Concomitant Pulmonary Vein Isolation for induced Atrial fibrillation to reduce future risk of atrial fibrillation following Ablation for Isolated Atrial Flutter.

Background: A significant proportion of patients with isolated atrial flutter (AFL) will develop atrial fibrillation (AF) following cavotricuspid isthmus (CTI) ablation.

Objective: To determine whether concomitant pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) could reduce the incidence of new-onset atrial fibrillation (NOAF) in the setting of inducible AF following CTI ablation.

Methods: A total of 275 consecutive patients with isolated AFL who successfully underwent CTI ablation were included.

Clinical application of a modified wiltse approach in middle and lower thoracic vertebrae: a case-control study of thoracic fracture patients.

Background: The Wiltse approach has been extensively employed in thoracolumbar surgeries due to its minimal muscle damage. However, in the middle and lower thoracic spine, the conventional Wiltse approach necessitates the severance of the latissimus dorsi and trapezius muscles, potentially leading to muscular injury. Consequently, we propose a modified Wiltse approach for the middle and lower thoracic vertebrae, which may further mitigate muscular damage.

Spiked Helmet Sign: An Uncommon Electrocardiographic Marker.

The spiked helmet sign (SHS) is a rare electrocardiographic marker associated with an increased risk of lethal ventricular tachyarrhythmias and sudden cardiac death. To our knowledge, this is the first study aimed at reviewing recent research progress on this electrocardiogram (ECG) pattern to summarize its electrophysiological mechanisms, epidemiological features, clinical characteristics, and clinical significance. SHS formation is attributed to sympathetic hyperactivity, which mediates increased dispersion of ventricular repolarization, leading to marked QT prolongation and macroscopic T-wave alternans.

An annotated grain kernel image database for visual quality inspection.

We present a machine vision-based database named GrainSet for the purpose of visual quality inspection of grain kernels. The database contains more than 350K single-kernel images with experts' annotations. The grain kernels used in the study consist of four types of cereal grains including wheat, maize, sorghum and rice, and were collected from over 20 regions in 5 countries.

Re-recognize early recurrence of persistent atrial fibrillation.

Aims: Few studies on early recurrence (ER) focused on patients with persistent atrial fibrillation (AF). We aimed to investigate the characteristics and clinical significance of ER in patients with persistent AF after catheter ablation (CA).

Methods: A total of 348 consecutive patients who underwent first-time CA for persistent and long-standing persistent AF between January 2019 and May 2022 were investigated.

The Clinical Diagnosis and Management of Long QT Syndrome: Insights from the 2022 ESC Guidelines.

Long QT syndrome (LQTS) is an uncommon disorder that is characterized by QT prolongation and torsade de pointes leading to sudden cardiac death. It is mainly triggered by adrenergic activation. Since LQTS is rare, it is often underdiagnosed.

Catheter ablation in combined procedures is associated with residual leaks.

Objectives: To compare patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) undergoing left atrial appendage closure (LAAC) with catheter ablation (CA) and those without CA.

Background: The CA of AF may cause ridge edema, which may affect the safety of LAAC.

Methods: Patients with AF ( = 98) who underwent LAAC (combined CA + LAAC procedure group; = 51) or alone (LAAC group; = 47) received pre-procedural, intra-procedural, and 6 week post-procedural transesophageal echocardiography (TEE).

Short-coupled variant of torsade de pointes: A systematic review of case reports and case series.

Background: The short-coupled variant of torsade de pointes (scTdP) is characterized by a particular electrocardiogram (ECG) pattern that shows a short-coupling interval of the initial Tdp beat and that can degenerate into ventricular fibrillation without the presence of structural heart disease. However, its etiology, epidemiology, clinical characteristics, underlying mechanism, treatment, and prognosis remain unclear. This study aimed to systematically review case reports and series of scTdP to synthesize existing data on the demography, clinical characteristics, ECG features, management, and outcomes.

Effectiveness and Safety of High-Power Radiofrequency Ablation Guided by Ablation Index for the Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation.

Background: To investigate the efficacy and safety of ablation index- (AI-) guided high-power radiofrequency ablation in the treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF).

Methods: Outcomes of radiofrequency (RF) applications were compared in a swine ventricular endocardial model ( = 10 each for 50 W, 40 W, and 30 W; AI = 500). And a total of 100 consecutive patients with paroxysmal AF undergoing pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) were included.

New Discovery of Left Atrial Macroreentry Tachycardia: Originating from the Spontaneous Scarring of Left Atrial Anterior Wall.

Aims: This study sought to describe left atrial macroreentry tachycardia (LAMRT) originating from the spontaneous scarring of left atrial anterior wall (LAAW) and its clinical and electrophysiological characteristics, mechanisms, and the formation of substrates.

Methods And Results: 9 of 123 patients (89% female, age 79.78 ± 5.

[A case of tuberous sclerosis complex due to a novel splicing variant of TSC2 gene].

Objective: To explore the genetic basis for a patient with tuberous sclerosis complex.

Methods: Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood samples from members of his family and 100 unrelated healthy controls. The proband was subjected to next-generation sequencing, and candidate variant was confirmed by multiple ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) and Sanger sequencing.

IL-37d Negatively Regulates NLRP3 Transcription via Receptor-mediated Pathway and Alleviates DSS-induced Colitis.

Background: Interleukin-37 (IL-37) is a new negative immune regulator. It has 5 splicing forms, IL-37a-e, and most research mainly focuses on IL-37b functions in diverse diseases. Our previous research found that IL-37d inhibits lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammation in endotoxemia through a mechanism different from that of IL-37b.

A novel ablation strategy of premature ventricular contractions originating from summit guided by CartoUNIVU module.

