Initial experience with pulsed field ablation for atrial fibrillation.

Introduction: Pulsed field ablation (PFA) was recently introduced for the treatment of symptomatic atrial fibrillation (AF) with the claim of selectively ablating the myocardium while sparing surrounding tissues. We present our initial experience with a PFA catheter for pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) and describe procedural findings and peri-procedural safety of the first 100 patients.

Materials And Methods: We investigated 100 patients treated for symptomatic AF using the FARAWAVE PFA catheter (Farapulse, Menlo Park, CA, USA) between July 2021 and March 2022.

Assessment of sex-related differences and outcome in patients who underwent cryoballoon pulmonary vein isolation for atrial fibrillation: an observational cohort study.

Objectives: Pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) is widely accepted as an effective and safe treatment for symptomatic atrial fibrillation (AF). However, data on sex-related differences and associations with clinical outcome and safety of PVI with cryoballoon ablation are limited. We sought to compare sexrelated efficacy and safety of cryoballoon ablation and identify sex-related associations with clinical outcomes.

Pulmonary vein anatomy addressed by computed tomography and relation to success of second-generation cryoballoon ablation in paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.

Background: Cryoballoon isolation is considered a safe and effective treatment for atrial fibrillation (AF). However, recurrence of AF after first cryoballoon ablation occurs in ~30% of patients. Pre-procedurally identifying patients at risk of AF recurrence could be beneficial.

Fibrin Glue Spray as a Simple and Promising Method to Prevent Bleeding after Gastric Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection.

Aim: This study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of fibrin glue (FG) in preventing delayed bleeding after gastric endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD).

Methods: From 2011 to 2014, 423 patients undergoing gastric ESDs were studied retrospectively. After excluding 26 patients, 397 were enrolled.

Effect of metformin on left ventricular function after acute myocardial infarction in patients without diabetes: the GIPS-III randomized clinical trial.

Importance: Metformin treatment is associated with improved outcome after myocardial infarction in patients with diabetes. In animal experimental studies metformin preserves left ventricular function.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of metformin treatment on preservation of left ventricular function in patients without diabetes presenting with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).

Surgical vs. transcatheter pulmonary vein isolation as first invasive treatment in patients with atrial fibrillation: a matched group comparison.

Aims: Pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) can be considered for treatment of symptomatic atrial fibrillation (AF). Nowadays, in addition to transcatheter ablation, thoracoscopic surgical PVI is available. The aim of this study is to compare clinical outcome of surgical with transcatheter PVI as first invasive treatment strategy of AF.

Feasibility and outcome of epicardial pulmonary vein isolation for lone atrial fibrillation using minimal invasive surgery and high intensity focused ultrasound.

Aims: Transvenous pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) is the cornerstone of non-pharmacological rhythm control therapy in symptomatic atrial fibrillation (AF). Success and complications rates are, however, still not optimal. New techniques and energy sources are therefore being developed.

Intracoronary versus intravenous abciximab in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction: rationale and design of the CICERO trial in patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention with thrombus aspiration.

Background: Administration of abciximab during primary percutaneous coronary intervention is an effective adjunctive therapy in the treatment of patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction. Recent small-scaled studies have suggested that intracoronary administration of abciximab during primary percutaneous coronary intervention is superior to conventional intravenous administration. This study has been designed to investigate whether intracoronary bolus administration of abciximab is more effective than intravenous bolus administration in improving myocardial perfusion in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention with thrombus aspiration.

Electromechanical mapping of the left ventricle: possible tool for online decision making in the catheterization laboratory.

Clinical decision making in intervention cardiology often depends on information about the presence of myocardial viability and the extent of ischemia. Especially in the case of an occluded collaterally filled coronary branch, online decision making in selected patients may accelerate and improve patient care. The electromechanical NOGA mapping system offers the opportunity for online viability assessment.

Long-term outcome of the atrioventricular node ablation and pacemaker implantation for symptomatic refractory atrial fibrillation.

