Exploring the Complex Interplay Between Alcohol Consumption and Cardiovascular Health: Mechanisms, Evidence, and Future Directions.

This review article explores the intricate relationship between alcohol consumption and cardiovascular health, underscoring on both clinical outcomes and underlying pathophysiological mechanisms. It examines the complex dose-response relationships for various cardiovascular disease (CVD) subtypes, including coronary heart disease, stroke, and atrial fibrillation, while categorizing pathophysiological mechanisms into three conceptual areas: primary initiating factors, secondary transmission pathways, and end-organ effects. Although mild-to-moderate alcohol consumption may confer some benefits for cardiovascular health and certain CVD subtypes, growing evidence highlights the importance of lifestyle modifications to reduce alcohol intake, particularly among heavy drinkers.

Linear Ablation Using a Contact Force-Sensing Catheter in Ablation for Persistent Atrial Fibrillation: A Prospective Randomized Trial.

: Pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) using radiofrequency catheter ablation with contact force (CF)-sensing technology has improved long-term outcomes in patients with atrial fibrillation. This prospective randomized study aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of CF-sensing technology for additional left atrial (LA) linear ablation of persistent AF (PerAF). : After PVI, anteromitral (AM) line and roof line ablation were performed using a CF-sensing catheter.

Thromboembolism after coronavirus disease 2019 vaccination in atrial fibrillation/flutter: a self-controlled case series study.

Background And Aims: Concerns about the safety of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines in patients with atrial fibrillation/flutter (AF/AFL) have arisen due to reports of thrombo-embolic events following COVID-19 vaccination in the general population. This study aimed to evaluate the risk of thrombo-embolic events after COVID-19 vaccination in patients with AF/AFL.

Methods: This was a modified self-controlled case-series study using a comprehensive nationwide-linked database provided by the National Health Insurance Service in South Korea to calculate incidence rate ratios (IRRs) of thrombo-embolic events.

Assessing lung fluid status using noninvasive bioelectrical impedance analysis in patients with acute heart failure: A pilot study.

Background: Outpatient monitoring of pulmonary congestion in heart failure (HF) patients may reduce hospitalization rates. This study tested the feasibility of non-invasive high-frequency bioelectrical impedance analysis (HF-BIA) for estimating lung fluid status.

Methods: This prospective study included 70 participants: 50 with acute HF (HF group) and 20 without HF (control group).

Reduced Alcohol Consumption and Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events Among Individuals With Previously High Alcohol Consumption.

Importance: Cardiovascular benefits of mild to moderate alcohol consumption need to be validated in the context of behavioral changes. The benefits of reduced alcohol consumption among people who drink heavily across different subtypes of cardiovascular disease (CVD) are unclear.

Objective: To investigate the association between reduced alcohol consumption and risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) in individuals who drink heavily across different CVD subtypes.

Changes in alcohol consumption habits and risk of atrial fibrillation: a nationwide population-based study.

Aims: Heavy alcohol consumption is an established risk factor for atrial fibrillation (AF). However, the association between habitual changes in heavy habitual drinkers and incident AF remains unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether absolute abstinence or reduced drinking decreases incident AF in heavy habitual drinkers.

Estuarine dam water discharge enhances summertime primary productivity near the southwestern Korean coast.

The gate opening of estuarine dams discharge a large amount of freshwater into coastal zones during the summer monsoon in northeast Asia. We investigated seasonal and spatial variations in primary productivity (PP) and community structures of phytoplankton on a downstream macrotidal flat and examined the dam discharge effects. Our harmonic analysis of the PP revealed a clear seasonality with a unimodal peak in summer, possibly driven by high ammonium loading through internal recycling.

Secular trends and determinants of influenza vaccination uptake among patients with cardiovascular disease in Korea: Analysis using a nationwide database.

Background: Influenza vaccination reduces cardiovascular events in patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD). Identifying the factors that affect influenza vaccination uptake can help improve the prognosis in patients with CVD. This study aimed to evaluate the secular trends of influenza vaccination uptake and factors associated with lack of vaccination in individuals with CVD.

Automated diagnosis of atrial fibrillation using ECG component-aware transformer.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained arrhythmia worldwide and imposes a substantial economic burden on the public healthcare system due to its high morbidity and mortality. Early detection of AF is crucial in providing timely treatment and preventing complications such as stroke and other thromboembolism. For AF diagnosis, the 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) has been established as the gold standard.

Deep Learning Model for Predicting Rhythm Outcomes after Radiofrequency Catheter Ablation in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation.

Current guidelines on atrial fibrillation (AF) emphasized that radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) should be decided after fully considering its prognosis. However, a robust prediction model reflecting the complex interactions between the features affecting prognosis remains to be developed. In this paper, we propose a deep learning model for predicting the late recurrence after RFCA in patients with AF.

