Characterization of slurries for lithium-ion battery cathodes by measuring their flow and change in hydrostatic pressure over time and clarification of the relationship between slurry and cathode properties.

HYPOTHESIS: It is important to elucidate the effect of the particle dispersion/aggregation state of electrode slurries on resulting electrodes for the development of superior lithium-ion batteries. Many studies have been conducted to characterize cathode slurries for lithium-ion batteries; however, the particle dispersion state of cathode slurries remains unclear. This study investigates the rheological behavior and the packing ability of the cathode slurries for obtaining a denser electrode with lower electric resistance. EXPERIMENTS: In addition to the conventional flow curve measurement, we measured the changes in the hydrostatic pressure of the slurries with time to evaluate their packing ability. The relationship between the properties of the cathode slurries and those of the as-cast cathodes was also investigated. FINDINGS: It was found that a slurry in which acetylene black powder forms a network structure, with sufficient strength and the ability to rapidly recover after breaking, yields a cathode with comparatively high density and comparatively low volume resistivity. It was also found that the normalized settling time of a cathode slurry determined from its change in hydrostatic pressure over time correlates well with both the density and volume resistivity of a resulting as-cast cathode.

[A Case of Goblet Cell Adenocarcinoma Incidentally Diagnosed after Appendectomy That Required Additional Bowel Resection with Lymph Nodes Dissection].

A 54-year-old male presented to the clinic, complaining of dull lower abdominal pain that started a day ago. There was a tenderness on right lower quadrant on palpation and abdominal computed tomography(CT)showed that dilated appendix with a diameter of 12 mm. The patient was diagnosed with acute appendicitis and laparoscopic appendectomy was performed on the same day. The tip of the appendix was swollen and looked purple, gangrenous appendicitis findings were identified. However, histopathology detected GCA on resected appendix with positive surgical margin and additional tumor resection was indicated. Laparoscopic ileocecal resection with D3 lymph nodes dissection was performed 24 days after the first surgery. Resected specimen showed that the stump of the appendix was palpable as a mass in the orifice of the appendix and histopathology revealed the remnant of the appendiceal GCA. No lymph nodes tumor metastasis was identified. Chromogranin A and synaptophysin were positive and Ki-67 was approximately 50%. According to the guideline of neoadjuvant chemotherapy for colon cancer, oral 5-fluorouracil therapy was performed for half a year after the second surgery and the patient remains still healthy without recurrence 1 year after the surgery. Here, we experienced a rare case of GCA of the appendix that was detected incidentally after appendectomy for acute appendicitis.

[A Case of Monomorphic Epitheliotropic Intestinal T-Cell Lymphoma Causing Perforation of the Small Intestine].

Monomorphic epitheliotropic intestinal T-cell lymphoma(MEITL)is very rare and aggressive subtype of lymphoma with poor prognosis. A 60-year-old man complaining of abdominal pain was underwent partial resection of the jejunum for panperitonitis with a small intestinal perforation. The histopathological and immunohistochemical findings led to the diagnosis of MEITL. Postoperative course was uneventful. One month after the operation, the patient was scheduled for 6 courses of CHOP regimens. He presented with bowel obstruction twice during the 3 courses of CHOP. As the recurrence of MEITL could not be ruled out, diagnostic laparoscopy was performed. Laparoscopic findings revealed no recurrence and adhesive small bowel obstruction. The patient was followed closely without treatment after 6 courses of CHOP. The patient has been alive without recurrence 18 months after the resection. We reported a case of monomorphic epithelial intestinal T- cell lymphoma causing jejunal perforation.

Effects of the mixing sequence on the graphite dispersion and resistance of lithium-ion battery anodes.

