48697 research outputs found
Sort by
Short- and longer-term learning effects from virtual scale endoscopy videos: a useful tool for colorectal lesion size estimation (with videos)
Full text linkBackground and Aims: Accurate assessment of colorectal polyp size is crucial for determining treatment and surveillance policies. However, visual estimation of lesion diameter is often inaccurate, making simple and effective educational tools essential. We aimed to evaluate the learning effects of virtual scale endoscopy (VSE).
Methods: Thirty-three endoscopists first watched prelearning videos for SET1. They then estimated the diameters of 20 lesions and referred to instructional videos with VSE for self-study. Subsequently, they watched the postlearning videos for SET2 and estimated the lesion diameters. The error between the estimated and correct lesion sizes of both sets was compared. To evaluate longer-term learning effects, participants answered SET3 and SET4, which consisted of the same questions as SET2 and SET1, respectively, but 2 to 3 months later without watching the instructional video for SET2.
Results: The error in the participants’ estimation of the correct lesion diameter improved from SET1 to SET2 (34.7 ± 6.6 mm vs 30.7 ± 7.7 mm, P = .048), with a significant learning effect and error improvement specifically among nonexperts (35.2 ± 5.3 mm vs 30 ± 6.8 mm, P = .028). In SET3 and SET4, participants’ errors indicated that the learning effect was well maintained (SET2 vs SET3: 30.7 ± 7.7 mm vs 28.6 ± 7.2 mm [P = .1]; SET1 vs SET4: 34.7 ± 6.6 mm vs 31.7 ± 7.1 mm [P = .025]).
Conclusions: VSE videos are a valuable learning tool for estimating lesion diameter, particularly for novice endoscopists, both in the short and longer term
High-Resolution HPLC for Separating Peptide-Oligonucleotide Conjugates
Full text linkPeptide-oligonucleotide conjugates (POCs) are chimeric molecules that combine the specificity of oligonucleotides with the functionality of peptides, improving the delivery and therapeutic potential of nucleic acid-based drugs. However, the analysis of POCs, particularly those containing arginine-rich sequences, poses major challenges because of aggregation caused by electrostatic interactions. In this study, we developed an optimized high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method for analyzing POCs. Using a conjugate of DNA and nona-arginine as a model compound, we systematically investigated the effects of various analytical parameters, including column type, column temperature, mobile-phase composition, and pH. A column packed with C18 resin with wide pores combined with butylammonium acetate as the ion-pairing reagent and an optimal column temperature of 80 degrees C provided superior peak resolution and sensitivity. The optimized conditions gave clear separation of POCs from unlinked oligonucleotides and enabled the detection of nucleic acid fragments lacking an alkyne moiety as a linkage part, which is critical for quality control. Our HPLC method is robust and reproducible and substantially reduces the complexity, time, and cost associated with the POC analysis. The method may improve the efficiency of quality control in the production of POCs, thereby supporting their development as promising therapeutic agents for clinical applications
Pseudomonas syringae pv. tabaci 6605 Requires Seven Type III Effectors to Infect Nicotiana benthamiana
Full text linkType III effectors (T3Es), virulence factors injected into plant cells via the type III secretion system (T3SS), play essential roles in the infection of host plants. Pseudomonas syringae pv. tabaci 6605 (Pta 6605) is the causal agent of wildfire disease in tobacco and harbours at least 22 T3Es in its genome. However, the specific T3Es required by Pta 6605 to infect Nicotiana benthamiana remain unidentified. In this study, we investigated the T3Es that contribute to Pta 6605 infection of N. benthamiana. We constructed Pta 6605 poly-T3E-deficient mutants (Pta DxE) and inoculated them into N. benthamiana. Flood assay, which mimics natural opening-based entry, showed that mutant strains lacking 14-22 T3Es, namely, Pta D14E-D22E mutants, exhibited reduced disease symptoms. By contrast, infiltration inoculation, which involves direct injection into leaves, showed that the Pta D14E to Pta D20E mutants developed disease symptoms. Notably, the Pta D20E, containing AvrE1 and HopM1, induced weak but observable symptoms upon infiltration inoculation. Conversely, no symptoms were observed in either the flood assay or infiltration inoculation for Pta D21E and Pta D22E. Taken together, these findings indicate that the many T3Es such as AvrPto4/AvrPtoB, HopW1/HopAE1, and HopM1/AvrE1 in Pta 6605 collectively contribute to invasion through natural openings and symptom development in N. benthamiana. This study provides the basis for understanding virulence in the host by identifying the minimum T3E repertoire required by Pta 6605 to infect N. benthamiana
