Catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation in patients with left bundle branch block.

Background: Left bundle branch block (LBBB) and atrial fibrillation (AF) are commonly coexisting conditions. The impact of LBBB on catheter ablation of AF has not been well determined. This study aims to explore the long-term outcomes of patients with AF and LBBB after catheter ablation.

Risk Factors for Left Ventricular Thrombus Formation in Patients with Dilated Cardiomyopathy.

Background:  Left ventricular thrombus (LVT) is a common complication of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), causing morbidity and mortality.

Methods:  This study retrospectively analyzed patients with DCM from January 2002 to August 2020 in Beijing Anzhen Hospital. Clinical characteristics were compared between the LVT group and the age and sex 1:4 matched with the LVT absent group.

Comparison of prognosis and outcomes of catheter ablation versus drug therapy in patients with atrial fibrillation and stable coronary artery disease: A prospective propensity-score matched cohort study.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) and stable coronary artery disease (SCAD) frequently coexist.

Hypothesis: To investigate the prognosis of catheter ablation versus drug therapy in patients with AF and SCAD.

Methods: In total, 25 512 patients with AF in the Chinese AF Registry between 2011 and 2019 were screened for SCAD.

Modifications of the Langendorff Method for Simultaneous Isolation of Atrial and Ventricular Myocytes from Adult Mice.

A single cardiomyocyte is a vital tool in the cellular and subcellular level studies of cardiac biology and diseases as a fundamental unit of contraction and electrical activity. Hence, isolating viable, high-quality cardiomyocytes from the heart is the initial and most crucial experimental step. Comparing the various protocols for isolating the cardiomyocytes of adult mice, the Langendorff retrograde perfusion is the most successful and reproducible method reported in the literature, especially for isolating ventricular myocytes.

New-Onset Atrial Fibrillation and Adverse In-Hospital Outcome in Patients with Acute Pulmonary Embolism.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) can be secondary to acute pulmonary embolism (PE). This study aimed to investigate the prognostic impact of new-onset AF on patients with acute PE. In this study, 4,288 consecutive patients who were diagnosed with acute PE were retrospectively screened.

Relationship Between Ablation Lesion Size Estimated by Ablation Index and Different Ablation Settings-an Ex Vivo Porcine Heart Study.

This study aimed to verify the reliability of ablation index (AI) for ablation lesion estimating with different settings for radiofrequency (RF) parameters: power, impedance, contact angles, irrigation rate, temperature of irrigation saline, and irrigation solution. RF ablations (N = 66) were performed on ex vivo porcine left ventricle submerged in 37 °C saline. The aforementioned ablation parameters were changed to measure whether the size of the ablation lesion was consistent at a fixed AI value of 500.

Atrial tachycardia eliminated at the ventricular side in patients with congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries: Electrophysiological findings and anatomical concerns.

Background: The unique malformation of congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries (cc-TGA) makes the pulmonary outflow tract (POT) a possible origin of atrial tachycardia (AT).

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the mapping characteristics of ATs successfully ablated at the POT in patients with cc-TGA.

Methods: Patients with cc-TGA with AT eliminated at the POT were analyzed.

Depolarization and repolarization parameters on ECG predict recurrence after atrial fibrillation ablation in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Introduction: The outcomes of atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation remain suboptimal. It is important to identify which AF patients will most likely benefit from ablation and who are more likely to show treatment failure, especially in those with structural heart disease such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM).

Methods And Results: We enrolled 120 HCM patients who underwent primary AF ablation (48 with persistent AF).

Relationship between coronary artery calcification and calcium deposition in the myocardium.

Objectives: To investigate the relationship between coronary artery calcification and calcium deposition in cardiomyocytes.

Methods: Patients who underwent valve replacement plus surgical ablation for atrial fibrillation, together with left atrial appendage resection, were included. Coronary artery calcification (CAC) score was evaluated prior to surgery using dual-source computed tomography.

Female Sex as a Risk Factor for Ischemic Stroke and Systemic Embolism in Chinese Patients With Atrial Fibrillation: A Report From the China-AF Study.

Background Previous studies have provided conflicting results as to whether women are at higher risk than men for thromboembolism in the setting of atrial fibrillation ( AF ). We investigated whether women with AF were at higher risk of ischemic stroke in the China-AF (China Atrial Fibrillation Registry) Study. Methods and Results A total of 19 515 patients were prospectively enrolled between August 2011 and December 2016 in the China- AF Study.

