Bioluminescence Microscopy: Design and Applications

Bioluminescence imaging by microscopy is performed using an ultra-low-light imaging camera. Although imaging devices such as sensor and camera have been greatly improved over time, such improvements have not been attained commercially which are available for microscopes now. We previously optimized the optical system of a microscope for bioluminescence imaging using a short-focal-length imaging lens and evaluated this system with a conventional color charge-coupled device camera. Here, we describe the concept of bioluminescence microscope design using a short-focal-length imaging lens and some representative applications, including intracellular calcium imaging, imaging of clock gene promoter assays, and three-dimensional reconstruction of Drosophila larva. This system facilitates the acquisition of bioluminescence images of single live cells using luciferase, which is similar to fluorescence microscopy using a fluorescent protein

Differential Expression of Survivin in Mammary Gland Diseases

Objective: Unlike other inhibitors of apoptosis proteins (IAP), survivin is expressed during fetal development, cannot be detected in normal adult tissues, and is re-expressed in most of the common human cancers. However, the clinicopathological significance of the expression of survivin in human breast carcinoma has not been fully elucidated. Therefore, we examined the accumulation of survivin in pathological specimens of mammary gland diseases to identify new protein markers that may lead to improvements in patient management.Methods: We investigated the expression of survivin using immunohistochemistry in 180 cases of breast disease accessioned in the Department of Pathology, International University of Health and Welfare Hospital and Nissan Tamagawa Hospital between 2003 and 2013.Results: Ninety-eight out of 141 malignant tumor cases (69.5%) stained positive for survivin, with no significant staining being detected in the remaining cases. Staining for survivin was completely absent in the epithelial cells of 34 of 39 cases of benign disease. No correlation was observed between the expression of survivin and major prognostic factors in breast carcinomas including patient age, tumor size, histological grade, axillary lymph node metastasis, local recurrence, and visceral metastasis status. However, a significant difference was observed in the expression of survivin between malignant and benign tumors and other benign diseases.Conclusion: The results of the present study suggest that the expression of survivin is strongly selective for cancer cells and may be useful for identifying and quantifying human breast cancer

Expression of Proopiomelanocortin, Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone (CRH), and CRH Receptor in Melanoma Cells, Nevus Cells, and Normal Human Melanocytes

Proopiomelanocortin (POMC) is a 31kDa prohormone that is processed to various bioactive peptides, including adrenocorticotropin (ACTH), melanotropins (α, β, γ-MSH), lipotropins, and endorphins. POMC is expressed not only in the pituitary gland but also in a variety of nonpituitary organs and tumors, including melanomas. We previously showed that normal human melanocytes produce and secrete α-MSH and ACTH, and furthermore, that advanced melanoma cells generally produce higher amounts of POMC peptides that correlate with tumor progression. To elucidate the mechanism of this upregulation, the expression of genes encoding corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) and its receptor, CRHR, as well as POMC and the MSH receptor (MC1-R), was evaluated by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction using cultured human melanoma cells, nevus cells, and normal melanocytes. Our results show that all melanocytic cells express CRH, CRH-R, POMC, and MC1-R, with highest intensities in melanoma cells. Furthermore, immunohistochemistry shows that CRH as well as POMC is strongly expressed in advanced melanomas, such as vertically growing lesions of acral lentiginous, nodular and metastatic melanomas, in contrast to negative expression in nevus cells. These results indicate that tumor progression accentuates CRH, CRH-R, and POMC expression by melanoma cells

Changes in the deep vasculature assessed using anterior segment OCT angiography following trabecular meshwork targeted minimally invasive glaucoma surgery

The effect of trabecular meshwork (TM)-targeted minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS) on the vasculature assessed using anterior segment (AS)-optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) has not been established. In this prospective, longitudinal study, we investigated changes in the deep vasculature following TM-targeted MIGS using AS-OCTA for open-angle glaucoma in 31 patients. AS-OCTA images of the sclera and conjunctiva at the nasal corneal limbus were acquired preoperatively and 3 months postoperatively, and the vessel densities (VDs) of the superficial (conjunctival) and deep (intrascleral) layers were calculated. The VDs before and after MIGS were compared, and the factors associated with the change in VD following MIGS were analyzed. The mean deep VD decreased from 11.98 ± 6.80% at baseline to 10.42 ± 5.02% postoperatively (P = 0.044), but superficial VD did not change (P = 0.73). The multivariate stepwise regression analysis revealed that deep VD reduction was directly associated with IOP reduction (P < 0.001) and preoperative IOP (P = 0.007) and inversely associated with preoperative deep VD (P < 0.001). The deep VD reduction following MIGS was significant in the successful group (21 eyes) (P = 0.032) but not in the unsuccessful group (10 eyes) (P = 0.49). The deep VDs assessed using AS-OCTA decreased following TM-targeted MIGS, especially in the eyes with good surgical outcomes

