Do formalin fixation and freeze‐thaw affect near‐infrared Raman spectroscopy of cartilaginous tissue? A preliminary ex vivo analysis of native human articular cartilage

Near‐infrared (NIR) Raman microprobe spectroscopy has been applied to the non‐invasive characterization of the biochemical structure of extracellular matrix in articular cartilage, a step forward along the path of in vivo diagnostic application of chondropathy. In most studies handling ex vivo cartilage specimens, formalin fixation or freeze‐thaw treatments have been applied in order to stabilize tissue and cell constituents prior to spectroscopic measurements. However, these pre‐processing manipulations might significantly affect certain target bands of the cartilage spectra, thus introducing biases in the characterizations, and potentially leading to data misinterpretation. In this study, we evaluated how formalin fixing and freeze‐thaw processes affect Raman spectra from human femur cartilage. Healthy cartilage specimens were fixed/stored either in a 10% neutral buffered formalin solution or in a deep freezer set at −80 °C. The results of this study show that formalin fixation significantly affects the NIR Raman spectra of cartilage specimens due to concurrent formalin absorption and water dehydration within both collagen and glycosaminoglycan macromolecules. Water dehydration was also confirmed in the amide I structure in the frozen‐thawed specimen, but to a much lesser extent. Furthermore, soaking the tissues in phosphate‐buffered saline solution minimized the storage‐induced Raman artifacts, but its immersion had limited effectiveness in formalin‐fixed specimens, predominantly due to an overlap of signals from the formalin liquid (i.e. emitting at 1046 and 1492 cm⁻¹). Therefore, to provide a highly accurate biochemical evaluation of extracellular matrix using NIR Raman spectroscopy, freeze‐thaw processes are more suitable for ex vivo samples of human cartilage than formalin fixation. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A Review of Recent Near-Infrared Research for Wood and Paper (Part 2)

Abstract: This review article introduces recent technical and scientific reports on near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy in the wood and paper industry, which have increased during the last decade. Many researchers have reported that the NIR technique is useful for detection of both chemical and physical properties of wood materials and has been widely used in cases where the characteristic cellular structure of the material is retained. With regard to application of NIR spectroscopy to pulp and paper, many publications have reported its potential as an on-line measurement technique during paper-making process control. NIR spectroscopy is considered fundamental in applied research on wood and paper. Utilization of NIR spectroscopy in the wood and paper industry should take into account its applicability and limitations as a nondestructive technique.     

骨关节炎软骨的近红外光谱学研究及分期诊断

骨关节炎是一种威胁中老年人群公共健康和生活质量的重大医学疾病。骨关节炎的早期病变主要表现在细胞外基质成分含量的变化,患者自身很难发现,现有的临床方法和实验方法也不能较准确地识别骨关节炎的早期病变。近年来,傅里叶变换近红外（FTNIR）光谱技术因为其分析速度快、成本低、易于穿透组织获得样本的光谱信息等特点已被用于手术导航、无损检测和疾病诊断等各个领域。基于以上优势,采用FTNIR技术对不同深度分区（表层区、过渡区、深层区）的健康和骨关节炎的关节软骨进行NIR光谱采集和预处理,结合主成分分析（PCA）和Fisher判别（FDA）分别研究不同的预处理方式对判别结果的影响、不同深度下基质成分含量的变化以及骨关节炎分期识别。比较其他2种（基线校正、二阶导数3次多项式25点Savitzky-Golay平滑）预处理方式,同分区中一阶导数2次多项式21点Savitzky-Golay平滑预处理的判别结果最优,其中表层区的识别率高达95%（初始案例）和90%（交互验证案例）;表层区的判别结果优于过渡区,更优于深层区,恰可证明骨关节炎的早期病变主要发生在表层区。在骨关节炎分期识别中,经数据优化后模型的初始案例识别率为100%,交互验证识别率为93.3%,预测集的识别率为87.5%。结果表明：NIR光谱的一阶导数预处理结合PCA-FDA方法能有效地鉴别关节软骨病变与否并进行骨关节炎的分期诊断,对骨关节炎监测和早期诊断研究具有重要意义,并有潜力应用于骨关节炎的原位分期和早期临床诊断。     

Sodium visibility and quantitation in intact bovine articular cartilage using high field (23)Na MRI and MRS

