Iwamuro M, Urata H, Tanaka T, Okada H. Application of electron microscopy in gastroenterology. World J Gastrointest Pathophysiol 2022; 13(2): 41-49 [PMID: 35433095 DOI: 10.4291/wjgp.v13.i2.41]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Masaya Iwamuro, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2-5-1 Shikata-cho, Kita-ku, Okayama 700-8558, Japan. iwamuromasaya@yahoo.co.jp
Research Domain of This Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Article-Type of This Article
Minireviews
Open-Access Policy of This Article
This article is an open-access article which was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Masaya Iwamuro, Hiroyuki Okada, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama 700-8558, Japan
Haruo Urata, Central Research Laboratory, Okayama University Medical School, Okayama 700-8558, Japan
Takehiro Tanaka, Department of Pathology, Okayama University Hospital, Okayama 700-8558, Japan
Author contributions: Iwamuro M designed the research study and wrote the paper; Urata H and Tanaka T critically reviewed the manuscript for important intellectual content; Okada H approved the manuscript.
Conflict-of-interest statement: There are no conflicts of interest associated with any of the senior authors or other coauthors who contributed their efforts in this manuscript.
Open-Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work noncommercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is noncommercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Masaya Iwamuro, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2-5-1 Shikata-cho, Kita-ku, Okayama 700-8558, Japan. iwamuromasaya@yahoo.co.jp
Received: March 16, 2021 Peer-review started: March 22, 2022 First decision: October 16, 2021 Revised: October 26, 2021 Accepted: January 17, 2022 Article in press: January 17, 2022 Published online: March 22, 2022
Abstract
Electron microscopy has long been used in research in the fields of life sciences and materials sciences. Transmission and scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) analyses have also been performed in the field of gastroenterology. Electron microscopy and EDX enable (1) Observation of ultrastructural differences in esophageal epithelial cells in patients with gastroesophageal reflux and eosinophilic esophagitis; (2) Detection of lanthanum deposition in the stomach and duodenum; (3) Ultrastructural and elemental analyses of enteroliths and bezoars; (4) Detection and characterization of microorganisms in the gastrointestinal tract; (5) Diagnosis of gastrointestinal tumors with neuroendocrine differentiation; and (6) Analysis of gold nanoparticles potentially used in endoscopic photodynamic therapy. This review aims to foster a better understanding of electron microscopy applications by reviewing relevant clinical studies, basic research findings, and the state of current research carried out in gastroenterology science.
Core Tip: This review provides an overview of transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry analyses used in the field of gastroenterology. Previously reported articles have been reviewed, with a focus on electron microscopy applications. The history and present trends in electron microscopy applications in patients and research associated with digestive system diseases are also summarized.
