesizing the acetylated derivative from 1 c, which was shown to be cell‐permeable and applicable to the fluorescent imaging of H2Sn in HeLa cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sensitive systems with controlled release of drugs or diagnostic markers are attractive for solving the problems of biomedicine and antitumor therapy. In this study, new decasubstituted pillar[5]arene derivatives containing L-Tryptophan and L-Phenylalanine residues have been synthesized as pH-responsive drug nanocarriers. Fluorescein dye (Fluo) was loaded into the pillar[5]arene associates and used as a spectroscopic probe to evaluate the release in buffered solutions with pH 4.5, 7.4, and 9.2. The nature of the substituents in the pillar[5]arene structure has a huge influence on the rate of delivering. When the dye was loaded into the associates based on pillar[5]arene derivatives containing L-Tryptophan, the Fluo release occurs in the neutral (pH = 7.4) and alkaline (pH = 9.2) buffered solutions. When the dye was loaded into the associates based on pillar[5]arene with L-Phenylalanine fragments, the absence of release was observed in every pH evaluated. This happens as the result of different packing of the dye in the structure of the associate. This fact was confirmed by different fluorescence mechanisms (aggregation-caused quenching and aggregation-induced emission) and association constants. It was shown that the macrocycle with L-Phenylalanine fragments binds the dye more efficiently (lgKa = 3.92). The experimental results indicate that the pillar[5]arene derivatives with amino acids fragments have a high potential to be used as a pH-responsive drug delivery devices, especially for promoting the intracellular delivering, due to its nanometric size. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study carried out direct photocoagulation for treating microaneurysms (MAs) in diabetic macular edema (DME) using a navigation laser system with a 30-ms pulse duration. The MA closure rate after 3 months was investigated using pre and postoperative fluorescein angiography images. MAs primarily inside the edematous area based on optical coherence tomography (OCT) maps were selected for treatment, and leaking MAs (n = 1151) were analyzed in 11 eyes (eight patients). The total MA closure rate was 90.1% (1034/1151), and the mean MA closure rate in each eye was 86.5 ± 8.4%. Mean central retinal thickness (CRT) decreased from 471.9 ± 73.0 μm to 420.0 ± 87.5 μm (P = 0.049), and there was a correlation between the MA closure rate and the CRT reduction rate (r = 0.63, P = 0.037). There was no difference in the MA closure rate depending on the degree of edema thickness based on a false-color topographic OCT map image. Direct photocoagulation for DME with a short pulse using the navigated photocoagulator resulted in a high MA closure rate in just 3 months and a corresponding improvement in retinal thickness. These findings encourage the use of a new therapeutic approach for DME. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new preparatively convenient approach to the synthesis of biopromising 1‐fluoroalkyl‐substituted 2,4,5,6‐tetrahydro‐1H‐imidazo[1,2‐a][1]benzazepines has been developed, based on the chemoselective photoreduction‐catalyzed fluoroalkylation cyclization of N‐allyl‐4,5‐dihydro‐3H‐1‐benzazepin‐2‐amines in the presence of fluorescein as an organocatalyst. The use of comparatively inexpensive perfluoroalkyl iodides (RfI), mild reaction conditions and a wide range of substituents introduced make this method very attractive for the preparation of imidazobenzazepines with a variety of fluorinated moieties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new method and platform has been developed for direct transfer, electrophoretic separation, and pre-concentration of swabbed samples using the principles of thread-based electrofluidics. A direct electrokinetic injection has been observed for a variety of analytes ranging from small molecules to proteins. The effect of physicochemical interactions of the analyte with the swab and the thread on the transfer efficiency has been studied by exploring different swab and thread combinations. For fluorescein, using a polyurethane swab, 98% and 94% transfer efficiencies were observed on mercerised cotton and nylon thread, while only 80% transfer efficiency was observed on polyester thread, respectively. A 97% transfer of fluorescein was observed on the nylon thread when a flocked nylon swab was used, while only 47% transfer was observed when a cotton swab was used. A successful transfer has been observed for both liquid and dry samples from either pre-wetted or dry swabs in both the presence and absence of any surrounding electrolytes. The platform has been further adapted for multiplexed analysis, where a sample from a single swab was transferred onto two parallel thread systems with ca. 50% distribution between them. The method has been validated for transfer, separation, and pre-concentration of DNA from blood. It has also been successfully used to directly analyse dried blood samples using a commercial sampling device, Neoteryx Mitra. