Previous studies have demonstrated the ultrasound-induced skin optical clearing enhancement with topical application of 60% glycerol (G) on in vitro porcine skin and in vivo human skin. Our purpose was to find the relation between the effect of optical skin clearing and different concentrations of glycerol and to find more effective ultrasound-glycerol combinations on optical skin clearing. The enhancement effect of ultrasound [Sonophoresis (SP) delivery] in combination with 40% G, 60% G, and 80% G on in vitro human skin optical clearing was investigated. Light imaging depths of skin were measured using optical coherence tomography. Different concentrations of glycerol and ultrasound with a frequency of 1 MHz and an intensity of 0.5 W/cm2 was simultaneously applied for 15 min. The results show that with the increase of concentration of glycerol, the optical clearing of skin is much improved. Optical clearing capability of glycerol was more enhanced with simultaneous application of ultrasound compared with glycerol alone. The attenuation coefficients of skin tissues after application of 40% G/SP, 60% G/SP, and 80% G/SP decreased approximately 11.8%, 18.5%, and 20.0% at 15 min compared with 40% G, 60% G, and 80% G alone, respectively. The greatest decrease in attenuation coefficients at 60 min was approximately 52.3% and 63.4% for 80% G (without ultrasound) and 80% G/SP (with ultrasound), respectively, which are 2.1-fold and 2.6-fold to that in the 40% G.
Tongue inspection (TI) is an important and unique diagnostic method in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), because significant connections between various viscerae diseases and abnormalities in the tongue have been verified. In TCM, TI is simple and non invasive, but in clinical applications, TI is subjectively based on the experience and technique of physicians. To avoid this problem, optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging is introduced here for TI. We study OCT imaging in rats in vivo from chronic gastritis group (model) and normal group (control) and quantitatively analyze the relative parameters, such as the thickness and the moisture degree of TI. Our results show that OCT images properly demonstrate the thickness of the tongue coating and the moisture degree of the tongue in both groups, and the thickness is increased in the model group from that in the normal group, while the moisture degree decreases. As a result, OCT technology has the potential to provide physicians with an objective diagnostic standard for visual TI in TCM clinical practice and research.
Inspection of tongue is an age-old technique used by Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practitioners to determine a
patient's health status. Because tongue examination is a subjective and inaccurate diagnostic method, a scientific tool
which can provide objective and accurate information is needed to assist the TCM practitioners in their practice. The
purpose of the study was to examine the feasibility of developing a glossoscopy from an optical coherence tomography
(OCT) imaging system. In the present study, an OCT system was used to examine the tongue of the rat. After
examination, the tongue was surgically removed, sectioned by a microtome and put on a glass slide for histological
examination. The slides were examined under a bright-field microscope. Results of the OCT imaging studies showed that
the OCT system was capable of showing the images of three distinct regions of the tongue: the tongue coating layers, the
interface between the tongue coating and the tongue body, and the tongue body. It was also possible to assign an index
number to each of the coating layers. When the tongue tissue was examined under a microscope, three separate regions
of the tongue also were visible. Results of this pilot study shows that the OCT potentially can be developed into a
glossoscopy for clinical application in TCM practice.
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