Deep Tissue Research Articles

Rare-earth nanocrystalline scintillators for biomedical application: A review

Rare-earth scintillating materials have been widely utilized in nuclear image technique, security screening and high energy physics research. Researchers have devoted extensive efforts to size design, surface modification, and drug assembly to transform them into prospective nanomaterials for diagnostics and cancer treatment. This review endeavors to summarize the advanced preparation technology and design concept of rare-earth nanocrystalline scintillators (RENSs), and offers fundamental guidance for the application of various materials in biomedical research. Specifically, it focuses on RENSs with excellent biocompatibility, outstanding stability, uniform size distribution, and strong drug loading capacity to meet subsequent practical applications. Additionally, this review reports on the application of RENSs in the biomedical field. Specifically, bioimaging and antitumor therapy are the most prevalently utilized and promising areas. X-ray excited optical imaging (XEOL) is combined with advanced imaging techniques (CT, MRI, etc.) to obtain comprehensive information about deep tissue. The combination of X-ray radiation therapy and photodynamic therapy technology can realize safe anti-tumor therapy under the condition of low-dose irradiation. Furthermore, this review also enumerates several recent highlight research strategies and the prospects of RENSs in the biomedical application in the future.

Efficacy of S-Flurbiprofen Plaster for Analgesia Following Total Hip Arthroplasty.

S-flurbiprofen (SFP) plaster, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug preparation that penetrates effectively into deep tissue, is currently used as a conservative treatment for osteoarthritis. We investigated the analgesic and adverse effects of SFP plaster after total hip arthroplasty (THA). A retrospective comparative study identified 100 patients who underwent primary THA in our department. Group A consisted of 50 patients who received the selective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor celecoxib for 14 days after surgery, while Group B consisted of 50 patients who received SFP plaster for 14 days after surgery. We noted the numerical rating pain intensity scale (NRS) score, body temperature, and adverse effects of the analgesics. Groups A and B showed no significant difference in NRS scores (p > 0.05). The body temperature was significantly higher in Group B than in Group A on days one, two, three, and five (p < 0.01). In Group A, two patients (4%) showed drug-induced renal dysfunction, and one patient (2%) showed gastrointestinal disturbance. Patients in Group B showed no systemic or local adverse effects. The application of SFP plaster after THA provided an analgesic effect similar to that obtained with oral celecoxib without causing obvious side effects. Applying an SFP plaster may be an effective solution for postoperative analgesia.

Exploring the effects of lateral pressure to the soft tissue of the buttocks during seating to preserve tissue perfusion

AimPressure-ulcer occurrence in the seated patient is understudied. Preventative devices have been developed and are prescribed commonly, but there is little quantitative evidence of their effectiveness. This study explores the concept of a lateral pressure device, a prevention device that applies pressure to the sides of the seated buttocks, to reduce the amount of tissue distortion and blood-vessel occlusion. It is hypothesized that this device will reduce deep tissue injury by reducing the pressure at the bone-muscle interface, as demonstrated computationally in previous research. This study aimed to use oximetry to investigate the efficacy of the device in maintaining transcutaneous gas tensions of the tissue as close to baseline as possible. MethodsOximetry electrodes were attached to participants' ischial tuberosity and greater trochanter for different amounts of lateral pressure. The amount of lateral pressure is a given percentage of the pressure due to the participants’ underbody pressure. ResultsThe results show that 50 % lateral pressure is sufficient to produce an improvement in participants’ gas tensions at their ischial tuberosity, without negatively impacting the tissue at their greater trochanter, relative to the control of sitting with no application of lateral pressure. ConclusionDespite a rudimentary prototype device design, and that participants each placed their own oximetry sensors, results support the application of lateral pressure as a method to maintain transcutaneous gas tensions. Further work should be carried out on a larger sample to consolidate these findings.

Erythrocyte nano-ghosts with dual optical and magnetic resonance characteristics.