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Glioma is the most common primary brain neoplasm. Surgical excision is the primary management modality for high-grade glioma. The aim of surgery is maximum safe resection for improving survival. Objective: The aim of the current study was to evaluate the value of intra-operative sodium fluorescein in detecting boundaries and maximizing surgical resection of glioma. Patients and methods: The study included 40 patients with pre-operative MRI showing contrast-enhanced lesions suspected to be high-grade glioma. Patients were operated on after IV injection of sodium fluorescein (5-8mg/kg) after induction of anesthesia. With the help of FL560 filters integrated into the Leica Provido microscope, all fluorescent areas could be resected. Volumetric assessment of the resected tumor tissue was calculated from pre-operative and early post-operative MRI with contrast. Results: Gross total resection was achieved in most patients (95%), while in 5% of patients we just did near-total resection. The extent of resection ranged from 96 to 99% with a mean of 98.08%. The sensitivity and specificity of fluorescein for the high-grade glioma (contrast-enhanced areas) is 95% and 100% respectively. Conclusion: The integration of intra-operative IV sodium fluorescein provided a safe, easy, and effective utility for differentiating tumorous from normal tissue thus maximizing the extent of resection of high-grade gliomas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review presents an analysis of different algorithms for predicting the sensory ability of organic compounds towards metal ions based on their chemical formula. A database of chemosensors containing information on various classes of suitable compounds, including dipyrromethenes, BODIPY, Schiff bases, hydrazones, fluorescein, rhodamine, phenanthroline, coumarin, naphthalimide derivatives, and others (a total of 965 molecules) has been compiled. Additionally, a freely available software has been developed for predicting the sensing ability of chemical compounds, which can be accessed through a Telegram bot. This tool aims to assist researchers in their search for new chemosensors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This work assesses the change in tear function after LASIK surgery. Methods: This prospective, observational study was conducted in the Refractive Clinic of a tertiary care rural hospital. Tear dysfunction symptoms and the tear function tests were assessed in 269 eyes of 134 patients, OSDI score was used to document the tear dysfunction symptoms. Tear function was assessed by tear meniscus height, tear film break‑up time (TBUT), Lissamine green staining, corneal fluorescein staining, Schirmer test 1 without anesthesia before and at 4–6 weeks and 10–12 weeks after LASIK surgery. Results: Preoperatively OSDI score was 8.54 ± 7.71. It increased to 15.11 ± 9.18 postoperatively at 4–6 weeks after LASIK surgery and 13 ± 9.56 at 10–12 weeks after LASIK surgery Mean TBUT preoperatively was 7.82 ± 3.57 sec which decreased to 5.34 ± 2.56 sec at 4–6 weeks and to 4.53 ± 2.63 sec at 10–12 weeks postoperatively. The number of eyes with clear secretion decreased from 40.5% preoperatively to 23.4% at 4–6 weeks and to 22.3% at 10–12 weeks postoperatively, whereas the granular and cloudy secretions increased significantly in eyes after LASIK surgery. The prevalence of eyes with Lissamine green score >3 (dry eye) increased from 17.1% preoperatively to 27.9% at 4–6 weeks and to 30.5% at 10–12 weeks. Similarly, the number of eyes showing positive fluorescein corneal staining increased from 5.6% preoperatively to 19% postoperatively at 4–6 weeks. Mean Schirmer score was 28.83 ± 6.39 mm preoperatively, 22.47 ± 5.38 mm at 4–6 weeks, and 21.27 ± 4.99 mm at 10–12 weeks after LASIK surgery. Conclusion: The prevalence of dry eye increased after LASIK as was assessed by an increase in the tear dysfunction symptoms using OSDI score and the deranged values of various tear function tests after LASIK surgery [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The precise role of the nictating membrane is uncertain and inconsistently discussed in the literature, it is still up for debate. Currently, there have been no extensive investigations on the effect of nictating membrane excision on tear production in donkeys. Therefore, the current study aimed