Potassiation and Depotassioation Properties of Sn4P3 Electrode in an Ionic-Liquid Electrolyte

K-ion battery is a potential candidate as a next-generation battery with a high energy density, long cycle life, and high safety. To commercialize the battery, the improvement of safety is absolutely essential. We apply a nonflammable ionic-liquid electrolyte to a Sn4P3 electrode as negative-electrode for K-ion battery. The electrode achieves the excellent cycling performance with a discharge capacity of 365 mA h g−1 over 100 cycles in the ionic-liquid electrolyte. Rate capability in the ionic-liquid electrolyte is almost the same as that in the organic-liquid electrolyte

Improvement of Fractional Flow Reserve after Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Does Not Necessarily Indicate Increased Coronary Flow

Coronary flow is expected to increase by epicardial lesion modification after successful percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in stable angina. According to the concept of fractional flow reserve (FFR), the improvement in FFR after PCI reflects the extent of coronary flow increase. However, this theory assumes that hyperaemic microvascular resistance does not change after PCI, which is being refuted in recent studies. The authors quantitated regional absolute coronary blood flow (ABF) before and after PCI using a thermodilution method and compared it with FFR in 28 patients with stable coronary artery disease who had undergone successful PCI. Although FFR indicated changes in ABF, with a mean difference of −5.5 ml/min, there was no significant relationship between individual changes in FFR and in ABF (R=0.27, p=0.16). The discrepancy was partly explained by changes in microvascular resistance following PCI. These results suggest that changes in FFR do not necessarily indicate an increase in absolute coronary blood flow following PCI in individual patients, although they could be correlated in a cohort level

Peeled Guidewire Coating with Debulked Plaque Obtained by Directional Coronary Atherectomy

Percutaneous directional coronary atherectomy (DCA) is a plaque debulking method performed in Japan, and recently a renewed DCA device has been launched. We present a case with a tight left anterior descending lesion undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention with application of DCA. After several sessions of DCA, white plaques accompanied by green, stringed materials were obtained from the device; some materials were considerably long (approximately 15 mm in length). A drug-eluting stent was subsequently implanted, and the procedure was completed successfully without any complications. The extracted plaques and artificial materials were pathologically examined, and no inflammatory changes were detected on plaques adjacent to the material. Assessing pathological findings and structure of the DCA catheter, the obtained artificial materials were considered as peeled guidewire, possibly resulting from the friction between the guidewire and metallic bearing in the housing of DCA catheter. Of note, this phenomenon has been recognized even in other DCA cases in which guidewires of the other kind are used. We report this phenomenon for the first time, warning of theoretically possible distal embolization of artificial materials caused by any debulking devices

Associations between the toe-gripping strength and motor performance skills in male college students : focus on running, jumping, agility and balance ability

