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Reports on the images obtained from a tapered single-mode optical fiber that give rise to contrast in near-field scanning optical microscopy. Information on the images of nominally identical aluminum test patterns formed on a glass substrate; Use of polarized light microscopy.

Presents a study which applied near-field scanning optical microscopy to the characterization of InGaAsP multiquantum well lasers. Experimental details; Results and discussion; Conclusion.

The most widely used fluorophore in glioma-resection surgery, 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA), is thought to cause the selective accumulation of fluorescent protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) in tumour cells. Here we show that the clinical detection of PpIX can be improved via a microscope that performs paired stimulated Raman histology and two-photon excitation fluorescence microscopy (TPEF). We validated the technique in fresh tumour specimens from 115 patients with high-grade gliomas across four medical institutions. We found a weak negative correlation between tissue cellularity and the fluorescence intensity of PpIX across all imaged specimens. Semi-supervised clustering of the TPEF images revealed five distinct patterns of PpIX fluorescence, and spatial transcriptomic analyses of the imaged tissue showed that myeloid cells predominate in areas where PpIX accumulates in the intracellular space. Further analysis of external spatially resolved metabolomics, transcriptomics and RNA-sequencing datasets from glioblastoma specimens confirmed that myeloid cells preferentially accumulate and metabolize PpIX. Our findings question 5-ALA-induced fluorescence in glioma cells and show how 5-ALA and TPEF imaging can provide a window into the immune microenvironment of gliomas., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Limited.)

Parotid oncocytoma is a rare salivary gland tumour. Management does not require surgical intervention if diagnosed on a preoperative biopsy. A 64-year-old man presented with a parotid mass diagnosed as mcSCC on fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC). Surgical histopathology following parotidectomy demonstrated an oncocytoma of the parotid gland. Parotid oncocytomas are rare; therefore, diagnosis can be difficult. An MRI, CT, and US-guided biopsy are required for diagnosis. Ultrasound-guided core biopsy (UGSB) is more sensitive and specific when compared to FNAC for diagnosing malignant tumours. Diagnoses of benign salivary gland tumours on biopsy remain challenging. The aim of this article is to highlight the difficulty of diagnosing salivary gland tumours. We further aim to outline the contributing features that lead to this misdiagnosis and suggest steps to circumvent it in the future. This report describes the challenges in diagnosing salivary gland tumours and outlines the contributing features of this misdiagnosis. We add to the literature an additional case of a parotid oncocytoma., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright © 2023, Miladinovic et al.)

Background: The purpose of this study was to review the current management of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD), including treatment costs, safety profile and effectiveness., Methods: A literature review was performed of randomized-controlled trials, systematic reviews, Cochrane reports and National/Societal guidelines of the medical, endoscopic and surgical management of GORD. Proton pump inhibitor (PPI) prescribing patterns and expenditure were reviewed in different countries, including Australia, Canada, New Zealand, UK and USA., Results: Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are primarily indicated for control of GORD, Helicobacter pylori eradication (combined with antibiotics), preventing NSAID-induced gastrointestinal bleeding and treating peptic ulcer disease. There is widespread overprescribing of PPIs in Western and Eastern nations in terms of indication and duration, with substantial expense for national health providers. Despite a favourable short-term safety profile, there are observational associations of adverse effects with long-term PPIs. These include nutrient malabsorption, enteric infections and cardiovascular events. The prevalence of PPI use makes their long-term safety profile clinically relevant. Cost-benefit, symptom control and quality-of-life outcomes favour laparoscopic fundoplication rather than chronic PPI treatment. Laparoscopic fundoplication in long-term management of PPI-responsive GORD is supported by SAGES, NICE and ACG, and PPI-refractory GORD by AGA and SAGES guidelines. The importance of establishing a definitive diagnosis prior to invasive management is emphasized, especially in PPI-refractory heartburn., Conclusions: We examined evidence-based guidelines for PPI prescribing and deprescribing in primary care and hospital settings and the need for PPI stewardship and education of health professionals. This narrative review presents the advantages and disadvantages of surgical, endoscopic and medical management of GORD, which may assist in shared decision making and treatment choice in individual patients.This paper was presented (GS020) at the 88th RACS Annual Scientific Conference, 6-10 May, 2019., Competing Interests: R.B.W. discloses relationships with Merck, Fisher and Paykel, Medtronic, and Ethicon involving funding for education, research, and attendance at scientific meetings., (© The Author(s) 2023. Published by Oxford University Press and Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University.)

