Vericiguat and transcatheter edge-to-edge mitral valve repair for combined post- and pre-capillary pulmonary hypertension due to left ventricular low ejection fraction and functional mitral regurgitation.

A 66-year-old female was diagnosed with combined post- and pre-capillary pulmonary hypertension due to heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (47 %) and functional mitral regurgitation [mean pulmonary arterial wedge pressure: 27 mmHg; pulmonary arterial pressure: 91/30 (56) mmHg; pulmonary vascular resistance: 12.9 Wood units; and cardiac index: 1.77 L/min/m2]. Following treatment with vericiguat (a novel oral soluble guanylate cyclase stimulator), hemodynamics improved [mean pulmonary arterial wedge pressure: 27 mmHg; pulmonary arterial pressure: 54/26 (35) mmHg; pulmonary vascular resistance: 2.2 Wood units; and cardiac index: 2.80 L/min/m2]. Therefore, transcatheter edge-to-edge repair for functional mitral regurgitation was performed. One month later, further improvement in hemodynamics was confirmed. Learning objective: Vericiguat (a novel oral soluble guanylate cyclase stimulator) and transcatheter edge-to-edge mitral valve repair may improve combined post- and pre-capillary pulmonary hypertension due to low ejection fraction of the left ventricle and functional mitral regurgitation.

Feasibility and Outcome of Transjugular Intracardiac Echocardiography-Guided Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement.

Background: There are limited data on the impact of intracardiac echocardiography (ICE)-guided transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) on the new permanent pacemaker implantation (PPMI) rate. Objectives: This study investigated the feasibility and outcome of transjugular ICE (TJ-ICE) -guided TAVR, by visualizing the relationship between the membranous septum (MS) and the transcatheter aortic valve (TAV). Methods: Among patients with severe aortic stenosis who underwent TAVR between February 2017 and June 2020, this study enrolled a total of 163 patients with TJ-ICE-guided TAVR. MS length was measured by ICE. The primary endpoint of this study was the incidence of new PPMI at 30 days. Results: The mean age of the patients in this study was 84.9 ± 4.6 years, and 71.2% of the patients were female. Device success was 96.3% with TJ-ICE guidance. A TJ-ICE-related complication occurred in 1 case (0.6%). The median length of the MS was 5.8 mm (IQR: 5.0-6.9 mm). Excellent intraobserver (intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC]: 0.94; 95% CI:0.79-0.98; P < 0.001) and interobserver (ICC: 0.93; 95% CI: -0.05 to 0.98; P < 0.001) agreements were shown. The new PPMI rate was 6.7% at 30 days without a significant difference between balloon-expandable valves and self-expandable valves (3.4% vs 8.7%; P = 0.226). Patients with a TAV implantation depth less than MS length had a significantly lower incidence of new PPMI compared with patients with a TAV implantation depth greater than MS length (2.1% vs 13.4%; P = 0.005), regardless of baseline right bundle branch block presence (6.7% vs 66.7%; P = 0.004) or absence (1.2% vs 8.2%; P = 0.041). Conclusions: TJ-ICE-guided TAVR demonstrated remarkable feasibility and safety. The TJ-ICE-guided final TAV position had a significant impact on the new PPMI rate. (Tokai Valve Registry; UMIN000036671).

Mechanisms and implications of mitral regurgitation in patients with severe aortic stenosis who received transcatheter aortic valve replacement.

