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The thermoelectric properties of MoSi2-type intermetallic compound Al6Re5Si4 (investigated compositions: Al6−xRe4.7Si4+x (x = 0–0.9)) related to TiSi2-type narrow band gap intermetallic compounds were systematically investigated. A first-principles band structure calculation implies that this compound forms a narrow band gap in the electronic density of states that will be suitable for obtaining a large power factor. Indeed, the maximum power factor is 1.65 mW m−1 K−2 for the sample with x = 0.8. The Al6−xRe4.7Si4+x (x = 0–0.8) samples show degenerate semiconductor behavior as p-type materials; the temperature coefficient of the electrical conductivity is negative and the positive Seebeck coefficient increases with increasing temperature. A negative Seebeck coefficient is observed in the Si-rich sample with x = 0.9, which is understood by shifting the Fermi level to the conduction band. The estimated band gap is 0.53 eV from the Arrhenius plot. Because of a simple crystal structure, a relatively high thermal conductivity ranging from 7.6 to 13.5 W m−1 K−1 is observed at 300 K. The maximum dimensionless figure-of-merit of 0.19 at 973 K is close to the optimal value predicted by a single parabolic band model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To evaluate whether establishing an extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) specialist team, termed the Yokohama Advanced Cardiopulmonary Help Team (YACHT), affected the outcomes and centralization of patients requiring ECMO in Yokohama-Yokosuka regions., Methods: This retrospective observational study included patients aged ≥18 years and treated with venovenous-ECMO for severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) from 2014 to 2023. The primary outcome was intensive care unit (ICU) mortality. The secondary outcomes included ICU-, mechanical ventilator-, and ECMO-free days and complications during the first 28 days., Results: This study included 46 (12 without- and 34 with-YACHT) patients. Among with-YACHT patients, 24 were transferred to our hospital from other hospitals, 14 were assessed by dispatched ECMO physicians, and 9 were transferred after ECMO introduction. No without-YACHT patients were transferred from other hospitals. With-YACHT patients experienced coronavirus disease 2019-associated respiratory failure more frequently (0 vs. 27, p  < 0.001) and had higher Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II scores (19 vs. 24, p  = 0.037) and lower Respiratory Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Survival Prediction scores (4 vs. 2, p  = 0.021). ICU mortality was not significantly different between the groups (2 vs. 4, p  = 0.67). ICU- (14 vs. 9, p  = 0.10), ventilator- (11 vs. 5, p  = 0.01), and ECMO-free days (20 vs. 14, p  = 0.038) were higher before YACHT establishment. The incidences of complications were not significantly different between the groups., Conclusions: Mortality was not significantly different pre- and post-YACHT establishment; however, it helped promote regionalization and centralization in Yokohama-Yokosuka areas. We will collect more cases to demonstrate YACHT's usefulness., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (© 2024 The Authors. Acute Medicine & Surgery published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of Japanese Association for Acute Medicine.)

We aimed to develop a method to determine the CT score that can be easily obtained from CT images and examine its prognostic value for severe COVID pneumonia. Patients with COVID pneumonia who required ventilatory management by intubation were included. CT score was based on anatomical information in axial CT images and were divided into three sections of height from the apex to the bottom. The extent of pneumonia in each section was rated from 0 to 5 and summed. The primary outcome was the prediction of patients who died or were managed on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) based on the CT score at admission. Of the 71 patients included, 12 (16.9%) died or required ECMO management, and the CT score predicted death or ECMO management with ROC of 0.718 (0.561-0.875). The death or ECMO versus survival group (median [quartiles]) had a CT score of 17.75 (14.75-20) versus 13 (11-16.5), p = 0.017. In conclusion, a higher score on our generated CT score could predict the likelihood of death or ECMO management. A CT score at the time of admission allows for early preparation and transfer to a hospital that can manage patients who may need ECMO., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Background: Although Chlamydophila pneumoniae (CP)is known to play a role in atherosclerosis and endothelial injury, its past infection on the mortality of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which was also reported to be a vascular disease, remains unknown., Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, we examined 78 COVID-19 patients and 32 bacterial pneumonia patients who visited a tertiary emergency center in Japan between April 1, 2021, and April 30, 2022. CP antibody levels, including IgM, IgG, and IgA, were measured., Results: Among all patients, the CP IgA-positive rate was significantly associated with age (P = 0.002). Between the COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 groups, no difference in the positive rate for both CP IgG and IgA was observed (P = 1.00 and 0.51, respectively). The mean age and proportion of males were significantly higher in the IgA-positive group than in the IgA-negative group (60.7 vs. 75.5, P = 0.001; 61.5% vs. 85.0%, P = 0.019, respectively). Smoking and dead outcomes were significantly higher both in the IgA-positive group and IgG-positive group (smoking: 26.7% vs. 62.2, P = 0.003; 34.7% vs. 73.1%, P = 0.002, dead outcome: 6.5% vs. 29.8%, P = 0.020; 13.5% vs. 34.6%, P = 0.039, respectively). Although the log-rank test revealed higher 30-day mortality in the IgG-positive group compared to the IgG-negative group (P = 0.032), Cox regression analysis demonstrated no significant difference between the IgG-positive and negative groups (hazard ratio (HR) = 4.10, 95%CI = 0.94-18.0, P = 0.061)., Conclusion: The effect of past CP infection on 30-day mortality in COVID-19 patients was not obvious., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright © 2023, Horiuchi et al.)

By combining video laryngoscopy and fiberoptic bronchoscopy, awake intubation can be performed more safely., Competing Interests: Nothing to declare., (© 2022 The Authors. Clinical Case Reports published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)