Fluorescent organic dyes provide imaging capabilities at cellular and sub-cellular levels. However, a common problem associated with some of the existing dyes such as the US FDA-approved indocyanine green (ICG) is their weak fluorescence emission. Alternative dyes with greater emission characteristics would be useful in various imaging applications. Complementing optical imaging, magnetic resonance (MR) imaging enables deep tissue imaging. Nano-sized delivery systems containing dyes with greater fluorescence emission as well as MR contrast agents present a promising dual-mode platform with high optical sensitivity and deep tissue imaging for image-guided surgical applications. We have engineered a nano-sized platform, derived from erythrocyte ghosts (EGs), with dual near-infrared fluorescence and MR characteristics by co-encapsulation of a brominated carbocyanine dye and gadobenate dimeglumine (Gd-BOPTA). We have investigated the use of three brominated carbocyanine dyes (referred to as BrCy106, BrCy111, and BrCy112) with various degrees of bromination, structural symmetry, and acidic modifications for encapsulation by nano-sized EGs (nEGs) and compared their resulting optical characteristics with nEGs containing ICG. We find that asymmetric dyes (BrCy106 and BrCy112) with one dibromobenzene ring offer greater fluorescence emission characteristics. For example, the relative fluorescence quantum yield ( ) for nEGs fabricated using of BrCy112 is -fold higher than nEGs fabricated using the same concentrations of ICG. The dual-mode nEGs containing BrCy112 and Gd-BOPTA show a nearly twofold increase in their as compared with their single optical mode counterpart. Cytotoxicity is not observed upon incubation of SKOV3 cells with nEGs containing BrCy112. Erythrocyte nano-ghosts with dual optical and MR characteristics may ultimately prove useful in various biomedical imaging applications such as image-guided tumor surgery where MR imaging can be used for tumor staging and mapping, and fluorescence imaging can help visualize small tumor nodules for resection.

Four-Port Triple-Band Implantable MIMO Antenna for Reliable Data Telemetry in Wireless Capsule Endoscopy and Deep Tissue Applications

Four-Port Triple-Band Implantable MIMO Antenna for Reliable Data Telemetry in Wireless Capsule Endoscopy and Deep Tissue Applications

A geographical paradox: microbiological profile and antibiotic resistance of diabetic foot infection in North West England

AbstractBackground: The microbiological composition of diabetic foot infection (DFI) and its antimicrobial resistance exhibit variations in different parts of the world.Aims: This study aimed to shed light on the microbial load associated with DFI and the patterns of antibiotic resistance in Northwest England.Methods: This was a retrospective descriptive study that included 67 patients (55 male [78.6%]). The mean age at diagnosis was 45.6 years (standard deviation, 15.8). The culture of deep tissue samples was analysed together with antibiotic resistance.Results: A total of 114 causative pathogens were identified. Of note, 40 patients (60.00%) had polymicrobial infections. Moreover, 58.77% of the microbial cohort was composed of gram‐positive bacteria. Staphylococcus spp. were found in 32 patients (47.76%) and were the most prevalent pathogen in our cohort. Anaerobic bacteria were found in 17 patients (25.37%) and were the second most common pathogen in our cohort. Corynebacterium spp., Streptococcus spp. and Enterococcus spp. were identified in 11 (16.42%), 10 (14.93%) and 9 (13.43%) patients, respectively. Among the gram‐negative bacteria, Escherichia spp. were found in 7 patients (10.45%), Enterobacter spp. were found in 6 patients (8.96%), Klebsiella spp. were found in 4 patients (5.97%), Proteus spp. were found in 4 patients (5.97%) and Alcaligenes spp. were found in 2 patients (2.99%). The remaining less common organisms collectively accounted for 1.49% prevalence. Regarding antibiotic therapy, the highest resistance was observed for ciprofloxacin (12 [17.91%]), followed by amoxicillin (11 [16.42%]), penicillin (10 [14.93%]), clarithromycin (7 [10.45%]), trimethoprim (7 [10.45%]), doxycycline (6 [8.96%]) and piperacillin/tazobactam (5 [7.46%]).Conclusions: In contrast to the predominant aerobic gram‐negative bacteria in Asia, the Middle East and Africa, our study found a paradoxically higher prevalence of gram‐positive and anaerobic bacteria in North West England. Moreover, our study found a high incidence of resistance to ciprofloxacin and amoxicillin.

Fast finite difference solver for optical microscopy in deep biological tissue

Optical scattering poses a significant challenge to high-resolution microscopy within deep tissue. To accurately predict the performance of various microscopy techniques in thick samples, we present a computational model that efficiently solves Maxwell’s equation in highly scattering media. This toolkit simulates the deterioration of the laser beam point spread function (PSF) without making a paraxial approximation, enabling accurate modeling of high-numerical-aperture (NA) objective lenses commonly employed in experiments. Moreover, this framework is applicable to a broad range of scanning microscopy techniques including confocal microscopy, stimulated emission depletion (STED) microscopy, and ground-state depletion microscopy. Notably, the proposed method requires only readily obtainable macroscopic tissue parameters. As a practical demonstration, we investigate the performance of Laguerre–Gaussian (LG) versus Hermite–Gaussian (HG) depletion beams in STED microscopy.

