Transcoronary study of biomarkers in patients with heart failure: Insights into intracardiac production.

Aims: Biomarkers are pivotal in the management of heart failure (HF); however, their lack of cardiac specificity could limit clinical utility. This study aimed to investigate the transcoronary changes and intracardiac production of these biomarkers.

Methods: Transcoronary gradients for B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and five novel biomarkers-galectin-3 (Gal-3), soluble suppression of tumourigenicity 2 (sST2), tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1 (TIMP-1), growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF-15) and myeloperoxidase (MPO)-were determined using femoral artery (FA) and coronary sinus (CS) samples from 30 HF patients and 10 non-HF controls.

Horizontal QRS axis predicts response to cardiac resynchronization therapy in heart failure patients with left bundle branch block.

Background: Electrocardiogram criteria for left bundle branch block (LBBB) inadequately predict left ventricular electrical dyssynchrony, complicating cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) candidate selection.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the predictive value of the horizontal QRS axis for CRT response in heart failure (HF) patients with LBBB patterns.

Methods: The direction and magnitude of the horizontal QRS axis were calculated using the net amplitudes in leads V and V.

Incremental Value of Right Ventricular Outflow Tract Diameter in Risk Assessment of Chronic Heart Failure Patients with Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators: Development of RVOTD-ICD Benefit Score in Real-World Setting.

Background: Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) remains the basic reference for the prevention of sudden cardiac death (SCD) patients, while right ventricular (RV) abnormalities have now been associated with SCD risk. A modified benefit assessment tool incorporating RV function parameters in consideration of implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICD) insertion should be taken into account.

Methods: We enrolled 954 chronic heart failure (CHF) patients (age 58.

The combined association of physical activity and alcohol use with long-term mortality: an age-stratified analysis.

Background: The combined association of physical activity (PA) and alcohol use (AU) with long-term mortality is yet to be investigated.

Methods: For the current study, 12,621 participants aged ≥ 20 years were enrolled from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1999-2004). The study endpoint was all-cause mortality.

Association between triglyceride-glucose index and the risk of heart failure hospitalization in older diabetic patients received right ventricular pacing: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: The prognostic value of triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index is not yet known for older diabetic patients received right ventricular pacing (RVP). We aimed to investigate the association between TyG index and the risk of heart failure hospitalization (HFH) in older diabetic patients received RVP.

Methods: This study was conducted between January 2017 and January 2018 at Fuwai Hospital, Beijing, China, and included older (age ≥ 65 years) diabetic patients that received RVP for the first time.

Implication of geriatric nutritional risk index on treatment response and long-term prognosis in patients with cardiac resynchronization therapy.

Purpose: Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI) is a simple tool for assessing the nutritional status of the aging population. This study aims to explore the clinical implication of GNRI on treatment response and long-term clinical outcomes in heart failure (HF) patients receiving cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT).

Methods: Patients who underwent CRT implantation or upgrade at our hospital were retrospectively included.

Retinal vascular density as a potential biomarker of diabetic cerebral small vessel disease.

Aim: The retina and brain share similar anatomical and physiological features. Thus, retinal imaging by optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) might be a potential tool for the early diagnosis of diabetic cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD). In this study, we aimed to evaluate retinal vascular density (VD) in diabetic CSVD by OCTA imaging and explore the associations between retinal VD and cerebral magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) markers and cognitive function.

The value of CT-based radiomics in predicting hemorrhagic transformation in acute ischemic stroke patients without recanalization therapy.

Objective: The aim of this study is to investigate the clinical value of radiomics based on non-enhanced head CT in the prediction of hemorrhage transformation in acute ischemic stroke (AIS).

Materials And Methods: A total of 140 patients diagnosed with AIS from January 2015 to August 2022 were enrolled. Radiomic features from infarcted areas on non-enhanced CT images were extracted using ITK-SNAP.

Research on automatic recognition radiomics algorithm for early sacroiliac arthritis based on sacroiliac MRI imaging.

Objective: To create an automated machine learning model using sacroiliac joint MRI imaging for early sacroiliac arthritis detection, aiming to enhance diagnostic accuracy.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis involving 71 patients with early sacroiliac arthritis and 85 patients with normal sacroiliac joint MRI scans. Transverse T1WI and T2WI sequences were collected and subjected to radiomics analysis by two physicians.

Effect of short-term cardiac function changes after cardiac resynchronization therapy on long-term prognosis in heart failure patients with and without diabetes.

Background: The relationship between short-term cardiac function changes and long-term outcomes in heart failure (HF) patients undergoing cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) remains uncertain, especially when stratified by diabetes status.

Objectives: This study aims to assess the association between short-term cardiac function changes and outcomes such as all-cause mortality and HF hospitalization in patients undergoing CRT, stratified by diabetes status.

Design: This is a cohort longitudinal retrospective study.

Joint association of sedentary behavior and vitamin D status with mortality among cancer survivors.

Background: Sedentary behavior and vitamin D deficiency are independent risk factors for mortality in cancer survivors, but their joint association with mortality has not been investigated.

Methods: We analyzed data from 2914 cancer survivors who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2007-2018) and followed up with them until December 31, 2019. Sedentary behavior was assessed by self-reported daily hours of sitting, and vitamin D status was measured by serum total 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels.

The effect of background elements of pictures on the visual attention among ASD children with intellectual disabilities, children with intellectual disabilities and typical development: Evidence from eye-tracking and fMRI.

Traditional picture books for children come with colourful images and a multitude of elements to attract attention and increase the reading interest of typical-developing (TD) children. However, children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) are less capable of filtering out unimportant elements in pictures and focusing on social items (e.g.

