BaTiO-Ni Flexible Thin-Film Capacitor via Photoassisted Chemical Solution Deposition Retaining Pristine Ni Foil Elasticity and Hardness.

The direct deposition of piezoelectric ceramic thin films onto metal foils has become a significant challenge due to the increasing demand for embedded decoupling capacitors, nanogenerators, and flexible piezo-sensors. However, traditional thermal sintering (TS) methods present several issues for metal foils, including alterations in mechanical properties, the formation of wrinkles, and the need for precise control over the sintering atmosphere to prevent oxidation. In this study, we successfully crystallized BaTiO on a Ni foil under atmospheric conditions, mitigating thermal damage to the foil through a hybrid-solution-incorporated photoassisted chemical solution deposition (HS-PCSD) method.

A strategy for increasing the breakdown field strength beyond the experimental scaling law in yttria films.

Aiming to increase the dielectric breakdown field strength () of yttria films for application in semiconductor manufacturing, a synthetic strategy based on photo-assisted chemical solution deposition was developed to prepare yttria films with aggregates of very small nanocrystallites. Despite containing many elliptical pores, the films exhibited an exceeding 12.7 MV cm, much higher than that predicted according to conventional experimental scaling laws.

Key Sputtering Parameters for Precursor InO Films to Achieve High Carrier Mobility.

Owing to their extremely high carrier mobility (μ) of >100 cm/(V s) and suitable low carrier concentrations, transparent conducting films of solid-phase crystallized H-doped InO (spc-IO:H) exhibit high conductivity with high optical transparency over a broad frequency range. These properties can be attributed to solid-phase crystallization of the amorphous precursor film. Therefore, the development of high-quality spc-IO:H films requires the deposition conditions of the precursor films to be optimized.

Ability of magnetocardiography to detect regional dominant frequencies of atrial fibrillation.

Background: Lead V1 on electrocardiography (ECG) can detect the dominant frequency (DF) of atrial fibrillation (AF) in the right atrium (RA). Paroxysmal AF is characterized by a frequency gradient from the left atrium (LA) to the right atrium (RA). We examined the ability of magnetocardiography (MCG) to detect regional DFs in both the atria.

Anemia and reduced kidney function as risk factors for new onset of atrial fibrillation (from the Ibaraki prefectural health study).

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a potential independent risk factor for atrial fibrillation (AF). It remains unclear whether anemia is synergistically associated with increased risk of AF onset in subjects with CKD. We evaluated the association of kidney function, hemoglobin (Hb), and their combination with new-onset AF in a population-based cohort study.

Prognostic impact of supraventricular premature complexes in community-based health checkups: the Ibaraki Prefectural Health Study.

Aims: The long-term prognosis of subjects with supraventricular premature complexes (SVPCs) remains unclear in the general population. The aim of this study was to examine the prognostic significance of SVPCs in community-based health checkups.

Methods And Results: We assessed 63 197 individuals (mean age, 58.

Sudden cardiac arrest recorded during Holter monitoring: prevalence, antecedent electrical events, and outcomes.

Background: Causative arrhythmias of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) are changing in this age of improved coronary care.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine the frequency of terminal arrhythmias and the electrical events prior to SCA.

Methods: We analyzed 24-hour Holter recordings of 132 patients enrolled from 41 institutions who either died (n = 88) or had an aborted death (n = 44).

Volume doubling time of lung cancers detected in a chest radiograph mass screening program: Comparison with CT screening.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the volume doubling time (VDT) of lung cancer detected in our annual chest radiograph screening program and to compare it with those previously reported for computed tomography (CT) screening. In total, 209 patients who had a measurable tumor shadow and a history of participating in our chest radiograph mass screening program between 2006 and 2009 were included in this study. Indirect roentgenograms for patients with lung cancer were converted into digital images, and the section showing the tumor was enlarged on the monitor to a size of 0.

Endothelin-1-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy is partly regulated by transcription factor II-F interacting C-terminal domain phosphatase of RNA polymerase II.

Aims: Cardiac hypertrophy is associated with the increase of total amount of RNA, which is in accordance with RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) activation via C-terminal domain (CTD) phosphorylation of the largest subunit of RNAPII. It has been demonstrated that endothelin-1 (ET-1) phosphorylates CTD at the hypertrophic response in cardiomyocytes. However, it is unclear whether ET-1-induced hypertrophy is affected by the CTD phosphatase, transcription factor IIF-interacting CTD phosphatase1 (FCP1).

An increase in right atrial magnetic strength is a novel predictor of recurrence of atrial fibrillation after radiofrequency catheter ablation.

Background: Differences in electrical properties between left and right atria (LA and RA) after pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) for atrial fibrillation (AF) are currently poorly understood. Magnetocardiograms were used to investigate the effect of PVI on bi-atrial magnetic field changes and their relationship to clinical outcomes.

Methods And Results: This study included 71 patients undergoing PVI for paroxysmal AF.

Concomitant chronic kidney disease increases the recurrence of atrial fibrillation after catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation: a mid-term follow-up.

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is often associated with atrial fibrillation (AF). However, its impact on the results of radiofrequency catheter ablation for AF has not been fully examined.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to clarify the relationship between CKD and postcatheter ablation AF recurrence.

Repolarization spatial-time current abnormalities in patients with coronary heart disease.

