Association of age at first sexual intercourse and lifetime number of sexual partners with cardiovascular diseases: a bi-directional Mendelian randomization study.

Background: Limited studies have explored the association between sexual factors [age at first sexual intercourse (AFS) and lifetime number of sexual partners (LNSP)] and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), leaving the causality inconclusive.

Methods: We performed a bi-directional Mendelian randomization (MR) study to investigate the causality between sexual factors and CVDs, including coronary artery disease, myocardial infarction, atrial fibrillation (AF), heart failure (HF), and ischemic stroke (IS). Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) for sexual factors were extracted from the UK Biobank.

Gramine protects against pressure overload-induced pathological cardiac hypertrophy through Runx1-TGFBR1 signaling.

Background: Gramine, also named 3-(N,N-dimethylaminomethyl) indole, is a indole alkaloid. It is mainly extracted from various natural raw plants. Despite being the simplest 3-aminomethylindole, Gramine has broad pharmaceutical and therapeutic effects, such as vasodilatation, antioxidation, mitochondrial bioenergetics-related effects, and angiogenesis via modulation of TGFβ signaling.

Assessment of causal associations between handgrip strength and cardiovascular diseases: A two sample mendelian randomization study.

Background: Several observational studies have identified that handgrip strength was inversely associated with cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Nevertheless, causality remains controversial. We conducted Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis to examine whether handgrip strength and risk of CVDs are causally associated.

Assessing Causal Associations of Atopic Dermatitis With Heart Failure and Other Cardiovascular Outcomes: A Mendelian Randomization Study.

Background And Aims: Observational epidemiological studies have suggested that atopic dermatitis (AD) was associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). However, causality remains to be established. In the present study, Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses were used to evaluate whether AD and CVDs are causally associated.

The causal relationship between sleep traits and the risk of schizophrenia: a two-sample bidirectional Mendelian randomization study.

Background: Observational studies suggest that sleep disturbances are commonly associated with schizophrenia. However, it is uncertain whether this relationship is causal. To investigate the bidirectional causal relation between sleep traits and schizophrenia, we performed a two-sample bidirectional Mendelian randomization (MR) study with the fixed effects inverse-variance weighted (IVW) method.

Cardiac Troponin I and Risk of Stroke: A Mendelian Randomization Study.

Purpose: Cardiac troponin I (cTnI) is a well-established biomarker for stroke prediction, especially in patients with heart diseases. However, the causal effect of circulating cTnI on stroke remains unclear.

Methods: We employed Mendelian Randomization (MR) analysis to determine the associations between genetically predicted circulating cTnI levels and stroke and its subtypes.

Sacubitril/Valsartan Can Reduce Atrial Fibrillation Recurrence After Catheter Ablation in Patients with Persistent Atrial Fibrillation.

Purpose: This study compared the effectiveness of sacubitril/valsartan (SV) vs. valsartan (V) for treating persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) after radio-frequency catheter ablation (RFCA).

Methods: Patients with persistent AF who received RFCA were randomly assigned to the SV or V treatment group with the intervention lasting for 12 months.

Thymoquinone ameliorates pressure overload-induced cardiac hypertrophy by activating the AMPK signalling pathway.

Prolonged pathological myocardial hypertrophy leads to end-stage heart failure. Thymoquinone (TQ), a bioactive component extracted from Nigella sativa seeds, is extensively used in ethnomedicine to treat a broad spectrum of disorders. However, it remains unclear whether TQ protects the heart from pathological hypertrophy.

Physical Activity and Risks of Cardiovascular Diseases: A Mendelian Randomization Study.

Although some observational studies have shown that physical activity may have a positive relationship with cardiovascular diseases, the causal effect remains uncertain. We conducted a Mendelian randomization (MR) study to identify the potential causal effect between physical activity and cardiovascular diseases. Summary statistics of genome-wide association studies on four physical activity phenotypes and cardiovascular diseases were utilized.

Cannabis Use and the Risk of Cardiovascular Diseases: A Mendelian Randomization Study.

