Unipolar and bipolar electrogram characteristics of recurrent cases of idiopathic ventricular arrhythmias undergoing repeat catheter ablation.

Introduction: Activation mapping guided catheter ablation (CA) of ventricular arrhythmias (VAs) is limited in some cases when it is only relied on bipolar electrogram (EGM). We hypothesized that activation mapping with use of combined bipolar and unipolar EGM facilitates to identify the focal origin of VAs and results in reduction of recurrence rate of CA of VAs.

Methods: We analyzed the data of patients undergoing repeat ablations for idiopathic out-flow tract VAs.

Enhanced alcohol degradation and hepatic protective effects of an -derived product, CureZyme-ACE, in an acute intoxication rat model.

Excessive alcohol consumption induces acute intoxication and various hepatic diseases. In this study, we investigated the effect of the CureZyme-ACE (CA), (AP)-derived product, in acute intoxication rats. The ethanol and acetaldehyde levels of serum were lower in rats treated with CA than those who only treated ethanol.

Rescue Extracorporeal Bypass to Prevent Atrioesophageal Fistula-related Air Embolism.

Atrioesophageal fistula (AEF) is a rare but disastrous complication encountered after radiofrequency catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation or flutter. Furthermore cerebral air embolism due to AEF is considered a strong predictor of mortality. In our case a patient presented with AEF and cerebral air embolism.

Two women presenting aborted sudden cardiac arrest as the first event of mitral valve disease.

Mitral valve prolapse (MVP) is a relatively common valvular heart disease and is known to have a benign course. However, a certain subtype of MVP has a pathologic prognosis and can be accompanied by malignant cardiac arrhythmia causing sudden cardiac arrest, which can be characterized by bileaflet mitral valvular thickening and prolapse and frequent premature ventricular ectopic activity upon electrocardiography. Herein, we present two patients with bileaflet mitral prolapse who survived aborted sudden cardiac arrest.

Rationale, design, and endpoints of the 'DEvice-Detected CArdiac Tachyarrhythmic Events and Sleep-disordered Breathing (DEDiCATES)' study: Prospective multicenter observational study of device-detected tachyarrhythmia and sleep-disordered breathing.

Background: Few studies have investigated the prognostic value of cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED)-detection of sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) for risk stratification of cardiovascular events. In the Device-Detected CArdiac Tachyarrhythmic events and Sleep-disordered breathing (DEDiCATES) study, we aim to determine whether device-detected SDB events are associated with increased risk of cardiac arrhythmias or other cardiovascular outcomes.

Methods And Design: Six-hundred patients (300 patients with low-voltage pacing devices and 300 with high-voltage defibrillator devices) who have dual chamber CIEDs with AP Scan™ function (Boston Scientific Inc.

Effects of different types of salts on the growth of lactic acid bacteria and yeasts during kimchi fermentation.

Kimchi was prepared with different types of salts: purified salt (PS), solar salt aged for 1 year (SS1), aged for 3 years (SS3), and bamboo salt (BS). Kimchi inoculated with P30 (starter kimchi), and control kimchi (non-starter kimchi) were prepared, and stored at - 1 °C for 20 weeks. Titratable acidity values increased slowly and reached 0.

Properties of Kimchi Fermented with GABA-Producing Lactic Acid Bacteria as a Starter.

Kimchi (a traditional Korean fermented vegetable) was prepared with a starter, GU240 producing γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), and one precursor of GABA (glutamic acid, glutamic acid monosodium salt (MSG), or kelp extract). GU240, an isolate from kimchi, can grow at 7% NaCl and low temperature. Five different kimchi samples were fermented for 20 weeks at -1°C.

Evaluation of sex differences in the relationship between diastolic dysfunction and thromboembolism using propensity score analysis.

Background: Female sex is a risk factor for thromboembolism (TE) in atrial fibrillation (AF); however, the underlying mechanisms are unclear. We postulated that left ventricular (LV) diastolic dysfunction (LVDD) could be associated with increased thromboembolic risk in women.

Methods: From a retrospective cohort, 158 patients (female : male = 79:79) with nonvalvular AF were propensity score-matched for age, presence of diabetes, hypertension, coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, embolic history, AF type, and AF duration.

Value of adenosine test to reveal dormant conduction or adenosine-induced atrial fibrillation after pulmonary vein isolation.

Background: Recent studies investigating the implications of additional ablation guided by dormant pulmonary vein (PV) conduction testing using adenosine showed conflicting results, and the data about atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence after trigger site elimination in adenosine-induced AF are still lacking.

Methods: Of 846 patients with paroxysmal AF (PAF) who underwent PV isolation (PVI), adenosine test after PVI was performed in 148 patients.

Results: PVI was successfully achieved in 846 patients.

Microbial Communities and Physicochemical Properties of Myeolchi Jeotgal (Anchovy Jeotgal) Prepared with Different Types of Salts.

Myeolchi jeotgals (MJs) were prepared with purified salt (PS), solar salt aged for 1 year (SS), and bamboo salt (BS) melted 3 times at 10% and 20% (w/w) concentrations, and fermented for 28 weeks at 15°C. BS MJ showed higher pH and lower titratable acidities than the other samples because of the alkalinity of bamboo salt. Lactic acid bacteria counts increased until 4-6 weeks and then decreased gradually, and were not detected after 20 weeks from MJs with 10% salt.

Effects of Different Salt Treatments on the Fermentation Metabolites and Bacterial Profiles of Kimchi.

