ALBERT

Description: In this paper, a time-domain fast gated near-infrared spectroscopy system is presented. The system is composed of a fiber-based laser providing two pulsed sources and two fast gated detectors. The system is characterized on phantoms and was tested in vivo, showing how the gating approach can improve the contrast and contrast-to-noise-ratio for detection of absorption perturbation inside a diffusive medium, regardless of source-detector separation.

Description: In this review, we present an overview of the applications and computed parameters of electromyography (EMG) and near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) methods on patients in clinical practice. The eligible studies were those where both techniques were combined in order to assess muscle characteristics from the electrical and hemodynamic points of view. With this aim, a comprehensive screening of the literature based on related keywords in the most-used scientific data bases allowed us to identify 17 papers which met the research criteria. We also present a brief overview of the devices designed specifically for muscular applications with EMG and NIRS sensors (a total of eight papers). A critical analysis of the results of the review suggests that the combined use of EMG and NIRS on muscle has been only partially exploited for assessment and evaluation in clinical practice and, thus, this field shows promises for future developments.

Description: Biomarkers of microcirculation dysfunction may help in the study of cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD). Time-Domain Near-Infrared spectroscopy (TD-NIRS), estimating the oxygenation of microcirculation of cerebral outer layers, might indirectly correlate with CSVD. We retrospectively evaluated TD-NIRS data from healthy subjects with age ≥ 55 years; no history of brain disease; normal neurological examination; absence of stenosis 〉 50% of extra/intra-cranial arteries; incidental finding of asymptomatic CSVD at brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). According to Fazekas scale, subjects were classified by presence of white matter hyperintensities in periventricular region (pvWMHs), deep white matter region (dWMHs), or both (d+pvWMHs). We compared the concentration of hemoglobin species and tissue oxygen saturation (StO2) among these groups. The study included 20 subjects, median age 67.5 (IQR 61–78) years old (6 without WMHs, 5 with pvWMHs, 9 with d+pvWMHs). Subjects with d+pvWMHs had significantly lower StO2 compared to subjects without WMHs (p = 0.022) or with pvWMHs (p = 0.004). StO2 〈 56.7% indicated the presence of d+pvWMHs with 91% sensitivity and 67% specificity [AUC 91% (CI 95% 78–100%)]. In this preliminary study, cerebral TD-NIRS detected significantly lower StO2 in subjects with radiological signs of asymptomatic CSVD. Further studies are needed to evaluate if StO2 might represent a marker of asymptomatic CSVD.