Coordinated phosphate uptake by extracellular alkaline phosphatase and solute carrier transporters in marine diatoms.

Marine diatoms express genes encoding potential phosphate transporter and alkaline phosphatase (APase) under phosphate-limited (-P) condition. This indicates that diatoms use high-affinity phosphate uptake system with organic phosphate hydration. The function of molecules playing roles for Pi uptake was determined in this study. Pi uptake and APase activity of two marine diatoms, Phaeodactylum tricornutum and Thalassiosira pseudonana, were monitored during acclimation to -P condition. The transcript levels of Pi transporter were analyzed, and Pi transporters were localized with GFP tagging in diatom cells. KO mutants of plasma membrane solute carrier proteins (SLC34s) or APase were established, and their phenotype was evaluated. Some Na+ /Pi transporter candidates, SLC34s in P. tricornutum and T. pseudonana, increased transcript under -P condition. Whole-cell Pi transport was specifically stimulated by sodium ion but independent of potassium, lithium, or proton. Genome-editing KO of PtSLC34-5 and APase (Pt49678) in P. tricornutum was highly inhibitory for Pi uptake, and KO of TpSLC34-2 was also highly inhibitory for Pi uptake in T. pseudonana. SLC34s and APase were co-expressed under -P conditions in marine diatoms. SLC34s play a major role in the initial acclimation stage of diatom cells to -P condition and APase plays an increasing role in the prolonged Pi-starved condition.

Multiple plasma membrane SLC4s contribute to external HCO3- acquisition during CO2 starvation in the marine diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum.

The availability of CO2 is one of the restrictions on aquatic photosynthesis. Solute carrier (SLC) 4-2, a plasma membrane HCO3- transporter has previously been identified in the marine diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum. In this study, we discovered two paralogs, PtSLC4-1 and PtSLC4-4, that are both localized at the plasma membrane. Their overexpression stimulated HCO3- uptake, and this was inhibited by the anion channel blocker 4,4´-diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2´-disulfonic (DIDS). Similarly to SLC4-2, PtSLC4-1 specifically required Na+ of ~100 mM for its maximum HCO3- transport activity. Unlike PtSLC4-1 and PtSLC4-2, the HCO3- transport of PtSLC4-4 depended equally on Na+, K+, or Li+, suggesting its broad selectivity for cations. Transcript analyses indicated that PtSLC4-1 was the most abundant HCO3- transporter under CO2 concentrations below atmospheric levels, while PtSLC4-4 showed little transcript induction under atmospheric CO2 but transient induction to comparable levels to PtSLC4-1 during the initial acclimation stage from high CO2 (1%) to very low CO2 (<0.002%). Our results strongly suggest a major HCO3- transport role of PtSLC4-1 with a relatively minor role of PtSLC4-2, and that PtSLC4-4 operates under severe CO2 limitation unselectively to cations when the other SLC4s do not function to support HCO3- uptake.

Analysis of the variation in learning curves for achieving competency in convex EUS training: a prospective cohort study using a standardized assessment tool.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The need for mastering standard imaging techniques for convex EUS in the biliopancreatic regions has been increasing; however, large variations in the aptitude for achieving EUS competency hinder expert development. Therefore, we investigated the factors influencing the achievement of expert competency in EUS using a new assessment tool for multiple imaging items. METHODS: Between January 2018 and February 2022, 3277 consecutive EUS procedures conducted by 5 beginners (EUS procedures <250), 7 intermediate trainees (250-749), and 2 experts (≥750) were prospectively evaluated. Immediately after each EUS procedure, the success or failure of imaging for each item was recorded using a newly developed EUS assessment tool that requires 17 items to be photographed. After correcting for missing values using multiple imputation, learning curves of EUS scores were created, and a competency was set based on expert scores. Finally, a comparative analysis between high and low performers was performed to extract factors influencing EUS scores. RESULTS: Although 3 of 7 intermediates (43%; mean, 317 cases) achieved competency, none of the beginners achieved competency. During a comparative analysis, although no significant difference in the number of EUS procedures performed was observed between the high and low performers, the former had significantly higher scores in the written test (theoretical knowledge). CONCLUSIONS: Our results showed that theoretical knowledge, rather than the number of EUS cases, may be a possible influencing factor for distinguishing high and low performers after treating 250 cases. (Clinical trial registration number: UMIN 000043271.).

