This invention provides compounds, compositions and methods for modulating the expression of human GST-π using RNA interference. The RNA interference molecules can be used in methods for preventing or treating diseases such as malignant tumor. Provided are a range of siRNA structures, having one or more of nucleotides being modified or chemically-modified. Advantageous structures include siRNAs with 2′-deoxy nucleotides located in the seed region, as well as other nucleotide modifications.

One aspect of the invention relates to a method for intraoperative assessment of parathyroid gland viability in a surgery. The method includes diffusing a beam of light onto a tissue surface of a parathyroid gland of a patient to illuminate the tissue surface; acquiring images of the illuminated tissue surface, where each of the acquired images includes a speckle pattern; and processing the acquired images to obtain speckle contrast images for the intraoperative assessment of parathyroid gland viability.

An endoscope with an optical channel is held and positioned by a robotic surgical system. A capture unit captures (1) a visible first image at a first time and (2) a visible second image combined with a fluorescence image at a second time. An image processing system receives (1) the visible first image and (2) the visible second image combined with the fluorescence image and generates at least one fluorescence image. A display system outputs an output image including an artificial fluorescence image.

An endoscope device includes: an normal light image acquisition unit that acquires an normal light image; a special light image acquisition unit that acquires a special light image; a blended image generation unit that generates a blend image by combining one color component image from among a plurality of color component images constituting the normal light image and the special light image; and a superimposed image generation unit that generates a color superimposed image by combining the blended image with another color component image. The blended image generation unit generates the blended image by replacing a part of the pixels of the one color component image with the corresponding pixels of the special light image such that they are blended in a substantially uniform distribution over the entire blended image.

An endoscope system includes an image pickup section that picks up, light included in return light generated according to radiation of excitation light, and reference light, the return light including the fluorescence, light in a first wavelength band, and light in a second wavelength band; an observation image generation section that generates an observation image using first through third image signals obtained by picking up the return light; and a control section that controls the observation image generation section such that the observation image is generated, by causing the first image signal to be assigned to a green component, and by causing one image signal having a relatively large signal value, between the second image signal and the third image signal, to be assigned to a red component and another image signal having a relatively small signal value to be assigned to a blue component and the green component.

One or more triggers, fluorescence or auto-fluorescence triggers, NIRAF triggers, methods of using triggers, fiber optic rotary joints (FORJ), free space beam combiners, OCT, SEE and/or fluorescence devices and systems for use therewith, methods of using and/or manufacturing same and storage mediums are provided. One or more embodiments using one or more triggers achieve structural compactness and/or high-speed acquisition while avoiding or reducing the need for high computational power. One or more embodiments use one or more triggers, one or more fluorescence triggers, one or more auto-fluorescence triggers, or NIRAF triggers, and/or one or more rotary joints, for performing pullback and/or image recording. Examples of optical applications that may involve the use of a trigger, fluorescence/auto-fluorescence trigger or NIRAF trigger, and/or a fiber optic rotary joint, include imaging, evaluating and characterizing/identifying biological objects or tissue, such as, but not limited to, for gastro-intestinal, otolaryngologic, cardio and/or ophthalmic applications.

Provided is an image processing device including a matching unit that performs matching processing between a predetermined pattern on a surface of a 3D model of a biological tissue including an operating site generated on the basis of a preoperative diagnosis image and a predetermined pattern on a surface of the biological tissue included in a captured image during surgery, a shift amount estimation unit that estimates an amount of deformation from a preoperative state of the biological tissue on the basis of a result of the matching processing and information regarding a three-dimensional position of a photographing region which is a region photographed during surgery on the surface of the biological tissue, and a 3D model update unit that updates the 3D model generated before surgery on the basis of the estimated amount of deformation of the biological tissue.

Devices, systems, and methods are disclosed for improved laser speckle imaging of samples, such as vascularized tissue, for the determination of the rate of movement of light scattering particles within the sample. The system includes a structure adjoining a light source and a photo-sensitive detector. The structure can be positioned adjacent the sample (e.g., coupled to the sample) and configured to orient the light source and detector relative the sample such that surface reflections, including specular reflections and diffuse reflections, are discouraged from entering the detection field of the detector. The separation distance along the structure between the light source and the detector may further enable selective depth penetration into the sample and biased sampling of multiply scattered photons. The system includes an operably coupled processor programmed to derive contrast metrics from the detector and to relate the contrast metrics to a rate of movement of the light scattering particles.

A system or method for measuring human ocular performance can be implemented using an eye sensor, a head orientation sensor, an electronic circuit and a display that presents one of virtual reality information, augmented reality information, or synthetic computer-generated 3-dimensional information. The device is configured for measuring saccades, pursuit tracking during visual pursuit, nystagmus, vergence, eyelid closure, or focused position of the eyes. The eye sensor comprises a video camera that senses vertical movement and horizontal movement of at least one eye. The head orientation sensor senses pitch and yaw in the range of frequencies between 0.01 Hertz and 15 Hertz. The system uses a Fourier transform to generate a vertical gain signal and a horizontal gain signal.

A system for outputting a representation of a wound in tissue comprises a housing configured to removably receive at least a portion of a wireless communication device. At least one light source coupled to the housing is configured to emit excitation light to illuminate a target which includes at least a portion of the wound. A power supply contained in the housing is configured to provide power to the light source. A non-transitory computer-readable medium stores a program executable to cause the performance of operations comprising detecting signals responsive to illumination of the target, outputting the representation of the target based thereon, storing data relative to one or more target surface parameter based on the detected signals, and displaying the representation. The signals correspond to at least one of endogenous or exogeneous fluorescence, absorbance, and reflectance from at least one biological component in and/or on the target.