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Dinish US, Logan S, Balasundaram G, Xinhui VT, Vinod Ram K, Ruochong Z, Renzhe B, Silvani S, Hua Cheng K, Xia X, Giap Hean G, Choolani M, Olivo M. Diffuse reflectance spectroscopy and imaging for non-invasive objective assessment of genitourinary syndrome of menopause: a pilot study. Sci Rep 2024; 14:1085. [PMID: 38212347 PMCID: PMC10784538 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-49655-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/13/2024] Open
Abstract
The genitourinary symptom of menopause (GSM) affects up to 65% of women, resulting in symptoms such as vulvovaginal dryness, discomfort, and dysuria, which significantly impacts quality of life. The current assessment methods rely on subjective questionnaires that can be influenced by individual differences, as well as invasive measurements that are time-consuming and not easily accessible. In this study, we explore the potential of a non-invasive and objective assessment tool called diffuse reflectance spectroscopy and imaging (DRSI) to evaluate tissue chromophores, including water, lipid, oxyhemoglobin, and deoxyhemoglobin. These measurements provide information about moisture content, lipid levels, oxygen saturation, and blood fraction, which can serve as surrogate markers for genital estrogen levels. Our findings reveal distinct differences in these chromophores among pre, peri, and postmenopausal subjects. By using lipid and blood fraction tissue chromophores in a K-Nearest Neighbour classifier model, we achieved a prediction accuracy of 65% compared to vaginal maturation index (VMI) that is clinically used to assess estrogen-related hormonal changes. When age was included as the third feature, the accuracy increased to 78%. We believe that by refining the study protocol and configuring the fiber probe to examine tissue chromophores both in the superficial vulva skin for epidermal water content and the deeper layers, DRSI has the potential to provide objective diagnosis and aid in monitoring the treatment outcome of GSM.
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Affiliation(s)
- U S Dinish
- Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 2 Fusionopolis Way, Innovis #08-03, Singapore, 138634, Republic of Singapore.
- A*STAR Skin Research Labs (A*SRL), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 31 Biopolis Way, #07-01 Nanos, Singapore, 138669, Republic of Singapore.
| | - Susan Logan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 1E Kent Ridge Road, NUHS Tower Block, Level 12, Singapore, 119228, Singapore.
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, National University Hospital, 1E Kent Ridge Road, NUHS Tower Block, Level 12, Singapore, 119228, Singapore.
- Department of Sexual and Reproductive Health, NHS Grampian, Aberdeen, Scotland, UK.
| | - Ghayathri Balasundaram
- Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 2 Fusionopolis Way, Innovis #08-03, Singapore, 138634, Republic of Singapore
- A*STAR Skin Research Labs (A*SRL), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 31 Biopolis Way, #07-01 Nanos, Singapore, 138669, Republic of Singapore
| | - Valerie Teo Xinhui
- Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 2 Fusionopolis Way, Innovis #08-03, Singapore, 138634, Republic of Singapore
- A*STAR Skin Research Labs (A*SRL), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 31 Biopolis Way, #07-01 Nanos, Singapore, 138669, Republic of Singapore
| | - Keertana Vinod Ram
- Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 2 Fusionopolis Way, Innovis #08-03, Singapore, 138634, Republic of Singapore
- A*STAR Skin Research Labs (A*SRL), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 31 Biopolis Way, #07-01 Nanos, Singapore, 138669, Republic of Singapore
| | - Zhang Ruochong
- Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 2 Fusionopolis Way, Innovis #08-03, Singapore, 138634, Republic of Singapore
- A*STAR Skin Research Labs (A*SRL), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 31 Biopolis Way, #07-01 Nanos, Singapore, 138669, Republic of Singapore
| | - Bi Renzhe
- Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 2 Fusionopolis Way, Innovis #08-03, Singapore, 138634, Republic of Singapore
- A*STAR Skin Research Labs (A*SRL), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 31 Biopolis Way, #07-01 Nanos, Singapore, 138669, Republic of Singapore
| | - Steffie Silvani
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, National University Hospital, 1E Kent Ridge Road, NUHS Tower Block, Level 12, Singapore, 119228, Singapore
| | - Kee Hua Cheng
- Department of Pathology, National University Hospital, 5 Lower Kent Ridge Road, Singapore, 119074, Singapore
| | - Xu Xia
- Department of Pathology, National University Hospital, 5 Lower Kent Ridge Road, Singapore, 119074, Singapore
| | - Goh Giap Hean
- Department of Pathology, National University Hospital, 5 Lower Kent Ridge Road, Singapore, 119074, Singapore
| | - Mahesh Choolani
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 1E Kent Ridge Road, NUHS Tower Block, Level 12, Singapore, 119228, Singapore
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, National University Hospital, 1E Kent Ridge Road, NUHS Tower Block, Level 12, Singapore, 119228, Singapore
| | - Malini Olivo
- Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 2 Fusionopolis Way, Innovis #08-03, Singapore, 138634, Republic of Singapore.
- A*STAR Skin Research Labs (A*SRL), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 31 Biopolis Way, #07-01 Nanos, Singapore, 138669, Republic of Singapore.
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Liu S, Li J, Ning L, Wu D, Wei D. Assessing the influence of true hemolysis occurring in patient samples on emergency clinical biochemistry tests results using the VITROS ® 5600 Integrated system. Biomed Rep 2021; 15:91. [PMID: 34631046 DOI: 10.3892/br.2021.1467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2021] [Accepted: 08/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Hemolysis is one of the most frequent causes of pre-analytical errors in the emergency department (ED), and it can lead to inaccurate blood results and often requires repeat testing. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effects of true hemolysis occurring in ED blood samples on routine clinical biochemistry tests using the VITROS® 5600 Integrated system. A total of 92 pairs of blood samples were collected from 92 ED patients. Each pair of samples included one hemolyzed sample and one successful (non-hemolyzed) redraw from the same patient. A total of 21 common laboratory analytes and the hemolytic index (HI) were examined. The degree of hemolysis (slight, mild, moderate and heavy) was determined based on the HI. A clinically significant difference in one analyte was defined as a difference greater than its Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988 (CLIA'88) total allowable error (TAE) limits. The results demonstrated that the mean differences in 11 serum analytes (unconjugated bilirubin, Ca2+, equivalent CO2, Cl-, creatinine, glucose, Mg2+, phosphorus, Na+, urea nitrogen and uric acid) in hemolyzed and non-hemolyzed samples were within their CLIA'88 TAE limits, while the differences in the other 10 analytes [alanine aminotransferase (ALT), albumin (ALB), amylase (AMYL), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), total bilirubin (TBIL), creatine kinase (CK), CK-myocardial band isoenzyme (CK-MB), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), K+ and total protein (TP)] in paired samples in at least one of the four groups were greater than their CLIA'88 TAE limits. These results suggest that hemolysis had a notable impact on ALT, ALB, AMYL, AST, TBIL, CK, CK-MB, LDH, K+ and TP levels. Furthermore, for ALT, AMYL, TBIL and TP, wet chemistry methods displayed superior anti-hemolytic ability compared with dry chemistry methods. Notably, a high concentration of AST was less affected by hemolysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuangqing Liu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300211, P.R. China
| | - Juan Li
- Department of Rheumatology, Featured Medical Center of Chinese People's Armed Police Force, Tianjin 300072, P.R. China
| | - Li Ning
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300211, P.R. China
| | - Dawei Wu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300211, P.R. China
| | - Dianjun Wei
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Hebei Yanda Hospital, Langfang, Hebei 065201, P.R. China
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