Simple and affordable imaging of multiple physiological parameters with RGB camera-based diffuse reflectance spectroscopy

A Cross-Sectional Assessment of Quantitative Epidermal Melanin and Erythema Indices among North Indians

Background

Remarkable diversity of skin tones among Indians ranging from pale pinkish to dark brown appears to be an ideal choice for the assessment of skin pigment variation.

Aim

The present study was designed to assess the variation observed in melanin and erythema indices among north Indians.

Material and Methods

Skin reflectance data (n = 574) was collected from six diverse populations of north India using DermaSpectrometer (DSM II ColorMeter) followed by statistical analysis to investigate the impact of geographical location and gender on constitutive skin pigmentation.

Results

The melanin index (MI) varied between 17.93 and 56.92 (Mean (M) = 35.80 ± 6.26) whereas the erythema index (EI) varied between 4.92 and 18.82 (M = 10.48 ± 2.68). MI and EI of females were found to be significantly lower than males (P < 0.001). Geographical location exhibited a significant association with MI and EI (P < 0.001). Furthermore, we have noted a positive correlation between MI and EI (P < 0.001).

Conclusion

The study has refined our understanding of skin pigmentation variation among north Indians in terms of significant association with geographical location {MI: F _(5,568) = 31.07, P < 0.001; EI: F _(5,568) = 73.37, P < 0.001} and gender {MI: t ₍₃₈₆₎ = -4.06, P < 0.001; EI: t ₍₃₈₆₎ = -11.96, P < 0.001} and rendered opportunities for further studies.

Estimating quantitative physiological and morphological tissue parameters of murine tumor models using hyperspectral imaging and optical profilometry

Understanding tumors and their microenvironment are essential for successful and accurate disease diagnosis. Tissue physiology and morphology are altered in tumors compared to healthy tissues, and there is a need to monitor tumors and their surrounding tissues, including blood vessels, non-invasively. This preliminary study utilizes a multimodal optical imaging system combining hyperspectral imaging (HSI) and three-dimensional (3D) optical profilometry (OP) to capture hyperspectral images and surface shapes of subcutaneously grown murine tumor models. Hyperspectral images are corrected with 3D OP data and analyzed using the inverse-adding doubling (IAD) method to extract tissue properties such as melanin volume fraction and oxygenation. Blood vessels are segmented using the B-COSFIRE algorithm from oxygenation maps. From 3D OP data, tumor volumes are calculated and compared to manual measurements using a vernier caliper. Results show that tumors can be distinguished from healthy tissue based on most extracted tissue parameters ( p < 0.05 ). Furthermore, blood oxygenation is 50% higher within the blood vessels than in the surrounding tissue, and tumor volumes calculated using 3D OP agree within 26% with manual measurements using a vernier caliper. Results suggest that combining HSI and OP could provide relevant quantitative information about tumors and improve the disease diagnosis.

RGB camera-based simultaneous measurements of percutaneous arterial oxygen saturation, tissue oxygen saturation, pulse rate, and respiratory rate

We propose a method to perform simultaneous measurements of percutaneous arterial oxygen saturation (SpO₂), tissue oxygen saturation (StO₂), pulse rate (PR), and respiratory rate (RR) in real-time, using a digital red–green–blue (RGB) camera. Concentrations of oxygenated hemoglobin (C_HbO), deoxygenated hemoglobin (C_HbR), total hemoglobin (C_HbT), and StO₂ were estimated from videos of the human face using a method based on a tissue-like light transport model of the skin. The photoplethysmogram (PPG) signals are extracted from the temporal fluctuations in C_HbO, C_HbR, and C_HbT using a finite impulse response (FIR) filter (low and high cut-off frequencies of 0.7 and 3 Hz, respectively). The PR is calculated from the PPG signal for C_HbT. The ratio of pulse wave amplitude for C_HbO and that for C_HbR are associated with the reference value of SpO₂ measured by a commercially available pulse oximeter, which provides an empirical formula to estimate SpO₂ from videos. The respiration-dependent oscillation in C_HbT was extracted from another FIR filter (low and high cut-off frequencies of 0.05 and 0.5 Hz, respectively) and used to calculate the RR. In vivo experiments with human volunteers while varying the fraction of inspired oxygen were performed to evaluate the comparability of the proposed method with commercially available devices. The Bland–Altman analysis showed that the mean bias for PR, RR, SpO₂, and StO₂ were -1.4 (bpm), -1.2(rpm), 0.5 (%), and -3.0 (%), respectively. The precisions for PR, RR, Sp O₂, and StO₂ were ±3.1 (bpm), ±3.5 (rpm), ±4.3 (%), and ±4.8 (%), respectively. The resulting precision and RMSE for StO₂ were pretty close to the clinical accuracy requirement. The accuracy of the RR is considered a little less accurate than clinical requirements. This is the first demonstration of a low-cost RGB camera-based method for contactless simultaneous measurements of the heart rate, percutaneous arterial oxygen saturation, and tissue oxygen saturation in real-time.