近年、足趾の屈曲筋力を計測した足趾把持筋力が体力因子との関係を示す新しい指標として注目されている。例えば、児童を対象とした研究では、足趾把持筋力が強いほど握力と立ち幅跳びなどの値が高いこと、また、女子大学生を対象とした研究では、足趾把持筋力と握力、上体おこしおよび立ち幅跳びとの間に有意な相関が認められている。以上の先行研究から、児童や女子大学生の足趾把持筋力と体力因子との関係については報告されているが、男子大学生における足趾把持筋力と体力因子に関する報告は筆者らの知る限り見られない。そこで、本研究では男子大学生の足趾把持筋力とスポーツ時に重要な動作遂行能力である走力、跳躍力、敏捷性およびバランス能力との関連について明らかにすることを目的とした。男子大学生23名（平均年齢18.5 ± 1.5歳）を対象として、走力（25ｍ走、50ｍ走）、跳躍力（垂直とび、立ち幅跳び、立ち5段跳び）、敏捷性（Illinois Test、Ｔ字走）およびバランス能力（閉眼片足立ち）を測定し、これらと足趾把持筋力との関係をそれぞれ検討した。その結果、足趾把持筋力と動作遂行能力である、走力および跳躍力、敏捷性との間に有意な相関が認められた。以上の結果から、男子大学生における足趾把持筋力は、動作遂行能力である走力、跳躍力および敏捷性と関連があることが明らかとなり、スポーツにおいて欠かせない体力の一つであることが確認された。In recent years, toe-gripping strength measured during the maximal toe gripping exertion, has been drawing attention as a new indicator of physical fitness. For example, a study on children revealed that the stronger the toe-gripping strength, the higher the grip strength and standing long jump scores. Similarly, a study on female college students found a significant association of this muscle strength with grip strength, sit-ups, and standing long jump performances. These studies reported relationships between toe-gripping strength and physical fitness factors in children or female college students. However, to the authors’ knowledge, there are no reports on such relationships in male college students. Thus, the purpose of this study was to reveal the relationships between toe-gripping strength and critical motor performance skills in sports like running and jumping, as well as agility, in male college students. Twenty-three male college students (mean age 18.5±1.5 years) were measured for running (25m, 50m), jumping (vertical, standing long jump, standing five-step jump) agility (Illinois Test, agility T-test) and balance ability (Standing on one leg with eyes closed), to examine their relationships with toe-gripping strength. Our results showed significant correlations between toe-gripping strength and movement performance skill running and jumping, as well as agility. These relationships in male college students showed that toe-gripping strength is an essential component of physical fitness in sports

Multimodality Imaging of Fabry Disease Cardiomyopathy Complicated With Coronary Vasospasm

A 41-year-old man with resting angina was diagnosed with a coronary vasospasm and subsequently with Fabry disease exhibiting low serum α-galactosidase A activity. High computed tomography (CT)–derived extracellular volume was detected in the apical inferior wall of the left ventricle suggesting myocardial fibrosis, potentially from vasospasm-related ischemia and/or microvascular dysfunction

Interventricular Septal Hematoma after Retrograde Intervention for a Chronic Total Occlusion of a Right Coronary Artery: Echocardiographic and Magnetic Resonance Imaging—Diagnosis and Follow-Up

The reverse CART technique provides the potential to modify the retrograde procedure by improving the controlled movement of the retrograde wire and improve the success rates of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) of chronic total occlusion (CTO). Development of interventricular hematoma is a rare complication of CTO PCI. A 63-year-old man with effort angina with a right coronary artery CTO lesion underwent PCI by retrograde approach from the LAD to a septal branch. A contrast “stain” was demonstrated surrounding the septal collateral channel used for the retrograde approach at the end of the procedure without symptom. Echocardiography indicated an increased interventricular septum thickness with low echo signals region and decreased contractility. Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging using gadolinium showed a diffusely thickened septum with a low signal fusiform neocavitation delimited by an enhanced-signal ring suggesting intraventricular septal dissecting hematoma. After conservative treatment, follow-up echocardiogram and CMR showed the resolution of the hematoma without clinical events. This case highlights the potentially lethal complication of septal perforator dissection and hematoma that may cause severe myocardial injury caused by retrograde approach for CTO PCI

Thienyl-Substituted α‑Ketoamide: A Less Hydrophobic Reactive Group for Photo-Affinity Labeling

Photoaffinity labeling (PAL) is an important tool in chemical biology research, but application of α-ketoamides for PAL has been hampered by their photoinstability. Here, we show that 2-thienyl-substituted α-ketoamide is a superior photoreactive group for PAL. Studies with a series of synthetic mannose-conjugated α-ketoamides revealed that 2-thienyl substitution of α-ketoamide decreased the electrophilicity of the keto group and reduced the rate of photodegradation. Mannose-conjugated thienyl α-ketoamide showed greater concanavalin A labeling efficiency than other alkyl or phenyl-substituted α-ketoamides. In comparison with representative conventional photoreactive groups, 2-thienyl ketoamide showed reduced labeling of nontarget proteins, probably owing to its lower hydrophobicity