Topical Infection of Cordyceps militaris in Silkworm Larvae Through the Cuticle has Lower Infectivity Compared to Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisopliae.

Topical infection of entomopathogenic fungi in insects occurs when the fungal conidia attach to the insect's surface (cuticle), germinate, and then form appressoria that penetrate the cuticle and enter their bodies. In this study, we inoculated silkworm larvae with three entomopathogenic fungi, Cordyceps militaris, Beauveria bassiana, and Metarhizium anisopliae, and investigated their mechanisms of infection. Attachment of the conidia of the three entomopathogenic fungi to the surface of silkworm larvae was observed under a microscope.

Ultra-lightweight rechargeable battery with enhanced gravimetric energy densities >750 Wh kg in lithium-sulfur pouch cell.

Lithium-sulfur (Li-S) rechargeable batteries have been expected to be lightweight energy storage devices with the highest gravimetric energy density at the single-cell level reaching up to 695 Wh kg, having also an ultralow rate of 0.005 C only in the first discharge. Sulfurized polyacrylonitrile (SPAN) is one of the sulfur-based active materials, which allows more freedom in the Li-S cell design because it shows no undesirable reactions with electrolyte solutions.

Implementation of the kissing balloon technique using a perfusion balloon in acute myocardial infarction: a case report.

Background: Prolonged antiplatelet-agent administration associated with stenting for acute myocardial infarction is not ideal in young patients. We successfully performed a perfusion balloon-based kissing balloon technique in the left anterior descending artery ostium in a young patient with acute myocardial infarction.

Case Summary: A 34-year-old female presenting with recurrent chest pain was diagnosed with ST-segment elevation acute myocardial infarction.

Early and short-term use of proprotein convertase anti-subtilisin-kexin type 9 inhibitors on coronary plaque stability in acute coronary syndrome.

Aims: Proprotein convertase anti-subtilisin-kexin type 9 inhibitors (PCSK9Is) improve plaque volume and composition and reduce major adverse coronary events in chronic coronary artery disease. We evaluated the effects of the short-term use of PCSK9Is on coronary plaque stability in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) using optical coherence tomography (OCT).

Methods And Results: This is a multicentre, open-label randomized controlled trial.

Impact of stentablation with rotational atherectomy in coronary microcirculatory function.

Key Clinical Message: Stentablation (SA) has been used as a bailout method for undilated, under-expanded stents, but one reason that SA is associated with a high rate of major adverse cardiac events may be its adverse effect on microcirculation. Consequently, appropriate lesion preparation should always be considered for heavily calcified lesions to avoid such complications.

Abstract: Under-expansion of the coronary stent is associated with increased rates of in-stent restenosis and thrombosis.

Acute Cholecystitis Caused by Campylobacter jejuni Mimicking Acute Coronary Syndrome.

Campylobacter spp. is a widely recognized pathogen accountable for acute enteritis, frequently linked to sepsis, primarily attributed to C. jejuni.

Bailout Strategy for Paclitaxel-Coated Nitinol Self-Expanding Stent Deployment Failure: The Cut and Peel Technique.

The patient received endovascular therapy for a superficial femoral artery occlusion. Placement of a SMART stent distal to the lesion was successful, but deployment issues occurred with the Innova stent, requiring forceful retraction and causing elongation. The "cut and peel technique" was developed as a bailout strategy for such cases.

Successful Bail Out of Rotablator Driveshaft Fracture Due to Severe Calcified Lesion and Proximal Tortuosity.

A 59-year-old male dialysis patient with a history of coronary artery bypass graft surgery underwent percutaneous coronary intervention of a right coronary artery with a severely calcified lesion. While debulking calcification using a Rotablator, the driveshaft was suddenly fractured. We attempted to move a child-in-mother catheter closer and across a second floppy wire and we dilated a 2.

Naphazoline intoxication with transient QT prolongation and acute myocardial injury.

Unlabelled: A 27-year-old Japanese woman with a history of depression and an eating disorder presented to our emergency department with a chief complaint of generalized weakness. Electrocardiography showed prominent QT prolongation with multiple ventricular contractions. Chest X-ray plain computed tomography revealed pulmonary edema.

