Effects of Ivabradine on Patients with Depressed Left Ventricular Function after Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy.

Background: The potential synergistic effect of ivabradine and cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) in heart failure (HF) patients has rarely been studied. We aimed to evaluate the clinical benefits of ivabradine in patients with left ventricular dysfunction following CRT implantation.

Methods: Two hundred and thirty-one patients receiving CRT were consecutively enrolled between January 2014 and December 2018 from two HF centers.

Using QRS loop descriptors to characterize the risk of sudden cardiac death in patients with structurally normal hearts.

The predictive value of non-invasive electrocardiographic examination findings for the risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD) in populations with structurally normal hearts remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the characteristics of the QRS vectorcardiography of surface electrocardiography in patients with structurally normal hearts who experienced SCD. We consecutively enrolled patients who underwent vectorcardiography between March 2017 and December 2018 in a tertiary referral medical center.

Prediction of Recurrent Atrial Tachyarrhythmia After Receiving Atrial Flutter Ablation in Patients With Prior Cardiac Surgery for Valvular Heart Disease.

Surgical scars cause an intra-atrial conduction delay and anatomical obstacles that facilitate the perpetuation of atrial flutter (AFL). This study aimed to investigate the outcome and predictor of recurrent atrial tachyarrhythmia after catheter ablation in patients with prior cardiac surgery for valvular heart disease (VHD) who presented with AFL. Seventy-two patients with prior cardiac surgery for VHD who underwent AFL ablation were included.

The Characteristics and Outcomes of Patients with Heart Failure and Reduced Ejection Fraction: The Eligibility of Novel Heart Failure Medications.

Background: Renin-angiotensin system inhibitors and beta-blockers are the initial treatment of choice for heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), whereas sacubitril/valsartan (SAC/VAL) and ivabradine are considered to second-line therapies. The eligibility of SAC/VAL and ivabradine according to the U.S.

Loeffler's endocarditis in a patient with a new diagnosed Churg-Strauss syndrome (CSS): A case report.

Background: Loeffler's endocarditis is a rare disease, caused by endocardial involvement of esosinophils, which damages the heart and leads to endomyocardial fibrosis with consequent restrictive cardiomyopathy, mural thrombi or valvular dysfunction. The association between Loeffler's endocarditis and Churg-Strauss syndrome (CSS) was also reported. Abnormal elevation of peripheral eosinophil counts in a heart failure patient is a hint of disease.

Prescription patterns of diabetes medications influencing clinical outcomes of heart failure patients with reduced ejection fraction.

Aims: We collected the different prescription patterns of diabetes medications in a cohort of patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) and analysed the impact of different prescription patterns on clinical outcomes.

Methods And Results: Consecutive diabetic patients with HFrEF from a heart failure referral centre were retrospectively analysed between 2015 and 2016. Exclusion criteria include being lost to follow-up, not receiving diabetes medications, and having severe renal impairment with a glomerular filtration rate < 30 mL/min/1.

Recovery of left ventricular dysfunction after sacubitril/valsartan: predictors and management.

Background: Literature describing recovery of left ventricular (LV) function post sacubitril/valsartan treatment and the optimal management of heart failure (HF) patients receiving sacubitril/valsartan remain sparse.

Methods: We recruited 437 consecutive chronic HF patients with baseline left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) less than 40%, who were treated with sacubitril/valsartan. All patients underwent routine echocardiographic measurement.

Observational study of dronedarone in Taiwanese patients with atrial fibrillation.

Background/purpose: Currently, data on the real-world use of dronedarone, an antiarrhythmic drug for atrial fibrillation (AF), are contradictory and often based on patient populations comprised of Caucasians. We prospectively investigated the efficacy and safety of dronedarone and risk factors related to treatment outcomes in a real-world use setting.

Methods: The prospective, observational, single-arm, multi-center study included a total of 824 Taiwanese patients with a diagnosis of paroxysmal or persistent AF and receiving dronedarone treatment.

Sacubitril/valsartan in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction patients: Real world experience on advanced chronic kidney disease, hypotension, and dose escalation.

Background: Angiotensin receptor and neprilysin inhibition (ARNI) has been shown to reduce cardiovascular mortality by 20% as compared with enalapril in a randomized controlled trial. However, there is a paucity of real-world data on the effects of ARNI in heart failure patients with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), especially those with concurrent renal impairment or hypotension.

Methods: Between 2016 and 2017, we recruited 466 HFrEF patients treated with sacubitril/valsartan (Group A) and 466 patients managed with standard HF treatment without ARNI (Group B) in a HF referral center.

Managements and outcomes of hospitalized heart failure patients with paroxysmal vs nonparoxysmal atrial fibrillation in Taiwan.

Background: The prognostic significance and the optimal treatment strategy for patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and heart failure (HF) remain controversial.

Methods: We extracted data from a large prospective national database involving Taiwanese patients with AF who were hospitalized for acute HF with reduced ejection fraction. Baseline characteristics, AF types, medications, and 1-year outcomes of the patients were analyzed.

