Publications by authors named "Hailei Liu"
Background: Managing hypertriglyceridemia-induced acute pancreatitis (HTG-AP) can be challenging, particularly due to the need for rapid triglyceride reduction to below 500mg/dL (5.645mmol/L).
Case Report: This is a case describing a 39-year-old female patient who presented to the Emergency Department with acute abdominal pain resulting from severe HTG-AP.
Introduction: Long-term heart failure hospitalization (HFH) after radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) in atrial fibrillation (AF) patients with heart failure and preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) and its risk factors remain to be investigated.
Methods: AF patients with HFpEF who underwent RFCA from January, 2014 to December, 2018 from three centers were retrospectively included. Patients were assigned to the training and testing cohorts, respectively.
Background: While bipolar voltage (BV) is acknowledged as an indicator of viable cardiomyocyte activation, unipolar recording has emerged as an alternative technique due to its advantage of providing a wider field of view. This study aims to compare the efficacy of unipolar voltage (UV) versus BV in predicting ablation recurrence in atrial fibrillation patients.
Methods: In Substrate Ablation in the Left Atrium during Sinus Rhythm Trial III, 375 patients completed the follow-up with preserved mapping data were included in the analysis.
Background: An isolation line placed at the pulmonary vein antrum (PVA) area is superior to ostium level in atrial fibrillation (AF) control. However, less is known about the electrophysiologic characteristics of the PVA.
Objective: The aim of this study was to describe the electrophysiologic properties of the PVA.
Article Synopsis
- Atrial fibrosis affects the success of catheter ablation treatment for atrial fibrillation, with fibrotic tissues detectable through the amplitude of the fibrillatory wave (F-wave).
- The study involved 704 patients with persistent atrial fibrillation and validated findings with an additional 101 patients, using a 12-lead ECG to measure F-wave amplitudes and calculate a FWA score.
- Results indicated that the FWA score is a stronger predictor of AF recurrence than other clinical models, achieving an AUC of 0.812 and confirming similar effectiveness in external validation with an AUC of 0.768.
In the western Junggar Basin, various oil and gas phases, such as black oil, volatile oil, condensate, and gas, have been discovered and reported. However, the primary factors responsible for the variations in oil and gas phases in different regions of the basin are not yet clearly understood. This study uses geochemical analyses, numerical simulations, and geological analyses to determine the extent of gas invasion in different regions, simulate the mechanism of gas invasion altering phase behavior, and shed light on its significant impact on fluid phases in hydrocarbons across diverse regions.
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- This study evaluated ways to distinguish between idiopathic ventricular arrhythmias originating from the right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) and the aortic sinus of Valsalva (ASV) using ECG parameters from precordial leads.
- It examined data from 150 patients who underwent ablation for these arrhythmias, ultimately developing an RV1+RV3 index (the sum of R-wave amplitudes in leads V1 and V3) that showed strong predictive ability with high sensitivity and specificity.
- The findings suggest that the RV1+RV3 index is a more effective diagnostic tool than previous methods, offering a simplified approach for clinicians in identifying ASV IVAs.
Article Synopsis
- A study investigated the occurrence of new-onset atrial fibrillation (NeAF) in patients after undergoing cavotricuspid isthmus-dependent counterclockwise atrial flutter ablation (CCW-AFL) and aimed to create a predictive model for it.
- Researchers analyzed data from 271 patients over a six-year follow-up period, finding that 39.5% developed NeAF; specific factors such as age, hypertension, and heart size were significant in predicting this outcome.
- The resulting HAD-AF score effectively identified at-risk patients, demonstrated better predictive capability than existing scoring systems like CHADS-VAS and HATCH.
Background: Female sex has long been recognized to present a higher risk of stroke and atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence after circumferential pulmonary vein isolation (CPVI) than in males. However, the underlying mechanisms and benefits of additional low-voltage area (LVA) modification in women remain unknown.
Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate differences in atrial substrate and efficacy of additive LVA ablation between sex subgroups.
Article Synopsis
- Endovascular left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) can lead to silent cerebral embolism (SCE), and there's a hypothesis that targeting a higher activated clotting time (ACT) during the procedure may reduce this risk.
- A study involved two patient groups, one maintaining an ACT of ≥250 seconds and the other ≥300 seconds, with their brain health assessed through MRI.
- Results showed that a stable, higher ACT level (≥300 s) significantly reduced SCE incidents compared to a lower ACT, without raising the risk of major bleeding.
Article Synopsis
- Pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) is a key procedure for treating atrial fibrillation (AF), and the study compares its effectiveness under general anesthesia (GA) versus conscious sedation (CS).
- 36 patients under GA and 109 under CS were analyzed, with a final comparison of 29 matched pairs based on similar characteristics.
- Results showed that GA patients had shorter PVI times, fewer gaps, and higher ratios for successful ablation measures compared to those under CS, suggesting that GA enhances both the quality and efficiency of the procedure.
Article Synopsis
- * Among 132 participants, those with q waves (qLBBB (+) group) had a significantly higher CRT non-response rate (68.8%) compared to those without q waves (qLBBB (-) group) at 33.3%.