Long-term outcome of catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation in patients with apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Introduction: To assess the long-term outcome of catheter ablation in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), especially in patients with apical HCM (ApHCM).

Methods And Results: From 9,249 AF ablation cases, 97 patients (28 with ApHCM and 69 with non-ApHCM) were enrolled. Another 97 patients matched by age, AF type, AF duration, and left atrial diameter were selected as the control group.

U-shaped association between serum free triiodothyronine and recurrence of atrial fibrillation after catheter ablation.

Purpose: Thyroid dysfunction affects the outcomes of atrial fibrillation (AF) catheter ablation. However, it remains unclear if the variations in thyroid function, especially in the triiodothyronine levels, are associated with AF recurrence in euthyroid subjects. This study investigated the associations of thyroid hormone levels with arrhythmia recurrence after AF catheter ablation in euthyroid patients.

Transseptal puncture and catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation in patients with atrial septal occluder: initial experience of a single centre.

Aims: Catheter ablation is underutilized in atrial septal defect (ASD) patients who have undergone implantation of an atrial septal occluder (ASO). This study evaluates the feasibility and safety of catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF) in this subset of patients.

Methods And Results: Sixteen patients (age 56 ± 12 years, 10 men) with drug-refractory AF (10 paroxysmal and 6 persistent) and previously implanted ASO were enrolled.

Acute administration of tumour necrosis factor-α induces spontaneous calcium release via the reactive oxygen species pathway in atrial myocytes.

Aims: The arrhythmogenic mechanisms of atrial fibrillation (AF) that are induced by acute inflammation, such as postoperative AF, are not well understood. We investigated the acute effects of tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) that mimic acute inflammation on Ca2+ handling in isolated atrial myocytes and its underlying mechanisms.

Methods And Results: Cytosol Ca2+ handling and mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) production were studied in freshly isolated atrial myocytes of wild-type mice that were exposed to TNF-α (0.

Right atrial diameter and outcome of catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation.

Purpose: While AF is considered more like a left atrial (LA) disease, to what extent the right atrium contributes to the pathogenesis and ablation outcome of AF remains unclear. This study aimed to identify if right atrial diameter (RAD) could predict arrhythmia recurrence after catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF).

Methods: Four hundred and seventy patients with drug-resistant AF [paroxysmal AF (PAF) 196; non-PAF 274] who underwent primary catheter ablation were enrolled.

Over 1-year efficacy and safety of left atrial appendage occlusion versus novel oral anticoagulants for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials and observational studies.

Background: A direct comparison of the efficacy and safety profiles of left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) devices and novel oral anticoagulants (NOACs) for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation is warranted but currently unavailable.

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the >1-year efficacy and safety of LAAO devices and NOACs for stroke prevention in patients with atrial fibrillation.

Methods: We performed a systematic review on randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and observational studies.

Plasma galectin-3 predicts clinical outcomes after catheter ablation in persistent atrial fibrillation patients without structural heart disease.

Aims: This study sought to explore the relationship between plasma galectin-3 (Gal-3) and persistent atrial fibrillation (PsAF), and investigate whether Gal-3 predicts clinical outcomes in patients with PsAF undergoing catheter ablation.

Methods: Fifty consecutive PsAF patients without coexisting structural heart disease undergoing first-time catheter ablation and 46 healthy controls were included. Blood samples were collected on admission for analysis of plasma Gal-3.

QTc Interval Prolongation Predicts Arrhythmia Recurrence After Catheter Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation in Patients With Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy.

Background: In hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) patients complicated with atrial fibrillation (AF), catheter ablation has been recommended as a treatment option. Meanwhile, prolongation of QTc interval has been linked to an increased AF incidence in the general population and to poor outcomes in HCM patients. However, whether QTc prolongation predicts arrhythmia recurrence after AF ablation in the HCM population remains unknown.

Catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is associated with an increased incidence of atrial fibrillation (AF). This study evaluated the safety and efficacy of catheter ablation (CA) in the treatment of AF in patients with RA, which has not been previously reported.

Methods: A total of 15 RA patients with AF who underwent CA were enrolled.