Atrial remodeling and metabolic dysfunction in idiopathic isolated fibrotic atrial cardiomyopathy.

Background: Idiopathic isolated fibrotic atrial cardiomyopathy (IIF-ACM) is a novel subtype of cardiomyopathy characterized by atrial fibrosis that does not involve the ventricular myocardium and is associated with significant atrial tachyarrhythmia. The mechanisms underlying its pathogenesis are unknown.

Methods: Atrium samples were obtained from 3 patients with IIF-ACM via surgical intervention.

Rationale and evidence for the development of a durable device-based cardiac neuromodulation therapy for hypertension.

We assessed the feasibility of achieving acute, sustained blood pressure reductions through the use of cardiac pacing algorithms delivered via standard dual-chamber pacing based on introducing short atrio-ventricular (AV) delays (SAVD). Eighteen hypertensive subjects (57.3 ± 9.

Surface Immobilization of Transition Metal Ions on Nitrogen-Doped Graphene Realizing High-Efficient and Selective CO Reduction.

Electrochemical conversion of CO to value-added chemicals using renewable electricity provides a promising way to mitigate both global warming and the energy crisis. Here, a facile ion-adsorption strategy is reported to construct highly active graphene-based catalysts for CO reduction to CO. The isolated transition metal cyclam-like moieties formed upon ion adsorption are found to contribute to the observed improvements.

Late cure of focal ventricular arrhythmias post-catheter ablation: electrophysiological characteristics and long-term outcome.

Purpose: Late cure after a previously failed ablation of ventricular arrhythmias (VAs) is a relatively common phenomenon. The present study sought to delineate the incidence and electrophysiological characteristics of late cure in idiopathic VA patients.

Methods: Totally, 45 idiopathic VA cases (mean age 44 ± 18 years, 27 males) either failed acutely or recurred within 12 h were enrolled in this study.

Idiopathic isolated fibrotic atrial cardiomyopathy underlies unexplained scar-related atrial tachycardia in younger patients.

Aims: Unexplained scar-related atrial tachycardia (AT) has been frequently encountered in clinical practice. We hypothesized that idiopathic, isolated fibrotic atrial cardiomyopathy (ACM) underlies this rhythm disorder. This study was aimed to characterize the underlying substrate and to explore the aetiology of this unexplained scar-related AT.

Scar homogenization in AF ablation: Evolution and practice.

Laboratory studies, histology studies, image studies and the clinical studies all prove the positive correlation between atrial fibrillation and atrial fibrosis from different perspectives. Atrial fibrosis, by separating myocardial cell coupling, diminishing conduction velocity and promoting anisotropic conduction, produce the substrate to sustain atrial fibrillation (AF). These fibrotic areas can be translated into signal abnormalities (low voltage and complex electrgram), and be depicted by electroanatomic high density map.

Function of miR-212 as a tumor suppressor in thyroid cancer by targeting SIRT1.

miR-212 as a tumor suppressor has been reported to be downregulated in multiple cancer cells lines and tumor tissues. However, its role in thyroid cancer has nor been investigated. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the role of miR-212 in human thyroid cancer and the underlying mechanisms.

Serum level of transforming growth factor beta 1 is associated with left atrial voltage in patients with chronic atrial fibrillation.

Background: Atrial tissue fibrosis can cause electrical or structural remodeling in patients with atrial fibrillation. Transforming growth factor beta 1(TGF-β1) signaling acts as a central role in fibroblast activation. In this report, we aimed to investigate the relationship between serum level of TGF-β1 and mean left atrial voltage in patients with chronic atrial fibrillation (CAF).

STABLE-SR (Electrophysiological Substrate Ablation in the Left Atrium During Sinus Rhythm) for the Treatment of Nonparoxysmal Atrial Fibrillation: A Prospective, Multicenter Randomized Clinical Trial.

Background: Circumferential pulmonary vein isolation (CPVI) alone or combined with adjuvant substrate modifications is unsatisfactory for atrial fibrillation (AF) control in nonparoxysmal AF patients. Ablation targeting the fibrotic areas after CPVI (STABLE-SR [Electrophysiological Substrate Ablation in the Left Atrium During Sinus Rhythm]) is a newly evolved substrate modification strategy.

Methods And Results: In this multicenter, randomized clinical trial, 229 symptomatic nonparoxysmal AF patients were 1:1 randomized to STABLE-SR group (n=114) or conventional STEPWISE group (n=115).

Preclinical Evaluation and Monitoring of the Therapeutic Response of a Dual Targeted Hyaluronic Acid Nanodrug.

Chemotherapy is a powerful cancer treatment but suffers from poor biocompatibility and a lack of tumor targeting. Here, we developed a CD44-targeted polymeric nanocomplex by encapsulating 10-hydroxycamptothecin (HCPT) into hyaluronic acid nanoparticles (HANP) for targeted cancer therapy. In vitro, the HANP/HCPT showed improved cytotoxicity to five cancer cell lines including HT29, A549, MDA-MB-231, HepG2, and MDA-MB-435 versus free HCPT.

Exclusive Ni-N Sites Realize Near-Unity CO Selectivity for Electrochemical CO Reduction.

Electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide (CO) to value-added carbon products is a promising approach to reduce CO levels and mitigate the energy crisis. However, poor product selectivity is still a major obstacle to the development of CO reduction. Here we demonstrate exclusive Ni-N sites through a topo-chemical transformation strategy, bringing unprecedentedly high activity and selectivity for CO reduction.

miR-217 inhibits proliferation, migration, and invasion via targeting AKT3 in thyroid cancer.

