Safety and efficacy of catheter ablation in atrial fibrillation patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.

Purpose: Catheter ablation (CA) for atrial fibrillation (AF) in heart failure patients with preserved ejection fraction (HFPEF) has shown promising results in reducing mortality and improving heart function. However, previous studies have been limited by a lack of control groups and significant heterogeneity in their methodologies.

Hypothesis: CA for AF in HFPEF patients may not increase the complications and had similarly the rate of freedom from AF vs.

Occurrence, bioaccumulation and trophodynamics of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in terrestrial and marine ecosystems of Svalbard, Arctic.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) enter the Arctic through long-range transport and local pollution. To date, little is known about their behavior in plant and benthic marine food webs in remote Arctic. In this study, we analyzed the environmental distribution and nutrient transfer of 20 PFAS in soil, sediment, plant and benthic biota samples collected between 2014 and 2016 in Svalbard, Arctic.

Tailored bi-atrial linear ablation guided by electrophysiological mapping for persistent atrial fibrillation.

Aim: To explore the safety and efficacy of a novel strategy (bi-atrial linear catheter ablation guided by electrophysiological mapping) for persistent atrial fibrillation (PeAF) treatment.

Methods: 83 patients with PeAF were enrolled for evaluation of ablation strategy. 43 patients were subjected to pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) strategy (PVI group).

β-Hydroxybutyrate and Citrate Synthase as Potential Diagnostic Biomarkers in Aging-Related Atrial Fibrillation.

The incidence of atrial fibrillation (AF) increases with age; however, the precise mechanisms by which aging elevates AF risk and the effective biomarkers for managing AF in elderly patients remain unclear. We analyzed plasma samples from 100 elderly AF patients, 100 young and 100 elderly patients without atrial fibrillation (NAF), along with left atrial tissues obtained from both AF and NAF patients following valve replacement. Our findings indicate reduced levels of β-OHB and citrate synthase (CS) activity in elderly AF patients compared to their NAF counterparts.

Toxicity of organophosphate flame retardant in marine rotifers: Evidence from the population, individual, biochemical and molecular levels.

Tris (1-chloro-2-propyl) phosphoric acid (TCPP), a widely used organophosphate flame retardant, has been detected in various aquatic environments due to its extensive industrial application. TCPP is well-known to negatively impact large aquatic organisms. However, the effects of TCPP on zooplankton remain poorly understood.

Angiotensin-(1-7) plays an important role in regulating spermatogenesis in Trachemys scripta elegans under salinity stress.

Elevation in water salinity can threaten the spermatogenesis and fertility of freshwater animals. The role of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) in regulating spermatogenesis has attracted considerable attention. Our previous study found that red-eared sliders (Trachemys scripta elegans), could survive in 10 PSU water for over 1 year.

Landscape of molecular crosstalk between SARS-CoV-2 infection and cardiovascular diseases: emphasis on mitochondrial dysfunction and immune-inflammation.

Background: SARS-CoV-2, the pathogen of COVID-19, is a worldwide threat to human health and causes a long-term burden on the cardiovascular system. Individuals with pre-existing cardiovascular diseases are at higher risk for SARS-CoV-2 infection and tend to have a worse prognosis. However, the relevance and pathogenic mechanisms between COVID-19 and cardiovascular diseases are not yet completely comprehended.

Interactome profiling of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus glycoproteins.

Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) is a biosafety level-4 pathogen requiring urgent research and development efforts. The glycoproteins of CCHFV, Gn and Gc, are considered to play multiple roles in the viral life cycle by interactions with host cells; however, these interactions remain largely unclear to date. Here, we analyzed the cellular interactomes of CCHFV glycoproteins and identified 45 host proteins as high-confidence Gn/Gc interactors.

The feasibility and safety of his-purkinje conduction system pacing in patients with heart failure with severely reduced ejection fraction.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and outcomes of conduction system pacing (CSP) in patients with heart failure (HF) who had a severely reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) of less than 30% (HFsrEF).

Methods: Between January 2018 and December 2020, all consecutive HF patients with LVEF < 30% who underwent CSP at our center were evaluated. Clinical outcomes and echocardiographic data [LVEF and left ventricular end-systolic volume (LVESV)], and complications were all recorded.

Seasonal spermatogenesis in the red-eared slider (Trachemys scripta elegans): The roles of GnRH, actin cytoskeleton, and MAPK.

Reproduction is the key to the ecological invasion of alien species. As an invasive species, the characteristic and regularity of red-eared slider (Trachemys scripta elegans) spermatogenesis is an index for evaluating reproduction and ecological adaptation. Here, we investigated the characteristics of spermatogenesis i.

Temporal Changes in Litterfall and Nutrient Cycling from 2005-2015 in an Evergreen Broad-Leaved Forest in the Ailao Mountains, China.

The study of litter can provide an important reference for understanding patterns of forest nutrient cycling and sustainable management. Here, we measured litterfall (leaves, branches, etc.) from a wet, evergreen, broad-leaved forest in Ailao Mountains of southwestern China on a monthly basis for 11 years (2005-2015).

