Air Pollution, Genetic Susceptibility, and the Risk of Ventricular Arrhythmias: A prospective cohort study in the UK Biobank.

Aims: Both genetic and environmental factors contribute to the development of ventricular arrhythmias (VAs). However, the extent to which genetic susceptibility modifies the effects of air pollutants on the risk of VAs remains poorly understood.

Methods: This study included 491,305 participants without VAs at baseline from UK Biobank.

Higher Cumulative Blood Pressure in Midlife Predicts an Increased Risk of Atrial Fibrillation: Evidence From the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study.

Background: Elevated blood pressure (BP) is reportedly associated with an increased risk of atrial fibrillation (AF). However, the association between cumulative BP exposure in midlife and incident AF in mid-to-late life remains unclear.

Methods And Results: Participants enrolled in the ARIC (Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities) study with 4 consecutive BP measurements and no prevalent AF at baseline were included.

Role of ideal cardiovascular health metrics in reducing risk of incident arrhythmias.

Aims: Cardiovascular health (CVH) has been proven to reduce cardiovascular disease burden and mortality, but data are lacking regarding cardiac arrhythmias. The aim of this study was to assess the association between CVH metrics and atrial fibrillation/flutter (AF), ventricular arrhythmias, and bradyarrhythmias.

Methods And Results: This study analysed data from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) cohort, with participants recruited from four different communities across the United States.

Prevalence and modifiable risk factors of degenerative valvular heart disease among elderly population in southern China.

Objective: To investigate the prevalence and modifiable risk factors of degenerative valvular heart disease (DVHD) among elderly population in southern China.

Methods: A stratified multistage sampling method was used to recruit subjects. The contents of the survey included the questionnaire, laboratory examination, echocardiography, and other auxiliary examinations.

Left atrial enlargement and non-paroxysmal atrial fibrillation as risk factors for left atrial thrombus/spontaneous Echo contrast in patients with atrial fibrillation and low CHADS-VASc score.

Objective: To determine the risk factors for thromboembolism in lower risk patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (AF) and low CHADS-VASc scores, which remain undefined.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the baseline clinical characteristics, routine laboratory parameters, and echocardiographic measurements of 705 patients (71.1% male; mean age: 52.

Inability to capture with increasing current strength: Is this near-field or far-field?

We present a case of wide-complex tachycardia in which the clinical electrophysiological diagnosis was considered to be bundle branch re-entry ventricular tachycardia. A series of ventricular entrainment attempts were performed from the left and right ventricular septum to confirm the diagnosis. Entrainment pacing with a general current output (10 mA) was performed from the right ventricular septum with manifest fusion and a post-pacing interval similar to tachycardia cycle length.

Association between elevated blood glucose level and non-valvular atrial fibrillation: a report from the Guangzhou heart study.

Background: To estimate the prevalence of elevated blood glucose level (EBG, including type 2 diabetes mellitus and impaired fasting glucose), and its association with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) in Guangzhou, China.

Methods: The population-based follow-up Guangzhou Heart Study collected baseline data from July 2015 to August 2017 among 12,013 permanent residents aged > 35 from 4 Guangzhou districts. Two streets (Dadong and Baiyun) in the Yuexiu District, and one street (Xiaoguwei) and two towns (Xinzao and Nancun) in the Panyu District were chosen as representative of urban and rural areas, respectively.

High prevalence of hyperuricaemia and its impact on non-valvular atrial fibrillation: the cross-sectional Guangzhou (China) Heart Study.

Objectives: There are country and regional variations in the prevalence of hyperuricaemia (HUA). The prevalence of HUA and non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) in southern China is unknown.

Design: A cross-sectional study.

Transvenous dual-chamber pacemaker implantation in patients with persistent left superior vena cava.

Background: Persistent left superior vena cava (PLSVC) is a rare congenital vascular anomaly. Permanent pacemaker implantation (PPI) in patients with PLSVC can be challenging because of the venous anomalies. We reported a case series of patients with PLSVC who underwent PPI with double active fixation leads.

Unique electrocardiographic pattern "w" wave in lead I of idiopathic ventricular arrhythmias arising from the distal great cardiac vein.

Background: The ECG characteristics of the distal coronary venous system ventricular arrhythmias (VAs) share common features with VAs arising from the aortic cusps or the endocardial left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) beneath the cusps. The purpose of this study was to identify specific electrocardiographic and electrophysiological characteristics of VAs originating from the distal great cardiac vein (GCV).

Methods: Based on the successful ablation site, patients with idiopathic VAs from the distal GCV, left coronary cusp (LCC) or the subvalvular left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) area were included in the present study.

Clinical, sonographic characteristics and long-term prognosis of valvular heart disease in elderly patients.