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to investigate the mechanisms and clinical implications of mitral regurgitation (MR) in patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS) who received transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). METHODS: We conducted retrospective echocardiographic analyses at baseline and 6 months after TAVR in 140 patients with symptomatic AS (85 ± 5 years) who underwent TAVR. We defined significant MR as ≥ moderate based on evaluation of transthoracic echocardiography (TTE). RESULTS: There were 48 patients (34%) with preexisting MR at the baseline. Among measured TTE parameters, end-systolic wall stress (ESWS), mitral annulus area, and mitral valve thickening index were independent factors associated with preexisting MR (odds ratio [OR]: 1.013, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.005-1.021; OR: 1.740, 95% CI: 1.314-2.376; OR: 2.306, 95% CI: 1.426-3.848; respectively). Six months after TAVR, there were 34 patients with post-existing MR, A history of atrial fibrillation and ESWS after TAVR were independent factors (OR: 3.013, 95% CI: 1.208-7.556; OR: 1.013, 95% CI: 1.000-1.023; respectively). The Kaplan-Meier plot indicated that preexisting MR was a risk factor for heart failure-related events within 1 year of discharge after TAVR (p = .012). CONCLUSIONS: In patients who underwent TAVR for severe AS, preexisting MR was associated with having a thickened mitral valve and large mitral annulus size induced by high ESWS. These patients may have worse prognosis after TAVR and should be closely monitored in the long term.

Short-term Outcomes of Urgent Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement in Symptomatic Aortic Stenosis That Requires Emergency Hospital Admission.

Objective This study retrospectively compared the outcomes of emergently admitted patients with aortic stenosis (AS) with or without urgent transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). Methods Patients hospitalized between February 2015 and December 2019 for symptomatic AS were retrospectively analyzed by comparing the received conservative management [continued medical therapy with or without elective surgical transcatheter replacement (SAVR) or TAVR scheduled after the index hospitalization] and urgent TAVR (TAVR during the index hospitalization). Results The cohort comprised 114 patients with symptomatic AS who required emergency admission. Urgent TAVR was performed for 37 patients, while conservative management was provided for 77 patients, including 1 who received urgent SAVR. Urgent TAVR was more likely to be performed in patients with a history of hospitalization for heart failure, high New York Heart Association class scores, a lower clinical frailty scale at admission, and a high aortic valve peak velocity (p=0.01, p<0.001, p<0.01 and p=0.02, respectively). Kaplan-Meier analyses with log-rank test revealed favorable outcomes of urgent TAVR in all-cause mortality and cardiovascular events within 60 days of admission (p<0.01, p<0.01, respectively). Conclusion Urgent TAVR had better short-term outcomes in patients with symptomatic AS who required emergency hospital admission than conservative management. When considering urgent TAVR, patients with typical heart failure symptoms due to AS with a history of heart failure hospitalization and relatively little frailty can be selected.

Pathological Analysis of Medial and Intimal Calcification in Lower Extremity Artery Disease: Impact of Hemodialysis.

Background: The prevalence and degree of lower extremity artery disease in hemodialysis (HD) patients is higher than in the general population. However, the pathological features have not yet been evaluated. Objectives: The aim of the study was: 1) to compare lesion characteristics of lower extremity artery disease in HD vs non-HD patients; and 2) to determine factors associated with severe medial calcification. Methods: Seventy-seven lower limb arteries were assessed from 36 patients (median age 77 years; 23 men; 21 HD and 15 non-HD) who underwent autopsy or lower limb amputation. Arteries were serially cut at 3- to 4-mm intervals creating 2,319 histological sections. Morphometric analysis and calcification measurements were performed using ZEN software. Calcification with a circumferential angle (arc) ≥180° was defined as severe calcification. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify risk factors for severe medial calcification. Results: The degree of the medial calcification arc was significantly higher in the HD group compared to the non-HD group (P < 0.0001). In the multivariable analysis, HD was associated with severe medial calcification in below-the-knee lesions (OR: 17.1; P = 0.02). The degree of intimal calcification in above-the-knee lesions was also significantly higher in HD patients with a higher prevalence of advanced atherosclerotic plaque (P = 0.02). The prevalence of severe bone formation was more common in the HD patients (P = 0.01). Conclusions: Hemodialysis patients demonstrated a higher degree of medial and intimal calcification compared with non-HD patients. The difference was more prominent in the medial calcification of below-the-knee lesions.

Impact of Periprocedural Pulmonary Hypertension on Outcomes After Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement.

