• Current Optics and Photonics
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• 제5권4호
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• pp.351-361
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• 2021

Speckle imaging is capable of dynamic data acquisition at high spatiotemporal resolution, and has played a vital role in the functional study of biological specimens. The presence of various optical scatterers within the tissue causes alteration of speckle contrast. Thus structures like blood vessels can be delineated and quantified. Although laser speckle imaging is frequently used, an optimization process to ensure the maximum speckle contrast has not been available. In this respect, we here report an experimental procedure to optimize speckle contrast via applying different combinations of varying polarization of the illuminating laser light and multiple analyzer angles. Specifically, samples were illuminated by the p-polarization, 45°-polarization, and s-polarization of the incident laser, and speckle images were recorded without and with the analyzer rotated from 0° to 180° (Δ = 30°). Following the baseline imaging of a solid diffuser and a fixed brain sample, laser speckle contrast imaging (LSCI) was successfully performed to visualize in vivo mouse-brain blood flow. For oblique laser illumination, the maximum contrast achieved with p-polarized and s-polarized light was perpendicular to the analyzer's axis. This study demonstrates the optimization process for maximizing the speckle contrast, which can improve blood-flow estimation in vivo.

• Journal of the Optical Society of Korea
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• 제20권1호
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• pp.88-93
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• 2016

Recently laser speckle contrast (LSC) imaging has become a widely used optical method for in vivo assessment of blood flow in the animal brain. LSC imaging is useful for monitoring brain hemodynamics with relatively high spatio-temporal resolution. A speckle contrast imaging system has been implemented with electrical sensory stimulation apparatus. LSC imaging is combined with optical intrinsic signal imaging in order to measure changes in cerebral blood flow as well as neural activity in response to electrical sensory stimulation applied to the hindlimb region of the mouse brain. We found that blood flow and oxygen consumption are correlated and both sides of hindlimb activation regions are symmetrically located. This apparatus could be used to monitor spatial or temporal responses of cerebral blood flow in animal disease models such as ischemic stroke or cortical spreading depression.

• 대한의용생체공학회:의공학회지
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• 제42권3호
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• pp.116-124
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• 2021

It is important to differentiate between the target tissue (or organ) and the rest of the tissue before incision during surgery. And when it is necessary to preserve the differentiated tissues, the blood vessels connected to the tissue must be preserved together. Various non-invasive medical imaging methods have been developed for this purpose. We aimed to develop a medical imaging system that can simultaneously apply fluorescence imaging using indocyanine green (ICG) and laser speckle contrast imaging (LSCI) using laser speckle patterns. We designed to collect images directed to the two cameras on a co-axial optical path and to compensate equal optical path length for two optical designs. The light source used for fluorescence and LSCI the same 785 nm wavelength. This system outputs real-time images and is designed to intuitively distinguish target tissues or blood vessels. This system outputs LSCI images up to 37 fps through parallel processing. Fluorescence for ICG and blood flow in animal models were observed throughout the experiment.

• 대한전자공학회논문지SP
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• 제47권6호
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• pp.91-96
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• 2010

간섭성을 가진 레이저 빛을 산란체에 주사하였을 때 반사되는 정보의 간섭현상에 의해 생기는 불규칙한 무늬를 레이저 스펙클이라 한다. 레이저 스펙클 시스템은 동물의 특정부분의 기능적인 측면 관찰이 가능하고, 상대적으로 저렴하고 간단한 시스템으로 구성된다. 레이저 스펙클 시스템의 가장 큰 특징은 스펙클 이미지를 영상처리 과정을 통해 미세혈관 관찰이 가능하다는 것이다. 기존의 연구는 주로 영상처리를 통한 화질개선에 대해 연구가 많이 진행되었지만 본 논문에서는 레이저 스펙클 시스템을 소형화 하여 상용화시키기 위한 단계로서 레이저 스펙클 내시경을 제작하였다. 제작된 내시경의 성능테스트를 위해 동물실험으로 성능을 입증할 것이다. 피실험체로서 꼬리부분에 미세혈관을 가진 금붕어를 사용하였고 일반 자연광 이미지와 영상처리된 스펙클 이미지를 비교함으로써 내시경 시스템의 가능성을 보일 것이다.

