title: Ex vivo visualization of Helicobacter pylori using an endocytoscopic probe.
abstract: Observation of microorganisms by endoscopy has been technically difficult. In this study, we tried to visualize bacteria during endoscopic examination to provide a powerful tool for a diagnosis of gastrointestinal infection. We observed the bacterium Helicobacter pylori, cultured ex vivo, using a novel ultra-high "magnified endoscopy" system ("endocytoscopy" prototype, Olympus Medical Systems). Cultures were prepared from gastric mucus obtained from three gastric ulcer patients. H. pylori in the supernatant of the culture medium were observed directly by endocytoscopy. Staphylococcus aureus and red blood cells were used as controls. H. pylori in the culture medium were observed directly by endocytoscopy, and recorded using a video recorder. Live, moving bacteria can be visualized and recorded ex vivo using this new "endocytoscopy" technology.
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine, Showa University Northern Yokohama Hospital, Yokohama, Japan. sdkimura@med.showa-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Satoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kimura
authors.forename: Haruhiro
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Inoue
authors.forename: Yoshitaka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sato
authors.forename: Yoshihisa
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Aoyama
authors.forename: Masahiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shimojima
authors.forename: Tomoko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Masuyama
authors.forename: Shin-ei
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Kudo
mesh_terms: D003558:Cystoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D005756:Gastritis / Q000382:microbiology; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000382:microbiology; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D013276:Stomach Ulcer / Q000382:microbiology