Impact of the Individual Operator Experience and Learning Curve of a Novel Size Adjustable Cryoballoon.

Background: Cryoballoon ablation is less operator-dependent than radiofrequency ablation. Recently, size-adjustable cryoballoons (SA-CBs) have become available. We sought to analyze the individual baseline operator experience's impact on procedural results.

A DNA barcode reference of Asian ferns with expert-identified voucher specimens and DNA samples.

Ferns belong to species-rich group of land plants, encompassing more than 11,000 extant species, and are crucial for reflecting terrestrial ecosystem changes. However, our understanding of their biodiversity hotspots, particularly in Southeast Asia, remains limited due to scarce genetic data. Despite harboring around one-third of the world's fern species, less than 6% of Southeast Asian ferns have been DNA-sequenced.

Embryological Classification of Arrhythmogenic Triggers Initiating Atrial Fibrillation.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a prevalent multifactorial arrhythmia associated with specific single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Pulmonary vein (PV) isolation is an established treatment for AF; however, recurrence risk remains caused by AF triggers beyond the PVs. Understanding the embryological origins of these triggers could improve treatment outcomes.

Anatomical and clinical factors associated with infrapopliteal arterial bypass outcomes in patients with chronic limb-threatening ischemia.

The aim of this study was to identify anatomical and clinical factors associated with limb-based patency (LBP) loss, major adverse limb events (MALEs), and poor amputation-free survival (AFS) after an infrapopliteal arterial bypass (IAB) surgery according to the Global Limb Anatomic Staging System. A retrospective analysis of patients undergoing IAB surgery between January 2010 and December 2021 at a single institution was performed. Two-year AFS, freedom from LBP loss, and freedom from MALEs were assessed using the Kaplan-Meier method.

A randomized controlled trial of the size-adjustable cryoballoon vs conventional cryoballoon for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation: The CONTRAST-CRYO II trial rationale and design.

Background: Pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) with cryoballoon technology is a well-established therapy for treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF). Recently, a size-adjustable cryoballoon (POLARx FIT) that enables delivery in a standard 28-mm or an expanded 31-mm size was introduced.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to perform a randomized clinical trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of this novel cryoballoon compared to the conventional cryoballoon.

Spectral consistency in sound sequence affects perceptual accuracy in discriminating subdivided rhythmic patterns.

Musical compositions are distinguished by their unique rhythmic patterns, determined by subtle differences in how regular beats are subdivided. Precise perception of these subdivisions is essential for discerning nuances in rhythmic patterns. While musical rhythm typically comprises sound elements with a variety of timbres or spectral cues, the impact of such spectral variations on the perception of rhythmic patterns remains unclear.

Identification of gene isoforms and their switching events between male and female embryos of the parthenogenetic crustacean Daphnia magna.

The cladoceran crustacean Daphnia exhibits phenotypic plasticity, a phenomenon that leads to diverse phenotypes from one genome. Alternative usage of gene isoforms has been considered a key gene regulation mechanism for controlling different phenotypes. However, to understand the phenotypic plasticity of Daphnia, gene isoforms have not been comprehensively analyzed.

Initial clinical experience with the novel POLARx FIT cryoballoon system for pulmonary vein isolation in patients with atrial fibrillation.

Background: The POLARx FIT system (Boston Scientific, MA, USA) is a novel cryoballoon (CB) ablation technology in which the balloon diameter can be expanded from 28 to 31 mm. The aim of this study was to compare the benefits and safety of the new POLARx FIT system to those of the existing POLARx system currently in use for pulmonary vein (PV) isolation (PVI) in patients with atrial fibrillation.

Methods: The first 70 consecutive patients who underwent CB-based PVI with the POLARx FIT system were retrospectively compared with 200 consecutive patients treated with the POLARx system at Sakakibara Heart Institute from October 2021 to May 2023.

Phrenic nerve injury after atrial fibrillation ablation: different recovery courses among cryoballoon, laser balloon, and radiofrequency ablation.

Background: Phrenic nerve injury (PNI) is one of the common complications in atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation, which often recovers spontaneously. However, the course of its recovery has not been examined fully, especially in regard to the different ablation methods. We sought to compare the recovery course of PNI in cryoballoon, laser balloon, and radiofrequency ablation.

Characteristics of two different cryoballoon systems for treatment of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation: study protocol for a multicenter randomized controlled trial (CONTRAST-CRYO Trial).

