The intercalation of solvated sodium ions into graphite from ether electrolytes was recently discovered to be a surprisingly reversible process. The mechanisms of this “cointercalation reaction” are poorly understood and commonly accepted design criteria for graphite intercalation electrodes do not seem to apply. The excellent reversibility despite the large volume expansion, the small polarization and the puzzling role of the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) are particularly striking. Here, in situ electrochemical dilatometry, online electrochemical mass spectrometry (OEMS), a variety of other methods among scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and X‐ray diffraction (XRD) as well as theory to advance the understanding of this peculiar electrode reaction are used. The electrode periodically “breathes” by about 70–100% during cycling yet excellent reversibility is maintained. This is because the graphite particles exfoliate to crystalline platelets but do not delaminate. The speed at which the electrode breathes strongly depends on the state of discharge/charge. Below 0.5 V versus Na+/Na, the reaction behaves more pseudocapacitive than Faradaic. Despite the large volume changes, OEMS gas analysis shows that electrolyte decomposition is largely restricted to the first cycle only. Combined with TEM analysis and the electrochemical results, this suggests that the reaction is likely the first example of a SEI‐free graphite anode.

Diffuse myocardial fibrosis, assessed by CMR-derived T1 mapping, independently predicts invasively measured LV stiffness in HFpEF. Additionally, ECV helps to noninvasively distinguish the role of passive stiffness and hypertensive exercise response with impaired active relaxation. (Left Ventricular Stiffness vs. Fibrosis Quantification by T1 Mapping in Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction [STIFFMAP]; NCT02459626).

Magnetic resonance imaging is regarded as the most accurate technique for LA volume assessment, with its high spatial resolution and excellent myocardial border detection throughout the cardiac cycle. Cardiac magnetic resonance feature tracking (CMR-FT) is a novel tool to assess myocardial deformation directly from standard steady-state-free precession cine CMR images. 13 This allows for quantifying myocardial deformation without the need for complex tagging sequences. 14,15Background-Although left atrial (LA) dysfunction is common in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), its functional implications beyond the reflection of left ventricular (LV) pathology are not well understood. The aim of this study was to further characterize LA function in HFpEF patients. Methods and Results-We performed cardiac magnetic resonance myocardial feature tracking in 22 patients with HFpEF and 12 patients without HFpEF. LA reservoir strain, LA conduit strain, and LA booster pump strain were quantified. Peak oxygen uptake (VO2max) was determined. Invasive pressure-volume loops were obtained to evaluate LV diastolic properties. LV early filling was determined from LV volume-time curves as derived from cardiac magnetic resonance. LA reservoir and conduit strain were significantly lower in HFpEF (LA reservoir strain, 22±7% versus 29±6%, P=0.04; LA conduit strain, −9±5% versus −15±4%, P<0.01). Patients with HFpEF showed lower oxygen uptake (17±6 versus 29±8 mL/ (kg min); P<0.01). Strain measurement for LA conduit function was strongly associated with VO2max (r=0.80; P<0.01).On multivariable regression analysis, LA conduit strain emerged as strongest predictor for VO2max even after inclusion of LV stiffness and relaxation time (β=0.80; P<0.01). LA conduit strain correlated with the volume of early ventricular filling (r=0.67; P<0.01), but not LV stiffness constant β (−0.34; P=0.051) or relaxation constant τ (r=−0.33; P=0.06). Conclusions-Cardiac magnetic resonance myocardial feature tracking-derived conduit strain is significantly impaired inHFpEF and associated with exercise intolerance. Impaired conduit function is associated with impaired early ventricular filling, as potential mechanism leading to impaired oxygen uptake. Our results propose that impaired LA conduit function represents a distinct feature of HFpEF, independent of LV stiffness and relaxation. Clinical Trial Registration-URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT02459626.(Circ Cardiovasc Imaging. 2017;10:e005467. DOI: 10.1161/CIRCIMAGING.116.005467.)Key Words: atrial function ◼ exercise test ◼ heart failure, diastolic ◼ magnetic resonance imaging © 2017 American Heart Association, Inc.Circ Cardiovasc Imaging is available at http://circimaging.ahajournals.org DOI: 10.1161/CIRCIMAGING.116.005467Received July 31, 2016; accepted February 15, 2017. From the Department of Internal Medicine/Cardiology (M.v.R., K.-P.R., S.B., C.B., K.F., G.S., P.L.) and Department of Radiology (C.L., M.G.), University of Leipzig, Heart Center, Germany; Departme...

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is frequentlyHepatitis C virus infection (HCV) is a major problem worldwide, frequently complicated by a virus-associated glomerulonephritis. During the course of infection, immune complexes and viral RNA reach the mesangium.