Single-Cell Transcriptome Analysis in Tumor Tissues

The tumor microenvironment is comprised of cancer cells and their surroundings, including various normal cells and non-cellular components, and each tumor tissue has a distinctive microenvironment. Cancer progression is affected by different microenvironmental states, such as the heterogeneity of infiltrating immune cells. Therefore, it is necessary to understand the complex cell-to-cell interactions associated with tumor developmental stages in different tissues. Recent revolution of single-cell RNA sequencing technology can uncover the tumor microenvironment diversity. We have developed a novel strategy of single-cell transcriptome analysis: next generation 1-cell sequencing (Nx1-seq) technology, and it allows for profiling of thousands of single cells from tumor tissue. Our microwell with cell bar-code beads device can detect genes with high sensitivity, and it is easily transported anywhere without any other dedicated devices. Further, the developmental cost is relatively cheaper than other single-cell RNA sequencing methods. In this study, we introduce representative application of the single-cell RNA sequencing technique in gynecological cancers, and we show the result of Nx1-seq application in human endometrioid adenocarcinoma tissue

Evaluation of freshness of lettuce using multi-spectroscopic sensing and machine learning

We aimed to develop a method to evaluate lettuce freshness changes during storage using only the surface color. In the first experiment, the surface color of one lettuce were measured continuously for 6 days. At the same time, moisture contents, elemental composition and organic matter of lettuce leaves were measured by oven drying method, X-ray fluorescent analysis and Mid-infrared spectroscopy, respectively. Considering a combination of the surface color and moisture and elemental contents, it was found that there were several color change points before and after the time when the moisture contents and elemental balances in the lettuce changed. These results represented that the surface color could relate to the internal quality. Additionally, it is suggested that freshness of lettuce could be quantified and predicted using surface color information.Furthermore, the data set and the method for freshness evaluation leading to machine learning were studied in the second experiment for the freshness judgement. In this experiment, 15 multispectral sensing data including lettuce color information were acquired, and the quality change point was determined using machine learning such as K-means and decision tree

Selective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors show a differential ability to inhibit proliferation and induce apoptosis of colon adenocarcinoma cells

AbstractAlthough the influence of selective cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 inhibitors on the proliferation of colon adenocarcinoma cells have been the subject of much investigation, relatively little research has compared the effects of different COX-2 inhibitors. Celecoxib strongly suppressed the proliferation of COX-2 expressing HT-29 cells at 10–40 μM. NS-398 and nimesulide also inhibited cell proliferation, whereas rofecoxib, meloxicam, and etodolac did not. Only celecoxib induced apoptosis of HT-29 cells, as detected on the basis of DNA fragmentation, TUNEL positivity, and caspase-3/7 activation. DNA fragmentation was also increasd in COX-2 non-expressing cell lines (SW-480 and HCT-116) by exposure to celecoxib for 6–24 h. All six COX-2 inhibitors suppressed the production of prostaglandin E2 by HT-29 cells, suggesting that the pro-apoptotic effect of celecoxib was unrelated to inhibition of COX-2. Inactivation of Akt might explain the differential pro-apoptotic effect of these selective COX-2 inhibitors on colon adenocarcinoma cells

General health literacy, COVID-19-related health literacy, and protective behaviors: evidence from a population-based study in Japan

IntroductionHealth literacy (HL) can be regarded as a key element of non-pharmaceutical interventions used in emergency responses. The present study aimed to determine the associations of combinations of general HL and COVID-19-related HL with COVID-19 protective behaviors and healthy lifestyle behaviors.MethodsA questionnaire survey was conducted from December 2020 to January 2021 among residents in Japanese metropolitan areas. Valid responses were received from 1,443 residents. The levels of HL were categorized into four groups: low level in both HLs (reference), high level in general HL only, high level in COVID-19-related HL only, and high level in both HLs. The total scores of eight COVID-19 protective behaviors were dichotomized into low and high adherence. Healthy lifestyle behaviors included healthy and balanced diet, adequate sleep, and regular exercise. Poisson regression analyses were conducted to examine the associations between the HL groups and high adherence to COVID-19 protective behaviors.ResultsHigh level in COVID-19-related HL only was associated with high adherence to COVID-19 protective behaviors [prevalence ratio (PR), 1.25; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.09–1.45], while high level in general HL only was associated with healthy and balanced diet (PR, 1.49; 95% CI, 1.04–2.13), adequate sleep (PR, 1.46; 95% CI, 1.02–2.10), and regular exercise (PR, 2.00; 95% CI, 1.29–3.13). High level in both HLs showed the highest prevalence of high adherence to COVID-19 protective behaviors and healthy lifestyle behaviors.ConclusionThese findings indicate that COVID-19-related HL and general HL can both be considered to enhance protective behaviors

A CASE OF RUPTURED MITRAL VALVE ANEURYSM DUE TO INFECTIVE ENDOCARDITIS

58-year-old woman with aortic regurgitation was admitted to our hospi- tal because of high grade fever. She had infective endocarditis and an aneurysm of the anterior mitral leaflet. Doppler echocardiography indicated a ruptured mitral valve aneurysm. Aortic regurgitant flow along the anterior mitral leaflet was suspected to have contributed to mitral valve endocarditis, aneurysm formation and rupture. She was initially treated with high-dose intravenous penicillin, but congestive heart failure worsened. Mitral valve replacement was then successfully performed

Meticulous closure of collateral vessels in the perihilar mediastinal pleura to control intraoperative bleeding during lung transplantation for pulmonary hypertension

Background: Massive blood transfusion compensating hemorrhage during lung transplantation (LT) results in primary graft dysfunction (PGD) and worse outcomes after LT. Collateral vessels in the perihilar mediastinal pleura could be the source of hemorrhage during LT in patients with pulmonary hypertension (PH). The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of closure with hemoclips of the vessels in the perihilar mediastinal pleura on the risk of intraoperative hemorrhage and outcomes after LT in patients with PH. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 80 patients who underwent LT, including 13 patients with primary PH, 29 patients with secondary PH, and 38 patients with non-PH. Results: The median number of hemoclips was significantly higher in the primary PH group than in the non-PH group (P=0.0045) or secondary PH group (P=0.0060). The intraoperative blood loss, transfusion volume, maximum PGD grade, and the 30-day and 90-day mortality rates in the primary PH group were equivalent to those in the other two groups. Conclusions: Meticulous closure of collateral vessels in the perihilar mediastinal pleura during LT in patients with primary PH allowed intraoperative hemorrhage to be controlled and might be associated with acceptable mortality rate in these patients similar to that of LT in patients with other diseases