Background: Magnetocardiography (MCG) is a new technique for visualizing a current distribution in the myocardium. In recent years, current distribution parameters (CDPs) have been developed based on the distribution. The CDPs reflect spatial-time current abnormalities in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD).

Standard template of adult magnetocardiogram.

Background: We need to know the magnetocardiogram (MCG) features regarding waveform and two-dimensional current distribution in normal subjects in order to classify the abnormal waveform in patients with heart disease. However, a standard MCG waveform has not been produced yet, therefore, we have first made the standard template MCG waveform.

Methods And Results: We used data from 464 normal control subjects' 64-channel MCGs (268 males, 196 females) to produce a template MCG waveform.

Feasibility of targeting catheter ablation to the markedly low-voltage area surrounding infarct scars in patients with post-infarction ventricular tachycardia.

Background: In routine substrate mapping of the left ventricle, an abnormal area is defined as having an amplitude <1.5 mV. However, that is usually too large for catheter ablation in post-infarction ventricular tachycardia (VT) and the use of strict voltage criteria may produce better outcomes.

A novel mutation associated with Jervell and Lange-Nielsen syndrome in a Japanese family.

Background: The Jervell and Lange-Nielsen (JLN) syndrome is a variant of long QT syndromes (LQTS) and is associated with congenital deafness. The syndrome is caused by homozygous or compound heterozygous mutations in genes KCNQ1 and KCNE1, which are responsible for encoding the delayed rectifier repolarizing current, I(Ks).

Methods And Results: A novel and homozygous KCNQ1 mutation in a 23-year-old deaf woman with a prolonged QT interval and recurrent syncope in a Japanese family was identified.

Association of sleep-disordered breathing and ventricular arrhythmias in patients without heart failure.

The prevalence and characteristics of sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) in patients with ventricular arrhythmias, such as premature ventricular complexes and ventricular tachycardia, are unknown. Therefore, this study was conducted to evaluate the prevalence of SDB in patients with severe ventricular arrhythmias and normal left ventricular (LV) function. Thirty-five patients (63% men, mean age 57.

Effect of triangle ventricular pacing on haemodynamics and dyssynchrony in patients with advanced heart failure: a comparison study with conventional bi-ventricular pacing therapy.

Aims: This study examined the impact of cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) by triangle ventricular pacing (Tri-V) on left ventricular (LV) function and dyssynchrony.

Methods And Results: Twenty-one patients with NYHA class III or IV heart failure were studied. For Tri-V, two right ventricular (RV) leads were connected to the CRT device via a Y-connector with one lead anchored at the RV apex and the other at the RV outflow tract.

Integral value of JT interval in magnetocardiography is sensitive to coronary stenosis and improves soon after coronary revascularization.

Background: Magnetocardiography (MCG) is sensitive to minute cardiac electric abnormalities, but its clinical utility in diagnosing ischemic heart disease (IHD) has not been established. The present study examined the usefulness of an integral MCG value of ventricular repolarization in patients with IHD.

Methods And Results: MCG was performed at rest in 14 patients with coronary stenosis >75% confirmed by coronary angiography (IHD group) using a 64-channel system, and then the sum of the 64-channel integral values of the QRS or JT intervals (QRSi and JTi, respectively) was calculated.

Gender-associated differences in pharmacokinetics and anti-arrhythmic effects of flecainide in Japanese patients with supraventricular tachyarrhythmia.

Objective: We examined the effect of gender-associated differences in pharmacokinetics on the anti-arrhythmic effects of flecainide in Japanese patients with supraventricular tachyarrhythmia and in healthy subjects.

Methods: The study population comprised 72 outpatients (52 males and 20 females) treated with oral flecainide for supraventricular tachyarrhythmias. Serum flecainide concentrations were determined by use of high-performance liquid chromatography.

Magnetocardiography study on ventricular depolarization-current pattern in patients with brugada syndrome and complete right-bundle branch blocks.

Background: The objective of this study is to use magnetocardiography to determine the existence of a small abnormal current during ventricular depolarization in patients with Brugada syndrome. To understand this small difference in abnormal current during ventricular depolarization, we compared abnormal currents of patients with cases of complete right-bundle-branch block (CRBBB).

Methods And Results: We developed a whole-heart electrical bull's eye map (WHEBEM) that uses magnetocardiograms (MCGs) to visualize the current distribution in a circular map.

Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor prevents progression of monocrotaline-induced pulmonary arterial hypertension in rats.

Background: Regeneration of the lung microvasculature and replacing pulmonary artery lesions with functional endothelial cells could be a novel and effective therapeutic strategy for treating advanced pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). In the present study it was postulated that granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CFS), which induces the proliferation of endothelial cells, would stimulate endothelial regeneration in situ at sites of impaired lung vasculature and prevent the development of PAH.

Methods And Results: Daily administration of G-CSF for 48 days did not affect the hemodynamism of normal Fischer 344 rats.

Echolucent carotid plaques as a feature in patients with acute coronary syndrome.

Background: Carotid arterial ultrasound examination may be helpful for screening populations at high risk for acute coronary syndrome (ACS), so the present study was designed to identify the carotid arterial characteristics of patients with ACS.

Methods And Results: Carotid ultrasound examinations were performed in 172 patients with ACS, 166 patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD), and 96 control subjects. Common carotid arterial structures were assessed by the intima - media thickness (IMT), interadventitial diameter (IAD), lumen diameter (LD), the IMT to LD ratio (IMT/LD), and the plaque burden based on the plaque score.