Texture and color enhancement imaging improves the visibility of gastric neoplasms: clinical trial with image catalogue assessment using conventional and newly developed endoscopes.

BACKGROUND: Texture and color enhancement imaging (TXI) enhances the changes in endoscopic features caused by gastric neoplasms, such as redness/whiteness and elevation/depression. This study aimed to demonstrate the effectiveness of TXI in improving the visibility of gastric neoplasms compared with white light imaging (WLI) using conventional (CE) and newly developed endoscopes (NE). METHODS: We recruited patients who were histologically diagnosed with gastric neoplasms; endoscopy was performed, and gastric neoplasms photographed using three imaging modalities, including WLI, TXI mode 1 (TXI-1) and TXI mode 2 (TXI-2). Two different endoscopes (CE and NE) were used for the same patients. Six endoscopists provided the visibility scale scores ranging from 1 (poor) to 4 (excellent) for gastric neoplasms. The primary outcome was the visibility scale scores based on each modality and endoscope. The secondary outcome was the identification of factors including H. pylori infection, atrophy, location, size, morphology, histological diagnosis and intestinal metaplasia that affect the differences in visibility scale scores between TXI-1/TXI-2 and WLI. RESULTS: Fifty-two gastric neoplasms were analyzed. The mean visibility scale scores with the NE were 2.79 ± 1.07, 3.23 ± 0.96 and 3.14 ± 0.92 for WLI, TXI-1 and TXI-2, respectively. The mean visibility scales with the CE were 2.53 ± 1.10, 3.04 ± 1.05 and 2.96 ± 1.92 for WLI, TXI-1 and TXI-2, respectively. For both endoscopes, significant differences were observed in visibility scale scores between WLI and TXI-1 (p < 0.001) and between WLI and TXI-2 (p < 0.001). The visibility scale scores of NE were superior to those of CE in all modalities. In the secondary outcome, there was no factor affected the differences of visibility scale scores between TXI-1/TXI-2 and WLI. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that TXI-1 and TXI-2 enhanced the visibility scale scores of gastric neoplasms compared with that of WLI. Moreover, newly developed endoscope has the potential to improve visibility compared to conventional endoscope. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This study was registered with the University Hospital Medical Information Network (UMIN000042429, 16/11/2020).

Multi-loop traction device facilitates gastric endoscopic submucosal dissection: ex vivo pilot study and an inaugural clinical experience.

BACKGROUND: Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is technically difficult and requires considerable training. The authors have developed a multi-loop traction device (MLTD), a new traction device that offers easy attachment and detachment. We aimed to evaluate the utility of MLTD in ESD. METHODS: This ex vivo pilot study was a prospective, block-randomized, comparative study of a porcine stomach model. Twenty-four lesions were assigned to a group that undertook ESD using the MLTD (M-ESD group) and a group that undertook conventional ESD (C-ESD group) to compare the speed of submucosal dissection. In addition, the data of consecutive 10 patients with eleven gastric lesions was collected using electronic medical records to clarify the inaugural clinical outcomes of gastric ESD using MLTD. RESULTS: The median (interquartile range) speed of submucosal dissection in the M-ESD and C-ESD groups were 141.5 (60.9-177.6) mm2/min and 35.5 (20.8-52.3) mm2/min, respectively; submucosal dissection was significantly faster in the M-ESD group (p < 0.05). The rate of en bloc resection and R0 resection was 100% in both groups, and there were no perforation in either group. The MLTD attachment time was 2.5 ± 0.9 min and the MLTD extraction time was 1.0 ± 1.1 min. Clinical outcomes of MLTD in gastric ESD were almost the same as those of ex vivo pilot study. CONCLUSIONS: MLTD increased the speed of submucosal dissection in ESD and was similarly effective when used by expert and trainee endoscopists without perforation. MLTD can potentially ensure a safer and faster ESD.

Blood group O is a risk factor for delayed post-polypectomy bleeding.

