An observational study on the effect of premature ventricular complex burden on long-term outcome.

The long-term clinical impact of premature ventricular complexes (PVCs) on mortality and morbidity has not been fully studied. This study aimed to investigate the association between the burden of PVCs and adverse clinical outcome.A total of 5778 subjects, who were pacemaker-free and ventricular tachycardia-free at baseline, received 24-hour electrocardiography monitoring between January 1, 2002 and December 31, 2004.

2016 Guidelines of the Taiwan Heart Rhythm Society and the Taiwan Society of Cardiology for the management of atrial fibrillation.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained arrhythmia. Both the incidence and prevalence of AF are increasing, and the burden of AF is becoming huge. Many innovative advances have emerged in the past decade for the diagnosis and management of AF, including a new scoring system for the prediction of stroke and bleeding events, the introduction of non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants and their special benefits in Asians, new rhythm- and rate-control concepts, optimal endpoints of rate control, upstream therapy, life-style modification to prevent AF recurrence, and new ablation techniques.

Association of Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms with Atrial Fibrillation and the Outcome after Catheter Ablation.

Background: The association of gene variants with atrial fibrillation (AF) type and the recurrence of AF after catheter ablation in Taiwan is still unclear. In this study, we aimed to investigate the relationships between gene variants, AF type, and the recurrence of AF.

Methods: In our investigation, we examined 383 consecutive patients with AF (61.

Rhodiola Inhibits Atrial Arrhythmogenesis in a Heart Failure Model.

Introduction: Rhodiola, a popular plant in Tibet, has been proven to decrease arrhythmia. The aim of this study was to elucidate the molecular mechanism and electrophysiological properties of rhodiola in the suppression of atrial fibrillation.

Methods: This study consisted of 3 groups as follows: Group 1: normal control rabbits (n = 5); Group 2: rabbits with heart failure (HF) created by coronary ligation and who received 2 weeks of water orally as a placebo (n = 5); and Group 3: rabbits with HF who received 2 weeks of a rhodiola 270 mg/kg/day treatment orally (n = 5).

Periesophageal vagal plexus injury is a favorable outcome predictor after catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation.

Background: Collateral damage to periesophageal vagal plexus associated with symptomatic gastric hypomotility and associated symptoms are not uncommon after catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF). The injury may indicate transmural ablation lesions.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the periesophageal vagal plexus injury (PNI) and long-term outcome after catheter ablation of AF.

The assessment of anticoagulant activity to predict bleeding outcome in atrial fibrillation patients receiving dabigatran etexilate.

Special circumstances may require the measurement of the anticoagulant effect of dabigatran etexilate. No data currently link any given coagulation test to bleeding outcomes in patients receiving dabigatran etexilate for atrial fibrillation. Nonvalvular atrial fibrillation patients receiving dabigatran etexilate of 110 mg (DE110) or 150 mg (DE150) were consecutively enrolled.

Additive Value of Heart Rate Variability in Predicting Obstructive Coronary Artery Disease Beyond Framingham Risk.

Background: Heart rate variability (HRV) is usually reduced in patients with CAD. We therefore investigated whether reduced HRV is predictive of angiographic CAD beyond Framingham risk in patients with stable angina.

Methods and results: A total of 514 patients (age, 66.

Prognostic Significance of Premature Atrial Complexes Burden in Prediction of Long-Term Outcome.

Background: The prognostic significance of premature atrial complex (PAC) burden is not fully elucidated. We aimed to investigate the relationship between the burden of PACs and long-term outcome.

Methods And Results: We investigated the clinical characteristics of 5371 consecutive patients without atrial fibrillation (AF) or a permanent pacemaker (PPM) at baseline who underwent 24-hour electrocardiography monitoring between January 1, 2002, and December 31, 2004.

Radiofrequency catheter ablation of ventricular arrhythmias originating from the continuum between the aortic sinus of Valsalva and the left ventricular summit: Electrocardiographic characteristics and correlative anatomy.

Background: Radiofrequency ablation of ventricular arrhythmias (VAs) originating from the continuum between the aortic sinus of Valsalva (ASV) and the left ventricular (LV) summit is a challenge.

Objectives: The objectives of this study were to investigate the electrocardiographic, electrophysiological, and anatomical characteristics of VAs and to develop an algorithm for predicting the successful ablation site.

Methods: We recruited 66 patients (mean age, 47 ± 15 years; 42 male patients) with symptomatic VAs originating from the continuum between the ASV and the LV summit who underwent radiofrequency ablation.

Current and state of the art on the electrophysiologic characteristics and catheter ablation of arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia/cardiomyopathy.

Arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia/cardiomyopathy (ARVD/C) is an inherited genetic disease caused by defective desmosomal proteins, and it has typical histopathological features characterized by predominantly progressive fibro-fatty infiltration of the right ventricle. Clinical presentations of ARVD/C vary from syncope, progressive heart failure (HF), ventricular tachyarrhythmias, and sudden cardiac death (SCD). The 2010 modified Task Force criteria were established to facilitate the recognition and diagnosis of ARVD/C.

Long-Term Follow-Up of Catheter Ablation of Ventricular Arrhythmias: Experiences from a Tertiary Referral Center in Taiwan.