Prediction of trabecular meshwork-targeted micro-invasive glaucoma surgery outcomes using anterior segment OCT angiography

前眼部OCTAを用いた線維柱帯切開術効果予測 --房水主流出路の可視化による緑内障手術予後予測の可能性--. 京都大学プレスリリース. 2021-09-09.We performed a prospective, longitudinal study to investigate the association between the preoperative intrascleral vasculature assessed using anterior segment (AS)-optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) and surgical outcomes of trabecular meshwork-targeted micro- or minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS). We included 37 patients with primary open-angle glaucoma. Preoperative AS-OCTA images of the sclero-conjunctiva of the nasal corneal limbus were acquired in the superficial (conjunctival) and deep (intrascleral) layers. The vessel densities (VDs) of each layer were measured separately in the entire area, limbal side, and fornix area. Surgical success was determined by postoperative intraocular pressure (IOP) and IOP reduction. Twenty-three and 14 eyes were classified as having successful and unsuccessful outcomes, respectively. The deep VDs of the entire area and fornix area were significantly lower in the successful group (P = 0.031 and P = 0.009). The success rate was significantly higher for eyes with a lower deep VD than for eyes with a higher deep VD. A greater IOP reduction was significantly associated with lower deep VD in the fornix area (P = 0.022) and higher preoperative IOP (P < 0.001). These results indicate that intrascleral vasculature assessed using preoperative AS-OCTA was negatively correlated with surgical success and IOP reduction resulting from trabecular meshwork-targeted MIGS. AS-OCTA images might help predict MIGS outcomes

Bilayer Indium Tin Oxide Electrodes for Deformation-Free Ultrathin Flexible Perovskite Solar Cells

The superior electrical conductivity and optical transparency of indium tin oxide (ITO) make it an ideal electrode material for use in optoelectronic devices such as solar cells. When ITO electrodes are fabricated on very thin plastic substrates, however, the internal stress of the ITO layer causes the substrate to deform, severely limiting the device's performance. Herein, it is shown that ITO bilayers composed of an amorphous base layer and a crystalline overlayer lead to deformation-free ITO electrodes. It is shown that an optimized bilayer structure is achieved when the internal stresses of the amorphous and crystalline layers approximately cancel. With this approach, mixed composition metal halide perovskite solar cells with ITO electrodes are successfully fabricated on 4 μm polyethylene naphthalate films. A power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 18.2% is obtained for the reference cell design, corresponding to a power-to-weight ratio of 24 W g−1 before encapsulation. The devices retain 95% of the original PCE after 1000 bend cycles, while under simulated indoor lighting (white LED, 200 lux, 5000 K) the PCE reaches 28.3%. A 3-cell module with a designated area of 2.3 cm² is realized with a power output of 28.1 mW and an open-circuit voltage of 3.17 V

Toward Advanced Nursing Practice along with People-Centered Care Partnership Model for Sustainable Universal Health Coverage and Universal Access to Health

