Intrapericardial Corticosteroids and Colchicine Prevent Pericarditis and Atrial Fibrillation After Epicardial Ablation of Ventricular Arrhythmias.

Background: Postprocedural pericarditis (PP) can occur in up to 29.4% of patients undergoing epicardial catheter ablation of ventricular tachycardia (VT). Despite several proposed strategies to mitigate this adverse outcome, rates of PP and pericarditic pain remain high.

Real-World Use of Ruxolitinib in Patients with Myelofibrosis and Anemia or Thrombocytopenia at Diagnosis.

Introduction: Ruxolitinib is approved for treatment of myelofibrosis. We evaluated ruxolitinib in patients with anemia (hemoglobin <10 g/dL) or thrombocytopenia (platelet count ≤100 × 109/L) at diagnosis.

Methods: This was a retrospective, secondary analysis of a Cardinal Health Oncology Provider Extended Network medical chart review of adults with myelofibrosis diagnosed between 2012 and 2016 who received first-line ruxolitinib.

Spatial analysis and characteristics of persistent late potentials after ablation of scar-related VT substrate: Implications for late potential elimination as a procedural endpoint with high-resolution mapping.

Background: Late potential (LP) elimination has been proposed as a surrogate endpoint for scar-related ventricular tachycardia (VT) ablation procedures. The characteristics, distribution, and predictors of persistent late potentials (pLPs) after ablation have not been studied.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to characterize the spatial distribution and features of pLP after catheter ablation of VT substrate with high-resolution mapping.

Sympathetic toggled paroxysmal atrial fibrillation and recurrent premature atrial contractions in ambulatory patients.

Background: Autonomic nerve activity is important in the mechanisms of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF).

Objective: The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that a single burst of skin sympathetic nerve activity (SKNA) can toggle on and off PAF or premature atrial contraction (PAC) clusters.

Methods: Simultaneous recording of SKNA and electrocardiogram (neuECG) recording was performed over 7 days in patients with PAF.

Direct and indirect costs for patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms.

Myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) are associated with substantial healthcare resource use and productivity loss. This retrospective cohort analysis used disability leave and medical claims data to measure direct and indirect healthcare costs associated with MPNs. The analysis included 173 patients with myelofibrosis (MF), 4477 with polycythemia vera (PV), 6061 with essential thrombocythemia (ET), and matched controls ( = 519,  = 13,431, and  = 18,183, respectively).

Are Prepubertal Gynaecomastia and Premature Thelarche Linked to Topical Lavender and Tea Tree Oil Use?

Various studies, conducted since 2007, have reported a total of eight boys with prepubertal gynaecomastia and four girls with premature thelarche following exposure to lavender and/or tree tea oil. All patients experienced regression of the breast tissue after they stopped using these oils. Both of these essential oils, and several of their constituents, have oestrogenic and antiandrogenic activity .

Chlorhexidine gluconate pocket lavage to prevent cardiac implantable electronic device infection in high-risk procedures.

Background: Infection is the most dreaded complication of cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs), particularly in patients undergoing high-risk procedures (eg, generator change, device upgrade, lead/pocket revision).

Objective: The purpose of this study was to describe the impact of chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) pocket lavage in high-risk procedures.

Methods: Patients from a prospective multicenter registry undergoing high-risk procedures were included.

Silent cerebral infarction during immune TTP remission: prevalence, predictors, and impact on cognition.

Immune thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (iTTP) survivors have increased risk of cardiovascular disease, including strokes, and report persistent cognitive difficulties during remission. We conducted this prospective study involving iTTP survivors during clinical remission to determine the prevalence of silent cerebral infarction (SCI), defined as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) evidence of brain infarction without corresponding overt neurodeficits. We also tested the hypothesis that SCI is associated with cognitive impairment, assessed using the National Institutes of Health ToolBox Cognition Battery.

Left Bundle Branch Area Pacing Versus Biventricular Pacing as Initial Strategy for Cardiac Resynchronization.

Background: Left bundle branch area pacing (LBBAP) for cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is an alternative to biventricular pacing (BiVp).

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to compare the outcomes between LBBAP and BiVp as an initial implant strategy for CRT.

Methods: In this prospective multicenter, observational, nonrandomized study, first-time CRT implant recipients with LBBAP or BiVp were included.

Safety and Efficacy of a Novel Approach to Pulmonary Vein Isolation Using Prolonged Apneic Oxygenation.

Background: Improved ablation catheter-tissue contact results in more effective ablation lesions. Respiratory motion causes catheter instability, which impacts durable pulmonary vein isolation (PVI).

Objectives: This study sought to evaluate the safety and efficacy of a novel ablation strategy involving prolonged periods of apneic oxygenation during PVI.

Characterization of myeloproliferative neoplasms in the paediatric and young adult population.

The aim of this study was to compare the genomic features and clinical outcomes between paediatric and young adult patients (PAYA, <40 years) and older adults (OA, ≥40 years) with myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN) to gain insight into pathogenesis, disease prognosis and management. Of 630 MPN patients, 171 (27%) were PAYA with an average age at diagnosis of 31 years. Females were more prevalent in PAYA than OA (71% vs 58%; p = 0.

Initial experience with stylet-driven versus lumenless lead delivery systems for left bundle branch area pacing.

Introduction: Left bundle branch area pacing (LBBP) has emerged as an alternative method for conduction system pacing. While initial experience with delivery systems for stylet-driven and lumenless lead implantation for LBBP has been described, data comparing outcomes of stylet-driven versus lumenless lead implantation for LBBP are limited. In this study, we compare success rates and outcomes of LBBP with stylet-driven versus lumenless lead delivery systems.

Tumescent local anesthesia versus general anesthesia for subcutaneous implantable cardioverter-defibrillator implantation: A cost-effectiveness analysis.

Background: General anesthesia (GA) is the standard anesthetic approach for subcutaneous implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (S-ICD) implantation. Nonetheless, GA is expensive and can be associated with adverse events. Tumescent local anesthesia (TLA) has been shown to reduce in-room and procedural times and to decrease post-procedural pain, all of which could result in a reduction in procedure-related costs.

Recurrent germline variant in ATM associated with familial myeloproliferative neoplasms.

Genetic predisposition (familial risk) in the myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) is more common than the risk observed in most other cancers, including breast, prostate, and colon. Up to 10% of MPNs are considered to be familial. Recent genome-wide association studies have identified genomic loci associated with an MPN diagnosis.

Ablation of atrial fibrillation beyond pulmonary vein isolation: Do additional ablation lesions impact left atrial function?

Introduction: Electrical isolation of pulmonary veins (PVI) is a cornerstone for atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation. The overall effect of AF ablation, and especially lesions beyond PVI, on left atrial (LA) function is currently poorly understood. Our aim was to determine if LA function is different in patients after extensive LA ablation compared to PVI only.