to evaluate the effects of total or partial surgical resection of the nictitating membrane on aquous tear production, pH, and corneal integrity via fluorescein dye and histological examination in donkeys. Donkeys were allocated into two equal groups. Group I (5 donkeys): donkeys were subjected to complete resection of the third eyelid in the left eye and the right one was a control. Group II (5 donkeys), donkeys were subjected to partial resection of the third eyelid in the left eye, and the right one was a control. All animals were observed for three months postoperative. The following criteria (ophthalmic examination, Schirmer tear test I (STT I), tear pH, and fluorescein staining test) were used for the evaluation of the eyes weekly for the first two months, then every two weeks for the last month. There were no significant variations in the mean values of STT I and pH of the total resection of the third eyelid (group Ι) in comparison with the partial resection of the third eyelid (group ΙΙ) (P > 0.05). In both eyes, there were no obvious clinical indicators of keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS). The histopathological examination of various regions such as eyelids, cornea, and conjunctiva in both groups compared to the control showed that all regions were perfectly normal. However, acinar atrophy, degeneration and periacinar fibrosis were visible in the glandular tissue of the third eyelid and cystic dilation and periductal fibrosis were visible in the nictitans gland's duct system. In conclusion, neither complete nor partial resection of the third eyelid causes the development of KCS or alters the ocular surface integrity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The health of the ocular surface is vital for clear vision and comfort. Various factors can adversely influence the ocular surface and tear film homeostasis, and these include procedures like cataract and corneal refractive surgery. It is, therefore, important to assess the integrity of the ocular surface in a rapid, predictable, and consistent manner in the clinic. Various tests and devices have been described, and while these are useful, this article highlights the importance of using fluorescein staining of the ocular surface in detecting changes. This is a simple, inexpensive, rapidly performed test that is available in most eye clinics. However, a proper technique of dye instillation and assessment is important to recognize the changes that can occur. Once detected, these changes can be quantified, and the location and patterns can be used to diagnose the diseases that are present; these changes can also be used to monitor treatment outcomes and disease progression. The article discusses the technique, assessment, and interpretation of fluorescein staining of the ocular surface, along with the role of the two other vital dyes – rose bengal and lissamine green. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are powerful weapons for various anticancer therapies. However, high glutathione (GSH) levels in cancer cells can significantly reduce the efficacy of such therapies. Methods: In this study, pH-responsive fluorescein-encapsulated zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 nanoparticles were synthesized for ROS-mediated combination therapy. Results: Upon blue light activation, fluorescein displayed a high singlet oxygen photogeneration ability for photodynamic therapy. Concurrently, accumulated Zn2+ from degraded zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 stimulated simultaneous ROS generation and GSH depletion, thereby successfully inducing chemodynamic therapy. This triggered a cascade of photo–physical and chemical processes culminating in the localized generation of ROS, ultimately breaking the intracellular redox equilibrium. Conclusion: This nanoformulation can potentially be used for light-activated ROS-mediated therapy for the management of superficial tumors. Highly reactive molecules called reactive oxygen species (ROS) are known to be present in excess in cancer cells. As a result, cancer cells are more susceptible to death by any further rise in levels of these species. In the current study, fluorescein-encapsulated zeolitic imidazolate nanoparticles were prepared for blue light-activated ROS-enhancing combination therapy. The nanoparticles displayed significant toxicity against a breast cancer cell line and simultaneously induced glutathione depletion, an antioxidant known to reduce the efficacy of various cancer therapies. Thus, this study reveals the potential of fluorescein-encapsulated zeolitic imidazolate nanoparticles for light-activated ROS-mediated therapy for the treatment of superficial tumors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a