Predictors of Shock-Reduction Programming and Its Impact on Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator Therapies and Mortality: The CERTITUDE Registry.

Background: Shock-reduction implantable cardioverter-defibrillator programming (SRP) was associated with fewer therapies and improved survival in randomized controlled trials, but real-world studies investigating SRP and associated outcomes are limited.

Methods And Results: The BIOTRONIK CERTITUDE registry was linked with the Medicare database. We included all patients with an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator implanted between August 22, 2012 and September 30, 2021 in the United States.

Rates of pulmonary vein reconnection at repeat ablation for recurrent atrial fibrillation and its impact on outcomes among females and males.

Background: Several studies have demonstrated that females have a higher risk of arrhythmia recurrence after pulmonary vein (PV) isolation for atrial fibrillation (AF). There are limited data on sex-based differences in PV reconnection rates at repeat ablation. We aimed to investigate sex-based differences in electrophysiological findings and atrial arrhythmia recurrence after repeat AF ablation METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study of 161 consecutive patients (32% female, age 65 ± 10 years) who underwent repeat AF ablation after index PV isolation between 2010 and 2022.

Inflammatory markers in world trade center workers with asthma: Associations with post traumatic stress disorder.

Background: Post-traumatic stress disorders (PTSD) is associated with worse asthma outcomes in individuals exposed to the World Trade Center (WTC) site.

Research Question: Do WTC workers with coexisting PTSD and asthma have a specific inflammatory pattern that underlies the relationship with increased asthma morbidity?

Study Design And Methods: We collected data on a cohort of WTC workers with asthma recruited from the WTC Health Program. Diagnosis of PTSD was ascertained with a Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manuel of Mental Disorders) and the severity of PTSD symptoms was assessed with the PTSD Checklist 5.

Ventricular Tachycardia Due to Triggered Activity: Role of Early and Delayed Afterdepolarizations.

Most forms of sustained ventricular tachycardia (VT) are caused by re-entry, resulting from altered myocardial conduction and refractoriness secondary to underlying structural heart disease. In contrast, VT caused by triggered activity (TA) is unrelated to an abnormal structural substrate and is often caused by molecular defects affecting ion channel function or regulation of intracellular calcium cycling. This review summarizes the cellular and molecular bases underlying TA and exemplifies their clinical relevance with selective representative scenarios.

Localized Re-Entry Is a Frequent Mechanism of De Novo Atypical Flutter.

Background: Limited data exist about the origins and mechanisms of atypical atrial flutter that occurs in the absence of prior ablation or surgery.

Objectives: The aims of this study were to report a large cohort of patients who presented for catheter ablation of de novo atypical flutters, to identify the most common locations and mechanisms of arrhythmia, and to describe outcomes after ablation.

Methods: Demographic, electrophysiological, and outcome data were collected for patients who underwent ablation of de novo atypical flutter.

Why presumptions are important in occupational health: The example of COVID-19 infection as an occupational disease.

Workers who become ill or injured on the job while undertaking extraordinary risks on behalf of the public are, at times, granted facilitated access to workers' compensation (WC) benefits through the application of presumptions in the compensation process. Since the beginning of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, a broad range of occupational groups faced an elevated risk of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) exposure at work to perform vital services to maintain our food supply, sustain needed transportation, provide health care, assure energy supply and others. Some states or jurisdictions in the United States recognized both the risk and the service of these workers by enacting COVID-19 presumption laws to streamline selected essential workers' eligibility for WC benefits.

World Trade Center workers with asthma and post-traumatic stress disorder perceive airflow limitation more accurately.

Background: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a major risk factor for increased asthma morbidity among World Trade Center (WTC) workers.

Objective: To investigate whether differences in perception of airflow limitation mediate the association of PTSD with worse asthma control in WTC workers.

Methods: We collected data from WTC workers on asthma control (Asthma Control Questionnaire and Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire) and daily peak expiratory flow (PEF) measures over 6 weeks.

Early Stroke and Mortality After Percutaneous Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation.