BACKGROUND: Blood group O of ABO blood group system is considered as a risk factor for various bleeding events, but the relationship with endoscopic treatment-associated bleeding has yet to be investigated. This study aimed to evaluate whether blood group O is associated with delayed bleeding after colorectal endoscopic resection. METHODS: This was a retrospective observational study based on medical records at four university hospitals in Japan. We reviewed the records for consecutive patients who underwent colorectal endoscopic resection from January 2014 through December 2017. The primary outcome was the incidence of delayed bleeding, defined as hematochezia or melena, requiring endoscopy, transfusion, or any hemostatic intervention up to 28 days after endoscopic resection. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to adjust the impact of blood group O on the delayed bleeding. RESULTS: Among 10,253 consecutive patients who underwent colorectal endoscopic resection during the study period, 8625 patients met the criteria. In total, delayed bleeding occurred in 255 patients (2.96%). The O group had significantly more bleeding events compared with the non-O group (A, B, and AB) (relative risk, 1.62 [95% confidence interval, 1.24-2.10]; P < 0.001). In multivariate logistic regression analysis, blood group O remained an independent risk factor for the bleeding (adjusted odds ratio, 1.60 [95% confidence interval, 1.18-2.17]; P = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: Blood group O was associated with an increased risk of delayed bleeding in patients undergoing colorectal endoscopic resection. Preoperative screening for ABO blood group could improve risk assessments.

Artificial intelligence in endoscopy: Present and future perspectives.

Artificial intelligence (AI) has been attracting considerable attention as an important scientific topic in the field of medicine. Deep-leaning (DL) technologies have been applied more dominantly than other traditional machine-learning methods. They have demonstrated excellent capability to retract visual features of objectives, even unnoticeable ones for humans, and analyze huge amounts of information within short periods. The amount of research applying DL-based models to real-time computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) systems has been increasing steadily in the GI endoscopy field. An array of published data has already demonstrated the advantages of DL-based CAD models in the detection and characterization of various neoplastic lesions, regardless of the level of the GI tract. Although the diagnostic performances and study designs vary widely, owing to a lack of academic standards to assess the capability of AI for GI endoscopic diagnosis fairly, the superiority of CAD models has been demonstrated for almost all applications studied so far. Most of the challenges associated with AI in the endoscopy field are general problems for AI models used in the real world outside of medical fields. Solutions have been explored seriously and some solutions have been tested in the endoscopy field. Given that AI has become the basic technology to make machines react to the environment, AI would be a major technological paradigm shift, for not only diagnosis but also treatment. In the near future, autonomous endoscopic diagnosis might no longer be just a dream, as we are witnessing with the advent of autonomously driven electric vehicles.

Intra-abdominal pressure during endoscopic full-thickness resection comparing manual and automatic control insufflation: a block-randomized porcine study.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: An automatic carbon dioxide (CO2) insufflating system (SPACE) was developed to stabilize intra-lumenal pressure (ILP) during endoscopic interventions. This study investigated whether SPACE could improve the control and monitoring of extra-lumenal intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) after establishing a perforation during endoscopic full-thickness resection (EFTR) of the gastric wall in porcine models. MATERIALS AND METHODS: After first establishing the optimal preset pressure for gastric EFTR in four pigs, we compared IAP dynamics during EFTR between manual insufflation and SPACE using a block-randomized study (n = 10). IAP was percutaneously monitored and plotted on a timeline graph every 5 s. The maximal IAP and the area under the IAP curve exceeding 10 mmHg (AUC≥10 mmHg) were compared between groups, with the agreement between IAP and endolumenally monitored ILP also analyzed for animals in the SPACE group. RESULTS: In the first study, 8 mmHg was identified as the most preferable preset pressure after establishment of the perforation. In the randomized study, the mean maximal IAP in the SPACE group was significantly lower than that in the manual insufflation group (11.0 ± 2.0 mmHg vs. 17.0 ± 3.5 mmHg; P = 0.03). The mean AUC≥10 mmHg was also significantly smaller in the SPACE group. Bland-Altman analysis demonstrated agreement between IAP and ILP within a range of ± 1.0 mmHg. CONCLUSIONS: SPACE could be used to control and safely monitor IAP during gastric EFTR by measuring ILP during perforation of the gastric wall.

