Impact of hospital lead extraction volume on management of cardiac implantable electronic device-associated infective endocarditis.

Aims: Utilization of transvenous lead extraction/removal (TLE) for the management of cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED)-associated infective endocarditis (IE) remains low. The aim of this study was to examine the impact of hospital TLE procedural volume on TLE utilization and outcomes for patients with CIED-associated IE.

Methods And Results: Using the Nationwide Readmissions Database, we evaluated 21 545 admissions for patients (mean age 70 years, 39% female) with CIEDs hospitalized with IE at TLE centres.

Early Stroke and Mortality After Percutaneous Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation.

Background: Percutaneous endocardial left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) is an alternative therapy for stroke prevention in patients with atrial fibrillation who are poor candidates for oral anticoagulants. Oral anticoagulation is generally discontinued 45 days following successful LAAO. Real-world data on early stroke and mortality following LAAO are lacking.

Electrocardiographic Risk Stratification in COVID-19 Patients.

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in worldwide morbidity at unprecedented scale. Troponin elevation is a frequent laboratory finding in hospitalized patients with the disease, and may reflect direct vascular injury or non-specific supply-demand imbalance. In this work, we assessed the correlation between different ranges of Troponin elevation, Electrocardiographic (ECG) abnormalities, and mortality.

Ablation in Atrial Fibrillation with Ventricular Pacing Results in Similar Spatial Catheter Stability as Compared to Ablation in Sinus Rhythm with Atrial Pacing.

Background: Improved catheter stability is associated with decreased arrhythmia recurrence after atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation. Recently, atrial voltage mapping in AF was demonstrated to correlate better with scar as compared to mapping in sinus rhythm (SR). However, it is unknown whether ablation of persistent AF in sinus rhythm with atrial pacing or in atrial fibrillation with ventricular pacing results in differences in catheter stability or arrhythmia recurrence.

Comparison of the Effect of Atrial Fibrillation Detection Algorithms in Patients With Cryptogenic Stroke Using Implantable Loop Recorders.

Occult atrial fibrillation (AF) can be the underlying cause for cryptogenic stroke (CS). Implantable loop recorders (ILRs) have become an important tool for long-term arrhythmia monitoring in CS patients. Office-based ILR implantation by nonelectrophysiologist physicians is increasingly common.

QT interval prolongation and torsade de pointes in patients with COVID-19 treated with hydroxychloroquine/azithromycin.

Background: There is no known effective therapy for patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Initial reports suggesting the potential benefit of hydroxychloroquine/azithromycin (HY/AZ) have resulted in massive adoption of this combination worldwide. However, while the true efficacy of this regimen is unknown, initial reports have raised concerns about the potential risk of QT interval prolongation and induction of torsade de pointes (TdP).

Esophageal temperature dynamics during high-power short-duration posterior wall ablation.

Background: Increased peak luminal esophageal temperature (LET) is associated with increased risk of esophageal injury after left atrial posterior wall (LAPW) ablation. The magnitude, distribution, and risk factors of LET increase with high-power short-duration (HPSD) LAPW ablation are not well understood.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to describe the spatial and temporal characteristics of LET changes associated with HPSD LAPW radiofrequency (RF) ablation.

Activity-based chemical proteomics accelerates inhibitor development for deubiquitylating enzymes.

Converting lead compounds into drug candidates is a crucial step in drug development, requiring early assessment of potency, selectivity, and off-target effects. We have utilized activity-based chemical proteomics to determine the potency and selectivity of deubiquitylating enzyme (DUB) inhibitors in cell culture models. Importantly, we characterized the small molecule PR-619 as a broad-range DUB inhibitor, and P22077 as a USP7 inhibitor with potential for further development as a chemotherapeutic agent in cancer therapy.