Atrial Fibrillation Ablation Using Robotic Magnetic Navigation Reduces the Incidence of Silent Cerebral Embolism.

The incidence of silent cerebral embolisms (SCEs) has been documented after pulmonary vein isolation using different ablation technologies; however, it is unreported in patients undergoing with atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation using Robotic Magnetic Navigation (RMN). The purpose of this prospective study was to investigate the incidence, risk predictors and probable mechanisms of SCEs in patients with AF ablation and the potential impact of RMN on SCE rates. We performed a prospective study of 166 patients with paroxysmal or persistent AF who underwent pulmonary vein isolation.

Cardiovascular disease-specific mortality in 270,618 patients with non-small cell lung cancer.

Background: This study aimed to investigate the trend of cardiovascular disease (CVD)-specific mortality in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and identify prognostic factors for CVD-specific death in stage NSCLC patients.

Methods: In this study, 270,618 NSCLC patients were collected from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database. CVD- and NSCLC-specific cumulative mortality and proportion of death were calculated and graphically displayed to describe the probability of specific endpoints.

A method to screen left ventricular dysfunction through ECG based on convolutional neural network.

Objective: This study aims to develop an artificial intelligence-based method to screen patients with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) of 50% or lesser using electrocardiogram (ECG) data alone.

Methods: Convolutional neural network (CNN) is a class of deep neural networks, which has been widely used in medical image recognition. We collected standard 12-lead ECG and transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE) data including the LVEF value.

Blockade of β-adrenergic signaling suppresses inflammasome and alleviates cardiac fibrosis.

Background: Heart failure (HF) is an end-stage syndrome of all structural heart diseases which accompanies the loss of myocardium and cardiac fibrosis. Although the role of inflammasome in cardiac fibrosis has recently been a point of focus, the mechanism of inflammasome activation in HF has not yet been elucidated.

Methods: In this study, we investigated the expression of inflammasome proteins in a rat thoracic aorta constriction (TAC) model and cultured cardiac fibroblasts with stimulation of norepinephrine (NE).

The long-term therapeutic effects of His-Purkinje system pacing on bradycardia and cardiac conduction dysfunction compared with right ventricular pacing: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Aims: His-Purkinje system pacing has been demonstrated as a synchronized ventricular pacing strategy via pacing His-Purkinje system directly, which can decrease the incidence of adverse cardiac structure alteration compared with right ventricular pacing (RVP). The purpose of this meta-analysis was to compare the effects of His-Purkinje system pacing and RVP in patients with bradycardia and cardiac conduction dysfunction.

Methods: PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science were systematically searched from the establishment of databases up to 15 December 2019.

Comparisons of efficacy, safety, and recurrence risk factors of paroxysmal and persistent atrial fibrillation catheter ablation using robotic magnetic navigation system.

Background: No data exist on comparisons of efficacy, safety, and recurrence risk factors of paroxysmal and persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation using robotic magnetic navigation system (MNS), respectively.

Methods: About 151 AF patients were prospectively enrolled and divided into paroxysmal AF group (n = 102) and persistent AF group (n = 49). Circumferential pulmonary vein antrum isolation (CPVI) was performed in all patients.

Autophagy promotes apoptosis of mesenchymal stem cells under inflammatory microenvironment.

Background: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been widely applied to treat various inflammatory diseases. Inflammatory cytokines can induce both apoptosis and autophagy in MSCs. However, whether autophagy plays a pro- or con-apoptosis effect on MSCs in an inflammatory microenvironment has not been clarified.

[The impact of cardiac resynchronization therapy on left ventricular diastolic function evaluated by speckle tracking imaging in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy].

Objective: To investigate the effects of cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) on left ventricular (LV) diastolic function measured by speckle tracking imaging (STI) in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM).

Methods: CRT was performed in 21 DCM patients [15 male, mean age: 61.2 ± 11.

[Changes of open probability of large conductance Ca(2+)-activated K(+) channels in diabetic coronary smooth muscle cells of rats].