Plasma Membrane-Type Aquaporins from Marine Diatoms Function as CO2/NH3 Channels and Provide Photoprotection.

Aquaporins (AQPs) are ubiquitous water channels that facilitate the transport of many small molecules and may play multiple vital roles in aquatic environments. In particular, mechanisms to maintain transmembrane fluxes of important small molecules have yet to be studied in marine photoautotrophic organisms. Here, we report the occurrence of multiple AQPs with differential cellular localizations in marine diatoms, an important group of oceanic primary producers. The AQPs play a role in mediating the permeability of membranes to CO2 and NH3 In silico surveys revealed the presence of five AQP orthologs in the pennate diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum and two in the centric diatom Thalassiosira pseudonana GFP fusions of putative AQPs displayed clear localization to the plasma membrane (PtAGP1 and PtAQP2), the chloroplast endoplasmic reticulum (CER; PtAGP1 and PtAQP3), and the tonoplast (PtAQP5) in P. tricornutum In T. pseudonana, GFP-AQP fusion proteins were found on the vacuole membrane (TpAQP1) and CER (TpAQP2). Transcript levels of both PtAQP1 and PtAQP2 were highly induced by ammonia, while only PtAQP2 was induced by high (1%[v/v]) CO2 Constitutive overexpression of GFP-tagged PtAQP1 and PtAQP2 significantly increased CO2 and NH3 permeability in P. tricornutum, strongly indicating that these AQPs function in regulating CO2/NH3 permeability in the plasma membrane and/or CER. Cells carrying GFP-tagged PtAQP1 and PtAQP2 had higher nonphotochemical quenching under high light relative to that of wild-type cells, suggesting that these AQPs are involved in photoprotection. These AQPs may facilitate the efflux of NH3, preventing the uncoupling effect of high intracellular ammonia concentrations.

Functional characterization of the neuron-restrictive silencer element in the human tryptophan hydroxylase 2 gene expression.

Tryptophan hydroxylase 2 (TPH2) is the key enzyme in the synthesis of neuronal serotonin. Although previous studies suggest that TPH2 neuron-restrictive silencer element (NRSE) functions as a negative regulator dependent on neuron-restrictive silencer factor (NRSF) activity, the underlying mechanisms are yet to be fully elucidated. Here, we show a detailed analysis of the NRSE-mediated repression of the human TPH2 (hTPH2) promoter activity in RN46A cells, a cell line derived from rat raphe neurons. Quantitative real-time RT-PCR analysis revealed the expression of serotonergic marker genes (Mash1, Nkx2.2, Gata2, Gata3, Lmx1b, Pet-1, 5-Htt, and Vmat2) and Nrsf gene in RN46A cells. Tph1 mRNA is the prevalent form expressed in RN46A cells; Tph2 mRNA is also expressed but at a lower level. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays and reporter assays showed that hTPH2 NRSE is necessary for the efficient DNA binding of NRSF and for the NRSF-dependent repression of the hTPH2 promoter activity. The hTPH2 promoter activity was increased by knockdown of NRSF, or over-expression of the engineered NRSF (a dominant-negative mutant or a DNA-binding domain and activation domain fusion protein). MS-275, a class I histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor, was found to be more potent than MC-1568, a class II HDAC inhibitor, in enhancing the hTPH2 promoter activity. Furthermore, treatment with the ubiquitin-specific protease 7 deubiquitinase inhibitors, P-22077 or HBX 41108, increased the hTPH2 promoter activity. Collectively, our data demonstrate that the hTPH2 NRSE-mediated promoter repression via NRSF involves class I HDACs and is modulated by the ubiquitin-specific protease 7-mediated deubiquitination and stabilization of NRSF.

Single-pixel compressive diffractive imaging with structured illumination.

We present a method for diffractive imaging with a single photodetector and structured illumination based on compressive sensing. A complex-amplitude object is sequentially illuminated with randomly structured coherent light patterns, and the intensities of each propagating field are measured with a single photodetector. This measurement process does not use any reference light or imaging optics. The object complex field is reconstructed from the sequentially measured intensities with an algorithm in which compressive sensing and phase retrieval are integrated. We demonstrate the proposed method experimentally.

