Effects of Recycled Polymer on Melt Viscosity and Crystallization Temperature of Polyester Elastomer Blends.

As the world is paying attention to the seriousness of environmental pollution, the need for a resource circulation economy is emerging due to the development of eco-friendly industrial groups. In particular, the recycling of thermoplastic elastomers without cross-link has been highlighted in the plastics field, which has rapidly developed the industry. Growing interests have been directed towards the advancement of thermoplastic polyether-ester elastomer (TPEE) as a material suitable for the circular economy owing to its remarkable recyclability, both in terms of mechanical and chemical processes.

Clinical Role of Microembolic Signals in Adult Moyamoya Disease With Ischemic Stroke.

Background and Purpose- Hemodynamic compromise has been implicated in moyamoya disease (MMD) with transient ischemic attacks or ischemic stroke. However, increasing evidence supports the notion that artery-to-artery embolism may also contribute to ischemic events based on microembolic signal (MES) monitoring. Methods- A total of 48 patients aged between 20 and 60 years with newly diagnosed MMD were enrolled and angiographically classified according to the Suzuki staging system.

Modified Arachnoid Plasty Reduces Chronic Subdural Hematoma after Unruptured Aneurysm Clipping : Technical Note.

Objective: Chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH) is a rare complication of unruptured intracranial aneurysm (UIA) clipping surgery. To prevent postoperative CSDH by reducing subdural fluid collection, we applied the modified arachnoid plasty (MAP) during the UIA clipping surgery to seal the dissected arachnoid plane.

Methods: This retrospective study included 286 patients enrolled from July 2012 to May 2015.

Treatment Outcomes with Selective Coil Embolization for Large or Giant Aneurysms : Prognostic Implications of Incomplete Occlusion.

Objective: The objectives of this study were to evaluate the immediate and long-term efficacy and safety of coil embolization for large or giant aneurysms.

Methods: One hundred and fifty large or giant aneurysm cases treated with endovascular coil embolization between January 2005 and February 2014 at a single institute were included in this study. Medical records and imaging findings were reviewed.

Early rebleeding of intracranial dural arteriovenous fistulas after an intracranial hemorrhage.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical and angiographic characteristics of dural arteriovenous fistulas (DAVF) presenting with intracranial hemorrhage (ICH), with a focus on early rebleeding according to the initial hemorrhage type.

Method: The clinical and radiologic features of 21 dAVFs that presented with intracranial hemorrhage were retrospectively reviewed. The hemorrhage type was classified as pure intraparenchymal hemorrhage (pIPH) and subarachnoid or subdural hemorrhage with IPH (non-pIPH).

Transvenous Coil Embolization for Dural Arteriovenous Fistulas of the Ophthalmic Sheath: Report of Two Cases and Review of the Literature.

We present two patients with a dural arteriovenous fistula (dAVF) of the ophthalmic sheath who developed progressive exophthalmos, conjunctival chemosis, and visual loss. These symptoms mimic those of cavernous sinus dAVFs. Dural AVFs of the ophthalmic sheath are extremely rare and their clinical management is controversial.

Safety and efficacy of antiplatelet response assay and drug adjustment in coil embolization: a propensity score analysis.

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to explore the safety and efficacy of an antiplatelet response assay and drug adjustment to prevent delayed thromboembolic events after stent-assisted coil embolization.

Methods: A total of 370 patients were enrolled in this study between December 2005 and July 2014. Of these, 124 patients were placed into the drug resistance test (DRT) group with drug adjustment according to response to an antiplatelet agent, and 246 patients comprised the control group with a standard antiplatelet regimen.

Usefulness of Early Stenting for Symptomatic Extracranial Carotid Stenosis.

Background: While carotid angioplasty and stenting (CAS) have become an established procedure, outcomes of early CAS for symptomatic extracranial carotid stenosis (SECS) remain poorly understood. The present study aimed at determining the effectiveness of early CAS in SECS.

Methods: Herein, 224 SECS patients underwent elective CAS between January 2008 and June 2015.

Clinical features of high-degree centrum semiovale-perivascular spaces in cerebral amyloid angiopathy.

