General Anesthesia Improves Efficiency of High-Power Short-Duration Catheter Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation: Comparison with Mild Conscious Sedation.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia globally. High-power, short-duration radiofrequency (RF) catheter ablation (CA) for AF has recently emerged, reducing ablation times and enhancing patient tolerability with comparable efficacy and safety. While the benefits of general anesthesia (GA) for standard-power, standard-duration CA are well-established, data comparing GA to mild conscious sedation (MCS) for high-power, short-duration CA are limited.

Galectin-3, Inflammation, and the Risk of Atrial High-Rate Episodes in Patients with Dual Chamber Pacemakers.

Atrial high-rate episodes (AHREs) are atrial tachyarrhythmias that are exclusively detected by cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) with an atrial lead. The objective of this study was to investigate the incidence and predictive factors for AHREs, and to evaluate the ability of inflammation biomarkers to predict the occurrence of AHREs. 102 patients undergoing CIED procedure who received a dual chamber pacemaker were included.

Particularities of Catheter Ablation in Women with Atrial Fibrillation and Associated Ischemic Heart Disease.

Background: Atrial fibrillation is more common in men, but in the presence of ischemic heart disease, this arrhythmia is more frequent in women. However, like in coronary heart disease, women with atrial fibrillation are suboptimally treated.

Methods: To identify particularities of ablation, in women with atrial fibrillation and ischemic heart disease.

Empirical superior vena cava isolation in patients undergoing repeat catheter ablation procedure after recurrence of atrial fibrillation.

Background: Although the ectopic foci responsible for initiating atrial fibrillation (AF) are usually located in the pulmonary veins (PVs), non-PV sources may initiate AF in approximately 11% of unselected patients with paroxysmal or persistent AF. The superior vena cava (SVC) is one of the most frequent non-PV origins for initiating AF. This study aims to investigate the effect of empirical SVC isolation in redo AF ablation procedures.

Safety aspects of very high power very short duration atrial fibrillation ablation using a modified radiofrequency RF-generator: Single-center experience.

Introduction: High power short duration (HPSD) ablation proved to be an effective and safe ablation technique for atrial fibrillation (AF). In former case series, a significant amount of postablation coagulation at the catheter tip as well as silent cerebral lesions (SCL) in postprocedural cerebral magnetic resonance (cMRI) have been identified in patients undergoing de-novo AF ablations with very high power 90 W short duration (vHPvSD) ablations using the QDot ablation catheter in combination with a novel RF generator (nGEN, Biosense Webster). Therefore, the RF generator software has been recently modified.

Acute oesophageal safety of high-power short duration with 50 W for atrial fibrillation ablation.

Aims: Pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) using radiofrequency (RF) ablation is an effective treatment option for patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). This study aims to investigate the safety of high-power short duration (HPSD) with emphasis on oesophageal lesions after PVI.

Methods And Results: Consecutive patients undergoing AF ablation with HPSD (50 W; ablation index (AI)-guided; target AI 350 for posterior wall ablation, AI 450 for anterior wall ablation) using the ThermoCool SmartTouch SF catheter were included.

Pathogenesis of Autoimmune Hepatitis-Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms.

Pediatric autoimmune liver disorders include autoimmune hepatitis (AIH), autoimmune sclerosing cholangitis (ASC), and de novo AIH after liver transplantation. AIH is an idiopathic disease characterized by immune-mediated hepatocyte injury associated with the destruction of liver cells, causing inflammation, liver failure, and fibrosis, typically associated with autoantibodies. The etiology of AIH is not entirely unraveled, but evidence supports an intricate interaction among genetic variants, environmental factors, and epigenetic modifications.

[A 19-year-old woman with palpitations and mitral regurgitation].

A young woman presented with palpitations. Holter monitoring revealed frequent premature ventricular complexes; echocardiography showed high-degree mitral regurgitation due to mitral valve prolapse. While mitral valve replacement or repair were being discussed, a different therapy was applied after further diagnostic work-up of the patient which in retrospect appears even more efficient.

Impact of Three-Dimensional Strain on Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events after Acute Myocardial Infarction Managed by Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention-A Pilot Study.