Computational structured illumination.

We propose a computational structured illumination method for flexible object observation and measurement, which is a gradual extension of computational imaging. In the method, the impulse responses of illumination (IRIs) are observed in advance, and then the optical reflection for an arbitrary illumination pattern is generated by the superposition of the impulse responses. As a benefit of the method, illumination patterns can be easily designed and adjusted for different purposes without physical experiments after the IRI observation, and the desired information can be reconstructed with the same process as that used in conventional-structure illumination methods. A high-precision optical setup does not have to be maintained physically because it is virtualized in a computer. We experimentally demonstrated three-dimensional shape measurement and signal separation between direct- and internal-reflection components using the proposed method.

Plasmon-Free Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy Using α-Type MoO3 Semiconductor Nanorods with Strong Light Scattering in the Visible Regime.

Recent developments in semiconductor-based surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) have achieved numerous advancements, primarily centered on the chemical mechanism. However, the role of the electromagnetic (electromagnetic mechanism) contribution in advancing semiconductor SERS substrates is still underexplored. In this study, we developed a SERS substrate based on densely aligned α-type MoO3 (α-MoO3) semiconductor nanorods (NRs) with rectangular parallelepiped ribbon shapes with width measuring several hundred nanometers. These structural attributes strongly affect light transport in the visible range by multiple light scattering generated in narrow gaps between NRs, contributing to the improvement of SERS performance. Engineering the nanostructure and chemical composition of NRs realized high SERS sensitivity with an enhancement factor of 2 × 108 and a low detection limit of 5 × 10-9 M for rhodamine 6G (R6G) molecules, which was achieved by the stoichiometric NR sample with strong light scattering. Furthermore, it was observed that the scattering length becomes significantly shorter compared with the excitation wavelength in the visible regime, which indicates that light transport is strongly modified by mesoscopic interference related to Anderson localization. Additionally, high electric fields were found to be localized on the NR surfaces, depending on the excitation wavelength, similar to the SERS response. These optical phenomena indicate that electromagnetic excitation processes play an important role in plasmon-free SERS platforms based on α-MoO3 NRs. We postulate that our study provides important guidance for designing effective EM-based SERS-active semiconductor substrates.

Diagnostic Performance of a Novel Ultra-Thin Endoscopy under Narrow-Band Imaging for Superficial Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Pharynx and Esophagus.

This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic utility of the ultra-thin endoscope (UTE) for superficial squamous cell carcinoma (SSCC) compared to magnifying endoscopy (ME) under narrow-band imaging. Participants underwent endoscopic examination, and images of pharyngeal and esophageal SCCs, as along with suspicious SSCC lesions, were collected using UTE and ME on the same day. Three image catalogs (UTE, ME-1, and ME-2) were created and reviewed by three expert endoscopists. ME-1 and ME-2 contained the same endoscopic images. The primary endpoint was the intra-observer agreement for diagnosing SCC. Eighty-six lesions (SCC = thirty-nine, non-SCC = forty-seven) in 43 participants were identified. The kappa values for the intra-observer agreement between UTE and ME-1 vs. the control (ME-1 vs. ME-2) were 0.74 vs. 0.84, 0.63 vs. 0.76, and 0.79 vs. 0.88, respectively. The accuracies for diagnosing SCC by UTE and ME-1 were 87.2% vs. 86.0%, 78.0% vs. 73,2%, and 75.6 vs. 82.6%, respectively, with no significant differences (p > 0.05). The rates of lesions that were diagnosed with confidence by UTE and ME-1 were 30.2% vs. 27.9%, 55.8% vs. 62.8%, and 58.1% vs. 55.8%, respectively. UTE demonstrates substantial diagnostic performance for SSCC in the pharynx and esophagus.

l-Leucylglycylglycine.

In the title compound, C10H19N3O4, the N- and C-termini are protonated and ionized, respectively, and the mol-ecule forms a zwitterion. The main chain is in a folded form. In the crystal, the N-terminal -NH3 (+) group hydrogen bonds to three C-terminal -COO groups and one carbonyl O atom, forming a three-dimensional network. In addition, an N-H⋯O hydrogen bond between the amide groups of the middle glycine residue and a C-H⋯O inter-action continue along the a-axis direction. The side chains of the leucyl residues form a hydro-phobic region along the a axis.