The performance of lithium-ion battery electrodes is influenced by particle dispersion in the slurry used for their production. In this study, we elucidate the effects and mechanism of the binder mixing sequence on the characteristics of the slurry used in the production of negative electrodes. Therefore, we optimize the preparation of the negative electrode slurry by evaluating the electrode characteristics resulting from changing the binder mixing sequence. During the preparation of the electrode slurry, the state of the adsorption of the binder to the particle changes when the sequence of binder addition is changed. The change in the adsorption state of the binder influences the particle dispersion in the slurry, rheological properties of the slurry, and packing characteristics of the particles. Under the influence of the aforementioned changes, electrodes possessing identical compositions exhibited different performances. The slurry in which the particles were dispersed produced an electrode possessing a low volume-resistivity, whereas the slurry in which the particles were agglomerated produced an electrode with a high volume-resistivity. Evidently, controlling the adsorption state of the binder by altering the binder mixing sequence is essential for fabricating electrodes possessing a low volume-resistivity.

Hybrid laparoscopic Inokuchi shunt procedure for refractory pleural effusion and ascites associated with primary biliary cirrhosis: A case report.

INTRODUCTION: Portosystemic shunts associated with portal hypertension are generally treated using non-invasive procedures, with open surgery required for refractory cases. Herein, we present a case of refractory pleural fluid and ascites associated with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC), successfully treated using a hybrid laparoscopic Inokuchi shunt procedure. CASE PRESENTATION: The patient was a 74-year-old woman with a history of PBC, presenting with breathing difficulty. Computed tomography revealed massive pleural fluid and ascites and engorged coronary and azygos veins, indicative of a portosystemic circulation shunt and a 3-cm wide hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) on liver segment 2. The Child-Pugh score was 11. With the portosystemic shunt outflow considered as the cause of pleural fluid and ascites; therefore, we proceeded with a hybrid laparoscopic selective Inokuchi shunt procedure and tumor enucleation. Laparoscopically, the greater omentum was divided for devascularization, a 7-cm right subcostal skin incision was made, and the abdomen was opened for HCC enucleation under direct vision. The left gastric vein was divided at its junction with the portal vein and connected to the vena cava using a left external iliac vein graft through the omental foramen. After this procedure, the pleural effusion and ascites disappeared, blood ammonium level decreased to normal, and Child-Pugh score decreased to 9. DISCUSSION: Using the Inokuchi shunt procedure, the portosystemic shunt, via the left gastric vein, was closed to increase portal blood flow and improve liver function. CONCLUSION: As a less invasive procedure, hybrid laparoscopic approach should be considered for portosystemic shunt via the left gastric vein.

[A Case of Type 4 Gastric Cancer with Peritoneal Dissemination Successfully Treated with Conversion Surgery after Intensive S-1 plus Oxaliplatin Chemotherapy].

S-1 plus oxaliplatin(SOX)chemotherapy is now widely used for the treatment of unresectable gastric cancer but there are few case reports about conversion surgery following SOX. Hereby, we report a case of type 4 gastric cancer with peritoneal dissemination successfully treated with conversion surgery after intensive SOX chemotherapy. A 69-year-old female was diagnosed of type 4 gastric cancer by upper endoscopy(por1, HER2 negative)and peritoneal disseminations were identified on left diaphragm and mesentery under direct vision. After 11 courses of SOX chemotherapy, CT revealed that primary tumor markedly decreased in size. Therefore, staging laparoscopy was performed and peritoneal disseminated lesions disappeared. Peritoneal cytology also turned negative. Subsequently, total gastrectomy and splenectomy were performed. Histology revealed that tumor was categorized as por2, ypT2N3M0, ypStage ⅢA, and Grade 2 in histological evaluation criteria. SOX was continued as an adjuvant chemotherapy for another 6 months and the patients remain healthy without recurrence. Unresectable gastric cancer with peritoneal dissemination can be successfully treated with conversion surgery following SOX chemotherapy and staging laparoscopy was useful to evaluate peritoneal dissemination. When conversion surgery is indicated for gastric cancer with peritoneal dissemination, downstaging should be confirmed by staging laparoscopy.

[A Case of Multiple Metachronous Metastases from Hepatocellular Carcinoma to Thoracic Spine and Right Adrenal Invading Right Kidney with Tumor Thrombus in the Inferior Vena Cava That Was Treated with Chemotherapy, Radiotherapy, Intravascular Therapy, and Surgery].

