Performance of the novel ANTWERP score in predicting heart function improvement after atrial fibrillation ablation in Asian patients with heart failure.

Background: Previous research has demonstrated that atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation improves heart function variably among patients. We proposed that the ANTWERP score, which was validated in a European group of patients with low left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) who had AF ablation, would be valid in an Asian group as well. The purpose of the study is to examine how well a new scoring system (the ANTWERP score) can predict heart function improvement after atrial fibrillation ablation in Asian patients with heart failure.

Multistep Algorithm to Predict RVOT PVC Site of Origin for Successful Ablation Using Available Criteria: A Two-Center Cross-Validation Study.

Background: Predicting premature ventricular contraction (PVC) origin pre-ablation is a fundamental step, as right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) PVC often leads to higher success rates.

Objective: To compare nine published ECG criteria to differentiate between RVOT and non-RVOT origins of PVCs and develop a stepwise algorithm using those criteria to better determine PVC origin to predict ablation success.

Methods: Two centers were involved in this study, the derivation group and the validation group.

Three-dimensional mapping and superior approach for catheter ablation in patients without inferior vena cava access.

Catheter ablation for tachyarrhythmia via superior approach has been used in patients without possible inferior vena cava access such as in cases of venous occlusion or complex anomaly. Difficulty in catheter manipulation, instability, number of required vascular access, and radiation exposure of operator had been described in the procedure. Application of three-dimensional (3-D) mapping system in catheter ablation via superior approach could navigate the guiding catheter and provide more precise ablation.

Efficacy of Sacubitril-Valsartan on Survival and Cardiac Remodeling in Hypotensive Heart Failure With Reduced Ejection Fraction: A Multicenter Study.

Objective: To investigate whether hypotensive patients diagnosed with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) might benefit from angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitors (ARNis) in real-world practice because patients with baseline systolic blood pressure (SBP) of less than 100 mm Hg have been excluded from landmark trials.

Patients And Methods: In this multicenter study conducted between January 1, 2013, and December 31, 2021, a total of 7562 symptomatic patients with HFrEF were enrolled and grouped by SBP (hypotension was defined as an SBP of less than 100 mm Hg) and ARNi use as follows: group 1, hypotensive/non-ARNi users (n=484); group 2, hypotensive/ARNi users (n=308); group 3, nonhypotensive/non-ARNi users (n=4560); and group 4, nonhypotensive/ARNi users (n=2210). Inverse probability of treatment weighting was used to balance baseline characteristics for survival analysis.

Right ventricular scalloping index as cardiac magnetic resonance-derived marker for diagnosis of arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy.

Background: The cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) evaluation of right ventricular (RV) morphologic abnormalities in patients with arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) is subjective. Here, we aimed to use a quantitative index, the right ventricular scalloping index (RVSI), to standardize the measurement of RV free wall scalloping and aid in the imaging diagnosis.

Methods: We retrospectively included 15 patients with definite ARVC and 45 age- and sex-matched patients with idiopathic right ventricular outflow tract ventricular arrhythmia (RVOT-VA) as controls.

Deep learning-based workflow for automatic extraction of atria and epicardial adipose tissue on cardiac computed tomography in atrial fibrillation.

Background: Preoperative estimation of the volume of the left atrium (LA) and epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) on computed tomography (CT) images is associated with an increased risk of atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence. We aimed to design a deep learning-based workflow to provide reliable automatic segmentation of the atria, pericardium, and EAT for future applications in the management of AF.

Methods: This study enrolled 157 patients with AF who underwent first-time catheter ablation between January 2015 and December 2017 at Taipei Veterans General Hospital.

The impact of sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitors on dementia and cardiovascular events in diabetic patients with atrial fibrillation.

Aims: The effectiveness of sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) on incident dementia in patients with diabetes and atrial fibrillation (AF) remains unknown. This study aimed to investigate the association between SGLT2i and the risk of incident dementia in diabetic patients with AF, and to explore the interactions with oral anticoagulants or dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (DPP4i).

Materials And Methods: We conducted a cohort study using Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database.

Catheter ablation in patients with atrial fibrillation and dilated cardiomyopathy.

Introduction: Catheter ablation is an effective and safe strategy for treating atrial fibrillation patients. Nevertheless, studies on the long-term outcomes of catheter ablation in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy are limited. This study aimed to assess the electrophysiological characteristics of atrial fibrillation patients with dilated cardiomyopathy and compare the long-term clinical outcomes between patients undergoing catheter ablation and medical therapy.

Skin sympathetic nerve activity in different ablation settings for atrial fibrillation.

Background: Modifying the autonomic system after catheter ablation may prevent the recurrence of atrial fibrillation (AF). Evaluation of skin sympathetic nerve activity (SKNA) is a noninvasive method for the assessment of sympathetic activity. However, there are few studies on the effects of different energy settings on SKNA.

Pitfalls for the non-invasive diagnosis of wild-type transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy in a young adult: a case report.

Background: Using technetium (Tc)-labelled pyrophosphate (PYP) cardiac scintigraphy, a non-invasive diagnosis of transthyretin amyloid (ATTR) cardiomyopathy can be made without histopathological confirmation. In patients suspected of ATTR cardiomyopathy, however, atypical presentations may necessitate further investigation.

Case Summary: A 30-year-old man with hypertension and end-stage renal disease on peritoneal dialysis presented with progressive exertional dyspnoea.

Fractal complexity alternations in paroxysmal atrial fibrillation patients with and without recurrence after pulmonary vein isolation.

Background: Pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) is a cornerstone therapy for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF). The variations in nonlinear heart rate variability (HRV) between patients with and without recurrences remain unclear. We aimed to characterize the nonlinear HRV before and after PVI in patients with and without recurrence.