Objective: this study developed a people-centered care (PCC) partnership model for the aging society to address the challenges of social changes affecting people’s health and the new role of advanced practice nurses to sustain universal health coverage. Method: a people-centered care partnership model was developed on the basis of qualitative meta-synthesis of the literature and assessment of 14 related projects. The ongoing projects resulted in individual and social transformation by improving community health literacy and behaviors using people-centered care and enhancing partnership between healthcare providers and community members through advanced practice nurses. Results: people-centered care starts when community members and healthcare providers foreground health and social issues among community members and families. This model tackles these issues, creating new values concerning health and forming a social system that improves quality of life and social support to sustain universal health care through the process of building partnership with communities. Conclusion: a PCC partnership model addresses the challenges of social changes affecting general health and the new role of advanced practice nurses in sustaining UHC.Objetivo: este estudio desarrolló un modelo de alianza para el cuidado centrado en las personas (CCP) para una sociedad envejecida, que haga frente a los retos de los cambios sociales que afectan a la salud de las personas y el nuevo papel de las enfermeras de práctica avanzada para apoyar la cobertura universal de salud. Método: un modelo de alianza para el cuidado centrado en las personas fue desarrollado sobre la base de la meta-síntesis cualitativa de la literatura y la evaluación de 14 proyectos relacionados. Los proyectos en curso dieron lugar a la transformación individual y social mejorando la “alfabetización sanitaria” de la comunidad y los comportamientos, utilizando los cuidados centrados en las personas y aumentando la colaboración entre los profesionales sanitarios y miembros de la comunidad a través de las enfermeras de práctica avanzada. Resultados: el cuidado centrado en las personas comienza cuando los miembros de la comunidad y los profesionales sanitarios ponen en primer plano a la salud y las cuestiones sociales entre los miembros de la comunidad y las familias. Este modelo aborda estas cuestiones, creando nuevos valores relativos a la salud y formando un sistema social que mejora la calidad de vida y el apoyo social para hacer sostenible la atención sanitaria universal a través del proceso de construcción de alianzas con las comunidades. Conclusión: un modelo de alianza para CCP responde a los desafíos de los cambios sociales que afectan a la salud en general y al nuevo papel de las enfermeras de práctica avanzada en el sostenimiento de la Cobertura Universal en Salud (CUS).Objetivo: o estudo desenvolveu um modelo de parceria de cuidados centrados nas pessoas (CCP) para uma sociedade que está envelhecendo, com o fim de enfrentar os desafios das mudanças sociais que afetam a saúde das pessoas e o novo papel da prática avançada de enfermagem para sustentar a cobertura universal de saúde. Método: um modelo de parceria de cuidados centrados nas pessoas foi desenvolvido com base na meta-síntese qualitativa da literatura e a avaliação de 14 projetos relacionados. Os projetos em curso resultaram na transformação individual e social, melhorando a alfabetização de saúde da comunidade e comportamentos que usam o cuidado centrado nas pessoas e aumentando a parceria entre os profissionais de saúde e membros da comunidade por meio da prática avançada de enfermagem. Resultados: o cuidado centrado nas pessoas começa quando os membros da comunidade e os profissionais de saúde colocam em primeiro plano as questões sociais entre os membros da comunidade e das famílias. Esse modelo aborda essas questões, a criação de novos valores relativos à saúde e forma um sistema social que melhora a qualidade de vida e dá apoio social para sustentar o sistema de saúde universal por meio da construção de parcerias com as comunidades. Conclusão: um modelo de parceria CCP aborda os desafios das mudanças sociais que afetam a saúde geral e o novo papel das enfermeiras de prática avançada em sustentar a UHC

ガクシュウシャ ハ セルフ スタデイタイム ヲ ドウ トラエテ イルカ アンケート オヨビ インタビュー チョウサ ノ ケッカ カラ

Many academic institutions provide traditional class lessons as a means of instruction. However, traditional classroom instructions can be quite challenging as to the degree of comprehension and internalization among learners individually. Consequently, there is a dilemma where advanced learners have too much down time while others are left behind. To address this dilemma and provide an environment where students could study materials according to their individual needs, the researchers implemented "self-study time" during class in spring 2018. "Self-study time" is where students decide what to study and work on it. We have been continuously implementing "self-study time" since fall 2018 based on the survey results that the majority of students responded positively to "self-study time" (Mori, et al, 2019). This study presents the discourse of the survey results and interview responses conducted in spring 2019, in particular, the students'perceptions of "self-study time". The results indicated that students thought "self-study time" provided an opportunity to manage time and utilize resources in a time frame suited to their own needs. However, the results also revealed that some students could not utilize "self-study time" efficiently. One reason was due to inefficient time management skills. The other reason was that some students had ample time outside of the class that "self-study time" was unnecessary. It is not necessarily constructive to force students to use "self-study time" because the goal is to promote independence and responsibility among students, but as previously discussed, "self-study time" has merits such as immediate response and support from peers and instructors, which studying at home cannot provide. In either case, it is possible that the concept of"self-study time" is rather unclear. For the future study, it is imperative to find out how to articulate the concept of "self-study time" for better use. It is also necessary to ascertain other ways to utilize "self-study time".研究ノートResearch note