Impacts of Dental Follicle Cells and Periodontal Ligament Cells on the Bone Invasion of Well-Differentiated Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Full text linkBackground: Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) frequently invades the jawbone, leading to diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. While tumor-bone interactions have been studied, the specific roles of dental follicle cells (DFCs) and periodontal ligament cells (PDLCs) in OSCC-associated bone resorption remain unclear. This study aimed to compare the effects of DFCs and PDLCs on OSCC-induced bone invasion and elucidate the underlying mechanisms. Methods: Primary human DFCs and PDLCs were isolated from extracted third molars and characterized by Giemsa and immunofluorescence staining. An in vitro co-culture system and an in vivo xenograft mouse model were established using the HSC-2 OSCC cell line. Tumor invasion and osteoclast activation were assessed by hematoxylin and eosin (HE) and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) staining. Immunohistochemical analysis was performed to evaluate the expression of receptor activator of NF-kappa B ligand (RANKL) and parathyroid hormone-related peptide (PTHrP). Results: DFCs significantly enhanced OSCC-induced bone resorption by promoting osteoclastogenesis and upregulating RANKL and PTHrP expression. In contrast, PDLCs suppressed RANKL expression and partially modulated PTHrP levels, thereby reducing osteoclast activity. Conclusions: DFCs and PDLCs exert opposite regulatory effects on OSCC-associated bone destruction. These findings underscore the importance of stromal heterogeneity and highlight the therapeutic potential of targeting specific stromal-tumor interactions to mitigate bone-invasive OSCC
Effects of different management approaches on unmet water demand in coffee-producing areas during wet and dry years: a case study of the Srepok River Watershed, Vietnam
Full text linkThe primary cause of conflicts over water allocation is growing demand and limited supply, which has become an increasingly serious issue in many watersheds. To alleviate water disputes, effective management strategies can be employed, particularly in the context of intensifying agricultural production and unpredictable changes in weather. In this study, two models, SWAT and WEAP, and the modified surface water supply index (MSWSI) were utilized to evaluate water allocation in the Srepok River Watershed (SRW), considering the prioritization of demand and various irrigation methods, during both wet and dry years. The crop irrigation was chosen to be the main focus in relation to the unmet water demand (UWD). The results indicated that coffee was the primary cause of UWD in the middle of the watershed during the second half of the dry season, and annual crops (AC) were the secondary cause. This research further elucidated that while prioritizing demand had an insignificant impact, transitioning from hose irrigation to sprinkler irrigation could be remarkably effective in mitigating the issues of UWD in coffee crops during both wet and dry years
Comparative inhibitory effects of bepotastine and diphenhydramine on rituximab-induced infusion reactions
Full text linkPurpose Infusion-related reaction (IRR) is a common adverse event induced by rituximab. Although first-generation histamine 1 receptor antagonists (H1RAs) are commonly used to prevent IRR, evidence on IRR suppression by the second-generation H1RA bepotastine is scarce. In this study, we assessed the inhibitory effects of bepotastine on rituximab-induced IRR and compared them with those of the first-generation H1RA diphenhydramine.
Methods We retrospectively evaluated IRR incidence in patients with B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma who received their first dose of rituximab.
Results The incidence of any grade IRR was 9.8% in the bepotastine group (n = 92), which was significantly lower than the 30.2% rate in the diphenhydramine group (n = 96; p
Conclusion Bepotastine may be more effective than diphenhydramine in reducing the incidence of rituximab-induced IRR, particularly low-grade reactions
A Case of Chromophobe Renal Cell Carcinoma Metastasizing to the Cervical Lymph Nodes after Long-term Follow-up
Full text linkRenal cell carcinoma (RCC) can metastasize hematogenously and recur after a long dormancy. Chromophobe RCC metastasized to the cervical lymph nodes 10 years after the primary resection in a woman who underwent nephrectomy for RCC (T1aN0M0 stage I). Metastatic RCC diagnosis was confirmed by aspiration. The lymph node mass was resected, and the tumor cells matched chromophobe RCC metastasis. No adjuvant therapy was administered due to the lack of evidence regarding adjuvant therapy for chromophobe RCC. Long-term surveillance is crucial in RCC because of the possibility of late metastasis. We reviewed the clinical aspects and literature on metastatic cervical RCC