For extrahepatic recurrence after primary hepatocellular carcinoma resection, molecular targeted therapy is the first- choice and no consensus is reached on the indication of surgical resection of extrahepatic metastasis. However, when the extrahepatic lesion extends to vena cava, tumor thrombus can cause acute pulmonary embolism that can lead to fatal consequences. Here, we experienced a case of multiple metachronous metastases from hepatocellular carcinoma to thoracic spine and right adrenal invading right kidney with tumor thrombus in the inferior vena cava. Local radiation therapy to thoracic vertebra, molecular targeted therapy, and transcatheter arterial chemoembolization were performed but tumor thrombus still occluded vena cava. Therefore, to prevent pulmonary embolism and to bridge to immunotherapy, right adrenalectomy, right nephrectomy, thrombectomy and replacement of inferior vena cava were performed. The patient remains healthy 6 months after the surgery and still receiving immunochemotherapy.

Nonlinear photoacoustic waves for light guiding to deep tissue sites.

Light scattering by tissues limits performance in biological sensing or stimulation. Here we present a photoacoustic technique that increases light transmittance by one order of magnitude and enables light localization in deep tissue. Laser-induced nonlinear acoustic waves are utilized to produce a high refractive index contrast in scattering medium without high-intensity pressure. The size of guiding area is around 60 µm, which is equivalent or smaller than the diameter of multimode fibers. To show potential use in biomedical fields, we performed light guiding and imaging of fluorescence, through swine tissues with thickness more than 1 mm.

[A Case of Solitary Right Adrenal Metastasis from Rectal Cancer].

An 86-year-old woman underwent laparoscopic high anterior resection for RS rectal cancer. Histological examination showed tub2-por, pT3, pN2a, Stage ⅢB disease. Given the age of the patient, adjuvant chemotherapy was not administered. Five months after the surgery, her carcinoembryonic antigen(CEA)level was elevated and a 42×25mm mass was detected in the right adrenalby computed tomography(CT). Metastasis from rectalcancer was suspected but no other lesions were detected by positron-emission tomography(PET)-CT. Nine months after the surgery, laparoscopic right adrenalectomy was performed. Histological examination revealed that the right adrenal tumor had moderately-differentiated adenocarcinoma very similar to the primary rectalcancer; therefore, the right adrenall esion was diagnosed as metastasis from the previous rectalcancer. The tumor marker levelreturned to normall evelafter the second surgery. The patient was discharged on the 8th post-operative day but declined adjuvant chemotherapy due to her age. Six months later, liver, lung, and peritoneal metastasis were identified by CT. We report this case of solitary adrenalmetastasis from rectalcancer resected by laparoscopic right adrenalectomy.

[Surgical Treatment Outcome of Patients with Colorectal Cancer Having Ulcerative Colitis].

This study aimed to evaluate the surgical treatment outcome of patients with colorectal cancer having ulcerative colitis (UC). METHODS: We examined 112 patients who underwent the surgery from 1998 to 2016. Among the 112 patients, 14 were complicated with malignant tumor(9 with colorectal cancer and 5 with dysplasia-assciated lesion or mass)We performed group comparison between patients with(group A)and without(group B)colorectal cancer. RESULTS: The median age in group A was 58.1 years, which was significantly older than that in group B. The duration of disease in group A was 13.2 years, which was significantly longer than that in group B. Surgical procedures in group B were as follows; 5 cases had ileoanalanastomosis (IAA), 4 cases had ileo-analcanalanastomosis (IACA), 2 cases had ileorectal anastomosis(IRA), and 1 case had interspincteric resection(ISR) and abdominoperinealresection (APR)Laparoscopic sigmoid colectomy was performed in a patient aged 52 years because he was diagnosed with sporadic sigmoid colon cancer. Periodic endoscopic screening was not performed in 5 patients with pT2 colorectalcancer in group B. endoscopic submucosaldissection (ESD)was performed in 2 patients aged>70 years with rectal pTis cancer. CONCLUSION: Elderly patients with UC were often complicated with colorectalcancer, and these patients are indicated for surgicalprocedures other than IAA to preserve defecation function. Patients with UC should undergo periodic endoscopic screening for early detection of malignant tumor and definitive surgicalresection.

