Copy Number Variants in Cardiac Channelopathies: Still a Missed Part in Routine Arrhythmic Diagnostics.

Inherited cardiac channelopathies are major causes of sudden cardiac death (SCD) in young people. Genetic testing is focused on the identification of single-nucleotide variants (SNVs) by Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS). However, genetically elusive cases can carry copy number variants (CNVs), which need specific detection tools.

The Role of Nt-Pro-Bnp in Predicting Outcome in Pediatric Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy.

Hypothesis: The aim of the study was to evaluate the correlation between NTproBNP and left ventricular mass (LVM) in children affected by hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), both asymptomatic, symptomatic, and with implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD).

Methods: A total of 225 pediatric patients were evaluated and 45 were enrolled in the study because met inclusion criteria (age < 18 years; diagnosis of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy; NTproBNP > 600 pg/ml).

Results: The analysis showed a significant correlation between NTproBNP level and LVM (p = 0.

The reinforcement metalearner as a biologically plausible meta-learning framework.

We argue that the type of meta-learning proposed by Binz et al. generates models with low interpretability and falsifiability that have limited usefulness for neuroscience research. An alternative approach to meta-learning based on hyperparameter optimization obviates these concerns and can generate empirically testable hypotheses of biological computations.

The impact of subclinical psychotic symptoms on delay and effort discounting: Insights from behavioral, computational, and electrophysiological methods.

Background: The ability to value rewards is crucial for adaptive behavior and is influenced by the time and effort required to obtain them. Impairments in these computations have been observed in patients with schizophrenia and may be present in individuals with subclinical psychotic symptoms (PS).

Methods: In this study, we employed delay and effort-discounting tasks with food rewards in thirty-nine participants divided into high and low levels of PS.

Implantation of a novel insertable cardiac monitor: preliminary multicenter experience in Europe.

Background: The LUX-Dx™ is a novel insertable cardiac monitor (ICM) introduced into the European market since October 2022.

Purpose: The aim of this investigation was to provide a comprehensive description of the ICM implantation experience in Europe during its initial year of commercial use.

Methods: The system comprises an incision tool and a single-piece insertion tool pre-loaded with the small ICM.

New Guidelines of Pediatric Cardiac Implantable Electronic Devices: What Is Changing in Clinical Practice?

Guidelines are important tools to guide the diagnosis and treatment of patients to improve the decision-making process of health professionals. They are periodically updated according to new evidence. Four new Guidelines in 2021, 2022 and 2023 referred to pediatric pacing and defibrillation.

Trans-jugular approach for safe and successful cryoablation of para-Hisian/anterior-septal, anterior, and anterior-lateral accessory pathways in children.

Background: Cryoablation of APs localized near the atrioventricular (AV) junction is a well-established ablation strategy in children, and it has proved to be very safe. However, recurrence rates remain considerable for specific accessory pathway (AP) localizations. The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a trans-jugular approach for cryoablation of right anterior, anterior-lateral, and anterior-septal APs in children, as compared to the conventional femoral approach.

Transvenous lead advancement in pediatric pacing to overcome growth-induced lead straightening and stretching.

Background: The stretching of the lead caused by somatic growth may lead to complications (dislodgement, fracture, failure) of transvenous leads implanted in pediatric patients. Atrial loop and absorbable ligatures may prevent it. Periodical lead advancement with lead pushing from the pocket may be an option to growth-induced stretching.

Temperament and probabilistic predictive coding in visual-spatial attention.

Cholinergic (Ach), Noradrenergic (NE), and Dopaminergic (DA) pathways play an important role in the regulation of spatial attention. The same neurotransmitters are also responsible for inter-individual differences in temperamental traits. Here we explored whether biologically defined temperamental traits determine differences in the ability to orient spatial attention as a function of the probabilistic association between cues and targets.

Use of the universal scan template to achieve a predictable optical impression: Preliminary data of a case series study in complete edentulous patients.

Background: Full-arch IOS scan of edentulous areas rehabilitated with dental implants is nowadays still described as an unpredictable procedure. To improve the accuracy, a universal scan template (UST®) is proposed in this article. The clinician can easily assemble the template with a mechanical coupling, by matching the scan bodies with objects of known dimension characterized by specific markers.

ICD outcome in pediatric arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy.

Background: Arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy (ACM) is a very rare condition among pediatric patients. Sudden cardiac death (SCD) is the main complication and often requires ICD implantation. Aim of the study is the evaluation of the outcomes of ICD implanted ACM pediatric patients in terms of safety, efficacy and complications.