Musculoskeletal glomus tumor: a review of 218 lesions in 176 patients.

To review the spectrum of clinical and imaging features of glomus tumor involving the musculoskeletal system including the typically solitary forms as well as the rarer multifocal forms (glomuvenous malformation and glomangiomatosis). A retrospective review of our institutional pathology database from 1996 to 2023 identified 176 patients with 218 confirmed glomus tumors. Primary imaging studies included MRI (125), radiographs (100), clinical/intraoperative photos (77), and ultrasound (36). Lesions were divided into two groups: those that are typically solitary involving specific anatomic areas (finger, toe, soft tissue, coccyx, and bone), and those that are multifocal (glomuvenous malformation and glomangiomatosis). The finger was the most frequently involved anatomic location for the classic (sporadic) glomus tumor occurring in 51% of patients, 77% of which were women, with the nail plate involved in more of the 75% of cases. Sporadic lesions involving the skin, subcutaneous adipose tissue, and deep soft tissue were termed "soft tissue," and were identified in 39% of patients, 90% of which were in the extremities and in men in 81% of cases. The multifocal syndromic forms of glomus disease occurred in younger individuals and involved less than 6% of the study group. Patients with glomuvenous malformation presented early with predominantly cutaneous involvement, while those with glomangiomatosis present later, often with both superficial and deep involvement, and a high rate of local tumor recurrence. While glomus tumor is generally uncommon, it frequently involves the musculoskeletal extremities. Knowledge of the spectrum of characteristic locations and appearances will facilitate definitive diagnosis.

Flexible Electronics: Advancements and Applications of Flexible Piezoelectric Composites in Modern Sensing Technologies.

The piezoelectric effect refers to a physical phenomenon where piezoelectric materials generate an electric field when subjected to mechanical stress or undergo mechanical deformation when subjected to an external electric field. This principle underlies the operation of piezoelectric sensors. Piezoelectric sensors have garnered significant attention due to their excellent self-powering capability, rapid response speed, and high sensitivity. With the rapid development of sensor techniques achieving high precision, increased mechanical flexibility, and miniaturization, a range of flexible electronic products have emerged. As the core constituents of piezoelectric sensors, flexible piezoelectric composite materials are commonly used due to their unique advantages, including high conformability, sensitivity, and compatibility. They have found applications in diverse domains such as underwater detection, electronic skin sensing, wearable sensors, targeted therapy, and ultrasound diagnostics for deep tissue. The advent of flexible piezoelectric composite materials has revolutionized the design concepts and application scenarios of traditional piezoelectric materials, playing a crucial role in the development of next-generation flexible electronic products. This paper reviews the research progress on flexible piezoelectric composite materials, covering their types and typical fabrication techniques, as well as their applications across various fields. Finally, a summary and outlook on the existing issues and future development of these composite materials are provided.

Fluorinated Polyethylenimine and Fluorinated Choline Phosphate Lipids Complex System for Efficient mRNA Delivery to Deep-Seated Tumor Tissues.

Efficiently delivering mRNA to the deep-seated cells of diseased tissues for therapeutic purposes remains a significant challenge. To address this, we leveraged the dual hydrophobic properties of fluorine atoms to conjugate fluorinated polyethylenimine (FPEI) with fluorinated choline phosphate (FCP) lipids. When one adjusted the ratio of N/F atoms to 2/1 and a 15% FCP content, the mRNA@FPEI-FCP carrier was optimized, achieving significant circulation and accumulation in deep tumor regions. Compared to control carriers lacking FCP or FPEI, mRNA@FPEI-FCP exhibited a 3.94-fold increase in tumor targeting and a 3.0-fold increase in deep delivery. Delivery of IL-2 mRNA to 4T1 breast tumors resulted in a tumor inhibition rate of 91.9%, with IL-2 levels reaching 149.2 pg/mL and 12.1% of CD4+ cells throughout the tumor, with no abnormal blood indexes. This FPEI and FCP composite delivery system demonstrates potent targeting of mRNA delivery to deep tumor tissues.

Biohybrids for Combined Therapies of Skin Wounds: Agglomerates of Mesenchymal Stem Cells with Gelatin Hydrogel Beads Delivering Phages and Basic Fibroblast Growth Factor.