Long-term effects of ipragliflozin on blood pressure in patients with type 2 diabetes: insights from the randomized PROTECT trial.

Although previous reports have shown that sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors have a blood pressure (BP) lowering effect, relevant long-term data is limited. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of the SGLT2 inhibitor ipragliflozin on BP, and associations between BP reduction and changes in cardiometabolic variables in diabetic patients. This was a sub-analysis of the PROTECT trial, a multicenter, randomized, open-label study to assess if ipragliflozin delays carotid atherosclerosis in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Sequential Multiple Visceral Artery Dissection within a Short Time, without Aortic Dissection.

A 65-year-old Japanese man without medical history presented with sudden onset lower abdominal pain to our emergency department. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) revealed dissections of the inferior mesenteric artery and left renal artery with false lumen thrombosis without aortic dissection. He was immediately hospitalized, and conservative treatment was administered.

Tertiary Cardiovascular Syphilis Presenting as Aortic Regurgitation, Aortitis, Thrombus, and Coronary Artery Occlusion, Requiring Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

BACKGROUND Heart failure is caused by coronary artery disease, valvular disease, and arrhythmias and is highly treatable with recent technology. However, the incidence of syphilis is increasing worldwide. This case report describes tertiary cardiovascular syphilis, accompanied by aortic regurgitation, syphilitic aortitis complicated by thrombus of the ascending aorta, and coronary artery occlusion, requiring percutaneous coronary artery intervention.

Glucocorticoid-Induced Cardiomyopathy Caused by Uncontrollable Asthma.

Hypercortisolism is a risk factor for adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular outcomes, including hypertension, hyperglycemia, and dyslipidemia. It has been suggested that cardiovascular risk increases with increasing steroid use in patients taking oral steroids as immunosuppressive drugs. Cardiomyopathy is often reported to occur concomitantly in patients with Cushing's syndrome.

Transcoronary mapping using a guidewire during transcoronary ethanol ablation for ventricular tachycardia with a deep intramural substrate: a case report.

Background: Transcoronary ethanol ablation is effective in treating ventricular tachycardia (VT) in the deep myocardium. The selection of the target coronary artery plays an important role in the success of transcoronary ethanol ablation. Transcoronary mapping, using a guidewire, may be effective for identifying the target coronary artery.

Acute aortic dissection with left coronary artery obstruction.

If the electrocardiogram shows ST-segment elevation in lead V, the complication of aortic dissection must always be assumed.

Ethylene polymerization using -Heterocyclic carbene complexes of silver and aluminum.

Various transition metal catalysts have been utilized for ethylene polymerization. Silver catalysts have attracted less attention as the catalysts, but are potential for production of high molecular weight polyethylene. Herein, we report that silver complexes with various -heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligands in combination with modified methylaluminoxane (MMAO) afford polyethylene with high molecular weight (melting point over 140°C).

Congenital Isolated Unilateral Agenesis of Pulmonary Arteries with 3-Year Follow-Up after Initiation of Treatment.

: Unilateral agenesis of pulmonary arteries (UAPA) is a rare disease, with approximately 400 cases reported to date. UAPA is often associated with congenital heart disease, and the uncomplicated form is isolated UAPA, which accounts for approximately 30% of all cases of UAPA. The incidence of pulmonary hypertension due to UAPA has been reported to range from 19 to 44%.

Effects of Low-Dose Colchicine on Serum High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein Level in Coronary Artery Disease Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Enhanced Inflammatory Response Protocol for a Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Phase 2, Dose-Finding Study.

Although cardiovascular mortality in Japan is lower than in other industrialized countries, clinical outcomes in coronary artery disease (CAD) patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) remain poor despite multiple evidence-based drug therapies and interventions. We assumed that part of residual risk in these patients may be attributable to enhanced inflammation, which can be inhibited presumably by colchicine. However, dose-responsiveness of anti-inflammatory effect of colchicine has not been elucidated.