Left ventricular endocardial activation maps during right ventricular pacing in pediatric patients.

Background: Cardiac pacing from right ventricular (RV) sites may cause electromechanical ventricular dyssynchrony. Invasive and noninvasive mapping studies showed left ventricular (LV) activation sequence in adults. Aim of this study was to seek out the LV endocardial activation (LVEA) in pediatric patients who underwent RV pacing.

Modern subcutaneous implantable defibrillator therapy in patients with cardiomyopathies and channelopathies: data from a large multicentre registry.

Aims: Patients with cardiomyopathies and channelopathies are usually younger and have a predominantly arrhythmia-related prognosis; they have nearly normal life expectancy thanks to the protection against sudden cardiac death provided by the implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD). The subcutaneous ICD (S-ICD) is an effective alternative to the transvenous ICD and has evolved over the years. This study aimed to evaluate the rate of inappropriate shocks (IS), appropriate therapies, and device-related complications in patients with cardiomyopathies and channelopathies who underwent modern S-ICD implantation.

Diagnosis and treatment of fetal and pediatric age patients (0-12 years) with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome and atrioventricular accessory pathways.

Overt or concealed accessory pathways are the anatomic substrates of ventricular preexcitation (VP), Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome (WPW) and paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT). These arrhythmias are commonly observed in pediatric age. PSVT may occur at any age, from fetus to adulthood, and its symptoms range from none to syncope or heart failure.

Preoperative Risk Factors Associated with Increased Incidence of Postoperative Delirium: Systematic Review of Qualified Clinical Studies.

Postoperative delirium (POD) is an acute alteration of mental state, characterized by reduced awareness and attention, occurring up to five postoperative days after recovery from anesthesia. Several original studies and reviews have identified possible perioperative POD risk factors; however, there is no comprehensive review of the preoperative risk factors in patients diagnosed with POD using only validated diagnostic scales. The aim of this systematic review was to report the preoperative risk factors associated with an increased incidence of POD in patients undergoing non-cardiac and non-brain surgery.

AVNRT cryoablation in children <26 kg: efficacy and safety of electrophysiologically guided low-voltage bridge strategy.

The recently published "electrophysiologically guided low-voltage bridge (LVB) strategy" is effective in the ablation of atrioventricular nodal re-entry tachycardia (AVNRT) in children. This study aimed to evaluate its efficacy and safety in children <26 kgs. Fourteen children [64% males, median age 6.

Three-dimensional-mapping-guided permanent conduction system pacing in paediatric patients with congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries.

Aims: In congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries (CCTGA) the right ventricle (RV) is systemic. Atrioventricular block (AVB) and systolic dysfunction are frequently observed. Permanent pacing of the subpulmonary left ventricle (LV) may worsen RV dysfunction.

A Reinforcement Meta-Learning framework of executive function and information demand.

Gathering information is crucial for maximizing fitness, but requires diverting resources from searching directly for primary rewards to actively exploring the environment. Optimal decision-making thus maximizes information while reducing effort costs, but little is known about the neuro-computational implementation of this tradeoff. We present a Reinforcement Meta-Learning (RML) computational model that solves the trade-off between the value and costs of gathering information.

The Neurodegenerative Elderly Syndrome (NES) hypothesis: Alzheimer and Parkinson are two faces of the same disease.

Increasing evidence suggests that Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD) share monoamine and alpha-synuclein (αSyn) dysfunctions, often beginning years before clinical manifestations onset. The triggers for these impairments and the causes leading these early neurodegenerative processes to become AD or PD remain unclear. We address these issues by proposing a radically new perspective to frame AD and PD: they are different manifestations of one only disease we call "Neurodegenerative Elderly Syndrome (NES)".

The SIDECAR project: S-IcD registry in European paediatriC and young Adult patients with congenital heaRt defects.

Aims: Subcutaneous-implantable cardiac defibrillators (S-ICDs) are used increasingly to prevent sudden cardiac death in young patients. This study was set up to gain insight in the indications for S-ICD, possible complications, and their predictors and follow-up results.

Methods And Results: A multicentre, observational, retrospective, non-randomized, standard-of-care registry on S-ICD outcome in young patients with congenital heart diseases (CHDs), inherited arrhythmias (IAs), idiopathic ventricular fibrillation (IVF), and cardiomyopathies (CMPs).