Background: Percutaneous endocardial left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) is an alternative therapy for stroke prevention in patients with atrial fibrillation who are poor candidates for oral anticoagulants. Oral anticoagulation is generally discontinued 45 days following successful LAAO. Real-world data on early stroke and mortality following LAAO are lacking.

Industry-Specific Profile of COVID-19-Related Workers' Compensation Claims in New York State.

Objective: This study aimed to characterize the distribution and award status of COVID-19-related workers' compensation (WC) claims in New York State (NYS) for 2020 and 2021.

Methods: Characteristics and filing rates of COVID-19 claims were described by industry, time of illness, and award status. Nursing care facilities' claims were compared with the recorded nursing home staff COVID-19 infections and deaths reported by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) during the same period.

Safety and Efficacy of a Novel Approach to Pulmonary Vein Isolation Using Prolonged Apneic Oxygenation.

Background: Improved ablation catheter-tissue contact results in more effective ablation lesions. Respiratory motion causes catheter instability, which impacts durable pulmonary vein isolation (PVI).

Objectives: This study sought to evaluate the safety and efficacy of a novel ablation strategy involving prolonged periods of apneic oxygenation during PVI.

Population-Level Prevalence of Rare Variants Associated With Atrial Fibrillation and its Impact on Patient Outcomes.

Background: Whole exome sequencing may identify rare pathogenic/likely pathogenic variants (LPVs) that are linked to atrial fibrillation (AF). The impact of LPVs associated with AF on a population level on outcomes is unclear.

Objectives: This study sought to examine the association of LPVs with AF and their impact on clinical outcomes using the UK Biobank, a national repository of participants with available whole exome sequencing data.

Initial experience with stylet-driven versus lumenless lead delivery systems for left bundle branch area pacing.

Introduction: Left bundle branch area pacing (LBBP) has emerged as an alternative method for conduction system pacing. While initial experience with delivery systems for stylet-driven and lumenless lead implantation for LBBP has been described, data comparing outcomes of stylet-driven versus lumenless lead implantation for LBBP are limited. In this study, we compare success rates and outcomes of LBBP with stylet-driven versus lumenless lead delivery systems.

Outcomes of patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction undergoing catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation.

Background: Limited real-world data exist on early outcomes in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) undergoing atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to examine and compare rates of index procedural complications and 30-day readmissions after AF ablation in patients with HFpEF, with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), and without heart failure.

Methods: Using the Nationwide Readmissions Database (NRD), we examined 50,299 admissions of adults with heart failure undergoing AF catheter ablation between 2010 and 2014.

Lung cancer incidence among world trade center rescue and recovery workers.

Background: Many World Trade Center disaster (WTC) rescue and recovery workers (WTC RRWV) were exposed to toxic inhalable particles. The impact of WTC exposures on lung cancer risk is unclear.

Methods: Data from the WTC Health Program General Responders Cohort (WTCGRC) were linked to health information from a large New York City health system to identify incident lung cancer cases.

Lung Cancer Screening in Asbestos-Exposed Populations.

Asbestos exposure is the most important cause of occupational lung cancer mortality. Two large randomized clinical trials in the U.S.

The Relationship Between Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Self-Management Behaviors in World Trade Center Workers with Asthma.

Background: Comorbid posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is highly prevalent and associated with increased morbidity among World Trade Center (WTC) rescue and recovery workers with asthma. However, the potential behavioral pathways underlying this relationship remain unclear.

Objective: To evaluate whether PTSD is associated with lower adherence to asthma self-management behaviors among WTC workers with asthma.

Reappraisal of electrocardiographic criteria for localization of idiopathic outflow region ventricular arrhythmias.

Background: Electrocardiographic (ECG) criteria have been proposed to localize the site of origin of outflow region ventricular arrhythmias (VAs). Many factors influence the QRS morphology of VAs and may limit the accuracy of these criteria.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess the accuracy of ECG criteria that differentiate right from left outflow region VAs and localize VAs within the aortic sinus of Valsalva (ASV).