Background: Premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) from left ventricular (LV) summit remain challenging for the risk of coronary artery injury. Computed tomographic or intracardiac echocardiography may be helpful, but both still have many limitations. CartoUNIVU module has rarely been used in PVC ablation.

Programmed cell death 4 as an endogenous suppressor of BDNF translation is involved in stress-induced depression.

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a growth factor that plays vital roles in the neuron survival, growth, and neuroplasticity. Alteration to BDNF expression is associated with major depressive disorder. However, the BDNF translational machinery in depression remains unknown.

Advances in the chemistry, pharmacological diversity, and metabolism of 20()-ginseng saponins.

Ginseng has been used as a popular herbal medicine in East Asia for at least two millennia. However, 20()-ginseng saponins, one class of important rare ginsenosides, are rare in natural products. 20()-ginseng saponins are generally prepared by chemical epimerization and microbial transformation from 20()-isomers.

Molecular machine and gold/graphene quantum dot hybrid based dual amplification strategy for voltammetric detection of VEGF165.

Graphene quantum dots (GQDs) were prepared via pyrolysis of citric acid and glutamic acid, then reacted with chlorauric acid to form a gold/graphene quantum dot hybrid (Au/GQD), and finally connected with hairpin DNA probe 1 (H1) and thionine (Thi). The H1-Au/GQD-Thi composite is found to be a viable redox probe for electrochemical and aptamer-based determination of vascular endothelial growth factor VEGF165. A dual amplification strategy is employed based on the use of molecular machine and the Au/GQD.

Combination of catheter ablation for non-valvular atrial fibrillation and left atrial appendage occlusion in a single procedure.

Patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) have an increased risk of stroke and systemic embolism. Catheter ablation (CA) is increasingly applied for the treatment for drug-refractory AF; however, its long-term success rate is <50%. It has been proved that percutaneous left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) exerts the same efficacy as novel oral anti-coagulants [(N)OACs] in reducing thromboembolic events.

MiR-30a-5p inhibits osteosarcoma cell proliferation and migration by targeting FOXD1.

Despite a number of studies have emphasized the extensive role of microRNA (miRNA) in the development of multiple cancers, the role of miR-30a-5p in the progression of osteosarcoma (OS) and the underlying mechanism are still limited. We detected the expression level of MiR-30a-5p and forkhead box D1 (FOXD1) in Clinical OS specimens and found that miR-30a-5p was significantly decreased while FOXD1 was markedly increased. Dual luciferase assay confirmed that FOXD1 was directly regulated by miR-30a-5p.

IL-37 isoform D downregulates pro-inflammatory cytokines expression in a Smad3-dependent manner.

IL-37 is a new member of IL-1 family and possesses five different isoforms (named as IL-37 a-e). IL-37b has been demonstrated as a physiological suppressor of immune responses. However, the function of other isoforms remains unknown.

Pre-synaptic TrkB in basolateral amygdala neurons mediates BDNF signaling transmission in memory extinction.

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and its high affinity receptor, TrkB, play an essential role in memory extinction. Our previous work has shown that JIP3 (JNK interacted protein 3) mediates anterograde axonal transport of TrkB through the direct binding of its coiled-coil domain 1 (CC1) with TrkB. Here, we constructed a fluorescent CC1 and enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) fused protein, CC1-EGFP, and found that CC1-EGFP could specifically interrupt TrkB anterograde axonal transport and its localization at the pre-synaptic site.

Association of white blood cell counts with left ventricular mass index in hypertensive patients undergoing anti-hypertensive drug therapy.

Although studies using animal models have demonstrated that nonhemodynamic factors, including inflammatory cells and cytokines, contribute to left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), there is little clinical data to confirm this association. Therefore in the present study, levels of circulating specific types of leukocyte were measured to determine the association between white blood cells and left ventricular mass index (LVMI) in hypertensive patients undergoing anti-hypertensive drug therapy. A total of 144 consecutive hypertensive patients taking anti-hypertensive drug therapy were enrolled in the current study.

Second-generation versus first-generation drug-eluting stents in saphenous vein graftdisease: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Background: Second-generation drug-eluting stents (DESs) have become increasingly popular devices for patients with saphenous vein graft (SVG) disease. Second-generation DESs were designed to have more safety and efficacy than first-generation DES, but clinical outcomes in SVG disease remain conflicting.

Methods And Results: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were identified when comparing second- versus first-generation DESs in SVG disease.

Oral sophocarpine protects rat heart against pressure overload-induced cardiac fibrosis.

Context: Sophocarpine, a tetracyclic quinolizidine alkaloid, is one of the most abundant active ingredients in Sophora alopecuroides Linn. (Kudouzi). Sophocarpine injection was found to have significant antiviral effects against coxsackievirus B3 and therapeutic effects for viral myocarditis in the clinic.

Association between endothelial nitric oxide synthase polymorphisms and atrial fibrillation: a meta-analysis.

Several recent studies have focused on the association between the promoter polymorphisms 786T/C of the endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) gene and susceptibility to atrial fibrillation (AF); however, results have been conflicting. We searched Medline, Embase, and the ISI Web of Science through July 1, 2011. Five studies with 1,130 AF cases and 2,340 controls were selected.

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha G-308 A polymorphism and risk of coronary heart disease and myocardial infarction: A case-control study and meta-analysis.

Objectives: The tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) gene may play an important role in coronary heart disease (CHD) and myocardial infarction (MI) risk. Recently, controversial results regarding the association of the G-308 A (rs1800629)polymorphism of the TNF-α gene with CHD/MI have been reported. We herein examine a possible association between the G-308 A (rs1800629)polymorphism of the TNF-α gene and CHD/MI in a sample of the Chinese Han population.