Background: Three-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography (3D-STE) allows simultaneous assessment of multidirectional components of strain. However, there are few data on its usefulness to predict prognosis in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). The objective of our pilot study was to evaluate the prognostic value of four different 3D-STE parameters (global longitudinal strain (GLS-3D), global circumferential strain (GCS-3D), global radial strain (GRS-3D), and global area strain (GAS)) in AMI, after successful revascularization by primary PCI.

Value of Left Atrial Appendage Function Measured by Transesophageal Echocardiography for Prediction of Atrial Fibrillation Recurrence after Radiofrequency Catheter Ablation.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence after radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) remains a challenging issue. This study aims to explore the left atrial appendage function by transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) and assess its value in predicting AF recurrence following RFCA in paroxysmal AF patients. Eighty-one patients with paroxysmal AF that underwent RFCA were recruited.

Formula to estimate left atrial volume using antero-posterior diameter in patients with catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation.

In patients undergoing atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation, an enlarged left atrium (LA) is a predictor of procedural failure as well as AF recurrence on long term. The most used method to assess LA size is echocardiography-measured diameter, but the most accurate remains computed tomography (CT).The aim of our study was to determine whether there is an association between left atrial diameters measured in echocardiography and the left atrial volume determined by CT in patients who underwent AF ablation.

The role of intracardiac echocardiography in reducing radiation exposure during atrial fibrillation ablation.

Aims: Intracardiac echocardiography (ICE) is a relatively young technique used during complex electrophysiology proce-dures, such as atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation. The aim of this study was to assess whether the use of ICE modifies the radia-tion exposure at the beginning of the learning curve in AF ablation.

Materials And Methods: In this retrospective study, 52 patients, in which catheter ablation for paroxysmal or persistent AF was performed, were included.

Atrial high-rate episodes: a comprehensive review.

Cardiac electronic implantable devices (CIEDs) have the ability to monitor, store and interpret complex arrhythmias, which has generated a new arrhythmic entity: atrial high-rate episodes (AHRE). AHRE are atrial tachyarrhythmias, detected only by CIEDs. They are widely considered a precursor to atrial fibrillation (AF) but can also be represented by other kinds of supraventricular arrhythmias such as atrial flutter or atrial tachycardia.

The role of multimodal imaging in the diagnosis of an asymptomatic patient with congenital anomaly.

Anomalous left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery (ALCAPA) syndrome is a rare congenital coronary anomaly, which can cause potentially fatal complications, such as heart failure, myocardial infarction and sudden cardiac death. Only a few patients left untreated survive to adulthood. We highlight the importance of multimodal imaging in the diagnosis of ALCAPA syndrome in a young asymptomatic female patient with inducible ischemia on exercise.

Understanding the role of echocardiography in remodeling after acute myocardial infarction and development of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.

Despite the use of reperfusion therapies in the last decades, acute myocardial infarction further remains one of the most frequent causes of mortality. This is mainly caused by changes in the ventricular architecture leading to ventricular remodeling, followed by progressive development of heart failure. Transthoracic echocardiography is a non-invasive instrument which can provide information about the extent of the ischemic process and its consequences but can also predict the outcomes after myocardial infarction.

Pharmaceutical Mixtures: Still A Concern for Human and Environmental Health.

In the present work, recent data on the sources, occurrence and fate of human-use pharmaceutical active compounds (PhACs) in the aquatic environment have been reviewed. Since PhACs and their metabolites are usually present as mixtures in the environment at very low concentrations, a particular emphasis was placed onto the PhACs mixtures, as well as on their short-term and long-term effects against human and environmental health. Moreover, a general overview of the main conventional as well as of the latest trends in wastewaters decontaminant technologies was outlined.

Variation of the PR interval for confirming ventricular pre-excitation on a 12-lead ECG.

We present the case of a 14-year-old female patient with recurrent episodes of paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT). Her ECG showed a PR interval of 160 ms in lead II, and a delta wave pattern in leads V2 and V3, with a normal QRS interval of 100 ms. We analyzed the three criteria for confirmation of minimal pre-excitation: (i) absence of a Q wave in V6; (ii) presence of an R wave in V1 and (iii) absence of an R wave in avR.

