Incidence of atrial fibrillation in patients with atrioventricular nodal re-entrant tachycardia and its association with long-term outcome.

Background: Atrioventricular nodal re-entrant tachycardia (AVNRT) is the most common paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia. We sought to investigate the incidence of atrial fibrillation in patients with electrophysiologically confirmed/ablated AVNRT and its association with transient ischemic attack (TIA)/stroke as well as mortality during long-term follow-up.

Methods: From the Karolinska Ablation Registry, 2855 consecutive patients with a first-time ablation for AVNRT between 2005 and 2018 were analyzed.

Risk assessment in patients with symptomatic and asymptomatic pre-excitation.

Aims: Controversy remains as to whether the exercise stress test (EST) is sufficient for risk evaluation in patients with pre-excitation. This study aims to clarify the usefulness of EST in risk stratification in both asymptomatic and symptomatic patients presenting with pre-excitation.

Methods And Results: This prospective study includes consecutive asymptomatic and symptomatic patients with pre-excitation referred for risk assessment.

Association between catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation and mortality or stroke.

Objective: Catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation effectively reduces symptomatic burden. However, its long-term effect on mortality and stroke is unclear. We investigated if patients with atrial fibrillation who undergo catheter ablation have lower risk for all-cause mortality or stroke than patients who are managed medically.

Transseptal Access Through an Atrial Septal Defect Closure Device Resulting in Open Heart Surgery.

A pulmonary vein isolation procedure in a patient with an atrial septal defect (ASD) closure device was complicated by entrapment of a mapping catheter in the device. The procedure was converted to open heart surgery, the device with the trapped catheter was explanted, the ASD was covered with a bovine patch, and a cryomaze procedure was performed. ().

Efficient and targeted COVID-19 border testing via reinforcement learning.

Throughout the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, countries have relied on a variety of ad hoc border control protocols to allow for non-essential travel while safeguarding public health, from quarantining all travellers to restricting entry from select nations on the basis of population-level epidemiological metrics such as cases, deaths or testing positivity rates. Here we report the design and performance of a reinforcement learning system, nicknamed Eva. In the summer of 2020, Eva was deployed across all Greek borders to limit the influx of asymptomatic travellers infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), and to inform border policies through real-time estimates of COVID-19 prevalence.

Focal atrial tachycardia-the localization differences between men and women: A study of 487 consecutive patients.

Objective: The preferential sites for focal atrial tachycardia (FAT) are mainly in the right atrium in both sexes. However, a limited number of studies have indicated that sex differences in the localization of FAT. This study investigated possible sex differences in the distribution of FAT in a large cohort of patients referred for ablation.

Sinus heart rate post pulmonary vein ablation and long-term risk of recurrences.

Purpose: Cather ablation is known to influence the autonomic nervous system. This study sought to investigate the association of sinus heart rate pre-/post-ablation and recurrences in patients with atrial fibrillation undergoing pulmonary vein isolation (PVI).

Methods: Between January 2012 and December 2017, data of 482 patients undergoing their first PVI were included.

Long-term outcome of patients with invasive electrophysiology procedure-related cardiac tamponade.

Aims: Iatrogenic cardiac tamponades are a rare but dreaded complication of invasive electrophysiology procedures (EPs). Their long-term impact on clinical outcomes is unknown. This study analysed the risk of death or serious cardiovascular events in patients suffering from EP-related cardiac tamponade requiring pericardiocentesis during long-term follow-up.

Cryoablation as standard treatment of atrial flutter: a prospective, 2-center study (CASTAF).

Background: Cryoablation (CRYO) of cavotricuspid isthmus (CTI)-dependent atrial flutter (AFL) has been shown to be non-inferior to radiofrequency ablation (RF) in terms of ablation success and is associated with less pain. However, procedural time has been significantly longer with CRYO compared to RF. A possible explanation for this could be that operators had less experience with CRYO than with RF.

Early recurrences of atrial tachyarrhythmias post pulmonary vein isolation.

Aims: To investigate the significance of early recurrence (ER) of atrial tachyarrhythmias after pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) on the development of late recurrence (LR) and to redefine the blanking period during which an ER is considered nonspecific.

Methods: Data of 713 patients undergoing their first PVI for paroxysmal or persistent atrial fibrillation between January 2012 and December 2017 were included. All patients were followed-up for 12 months according to clinical and outpatient routine and were screened for any atrial tachyarrhythmia lasting >30 seconds occurring during the first 3 months postablation (ER) and after the 3 months blanking period (LR).

Change regularity of water quality parameters in leakage flow conditions and their relationship with iron release.

