Cap Portion Research Articles

Benzothiazole—An Antifungal Compound Derived from Medicinal Mushroom Ganoderma lucidum against Mango Anthracnose Pathogen Colletotrichum gloeosporioides (Penz and (Sacc.))

The present investigation is focused on exploring the possibilities of identifying biomolecules from the fruiting body of the medicinal mushroom Ganoderma lucidum against the mango anthracnose pathogen Colletotrichum gloeosporioides. The fruiting body (cap and stipe portion) of G. lucidum extracted with ethyl acetate solvent at a maximum inhibitory concentration of 1 percent exhibited the maximum mycelial growth inhibition of C. gloeosporioides with 70.10 percent and 40.77 percent, respectively. Furthermore, subjecting the ethyl acetate extracts from the cap portion of G. lucidum through thin layer chromatography (TLC) revealed the presence of two bands with Rf values of 0.38 and 0.35. The compounds eluted from band 1 recorded with the maximum mycelial growth inhibition of C. gloeosporioides by 53.77 percent followed by band 2 (46.33 percent) using an agar well diffusion test. Similarly, the analysis of ethyl acetate extracts from the cap portion of G. lucidum through Gas Chromatography-Mass spectroscopy (GC-MS) revealed the presence of the organoheterocyclic compound benzothiazole, as expressed in the highest peak area at 22.03 RT with the highest probability percentage (97%). Confirmation of the antifungal nature of benzothiazole was obtained by testing the standard sample of benzothiazole which showed a cent percent of inhibition on mycelial growth of C. gloeosporioides at 50 ppm minimum fungicidal concentration. Furthermore, benzothiazole caused abnormality in the mycelial structures, viz., distortion, shrinkage, clumping of mycelium, conidial malformation, and complete arrestment of conidial germination of C. gloeosporioides as observed through Scanning Electron Microscopy. The research on biomolecular extract of G. lucidum could be a novel and interesting concept for the possibility in suppression of plant pathogenic microbes in the natural field.

Inhibition of cellular RNA methyltransferase abrogates influenza virus capping and replication.

Orthomyxo- and bunyaviruses steal the 5' cap portion of host RNAs to prime their own transcription in a process called "cap snatching." We report that RNA modification of the cap portion by host 2'-O-ribose methyltransferase 1 (MTr1) is essential for the initiation of influenza A and B virus replication, but not for other cap-snatching viruses. We identified with in silico compound screening and functional analysis a derivative of a natural product from Streptomyces, called trifluoromethyl-tubercidin (TFMT), that inhibits MTr1 through interaction at its S-adenosyl-l-methionine binding pocket to restrict influenza virus replication. Mechanistically, TFMT impairs the association of host cap RNAs with the viral polymerase basic protein 2 subunit in human lung explants and in vivo in mice. TFMT acts synergistically with approved anti-influenza drugs.

Abstract 14256: Dual-Targeted NIRF Molecular Imaging Combined With Intravascular OCT for Inflammatory Micro-Calcification in the High-Risk Plaque

Background/Objectives: Micro-calcification is a major target for high-risk plaque but the mechanistic linkage with macrophage-driven inflammation remains questionable. To address this issue, we newly innovated dual-targeted multimodal imaging strategy for calcifying inflammatory activity by integration of intravascular OCT with near-infrared fluorescence (NIRF) molecular imaging. Methods/Results: We fully integrated dual-targeted NIRF molecular imaging with intravascular OCT. Novel NIRF emitting probe targeting micro-calcification was fabricated by chemically coupling alendronate and Cy5.5 to the ends of azide-PEG-NHS ester (Al-Cy5.5). Based on whole body biodistribution, OCT/dual-NIRF in vivo imaging of rabbit aortoiliac atheroma was acquired 48 hrs and 72 hrs after intravenous injection of Al-Cy5.5 (5.0 mg/kg) and macrophage mannose receptor targeted Cy7-emitting probe (7.5 mg/kg), respectively. NIRF signals of Cy5.5 and Cy7 were highly enhanced at the area of micro-calcification and macrophage accumulation within the plaque (Figure) (p<0.01). Fluorescence microscopy and immunostainings from the corresponding sections well corroborated the in vivo findings and concomitantly elevated dual-NIRF signals indicated the presence of calcifying inflammatory activity in atheroma. Intriguingly, osteogenic activity (TRAP stain) was closely interconnected with macrophages in superficial micro-calcification rather inner dense calcification (p<0.01). Conclusions: Our intravascular OCT/dual-NIRF imaging was feasible to simultaneously visualize micro-calcification, osteogenic activity and macrophages in the coronary-sized atheroma. This novel imaging strategy is expected to expand our pathophysiologic insight for the biological behavior of calcifying inflammatory activity existing on the superficial fibrous cap portion of high-risk plaques.