Background: There is no doubt that cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) is a key risk factor for recurrent lobar ICH, however, the exact mechanism and interaction with MRI markers of disease severity are less well known. Centrum semiovale-perivascular spaces (CSO-PVS) have been suggested as adjunctive diagnostic criteria in order to enhance diagnostic power. The purposes of this study were to investigate the prevalence of CSO-PVS and its association with other imaging signatures {lobar microbleeds (CMB), cortical superficial siderosis (CSS), white matter hyperintensity (WMH)} in lobar ICH patients as well as recurrent lobar ICH risk, especially in patients taking antithrombotic agents.

Low flow velocity in the middle cerebral artery predicting infarction after bypass surgery in adult moyamoya disease.

OBJECTIVE Direct and indirect bypass surgeries are recognized as the most effective treatments for preventing further stroke in adults with moyamoya disease (MMD). However, the risk factors for postoperative infarction after bypass surgery for MMD are not well established. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the risk factors for postoperative infarction.

Recurrent Bleeding in Hemorrhagic Moyamoya Disease : Prognostic Implications of the Perfusion Status.

Objective: Hemorrhagic moyamoya disease (hMMD) is associated with a poor clinical course. Furthermore, poorer clinical outcomes occur in cases of recurrent bleeding. However, the effect of hemodynamic insufficiency on rebleeding risk has not been investigated yet.

Predictor and Prognosis of Procedural Rupture during Coil Embolization for Unruptured Intracranial Aneurysm.

Objective: The objectives of this study was to determine the incidence and outcomes of procedural rupture (PR) during coil embolization of unruptured intracranial aneurysm (UIA) and to explore potential risk factors.

Methods: This retrospective study evaluated 1038 patients treated with coil embolization between January 2001 and May 2013 in a single tertiary medical institute. PR was defined as evidence of rupture during coil embolization or post procedural imaging.

Clinical Features of Superficially Located Brain Arteriovenous Malformations with Transdural Arterial Communication.

Background: Contrary to deeply located brain arteriovenous malformations (AVMs), superficially located AVMs are more likely to have transdural arterial communications (TACs). However, the clinical and radiologic characteristics of patients presenting with AVMs and TACs are poorly understood. The purpose of this study is to determine whether clinicoradiological features of cerebral AVMs differ according to TAC.

Prevalence and clinical implications of renal artery stenosis in pediatric moyamoya disease.

Purpose: Until recently, extracranial involvement of moyamoya disease (MMD) had not been fully elucidated. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence and clinical implications of renal artery stenosis in pediatric MMD patients.

Materials & Methods: This retrospective study included 101 pediatric (<18 years old) MMD patients who visited our hospital from July 2008 to May 2013.

Predictive Factors for Response of Intracranial Dural Arteriovenous Fistulas to Transarterial Onyx Embolization: Angiographic Subgroup Analysis of Treatment Outcomes.

Objective: Endovascular treatment using Onyx has been increasingly used to treat intracranial dural arteriovenous fistulas (DAVFs). This study evaluated predictive factors for favorable treatment outcome in patients with intracranial noncavernous DAVFs treated by transarterial Onyx embolization.

Methods: Between August 2008 and August 2014, 55 patients who underwent transarterial Onyx embolization for noncavernous DAVFs were retrospectively reviewed.

Reversible Cerebral Vasoconstriction Syndrome and Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome Presenting with Deep Intracerebral Hemorrhage in Young Women.

Reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome (RCVS) is a group of syndromes characterized by reversible segmental constriction of cerebral arteries. Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) is another clinical-radiologic syndrome characterized by reversible, posterior-predominant brain edema. Although the exact causes of these reversible syndromes are poorly understood, these entities may share some common pathophysiologic elements leading to hemorrhagic strokes and rarely, deep intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH).

Morphological risk factors for the rupture of anterior communicating artery aneurysms: the significance of fenestration.

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to evaluate morphological factors associated with rupture in anterior communicating artery (AcomA) aneurysms and to investigate the significance of AcomA fenestration as a risk factor for aneurysm rupture.

Methods: The clinical and radiologic findings of 255 patients with AcomA aneurysms treated with coil embolization between January 2005 and March 2014 were retrospectively reviewed. We performed univariate and multivariate analyses to evaluate the associations between morphological variables and rupture status.