Noninvasive methods of detecting cartilage degeneration can have an impact on identifying the early stages of osteoarthritis. Accurate measurement of sodium concentrations within the cartilage matrix provides a means for analyzing tissue integrity. Here a method is described for quantitating sodium concentration and visibility in cartilage, with general applications to all tissue types. The sodium concentration in bovine patellar cartilage plugs was determined by three different methods: NMR spectroscopy of whole cartilage plugs, NMR spectroscopy of liquefied cartilage in concentrated HCl, and inductively coupled plasma emission spectroscopy. Whole bovine patellae were imaged with relaxation normalized calibration phantoms to ascertain sodium concentrations inside the articular cartilage. Sodium concentrations in intact articular cartilage were found to range from approximately 200 mM on the edges to approximately 390 mM in the center, with an average of approximately 320 mM in five separate bovine patellae studied. In essence, we have created sodium distribution maps of the cartilage, showing for the first time, spatial variations of sodium concentration in intact cartilage. This average concentration measurement correlates very well with the values obtained from the spectroscopic methods. Furthermore, sodium was found to be 100% NMR visible in cartilage plugs. Applications of this method in diagnosing and monitoring treatment of osteoarthritis are discussed.     

A Review of Recent Near Infrared Research for Wood and Paper

Abstract

This review article introduces recent technical and scientific reports in terms of near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy in the wood and paper science and industry, where interest has increased during the last couple decades. Many researchers reported the NIR technique was useful to detect multi information in both chemical and physical properties of wood materials, although it was widely used in a state where characteristic cellular structure was retained. In the case of application of NIR spectroscopy to pulp and paper, many publications have pointed out its high probability as online measurement techniques during paper‐making process control. Arguments referred to the importance of NIR spectroscopy as fundamental and applied research of wood and paper.     

Recent Advances in Near-Infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy

Abstract

A proliferation of applications for near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy has been driven by recent advances in instrumentation and chemometrics. These include the development of smaller, portable instruments with no moving parts, suitable for process environments, and new data treatments and calibration algorithms to model nonlinear relationships between spectra and chemical constituents. The intent of this review is to focus on recent developments in near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy, including chemometrics and new applications of NIR reflectance in several diverse fields, rather than to address indepth the historical development of NIR. Certain topics, such as chemometrics, deserve a comprehensive review by themselves, and the reader is urged to consult the original sources for greater depth. As a newcomer to the field, I have attempted to present those topics which may be of greater interest to the novice.     

关节软骨内胶原纤维各向异性的红外光谱学显微成像研究

福尔马林溶液对于固化关节软骨组织、防止在长时间测量过程中组织的分解退化起到很好的作用,但对福尔马林溶液浸泡后软骨组织的结构变化(固化)过程及其胶原纤维各向异性的改变却鲜有研究。采用傅里叶变换红外光谱显微成像技术与偏振技术相结合的方法,通过关节软骨内胶原纤维(蛋白)的红外光谱特征吸收峰(Amide Ⅰ,Amide Ⅱ带)的吸光度随福尔马林溶液浸泡时间及偏光角度的变化来研究福尔马林溶液对软骨组织结构即胶原纤维各向异性的影响,并利用与各向异性方程拟合得到的决定系数(R2)对胶原蛋白纤维各向异性程度进行表征。研究发现,关节软骨Amide Ⅰ和Amide Ⅱ带的各向异性随着福尔马林浸泡时间的增长而愈加明显(Amide Ⅰ带变化尤为明显),说明福尔马林溶液中甲醛分子诱发了胶原蛋白分子新的交联,最终获得较好的固化效果,有利于关节软骨的各向异性分析。本研究将为今后关节软骨样本的制备、储存及各向异性研究提供参考。     

Near-Infrared Spectroscopy: Effective Tool for Screening of Polymorphs in Pharmaceuticals

Abstract

Near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy has emerged as an important technique for the screening and characterization of polymorphs in pharmaceuticals. Polymorphism, the ability of a substance to exist in two or more crystalline phases having different physicochemical and biopharmaceutical parameters, has attracted pharmaceutical scientists due to the patentability of new forms. Transformation of the solid phase due to polymorphic changes during manufacturing and storage may lead to formulation hurdles. Vibrational spectroscopy, particularly NIR spectroscopy, is a widely used technique for polymorphs screening in drug development processes and has emerged as a process analytical technology tool. In this review, a brief overview of NIR spectroscopy, chemometric tools, and polymorphs screening of pharmaceuticals using NIR spectroscopy is presented. Recent developments in NIR spectroscopy instrumentation are also discussed.     