Objective: To investigate the changes of open probability (Po) of large conductance Ca(2+)-activated K(+) channel (BK channel) in diabetic coronary smooth muscle cells and elucidate the underlying cellular electrophysiology mechanisms of coronary dysfunction.

Methods: Rat coronary smooth muscle cells were isolated from control group and diabetic group. BK single channel currents were recorded by patch clamp technique in inside-out configuration.

Molecular mechanisms of diabetic coronary dysfunction due to large conductance Ca2⁺-activated K⁺ channel impairment.

Background: Diabetes mellitus is associated with coronary dysfunction, contributing to a 2- to 4-fold increase in the risk of coronary heart diseases. The mechanisms by which diabetes induces vasculopathy involve endothelial-dependent and -independent vascular dysfunction in both type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus. The purpose of this study is to determine the role of vascular large conductance Ca(2+)-activated K(+) (BK) channel activities in coronary dysfunction in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

[Evaluation of left ventricular function and twist in patients with diabetic cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy by speckle tracking imaging].

Objective: To evaluate left ventricular (LV) function and twist in patients with diabetic cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy (CAN) by two-dimensional speckle tracking imaging (STI).

Methods: STI was performed in 56 subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) (35 with DM only: group A, 21 with CAN: group B) and 34 normal subjects (Control) from LV short-axis view. LV peak systolic, peak early (E') and peak late (A') diastolic circumferential strain in 18 myocardial segments were measured at the levels of mitral annulus, papillary muscle and apex and the rotation at mitral annulus and apex levels were also measured.

Effects of different pacing algorithms on cumulative ventricular pacing proportion in patients with pacemakers.

Background: It is well known that increased cumulative ventricular pacing proportion (CumVP%) is one of the most important causes for adverse cardiovascular events. Therefore, how to reduce CumVP% has been a treatment issue in recent years. This study aimed to investigate the effects of different pacing algorithms on CumVP% in patients with pacemakers.

[Mechanism related to docosahexaenoic acid induced large conductance calcium-activated potassium channel currents increase in coronary smooth muscle cells].

Objective: To investigate the mechanism of enhanced large conductance calcium-activated potassium channel currents (BK) in coronary smooth muscle cells (SMCs) by docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).

Methods: Coronary SMCs were isolated by enzyme digestion. Potassium channels in coronary SMCs were identified by applications of different potassium blockers.

[Regulation of vascular tension in diabetic coronary artery by large conductance Ca(2+)-activated K(+) channel in rats].

Objective: to investigate the regulation in vascular tension of diabetic coronary artery by large conductance Ca(2+)-activated K(+) channel (BK channel) and to elucidate the mechanisms of coronary dysfunctions due to diabetes.

Methods: regulation of vascular tension in normal coronary artery was evaluated by videomicroscopy system. Streptozotocin-induced rat diabetic animal model was established successfully by intraperitoneal injection.

[Evaluation on left ventricular systolic synchronicity and cardiac function in patients with permanent cardiac pacing by real-time three-dimensional echocardiography].

Objective: To determine the feasibility on the left ventricular systolic synchronism and cardiac function evaluation in patients with permanent cardiac pacing by real-time three-dimensional echocardiography.

Methods: Fifteen patients with sick sinus syndrome post dual-chamber pacemaker implantation were enrolled in this study. Pacemakers were programmed to AAI, DDD, and VVI respectively.

[Relationship between P-type Na+ -K+ -Atpase and migraine: an experimental study with rats].

Objective: To investigate the role of P-type Na+ -K+ -ATPase in the mechanism of migraine.

Methods: nitroglycerin induced migraine Twenty Sprague-Dawley rats, 10 male and 10 female, were randomly divided into 2 groups: model group, undergoing subcutaneous injection of nitroglycerin 10 mg/kg once a week for 4 weeks so as to establish migraine model, and control group, undergoing subcutaneous injection of normal saline. Then the rats were killed with their trigeminal ganglia, trigeminocervical complex, and cortex of frontal lobe taken out.