Spontaneous angiographic changes in venous drainage patterns related to symptom changes in patients with untreated cavernous sinus dural arteriovenous fistula.

Introduction: We evaluated the relationship between symptomatic and angiographic changes in untreated cavernous sinus dural arteriovenous fistulas (CSdAVFs), focusing on venous drainage patterns.

Methods: The clinical and radiologic features of 34 cases of untreated CSdAVF were retrospectively reviewed. We classified venous drainage patterns as type I (only antegrade drainage), type II (combined antegrade drainage and venous reflux), type III (venous reflux without antegrade drainage), or type IV (stasis or occlusion of venous reflux).

Feasibility and Efficacy of Olfactory Protection Using Gelfoam and Fibrin Glue during Anterior Communicating Artery Aneurysm Surgery.

Objective: Patients treated with surgical clipping for anterior communicating artery (A-com) aneurysm often complain of anosmia, which can markedly impede their quality of life. We introduce a simple and useful technique to reduce postoperative olfactory dysfunction in A-com aneurysm surgery.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients who underwent surgical clipping for unruptured aneurysm from 2011-2013 by the same senior attending physician.

Endovascular treatment of unruptured ophthalmic artery aneurysms: clinical usefulness of the balloon occlusion test in predicting vision outcomes after coil embolization.

Background: Endovascular coil embolization for ophthalmic artery (OphA) aneurysms has the latent risk of occlusion of the OphA during the procedure, which can lead to loss of vision. We report clinical and angiographic results of endovascular treatment of OphA aneurysms together with the efficacy of the balloon occlusion test (BOT).

Methods: From August 2005 to December 2013, 31 consecutive patients with 33 OphA aneurysms were treated in our institution.

Treatment outcomes of surgical clipping for unruptured anterior circulation aneurysm-single institute experiences in the era of neurophysiologic monitoring and endovascular treatment.

Recently, the treatment of intracranial aneurysms entered a new phase due to safe surgical tool such as neurophysiologic monitoring and challenged by endovascular treatment. To determine the safety of clipping surgery in the modern era, we reviewed our experiences of simple unruptured anterior circulation aneurysm surgery which is commonly performed in many places. We retrospectively reviewed 610 consecutive patients who were treated with surgical clipping under motor evoked potential (MEP) monitoring for a tiny to large anterior circulation aneurysm in a single institute between 2008 and 2012.

Incidence and risk factors of chronic subdural hematoma after surgical clipping for unruptured anterior circulation aneurysms.

Objective: Chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH) is a rare complication of unruptured aneurysm clipping surgery. The purpose of this study was to identify the incidence and risk factors of postoperative CSDH after surgical clipping for unruptured anterior circulation aneurysms.

Methods: This retrospective study included 518 patients from a single tertiary institute from January 2008 to December 2013.

Coronary heart disease in moyamoya disease: are they concomitant or coincidence?

The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence and characteristics of symptomatic coronary heart disease (CHD) in patients with moyamoya disease (MMD). This retrospective study evaluated 456 patients who received examination for MMD between 1995 and 2012. We reviewed the patients' medical history and coronary imaging, including conventional coronary angiography and coronary computed tomography angiogram (CTA).

Cerebellar retraction and hearing loss after microvascular decompression for hemifacial spasm.

Background: This retrospective study evaluated the length of cerebellar retraction and the changes of intraoperative brainstem auditory evoked potential (BAEP) during microvascular decompression (MVD), and assessed the predictive value of the hearing loss as a prognostic indicator for the treatment outcome of hemifacial spasm (HFS).

Methods: This series included 1,518 consecutive patients affected with HFS who underwent MVD, during which BAEP was monitored. Patients were divided into two groups based on whether hearing loss occurred following decompression or not.

Clinical features and treatment outcome of chordoid meningiomas in a single institute.

Objective: Meningioma is the second most common primary central nervous system neoplasm. In contrast, chordoid meningioma is rare; due to the paucity of cases, little is known about its clinical features or treatment outcomes. The objectives of this study were to describe the clinical characteristics and outcomes for patients with chordoid meningioma.