Background: Single-shot pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) utilizing cryothermal energy is an effective and safe treatment for atrial fibrillation (AF) patients. A novel cryoballoon system, POLARx™, has been recently introduced. The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy, safety, and biophysical parameters of PVI between the novel cryoballoon system, POLARx™, and the standard cryoballoon system, Arctic Front Advance Pro™ (AFA-Pro), in patients with paroxysmal AF.

Acute procedural efficacy and safety of a novel expandable diameter cryoballoon in atrial fibrillation ablation: Early results from a multicenter ablation registry.

Introduction: The major limitation of the current cryoballoon (CB) system is a fixed 28 mm balloon-size. We sought to analyze real-world early experience with novel-sized adjustable CB.

Methods: This multicenter observational study included 140 consecutive atrial fibrillation patients (71 years, 94 men, 86 paroxysmal) who underwent pulmonary vein (PV) isolation using expandable diameter CB capable of ablation at 28 or 31 mm.

Inappropriate shock incidence in patients with subcutaneous implantable cardioverter-defibrillators with concomitant cardiac implantable electronic devices: A single-center cohort study.

Background: Subcutaneous implantable cardioverter defibrillators (S-ICDs) are occasionally used in combination with other cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs). However, whether the incidence of inappropriate shock increases in patients with S-ICDs and concomitant CIEDs remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the association between the concomitant use of CIEDs and the incidence of inappropriate shock in patients with current-generation S-ICDs.

Symptomatic periesophageal vagal nerve injury by different energy sources during atrial fibrillation ablation.

Background: Symptomatic gastric hypomotility (SGH) is a rare but major complication of atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation, but data on this are scarce.

Objective: We compared the clinical course of SGH occurring with different energy sources.

Methods: This multicenter study retrospectively collected the characteristics and clinical outcomes of patients with SGH after AF ablation.

Adjunctive posterior wall isolation for the treatment of persistent and longstanding persistent atrial fibrillation (CORNERSTONE AF) trial: Design and rationale.

Background: A left atrial posterior wall isolation (LAPWI) is one of the atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation strategies.

Hypothesis: We hypothesized that an additional empirical LAPWI would increase the freedom from recurrent atrial arrhythmias as compared to standard AF ablation in persistent AF patients.

Methods: The CORNERSTONE AF study is a prospective, randomized, multicenter study investigating patients with AF persisting for >7 days and <3 years undergoing first-time AF ablation.

Machine learning methods reveal processes affecting abundance at multiple scales. A commentary on 'Global and regional drivers of abundance patterns in the hart's tongue fern complex (Aspleniaceae)'.

This article comments on: Namjoo Heo, Donald J. Leopold, Mark V. Lomolino, Seona Yun and Danilo D.

Initial multicenter clinical experience with the first-generation endoscopic guided laser balloon in Japan.

Background: Isolation of the pulmonary veins (PVs) is the golden standard for atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation. To achieve a permanent PV isolation, the endoscopic guided HeartLight laser balloon system was invented. We analyzed the safety and efficacy of this laser balloon system.

Spatial relationship of localized sources of persistent atrial fibrillation identified by a unipolar-based automated algorithm to complex fractionated atrial electrocardiograms and atrial low voltage areas.

Introduction: Spatial characteristics of localized sources of persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) identified by unipolar-based panoramic mapping software (CARTOFINDER) remain unclear. We evaluated spatial characteristics of bi-atrial AF localized sources in relation to complex fractionated atrial electrocardiograms (CFAEs) and atrial low voltage area (LVAs) (≤0.35 mV during AF).

Observation of Spin-Splitter Torque in Collinear Antiferromagnetic RuO_{2}.

The spin-splitter effect is theoretically predicted to generate an unconventional spin current with x- and z- spin polarization via the spin-split band in antiferromagnets. The generated torque, namely, spin-splitter torque, is effective for the manipulation of magnetization in an adjacent magnetic layer without an external magnetic field for spintronic devices such as MRAM. Here, we study the generation of torque in collinear antiferromagnetic RuO_{2} with (100), (101), and (001) crystal planes.

Cephalic vein cut-down technique for severe venous spasm following axillary vein puncture at pacemaker implantation.

Unlabelled: An 83-year-old male with complete atrioventricular block underwent dual-chamber pacemaker implantation. Venography showed normal anatomy of the left axillary vein. Following sedation with intravenous propofol, local anesthesia, and skin incision, we punctured the left axillary vein on the first limb.