Catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation in patients with autoimmune disease: A propensity score matching study based on the China Atrial Fibrillation Registry.

Background: Evidence on outcomes of catheter ablation (CA) for atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients with autoimmune disease (AD) is limited.

Hypothesis: Patients with AD had worse outcomes after CA procedures for AF.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed in patients undergoing AF ablation between 2012 and 2021.

Venous outflow stenting for symptomatic developmental venous anomaly.

Developmental venous anomaly (DVA) is one of the commonest vascular malformations in the brain but rarely symptomatic. Various pathomechanisms such as mechanical compression, increased in-flow into DVA or outflow obstruction have been described as causative factors in symptomatic DVAs. We report a unique case of a pontomedullary DVA with venous outflow obstruction causing progressive neurological worsening in a young adult despite anticoagulation, who was treated with a novel approach of venous outlet stenting of the collector vein with favorable outcome.

Decreased cellulose-degrading enzyme activity causes pod hardening of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moench).

Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moench) is an important tropical and subtropical crop species, but okra pods age rapidly after they meet harvest standards. The underlying mechanisms by which okra pods harden are unclear.

Role of the notched unipolar electrogram in guiding catheter ablation of frequent premature ventricular contractions originating from the ventricular outflow tract.

Objective: To investigate the value of a notched unipolar electrogram (N-uniEGM) in confirming the origin of premature ventricular contractions originating from the ventricular outflow tract (VOT-PVC) during mapping and ablation procedures.

Methods: This retrospective study enrolled consecutive patients with symptomatic idiopathic frequent VOT-PVCs that underwent radiofrequency ablation. The characteristics of the uniEGM of the successful ablation targets were analysed.

Electrocardiographic morphology during left bundle branch area pacing: Characteristics, underlying mechanisms, and clinical implications.

Aims: In this study, we investigated the characteristics and underlying mechanisms of the electrocardiographic (ECG) morphology during left bundle branch area pacing (LBBAP), which have not been systematically described.

Methods: Patients with indications for permanent cardiac pacing underwent LBBAP attempts. The ECGs of patients with confirmed left bundle branch (LBB) capture were compared with those of individuals with right bundle branch block (RBBB) on 12-lead ECG.

Distinct pattern of neostriatal calcifications in dyskeratosis congenita: A case report and literature review.

Dyskeratosis congenita (DKC) is a rare, inherited disorder classically known by the triad of nail dystrophy, mucosal leukoplakia, and lacy reticulated skin hyperpigmentation. Bone marrow failure is a prominent feature and accounts for most deaths in these patients. Genetic mutations resulting in shortened telomeres have been shown to cause DKC, which is the basis for categorizing it as a "premature aging syndrome".

EGF upregulates RFPL3 and hTERT via the MEK signaling pathway in non‑small cell lung cancer cells.

Activation of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) during tumor development can trigger the MEK signaling pathway. In the present study, we investigated the MEK signaling pathway in non‑small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells with respect to the effect of epidermal growth factor (EGF) on expression of Ret finger protein like 3 (RFPL3) and human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT), and the effect of RFPL3 overexpression on other MEK signaling proteins. In vitro, A549 and H1299 cells were treated with different concentrations of EGF for 24 h or 48 h.

Integration of microRNAome, proteomics and metabolomics to analyze arsenic-induced malignant cell transformation.

Long-term exposure to arsenic has been linked to tumorigenesis in different organs and tissues, such as skin; however, the detailed mechanism remains unclear. In this present study, we integrated "omics" including microRNAome, proteomics and metabolomics to investigate the potential molecular mechanisms. Compared with non-malignant human keratinocytes (HaCaT), twenty-six miRNAs were significantly altered in arsenic-induced transformed cells.

Dependent mechanism of Chinese prepositions processing in the brain: evidence from event-related potentials.

Objective: To compare the event-related potentials (ERPs) waves of verbs and prepositions in the brain.

Methods: We recorded ERPs in the brain while participants judged the legality of the collocation for verbs and prepositions.

Results: Both verbs and prepositions elicited a negativity at the frontal site in 230-330 ms and 350-500 ms window.