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Objective: To explore the use of fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy in thyroid tissues, and to investigate how different thyroid lesions affect fluorescence lifetime., Method: Fluorescence lifetime measurements were taken of fresh frozen thyroid surgical specimens stained with fluorescein isothiocyanate tagged anti-thyroglobulin monoclonal antibodies., Results: The mean fluorescence lifetime measurements in 12 patients - 3 with multinodular goitre, 4 with follicular adenoma, 4 with papillary thyroid carcinoma and 1 with follicular carcinoma - were 3.16 ns (range, 2.66-3.52 ns), 3.75 ns (range, 2.99-4.57 ns), 2.97 ns (range, 2.57-3.21 ns) and 3.61 ns, respectively. The fluorescence lifetime of follicular adenoma patients was higher than that of papillary thyroid carcinoma patients by 26 per cent (p = 0.058). The fluorescence lifetime in the follicular carcinoma patient was similar to the follicular adenoma group, but higher than in the papillary thyroid carcinoma group by 22 per cent (p = 0.01)., Conclusion: Fluorescence lifetime measurements varied in different thyroid pathologies, possibly because of tissue-scale structural influences.

Background: Epidemics of meningococcal meningitis cause significant health problems especially in Sub-Saharan Africa. Novel anti-infective candidates are needed. In modern anti-adhesion therapy initial attachment of bacteria to host cells is prevented. Our unique studies have revealed anti-adhesive candidates from natural products, namely milk and berries, against Neisseria meningitidis adhesion. In the present study against N. meningitidis adhesion, a novel binding inhibitor was found; salvianolic acid B (SA-B), a polyphenol from the radix Salviae miltiorrhizae, an important part of Chinese folk medicine., Methods: In order to test inhibition of meningococcal pili binding and anti-adhesion activity of SA-B, bovine thyroglobulin, a reference glycoprotein for meningococcal receptor was used in a microtiter plate assay. Inhibitory activity was tested by using serial dilutions of SA-B extracts of 98 and 70% purity. Results were confirmed in a HEC-1B cell dot assay and antimicrobial activity was measured by using a microbroth dilution assay., Results: Almost total (93%) inhibition of pili binding, anti-adhesion, was achieved with the 70% extract of SA-B at the concentration of 0.3 mg/mL in the bovine thyroglobulin reference model. 50% binding inhibition activity was achieved with 0.6 µg/mL of the SA-B extract. Total inhibition of the pili binding to HEC-1B cells was found at the tested concentration of 0.5 mg/mL. The 98% pure SA-B resulted in weaker inhibition. At the concentration of 0.3 mg/mL 78% inhibition was achieved in the thyroglobulin model. For 50% inhibition 2.4 μg/mL of pure SA-B was needed. The difference between the binding inhibition activities (70 and 98% pure SA-B) was statistically significant (P = 0.03). Antimicrobial activity of 70% SA-B, when investigated against N. meningitidis, was detected only in relatively high concentrations., Conclusions: Our results indicate that plant SA-B may prevent meningococcal infections by inhibiting meningococcal binding and may thus have an impact on the amount of nasopharyngeal carriers of N. meningitidis. This may prevent the spreading of meningococcal infections between humans. One could conclude that SA-B and its source dried radix S. miltiorrhizae, which is an important part of Chinese folk medicine, could be valuable candidates for further research in meningococcal disease prevention.