[A Case of Metachronous Ascending Colon Metastasis from Gastric Cancer That Was Difficult to Diagnose].

A 60s man with a history of laparoscopic distal gastrectomy(LDG)of gastric cancer in January 2015was followed up in an outpatient clinic. He remained healthy without recurrence for about 2 years, but in February 2017, colonoscopy identified an elevated lesion that covered one-third of the circumference in the ascending colon. Biopsy revealed that this lesion had poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma. No other metastatic lesions were noted on thoraco-abdominal CT, and tumor markers were not elevated in a blood test. Right hemicolectomy with D3 nodal dissection was performed on March 2017. Although regional lymph node metastasis was noted during surgery, distant metastasis was not identified. Histological examination revealed that the ascending colon tumor had poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma very similar to that of the primary gastric cancer, and the lesion was diagnosed as metastasis from previous gastric carcinoma. Pathological findings showed pPM0, pDM0, pRM0, pCY0, and definitive surgical treatment was confirmed. However, 2 months after the surgery, ascites caused by peritoneal and bilateral supraclavicular lymph node metastases were detected on CT. He passed away 6months after the last surgery. We report a case of metachronous ascending colon metastasis from gastric cancer that was difficult to preoperatively diagnose.

[Assessment of Long-Term Sexual Function after Radical Resection for Lower Rectal Cancer].

The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term sexual function and risk factors of dysfunction after the autonomic nerve preserving operation for lower rectal cancer. METHODS: We evaluated postoperative sexual function assessed by IIEF5 in 91 patients who responded to the questionnaire by mail. RESULTS: After a median follow-up of 5.5 years, univariate analysis identified 4 risk factors associated with poor sexual function: the elder, over 3 years after surgery, pathological stage III , and lateral lymph node dissection(both side). Poor sexual function assessed by multivariate analysis was significantly associated with the elder(over 60 years). CONCLUSION: From the viewpoint of sexual dysfunction, the autonomic nerve preserving operation( AN4)should be considered for elderly people.

[Assessment of Functional Results after Sphincter-Preserving Surgery in Elderly Patients with Low Rectal Cancer].

The aim of this study was to evaluate postoperative dysfunction and potential problems after a sphincter-preserving operation in elderly patients with low rectal cancer. METHODS: Between 2000 and 2012, 307 consecutive patients with low rectal cancer underwent curative sphincter-preserving surgery. We evaluated postoperative anal and urinary dysfunction in 190 patients who responded to a questionnaire by mail. RESULTS: After a median follow-up of 5.7 years, there was no significant difference between the elderly and a younger group in the Wexner incontinence score. Poor anal function assessed by modified FIQL was significantly associated with the elderly. Poor urinary function assessed by the IPSS score was significantly associated with the elderly, diabetes mellitus, and autonomic nerve preservation(AN2-3). CONCLUSION: From the viewpoint of urinary function, sphincter-preserving surgery with all autonomicnerve preservation(AN4)should be considered for elderly people and patients with diabetes.

[Regrowth of Isolated Local Residual Tumor Effectively Treated with Chemoradiotherapy More Than Five Years after a Resection for Pancreatic Cancer with an Involvement of the Portal Vein].

A 55-year-old man who presented with abdominal pain was diagnosed with pancreatic head cancer involving the portal vein. He underwent pylorus-preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy without a resection of the portalvein, resulting in a macroscopic residualtumor, because radicalresection was impossible owing to the severe localinvasion. Postoperative chemotherapy( GEM plus S-1)was administered. The tumor size decreased and CA19-9 values normalized. Five years after the resection, chemotherapy was stopped. The regrowth of an isolated local residual tumor without a distant metastasis was diagnosed 65 months after the resection. He underwent chemoradiotherapy(CRT)with S-1. The size of the tumor remained stable, but FDG-PET demonstrated a disappearance of high FDG uptake in the tumor and CA19-9 values normalized. We reported a case in which CRT was an effective treatment for the regrowth of localresidualtumor after resection for pancreatic cancer.