• Journal of the Optical Society of Korea
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• 제17권1호
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• pp.86-90
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• 2013

Various methods have been proposed for enhancing the contrast of laser speckle contrast image (LSCI) in subcutaneous blood flow measurements. However, the LSCI still suffers from low image contrast due to tissue turbidity. Herein, a physicochemical tissue optical clearing (PCTOC) method was employed to enhance the contrast of LSCI. Ex vivo and in vivo experiments were performed with porcine skin samples and male ICR mice, respectively. The ex vivo LSCIs were obtained before and 90 min after the application of the PCTOC and in vivo LSCIs were obtained for 60 min after the application of the PCTOC. In order to obtain the skin recovery images, saline was applied for 30 min after the application of the PCTOC was completed. The visible appearance of the tubing under ex vivo samples and the in vivo vasculature gradually enhanced over time. The LSCI increased as a function of time after the application of the PCTOC in both ex vivo and in vivo experiments, and properly recovered to initial conditions after the application of saline in the in vivo experiment. The LSCI combined with the PCTOC was greatly enhanced even in deep vasculature. It is expected that similar results will be obtained in in vivo human studies.

• 대한전자공학회논문지SP
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• 제47권1호
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• pp.97-102
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• 2010

레이저 스펙클이란 간섭성을 가진 레이저 빛을 산란체에 쏘았을 때 반사되는 정보를 레이저 스펙클이라 한다. 이 레이저 스펙클의 가장 큰 특징은 현재 의학 기술로는 볼 수 없는 미세혈관 관찰이 가능하다는 것이다. 미세혈관 관찰을 위해서 레이저 스펙클 장치로 얻은 이미지를 영상처리 하는 과정이 필요하다. 이 논문은 공간적 방향으로 다양한 크기의 윈도우를 적용시키는 새로운 영상처리법을 제안하였다. 기존의 영상처리법 LASCA에서는 고정된 크기의 윈도우를 적용시켜 영상처리 하였다. 하지만 작은 크기의 윈도우를 적용하였을 경우 이미지의 공간 해상도가 좋아 혈관이 잘 보이는 장점이 있지만 스펙클 노이즈의 영향을 많이 받게되는 반면 큰 크기의 윈도우를 적용하였을 경우 노이즈 제거에는 큰 효과를 보지만 해상도가 낮아져 영상이 흐릿해지는 현상을 발견할 수 있다. 그래서 우리는 이 두가지 방법의 장점만 살리는 적응 윈도우 기법을 소개한다. 우리는 적응 윈도우 기법과 기존의 라스카 이미지를 비교하여 보일 것이며 적응 윈도우 기법을 이용해 영상의 화질을 높인 것을 보일 것이다.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• 제17권2호
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• pp.371-385
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• 2023

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Soy isoflavone (SIF) and soy lecithin (SL) have beneficial effects on many chronic diseases, including neurodegenerative diseases. Regretfully, there is little evidence to show the combined effects of these soy extractives on the impairment of cognition and abnormal cerebral blood flow (CBF). This study examined the optimal combination dose of SIF + SL to provide evidence for improving CBF and protecting cerebrovascular endothelial cells. MATERIALS/METHODS: In vivo study, SIF50 + SL40, SIF50 + SL80 and SIF50 + SL160 groups were obtained. Morris water maze, laser speckle contrast imaging (LSCI), and hematoxylin-eosin staining were used to detect learning and memory impairment, CBF, and damage to the cerebrovascular tissue in rat. The 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) and the oxidized glutathione (GSSG) were detected. The anti-oxidative damage index of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione (GSH) in the serum of an animal model was also tested. In vitro study, an immortalized mouse brain endothelial cell line (bEND.3 cells) was used to confirm the cerebrovascular endothelial cell protection of SIF + SL. In this study, 50 µM of Gen were used, while the 25, 50, or 100 µM of SL for different incubation times were selected first. The intracellular levels of 8-OHdG, SOD, GSH, and GSSG were also detected in the cells. RESULTS: In vivo study, SIF + SL could increase the target crossing times significantly and shorten the total swimming distance of rats. The CBF in the rats of the SIF50 + SL40 group and SIF50 + SL160 group was enhanced. Pathological changes, such as attenuation of the endothelium in cerebral vessels were much less in the SIF50 + SL40 group and SIF50 + SL160 group. The 8-OHdG was reduced in the SIF50 + SL40 group. The GSSG showed a significant decrease in all SIF + SL pretreatment groups, but the GSH showed an opposite result. SOD was upregulated by SIF + SL pretreatment. Different combinations of Genistein (Gen)+SL, the secondary proof of health benefits found in vivo study, showed they have effective anti-oxidation and less side reaction on protecting cerebrovascular endothelial cell. SIF50 + SL40 in rats experiment and Gen50 + SL25 in cell test were the optimum joint doses on alleviating cognitive impairment and regulating CBF through protecting cerebrovascular tissue by its antioxidant activity. CONCLUSIONS: SIF+SL could significantly prevent cognitive defect induced by β-Amyloid through regulating CBF. This kind of effect might be attributed to its antioxidant activity on protecting cerebral vessels.