There is great interest in developing effective therapies for the treatment of skin wounds accompanied by deep tissue losses and severe infections. We have attempted to prepare biohybrids formed of agglomerates of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) with gelatin hydrogel beads (GEL beads) delivering bacteriophages (phages) as antibacterial agents and/or basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) for faster and better healing, providing combined therapies for these types of skin wounds. The gelatin beads were produced through a two-step process using basic and/or acidic gelatins with different isoelectric points. Escherichia coli (E. coli) and its specific T4 phages were propagated. Phages and/or bFGF were loaded within the GELs and their release rates and modes were obtained. The phage release from the basic GEL beads was quite fast; in contrast, the bFGF release from the acidic GEL beads was sustained, as anticipated. MSCs were isolated from mouse adipose tissues and 2D-cultured. Agglomerates of these MSCs with GEL beads were formed and maturated in 3D cultures, and their time-dependent changes were followed. In these 3D culture experiments, it was observed that the agglomerates with GEL beads were very healthy and the MSCs formed tissue-like structures in 7 days, while the MSC agglomerates were not healthy and shrunk considerably as a result of cell death.

Phthalocyanine J-aggregate nanoparticles with enormous-redshifted and intense absorption: Potential structure-J-aggregation relationships and application in tumor-associated macrophages-targeted phototheranostics

Phthalocyanines (Pcs) are considered promising in cancer phototherapy. However, their maximum absorption wavelengths are only around 700 nm, which cannot allow deep tissue penetration and leads to poor therapeutic efficacy. To expand their clinical application, significantly shifting their absorption to longer wavelengths is urgently required. Dye J-aggregates exhibit a redshifted absorption relative to its monomer. However, Pc J-aggregates with enormous-redshifted and intense absorption is rarely reported, and little is known about the relationships between Pc structure and J-aggregation. Herein, such Pc J-aggregates are ingeniously conceived. With a yeast β-D-glucan-ursodeoxycholic acid conjugate as a potential tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs)-targeting carrier and 1-(4-carboxyethylphenoxy) zinc (II) phthalocyanine (Pc1) as a model, Pc1 J-aggregate nanoparticle (NanoPc1) is obtained via ultrasonication-aided emulsification-solvent evaporation technique. NanoPc1 displays strong absorption at 830 nm, with a 156 nm redshift. Further investigation on another twenty-four Pcs demonstrates that unsubstituted zinc (II) or magnesium (II) Pc and hydrophobic mono-substituted zinc (II) or magnesium (II) Pcs with mono-substituted phenoxy or phenylthio or naphthoxy as a substituent can readily form desired Pc J-aggregates with significant redshifts (140–165 nm). The other Pcs fail to form expected J-aggregates probably due to absence of central metals, steric hindrance on central metals (atoms), forming axial coordination on central metals, disorder tendency during self-assembly or hydrophilicity. The theoretical calculation indicates that Pc1 in its J-aggregates exhibits a spiral-like arrangement, and the reduction in the energy gap between HOMO and LUMO and variation of intermolecular π-π interaction caused by J-aggregate formation are responsible for the huge redshift. Additionally, using NanoPc1 as an exemplar, such Pc J-aggregate nanoparticles are substantiated to afford TAMs-targeted and efficient tri-modal imaging and photothermal therapy in a H22 mouse model.

Gold Nanocluster: A Photoelectric Converter for X-Ray-Activated Chemotherapy.

Despite the promise of activatable chemotherapy, the development of a spatiotemporally controllable strategy for prodrug activation in deep tissues remains challenging. Herein, a proof-of-concept is proposed for a gold nanocluster-based strategy that utilizes X-ray irradiation to trigger the liberation of platinum (Pt)-based prodrug conjugates, thus enabling radiotherapy-directed chemotherapy. Mechanistically, the irradiated activation of prodrugs is achieved through direct photoelectron transfer from the excited-state gold nanoclusters to the Pt(IV) center, resulting in the release of cytotoxic Pt(II) agents. Compared to the traditional combination of chemotherapy and radiotherapy, this radiotherapy-directed chemotherapy strategy offers superior antitumor efficacy and safety benefits through spatiotemporal synergy at the tumor site. Additionally, this strategy elicits robust immunogenic cell death and yields profound outcomes for combined immunotherapy of breast cancer. This versatile strategy is ushering in a new era of radiation-mediated chemistry for controlled drug delivery and the precise regulation of biological processes.