Mechanically Induced Anisotropic Fragments in Sn-Doped In2O3 Nanoparticle Films for Flexible Strain Sensing Based on Surface Plasmons.

Recently, mechanical strain sensors have been extensively developed to quantify large mechanical deformations for stretchable and wearable applications. In this study, we propose a plasmonic strain sensor based on the mechanical control of optical properties using an assembled film comprising In2O3: Sn nanoparticles (ITO NP film). The resonant reflectance in the infrared range could effectively be tuned by applying strain to the ITO NP film deposited on an elastomeric polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) sheet. The change in reflectance was caused by the mechanical deformation of the PDMS sheet. The operating mechanism of the proposed plasmonic strain sensor was related to anisotropic fragments induced by cracks formed perpendicular to the direction of the applied strain. These anisotropic fragments were functionalized as optical modulators to change the reflectance depending on the applied strain. The sensing performance of the proposed plasmonic strain sensor was evaluated by using a PDMS sheet with a circular hole that produced nonuniform stress distributions. Finally, to evaluate the flexible and wearable performance of the proposed sensor, the optical detection of human motion was performed by detecting joint-related movements. The optical detection of human motion could be achieved because a change in motion (e.g., bending and stretching of the index finger) was reversibly associated with reflectance changes. Therefore, this study provides new insights into plasmon-based strain sensing for various applications in flexible instruments and human motion detection.

Sarcopenia Is a Prognostic Factor in Patients Undergoing Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy.

(1) Background: Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) is a widely used long-term enteral nutrition method, but little is known about the associated prognostic factors in patients with PEG. Sarcopenia, a condition characterized by a loss of skeletal muscle mass, increases the risk of developing various gastrointestinal disorders. Yet, the relationship between sarcopenia and the prognosis after PEG remains unclear. (2) Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of patients who underwent PEG consecutively from March 2008 to April 2020. We analyzed preoperative sarcopenia and the prognosis of patients after PEG. We defined sarcopenia as a skeletal muscle index at the level of the third lumbar vertebra of ≤29.6 cm2/m2 for women and ≤36.2 cm2/m2 for men. Cross-sectional computed tomography images of skeletal muscle at the level of the third lumbar vertebra were evaluated using DICOM image analysis software (OsiriX). The primary outcome was the difference in overall survival after PEG based on the status of sarcopenia. We also performed a covariate balancing propensity score matching analysis. (3) Results: Of 127 patients (99 men, 28 women), 71 (56%) were diagnosed with sarcopenia, and 64 patients died during the observation period. The median follow-up period did not differ between patients with and without sarcopenia (p = 0.5). The median survival time after PEG was 273 days in patients with sarcopenia and 1133 days in those without (p < 0.001). Cox proportional hazard model analyses identified three factors that were significantly associated with overall survival: sarcopenia (adjusted hazard ratio [HR]: 2.9, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.6-5.4, p < 0.001), serum albumin level (adjusted HR: 0.34, 95% CI: 0.21-0.55, p < 0.001) and male sex (adjusted HR: 2.0, 95% CI: 1.1-3.7, p = 0.03). Propensity score-matched analysis (n = 37 vs. 37) showed that the survival rate was lower in the sarcopenia group than in the non-sarcopenia group (at 90 days: 77% (95% CI, 59-88) vs. 92% (76-97), at 180 days: 56% (38-71) vs. 92% (76-97), and at one year: 35% (19-51) vs. 81% (63-91), p = 0.0014). (4) Conclusions: Sarcopenia was associated with poor prognosis in patients having undergone PEG.

Tryptophan hydroxylase 2 (TPH2) in a neuronal cell line: modulation by cell differentiation and NRSF/rest activity.