BACKGROUND: There are limited data on the prognostic impact of periprocedural pulmonary hypertension (PH) after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate the prognostic impact of normalized, new-onset, and residual PH after TAVR. METHODS: The OCEAN-TAVI (Optimized Transcatheter Valvular Intervention-Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation) registry is an ongoing, multicenter Japanese registry that includes 2,588 patients who underwent TAVR. Patients were classified into 4 groups according to periprocedural systolic pulmonary artery pressure by echocardiography: no PH before and after TAVR (no PH), PH before but not after TAVR (normalized PH), PH after but not before TAVR (new-onset PH), and PH before and after TAVR (residual PH). A systolic pulmonary artery pressure cutoff of >36 mm Hg was applied for PH. The primary endpoint was all-cause mortality at 2 years. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify clinical predictors of residual and new-onset PH. RESULTS: In total, 1,872 patients were divided into 4 groups: 1,027 (54.9%) in the no PH group, 257 (13.7%) in the normalized PH group, 280 (15.0%) in the new-onset PH group, and 308 (16.5%) in the residual PH group. There was a significant difference in all-cause mortality among the 4 groups at 2 years (11.0%, 12.8%, 18.6%, and 24.7%, respectively; P < 0.01). Among 565 patients who had preprocedural PH, 257 (45.5%) experienced normalization of PH, with mortality comparable with that in the no PH group. In multivariable logistic regression analysis, predictors of residual PH after TAVR were atrial fibrillation and baseline tricuspid regurgitation moderate or greater, whereas prosthesis-patient mismatch was a predictor of new-onset PH. CONCLUSIONS: Risk stratification on the basis of post-TAVR PH status can identify patients at increased mortality after TAVR. Prosthesis-patient mismatch was identified as a novel predictor of new-onset PH. (Optimized Transcatheter Valvular Intervention-Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation [OCEAN-TAVI]; UMIN000020423).

Antemortem Diagnosis of Pulmonary Tumor Thrombotic Microangiopathy in a Patient with Recurrent Breast Cancer: An Autopsy Case Report.

OBJECTIVE: Herein, we report a case of a patient with recurrent breast cancer who was diagnosed antemortem with pulmonary tumor thrombotic microangiopathy (PTTM) using wedge aspiration cytology of the pulmonary artery after breast cancer surgery. CASE SUMMARY: The patient was a 50-year-old woman who underwent mastectomy and axillary lymph node dissection for stage IIIA (T3N2M0) triple-negative left breast cancer. Postoperative follow-up was performed with radiotherapy and anticancer chemotherapy. Seventeen months after the surgery, the patient was hospitalized for right heart failure and diagnosed with pulmonary arterial hypertension. The patient was diagnosed with PTTM following the detection of malignant cells in the pulmonary artery using wedge aspiration cytology. Anti-pulmonary hypertension therapy was administered; however, the patient did not respond and died 26 days after admission. Autopsy revealed multiple microscopic tumor emboli in the pulmonary artery. In portions of the pulmonary artery without embolization, fibro-cellular intimal hyperplasia and stenosis were observed. Tumor embolism was expressed for CK7+/CK20-, consistent with the primary breast cancer. DISCUSSION: Since the primary pathophysiology of PTTM entails narrowing due to fibro-cellular intimal hyperplasia rather than multiple tumor thrombi, the efficacy of chemotherapy combined with vasodilators is discussed.

Radiological and clinical features of twig-like middle cerebral artery in comparison with moyamoya angiopathy: a multicenter retrospective study.