Decoding molecular recognition of inhibitors targeting HDAC2 via molecular dynamics simulations and configurational entropy estimation.

Molecular recognition by enzymes is a complicated process involving thermodynamic energies governing protein-ligand interactions. In order to aid the estimation of inhibitory activity of compounds targeting an enzyme, several computational methods can be employed to dissect this intermolecular contact. Herein, we report a structural dynamics investigation of an epigenetic enzyme HDAC2 in differentiating its binding to various inhibitors within the sub-sites of its active site. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulation was employed to elucidate the intermolecular interactions as well as the dynamics behavior of ligand binding. MD trajectories of five distinct HDAC2-inhibitor complexes reveal that compounds lacking adequate contacts with the opening rim of the active site possess high fluctuation along the cap portion, thus weakening the overall affinity. Key intermolecular interactions determining the effective binding of inhibitors include hydrogen bonds with Gly154, Asp181, and Tyr308; hydrophobic interactions between Phe155/Phe210 and the linker region; and a pi-stacking with Arg39 at the foot pocket. Decomposition of the binding free energy calculated per-residue by MM/PBSA also indicates that the interactions within the internal foot pocket, especially with residues Met35, Leu144, Gly305, and Gly306, can contribute significantly to the ligand binding. Additionally, configurational entropy of the binding was estimated and compared to the scale of the binding free energy in order to assess its contribution to the binding and to differentiate various ligand partners. It was found that the levels of entropic contribution are comparable among a set of structurally similar carbamide ligands, while it is greatly different for the set of unrelated ligands, ranging from 2.75 to 16.38 kcal/mol for the five inhibitors examined. These findings exemplify the importance of assessing molecular dynamics as well as estimating the entropic contribution in evaluating the ligand binding mechanism.

Cloaked Droplets on Lubricant-Infused Surfaces: Union of Constant Mean Curvature Interfaces Dictated by Thin-Film Tension.

It has been recently shown that small-volume droplets on lubricant-infused surfaces (LISs) can be analytically modeled using rotationally symmetric constant mean curvature (CMC) surfaces. While such an approach is available for noncloaked droplets, a similar approach is missing for cloaked droplets that are ubiquitous in a number of LIS-related applications. The presence of a thin cloaking film on the top spherical cap portion and its gradual transition to a bulk meniscus remain unaddressed for its implications on the interfacial profile of cloaked droplets. Here, we take into account the cloaking film tension and the disjoining pressure to present a mean curvature-based framework for modeling cloaked droplets on LISs. The transition of the bulk meniscus to a thin film is formulated as a transition regime, which is then modeled as a single imaginary point akin to the Neumann point of noncloaked droplets. We next show that the shape of a small droplet on a LIS essentially obeys a simple fundamental mean curvature relation that changes forms depending on the regimes of lubrication and whether the droplet is cloaked or noncloaked. We validate our framework with the droplet profiles recorded during the evaporation of cloaked droplets in our experiments, as well as those published in the literature. In addition, we also demonstrate the ability to model the shapes of floating droplets on LISs reported in the literature. In addition to quantifying the effect of disjoining pressure on interfacial profiles, we importantly unmask the behavior of the contact line, which is optically covered by the lubricant meniscus around the droplets on LISs.

Droplets on Lubricant-Infused Surfaces: Combination of Constant Mean Curvature Interfaces with Neumann Triangle Boundary Conditions.