High-fidelity imaging of fatty liver in vivo with a fluorescent and photoacoustic dual-mode probe by taking advantage of the liver “first pass effect”

Intravenous injection is the most commonly used method for probe delivery in bio-imaging. While, the oral administration method might be more efficient than intravenous injection for fatty liver imaging due to the existence of liver “first pass effect”. However, this fundamental question has not yet been clarified. Meanwhile, in consideration of the deep tissue imaging and signal fidelity, fluorescent-photoacoustic (PA) dual-mode probes are much more desirable. Herein, an orally administrable dual-mode probe WSP-3 is revealed as a tool for imaging of the fatty liver disease and providing an insight into the above scientific question. A D-π-A system is linked with a rotatable CC single bond in WSP-3, which facilitates the formation of a TICT state in low viscosity environments and an ICT state in high viscosity environments. Base on the positive correlation between fatty liver disease and cell viscosity, dual-mode imaging of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and drug-induced fatty liver disease (DIFLD) in vivo was accomplished. Moreover, control experiments indicated that the oral administration method demonstrated higher efficiency in fatty liver disease imaging, providing a fundamental reference for further probe-based fatty liver imaging.

Dual-modal fiber-optic sensor for simultaneous pH and temperature monitoring in tumor microenvironment

The tumor microenvironment (TME) is a complex system. Temperature, pH, oxygen content, and other biomarkers comprehensively reflect the growth state of the tumor, necessitating a multi-parameter detection strategy to garner the precise status of tumor for treatment guidance. Fluorescence imaging technology is a promising tool for realizing this goal due to its advantages of low cost, real-time responses, and high sensitivity. However, several limitations, including the shallow penetration depth of fluorescence signals in biological tissues and the potential crosstalk between multiple fluorescence signals, hinder the practical application of current fluorescence imaging technology. In this paper, a dual-mode optical fiber sensor consisting of a fiber fluorescence pH sensor and a fiber Bragg grating (FBG) temperature sensor is presented. The compact sensor uses different principles for pH and temperature monitoring, thus effectively eliminating potential crosstalk between different signals. In addition, its small size allows it to be inserted into deep tissues for detection. The sensor responds quickly to changes in pH.Moreover, the temperature sensitivity of FBG packaged with PDMS is 34 % higher than the uncoated FBG. In vivo experiments confirmed that the sensor can accurately distinguish normal tissues and tumor tissues. The proposed sensor provides a novel way to realize multi-parameter monitoring of tumor microenvironment and improve the specificity of tumor detection.

Click3D: Click reaction across deep tissues for whole-organ 3D fluorescence imaging.

Click chemistry offers various applications through efficient bioorthogonal reactions. In bioimaging, pretargeting strategies have often been used, using click reactions between molecular probes with a click handle and reporter molecules that make them observable. Recent efforts have integrated tissue-clearing techniques with fluorescent labeling through click chemistry, allowing high-resolution three-dimensional fluorescence imaging. Nevertheless, these techniques have faced a challenge in limited staining depth, confining their use to imaging tissue sections or partial organs. In this study, we introduce Click3D, a method for thoroughly staining whole organs using click chemistry. We identified click reaction conditions that improve staining depth with our custom-developed assay. The Click3D protocol exhibits a greater staining depth compared to conventional methods. Using Click3D, we have successfully achieved whole-kidney imaging of nascent RNA and whole-tumor imaging of hypoxia. We have also accomplished whole-brain imaging of hypoxia by using the clickable hypoxia probe, which has a small size and, therefore, has high permeability to cross the blood-brain barrier.

Clostridial Myonecrosis: A Comprehensive Review of Toxin Pathophysiology and Management Strategies.

