Pulmonary vein narrowing after pulsed field versus thermal ablation.

Aims: When it occurs, pulmonary vein (PV) stenosis after atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation is associated with significant morbidity. Even mild-to-moderate PV narrowing may have long-term implications. Unlike thermal ablation energies, such as radiofrequency (RF) or cryothermy, pulsed field ablation (PFA) is a non-thermal modality associated with less fibrotic proliferation.

Pulsed Field or Conventional Thermal Ablation for Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation.

Background: Catheter-based pulmonary vein isolation is an effective treatment for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. Pulsed field ablation, which delivers microsecond high-voltage electrical fields, may limit damage to tissues outside the myocardium. The efficacy and safety of pulsed field ablation as compared with conventional thermal ablation are not known.

The REDUCE pivotal trial: a prospective, randomized controlled pivotal trial of a dual intragastric balloon for the treatment of obesity.

Background: Saline-filled intragastric balloon devices are reversible endoscopic devices designed to occupy stomach volume and reduce food intake.

Objective: To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of a dual balloon system plus diet and exercise in the treatment of obesity compared to diet and exercise alone.

Setting: Academic and community practice, United States.

Incidence and significance of early recurrences of atrial fibrillation after cryoballoon ablation: insights from the multicenter Sustained Treatment of Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation (STOP AF) Trial.

Background: Early recurrence of atrial fibrillation (ERAF) is common after radiofrequency catheter ablation for AF. We sought to determine the incidence and prognostic significance of ERAF after cryoballoon ablation. Moreover, the benefit of early reablation for ERAF after cryoballoon ablation is undetermined.

Cryoballoon ablation of pulmonary veins for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation: first results of the North American Arctic Front (STOP AF) pivotal trial.

Objectives: This study sought to assess the safety and effectiveness of a novel cryoballoon ablation technology designed to achieve single-delivery pulmonary vein (PV) isolation.

Background: Standard radiofrequency ablation is effective in eliminating atrial fibrillation (AF) but requires multiple lesion delivery at the risk of significant complications.

Methods: Patients with documented symptomatic paroxysmal AF and previously failed therapy with ≥ 1 membrane active antiarrhythmic drug underwent 2:1 randomization to either cryoballoon ablation (n = 163) or drug therapy (n = 82).

X-ray crystal structures of [XeF][MF6] (M = As, Sb, Bi), [XeF][M2F11] (M = Sb, Bi) and estimated thermochemical data and predicted stabilities for noble-gas fluorocation salts using volume-based thermodynamics.

The crystal structures of the xenon(II) salts, [XeF][SbF(6)], [XeF][BiF(6)], and [XeF][Bi(2)F(11)], have been determined for the first time, and those of XeF(2), [XeF][AsF(6)], [XeF][Sb(2)F(11)], and [XeF(3)][Sb(2)F(11)] have been redetermined with greater precision at -173 °C. The Bi(2)F(11)(-) anion, which has a structure analogous to those of the As(2)F(11)(-) and Sb(2)F(11)(-) anions, has been structurally characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction for the first time as its XeF(+) salt. The fluorine bridge between the bismuth atoms is asymmetric with Bi---F(b) bond lengths of 2.

Behavior of BrO3F and ClO3F toward strong Lewis acids and the characterization of [XO2][SbF6] (X = Cl, Br) by single crystal X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, and computational methods.

The interactions of BrO3F and ClO3F with the strong Lewis acids AsF5 and SbF5 were investigated. Although ClO3F is unreactive toward AsF5 and SbF5, BrO3F undergoes fluoride ion abstraction and O2 elimination, accompanied by central halogen reduction, to form [BrO2][Sb(n)F(5n+1)] (n > or = 1), rather than simple fluoride ion abstraction to form BrO3(+) salts. The geometric parameters of the BrO2(+) cation have been obtained in the solid state for the first time by a single-crystal X-ray diffraction study of [BrO2][SbF6] at -173 degrees C and are compared with those of ClO2(+) salts.

Synthesis and characterization of salts containing the BrO(3)F(2)(-) anion; a rare example of a bromine(VII) species.

The BrO(3)F(2)(-) anion has been prepared by reaction of BrO(3)F with the fluoride ion donors KF, RbF, CsF, [N(CH(3))(4)][F], and NOF. The BrO(3)F(2)(-) anion is only the fourth Br(VII) species to have been isolated in macroscopic quantities, and it is one of only three oxide fluorides that possess D(3)(h)() symmetry, the others being XeO(3)F(2) and OsO(3)F(2). The fluoride ion acceptor properties of BrO(3)F contrast with those of ClO(3)F, which does not react with the strong fluoride ion donor [N(CH(3))(4)][F] to form the analogous ClO(3)F(2)(-) salt.

X-ray crystal structures of [XF(6)][Sb(2)F(11)] (X = Cl, Br, I); (35,37)Cl, (79,81)Br, and (127)I NMR studies and electronic structure calculations of the XF(6)(+) cations.

The single-crystal X-ray structures of [XF(6)][Sb(2)F(11)] (X = Cl, Br, I) have been determined and represent the first detailed crystallographic study of salts containing the XF(6)(+) cations. The three salts are isomorphous and crystallize in the monoclinic space group P2(1)/n with Z = 4: [ClF(6)][Sb(2)F(11)], a = 11.824(2) A, b = 8.

The "DRIL" procedure--a neglected way to treat the "steal" syndrome of the hemodialysed patient.

Background: The ischemic "steal" syndrome complicates angio-access in a growing number of hemodialysed patients. Until now, operative attempts (fistula ligation or banding) to treat this problem have met with only limited success.

Objective: To assess the results of DRIL (distal revascularization-interval ligation) procedure in treating the "steal" syndrome.

Toxicogenomics takes center stage.

The Society of Toxicology held a meeting on March 9-13, 2003, in Salt Lake City, U.S.A.

Lower incidence of thrombus formation with cryoenergy versus radiofrequency catheter ablation.

Background: Radiofrequency (RF) catheter ablation is limited by thromboembolic complications. The objective of this study was to compare the incidence and characteristics of thrombi complicating RF and cryoenergy ablation, a novel technology for the catheter-based treatment of arrhythmias.

Methods And Results: Ablation lesions (n=197) were performed in 22 mongrel dogs at right atrial, right ventricular, and left ventricular sites preselected by a randomized factorial design devised to compare RF ablation with cryocatheter configurations of varying sizes (7F and 9F), cooling rates (-1 degrees C/s, -5 degrees C/s, and -20 degrees C/s) and target temperatures (-55 degrees C and -75 degrees C).