Superior mobility of droplets on lubricant-infused surfaces (LIS) has recently attracted significant attention for designing liquid-repellent surfaces. Unlike sessile droplets on flat surfaces wherein the contact line is easily visible in experiments, the contact line on LIS is masked by the lubricant meniscus, and special imaging techniques are required to visualize the hidden droplet-lubricant interface. Moreover, the overall shape deviates significantly from the spherical cap geometry even at very low droplet volumes. These difficulties necessitate the need to model interfaces in order to assess the effect of surface and fluid properties on LIS. In this work, we first numerically simulate the droplet shapes to show that at very small volumes, droplet-air and droplet-lubricant interfaces are constant mean curvature (CMC) interfaces. Moreover, we elucidate that these mean curvatures are related by the ratio of interfacial tensions of the droplet-air and the droplet-lubricant interfaces. These insights reduce the modeling of LIS interfacial profiles to a simplified geometric problem, which is solved using the parametric equations of CMC surfaces along with the angles of the Neumann triangle as the boundary conditions. Predicted profiles of the droplet-air interface as a spherical cap, the droplet-lubricant interface as a nodoid, and the lubricant-air interface as a catenoid/nodoid show good agreement with experimental results in the literature. Importantly, we for the first time provide a framework, which accurately predicts the true contact angle at the hidden solid contact line by just using the information of the top spherical cap portion visible in experiments.

Abstract P3-10-21: Preclinical evaluation of a novel phospholipid drug conjugate with a combretastatin A-4 analogue for improved breast cancer therapy

Abstract Purpose: Breast cancer (BrCa) is the most common invasive cancer in women globally and the second most common cause of death from cancer in women in the US. Combretastatin A-4 (CA4) and associated analogues have been shown to be potent cytotoxins and inhibitors of tumor blood flow. However, CA4 and its analogues have not progressed rapidly through clinical trials. It has been shown that with some of the CA4 analogues, incomplete disruption of the vasculature and/or proangiogenic factors around the tumor result in survival of the cap portion of the tumor and future progression. Additionally, the over expression of MDR-1 gene which encodes for P-glycoprotein (Pgp) efflux pumps which is overexpressed in many cancer cells has been shown to limit the activity of these molecules. Phospholipid-drug conjugates (PDCs) are a modality designed to selectively deliver molecules to the tumor or tumor microenvironment, significantly increasing intracellular or local concentrations. In the current study, we established a series of PDCs using a single CA4 analogue (CA4A) conjugated to our phospholipid ether targeting platform (PDC-CA4A) utilizing different peptide linkers that allow for facile targeting and release of the CA4A payload. In this study, we evaluated the in vitro and in vivo therapeutic potential of different PDC-CA4A molecules. Methods: In vitro assessment of cellular internalization, accumulation and release of the payload was evaluated via mass spectrometry in A549 and normal human dermal fibroblast (NHDFs) cells. Additionally, in vitro assessment of cytotoxicity was performed in A549, MCF7, HCT116 and NHDFs with fifty percent inhibitory concentrations (IC50s) being determined for each. Subcutaneous HCT116 and MCF7 xenograft tumor models were used to evaluate the antitumor efficacy of several PDC-CA4A molecules compared with the free CA4A molecule. Results: All PDC-CA4A molecules showed excellent uptake, accumulation and release of the CA4A payload in the A549 cell line. Uptake was detected at the first time point tested (30 minutes) after exposure and continued through 24 hours. A steady state of release of the payload and new PDC-CA4A molecules entering the cell was reached 3 hours post exposure. Cytotoxicity tests demonstrated IC50s ranging from nanomolar to micromolar concentration depending upon the linker being utilized. In vivo, PDC-CA4A-109 (specific molecule) demonstrated statistically significant benefit over both free CA4A and the positive control group. Conclusion: Our results suggest that PDC-CA4A-109 is a promising antitumor agent to treat both breast cancer and colorectal cancers. Further clinical study is warranted to evaluate the safety and feasibility of PDC-CA4A-109 as a novel targeted therapy. Citation Format: Jarrod Longcor, Randall Hoover, Mark Wolf. Preclinical evaluation of a novel phospholipid drug conjugate with a combretastatin A-4 analogue for improved breast cancer therapy [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2019 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2019 Dec 10-14; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P3-10-21.