Hydractinia echinata test-system. IV. Toxic synergism of human pharmaceuticals in mixtures with iodoform.

The structure-toxicity relationships for a series of singular human stomatological pharmaceuticals preparations and in mixture with Iodoform on Hydractinia echinata were obtained and their synergism was analyzed through the Metamorphosis Reduction Concentration (MRC50) within the "Köln model". The differences manifested between the total and individual components of the samples and mixtures, associated with toxic versus non-toxic synergism, are dependent on three essential factors of synthesis (the nature, the concentration and the number) besides manifested isotoxicity of the given components. The method represents a practical alternative useful for the reduction of experimental tests on animal to the lowest possible level, in accordance to the '3Rs' (reduce, reuse and recycle) integrative concept.

New improved drug delivery technologies for pentacyclic triterpenes: a review.

Phytochemicals are becoming more and more interesting in the field of therapeutic research, mainly in the treatment of chronic illnesses, due to the fact that many synthetic drugs cause important side effects that impact on pa- tient's life quality. Pentacyclic triterpenes are a class of compounds with several therapeutic effects and increasing impor- tance in cancer therapy; however, a major disadvantage is their low water solubility and bioavailability which leads to rather poor therapeutic results in vivo.Technological attempts to improve the pharmacokinetic profile of the main repre- sentatives of this class include the use of cyclodextrins, micro- and nanoemulsions, liposomes, polymeric nanoparticles, and nanocapsules.

The Hydractinia echinata test-system. III: Structure-toxicity relationship study of some azo-, azo-anilide, and diazonium salt derivatives.

Structure-toxicity relationships for a series of 75 azo and azo-anilide dyes and five diazonium salts were developed using Hydractinia echinata (H. echinata) as model species. In addition, based on these relationships, predictions for 58 other azo-dyes were made.

Hydractinia echinata test system. II. SAR toxicity study of some anilide derivatives of Naphthol-AS type.

In this paper, a toxicity study for a series of anilides of Naphthol-AS type is presented. The toxicity of the model compounds was determined by using the Hydractinia echinata (Hydrozoa) test system. Conformational analysis of Naphthol-AS derivatives was performed to elucidate the possible enzymatic hydrolysis mechanism of these compounds.

The history of the Laboratory of Pathology of the Cluj-Napoca Oncological Institute.

The Laboratory of Pathology of the actual "Professor Ion Chiricută" Oncological Institute of Cluj-Napoca, former "Iuliu Maniu" Institute for Cancer Study and Prophylaxis, had the privilege that in its framework carry on an important part of their activity professors Titu Vasiliu and Rubin Popa, who are forming, beside Victor Babeş, the golden trinity of the Romanian pathology. The Cancer Institute of Cluj, one of the first in the World, was founded in 1929, especially by the clear-sightedness and the efforts of Professor Iuliu Moldovan, the master of the modern Romanian school of hygiene. The clinic division was assisted by a Laboratory of Pathology, whose chief was appointed the young pathologist of high competence, Rubin Popa, associate Professor of this department of the Cluj School of Medicine.

The histopathological and immunohistochemical diagnosis in small cell lung carcinoma.

The small cells lung carcinoma (SCLC) represents 10-25% of the bronchogenical carcinomas, prevails at middle ages and is closely associated with tobacco smoke. It belongs to the group of carcinomas with neuroendocrine differentiation, the patients presenting various paraneoplastic syndromes. The study was performed on 491 patients with a clinical and radiological suspicion of bronchopulmonary cancer.

[Retrospective studies on the relation between fibrocystic disease and cancer of the breast with therapeutic conclusions].

On the basis of 597 cases of benign and malignant tumoral, respectively dysplastic diseases of the breast, operated at the IInd Surgical Clinic of Tirgu-Mureş during the period 1977-1983, the authors consider the fibrocystic disease (FCD) of the II and III degree as a facultative precancerous lesion. The extremely high frequency of FCD associated to the mammary cancer in young women, as well as of intense epithelial proliferations and intermediate forms, of transition from typical epithelial hyperplasias to the atypical forms observed in some of these cases, is pointed out. The 4 cases (1.