近红外光谱技术在土壤养分分析中的研究进展及应用前景

精准农业是近年来国际上农业科学研究的热点领域,是现代信息技术和传统农业紧密结合的产物。近红外光谱技术(NIRS)作为一种无损、实时、准确的分析手段,在土壤学领域的应用逐渐得到了人们的重视,是实现精准农业的有效手段之一。对其目前在土壤学领域的应用进行了介绍和分析,认为NIRS在土壤学领域的发展方向应该是田间信息实时采集技术,即在田间条件下利用便携式NIRS分析仪对土壤养分和农作物苗情进行实时分析和处理,另外NIRS还可以与空间遥感技术相结合,宏观掌握农作物所需营养及其长势信息,从根本上改变我国粗放型农业现状。     

太赫兹技术用于关节软骨检测的研究进展

骨关节炎是主要由软骨组织损伤与退化引起的常见关节疾病,是影响人类健康的重大疾病之一,对于关节软骨组织早期病变的检测可以大大提高疾病的治愈率,然而相关的临床诊断技术尚未发现。近年来,太赫兹技术在医学领域日益受到关注。与传统方法相比,太赫兹辐射能量低,不会产生电离辐射,可高灵敏、无损伤地对生物组织进行成像检测,因此在关节软骨诊断方面具有较大的应用潜力。本文简要介绍了关节软骨的生理与病理情况以及目前关节软骨检测的主要方法,重点总结了太赫兹技术应用于关节软骨检测方面的相关研究工作,分别包括对动物与人类关节软骨的检测,探讨了太赫兹技术在关节软骨检测中所面临的挑战与未来研究展望。     

近红外光谱检测技术在聚合物领域的应用研究进展

近红外光谱(NIR)检测技术能够提供样品丰富的结构和组成信息,且具有分析速度快、样品无需处理等突出特点,在聚合物领域有了越来越广泛的应用。综述了该技术在聚合物合成到成型加工再到回收利用整个生命周期过程中各个环节的应用研究进展。在聚合物的合成和加工过程中,近红外光谱检测技术可用于材料参量的定量测量,且由于光纤良好的化学和热稳定性,使其能够在强腐蚀、高温、高压等危险环境下进行在线实时监测。对于聚合物合成,选择聚合反应转化率、聚合产物粒径和聚合物组成三个关键参量,概述了近红外光谱在线测量上述参量的相关研究进展;对于聚合物加工,主要讨论了反应性挤出加工过程中近红外光谱在线测量聚合物分子量、残余单体含量、接枝率等反映材料加工状态参量的应用研究。在聚合物的回收利用过程中,近红外光谱可用于废旧塑料制品的定性分类识别,围绕该应用分析了其国内外的研究现状。指出了近红外光谱检测技术在应用中存在的问题,并提出几点建议,最后对该技术在聚合物领域的发展方向进行了展望,并认为随着研究工作的深入和在线测量仪器的发展,近红外光谱检测技术将在聚合物领域有着更加广阔的应用前景。     

NIR Spectroscopy and Imaging Techniques for Evaluation of Fish Quality—A Review

Abstract

Fish is a highly perishable product and it is particularly important to pay attention to its quality changes. Maintenance of the high quality of fish and fishery products necessitates development of means for precise and rapid quality evaluation. Near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy and imaging techniques are proven technologies that can provide useful information for the estimation of quality attributes in fish and fishery products due to fast speed, noninvasiveness, ease of use, and minimal sample preparation. The aim of this review is to communicate perspectives and aspects relating to NIR spectroscopy and imaging techniques with regard to evaluation of chemical composition (fat, protein, and moisture), microbiological (freshness, spoilage, and nematodes), and sensory (flavor, texture, and color) attributes of fish and fishery products. Moreover, the usefulness of NIR spectroscopy and imaging techniques for fish authentication and classification are presented. Finally, some viewpoints on the current situation and suggestions for future research directions are proposed.     

Near-Infrared spectroscopy and hyperspectral imaging for non-destructive quality assessment of cereal grains

Hyperspectral imaging (HSI) combines spectroscopy and imaging, providing information about the chemical properties of a material and their spatial distribution. It represents an advance of traditional Near-Infrared (NIR) spectroscopy. The present work reviews the most recent applications of NIR spectroscopy for cereal grain evaluation, then focuses on the use of HSI in this field. The progress of research from ground material to whole grains and single kernels is detailed. The potential of NIR-based methods to predict protein content, sprout damage and α-amylase activity in wheat and barley is shown, in addition to assessment of quality parameters in other cereals such as rice, maize and oats, and the estimation of fungal infection. This analytical technique also offers the possibility to rapidly classify grains based on properties such as variety, geographical origin, kernel hardness, etc. Further applications of HSI are expected in the near future, for its potential for rapid single-kernel analysis.     

In vivo structural analysis of articular cartilage using diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging

Purpose

The articular cartilage is a small tissue with a matrix structure of three layers between which the orientation of collagen fiber differs. A diffusion-weighted twice-refocused spin-echo echo-planar imaging (SE-EPI) sequence was optimized for the articular cartilage, and the structure of the three layers of human articular cartilage was imaged in vivo from diffusion tensor images.