How teacher talk guidance during Invention activities shapes students\u2019 cognitive engagement and transfer

BackgroundA key question in K-12 STEM education is how best to guide students as they engage in exploratory learning activities so that students develop transferable knowledge. We investigated this question in a study of teacher talk guidance of an exploratory activity called Invention. In this study, teachers worked one-on-one with students, guiding them as they attempted to invent ratio-based equations of physical science phenomena. We applied the interactive, constructive, active, and passive (ICAP) framework as a theoretical lens through which to explore different forms of teacher talk guidance and resulting student talk. The ICAP hypothesis predicts that constructive engagement leads to greater learning than active engagement, which in turn leads to greater learning than passive engagement. However, students do not always enact the type of cognitive engagement that teachers prompt. In this paper, we work towards three goals: (1) to explore the forms of cognitive engagement prompted by teachers and enacted by students in their talk, (2) to test the ICAP hypothesis in the novel context of teacher-student dialog during Invention, and (3) to identify effective forms of teacher talk guidance for Invention activities and other exploratory STEM learning tasks.ResultsWhile the majority of student talk was active, teachers produced an even distribution of constructive, active, and passive prompts. Teacher and student talk types tended to align, such that students often responded with the type of cognitive engagement teachers invited, with the exception of passive talk. In general, teacher talk showed the most robust relationship with students' abilities to transfer, while teacher-student dialog demonstrated a weaker relationship with transfer, and student talk was not significantly related to transfer. Some evidence for the ICAP hypothesis was found, most prominently in teacher talk, where constructive prompts positively predicted transfer, active prompts were not related to transfer, and passive prompts negatively predicted transfer.ConclusionsThis research implies that teachers should use a large proportion of constructive prompts and relatively few passive ones when guiding students through Invention tasks, when the goal is to provoke transfer of learning to novel contexts. This work also extends the CAP portion of the ICAP hypothesis to teacher-student dialog and underscores the teacher’s critical role in encouraging students to cognitively engage with exploratory STEM tasks in effective ways.

EFFECT OF ARABIC GUM-CARBOXYMETHYLCELLULOSE EDIBLE COATINGS ON SHELF LIFE OF BUTTON MUSHROOM (AGARICUS BISPORUS)

Arabic gum (GA) and Carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) based formulations have been evaluated as protective edible coatings. Button Mushrooms were coated by dipping in aqueous mixtures of 1% GA and 1% plasticizer (glycerol) for CMC additions of 1 and 2% wt. Mushrooms were stored at refrigerated temperature (4±1oC, 92±2 % RH), and loss of weight (%), color of cap portion (Lab value), firmness (Newton), protein content (g/100g), ash content (%), moisture content (%), TPC (log CFU/g), TYMC (log CFU/g) were assessed. Both coatings resulted in a reduction of weight loss, preserving firmness and delaying skin color changes. Mushroom coated with coating A was seen maintaining tissue firmness and showed reduction in microbial counts compared with the control. In addition, gum arabic associated with carboxymethylcellulose coating also delayed enzymatic browning and maintained the color of cap portion. The shelf life of mushroom was better for 1% GA + 2% CMC treatment. This study suggests that by using 1% CMC with gum arabic as an edible coating, the decaying of Button Mushroom can be delayed and the color and firmness can be preserved for up to 12 days during storage at 4±1o C.