OBJECTIVE: Twig-like middle cerebral artery (T-MCA) is a rare congenital anomaly that is difficult to distinguish from moyamoya angiopathy (MMA), given the similarity of the angioarchitectures. The aim of this study was to gain insights into the radiological and clinical features of T-MCA and to distinguish this condition from MMA. METHODS: A multicenter retrospective study was conducted in 29 patients with T-MCA and 57 patients with MMA. Demographic, radiological, and clinical data were compared between the patients with T-MCA and those with MMA. RESULTS: The T-MCA group tended to be older than the MMA group (mean age 47 ± 18 vs 39 ± 22 years). Twenty patients with T-MCA (69%) were initially diagnosed with MMA. All T-MCA cases had twig-like networks and steno-occlusive changes involving the MCA. The T-MCA group had a higher incidence of intracranial aneurysms (35% vs 11%) and coexisting arterial anomalies (48% vs 12%). T-MCA and MMA cases had significant differences in involvement of the internal carotid artery terminus (0% vs 100%) and posterior cerebral artery (0% vs 23%), and in transdural anastomosis (0% vs 51%). T-MCA cases were less likely to present with stroke (59% vs 86%) and more likely to be asymptomatic (28% vs 12%). Of the patients with stroke, those with T-MCA had more hemorrhagic strokes (41% vs 29%) and fewer ischemic strokes (59% vs 71%) compared to those with MMA. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that T-MCA is a different disease entity from MMA based on significant differences in the radiological and clinical features. Neurosurgeons should recognize this anomaly and understand the key features that differentiate T-MCA from MMA.

Impact of diabetes mellitus on outcome after transcatheter aortic valve replacement: Identifying high-risk diabetic population from the OCEAN-TAVI registry.

OBJECTIVES: To identify the vulnerable diabetic cohort in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). BACKGROUNDS: Considerable controversy remains about whether specific cohort exists in which presence of diabetes mellitus (DM) carries adverse risk of mortality after TAVR. METHODS: Of the 2588 patients who were enrolled in the OCEAN-TAVI registry, 2526 patients with glycohemoglobin data were analyzed. The individuals were divided into DM and non-DM groups according to previous medical history of DM or using diabetic medicine, and increased HbA1c values (≥6.5%) at baseline. The primary endpoint of this study was 2-year all-cause mortality after TAVR. RESULTS: The follow up rate of clinical outcome at 1-year was 2514/2526 (99.5%) and median follow-up period was 22.5 months. DM group had 699 (27.7%) patients, in which 153 (21.9%) was diagnosed by increased HbA1c levels without previous medical history of DM. Kaplan-Meier curve of 2-year all-cause mortality presented significant difference between patients with and without DM (p = 0.029). In addition, patients with low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels > 100 mg/dl and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) < 40% had great risk of mortality after TAVR (LDL-C: hazard ratio [HR] 1.82, p < 0.001; LVEF: HR 2.61, p = 0.002, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Presence of DM was significantly associated with poor outcome after TAVR and adverse effect of DM was remarkable in patients with relatively higher LDL-C levels and reduced LVEF under 40%. These subtypes may need intensive control of cardiovascular risk factors, including DM, before and after TAVR.

Optimizing self-expandable transcatheter heart valve sizing in patients with small sinus of Valsalva.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) in patients with small sinus of Valsalva (SOV). BACKGROUND: Patients with small SOV are considered unfavorable for TAVR since it carries risk of coronary obstruction after valve implantation. Therefore, these patients with small SOV were excluded from previous clinical trials. METHODS: Between February 2017 and February 2019, a total of 139 consecutive patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS) undergoing TAVR were prospectively enrolled in the Tokai Valve Registry. Patients with small SOV who were treated with smaller size of self-expandable transcatheter heart valve (THV) than expected by perimeter-based sizing were included in this study. Eleven patients (7.9%) were included. RESULTS: Mean age was 86.5 ± 3.8 years and median STS Score was 8.5% (interquartile range: 6.3-12.3%). Device success was accomplished in all patients and no coronary obstruction was observed. No moderate/severe paravalvular leakage, new onset conduction disturbance, and new permanent pacemaker implantation were noted. At 30-day follow-up, mean aortic valve gradient was 6.9 ± 1.7 mmHg and mean indexed aortic valve area was 0.95 ± 0.16 cm2 /m2 . Prosthetic valve performance was stable at 12-month follow-up. No severe prosthesis patient mismatch was documented at any time point. No in-hospital, 30-day, and 12-month mortality were observed. The median follow-up was 711 days (IQR: 547-803 days), and no patient was lost to follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Our preliminary experience suggests favorable safety and efficacy of TAVR utilizing self-expandable THV with intentional down-sizing in patients with severe AS and small SOV in a mid-term follow-up.

