We developed a beverage that forms a gel containing gas bubbles in the stomach and induces satiety. In a preliminary experiment, we confirmed that when a carbonated beverage containing any one of three types of ionic polysaccharides was mixed with artificial gastric juice, it resulted in the formation of a gel containing gas bubbles. Among the three types of polysaccharides referenced above, low methoxyl pectin (LM pectin) was identified as being the optimal for preparation of the test beverage in this study. Both static evaluation using a vessel and dynamic evaluation using the Gastric Digestion Simulator (GDS) revealed that the volume of the bubble-containing gel remained relatively stable with time. Presence of the bubble-containing gel in the stomach following consumption of the carbonated beverage containing LM pectin was confirmed in a clinical Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) study. Consumption of this test beverage resulted in a greater increase of the intragastric volume than consumption of the same amount of water. Moreover, in the satiety questionnaire, the subjects reported a higher degree of satiety following consumption of the beverage than following consumption of an equal amount of water. These results indicate that when this test beverage, a carbonated beverage containing LM pectin that forms a bubble-containing gel in the stomach, is consumed, the stomach becomes distended, inducing a feeling of satiety.

IVaS plays a supportive role in sutureless microvascular anastomosis with cyanoacrylate adhesive. The short-term safety of this technique has now been confirmed at the experimental stage.

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Summary:The Nuss procedure is a prevalent minimally invasive surgery for pectus excavatum. Although the Nuss procedure has the advantage of leaving less obtrusive scars, the standard technique requires at least 3 skin incisions to insert several instruments. We experienced 7 cases of the modified Nuss procedure using a single incision during a 7-year period. To facilitate passing of the bar, a traction guide was created according to our unique method. There was no need for a bar stabilizer, and no severe intraoperative complications occurred. All patients exhibited satisfactory short-term results; however, 1 patient suffered from bar rotation and required repeat surgery for fixation. Two patients underwent bar removal via the same single incision without any difficulties.