Caloric effect of a 16-ounce (473-mL) portion-size cap on sugar-sweetened beverages served in restaurants

New York City recently proposed a restriction to cap the portion size of all sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) sold in food-service establishments at 16 oz (473 mL). One critical question is whether such a policy may disproportionally affect low-income or overweight individuals. The objective was to determine the demographic characteristics of US individuals potentially affected by a 16-oz portion-size cap on SSBs and the potential effect on caloric intake. We analyzed dietary records from the NHANES 2007-2010. We estimated the proportion of individuals who consumed at least one SSB >16 fluid oz (473 mL) in restaurants by age, household income, and weight status. Of all SSBs >16 oz (473 mL) purchased from food-service establishments, 64.7% were purchased from fast food restaurants, 28.2% from other restaurants, and 4.6% from sports, recreation, and entertainment facilities. On a given day, the policy would affect 7.2% of children and 7.6% of adults. Overweight individuals are more likely to consume these beverages, whereas there was no significant difference between income groups. If 80% of affected consumers choose a 16-oz (473-mL) beverage, the policy would result in a change of -57.6 kcal in each affected consumer aged 2-19 y (95% CI: -65.0, -50.1) and -62.6 kcal in those aged ≥20 y (95% CI: -67.9, -57.4). A policy to cap portion size is likely to result in a modest reduction in excess calories from SSBs, especially among young adults and children who are overweight.

Growth technique to increase the device purpose yield of a KDP crystal and assessment of its quality using X-ray and optical techniques

A methodology to increase the device purpose yield of a KDP crystal is reported in this paper. The method is based on increasing the cross-section of the prismatic sector {100} of the growing KDP crystal at the expense of the unusable pyramidal cap portion by restricting the growth of the crystal up to a particular height, decided by the solution–air interface in the crystallizer. Due to the lack of solution above the interface, the crystal ceases to grow in the upward direction whereas it continues to grow laterally. This leads to an increase in the usable volume of the grown crystal for the fabrication of crystal elements required for electro-optic switching and frequency conversion applications. An empirical relationship has been introduced as a condition to grow flat-top shaped KDP crystals. It relates the growth parameters with the apparatus design parameters. Several flat-top shaped crystals have been grown as a validation of the growth methodology and the empirical relationship. The influence of the growth methodology on the crystalline quality of the grown crystal was assessed by measuring the defect structure of different sectors of the grown crystal by X-ray topography (XRT). The crystalline perfection was estimated by recording the rocking curve widths using high resolution X-ray diffraction (HRXRD). The optical quality was assessed by measuring the UV-vis-NIR transmission of the different sectors of the crystal and the refractive index homogeneity using interferometric techniques of conoscopy. It is found that restricting the growth of the crystal in the [001] direction by the solution–air interface does not have any detrimental effect on the crystalline and optical qualities of the grown crystal.

A Novel Family of Toxoplasma IMC Proteins Displays a Hierarchical Organization and Functions in Coordinating Parasite Division

Apicomplexans employ a peripheral membrane system called the inner membrane complex (IMC) for critical processes such as host cell invasion and daughter cell formation. We have identified a family of proteins that define novel sub-compartments of the Toxoplasma gondii IMC. These IMC Sub-compartment Proteins, ISP1, 2 and 3, are conserved throughout the Apicomplexa, but do not appear to be present outside the phylum. ISP1 localizes to the apical cap portion of the IMC, while ISP2 localizes to a central IMC region and ISP3 localizes to a central plus basal region of the complex. Targeting of all three ISPs is dependent upon N-terminal residues predicted for coordinated myristoylation and palmitoylation. Surprisingly, we show that disruption of ISP1 results in a dramatic relocalization of ISP2 and ISP3 to the apical cap. Although the N-terminal region of ISP1 is necessary and sufficient for apical cap targeting, exclusion of other family members requires the remaining C-terminal region of the protein. This gate-keeping function of ISP1 reveals an unprecedented mechanism of interactive and hierarchical targeting of proteins to establish these unique sub-compartments in the Toxoplasma IMC. Finally, we show that loss of ISP2 results in severe defects in daughter cell formation during endodyogeny, indicating a role for the ISP proteins in coordinating this unique process of Toxoplasma replication.

