Temporal shape super-resolution by intra-frame motion encoding using high-fps structured light

One of the solutions of depth imaging of moving scene is to project a static pattern on the object and use just a single image for reconstruction. However, if the motion of the object is too fast with respect to the exposure time of the image sensor, patterns on the captured image are blurred and reconstruction fails. In this paper, we impose multiple projection patterns into each single captured image to realize temporal super resolution of the depth image sequences. With our method, multiple patterns are projected onto the object with higher fps than possible with a camera. In this case, the observed pattern varies depending on the depth and motion of the object, so we can extract temporal information of the scene from each single image. The decoding process is realized using a learning-based approach where no geometric calibration is needed. Experiments confirm the effectiveness of our method where sequential shapes are reconstructed from a single image. Both quantitative evaluations and comparisons with recent techniques were also conducted.Comment: 9 pages, Published at the International Conference on Computer Vision (ICCV 2017

Increased predominance of the matured ventricular subtype in embryonic stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes in vivo

Accumulating evidence suggests that human pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes can affect “heart regeneration”, replacing injured cardiac scar tissue with concomitant electrical integration. However, electrically coupled graft cardiomyocytes were found to innately induce transient post-transplant ventricular tachycardia in recent large animal model transplantation studies. We hypothesised that these phenomena were derived from alterations in the grafted cardiomyocyte characteristics. In vitro experiments showed that human embryonic stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hESC-CMs) contain nodal-like cardiomyocytes that spontaneously contract faster than working-type cardiomyocytes. When transplanted into athymic rat hearts, proliferative capacity was lower for nodal-like than working-type cardiomyocytes with grafted cardiomyocytes eventually comprising only relatively matured ventricular cardiomyocytes. RNA-sequencing of engrafted hESC-CMs confirmed the increased expression of matured ventricular cardiomyocyte-related genes, and simultaneous decreased expression of nodal cardiomyocyte-related genes. Temporal engraftment of electrical excitable nodal-like cardiomyocytes may thus explain the transient incidence of post-transplant ventricular tachycardia, although further large animal model studies will be required to control post-transplant arrhythmia

Selective cytotoxicity of dihydroorotate dehydrogenase inhibitors to human cancer cells under hypoxia and nutrient-deprived conditions

Human dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (HsDHODH) is a key enzyme of pyrimidine de novo biosynthesis pathway. It is located on the mitochondrial inner membrane and contributes to the respiratory chain by shuttling electrons to the ubiquinone pool. We have discovered ascofuranone (1), a natural compound produced by Acremonium sclerotigenum, and its derivatives are a potent class of HsDHODH inhibitors. We conducted a structure–activity relationship study and have identified functional groups of 1 that are essential for the inhibition of HsDHODH enzymatic activity. Furthermore, the binding mode of 1 and its derivatives to HsDHODH was demonstrated by co-crystallographic analysis and we show that these inhibitors bind at the ubiquinone binding site. In addition, the cytotoxicities of 1 and its potent derivatives 7, 8, and 9were studied using human cultured cancer cells. Interestingly, they showed selective and strong cytotoxicity to cancer cells cultured under microenvironment (hypoxia and nutrient-deprived) conditions. The selectivity ratio of 8 under this microenvironment show the most potent inhibition which was over 1000-fold higher compared to that under normal culture condition. Our studies suggest that under microenvironment conditions, cancer cells heavily depend on the pyrimidine de novo biosynthesis pathway. We also provide the first evidence that 1 and its derivatives are potential lead candidates for drug development which target the HsDHODH of cancer cells living under a tumor microenvironment

Impact of extracellular matrix on engraftment and maturation of pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes in a rat myocardial infarct model

Pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes show great promise in regenerating the heart after myocardial infarction; however, several uncertainties exist that must be addressed before clinical trials. One practical issue is graft survival following transplantation. Although a pro-survival cocktail with Matrigel has been shown to enhance graft survival, the use of Matrigel may not be clinically feasible. The purpose of this study was to test whether a hyaluronan-based hydrogel, HyStem, could be a substitute for Matrigel. Human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes diluted with HyStem alone, HyStem plus pro-survival factors, or a pro-survival cocktail with Matrigel (PSC/MG), were transplanted into a rat model of acute myocardial infarction. Histological analysis at 4 weeks post transplantation revealed that, among the three groups, recipients of PSC/MG showed the largest graft size. Additionally, the grafted cardiomyocytes in the recipients of PSC/MG had a more matured phenotype compared to those in the other two groups. These findings suggest that further studies will be required to enhance not only graft size, but also the maturation of grafted cardiomyocytes.ArticleScientific reports 7(1) : 8630-(2017)journal articl

Homemade blenderized tube feeding improves gut microbiome communities in children with enteral nutrition

Enteral nutrition for children is supplied through nasogastric or gastrostomy tubes. Diet not only influences nutritional intake but also interacts with the composition and function of the gut microbiota. Homemade blenderized tube feeding has been administered to children receiving enteral nutrition, in addition to ready-made tube feeding. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the oral/gut microbial communities in children receiving enteral nutrition with or without homemade blenderized tube feeding. Among a total of 30 children, 6 receiving mainly ready-made tube feeding (RTF) and 5 receiving mainly homemade blenderized tube feeding (HBTF) were analyzed in this study. Oral and gut microbiota community profiles were evaluated through 16S rRNA sequencing of saliva and fecal samples. The α-diversity representing the number of observed features, Shannon index, and Chao1 in the gut were significantly increased in HBTF only in the gut microbiome but not in the oral microbiome. In addition, the relative abundances of the phylum Proteobacteria, class Gammaproteobacteria, and genus Escherichia-Shigella were significantly low, whereas that of the genus Ruminococcus was significantly high in the gut of children with HBTF, indicating HBTF altered the gut microbial composition and reducing health risks. Metagenome prediction showed enrichment of carbon fixation pathways in prokaryotes at oral and gut microbiomes in children receiving HBTF. In addition, more complex network structures were observed in the oral cavity and gut in the HBTF group than in the RTF group. In conclusion, HBTF not only provides satisfaction and enjoyment during meals with the family but also alters the gut microbial composition to a healthy state

Case report: Usefulness of angioscopy in determining antiplatelet drug reduction after carotid artery stenting

We report a case in which neointima was confirmed by angioscopy and antiplatelet drug administration was reduced 2 months after carotid artery stenting (CAS). A patient in their 80s was scheduled to undergo resection for renal cancer; however, he also had right cervical internal carotid artery stenosis. Because this was a risk for general anesthesia, CAS was performed after first starting dual antiplatelet therapy. Urologically, early reduction of antiplatelet drugs was necessary for a nephrectomy. Although no obvious neointima could be identified on ultrasound 2 months after CAS, thin neointima was observed using angioscopy. Based on the above results, we reduced the antiplatelet drug administration, and then the nephrectomy was performed. Ultimately, no cerebral infarction occurred in the perioperative or postoperative periods. Angioscopy allows for visual confirmation of thin neointima. If sufficient neointima can be confirmed, antiplatelet drug reduction can be performed more safely and reliably