Late-onset atrioventricular block after transcatheter aortic valve replacement.

BACKGROUND: Conduction disturbances leading to permanent pacemaker implantation (PPI) rarely occur late after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). The clinical features of this phenomenon and its association with periprocedural conduction disturbances remain uncertain. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to determine the incidence and characteristics of late-onset atrioventricular block (AVB) after TAVR. METHODS: This single-center study included 246 patients undergoing TAVR. Late-onset AVB was defined as AVB ≥1 month after the TAVR. RESULTS: Periprocedural AVB (periAVB) occurred in 43 patients (17%). Patients with periAVB had a higher rate of right bundle branch block (47% vs 7%, P < .0001). Of the 43 patients with periAVB, 15 underwent PPI (35%) at a median duration of 6 days, whereas 1 of the remaining 203 patients without periAVB underwent PPI within 1 month (0.5%). During a median follow-up duration of 365 days, late-onset AVB occurred in 10 of 230 patients without PPI within 1 month (4%) at a median duration of 76 days. All 10 patients presented transient periprocedural atrioventricular conduction disturbances, including 8 patients with periAVB (80%), all of whom recovered within 1 month, and 9 patients underwent self-expanding valve implantation (90%). The mortality rate in patients with PPI within 1 month was higher than in those without, although the difference was not statistically significant (hazard ratio 2.68, 95% confidence interval 0.97-9.05, log-rank P = .09). CONCLUSION: Late-onset AVB occurred in a minority of patients undergoing TAVR. Greater vigilance is warranted, particularly in patients with transient conduction disturbances during the periprocedural period following self-expanding valve implantation.

Differences in initial electrocardiographic findings between ST-elevation myocardial infarction due to left main trunk and left anterior descending artery lesions.

BACKGROUND: Early discrimination of ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) due to a left main trunk (LMT) lesion provided by straightforward electrocardiographic criteria is useful for prompt treatment. The purpose of this study is to investigate differences in electrocardiographic findings between STEMI due to lesions of LMT and those of left anterior descending artery (LAD). METHODS: Initial electrocardiogram (ECG) recordings of 435 patients with analyzable ECGs from a cohort of 940 consecutive STEMI patients were analyzed retrospectively for presence of LMT lesions (LMT, n = 39), proximal (pLAD, n = 224) and distal LAD lesions (dLAD, n = 172). ST-segment deviations in 12 leads were assessed among 3 groups without bundle branch block (n = 17 in LMT, n = 180 in pLAD, and n = 159 in dLAD). RESULTS: Magnitudes of ST-segment deviations showed significant differences in leads II, III, aVR aVL, aVF, and V2-V6 across the three groups. This difference suggested two possible characteristic findings in the LMT group, allowing it to be distinguished from the pLAD or dLAD group; (A) larger magnitude of ST-segment depression in lead II than that of ST-segment elevation in lead V2 (47.1% in LMT vs. 0.6% in pLAD vs. 1.3% in dLAD, P < 0.0001), and (B) ST-segment depression in lead V5 (58.8% in LMT vs. 6.7% in pLAD vs. 2.5% in dLAD, P < 0.0001). These findings exhibited superior negative predictive value over conventional ST-segment elevation in lead aVR. CONCLUSIONS: A large reciprocal ST-segment depression in inferior leads and ST-segment depression in lead V5 are useful ECG findings allowing determination of STEMI due to an LMT lesion.

[Metastatic Brain Tumor from Lung Adenocarcinoma Presenting a Unique Radiographic Pattern during Afatinib Treatment:A Case Report].

Epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitors(EGFR-TKIs)are used as first-line treatment for patients with EGFR-mutated non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC). Afatinib, a second-generation EGFR-TKI, is also effective against central nervous system(CNS)metastasis of NSCLC. However, patients treated with EGFR-TKI for many months may be at an increased risk of CNS metastasis due to the development of resistance in tumor cells to EGFR-TKI. The average period for development of resistance to EGFR-TKI is 8 to 10 months after the initiation of treatment. In the case presented herein, NSCLC showed a good clinical course in the 10 months following the initiation of afatinib;however, CNS metastasis progressed and presented unique findings on MR images. The lesions consisted of multiple cyst-like masses without gadolinium enhancement in the cerebellum and brain stem. The patient died within 2 months of the diagnosis of CNS metastasis. The resistance of tumor cells to afatinib may have occurred in the 10 months following the initiation of the treatment. Thus, CNS metastasis of NSCLC treated with afatinib may develop over a period of many months, exhibiting unique MRI findings, and deteriorate rapidly in some cases.

[Intracranial Dural Arteriovenous Fistula Associated with Multiple Arterio-arterial Fistulas between the Systemic Arteries and the Pulmonary Artery:A Case Report].

An intracranial dural arteriovenous fistula(dAVF)was incidentally detected in a 39-year-old man during a medical checkup. Except for a mild episode of pneumonia at the age of 22 years, his medical history was unremarkable. He had no family history of hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia(HHT). The dAVF was treated radically via ligation of the fistula, without any complications. Postoperative angiography demonstrated that the dAVF had completely healed, but showed an aberrant, dilatated, and tortuous internal mammary artery. A contrast-enhanced computed tomography scan revealed multiple arterio-arterial fistulas between various systemic arteries and the pulmonary artery(an intercostal artery to the pulmonary artery fistula, an internal mammary artery to the pulmonary artery fistula, and an inferior phrenic artery to the pulmonary artery fistula). These thoracic lesions did not require additional treatment because they did not cause any symptoms, e.g., respiratory or cardiac failure. In most previous cases, such aberrant thoracic arterial fistulas were detected incidentally or based on the presence of minor clinical symptoms. However, in some cases, they caused severe respiratory or cardiac failure and were treated via the embolization of the responsible vessels. Therefore, the co-existence of thoracic arterial fistulas in patients with dAVF should be evaluated, even if the dAVF does not meet the criteria for HHT. Such thoracic lesions might cause a chest murmur that can be detected via a stethoscope or via a blunt costophrenic angle on chest radiography.

Enhanced Electrochemical Performance of Ultracentrifugation-Derived nc-Li3VO4/MWCNT Composites for Hybrid Supercapacitors.

Nanocrystalline Li3VO4 dispersed within multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) was prepared using an ultracentrifugation (uc) process and electrochemically characterized in Li-containing electrolyte. When charged and discharged down to 0.1 V vs Li, the material reached 330 mAh g(-1) (per composite) at an average voltage of about 1.0 V vs Li, with more than 50% capacity retention at a high current density of 20 A g(-1). This current corresponds to a nearly 500C rate (7.2 s) for a porous carbon electrode normally used in electric double-layer capacitor devices (1C = 40 mA g(-1) per activated carbon). The irreversible structure transformation during the first lithiation, assimilated as an activation process, was elucidated by careful investigation of in operando X-ray diffraction and X-ray absorption fine structure measurements. The activation process switches the reaction mechanism from a slow "two-phase" to a fast "solid-solution" in a limited voltage range (2.5-0.76 V vs Li), still keeping the capacity as high as 115 mAh g(-1) (per composite). The uc-Li3VO4 composite operated in this potential range after the activation process allows fast Li(+) intercalation/deintercalation with a small voltage hysteresis, leading to higher energy efficiency. It offers a promising alternative to replace high-rate Li4Ti5O12 electrodes in hybrid supercapacitor applications.

Ultrafast Nanocrystalline-TiO2 (B)/Carbon Nanotube Hyperdispersion Prepared via Combined Ultracentrifugation and Hydrothermal Treatments for Hybrid Supercapacitors.