Serotonin (5-HT) is a neurotransmitter involved in many aspects of the neuronal function. The synthesis of 5-HT is initiated by the hydroxylation of tryptophan, catalyzed by tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH). Two isoforms of TPH (TPH1 and TPH2) have been identified, with TPH2 almost exclusively expressed in the brain. Following TPH2 discovery, it was reported that polymorphisms of both gene and non-coding regions are associated with a spectrum of psychiatric disorders. Thus, insights into the mechanisms that specifically regulate TPH2 expression and its modulation by exogenous stimuli may represent a new therapeutic approach to modify serotonergic neurotransmission. To this aim, a CNS-originated cell line expressing TPH2 endogenously represents a valid model system. In this study, we report that TPH2 transcript and protein are modulated by neuronal differentiation in the cell line A1 mes-c-myc (A1). Moreover, we show luciferase activity driven by the human TPH2 promoter region and demonstrate that upon mutation of the NRSF/REST responsive element, the promoter activity strongly increases with cell differentiation. Our data suggest that A1 cells could represent a model system, allowing an insight into the mechanisms of regulation of TPH2 and to identify novel therapeutic targets in the development of drugs for the management of psychiatric disorders.

Visibility evaluation of colorectal lesion using texture and color enhancement imaging with video.

Objective: To evaluate the visibility of colorectal lesions using a novel image processing algorithm, texture and color enhancement imaging (TXI), that allows the acquisition of brighter images with enhanced color and surface structure. Methods: During August-September 2019, patients referred for endoscopic treatment were prospectively recruited. Electronic data acquired while observing colorectal lesions using white light imaging (WLI) were obtained and recorded: WLI, TXI mode1 (with color enhancement), and TXI mode2 (without color enhancement) videos were constructed. The lesions were also recorded using narrow-band imaging (NBI) from the same perspective as WLI. Four video clips (WLI, TXI mode1, TXI mode2, and NBI) were made per lesion. Thereafter, video files for evaluations were prepared by randomly arranging all video clips. Finally, visualization scores were evaluated by four endoscopists, and the WLI, TXI mode1, TXI mode2, and NBI results were compared. Results: Overall, 22 patients with 68 lesions were recruited; the video file for evaluation subsequently comprised 272 randomly arranged video clips. Mean visualization scores using WLI, TXI mode1, TXI mode2, and NBI were 70.0 (±20.1), 80.5 (±18.6), 75.6 (±18.1), and 69.0 (±20.6), respectively. Mean visualization scores for flat lesions using WLI, TXI mode1, TXI mode2, and NBI were 64.1 (±21.2), 76.5 (±20.18), 71.8 (±19.4), and 64.2 (±22.0), respectively. Visualization scores using TXI mode1 were significantly better than those using WLI, TXI mode2, or NBI. Conclusions: TXI enables improved visualization of colorectal lesions, even flat lesions, than WLI and NBI. TXI may allow better detection of colorectal lesions, although further prospective studies are required.

Infrared Plasmonic Metamaterials Based on Transparent Nanoparticle Films of In2O3:Sn for Solar-Thermal Shielding Applications.

Three-dimensional nanoparticle (NP) assemblies show interesting optical responses that differ from naturally occurring materials, such as metals, oxides, and semiconductors. In this study, we investigate the optical response of thin films comprising Sn:In2O3 NPs (ITO NP films) based on the correlation between complex permittivity and infrared (IR) reflectance for solar-thermal shielding applications. IR ellipsometry measurements are conducted to clarify the presence of Lorentz resonances in plasmonic metamaterials. The Lorentz resonances are correlated to the electric field strength at interparticle gaps by varying the Sn dopant concentration, as confirmed using finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) simulations. High solar-thermal shielding performance was obtained owing to selective near-IR reflection based on strong Lorentz resonances as the ITO NP films were electrically polarizable but magnetically inactive. Thermal shielding efficiency was demonstrated via a comparison of the air temperature change in a simulated box used as a model house. Additionally, we demonstrate the significance of NP packing density on the enhancement of the near-IR reflectance. The role of interparticle spacing for high near-IR reflectance was revealed by comparing effective medium approximation analyses and FDTD simulations. This relationship was also demonstrated by the reduction of solar-thermal shielding performance when using aggregated ITO NPs. Our work confirmed that the control of complex permittivity in plasmonic metamaterials must be considered in the structural design of transparent and reflective materials for solar-thermal shielding applications.