Analysis of thermal radiation from burning aluminium in solid propellants

Thermal emission from burning aluminium droplets in solid propellants has been analysed using radiative transfer theory and infrared intensity measurements from emission images of burning droplets at 1–5 atm. Below 5 atm, infrared emission is dominated by the burning droplet, not the detached flame zone around the droplet. Each droplet consists of a molten metal portion and a molten oxide (cap) portion. Emission from the metal portion of the droplet surface is spatially uniform and corresponds with opaque surface theory. Emission from the oxide cap portion of the droplet surface is spatially non-uniform and corresponds with volumetric emission from a non-opaque surface. The oxide cap was approximated as a truncated section of a sphere. The burning droplet temperature was found to be approximately 300 K below the metal boiling point. Account was also taken for non-isothermal particulate emission by the sub-micron oxide smoke cloud formed in the detached flame zone around the droplet. The analysis was able to represent infrared emitted intensity reasonably well for various oxide cap thicknesses and orientation angles. Extending the analysis to include all wavelengths suggested that smoke envelope emission becomes more important at shorter (e.g., visible) wavelengths. A simple, linear relation for the incremental increase in total (spectrally and directionally integrated) droplet emissivity owing to smoke envelope emission was obtained at 1 atm: Δ ϵ = 0.001D(μ m).

Rankin Inlet PolarDARN radar observations of duskward moving Sun-aligned optical forms

Abstract. On 15 February 2007, several duskward moving sun-aligned (SA) auroral forms have been observed by the all-sky camera at Resolute Bay, Nunavut (Canada). Concurrent observations with the Rankin Inlet (RANK) PolarDARN HF radar within the field-of-view of the camera showed signatures of moving auroral forms in all signal parameters with the most remarkable effects being the echo power drop and velocity reversal as the arc reached a specific radar beam/gate. Spatial and temporal variations of the velocity in the vicinity of the SA form are investigated. It is shown that the form-associated convection reversal was located poleward (duskward) of the global-scale convection reversal associated with the dawn cell of the large-scale convection pattern. Thus, the RANK radar was monitoring the polar cap portion of the global-scale convection pattern and its transition from the IMF By<0 to the By>0 situation. Magnetic perturbations associated with the SA form passing the zenith of several magnetometers are investigated. It is shown that although magnetometer signatures of the moving form were clear, the convection pattern derivation from magnetometer records alone is not straightforward.

Roles of type IV pili, flagellum‐mediated motility and extracellular DNA in the formation of mature multicellular structures in Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms

When grown as a biofilm in laboratory flow chambers Pseudomonas aeruginosa can develop mushroom-shaped multicellular structures consisting of distinct subpopulations in the cap and stalk portions. We have previously presented evidence that formation of the cap portion of the mushroom-shaped structures in P. aeruginosa biofilms occurs via bacterial migration and depends on type IV pili (Mol Microbiol 50: 61-68). In the present study we examine additional factors involved in the formation of this multicellular substructure. While pilA mutants, lacking type IV pili, are deficient in mushroom cap formation, pilH and chpA mutants, which are inactivated in the type IV pili-linked chemosensory system, showed only minor defects in cap formation. On the contrary, fliM mutants, which are non-flagellated, and cheY mutants, which are inactivated in the flagellum-linked chemotaxis system, were largely deficient in cap formation. Experiments involving DNase treatment of developing biofilms provided evidence that extracellular DNA plays a role in cap formation. Moreover, mutants that are deficient in quorum sensing-controlled DNA release formed microcolonies upon which wild-type bacteria could not form caps. These results constitute evidence that type IV pili, flagellum-mediated motility and quorum sensing-controlled DNA release are involved in the formation of mature multicellular structures in P. aeruginosa biofilms.

Accumulation of radiocesium by Pleurotus citrinopileatus species of edible mushroom

Pleurotus citrinopileatus, a species of edible mushrooms, is widely accepted food component, especially in Indian subcontinent. The accumulating susceptibility of this edible mushroom species towards long-lived radioisotopes of cesium was studied in controlled laboratory condition using the 134Cs (T1/2 = 2.06 y) radioisotope. It was observed that the experimental mushroom species accumulated 134Cs and maximum accumulation took place in the cap portion. The pileus (cap)/stipes (stem) ratio of each 134Cs accumulated mushroom sample was determined and found 2.22±0.74. The protein and fat fractions of the experimental mushroom species were extracted separately after accumulation of radiocesium and it was found that most of the radiocesium accumulation occurred in the protein fraction of the mushroom. The mushroom Pleurotus citrinopileatus which is white in color, turned completely black after radiocesium accumulation. The black mushroom so obtained was produced upto fourth generation by tissue culture method without using any radiocesium further. All the successors were found to be black indicating a permanent mutation of the mushroom species.