Positive Effect of Air Purifier Intervention on Baroreflex Sensitivity and Biomarkers of Oxidative Stress in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease: A Randomized Crossover Intervention Trial.

Exposure to fine particulate matter increases the risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Few studies have tested the beneficial effect of indoor air filtration intervention in patients with cardiovascular disease. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of air filtration on mitigating cardiovascular health in patients with coronary artery disease.

Ischemic Stroke in Non-Gender-Related CHADS-VA Score 0~1 Is Associated With HFPEF Score Among the Patients With Atrial Fibrillation.

Background: Ischemic strokes (ISs) can appear even in non-gender-related CHADS-VA scores 0~1 patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). We explored the determinants associated with IS development among the patients with non-gender-related CHADS-VA score 0~1 AF.

Methods And Results: In this single-center retrospective registry data for AF catheter ablation (AFCA), we included 1,353 patients with AF (24.

The Impact of Personal Thoracic Impedance on Electrical Cardioversion in Patients with Atrial Arrhythmias.

: Direct current cardioversion (DCCV) is a safe and useful treatment for atrial tachyarrhythmias. In the past, the energy delivered in DCCV was decided upon empirically, based only on the type of tachyarrhythmia. This conventional method does not consider individual factors and may lead to unnecessary electrical damage.

Ischemic stroke risk during long-term follow up in patients with successful catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation in Korea.

The interruption of oral anticoagulation therapy (OAC) after CA of atrial fibrillation (AF) is controversial. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between successful long-term outcomes of catheter resection and SR maintenance and ischemic stroke risk in Korea. We studied 1,548 consecutive patients who were followed up for more than 2 years after CA of AF.

The Role of Intravenous Dopamine on Hemodynamic Support during Radiofrequency Catheter Ablation of Poorly Tolerated Idiopathic Ventricular Tachycardia.

Background And Objectives: Hemodynamically unstable idiopathic ventricular tachycardias (VTs) are a challenge for activation or entrainment mapping technique. Mechanical circulatory support is an option, but is not always readily available. In this study, we investigated the safety and efficacy of hemodynamic support using intravenous (IV) dopamine solely during radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) of hemodynamically unstable VT.

The clinical efficacy of left atrial appendage isolation caused by extensive left atrial anterior wall ablation in patients with atrial fibrillation.

Background: The left atrial appendage (LAA) can be a source of atrial fibrillation (AF) triggering or a part of reentry. We sought to determine the characteristics and clinical outcomes of patients with LAA potential delay including electrical isolation (LAAEI) following LA anterior wall (LAAW) ablation for AF.

Methods: LAAW ablation cases were collected from among 846 patients who underwent catheter ablation (CA).

Atrial fibrillation cycle length as a predictor for the extent of substrate ablation.

Aims: Atrial fibrillation (AF) cycle length (CL) has been demonstrated to be one of the predictors for termination during ablation for AF. We evaluated the AF CL gradient between right atrium (RA) and left atrium (LA) and their mean AF CL in predicting the extent of substrate ablation.

Methods And Results: One-hundred and thirty-six patients undergoing first ablation for persistent AF were studied.

Left atrial functional reservoir: predictive value for outcome of catheter ablation in paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.

Left arial (LA) function, defined according to conduit, reservoir and booster functions, is closely linked to left ventricular (LV) mechanics, particularly during diastole. Right ventricular pacing (RVP) is thought to impair LA diastolic restoring forces through alteration of ventricular activation. The aim of this study was to determine whether the LA functional reservoir estimated as the change in mean LA ejection fraction (EF) immediately after RVP, and for the second and for the third beats after RVP, predicts clinical outcome in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF) who have undergone catheter ablation (CA).

Electrophysiological characteristics related to outcome after catheter ablation of idiopathic ventricular arrhythmia originating from the papillary muscle in the left ventricle.

Background And Objectives: The electrophysiological properties associated with favorable outcome of radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) for idiopathic ventricular arrhythmia (VA) originating from the papillary muscle (PM) remain unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationships of electrophysiological characteristics and predictors with the outcome of RFCA in patients with VAs originating from PM in the left ventricle (LV).

Subjects And Methods: Twelve (4.

Relationship between complex fractionated atrial electrograms during atrial fibrillation and the critical site of atrial tachycardia that develops after catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation.

Introduction: Complex fractionated atrial electrograms (CFAEs) are a substrate modification target in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). However, whether CFAEs can be also arrhythmogenic grounds of atrial tachycardia (AT) presenting after AF ablation remains to be determined. We investigated the relationship between CFAEs and the critical site of AT after CFAE-guided AF ablation.