Inflammatory Markers as Predictors of Atrial Fibrillation Recurrence: Exploring the C-Reactive Protein to Albumin Ratio in Cryoablation Patients.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common cardiac rhythm disorder associated with hemodynamic disruptions and thromboembolic events. While antiarrhythmic drugs are often recommended as the initial treatment, catheter ablation has emerged as a viable alternative. However, the recurrence of AF following ablation remains a challenge, and there is growing interest in exploring inflammatory markers as predictors of recurrence.

The Triglyceride-Glucose Index Might Be a Better Indicator for Predicting Poor Cardiovascular Outcomes in Chronic Coronary Syndrome.

This study aimed to explore the potential association between the triglyceride-glucose index (TyG) and the atherogenic index of plasma (AIP)-both considered surrogate markers for atherosclerosis-and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) in patients diagnosed with chronic coronary syndrome (CCS). We conducted a retrospective analysis, encompassing 715 consecutive patients with intermediate CCS risk, who presented at the outpatient clinic between June 2020 and August 2022. MACEs included non-fatal myocardial infarction, hospitalization for heart failure, cerebrovascular events, non-cardiac mortality, and cardiac mortality.

Fluoroscopy time and scattered radiation during electrophysiology procedures: analysis of one-year data of a laboratory providing electrophysiology training.

Objectives: Patients and medical staff expose to significant radiation during electro-physiological (EP) procedures. There are few data regarding the leading factors of longer fluoroscopy time and higher scattered radiation in a laboratory giving EP training during those interventions.

Material And Methods: The patients' recordings that underwent EP procedure in a single centre arrhythmia unit from February 2019 to January 2020 were examined.

Association of Mild Hyperbilirubinemia with Decreased ECG-Based Ventricular Repolarization Parameters in Young Men.

Objective: Hyperbilirubinemia is associated with protection against various oxidative stress-mediated diseases. We aimed to investigate the association between bilirubin and novel electrocardiography (ECG)-based ventricular repolarization parameters.

Methods: We enrolled 201 healthy men with mild hyperbilirubinemia (group 1) and 219 healthy men with normal bilirubin levels (group 2).

The prevalence and correlates of T-wave inversion in lead III in non-obese men.

Background: T-wave inversion in lead III was linked to displacement of the base of the heart due to abdominal adipose tissue in early electrocardiography (ECG) trials. The observation of T-wave inversion in lead III in some of the pathological and physiological conditions other than obesity suggests the possibilities of different mechanisms. We aimed to investigate the prevalence and correlates of T-wave inversion in lead III in non-obese men.

Serum Endocan Levels Predict Drug-Eluting Stent Restenosis in Patients with Stable Angina Pectoris.

Background: Endothelial cell-specific molecule 1 (ESM-1 or endocan) is an immunoinflammatory marker strongly associated with inflammation, vascular endothelial dysfunction and atherosclerosis. We explored the relationship between serum endocan concentrations and coronary in-stent restenosis (ISR).

Methods: Fifty consecutive patients with ISR and 50 control subjects were included in this study.

mHealth apps design using quality function deployment.

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is threefold: first, to draw health managers', clinicians', entrepreneurs' and mobile apps designers' attention toward new mobile health applications (mHealth apps); second, to define mHealth apps design characteristics intended for doctors; and third, to highlight how mHealth apps can be designed using quality function deployment/house of quality (QFD/HOQ) techniques from doctors' perspectives.

Design/methodology/approach: Data were collected through a survey and in-depth interviews with doctors to understand their needs and attitudes toward mHealth apps. Analytic hierarchy process, QFD and HOQ methods were used to analyze data.

Successful Percutaneous Treatment of an Embolized Patent Ductus Arteriosus Occluder Device.

Transcatheter closure has become the leading approach for closure of most instances of patent ductus arteriosus. However, there are some complications associated with this procedure. We report a case involving the embolization of a device in the right pulmonary artery during placement.

Utility of speckle tracking echocardiography imaging in patients with asymptomatic and symptomatic arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy.

Background: Arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia (ARVD) is characterized by the progressive replacement of ventricular myocytes with variable amounts of fibrous and adipose tissue. Several studies have suggested that speckle tracking echocardiographic (STE) parameters such as strain (S) and strain rate (SR) may prove useful in the early detection of right ventricular (RV) dysfunction. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate RV myocardial function using the STE method in both asymptomatic and symptomatic patients with ARVD and to assess its potential role in the differential diagnosis of these two presentations.