A Smartphone Camera Colorimetric Assay of Acetylcholinesterase and Butyrylcholinesterase Activity

Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) can serve as biochemical markers of various pathologies like liver disfunction and poisonings by nerve agents. Ellman’s assay is the standard spectrophotometric method to measure cholinesterase activity in clinical laboratories. The authors present a new colorimetric test to assess AChE and BChE activity in biological samples using chromogenic reagents, treated 3D-printed measuring pads and a smartphone camera as a signal detector. Multiwell pads treated with reagent substrates 2,6-dichlorophenolindophenyl acetate, indoxylacetate, ethoxyresorufin and methoxyresorufin were prepared and tested for AChE and BChE. In the experiments, 3D-printed pads containing indoxylacetate as a chromogenic substrate were optimal for analytical purposes. The best results were achieved using the red (R) channel, where the limit of detection was 4.05 µkat/mL for BChE and 4.38 µkat/mL for AChE using a 40 µL sample and a 60 min assay. The major advantage of this method is its overall simplicity, as samples are applied directly without any specific treatment or added reagents. The assay was also validated to the standard Ellman’s assay using human plasma samples. In conclusion, this smartphone camera-based colorimetric assay appears to have practical applicability and to be a suitable method for point-of-care testing because it does not require specific manipulation, additional education of staff or use of sophisticated analytical instruments.

Point-of-Care Diagnoses and Assays Based on Lateral Flow Test

Analytical devices for point-of-care diagnoses are highly desired and would improve quality of life when first diagnoses are made early and pathologies are recognized soon. Lateral flow tests (LFTs) are such tools that can be easily performed without specific equipment, skills, or experiences. This review is focused on the use of LFT in point-of-care diagnoses. The principle of the assay is explained, and new materials like nanoparticles for labeling, new recognition molecules for interaction with an analyte, and new additional instrumentation like signal scaling by a smartphone camera are described and discussed. Advantages of the LFT devices as well as their limitations are described and discussed here considering actual papers that are properly cited.

Advancements in Methods and Camera-Based Sensors for the Quantification of Respiration

Assessment of respiratory function allows early detection of potential disorders in the respiratory system and provides useful information for medical management. There is a wide range of applications for breathing assessment, from measurement systems in a clinical environment to applications involving athletes. Many studies on pulmonary function testing systems and breath monitoring have been conducted over the past few decades, and their results have the potential to broadly impact clinical practice. However, most of these works require physical contact with the patient to produce accurate and reliable measures of the respiratory function. There is still a significant shortcoming of non-contact measuring systems in their ability to fit into the clinical environment. The purpose of this paper is to provide a review of the current advances and systems in respiratory function assessment, particularly camera-based systems. A classification of the applicable research works is presented according to their techniques and recorded/quantified respiration parameters. In addition, the current solutions are discussed with regards to their direct applicability in different settings, such as clinical or home settings, highlighting their specific strengths and limitations in the different environments.

Optical Technologies for Improving Healthcare in Low-Resource Settings: introduction to the feature issue

This feature issue of Biomedical Optics Express presents a cross-section of interesting and emerging work of relevance to optical technologies in low-resource settings. In particular, the technologies described here aim to address challenges to meeting healthcare needs in resource-constrained environments, including in rural and underserved areas. This collection of 18 papers includes papers on both optical system design and image analysis, with applications demonstrated for ex vivo and in vivo use. All together, these works portray the importance of global health research to the scientific community and the role that optics can play in addressing some of the world's most pressing healthcare challenges.