homogeneous fluorescence polarization immunoassay (FPIA) for the detection of hazardous aquatic toxin okadaic acid (OA) contaminating environmental waters was for the first time developed. A conjugate of the analyte with a fluorophore based on a fluorescein derivative (tracer) was synthesized, and its interaction with specific anti-OA monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) was tested. A MAbs–tracer pair demonstrated highly affine immune binding (KD = 0.8 nM). Under optimal conditions, the limit of OA detection in the FPIA was 0.08 ng/mL (0.1 nM), and the working range of detectable concentrations was 0.4–72.5 ng/mL (0.5–90 nM). The developed FPIA was approbated for the determination of OA in real matrices: river water and seawater samples. No matrix effect of water was observed; therefore, no sample preparation was required before analysis. Due to this factor, the entire analytical procedure took less than 10 min. Using a compact portable fluorescence polarization analyzer enables the on-site testing of water samples. The developed analysis is very fast, easy to operate, and sensitive and can be extended to the determination of other aquatic toxins or low-molecular-weight water or food contaminants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mutualistic associations between benthic marine invertebrates and reef taxa are common. Sponge-dwelling gobies benefit from protection within sponge tubes and greater food availability. Sponge-dwelling gobies are hypothesized to increase sponge pumping rates by consuming polychaete parasites, but such increases have not been demonstrated yet. We investigated the association between sponge-dwelling gobies (Elacatinus horsti) and two species of tube sponge (Aplysina lacunosa and Aplysina archeri) in Bonaire, Caribbean Netherlands. We visually assessed goby presence in sponges and used an in situ method with fluorescein dye to estimate pumping rates. Aplysina archeri was more likely to host a goby than A. lacunosa. For both sponge species, pumping rates of tubes with gobies were higher on average than those of tubes without gobies. Our observations, therefore, suggest that E. horsti associations with Aplysina are consistent with a mutualistic relationship in which sponges benefit from higher feeding rates when gobies are present. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Owing to the giant significance of organic dyes in both analytical as well as supramolecular chemistry, here, we report an efficient and green methodology for the preparation of indicator dyes, namely fluorescein and phenolphthalein. This particular method involves an inexpensive, reusable, and biodegradable deep eutectic solvent (DES) of choline chloride (ChCl) and zinc chloride (ZnCl2) in a ratio of 1 : 2, to furnish the corresponding dyes with an appropriate stoichiometry of the easily accessible starting materials. Strikingly, in this procedure, DES played a two‐fold role both as a catalyst as well as solvent and was efficiently recycled for four successive runs with no substantial cascading in the yields of the anticipated products. This simple yet efficient environmentally realistic protocol, to our best knowledge, is the first method, whereby DES has been employed in the successful preparation of any dye molecule to date. Hopefully, this novel procedure for dye(s) synthesis will be of much importance not only from the researchers perspective, but it will also provide a new way for both undergraduate and postgraduate level experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases (LPMOs) are industrially relevant enzymes that utilize a copper co-factor and an oxygen species to break down recalcitrant polysaccharides. These enzymes are secreted by microorganisms and are used in lignocellulosic refineries. As such, they are interesting from both the ecological/biological and industrial perspectives. Here we describe the development of a new fluorescence-based kinetic LPMO activity assay. The assay is based on the enzymatic production of fluorescein from its reduced counterpart. The assay can detect as little as 1 nM LPMO with optimized assay conditions. Furthermore, the reduced fluorescein substrate can also be used to identify peroxidase activity as seen by the formation of fluorescein by horseradish peroxidase. The assay was shown to work well at relatively low H2O2 and dehydroascorbate concentrations. The applicability of the assay was demonstrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Food processing, e.g., freeze-drying, exerts strong pressure on bacteria in the food matrix, decreasing their viability/activity and even forcing them to become viable but unculturable (VBNC), which are often underestimated by traditional plate count. The strict standards