Grasping forceps–assisted endoscopic mucosal resection of early gastric cancer with a novel 2-channel prelooped hood

Endoscopic mucosal resection with a cap-fitted panendoscope (EMRC) such as a soft prelooped hood is a useful, effective, and safe technique. One problem with this method is that the lesion cannot always be maintained in the center of the cap because the procedure is performed blindly after aspiration. We developed a 2-channel prelooped hood that facilitates EMRC while simultaneously allowing both grip of the center in the lesion and irrigation of the aspiration site and evaluated the usefulness of this end hood for early gastric cancer. Retrospective study. Between August 2003 and October 2004, patients underwent our novel EMR. Twelve cases of early gastric cancer. Two side holes were fabricated by drilling in the cap portion of a conventional soft prelooped hood, and then the irrigation tube and the accessory channel tube were glued to the exterior surface of the holes. We placed the fabricated transparent hood at the tip of the endoscope and performed grasping forceps-assisted endoscopic aspiration mucosectomy. Accurate aspiration and the rate of en bloc resection. We obtained a satisfactory field of view and accurate aspiration in the center of the tumor in all lesions. The rate of en bloc resection was 91.7% (11/12). Gastric intramucosal cancer. Grasping forceps-assisted endoscopic mucosal resection with a novel 2-channel prelooped hood is safe and useful for mucosal resection of intramucosal cancers less than 20 mm and may help center the lesion in the cap before resection.

NEW DEVICE TO PERFORM COAGULATION AND IRRIGATION SIMULTANEOUSLY DURING ENDOSCOPIC SUBMUCOSAL DISSECTION USING AN INSULATION‐TIPPED ELECTROSURGICAL KNIFE

Background: Although bleeding is an unavoidable complication of endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD), endoscopic hemostasis using an insulation‐tipped electrosurgical knife (IT) knife is impossible because an insulator is mounted at the tip of the knife. We have developed a new type of hood which could perform both coagulation and irrigation simultaneously.Methods: Our new device was fabricated by drilling a side hole in the cap portion of a conventional transparent hood followed by attaching a machined papillotomy knife to the exterior surface of the hole.Results: Our new hood was useful for hemorrhage during ESD using IT knife.Conclusions: With this method, endoscopic hemostasis using IT knife is easy, as hemostatic procedure can be performed under irrigation and coagulation using conventional endoscopy.

ENDOSCOPIC PROCEDURE UNDER IRRIGATION

Background: Endoscopic therapy is often difficult to achieve particularly when the field of view of the lesion is poor due to contamination of mucus and blood. We developed five different types of end hoods that facilitate endoscopic procedures by simultaneously allowing various treatments and irrigation of the site.Methods: The end‐hood pieces were fabricated by drilling a side hole in the cap portion of conventional transparent hoods, then the irrigation tube was glued to the exterior surface of the hole. The fabricated transparent hood was placed at the tip of the endoscope.Results: Types 1 and 2 were useful for upper‐gastrointestinal (GI) hemorrhage, type 3 for lower‐GI hemorrhage, type 4 for endoscopic submucosal dissection and type 5 for endoscopic mucosal resection.Conclusions: With this method, endoscopic procedure is easy and economical, as therapeutic procedures can be performed under irrigation using a conventional endoscopy.

Vocal container cap

A vocal container cap includes a cap portion and a vocal assembly received in the cap portion. When the cap portion is fully closed onto a container mouth, an elastic switch associated with a movable member of the vocal assembly is pressed against a contact on a circuit board supported on a fixed member of the vocal assembly to disable the vocal container cap. And when the cap portion is twisted to loosen from the container mouth, a spring lifts the movable member to separate the elastic switch from the contact and thereby actuates the vocal container cap to sound or voice.