Clostridial myonecrosis, commonly known as gas gangrene (GG), is a rapidly progressing and potentially fatal bacterial infection that primarily affects muscle and soft tissue. In the United States, the incidence of GG is roughly 1000 cases per year, while, in developing countries, the incidence is higher. This condition is most often caused by Clostridium perfringens, a Gram-positive, spore-forming anaerobic bacterium widely distributed in the environment, although other Clostridium species have also been reported to cause GG. The CP genome contains over 200 transport-related genes, including ABC transporters, which facilitate the uptake of sugars, amino acids, nucleotides, and ions from the host environment. There are two main subtypes of GG: traumatic GG, resulting from injuries that introduce Clostridium spores into deep tissue, where anaerobic conditions allow for bacterial growth and toxin production, and spontaneous GG, which is rarer and often occurs in immunocompromised patients. Clostridium species produce various toxins (e.g., alpha, theta, beta) that induce specific downstream signaling changes in cellular pathways, causing apoptosis or severe, fatal immunological conditions. For example, the Clostridium perfringens alpha toxin (CPA) targets the host cell's plasma membrane, hydrolyzing sphingomyelin and phosphatidylcholine, which triggers necrosis and apoptosis. The clinical manifestations of clostridial myonecrosis vary. Some patients experience the sudden onset of severe pain, swelling, and muscle tenderness, with the infection progressing rapidly to widespread tissue necrosis, systemic toxicity, and, if untreated, death. Other patients present with discharge, pain, and features of cellulitis. The diagnosis of GG primarily involves clinical evaluation, imaging studies such as X-rays, computer tomography (CT) scans, and culture. The treatment of GG involves surgical exploration, broad-spectrum antibiotics, antitoxin, and hyperbaric oxygen therapy, which is considered an adjunctive treatment to inhibit anaerobic bacterial growth and enhance the antibiotic efficacy. Early recognition and prompt, comprehensive treatment are critical to improving the outcomes for patients affected by this severe and life-threatening condition.

Tunable dynamical tissue phantom for laser speckle imaging.

We introduce a novel method to design and implement a tunable dynamical tissue phantom for laser speckle-based in-vivo blood flow imaging. This approach relies on stochastic differential equations (SDE) to control a piezoelectric actuator which, upon illuminated with a laser source, generates speckles of pre-defined probability density function and auto-correlation. The validation experiments show that the phantom can generate dynamic speckles that closely replicate both surfaces as well as deep tissue blood flow for a reasonably wide range and accuracy.

A Multifunctional Rocket‐Like Microneedle System with Thrusters for Self‐Promoted Deep Drug Penetration and Combination Treatment in Melanoma

AbstractPhotodynamic therapy (PDT) proves highly effective in addressing melanoma, and its synergy with targeted therapy offers a promising avenue in tumor treatment. However, the therapeutic outcome is largely impeded by the challenge of current photosensitizers and targeted drugs in reaching deep tumor tissues. Herein, a dually‐layered “microneedle rocket” termed PcNP/TRA‐HA‐Tyr/CLG‐MN is designed. The upper layer of the microneedle (MN) is composed of photodynamically active mesoporous silica nanoparticles, featuring photosensitizers covalently bonded to them. Within the mesopores of these nanoparticles lies trametinib (TRA), a compound that specifically targets the hyperactive MEK pathway present in melanoma cells. The lower layer is composed of an enzyme‐mediated hyaluronic acid‐tyramine hydrogel (HA‐Tyr/CLG) with collagenase (CLG), serving as rocket thrusters for remodeling the extracellular matrix (ECM) in tumor microenvironment. Among the three types of MNs prepared, the PcNP/TRA‐HA‐Tyr(II)/CLG‐MN exhibits the deepest penetration in tumor tissues and the longest retention time in vivo. Notably, the administrations of PcNP/TRA‐HA‐Tyr(II)/CLG‐MN alongside light irradiation significantly suppress the growth of A375‐xenografted tumors in mice. Together, the strategy of combining mesoporous silica nanoparticles, enzymatically cross‐linked hydrogels and CLG‐mediated ECM remodeling enables deep drug penetration and efficacious combination treatment against melanoma, showcasing significant potential in the realm of cancer nanomedicine.

Myxoid liposarcoma diagnosed on fine needle aspiration cytology: There is more to it than meets the eye.

Liposarcoma is a rare mesenchymal neoplasm commonly involving deep soft tissues and the retroperitoneum. Among the various types of liposarcoma, myxoid liposarcoma is the most frequently encountered in adolescents and young adults, with a predilection for lower extremities. Fine needle aspiration allows easy assessment and rapid on-site evaluation for distinguishing benign from malignant lipomatous lesions. Here, we present a case of myxoid liposarcoma in the calf region of a 19-year-old boy, diagnosed via fine needle aspiration cytology, and subsequently confirmed by histopathological examination after surgical resection. The intention behind this case report is to highlight the cytological features of myxoid liposarcoma and to improve understanding of this tumor entity, aiming to prevent misdiagnosis by inexperienced pathologists when evaluating cytology specimens.