A 19-year-old female has multiple presentations to emergency department with recurrent abdominal pain. During her third presentation, the radiological features were suggestive of high-grade small bowel obstruction in a virgin abdomen. A diagnostic laparoscopy has been performed. The intraoperative findings include a band adhesion between omentum and small bowel mesentery, and perihepatic adhesions consistent with Fitz-Hugh-Curtis syndrome. The histopathology from a biopsy of the macular lesions of the abdominal wall showed endosalpingiosis. The postoperative high vaginal swab was positive for Chlamydia trachomatis . The underlying cause of her small bowel obstruction could be due to pelvic inflammatory disease, Fitz-Hugh-Curtis syndrome, or endosalpingiosis. We aimed to create awareness amongst readers that small bowel obstruction in young female patients with no prior abdominal surgery is possible and often difficult to diagnose immediately., Competing Interests: The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest regarding the publication of this article., (Copyright © 2022 Zhi Kiat Sia et al.)

Ewing sarcoma (ES) is a small round cell sarcoma which usually occurs in the paediatric and young adult age groups. This pictorial review briefly discusses and presents the typical skeletal and extraskeletal locations which ES is encountered, including the metadiaphysis of long bones, pelvis, chest wall and paravertebral regions. Five cases of ES in atypical locations are then presented along with an observation of demographic differences between skeletal and extraskeletal ES. These cases include ES arising from the metatarsal, scapula, breast, intracranial soft tissue and the paranasal sinuses. Presenting symptoms, treatment approach and prognosis are highly variable depending on the location; and multimodal imaging is centrepiece in the management process. Management usually includes any combination of chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery. The WHO classification system was updated in 2020 to include some of the rare genetic subtypes of ES. One such case of the BCOR subtype is demonstrated in this review and occurs in an atypical location. Whether these subtypes have distinct radiological features or a propensity to occur in atypical locations is an area for further research., (© 2022 The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists.)

This work reports the incorporation of mixed-metal oxides (MMOs) such as Si/Ti and Si/Zr into latex paints in the form of thin coatings for permanent trapping of indoor formaldehyde. The formaldehyde removal performance of the surface coatings was evaluated in a lab-scale indoor air chamber, and the results were compared with those of powder analogues. Due to the pore blockage by the latex, the incorporation led to 6-30% reduction in adsorption capacity and 50-70% drop in the adsorption rate for MMO-latex paints relative to their powder MMO analogues. Under the operating conditions of concentration, temperature, and relative humidity, the Si/Zr-latex paints outperformed the Si/Ti counterparts. It was also observed that performance could decrease over excessive loading, for example, Si/Zr-latex paint with 15/1 Si/Zr weight ratio showed a 20% lower adsorption capacity than that of the Si/Zr-latex paint with 25/1 Si/Zr ratio at 5 ppm v , 25 °C, and 70% RH. While high temperature greatly reduced the adsorption rate of the MMO-latex paints, high humidity slightly promoted the rate of formaldehyde capture. In 10 L, flow-through chamber tests, 25Si/Zr-latex paint reduced 5 ppm v formaldehyde by up to 60% at 25 °C and 70% RH with an adsorption rate of 0.34 ppm v /h. Overall, this study highlights the potential of MMO-latex paints with optimized formation for the efficient abatement of indoor aldehydes.