of bacterial viability in probiotic products require accurate cell viability/activity enumeration. We developed a staining (5(6)-carboxyfluorescein diacetate succinimide ester, propidium iodide)-based flow cytometry rapid method for detecting the viability/activity of Lacticaseibacillus (Lb.) casei Zhang, a widely used probiotic in the dairy industry in China. We optimized the procedural and instrumental parameters for generating results comparable to that of standard plate counts. This method was also applied to freeze-dried Lb. casei Zhang, yielding 7.7 × 1011 CFU/g, which was non-significantly higher than the results obtained by plate count (6.4 × 1011 CFU/g), possibly due to the detection of VBNC cells in the freeze-dried powder. We anticipated that this method can be used for detecting lactic acid bacteria in other probiotic food/beverages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conventional luminol chemiluminescence (CL) is widely used in imaging and analytical assays. As far as we can search, there are no studies on the use of CL for information encryption and protection. Here, a novel CL hydrogel is developed. A rapid color visualization of sarcosine in urine using a mobile phone camera is achieved based on CL energy resonance transfer. Four different colors of CL hydrogels are prepared by adding different ratios of rhodamine B or fluorescein. In the multicolor CL hydrogels, activated CL can generate conventional multicolor code shift and original white light. The luminescence duration and the cause of the white light are analyzed using CL spectroscopy. Sarcosine oxidase is replaced with sarcosine in the multicolor CL hydrogels to obtain the translation of editable code, which facilitates the secondary information encryption and code transmissions. The effective luminescence time of these hydrogels are short (13–50 min), and code can be deleted naturally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Validation of the novel Lexitas modified NEI scale for use in assessment of corneal fluorescein staining. Patients and Methods: A series of 18 illustrations and 14 clinical photographs depicting varying severity levels of corneal fluorescein staining were assessed by 3 independent examiners. Regions of the cornea were graded for staining severity based on 3 different grading scales: the original NEI staining scale (density-based scoring; 0– 3 scale), a structured version of the NEI scale (dot-count scoring; 0– 3 scale), and the Lexitas modified NEI staining scale (0– 4 scale with half-point increments). Kappa statistics (simple and weighted) were computed to determine intra-examiner image grading repeatability for each examiner over 2 separate assessments. Inter-examiner assessment reliability utilized the scores from the first read of each examiner, and pairs of examiners to compute kappa statistics. Results: Data was analyzed from the scores provided by the examiners from each gradable corneal region on 32 images (18 illustrations and 14 photographs) for a total of 154 corneal regions across the 3 grading scales for each validation run. The mean intra-examiner simple/weighted kappa values using the NEI density, NEI dot count, and the Lexitas modified NEI staining scales were 0.67/0.72, 0.91/0.94, 0.80/0.92 for the graded illustrations, and 0.83/0.88, 0.76/0.85, 0.77/0.88 for the graded photographs, respectively. The mean inter-examiner simple/weighted kappa values using the NEI density, NEI dot count, and the Lexitas modified NEI staining scales were 0.59/0.65, 0.86/0.90, and 0.78/0.91 for the graded illustrations, and 0.80/0.88, 0.84/0.89, 0.69/0.88 for the graded photographs, respectively. Conclusion: The expanded scale of the Lexitas modified NEI staining scale demonstrated a high degree of reliability and repeatability of grading assessments within and across individual examiners, comparing favorably with the original NEI staining scale. A future investigation into the in-office utility of the Lexitas modified NEI staining scale is warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To investigate the efficacy and safety of pulsed ultrasound (PUS) in enhancing fluorescein sodium (NaF) transport to the rabbit eye through the transscleral and transconjunctival routes in vivo. Methods: PUS and NaF were applied onto the supratemporal sclera/conjunctiva of healthy rabbit eyes. PUS (1 MHz, 2.37 W/cm2, 30% duty cycle, 5-min application time) was performed 3 times with a 5-min interval. In the same process, NaF was administered to the eye without PUS in the control. NaF concentrations in the vitreous and retina–choroid were determined by fluorescence measurement. The safety of PUS application was assessed based on temperature and intraocular pressure measurements, clinical