Antiviral activity and mechanism of the antifungal drug, anidulafungin, suggesting its potential to promote treatment of viral diseases.

Background: The severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome disease (SFTS), caused by the novel tick-borne SFTS virus (SFTSV), was listed among the top 10 priority infectious disease by World Health Organization due to the high fatality rate of 5-30% and the lack of effective antiviral drugs and vaccines and therefore raised the urgent need to develop effective anti-SFTSV drugs to improve disease treatment.

Methods: The antiviral drugs to inhibit SFTSV infection were identified by screening the library containing 1340 FDA-approved drugs using the SFTSV infection assays in vitro. The inhibitory effect on virus entry and the process of clathrin-mediated endocytosis under different drug doses was evaluated based on infection assays by qRT-PCR to determine intracellular viral copies, by Western blot to characterize viral protein expression in cells, and by immunofluorescence assays (IFAs) to determine virus infection efficiencies.

Transcriptome profiling highlights regulated biological processes and type III interferon antiviral responses upon Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus infection.

Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) is a biosafety level-4 (BSL-4) pathogen that causes Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) characterized by hemorrhagic manifestation, multiple organ failure and high mortality rate, posing great threat to public health. Despite the recently increasing research efforts on CCHFV, host cell responses associated with CCHFV infection remain to be further characterized. Here, to better understand the cellular response to CCHFV infection, we performed a transcriptomic analysis in human kidney HEK293 ​cells by high-throughput RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) technology.

Cardiomyopathy induced by premature ventricular contractions with ventricular escape beats in the compensatory pause: A case report and brief review of the literature.

Rationale: We reported a case with cardiomyopathy induced by frequent premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) and followed ventricular escape beats (VEBs). PVCs with VEBs in the compensatory pause which induced cardiomyopathy is rarely reported. Also, the case exhibited many characteristics of PVCs which were more likely to induce cardiomyopathy, like the location of origin, the longer coupling interval, and the QRS wave companied with the P wave.

Optimal Catheter Ablation Strategy for Patients with Persistent Atrial Fibrillation and Heart Failure: A Retrospective Study.

The optimal catheter ablation (CA) strategy for patients with persistent atrial fibrillation (PeAF) and heart failure (HF) remains uncertain. Between 2016 and 2020, 118 consecutive patients with PeAF and HF who underwent the CA procedure in two centers were retrospectively evaluated and divided into the pulmonary vein isolation (PVI)-only and PVI + additional ablation groups. Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) was performed at baseline, one month, and 12 months after the CA procedure.

Short QRS Duration After His-Purkinje Conduction System Pacing Predicts Left Ventricular Complete Reverse Remodeling in Patients With True Left Bundle Branch Block and Heart Failure.

Objective: This study aimed to explore the outcomes of His-Purkinje conduction system pacing (HPCSP) and to screen the predictors of left ventricular (LV) complete reverse remodeling in patients with true left bundle branch block (LBBB) and heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF).

Methods: Patients who underwent HPCSP for true LBBB and HFrEF from April 2018 to August 2020 were consecutively enrolled. All participants were followed up for at least 1 year.

Non-structural Proteins of Severe Fever With Thrombocytopenia Syndrome Virus Suppress RNA Synthesis in a Transcriptionally Active cDNA-Derived Viral RNA Synthesis System.

Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is an emerging infectious disease caused by the tick-borne SFTS bunyavirus (SFTSV) resulting in a high fatality rate up to 30%. SFTSV is a negative-strand RNA virus containing three single-stranded RNA genome segments designated as L, M, and S, which respectively, encode the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp), glycoproteins Gn and Gc, and nucleoprotein (N) and non-structural proteins (NSs). NSs can form inclusion bodies (IBs) in infected and transfected cells.

Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Virus: Current Advances and Future Prospects of Antiviral Strategies.

Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) is a widespread, tick-borne pathogen that causes Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) with high morbidity and mortality. CCHFV is transmitted to humans through tick bites or direct contact with patients or infected animals with viremia. Currently, climate change and globalization have increased the transmission risk of this biosafety level (BSL)-4 virus.

Differential Cell Line Susceptibility to Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Virus.

Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is a severe tick-borne viral disease of global concerns due to the increasing incidence and lack of effective treatments. The causative agent, CCHF virus (CCHFV), has been characterized for years; however, its tropism in cell lines of different host and tissue origins remains unclear. This study characterized the susceptibility of 16 human and 6 animal cell lines to CCHFV.

Long-term effect of catheter ablation on tachycardia-bradycardia syndrome: evidenced by 10 years follow up.

Catheter ablation has been used for the treatment of tachycardia-bradycardia syndrome (TBS). However, data on its long-term effect of rhythm control and stroke are limited. Patients with TBS admitted in the First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University from 2002 to 2013 were reviewed in the present study.

Zika virus circumvents host innate immunity by targeting the adaptor proteins MAVS and MITA.

Recently, Zika virus (ZIKV) has generated extraordinary concern because of its severe neurotoxicity. Disturbingly, there is no vaccine or specific drug to prevent or treat the diseases caused by ZIKV infection. Thus, it is extremely urgent to characterize the pathogenesis of ZIKV.