The long-term stagnation in metal water supply pipes, usually caused by intermittent consumption patterns, will cause significant iron release and water quality deterioration, especially at the terminus of pipelines. Another common phenomenon at the terminus of pipelines is leakage, which is considered helpful by allowing seepage of low-quality drinking water resulting from long-term stagnation. In this study, the effect of laminar flow on alleviating water quality deterioration under different leakage conditions was investigated, and the potential thresholds of the flow rate, which can affect the iron release process, were discussed.

Safety of fluoroscopy-guided transseptal approach for ablation of left-sided arrhythmias.

Aims: The transseptal approach is used for left atrial access during the ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF) and other left-sided arrhythmia substrates. Transseptal puncture (TP) is commonly performed with fluoroscopic guidance, contrast injection, and pressure monitoring. In many centres, additional techniques [intracardiac echocardiography (ICE), transoesophageal echocardiography (TEE), radiofrequency needle] are used to facilitate TP but its use adds costs.

Impact of cavotricuspid isthmus morphology in CRYO versus radiofrequency ablation of typical atrial flutter.

Objectives: Cryoablation (CRYO) is an alternative to radiofrequency (RF) for catheter ablation of cavotricuspid isthmus (CTI)-dependent atrial flutter (AFL). We aimed to study whether different CTI morphologies had different impacts on procedural success for CRYO and RF.

Design: This study randomized 153 patients with CTI-dependent AFL (median age 65 years; range 34-82) to RF or CRYO (78 CRYO; 75 RF).

Cryoablation of atrioventricular nodal re-entrant tachycardia: 7-year follow-up in 515 patients-confirmed safety but very late recurrences occur.

Aims: Cryoablation is an alternative method to radiofrequency ablation for treatment of atrioventricular nodal re-entrant tachycardia (AVNRT). This study investigates the long-term safety and efficacy of cryoablation in AVNRT.

Methods And Results: We studied 515 consecutive patients (317 women, mean age 50 years, range 13-89 years) undergoing a first cryoablation for AVNRT between 2003 and 2008.

Myocardial injury during radiofrequency and cryoablation of typical atrial flutter.

Purpose: Cardiac enzyme elevation after radiofrequency (RF) catheter ablation of atrial flutter (AFL) is common. Some studies found that cryoablation (CRYO) of AFL, compared to RF, is associated with higher levels of troponin, a finding that may indicate CRYO causes a greater amount of myocardial injury than RF. However, other investigations found no significant differences between troponin levels after CRYO versus RF.

Comparison of regular atrial tachycardia incidence after circumferential radiofrequency versus cryoballoon pulmonary vein isolation in real-life practice.

Background: Postablation atrial tachycardia (AT) is a significant complication following radiofrequency (RF) pulmonary vein isolation (PVI). Cryoballoon (CB) ablation is an alternative technique for PVI that appears to have a low incidence of AT. No direct comparison between AT risk in RF and CB ablation has been made.

Factors influencing unsafe behaviors and accidents on construction sites: a review.

Objective: Construction is a hazardous occupation due to the unique nature of activities involved and the repetitiveness of several field behaviors. The aim of this methodological and theoretical review is to explore the empirical factors influencing unsafe behaviors and accidents on construction sites.

Methods: In this work, results and findings from 56 related previous studies were investigated.

Modeling the factors affecting unsafe behavior in the construction industry from safety supervisors' perspective.

Background: There can be little doubt that the construction is the most hazardous industry in the worldwide. This study was designed to modeling the factors affecting unsafe behavior from the perspective of safety supervisors.

Methods: The qualitative research was conducted to extract a conceptual model.

Cryoablation of substrates adjacent to the atrioventricular node: acute and long-term safety of 1303 ablation procedures.

Aims: Radiofrequency (RF) ablation is effective for ablation of atrial arrhythmias. However, RF ablation in the vicinity of the atrioventricular (AV) node is associated with a risk of inadvertent, irreversible high-grade AV block, depending on the type of substrate. Cryoablation is an alternative method.

Continuous warfarin therapy is safe and feasible in catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation.

Objectives: In the context of catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation, oral anticoagulant therapy has been traditionally replaced by bridging with heparin during the periprocedural period. We wanted to study the feasibility and safety of continuous warfarin therapy compared to traditional bridging therapy.

Design: The complication rates were compared retrospectively in a consecutive patient series.

Cryothermal vs. radiofrequency ablation as atrial flutter therapy: a randomized comparison.

Aims: Radiofrequency (RF) ablation of the cavotricuspid isthmus (CTI) is an effective treatment for atrial flutter (AFL). However, RF may injure cardiac structures such as the atrio-ventricular node or the right coronary artery and is usually painful. This prospective, randomized study compares cryoablation (Cryo) with RF ablation regarding efficacy, safety, and perceived pain.