Aims: To investigate long-term outcome and to determine predictors of development of heart failure (HF) in patients with atrioventricular (AV) node ablation and permanent right ventricular pacing because of symptomatic refractory atrial fibrillation (AF).

Background: Atrioventricular node ablation and subsequent permanent pacing is a well-established therapy for patients with AF. Long-term right ventricular pacing may induce HF.

Persistent atrial fibrillation is associated with appropriate shocks and heart failure in patients with left ventricular dysfunction treated with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator.

Aim: The objective of this study was to investigate whether persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) and new-onset AF are associated with appropriate shocks, cardiovascular mortality, chronic heart failure (CHF), and inappropriate shocks in implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) patients with left ventricular dysfunction.

Methods: We included 290 consecutive ICD patients with a documented left ventricular ejection fraction < or = 0.35 and compared outcomes between patients without AF (n = 207), those with persistent AF (n = 64), and those with new-onset AF (n = 19).

Right ventricular pacing and the risk of heart failure in implantable cardioverter-defibrillator patients.

Background: Right ventricular (RV) pacing in implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) patients may have detrimental effects on morbidity and mortality, in particular by inducing heart failure (HF).

Objective: We investigated whether RV pacing increases the risk of HF in an asymptomatic ICD population.

Methods: We evaluated all patients without symptomatic HF who received an ICD.

Atrial fibrillation predicts appropriate shocks in primary prevention implantable cardioverter-defibrillator patients.

Aims: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is often present in patients with left ventricular dysfunction who receive an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD). The purpose of this study was to investigate whether AF is associated with appropriate shocks and cardiovascular mortality in primary prevention ICD patients with left ventricular dysfunction.

Methods And Results: We included 80 primary prevention ICD patients with left ventricular dysfunction and compared the outcome between patients with a history of AF (n=29) and patients with no history of AF (n=51).

Folk concepts of mental disorders among Chinese-Australian patients and their caregivers.

Aim: This paper reports a study of (a) popular conceptions of mental illness throughout history, (b) how current social and cultural knowledge about mental illness influences Chinese-Australian patients' and caregivers' understanding of mental illness and the consequences of this for explaining and labelling patients' problems.

Background: According to traditional Chinese cultural knowledge about health and illness, Chinese people believe that psychotic illness is the only type of mental illness, and that non-psychotic illness is a physical illness. Regarding patients' problems as not being due to mental illness may result in delaying use of Western mental health services.

Right atrial overdrive pacing for prevention of symptomatic refractory atrial fibrillation.

Aims: Our aim was to investigate whether right atrial overdrive pacing is effective for the prevention of atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients without bradyarrhythmias.

Methods And Results: Patients with symptomatic paroxysmal or persistent AF refractory to at least two Class I or III antiarrhythmic drugs and without bradyarrhythmias were included. Successful therapy was defined as the combination of (a) a reduction of AF burden with or without AAD use >75%, (b) total AF burden < or =5% per year, and (c) less than one electrical cardioversion per year.

Functional characteristics of coronary vasomotor function following intramyocardial gene therapy with naked DNA encoding for vascular endothelial growth factor165.

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a potent angiogenic factor. VEGF gene therapy improves perfusion of ischemic myocardium in experimental models and possibly in patients with end-stage coronary artery disease. In addition to its proliferative and migratory effect on endothelial cells, it also activates and up-regulates endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS).

PET for evaluation of differential myocardial perfusion dynamics after VEGF gene therapy and laser therapy in end-stage coronary artery disease.

Unlabelled: The purpose of this study was to appraise the value of PET in the assessment of the effect of supposedly proangiogenic new therapies such as gene therapy with vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) gene and endomyocardial laser therapy.

Methods: Thirty-five patients with end-stage coronary artery disease and class III (Canadian Cardiovascular Society) angina were included. Myocardial ischemia was evaluated with dipyridamole PET scanning and exercise tolerance with bicycle ergometry.