Several observational studies have shown that cannabis use has negative effects on the cardiovascular system, but the causality of this relationship has not been confirmed. The aim of the current study was to estimate the effects of genetically determined cannabis use on risk of cardiovascular diseases. Ten single-nucleotide polymorphisms related to cannabis use were employed as instruments to estimate the association between genetically determined cannabis use and risk of cardiovascular diseases using a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) method.

High-Normal Thyroid Function and Recurrence of Atrial Fibrillation after Catheter Ablation: A Prospective Observational Study.

Background: Thyroid function is increasingly recognized as an important modifiable factor for atrial fibrillation (AF); however, it is unclear if the changes in thyroid hormones, even within the normal range, are associated with AF recurrence after catheter ablation.

Methods: Consecutive paroxysmal AF patients who underwent catheter ablation were enrolled. Patients with abnormal thyroid hormones or previous thyroid illnesses were excluded.

Association of Sleep Duration With Atrial Fibrillation and Heart Failure: A Mendelian Randomization Analysis.

Both short (<7 h per night) and long (≥9 h per night) sleep durations are related to atrial fibrillation (AF) and heart failure (HF), but their causality has not been confirmed. We applied Mendelian randomization (MR) approaches to estimate the causal association between genetically determined sleep duration and the risk of AF and HF. We performed two-sample MR analysis to obtain the effect of sleep duration on AF and HF.

The Association Between Ambient Air Pollution and Atrial Fibrillation.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia; it has been known to increase the risk of stroke and heart failure. The association between air pollutants and AF has remained to be controversial. Thus, in this study, we sought to undertake a systematic review and meta-analysis in order to assess the short- and long-term effects of ambient air pollution on AF.

The Effect of Renin-Angiotensin System Inhibitors on the Recurrence of Atrial Fibrillation After Catheter Ablation.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained arrhythmia. Renin-angiotensin system (RAS) inhibitors were reported to modify the arrhythmia substrate and reverse atrial remodeling. However, the role of RAS inhibitors on AF recurrence after catheter ablation remains much more controversial.

Investigation of proper home blood pressure with atrial fibrillation recurrence in patients undergoing radiofrequency catheter ablation.

Background: Hypertension is an important target for interventions to improve ablation outcome in atrial fibrillation (AF) patients. No studies to date have determined the blood pressure level at which AF is less likely to recur in patients without hypertension.

Methods: A total of 503 AF patients undergoing radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) (mean age, 59.

CHA2DS2-VASc and SAMe-TT2R2 scores as predictors of recurrence for nonvalvular atrial fibrillation patients on vitamin K antagonists after radiofrequency catheter ablation.

Aims: Atrial fibrillation is the most common sustained arrhythmia in the general population, and circumferential pulmonary vein isolation has emerged as a cornerstone in the treatment of drug-resistant atrial fibrillation. However, there is a paucity of data regarding the CHA2DS2-VASc and SAMe-TT2R2 scores as predictors of outcomes among patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation on vitamin K antagonists after radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA).

Methods: The current prospective observational study enrolled 304 consecutive patients with atrial fibrillation who underwent RFCA.

U-Shaped Relationship Between Left Atrium Size on Echocardiography and 1-Year Recurrence of Atrial Fibrillation After Radiofrequency Catheter Ablation - Prognostic Value Study.

Background: The larger the left atrium anteroposterior dimension (LAD) and left atrium volume (LAV), the stronger the association with recurrent atrial fibrillation (AF) after radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA). Patients with a smaller left atrium (LA) size, however, also have increased AF recurrence.

Methods and results: In 521 patients, routine 48-h Holter electrocardiogram and echocardiography were obtained at each outpatient visit every 3 months for 12 months.

Blood lipid levels and recurrence of atrial fibrillation after radiofrequency catheter ablation: a prospective study.

Purpose: The relation between dyslipidemia and atrial fibrillation (AF) development remains controversial. We conducted a prospective study to investigate the association of lipids with the risk of recurrence of AF after radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA).

Methods: This study enrolled 287 consecutive patients who underwent initial circumferential pulmonary vein ablation (CPVA).