Background: Radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) is an alternative therapeutic management for drug-refractory ventricular arrhythmias (VA). However, long-term follow-up of clinical outcome after RFCA for VAs in Taiwan remains unknown.

Methods: From 1999 to 2013, patients undergoing RFCA for VAs from a single referral center were consecutively enrolled.

Long-term outcome of multiform premature ventricular complexes in structurally normal heart.

Background: Multiform premature ventricular complexes (PVCs) are common electrocardiographic abnormalities in patients with structurally normal hearts. However, the prognostic value of these complexes remains unclear. This study aimed to clarify the role of PVC polymorphism in predicting adverse outcomes.

Colchicine suppresses atrial fibrillation in failing heart.

Background: This study aimed to investigate the mechanism by which colchicine suppresses atrial fibrillation (AF) in a rabbit heart failure (HF) model.

Methods And Results: HF was induced by coronary ligation. Using the Langendorff perfusion system, monophasic action potentials were recorded in the left atrial appendage (LAA) of normal rabbits (n=6) and HF rabbits (n=6) treated with colchicine (100 μM) followed by colchicine (100 μM) plus paclitaxel (5 μM).

Incidence and risk of atrial fibrillation in sleep-disordered breathing without coexistent systemic disease.

Background: Although the link between sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) and atrial fibrillation (AF) has been reported, a population-based longitudinal cohort study was lacking. The goal of the present study was to investigate the AF risk carried by SDB, using the National Health Insurance Research Database in Taiwan. METHODS AND RESULTS: From 2000 to 2001, a total of 579,521 patients who had no history of cardiac arrhythmias or significant comorbidities were identified.

Relationship between intrinsic cardiac autonomic ganglionated plexi and the atrial fibrillation nest.

Background:  Spectral analysis of the left atrium can identify high dominant frequency (DF) sites, which might play a role in the perpetuation of atrial fibrillation (AF). Furthermore, the role of the cardiac autonomic nervous system (CANS) in the genesis of AF has been demonstrated. The relationship between CANS and the high-DF sites (AF nest) was the aim of the investigation.

Long-Term Prognosis in Recipients of Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillators for Secondary Preventions in Taiwan - A Multicenter Registry Study.

Background: The use of an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) has a proven capacity to prevent sudden cardiac death (SCD), and can also improve survival duration in well-selected patients. The goal of the present study was to investigate the long-term prognosis and predictors of mortalities among ICD recipients in Taiwan.

Methods: From 1998 to 2009, 238 consecutive patients who experienced SCDs or life-threatening ventricular tachyarrhythmias without correctable causes and received ICD implantations in 3 medical centers (Taipei, Taichung and Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital) were enrolled in this study.

The Effect of Intensified Low Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Reduction on Recurrent Myocardial Infarction and Cardiovascular Mortality.

Background: Lipid-lowering therapy plays an important role in preventing the recurrence of cardiovascular events in patients after acute myocardial infarction (AMI). This study aimed to assess the effect of intensified low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) reduction on recurrent myocardial infarction and cardiovascular mortality in patients after AMI.

Method: The 562 enrolled AMI patients (84.

Chronic Kidney Disease, But Not Diabetes, Can Predict 30-Day Outcomes in Patients with ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction after Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: A Single-Center Experience.

Background: Patients with acute coronary syndrome and impaired renal function have been shown to have high mortality. However, there is scarce literature to date addressing the impact of diabetes mellitus (DM) and renal function on clinical outcomes of ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) in Taiwan.

Method: This study enrolled 512 STEMI patients who received primary percutaneous coronary intervention.

Five-Year Outcomes after Acute Myocardial Infarction in Patients with and without Diabetes Mellitus in Taiwan, 1996-2005.

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a strong risk factor of cardiovascular disease. To date, the impact of DM on outcomes after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in Taiwan is undetermined. The aim of this study was to compare five-year outcomes after AMI in patients with and without diabetes in Taiwan.

Differences in the atrial electrophysiological properties between vagal and sympathetic types of atrial fibrillation.

Introduction: Autonomic modulation of the cardiac activity plays an important role in the pathogenesis of atrial fibrillation (AF). The aim of this study was to assess the differences in the atrial electrical and structural properties between patients with vagal and sympathetic AF.

Methods: The study included 30 patients (53 ± 12 years old, male 26) with frequent attacks of symptomatic paroxysmal AF.

Neural mechanism of atrial fibrillation: insight from global high density frequency mapping.

Background: It has been demonstrated that intrinsic cardiac autonomic activation of ganglionated plexi (GPs) exhibits a frequency gradient from the center to the periphery with limited mapping.

Objective: We aimed to use a global mapping tool (Ensite Array) to identify the frequency distribution and clarify the interaction between the extrinsic/intrinsic autonomic systems.

Methods: A mid sternal thoractomy was performed in anesthetized dogs.

Tricuspid flow propagation velocity predicts exercise tolerance and readmission in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Background: Evaluating right ventricular dysfunction, pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP), and exercise tolerance is critical in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) because of the high mortality rate in such patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). The aim of this study was to use the flow propagation velocity (FPV) of early diastolic tricuspid inflow to evaluate exercise tolerance and PAH severity and to predict readmission in patients with SLE.

Methods: A total of 66 patients with SLE with or without PAH and 30 healthy control subjects were enrolled.