Anisotropically grown (b-axis short) single-nano TiO2 (B), uniformly hyper-dispersed on the surface of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT), was successfully synthesized via an in situ ultracentrifugation (UC) process coupled with a follow-up hydrothermal treatment. The uc-TiO2 (B)/MWCNT composite materials enable ultrafast Li(+) intercalation especially along the b-axis, resulting in a capacity of 235 mA h g(-1) per TiO2 (B) even at 300C (1C = 335 mA g(-1) ).

[Successful treatment of dysphagia due to Wallenberg syndrome using intermittent air stretching method with balloon catheter: a case report].

A 69-year-old woman presented with dysphagia due to Wallenberg syndrome. Videofluorography revealed unilateral dysfunction of the cricopharyngeal muscle, which caused stenosis of the esophageal entrance on the affected side. Pharyngeal fiberscopy indicated that glottal function and the cough reflex were preserved and that the pharyngeal reflex was lost. The stenosis of the esophageal entrance due to dysfunction of the cricopharyngeal muscle on the affected side and the loss of the pharyngeal reflex were considered to cause the patient's dysphagia. Based on above mentioned findings, the intermittent air stretching method with balloon catheter(IASM)was performed. As a result, dysphagia showed rapid improvement without any complications such as aspiration or bleeding. Thus, the IASM may be effective in some cases of dysphagia due to Wallenberg syndrome.

New generation "nanohybrid supercapacitor".

To meet growing demands for electric automotive and regenerative energy storage applications, researchers all over the world have sought to increase the energy density of electrochemical capacitors. Hybridizing battery-capacitor electrodes can overcome the energy density limitation of the conventional electrochemical capacitors because they employ both the system of a battery-like (redox) and a capacitor-like (double-layer) electrode, producing a larger working voltage and capacitance. However, to balance such asymmetric systems, the rates for the redox portion must be substantially increased to the levels of double-layer process, which presents a significant challenge. An in situ material processing technology called "ultracentrifuging (UC) treatment" has been used to prepare a novel ultrafast Li4Ti5O12 (LTO) nanocrystal electrode for capacitive energy storage. This Account describes an extremely high-performance supercapacitor that utilizes highly optimized "nano-nano-LTO/carbon composites" prepared via the UC treatment. The UC-treated LTO nanocrystals are grown as either nanosheets or nanoparticles, and both have hyperlinks to two types of nanocarbons: carbon nanofibers and supergrowth (single-walled) carbon nanotubes. The spinel structured LTO has been prepared with two types of hyperdispersed carbons. The UC treatment at 75 000G stoichiometrically accelerates the in situ sol-gel reaction (hydrolysis followed by polycondensation) and further forms, anchors, and grafts the nanoscale LTO precursors onto the carbon matrices. The mechanochemical sol-gel reaction is followed by a short heat-treatment process in vacuo. This immediate treatment with heat is very important for achieving optimal crystallization, inhibiting oxidative decomposition of carbon matrices, and suppressing agglomeration. Such nanocrystal composites can store and deliver energy at the highest rate attained to this date. The charge-discharge profiles indicate a very high sustained capacity of 80 mAh g(-1) at an extremely high rate of 1200 C. Using this ultrafast material, we assembled a hybrid device called a "nanohybrid capacitor" that consists of a Faradaic Li-intercalating LTO electrode and a non-Faradaic AC electrode employing an anion (typically BF4(-)) adsorption-desorption process. The "nanohybrid capacitor" cell has demonstrated remarkable energy, power, and cycleability performance as an electrochemical capacitor electrode. It also exhibits the same ion adsorption-desorption process rates as those of standard activated carbon electrodes in electrochemical capacitors. The new-generation "nanohybrid capacitor" technology produced more than triple the energy density of a conventional electrochemical capacitor. Moreover, the synthetic simplicity of the high-performance nanostructures makes it possible to scale them up for large-volume material production and further applications in many other electrochemical energy storage devices.