The effects of purified salt (PS) and mineral-rich sea salt (MRS), both with different mineral profiles, on kimchi fermentation were studied using a culture-dependent 16S rRNA sequencing technique and mass-based metabolomic analysis. The different mineral profiles in the fermentation medium caused changes in the bacterial profiles of the 2 kimchi products. An increase of Leuconostoc species in MRS-kimchi decreased the Lactobacillus/Leuconostoc ratio, which led to changes in metabolites (including sugars, amino acids, organic acids, lipids, sulfur compounds, and terpenoids) associated with kimchi quality.

Characterization of a Glutamate Decarboxylase (GAD) from M5 Isolated from Jeotgal, a Korean Fermented Seafood.

To develop starters for the production of functional foods or materials, lactic acid bacteria producing γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) were screened from jeotgals, Korean fermented seafoods. One isolate producing a high amount of GABA from monosodium L-glutamate (MSG) was identified as by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. M5 produced 18.

Properties of a Fibrinolytic Enzyme Secreted by RSB34, Isolated from Doenjang.

Nine bacilli with fibrinolytic activities were isolated from doenjang, a traditional Korean fermented soy food. Among them, RSB34 showed the strongest activity and was identified as by 16S rRNA and gene sequencing. During growth on LB up to 96 h, RSB34 showed the highest fibrinolytic activity (83.

Properties of Doenjang (Soybean Paste) Prepared with Different Types of Salts.

Samples of doenjang (a fermented soybean paste) were prepared with different types of salts; purified salt (PS), 3-year-aged solar salt (SS3), 1-year-aged solar salt (SS1), and bamboo salt (BS, 3(rd) processing product). For starter doenjang samples, selected starters comprising two bacilli, one yeast, and one fungus were inoculated, whereas for non-starter doenjang samples, microorganisms present in rice straw were inoculated after enrichment. The doenjang samples were fermented for 13 weeks at 25°C.

Antimicrobial activity of EMD17 isolated from and potential use as a starter for fermented soy foods.

A strain with antimicrobial activity was isolated from and identified as amyloliquefaciens. Filtered culture supernatants of EMD17 strongly inhibited growth of ATCC14579, ATCC19111, and an ochratoxin (OTA) producing spp. The antimicrobial activity was not decreased by heat, pH, and proteases treatment, indicating a non-proteinous nature of the antimicrobial substance.

Fate of preoperative atrial fibrillation after correction of atrial septal defect.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is common among adult patients with an atrial septal defect (ASD). Catheter ablation or the Maze procedure can be considered for AF before or concurrently with ASD closure. However, the fate of preoperative AF is not well established.

The electroanatomical remodelling of the left atrium is related to CHADS2/CHA2DS2VASc score and events of stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation.

Background: Although atrial fibrillation (AF) increases the risk of stroke, its relationship with atrial remodelling has not yet been studied. We hypothesized that the degree of electroanatomical remodelling of the left atrium (LA) is related to CHADS₂/CHA₂DS₂VASc score and events of stroke.

Methods And Results: We compared CHADS₂/CHA₂DS₂VASc score (0, 1, ≥ 2) or events of stroke with mean and regional LA volume [by three-dimensional (3D) computed tomography images] or LA endocardial voltage (by 3D-electroanatomical map) in 348 patients who underwent catheter ablation of AF (78.

Neointimal coverage on drug-eluting stent struts crossing side-branch vessels using optical coherence tomography.

The status of neointimal coverage on the drug-eluting stent (DES) struts, which are placed across the side-branch vessels, remains unclear. The degree of neointimal coverage of stent struts crossing the side-branch vessel was evaluated according to the different types of DESs. Follow-up optical coherence tomography images at 9.

Serial changes of minimal stent malapposition not detected by intravascular ultrasound: follow-up optical coherence tomography study.

Morphologic changes of small-sized post-stent malapposition have not been sufficiently evaluated. We investigated serial changes of minimal post-stent malapposition with a follow-up optical coherence tomography (OCT) study. Post-stent OCT and intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) and follow-up OCT were performed in 26 patients with minimal post-stent malapposition.

Intracoronary thrombus formation after drug-eluting stents implantation: optical coherence tomographic study.

Background: Intracoronary thrombus formation after drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation is not sufficiently evaluated.

Methods: Optical coherence tomography (OCT) was performed in 226 patients (total DES n = 244, sirolimus-eluting stent [SES] n = 95, paclitaxel-eluting stent [PES] n = 62, zotarolimus-eluting stent [ZES] n = 87) after implantation (mean 11 months, range 3-66 months). Using OCT, we investigated the incidence and determinants of intracoronary thrombus.

A new stent design for the treatment of true bifurcation lesions: H-side branch stents.

Background: There has been much debate for the adequate treatment strategies for true bifurcation lesions. The purpose of this study is to introduce and test a novel stent design for the treatment of true bifurcation lesions.

Methods: This side branch stent is composed of three parts: proximal, connecting, and distal parts.

Relationship between multiple plasma biomarkers and vulnerable plaque determined by virtual histology intravascular ultrasound.

Background: The relationship between plasma biomarkers and vulnerable plaque is not well understood.

Methods And Results: The 188 patients who underwent 3-vessel virtual histology (VH) intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) with peripheral blood sampling were enrolled. Plasma levels of matrix metalloproteinase 2 and 9 (MMP-2, -9), tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1, adiponectin, and macrophage migration inhibitory factor were measured.