Metabolomics Profiling Predicts Ventricular Arrhythmia in Patients with an Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator.

Implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) reduce sudden cardiac death (SCD) when patients experience life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias (LTVA). However, current strategies determining ICD patient selection and risk stratification are inefficient. We used metabolomics to assess whether dysregulated metabolites are associated with LTVA and identify potential biomarkers.

Sex differences in the nonlinear association of triglyceride glucose index with all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in the general population.

Background: The evidence on the association between the triglyceride glucose (TyG) index and the risk of death in the general population remains controversial. This study aims to investigate the relationship between the TyG index and all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in the general population, with a focus on sex differences.

Methods: This prospective cohort study analyzed data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1999-2002), comprising 7,851 US adults.

Machine Learning-Based Phenomapping in Patients with Heart Failure and Secondary Prevention Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator Implantation: A Proof-of-Concept Study.

Background: Previous studies have failed to implement risk stratification in patients with heart failure (HF) who are eligible for secondary implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) implantation. We aimed to evaluate whether machine learning-based phenomapping using routinely available clinical data can identify subgroups that differ in characteristics and prognoses.

Methods: A total of 389 patients with chronic HF implanted with an ICD were included, and forty-four baseline variables were collected.

Clinical outcome of lesion size index-guided high-power radiofrequency catheter ablation for pulmonary vein isolation in patients with atrial fibrillation: 2-year follow-up.

Introduction: The long-term efficacy of high-power (50 W) ablation guided by lesion size index (LSI-guided HP) for pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) remains undetermined. Our study sought to assess the clinical efficacy of LSI-guided HP ablation for PVI in patients with AF and explore the potential predictors associated with clinical outcomes.

Methods: We consecutively included 186 patients with AF who underwent LSI-guided HP (50 W) ablation at Fuwai Hospital from June 2019 to October 2021.

Independent and Joint Association of Statin Therapy with Adverse Outcomes in Heart Failure Patients with Atrial Fibrillation Treated with Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy.

Background: The joint association of atrial fibrillation (AF) and statin therapy with adverse outcomes in heart failure (HF) patients with cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) has not been fully investigated so far. The purpose of this study was to explore the independent and joint association of AF and statin therapy with adverse outcomes.

Methods: Study patients were divided into four groups according to AF status and statin use: Non-AF/Statin, Non-AF/Non-Statin, AF/Statin, and AF/Non-Statin.

Length of Hospitalization-Related Differences and Associated Long-Term Prognosis of Patients with Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy: A Propensity Score-Matched Cohort.

Previous studies indicated that prolonged lengths of hospitalization (LOH) during cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) implantation are associated with poorer physical status and higher in-hospital mortality. However, evidence on the impact of LOH on the long-term prognosis of CRT patients is limited. The purpose of this study was to assess LOH-related prognostic differences in CRT patients.

Combined association of triglyceride-glucose index and systolic blood pressure with all-cause and cardiovascular mortality among the general population.

Background: The combined association of triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index and different systolic blood pressure (SBP) levels with all-cause and cardiovascular mortality among the general population remains unclear.

Methods: In this study, 6245 individuals were from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1999-2002). The study endpoints were all-cause and cardiovascular mortality.

Toward Better Risk Stratification for Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator Recipients: Implications of Explainable Machine Learning Models.

Background: Current guideline-based implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) implants fail to meet the demands for precision medicine. Machine learning (ML) designed for survival analysis might facilitate personalized risk stratification. We aimed to develop explainable ML models predicting mortality and the first appropriate shock and compare these to standard Cox proportional hazards (CPH) regression in ICD recipients.

Bronchoscopic Treatment of Giant Emphysematous Bullae with Endobronchial Silicone Plugs.

Purpose: Surgical bullectomy is the standard treatment of giant emphysematous bulla (GEB). However, bronchoscopic treatment should be considered as an alternative approach for patients who are unfit for surgical treatment. The study aimed to evaluate the clinical efficacy of endobronchial occlusion for the treatment of GEB using silicone plugs.

Independent and joint association of N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide and left ventricular mass index with heart failure risk in elderly diabetic patients with right ventricular pacing.

Background: Elevated levels of N-terminal pro-B natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) are independent risk factors for heart failure (HF). In addition, right ventricular pacing (RVP) is an effective treatment strategy for bradyarrhythmia, but long-term RVP is associated with HF. However, there is limited evidence on the independent and combined association of NT-proBNP and left ventricular mass index (LVMI) with HF risk in elderly diabetic patients with long-term RVP.

Optimal Lesion Size Index for Pulmonary Vein Isolation in High-Power Radiofrequency Catheter Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation.

Background: Although both high-power (HP) ablation and lesion size index (LSI) are novel approaches to make effective lesions during pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) for atrial fibrillation (AF), the optimal LSI in HP ablation for PVI is still unclear. Our study sought to explore the association between LSI and acute conduction gap formation and investigate the optimal LSI in HP ablation for PVI.

Methods: A total of 105 consecutive patients with AF who underwent HP ablation guided by LSI (LSI-guided HP) for PVI in our institute between June 2019 and July 2020 were retrospectively enrolled.

Mitral Regurgitation and Body Mass Index Increase the Predictability of Perioperative Bleeding in Anticoagulated Patients With Nonvalvular Atrial Fibrillation.

Background: Catheter ablation (CA) effectively restores sinus rhythm in atrial fibrillation (AF) but causes a short-term fluctuation in the coagulation state. Potential risk factors and better management during this perioperative period remain understudied.

Methods: We consecutively included 940 patients with nonvalvular AF who received CA at Fuwai Hospital, Beijing, China.