The autonomic neural mechanism of right ventricular outflow tract tachycardia.

Background: Ventricular tachycardia (VT) and ventricular premature complexes (VPCs) originating from the right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) are generally considered as benign arrhythmias, with ECG morphology showing LBBB pattern and inferior axis. Pathogenic mechanisms in the genesis of RVOT VT/VPC remain largely unknown. We aimed to investigate the neural mechanism in RVOT ventricular arrhythmias in canine model.

Role of epithelial-mesenchymal transition markers E-cadherin, N-cadherin, β-catenin and ZEB2 in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) allows neoplastic cells to gain the invasive phenotype and become migratory, which is required for cancer progression and metastasis. In the present study, the expression of EMT-associated biomarkers and their association with clinicopathological parameters in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) was investigated. E-cadherin, N-cadherin, β-catenin and zinc finger E-box binding homeobox 2 (ZEB2) protein expression was evaluated with immunohistochemistry in a cohort of 76 patients with operable LSCC.

Solitary endobronchial papillomas with false impression of malignant transformation: report of two cases and review of the literature.

Solitary endobronchial papillomas (SEPs) are rare benign tumors of the lung, seldom transform to malignancy. This tumor had been reported occasionally manifest like carcinomas histologically. Herein we report 2 cases of SEPs; one is a squamous cell papilloma providing a false impression of interstitial micro-invasion.

Transcatheter Repair of Iatrogenic Aortic Perforation Complicating Transseptal Puncture for a Catheter Ablation of Atrial Arrhythmia.

Unlabelled: Aortic root perforation is a potentially life-threatening complication that may occur during transseptal puncture and requires immediate repair. We present a 71-year-old man who was admitted for catheter ablation of persistent atypical atrial flutter. Fluoroscopic-guided transseptal puncture was performed to gain access to the left atrium.

Diagnostic problems related to acute fibrinous and organizing pneumonia: misdiagnosis in 2 cases of lung consolidation and occupying lesions.

Acute fibrinous and organizing pneumonia (AFOP) is a histological pattern characterized by intra-alveolus fibrinous deposition accompanied with a spectrum of clinical condition. It also presents in other types of lung lesions, thus renders risks to its diagnosis with small biopsies. Here we present 2 cases of lung consolidation and occupying lesions with typical histological presentation of AFOP.

[The clinicopathological features of acute fibrinous and organizing pneumonia].

Objective: To improve understanding of the clinical, radiological and pathological characteristics of acute fibrinous and organizing pneumonia (AFOP).

Methods: The clinical data of 5 AFOP patients were retrospectively analyzed. AFOP was diagnosed via percutaneous lung biopsy guided by chest computerized tomography (CT) in the Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School during March 2011 to June 2012.

Clinicopathological significance of SIRT1 and p300/CBP expression in gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) cancer and the correlation with E-cadherin and MLH1.

SIRT1 and p300/CBP, which are considered to be essential histone deacetylases and acetyltransferases, are also considered to be relative to tumorigenesis because they modulate the expression of several tumor suppressor genes. Therefore, this study investigated the expression of SIRT1 and p300/CBP in gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) cancer and their correlation with E-cadherin and MLH1 in order to explore the clinicopathological significance of SIRT1 and p300/CBP expression and their possible effects involving E-cadherin and MLH1 expression. Tissue microarray technique and immunohistochemical stains were applied to evaluate the SIRT1, p300/CBP, E-cadherin, and MLH1 expression in 176 GEJ cancer tissues and 32 normal GEJ region tissues.

Differences in HER2 over-expression between proximal and distal gastric cancers in the Chinese population.

Aim: To investigate HER2 expression and its correlation with clinicopathological variables between proximal and distal gastric cancers (GC) in the Chinese population.

Methods: Immunostaining of HER2 was performed and scored on a scale of 0-3 in 957 consecutive GC cases, according to the revised scoring criteria of HercepTest(TM) as used in the ToGA trial. Correlations between HER2 expression and clinicopathologic variables of proximal (n = 513) and distal (n = 444) GC were investigated.

Columnar-lined esophagus in Chinese patients with proximal gastric carcinomas.

Objective: To investigate the clinicopathological features of columnar-lined esophagus (CLE) in Chinese patients.

Methods: Among 182 consecutive resections of proximal gastric cancer with residual esophageal tissue, 114 were eligible for the study. The maximal lengths of CLE and superficial esophageal glands (SEG) and the presence or absence of chronic inflammation (CI), lymphoid follicles (LF), Helicobacter pylori (H.

Factors predicting survival in patients with proximal gastric carcinoma involving the esophagus.

Aim: To investigate the clinicopathologic features which predict surgical overall survival in patients with proximal gastric carcinoma involving the esophagus (PGCE).

Methods: Electronic pathology database established in the Department of Pathology of the Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital was searched for consecutive resection cases of proximal gastric carcinoma over the period from May 2004 through July 2009. Each retrieved pathology report was reviewed and the cases with tumors crossing the gastroesophageal junction line were selected as PGCE.