- * The presence of these q waves is identified as a strong independent predictor of CRT non-response, with an odds ratio of 4.8, indicating that patients with these waves are more likely to not benefit
Article Synopsis
- The study explores the relationship between P-wave terminal force in lead V (PTFV) and low-voltage area (LVA) in the left atrium among older patients (65-80 years) with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF).
- Researchers found that patients with abnormal PTFV exhibited significantly larger areas of LVA compared to those with normal PTFV (11.0 cm vs. 5.1 cm).
- Despite the differences in LVA, the long-term AF-free survival rates after treatment were similar between those with normal and abnormal PTFV.
Persistent left superior vena cava isolation in patients with atrial fibrillation: Selective or empirical?
Pacing Clin Electrophysiol
November 2023
Article Synopsis
- * A study of 3950 patients showed that 17 had PLSVC; most had prior pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) and many benefited from isolating PLSVC during treatment.
- * After an average follow-up of about 28 months, about 76.5% of patients were free from AF or atrial tachycardia, suggesting that isolating PLSVC is a promising method to reduce AF recurrence.
Unusual electrocardiographic findings in patient with myocardial infarction.
J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol
November 2023
Scar-related atrial macroreentries: Different arrhymogenic basis generates different reentry type.
Pacing Clin Electrophysiol
July 2023
Article Synopsis
- Catheter ablation is used to treat scar-related macroreentry atrial tachycardia (MAT), but the specific characteristics of different types of scars and their arrhythmogenic properties are not fully understood.
- A study involving 122 patients categorized scars as spontaneous or iatrogenic and identified three types of MAT based on the relationship between scar location and reentry circuits, with significant differences in reentry types between the two groups.
- The study found that iatrogenic scars had a lower recurrence rate of MAT compared to spontaneous scars, emphasizing the need to tailor ablation strategies to improve long-term outcomes based on scar properties.
Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy With Extensive Abnormal Substrate: Is Isolation Possible?
JACC Clin Electrophysiol
August 2023
Article Synopsis
- This study investigates a new approach for treating arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) patients who experience ventricular tachycardia (VT) due to significant abnormalities in the right ventricular free wall (RVFW).
- Eight ARVC patients with extensive RVFW substrate were treated using a combination of voltage mapping and targeted electrical isolation techniques, which involved creating lesions in the abnormal areas to prevent VT.
- Results showed that 87.5% of patients remained free of sustained VT after treatment, suggesting that RVFW electrical isolation is a promising strategy for managing VT in ARVC patients with significant substrate abnormalities.
Article Synopsis
- - The study investigated the link between 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), a marker of DNA damage, and left atrial (LA) fibrosis in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) through two parts: examining the relationship with LA voltage mapping and finding genetic factors influencing 8-OHdG levels.
- - In Part I with 209 AF patients, higher levels of 8-OHdG were associated with more advanced stages of low voltage areas (LVA) in the heart, indicating worse fibrosis, with statistical significance (P<0.000).
- - Part II included 175 patients and identified that DNA methylation was a significant genetic influence on 8
Predictors of pacemaker implantation within three months after catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation.
Pacing Clin Electrophysiol
July 2023
Article Synopsis
- The study analyzed the risk of needing a pacemaker after radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) for atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients treated between August 2018 and October 2020.
- Out of 1,005 patients, 23 (2.3%) required a pacemaker within 3 months post-ablation, with older age, female sex, paroxysmal AF, and repeated ablation identified as significant risk factors for needing one.
- The study suggests a "watch and wait" approach for patients with temporary pacemaker implantation, particularly those experiencing prolonged sinus pauses after their AF is resolved.
Article Synopsis
- * Among 90 analyzed patients, 60% experienced complete resolution of atrial thrombus, primarily located in the left atrial appendage (LAA).
- * Risk factors for nonresolution included having congestive heart failure and a history of ischemic stroke, highlighting that even with anticoagulation, further imaging like TEE or cardiac CTA may be necessary.
Article Synopsis
- - This study investigates the long-term effects of ablation treatment in young patients with bundle branch reentrant ventricular tachycardia (BBRT) who do not have structural heart disease (SHD)
- It involved 11 patients with a median follow-up of 72 months, revealing significant increases in PR interval and QRS duration, indicating worsening heart conduction
- Genetic testing found potential pathogenic variants in 6 out of 10 patients, suggesting a genetic predisposition may contribute to the observed clinical deterioration in the His-Purkinje system.
Article Synopsis
- The study investigates the prevalence and characteristics of right atrial tachycardia (AT) in patients after undergoing ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF), involving 220 patients over a ten-year period.
- Of the patients, 35 (15.9%) experienced AT recurrence and were split into two groups based on the presence of right exclusive or combined left ATs.
- Results showed that right ATs primarily originated from specific areas in the right atrium, with a much lower recurrence rate in the group with only right ATs compared to the one with combined ATs, indicating differences in long-term outcomes based on the type of tachycardia.