Background: Valvular heart disease (VHD) is expected to become more prevail as the population ages and disproportionately affects older adults. However, direct comparison of clinical characteristics, sonographic diagnosis, and outcomes in VHD patients aged over 65 years is scarce. The objective of this study was to evaluate the differences in clinical characteristics and prognosis in two age-groups of geriatric patients with VHD.

Mid-term outcomes of concomitant left atrial appendage closure and catheter ablation for non-valvular atrial fibrillation: a multicenter registry.

To investigate the safety and midterm outcome of concomitant left atrial appendage (LAA) closure and catheter ablation (CA) as a one-stage hybrid procedure for non-valvular atrial fibrillation (AF) in a multicenter registry. A total of 50 consecutive patients with symptomatic drug-resistant non-valvular AF with CHADS-VASc score ≥ 2 and contraindications for antithrombotic therapy were included in the prospectively established LAA closure registry, and underwent concomitant LAA closure (48 for WATCHMAN and 2 for ACP) and CA procedure (40 for radiofrequency and 10 for cryoballoon CA). Two cardiac tamponades, one peripheral vascular complications and one mild air embolism were observed during perioperative period.

Characteristics, Mechanism and Long-Term Ablation Outcome of Atrial Tachycardias After Mitral Valvular Surgery and Concomitant Cox-MAZE IV Procedure.

The incidence of atrial tachycardia (AT) after rheumatic mitral valvular (RMV) surgery has been well described. However, there have been few reports on the characteristics, mechanism, and long-term ablation outcome of ATs after RMV surgery and concomitant Cox-MAZE IV procedure.The present study reviewed consecutive patients who underwent AT ablation between May 2008 and July 2013.

Predictive value of red cell distribution width on left atrial thrombus or left atrial spontaneous echo contrast in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation.

Objective: To evaluate the predictive value of red cell distribution width (RDW) on left atrial thrombus (LAT) or left atrial spontaneous echo contrast (LASEC) in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (AF).

Methods: We reviewed 692 patients who were diagnosed as non-valvular AF and underwent transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) in Guangdong Cardiovascular Institute from April 2014 to December 2015. The baseline clinical characteristics, laboratory test of blood routine, electrocardiograph measurements were analyzed.

Association of Thromboembolic Risk Score with Left Atrial Thrombus and Spontaneous Echocardiographic Contrast in Non-Anticoagulated Nonvalvular Atrial Fibrillation Patients.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to examine the association of CHADS2/CHA2DS2-VASc scores with left atrial thrombus (LAT) and spontaneous echocardiographic contrast (SEC) in non-anticoagulated nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) spontaneous patients, and to develop a new scoring system for LAT/SEC prediction.

Methods: Consecutive non-anticoagulated NVAF patients with or without LAT/SEC by transesophageal echocardiography were identified in the Guangdong General Hospital.

Results: Among 2,173 patients, the prevalence of LAT/SEC was 4.

Predictive effect of hyperuricemia on left atrial stasis in non-valvular atrial fibrillation patients.

Objectives: To investigate the relationship between hyperuricemia and left atrial thrombus (LAT)/spontaneous echo contrast (SEC) and to determine the predictive value of hyperuricemia in non-valvular (NV) atrial fibrillation (AF) patients.

Methods: The study retrospectively reviewed 1198 consecutive patients (male 801, female 397, and mean age of 56.84 ± 12.

Clinical Prediction Score for Successful Retrograde Procedure in Chronic Total Occlusion Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

Objective: To develop and validate a prediction score for a successful retrograde procedure in chronic total occlusion (CTO) percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Methods: A total of 228 CTO lesions in 223 patients who underwent PCI by retrograde approach were analyzed. All subjects were randomly grouped to a derivation set and a validation set at a ratio of 2:1.

A new electrophysiologic observation in patients with idiopathic left ventricular tachycardia.

Background: In patients with idiopathic left ventricular tachycardia (ILVT), the arrhythmogenic substrate is poorly understood.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to elucidate the ILVT characteristics and outcome of radiofrequency catheter ablation in patients with ILVT.

Methods: Twenty-four patients with ILVT and 15 patients with left accessory pathways (control) underwent high-density mapping of the left His-Purkinje system during sinus rhythm (SR) using 3-dimensional electroanatomic mapping.

Predictive value of serum uric acid on left atrial spontaneous echo contrast in non-valvular atrial fibrillation patients.

Objectives: To investigate the relationship between serum uric acid (SUA) and left atrial spontaneous echo contrast (LA-SEC) in non-valvular atrial fibrillation (AF) patients.

Methods: We retrospectively screened 1,476 consecutive hospitalized patients with AF who underwent transesophageal echocardiography prior to radiofrequency catheter ablation, left atrial appendage closure and electric cardioversion at Guangdong General Hospital. Data on the clinical baseline characteristics of all patients were collected from electronic medical records and analyzed.