Influence of the Catalyst Layer Structure Formed by Inkjet Coating Printer on PEFC Performance.

In this study, we investigated the influence of the Catalyst-Layer (CL) structure on Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell (PEFC) performance using an inkjet coating printer, and we especially focused on the CL thickness and the electrode area. In order to evaluate the influence of CL thickness, we prepared four Membrane Electrode Assemblies (MEAs), which have one, four, five and six CLs, respectively, and evaluated it by an overpotential analysis. As a result, the overpotentials of an activation and a diffusion increased with the increase of thickness of CL.

Endovascular Treatment of Left Subclavian Artery Pseudoaneurysm after Clavicle Fracture in an Elderly Adult with a 40-Year History of Behçet's Disease.

Behçet's disease (BD) is a rare chronic systemic vasculitis of unknown etiology that presents in young adults. We report a very rare case of a left subclavian artery pseudoaneurysm identified after a left clavicle fracture in a 70-year-old man with a 40-year history of intestinal BD. The patient received fixation by banding to treat a fracture after falling from a bed about 5 months previously, and he was referred to our hospital due to the finding of a left subclavian pulsatile mass.

Influence of ethanol-induced pulmonary embolism on hemodynamics in pigs.

Aims And Objectives: Ethanol is widely used for the embolization treatment of vascular malformations, but it can also cause serious complications such us pulmonary hypertension, cardiopulmonary collapse and death. The complications are considered secondary to pulmonary vasospasm and ethanol-induced sludge embolism, etc., We studied the hemodynamic effects of intravenous absolute ethanol injection and ethanol sludge injection in pigs.

Balloon-assisted coil embolization of the celiac trunk before endovascular aortic repair of thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm.

Purpose: Celiac trunk coil embolization before thoracic endovascular aneurysm repair (TEVAR) of a thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm involving the celiac trunk can prevent type II endoleaks. One disadvantage of conventional coil embolization is the risk of coil displacement. We performed coil embolization under balloon occlusion of the celiac trunk to address this issue.

Development of a new hanging-type esophageal stent for preventing migration: a preliminary study in an animal model of esophagotracheal fistula.

Purpose: Covered, self-expandable metallic stents (SEMS) have been enthusiastically adopted for the treatment of esophagotracheal fistula, but problems with stent migration have yet to be resolved. To overcome this problem, we have developed a new hanging-type esophageal stent designed to prevent migration, and we conducted an animal study to assess the efficacy of our method.

Methods: A total of six female pigs were used in this study.

Transfemoral approach using a 3.5-French catheter system for use in transcatheter arterial chemoembolization in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma: technical assessment.

Background/aims: To evaluate the technical feasibility of the transfemoral approach using a 3.5-Fr catheter system for transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methodology: This study included 81 patients with unresectable HCC who underwent transfemoral TACE using a 3.

Development of a re-positionable aortic stent-valve: a preliminary study in swine.

Background: Placement of aortic stent-valves in the proper position is difficult due to the high velocity and oscillation of blood flow and anatomical characteristics. To address this problem, a re-positionable stent-valve was designed and examined in a preliminary animal experiment.

Methods: Protocols for this animal study were approved by the institutional Animal Care and Use Committee.

Heat distribution in the spinal canal during radiofrequency ablation for vertebral lesions: study in swine.

Purpose: To prospectively evaluate the safety of radiofrequency (RF) ablation for vertebral lesions by monitoring the temperature in swine vertebral models with and without a cortical bone defect.

Materials And Methods: The institutional animal care and use committee approved the animal studies. In vivo and ex vivo studies were performed.

CT-guided transthoracic needle biopsy using a puncture site-down positioning technique.

Objective: We have developed a new CT-guided technique using puncture site-down positioning during the biopsy. The goal of our study was to determine the efficacy and safety of this technique for biopsy of lung lesions compared with the standard technique.

Materials And Methods: Medical records of 236 patients who underwent CT-guided transthoracic needle biopsy were retrospectively evaluated.

Localization of chyle leakage site in postoperative chylothorax by oral administration of I-123 BMIPP.

The authors present a 71-year-old woman who had a right chylothorax after right upper lobectomy for lung cancer. As the chylothorax was considered to be due to thoracic duct injury at the time of operation, lymphoscintigraphy was performed by oral administration of I-123 beta-methyl-iodophenyl pentadecanoic acid (BMIPP). After visualization of the stomach and intestine, abnormal accumulation of the radiotracer was found initially around the right pulmonary hilum and then spread laterally in the upper pleural cavity, indicating chyle leakage in the region of the right pulmonary hilum.