Materials and Methods

The subjects imaged were five specimens of swine femur head after removal of the flesh around the knee joint, five specimens of swine articular cartilage with flesh present and the knee cartilage of five adult male volunteers. Based on diffusion-weighted images in six directions, the mean diffusivity (MD) and the fractional anisotropy (FA) values were calculated.

Results

Diffusion tensor images of the articular cartilage were obtained by sequence optimization. The MD and FA value of the specimens (each of five examples) under different conditions were estimated. Although the articular cartilage is a small tissue, the matrix structure of each layer in the articular cartilage was obtained by SE-EPI sequence with GRAPPA. The MD and FA values of swine articular cartilage are different between the synovial fluid and saline. In human articular cartilage, the load of the body weight on the knee had an effect on the FA value of the surface layer of the articular cartilage.

Conclusion

This method can be used to create images of the articular cartilage structure, not only in vitro but also in vivo. Therefore, it is suggested that this method should support the elucidation of the in vivo structure and function of the knee joint and might be applied to clinical practice.     

Investigation of the Kinetics of Curing Reaction for the Resin Matrix Polymer Composite Based on Near-Infrared Spectroscopy

Abstract

Near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy is a rapid and nondestructive method for the simultaneous measurement of different constituents in resin matrix polymer composites. This strategy has been applied in the synthesis of resin matrix polymer composites. In this article, we mainly review the control of curing reaction kinetics of the phenolic, epoxy resin, polyester resin, polyurethane, and other polymer resin based on NIR spectra, which is important to control the quality of the resin matrix polymer composites during synthesis.     

近红外光谱分析技术进展及其在烟草行业中的应用

对国内外近红外光谱的发展现状、分析技术特点、分析仪器、近红外光谱中常用的化学计量学方法以及近年来近红外光谱在烟草行业中的应用等几个方面进行了较详细地综述,认为近红外光谱分析技术在烟草行业中正扮演着越来越重要的角色,具有十分广阔的应用前景.     

Applications of Near‐Infrared Spectroscopy in Refineries and Important Issues to Address

Abstract

This review primarily concerns NIR (near‐infrared) applications in refineries. Initially, this article reviews the fundamental aspects for analysis of hydrocarbon mixture by NIR spectroscopy, such as spectral sensitivity in various spectral regions, signal‐to‐noise ratio, and spectral resolution. Though there are applications of NIR to diverse petroleum products, this review subsequently focuses only on applications to four major products: gasoline, diesel, naphtha, and crude oil, which are the most interesting from a refiner's viewpoint. In each application, discussion of important issues to consider for proper and optimal NIR measurement is included. Finally, the issue of calibration transfer is discussed.     

近五年我国近红外光谱分析技术研究与应用进展

评述了我国近五年来(2009年—2013年)近红外光谱分析技术的研究与应用进展,内容涉及软硬件研发、方法研究、以及诸多领域的应用开发等方面,并对今后我国近红外光谱技术的发展方向提出了建议。引用文献209篇。     

在线近红外光谱在我国中药研究和生产中应用现状与展望

中药生产过程具有多单元复杂性特点,制剂生产的各个环节均会影响中药产品的最终质量,在线近红外光谱技术具有快速、无损和不污染环境等优势,能够作为一种快速评价中药生产过程中关键质量属性的分析技术。以院校相关研究为切入点,系统阐述了在线近红外光谱技术在中药生产过程分析与控制方面的应用,并结合院校中药生产在线近红外光谱分析平台搭建为例,以此为依据阐明中药在线近红外光谱分析技术应用的可行性。进而,从企业应用角度出发,较为全面的综述了目前国内大多数应用在线近红外光谱技术的中药生产企业的研究成果及其中药产品。按照中药产品的两大剂型(液体制剂与固体制剂)进行分类,以液体制剂不同生产环节(提取、浓缩及醇沉等)为区分点,以固体制剂不同成品剂型(片剂、胶囊剂及膏剂等)为区分点,分别对近10年来中药生产过程中在线近红外应用进行系统综述,阐明中药生产全过程在线近红外技术应用的可靠性,为中药生产现代化提供有效的技术支撑。     

Vibrational spectroscopy of articular cartilage

Articular cartilage is a connective tissue that is located at the ends of long bones. Type II collagen, proteoglycans, water, and chondrocytes are the main constituents of articular cartilage. Osteoarthritis, the most common joint disease in the world, causes degenerative changes in articular cartilage tissue. Fourier transform infrared, Raman, and near infrared spectroscopic techniques offer versatile tools to assess biochemical composition and quality of articular cartilage. These vibrational spectroscopic techniques can be used to broaden our understanding about the compositional changes during osteoarthritis, and they also hold promise in disease diagnostics. In this article, the current literature of articular cartilage spectroscopic studies is reviewed.