Comparison of digital noninvasive video “biopsies” with classical invasive histological biopsy.

(A) Video image of conjunctival capillary from a specimen taken before the inflammation showing no rolling leukocytes near the inner surface of the vessel lined by endothelium and no leukocytes within the conjunctival stroma. (B) Strong tissue inflammation induced by local cataract surgery is visible just above the capillary diving into the surface pictured. Another hot spot of tissue-invading cells is visible at the upper right (white arrows). (C) Specimen taken during the inflammation with hydrocortisone pretreatment: capillary with several rolling leukocytes (white arrows) tethering to vascular endothelium. Several cells are visible within the tissue near the vessels. (D) A classical histological biopsy from the same patient as in panel B. Several tissue-infiltrating leukocytes stained with anti sLex antibodies (brown) are visible within the tissue; 3 intravascular leukocytes and red blood cells (blue) are depicted within a vessel cross-section marked with white dotted lines. A 1-minute video (Cataract version 2 video; size, 12 Mb; format, quick time movie) demonstrating the leukocyte rolling during inflammation in capillaries, extravasated cells within the tissue, as well as the effects of hydrocortisone on these parameters is available via the University of Helsinki Web site (http://www.helsinki.fi/science/rdd/renkonen/publications.html). Original magnification A-C, × 200; D, × 400.