Inheritance of Imaging Parameters of Arrhythmic Risk in Mitral Valve Prolapse: A Pedigree Study.

Background: A subset of patients with mitral valve prolapse (MVP), a highly heritable condition, experience sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) or sudden cardiac death (SCD). However, the inheritance of phenotypic imaging features of arrhythmic MVP remains unknown.

Methods: We recruited 23 MVP probands, including 9 with SCA/SCD and 14 with frequent/complex ventricular ectopy.

Short RP Interval and Long PR Interval: What Is the Cardiac Rhythm?

Marked first-degree atrioventricular block with a PR interval ≥500 ms is rare, leading to unusual P-wave placement. In this case, the P waves immediately after the QRS waves complicated rhythm interpretation. Close attention to P-wave morphology and fused premature ventricular complexes can be important for a proper diagnosis.

Impact of Sodium-Glucose Co-Transporter-2 Inhibitors on Exercise-Induced Pulmonary Hypertension.

Patients with borderline pulmonary hypertension (PH) often experience shortness of breath or exacerbation of PH during exercise, known as exercise-induced PH. However, the pathogenesis of exercise-induced post-capillary PH (post-EIPH) and its treatment strategies remain unclear. Recent guidelines and consensus documents have highlighted the benefits of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors in heart failure and chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Coronary artery injury in pulsed field ablation.

Purpose Of Review: Although pulsed field ablation (PFA) has emerged as an innovative nonthermal catheter ablation modality, recent reports raise concerns about its potential impact on nearby coronary arteries. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the current understanding and future directions regarding the effects of PFA on or near coronary arteries.

Recent Findings: Clinical studies have demonstrated the risks of acute transient vasospasm after delivery of PFA, especially with ablation of structures in proximity to the coronary arteries, such as the cavotricuspid and mitral isthmuses.

Effect of basic activities of daily living independence on home discharge and long-term outcomes in patients hospitalized with heart failure.

Patients hospitalized for heart failure (HF) experience impairments in functional status, primarily affecting basic activities of daily living (ADL). We investigated the independent effect of functional status for ADL on patient-centered outcomes (i.e.

Shorter Premature Atrial Complex Coupling Interval Leads to Mechanical Dysfunction, Fibrosis, and AF in Swine.

Background: We have previously shown that dyssynchronous premature atrial complexes (PACs) from the lateral left atrium (LA) lead to greater atrial mechanical dysfunction, remodeling, and sustained atrial fibrillation (AF) than synchronous PACs from the interatrial septum. However, the impact of PAC coupling interval (CI) on atrial remodeling is unclear.

Objectives: This study sought to explore the effect of PAC CI on atrial mechanics and remodeling in the swine model.

Improving Balloon Pulmonary Angioplasty Through Target Endpoint Optimization With Pressure Catheter and Angiographic Lung Perfusion.

Background: Balloon pulmonary angioplasty (BPA) has exhibited substantial progress in the management of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH). However, nearly one-half of the patients with CTEPH experience persistent pulmonary hypertension after undergoing BPA, emphasizing the need for enhanced therapies.

Objectives: The authors sought to investigate the clinical significance of functional assessment-guided dilation of the pulmonary artery (PA) in patients with CTEPH undergoing BPA treatment.

Microporous polysaccharide hemospheres for reducing pocket hematomas after cardiac device implantation in patients on antithrombotic therapy.

Background: Various surgical procedures have employed microporous polysaccharide hemosphere (MPH) hemostatic agents. However, data regarding their effectiveness in preventing pocket hematomas (PHs) during the implantation of cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIED) among the Asian population are limited. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the potential benefits of using MPH hemostatic agents during CIED implantations as a preventive measure against post-procedural PHs.

Coronary Plaque Characterization with T1-weighted MRI and Near-Infrared Spectroscopy to Predict Periprocedural Myocardial Injury.

Purpose To clarify the predominant causative plaque constituent for periprocedural myocardial injury (PMI) following percutaneous coronary intervention: erythrocyte-derived materials, indicated by a high plaque-to-myocardium signal intensity ratio (PMR) at coronary atherosclerosis T1-weighted characterization (CATCH) MRI, or lipids, represented by a high maximum 4-mm lipid core burden index (maxLCBI) at near-infrared spectroscopy intravascular US (NIRS-IVUS). Materials and Methods This retrospective study included consecutive patients who underwent CATCH MRI before elective NIRS-IVUS-guided percutaneous coronary intervention at two facilities. PMI was defined as post-percutaneous coronary intervention troponin T values greater than five times the upper reference limit.

Remimazolam for simultaneous percutaneous mitral valve clip and percutaneous left atrial appendage closure in an elderly patient with impaired cardiac function: A case report.

Remimazolam is a short-acting benzodiazepine sedative with a short half-life and little circulatory depression. The safe use of remimazolam in the anesthetic management of an elderly patient with impaired cardiac function is reported. The patient's hemodynamics remained stable, and the patient was managed without serious complications.

Feasibility of revascularization after gelatin sponge embolization for hemoptysis during balloon pulmonary angioplasty.

Background: Vessel injury is a common complication during balloon pulmonary angioplasty (BPA). For persistent hemoptysis, gelatin sponge embolization (GSE) is considered, but its impact on subsequent perfusion in embolized vessels remains unknown. This study explores the feasibility of revascularization in vessels post-GSE.

Multicenter prospective observational study to clarify the current status and clinical outcome in Japanese patients who have an indication for implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) or wearable cardioverter defibrillator (WCD) (TRANSITION JAPAN-ICD/WCD study): Rationale and design of a prospective, multicenter, observational, comparative study.

Background: Despite the positive impact of implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) and wearable cardioverter defibrillators (WCDs) on prognosis, their implantation is often withheld especially in Japanese heart failure patients with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (HFrEF) who have not experienced ventricular tachycardia (VT) or ventricular fibrillation (VF) for uncertain reasons. Recent advancements in heart failure (HF) medications have significantly improved the prognosis for HFrEF. Given this context, a critical reassessment of the treatment and prognosis of ICDs and WCDs is essential, as it has the potential to reshape awareness and treatment strategies for these patients.

Double-device therapy in a patient with long QT syndrome.

A 26-year-old man with long QT syndrome (LQTS) underwent subcutaneous implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (S-ICD) implantation. The patient exhibited sinus bradycardia relative to his age. The heart rate decreased, and the QT interval became longer with the administration of β-blockers, the first-line therapy for LQTS.

Hybrid ablation for persistent atrial fibrillation: a narrative review.

Background And Objective: Treatment for atrial fibrillation (AF) has evolved significantly, with pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) becoming an established treatment. However, the outcomes following catheter ablation for persistent AF remain unsatisfactory. Hybrid catheter-surgical ablation has emerged as a therapeutic approach for persistent AF, combining the strengths of both interventions.

Tumor suppressive role of the epigenetic master regulator BRD3 in colorectal cancer.

Bromodomain and extraterminal domain (BET) family proteins are epigenetic master regulators of gene expression via recognition of acetylated histones and recruitment of transcription factors and co-activators to chromatin. Hence, BET family proteins have emerged as promising therapeutic targets in cancer. In this study, we examined the functional role of bromodomain containing 3 (BRD3), a BET family protein, in colorectal cancer (CRC).