Purpose: The aims of this study were to test the influence of miR-217 on the proliferation, invasion, migration of thyroid cancer and the relevant mechanism.

Method: miR-217 expression levels in thyroid cancer tissues and cell lines were detected by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR).Cell Counting Kit-8, flow cytometer, wound healing, transwell invasion assays were applied to evaluate the effect of miR-217 on proliferation, apoptosis, migration and invasion of thyroid cells.

Circadian variability patterns predict and guide premature ventricular contraction ablation procedural inducibility and outcomes.

Background: Infrequent intraprocedural premature ventricular complexes (PVCs) may impede radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFA) outcome, and pharmacologic induction is unpredictable.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine whether PVC circadian variation could help predict drug response.

Methods: Consecutive patients referred for RFA with detailed Holter monitoring and frequent monomorphic PVCs were included.

Graphene Sheet-Induced Global Maturation of Cardiomyocytes Derived from Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells.

Human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) can proliferate infinitely. Their ability to differentiate into cardiomyocytes provides abundant sources for disease modeling, drug screening and regenerative medicine. However, hiPSC-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs) display a low degree of maturation and fetal-like properties.

Substrate characteristics and ablation outcome of left atrial tachycardia in rheumatic mitral valve disease.

Background: Right atrial tachycardia (AT) is a common arrhythmia postsurgical valve replacement in patients with rheumatic heart disease (RHD). However, the substrate and the mechanism of left AT in such patients and the ablation efficacy is less known.

Methods And Results: Twenty-seven RHD patients with AT were enrolled in this study; nine of them (33%) had left AT.

Structural and electrophysiological dysfunctions due to increased endoplasmic reticulum stress in a long-term pacing model using human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived ventricular cardiomyocytes.

Background: Long-term ventricular pacing has deleterious effects and becomes more significant when cumulative percent ventricular pacing (Cum%VP) exceeds 40% of time. However, cellular disturbances and pathways by which pacing leads to myocardial disorders are not well understood. Attempts to resolve these questions have been hampered by difficulties in obtaining human cardiac tissue and the inability to build a longer-lasting (lasting longer than weeks) pacing model in vitro.

Longstanding persistent accelerated idioatrial rhythm: Benign sinus node-like rhythm or insidious rhythm?

Introduction: Detailed description of longstanding persistent accelerated idioatrial rhythm (AIAR) is lacking. This observational study investigated the clinical manifestations, electrophysiological characteristics, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of this unusual arrhythmia.

Methods And Results: Fifteen patients (11 males; average age 25.

Prolonged Sinus Pauses upon Termination of Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation: Abnormal Right Atrial Electrophysiologic and Electroanatomic Findings.

The efficacy of pulmonary vein antral isolation for patients with prolonged sinus pauses (PSP) on termination of atrial fibrillation has been reported. We studied the right atrial (RA) electrophysiologic and electroanatomic characteristics in such patients. Forty patients underwent electroanatomic mapping of the RA: 13 had PSP (group A), 13 had no PSP (group B), and 14 had paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (control group C).

Peri-mitral atrial flutter: personalized ablation strategy based on arrhythmogenic substrate.

Aims: The aim of this study is to characterize the arrhythmogenic substrate for peri-mitral atrial flutter (PMAFL), thereby determining a personalized ablation strategy to treat PMAFL.

Methods And Results: Thirty-six consecutive PMAFL patients (mean age: 63.8 ± 11.

Assessment of atrial electromechanical interval using echocardiography after catheter ablation in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation.

We sought to investigate variation of atrial electromechanical interval after catheter ablation procedure in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation using pulse Doppler (PW) and pulse tissue Doppler imaging (PW-TDI). A total of 25 consecutive in-patients with persistent atrial fibrillation, who restored sinus rhythm after ablation procedure, were recruited in our cardiac center. Echocardiography was performed on each patient at 2 hours, 1 day, 5 days, 1 month and 3 months after the ablation therapy, and atrial electromechanical delay was measured simultaneously by PW and PW-TDI.

[Long-term outcome after cardioverter-defibrillator implantation in patients with Brugada syndrome].

Objective: To observe the long-term outcome of implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) implantation in Brugada syndrome patients and to explore how to reduce the frequency of ICD nappropriate schocks.

Methods: This study included 14 symptomatic patients (mean age (44.3 ± 8.

Catheter Ablation of Nonparoxysmal Atrial Fibrillation Using Electrophysiologically Guided Substrate Modification During Sinus Rhythm After Pulmonary Vein Isolation.

Background: The high incidence of postprocedural atrial tachycardia reduces the absolute arrhythmia-free success rate of extensive ablation strategies to treat nonparoxysmal atrial fibrillation (NPAF). We hypothesized that a strategy of targeting low-voltage zones and sites with abnormal electrograms during sinus rhythm (SR-AEs) in the left atrium after circumferential pulmonary vein isolation and cavotricuspid isthmus ablation in patients with NPAF is superior.

Methods And Results: A total of 86 consecutive patients with NPAF were enrolled in study group.

Hybrid graphene/Au activatable theranostic agent for multimodalities imaging guided enhanced photothermal therapy.

Photothermal therapy (PTT) has been increasingly investigated. However, there are still challenges in strategies that can further enhance photoconversion efficiency and improve photothermal tumor ablation effect of current nanomaterials. Herein, we developed a fluorescent/photoacoustic imaging guided PTT agent by seeding Gold (Au) nanoparticles onto graphene oxide (GO).