Ultrasound for Perioperative Lung Monitoring of Patients Undergoing Thoracic Surgery with One-Lung Ventilation

Background: The diagnostic efficacy of lung ultrasonography (LUS) has been widely investigated. However, the clinical value of LUS for perioperative monitoring has rarely been reported. The aim of this study was to evaluate the ability of LUS to assess lung aeration status after one-lung ventilation (OLV) using a validated scoring system. Methods: In this prospective observational study, patients undergoing elective video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) with OLV underwent a lung ultrasound examination just after induction of anesthesia and at the end of the surgery. After each lung ultrasound examination, a semiquantitative score, the LUS score, was calculated to assess lung aeration on the ventilated dependent side and the non-dependent side separately. The relationship between the LUS scores and various patient-related factors was also investigated. Results: Twenty-five patients were studied. All lung ultrasound examinations were successfully completed. LUS scores after OLV on the dependent side (median [IQR]: 2 [1–4]) increased significantly from baseline (1 [0–1.5], P < 0.001). Further, LUS scores on the non-dependent side (2 [1.5–3.5]) increased significantly from baseline (1 [0–1.5], P < 0.001). None of the factors analyzed was significantly correlated with LUS scores after OLV. Conclusion: LUS examination is possible after VATS with OLV on both sides of the thorax. Ultrasonography-measured lung aeration scores increased from baseline on both sides

Cellularization of the Free Nuclear Endosperm in Rice Caryopsis Revealed by Light and Electron Microscopy

Events during the early development of rice endosperm were studied cyto-histologically. Attempts were made to clarify the sequential changes during the early developmental stages of endosperm to reveal the ultrastructural details of the first-anticlinal wall formation and the subsequent cellularization. Early development of nuclear endosperm rapidly proceeded after anthesis and a large number of free nuclei proliferated until 48 HAA. In a large central cell, phragmoplasts arose as a result of alignment of vesicles appeared between the free nuclei located in the peripheral cytoplasm layer along nucellus. The phragmoplasts initially fused with wall of the nucellus and formed the initials of anticlinal wall. The initial wall grew toward a large central vacuole and reached tonoplast of central vacuole. Thereby, alveolar typed cell compartments ensued. Furthermore, the anticlinal wall continuously arose to form a large number of alveolar typed compartments. The cellularization of compartments including a free nucleus was achieved during 48 to 72 HAA. Microtubules and Golgi apparatus seemed to contribute to cellularization. Lastly, the process forming first-anticlinal wall is followed on a representative diagram and compared with the cellularization in other cereal endosperms

Optical Microscopy and Scanning Electron Microscopy on the Surface of Rice Callus after Treatment with Cell Wall Degrading Enzymes

Two distinctive structures were observed on the surface of rice callus treated with cell wall degrading enzymes, pectinase and cellulase by scanning electron microscopy; i.e., membranous, and the fibrillar structures. The membranous layer was digestible with the enzymes, while the fibrillar structures were not. The membranous matrix was mucilaginous, and positive to PAS reaction. Protoplasts were released after the enzyme treatment from the areas covered with the enzyme-digestible mucilaginous layer. The role of the extracellular matrix of the rice callus is discussed from the standpoint of growth and differentiation of the rice callus

Ultrastructural Analysis of Electrofused Protoplasts from Pansy and Wild Viola by Scanning Electron Microscopy

Ultrastructural changes during the fusion of the protoplasts isolated from wild viola callus (without chloroplasts) and pansy mesophyll cells (with chloroplasts) were examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The presence of pansy protoplasts in the fusion products was proved by the presence of chloroplasts lying beneath the plasma membrane identified by SEM. Involvement of pansy chloroplasts in the fusion products was confirmed by TEM. Thus it was possible to distinguish between viola protoplasts and pansy protoplasts by SEM. During the process of protoplast fusion, adhesion of two protoplasts, the rupture and recovery of the membrane between them, and a single-paired spherical fusion body were clearly observed by SEM using our preparation method. Fused protoplasts divided and a microcolony was produced