observations, electroretinography, histology, and Terminal Deoxynucleotidyl Transferase dUTP Nick End Labeling assay. Results: In comparison to the control, higher NaF concentrations were found in the retina–choroid following transscleral (2.45-fold) and transconjunctival (2.97-fold) PUS applications (P < 0.05). NaF concentrations in the vitreous were 3.15 and 5.86 times greater in transscleral and transconjunctival PUS applications, respectively, compared with those obtained without PUS application (P < 0.05), and NaF level in the vitreous after transconjunctival PUS application was 2.61 times that of transscleral PUS application (P < 0.05). Ocular findings were transient and mild conjunctival injection, with no other structural and functional changes in PUS-treated eyes. Conclusions: PUS treatment can improve transscleral and transconjunctival delivery of NaF efficiently and safely. Transscleral and transconjunctival PUS applications offer potential clinical benefit in increasing drug penetration to the posterior segments of the eye for the noninvasive treatment of ocular diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fluorescein mapping improves accuracy of vulvar resection and detects clinically occult lesions in patients with vulvar Paget disease. BACKGROUND: Vulvar Paget disease often requires extensive and, in some cases, multiple resections to treat. A fluorescein-mapping procedure followed by a staged vulvectomy may be an effective technique to tailor resection and identify clinically occult lesions. TECHNIQUE: We describe a two-step procedure; first, intravenous fluorescein sodium is injected, and the vulva is illuminated with a Wood's lamp. Representative biopsies are obtained and correlated on final pathology with the extent of disease to develop a final plan for excision. Second, using fluorescein to identify the confirmed areas of disease, the appropriate excisional procedure is performed once mapping biopsy pathology is known. EXPERIENCE: We describe our experience with eight patients with vulvar Paget disease undergoing fluorescein mapping biopsies and staged vulvectomy. Using intravenous fluorescein sodium, all patients were found to have Paget disease beyond the visible margins of their gross lesions. No patients experienced a recurrence of Paget disease within a median follow-up time of 32 months, comparable with other directed methods of surgical resection. CONCLUSION: We report a technique for the injection of fluorescein sodium for the visualization of vulvar Paget disease capable of providing accurate surgical margins and identification of occult satellite lesions with a high degree of safety and a favorable cost profile. This staged approach to vulvectomy could offer improved accuracy of resection for vulvar Paget disease with few drawbacks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An efficient fluorescent cation chemosensor based on fluorescein L4 was well prepared and identified with spectroscopy analyses. UV–vis and fluorescence measurements examined the analyte complexation of the L4 with various cations, demonstrating a clear tendency to Al3+ ion. In the Job plot study, a stoichiometry ratio of a complex between L4 and Al3+ ion was determined to be 1: 2 (L4: Al3+). A stoichiometry ratio of complex between L4 and Al3+ ion was determined to be 1: 2 (L4: Al3+) using the Job plot. The association constant (Ka) of the L4-Al3+ complex was found 2.8 × 107 M−2. The obtained limit of detection (LOD) value (1.37 × 10−6 M for Al3+) exhibited the considerable sensitivity of the chemosensor L4 to Al3+ ion. DFT/TD-DFT calculations have also been employed to support the binding mode and photophysical properties of the complexation of chemosensor L4 to Al3+ ion and also to investigate the enhancement of L4 fluorescence by Al3+ ion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The novel polyphosphazene and cyclomatrix type microspheres were synthesized via a one-pot self-assembly polycondensation method. Octachlorocyclotetraphosphazene and two fluorescent compounds; fluorescein and curcumin were used as a crosslinker and monomers, respectively. The prepared microspheres were characterized by SEM, EDX, FTIR, XRD, UV-vis techniques. Also, the fluorescence properties of the microspheres were investigated. The microspheres exhibited fluorescence emissions both in ethanol and as solid-state when excited at 470 nm. The optimum pH was determined as 9.0 for fluorescence measurements. Owing to fluorescent properties of the microspheres, the delivery of curcumin from the prepared microspheres, and cell imaging can be investigated in the future. It is thought that the obtained intrinsically fluorescent polyphosphazene microspheres have the potential for use as sensors and labels, also.