Inter-observer agreement for spectral- and time-domain optical coherence tomography image grading: a prospective study

The purpose of this study was to compare inter-observer agreement of Stratus™ OCT versus Spectralis™ OCT image grading in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Thirty eyes with neovascular AMD were examined with Stratus™ OCT and Spectralis™ OCT. Four different scan protocols were used for imaging. Three observers graded the images for the presence of various pathologies. Inter-observer agreement between OCT models was assessed by calculating intra-class correlation coefficients (ICC). In Stratus™ OCT highest interobserver agreement was found for subretinal fluid (ICC: 0.79), and in Spectralis™ OCT for intraretinal cysts (IRC) (ICC: 0.93). Spectralis™ OCT showed superior interobserver agreement for IRC and epiretinal membranes (ERM) (ICC(Stratus™): for IRC 0.61; for ERM 0.56; ICC(Spectralis™): for IRC 0.93; for ERM 0.84). Increased image resolution of Spectralis™ OCT did improve the inter-observer agreement for grading intraretinal cysts and epiretinal membranes but not for other retinal changes.

Long-term vascular healing in response to sirolimus- and paclitaxel-eluting stents: an optical coherence tomography study

This study sought to assess stent strut coverage, malapposition, protrusion, and coronary evaginations as markers of healing 5 years after implantation of sirolimus-eluting stents (SES) and paclitaxel-eluting stents (PES), by optical coherence tomography (OCT).

Offline fusion of co-registered intravascular ultrasound and frequency domain optical coherence tomography images for the analysis of human atherosclerotic plaques

To demonstrate the feasibility and potential usefulness of an offline fusion of matched optical coherence tomography (OCT) and intravascular ultrasound (IVUS)/virtual histology (IVUS-VH) images.

Consensus standards for acquisition, measurement, and reporting of intravascular optical coherence tomography studies: a report from the International Working Group for Intravascular Optical Coherence Tomography Standardization and Validation

The purpose of this document is to make the output of the International Working Group for Intravascular Optical Coherence Tomography (IWG-IVOCT) Standardization and Validation available to medical and scientific communities, through a peer-reviewed publication, in the interest of improving the diagnosis and treatment of patients with atherosclerosis, including coronary artery disease.

Circumferential evaluation of the neointima by optical coherence tomography after ABSORB bioresorbable vascular scaffold implantation: can the scaffold cap the plaque?

To quantify the circumferential healing process at 6 and 12 months following scaffold implantation.

Head to head comparison of optical coherence tomography, intravascular ultrasound echogenicity and virtual histology for the detection of changes in polymeric struts over time: insights from the ABSORB trial

To analyse and to compare the changes in the various optical coherence tomography (OCT), echogenicity and intravascular ultrasound virtual histology (VH) of the everolimus-eluting bioresorbable scaffold (ABSORB) degradation parameters during the first 12 months after ABSORB implantation. In the ABSORB study, changes in the appearance of the ABSORB scaffold were monitored over time using various intracoronary imaging modalities. The scaffold struts exhibited a progressive change in their black core area by OCT, in their ultrasound derived grey level intensity quantified by echogenicity, and in their backscattering ultrasound signal, identified as "pseudo dense-calcium" (DC) by VH.

Atomic force microscopy for the study of membrane proteins

Fundamental biological processes such as cell-cell communication, signal transduction, molecular transport and energy conversion are performed by membrane proteins. These important proteins are studied best in their native environment, the lipid bilayer. The atomic force microscope (AFM) is the instrument of choice to determine the native surface structure, supramolecular organization, conformational changes and dynamics of membrane-embedded proteins under near-physiological conditions. In addition, membrane proteins are imaged at subnanometer resolution and at the single molecule level with the AFM. This review highlights the major advances and results achieved on reconstituted membrane proteins and native membranes as well as the recent developments of the AFM for imaging.

Cooperative and Noncooperative Assembly of Oligopyrenotides Resolved by Atomic Force Microscopy

The supramolecular assembly of amphiphilic oligopyrenotide building blocks (covalently linked heptapyrene, Py7) is studied by atomic force microscopy (AFM) in combination with optical spectroscopy. The assembly process is triggered in a controlled manner by increasing the ionic strength of the aqueous oligomer solution. Cooperative noncovalent interactions between individual oligomeric units lead to the formation of DNA-like supramolecular polymers. We also show that the terminal attachment of a single cytidine nucleotide to the heptapyrenotide (Py7-C) changes the association process from a cooperative (nucleation−elongation) to a noncooperative (isodesmic) regime, suggesting a structure misfit between the cytidine and the pyrene units. We also demonstrate that AFM enables the identification and characterization of minute concentrations of the supramolecular products, which was not accessible by conventional optical spectroscopy.