Nano-scale smooth surface of the compact-TiO2 layer via spray pyrolysis for controlling the grain size of the perovskite layer in perovskite solar cells.

The mechanism of perovskite film growth is critical for the final morphology and, thus, the performance of the perovskite solar cell. The nano-roughness of compact TiO2 (c-TiO2) fabricated via the spray pyrolysis method had a significant effect on the perovskite grain size and perovskite solar cell performance in this work. While spray pyrolysis is a low-cost and straightforward deposition technique suitable for large-scale application, it is influenced by a number of parameters, including (i) alcoholic solvent precursor, (ii) spray temperature, and (iii) annealing temperature. Among alcoholic solvents, 2-propanol and 1-butanol showed a smooth surface without any large TiO2 particles on the surface compared to EtOH. The lowest roughness of the c-TiO2 layer was obtained at 450 °C with an average perovskite grain size of around 300 nm. Increased annealing temperature has a positive effect on the roughness of TiO2. The highest efficiency of the solar cell was achieved by using 1-butanol as the solvent. The decrease in the nano roughness of c-TiO2 promoted larger perovskite grain sizes via a relative decrease in the nucleation rate. Therefore, controlling the spray pyrolysis technique used to deposit the c-TiO2 layer is a promising route to control the surface nanoroughness of c-TiO2, which results in an increase in the MAPbI3 grain size.

Pharmaceutical Approach for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Malignant Syndrome: A Case Study.

Since 2012, Matsudo City Hospital has increased the number of pharmacists stationed in the ward on weekday mornings at the emergency care center, the intensive care unit (ICU) and the high care unit (HCU). Multidisciplinary joint meetings and joint conferences are conducted in the emergency care center, and patient and drug information is shared. A 20-year-old man was transferred to our hospital after a traffic accident. He was diagnosed with subarachnoid hemorrhage and brain contusion. He exhibited violent movement and intense restlessness. He was sedated with a continuous intravenous infusion of 5 mg/h midazolam and 20 µg/h fentanyl, with intubation. Propofol was also used intermittently. The midazolam infusion was concluded on day 5 of hospitalization. However, his restlessness recurred so an intravenous drip infusion of 150 mg/h haloperidol was administered. On the 7th day, he developed a high-grade fever, muscle rigidity, perspiration, and leukocytosis, and malignant syndrome or malignant hyperthermia was suspected. For malignant syndrome treatment, he received an intravenous drip infusion of 60 mg dantrolene, followed by the combined oral administration of 100 mg/d dantrolene and 7.5 mg/d bromocriptine. Considering various pharmacological effects, we selected an intravenous drip infusion of 25 mg hydroxyzine hydrochloride as the drug to alleviate restlessness. The patient's course continued without recurrence of malignant syndrome; his symptoms improved because of pharmaceutical care with an awareness of patient benefits through clinical and laboratory findings, consultation with the attending physician, presentation of information on causative and therapeutic drugs, and coordinated planning of a prescription design.

Flow-sensitive alternating inversion recovery (fair) imaging for retrograde cortical venous drainage related to intracranial dural arteriovenous fistula.

INTRODUCTION: To evaluate the hypothesis that flow-sensitive alternating inversion recovery (FAIR) magnetic resonance (MR) imaging can detect retrograde cortical venous drainage (RCVD) in patients with intracranial dural arteriovenous fistula (DAVF). METHODS: Seven patients with angiographically confirmed DAVF with RCVD and two DAVF patients without RCVD underwent examinations with conventional MR imaging and FAIR, five of these seven patients with RCVD also underwent examination with dynamic susceptibility contrast (DSC) MR imaging. The ability of FAIR to depict prominent cerebral veins was evaluated, and FAIR was compared with the relative cerebral blood volume (rCBV) maps created with DSC. RESULTS: In all DAVF patients with RCVD, FAIR clearly showed prominent veins on the surface of the brain in affected hemisphere, and FAIR corresponded well with the areas of increased rCBV. In all DAVF patients without RCVD, FAIR showed no prominent veins. CONCLUSION: FAIR can detect RCVD in patients with DAVF.

Dural arteriovenous fistula involving the transverse sigmoid sinus after treatment: assessment with magnetic resonance digital subtraction angiography.

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the utility of magnetic resonance digital subtraction angiography (MRDSA) in showing the presence or absence of retrograde venous drainage (RVD) in patients with intracranial dural arteriovenous fistula (DAVF) involving the transverse sigmoid sinus (TSS) after treatment. METHODS: Of 16 patients with DAVF involving the TSS, 13 underwent digital subtraction angiography (DSA) and MRDSA before and after treatment, and 3 underwent DSA before treatment and DSA and MRDSA after treatment. Five patients underwent these procedures twice after treatment. A total of 21 examinations after treatment were evaluated retrospectively. The presence or absence of DAVF and RVD was decided on the basis of the DSA findings. Two neuroradiologists reviewed the MRDSA findings concerning the presence or absence of DAVF and RVD. RESULTS: DSA showed residual DAVF in 9 and residual RVD in 5 of 21 examinations. MRDSA revealed residual DAVF in 8 of 21 examinations. MRDSA did not show residual DAVF in one examination because of a very small (low-flow) residual DAVF without RVD. MRDSA identified residual RVD in 5 of 21 examinations. MRDSA was completely consistent with DSA concerning the presence or absence of residual RVD. CONCLUSION: MRDSA could evaluate the presence or absence of RVD in patients with DAVF involving TSS after treatment. MRDSA may give reliable information as to whether patients with DAVF involving the TSS should undergo additional DSA after treatment.