Use of artificial intelligence-powered ECG to differentiate between cardiac and pulmonary pathologies in patients with acute dyspnoea in the emergency department.

Background: Acute dyspnoea is common in acute care settings. However, identifying the origin of dyspnoea in the emergency department (ED) is often challenging. We aimed to investigate whether our artificial intelligence (AI)-powered ECG analysis reliably distinguishes between the causes of dyspnoea and evaluate its potential as a clinical triage tool for comparing conventional heart failure diagnostic processes using natriuretic peptides.

Reversible Mg-Metal Batteries Enabled by a Ga-Rich Protective Layer through One-Step Interface Engineering.

Practical applications of Mg-metal batteries (MMBs) have been plagued by a critical bottleneck─the formation of a native oxide layer on the Mg-metal interface─which inevitably limits the use of conventional nontoxic electrolytes. The major aim of this work was to propose a simple and effective way to reversibly operate MMBs in combination with Mg(TFSI)-diglyme electrolyte by forming a Ga-rich protective layer on the Mg metal (GPL@Mg). Mg metal was carefully reacted with a GaCl solution to trigger a galvanic replacement reaction between Ga and Mg, resulting in the layering of a stable and ion-conducting Ga-rich protective film while preventing the formation of a native insulating layer.

Impact of right atrial enlargement on clinical outcome in patients with atrial fibrillation.

Background: Left atrial (LA) remodeling is associated with adverse cardiovascular events, including heart failure (HF) and stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). However, there are limited data on the value of right atrial (RA) remodeling in this population. We investigated the prognostic role of RA enlargement in patients with non-valvular AF.

PRE-OPerative ECHOcardiograhy for prevention of cardiovascular events after non-cardiac surgery in intermediate- and high-risk patients: protocol for a low-interventional, mixed-cohort prospective study design (PREOP-ECHO).

Background: Cardiac evaluation using transthoracic echocardiography before noncardiac surgery is common in real-world practice. However, evidence supporting preoperative echocardiography is lacking. This study aims to evaluate the additional benefit of preoperative echocardiography in predicting postoperative cardiovascular events (CVE) in noncardiac surgery.

Association of Left Atrial Structure and Function With Heart Failure in Older Adults.

Background: Limited data exist to characterize novel measures of left atrial (LA) structure and function in older adults without prevalent heart failure (HF).

Objectives: The aim was to assess reference range of LA measures, their associations with N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic-peptide (NT-proBNP) and the related risk for incident HF or death.

Methods: We analyzed LA structure (LA maximal [LAViMax] and minimal volume indexed by body surface area) and function (LA emptying fraction, LA reservoir, conduit, and contraction strain) in 4,901 participants from the ARIC (Atherosclerosis Risk In Communities) study (mean age 75 ± 5 years, 40% male, and 19% Black) without prevalent HF.

Correlation of heart rate recovery and heart rate variability with atrial fibrillation progression.

Objective: To examine the combination of heart rate recovery (HRR) and heart rate variability (HRV) in predicting atrial fibrillation (AF) progression.

Methods: Data from patients with a first detected episode of AF who underwent treadmill exercise testing and 24-h Holter electrocardiography were retrospectively analysed. Autonomic dysfunction was verified using HRR values.

The Association between Korean Clinical Nurses' Workplace Bullying, Positive Psychological Capital, and Social Support on Burnout.

Recurring shortages of nursing peoplepower in recent Korean society have impacted nursing organizations with burnout accounting for a major part of nursing staff turnover. Thus, we studied the associations between workplace bullying, positive psychological capital, and social support and whether they predict nursing burnout. We used hierarchical regression analysis to observe changes in influencing factors by sequentially entering general traits, workplace bullying, positive psychological capital, and social support from 166 clinical nurses at two hospitals.

A Path Model for Burnout in Community Mental Health Professionals.

The purpose of this research is to identify a path model to explain burnout in community mental health professionals based on the compassion satisfaction-compassion fatigue (CS-CF) model. A total of 125 mental health professionals, including nurses, social professionals, and psychologists working in mental health welfare centers in various regions across South Korea were surveyed using a structured questionnaire. A path analysis was conducted using SPSS 24.

Prognostic Value of Minimal Left Atrial Volume in Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction.

Background Maximal left atrial (LA) volume is reported by most echocardiography laboratories and is associated with clinical outcomes in patients with heart failure (HF). Recent studies suggest that minimal LA volume may better reflect left ventricular filling pressure and may be more prognostic than maximal LA volume. This study assessed the prognostic value of indexed minimal LA volume (LAVImin) in patients with HF with preserved ejection fraction.

Ivabradine-Induced Torsade de Pointes in Patients with Heart Failure Reduced Ejection Fraction.

Ivabradine is a selective inhibitor of the sinoatrial node "funny" current, prolonging the slow diastolic depolarization. As it has the ability to block the heart rate selectively, it is more effective at a faster heart rate. It is recommended for the treatment of heart failure reduced ejection fraction in the presence of beta-blocker therapy for the further reduction of the heart rate.

Mechanical and Pharmacological Revascularization Strategies for Prevention of Microvascular Dysfunction in ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction: Analysis from Index of Microcirculatory Resistance Registry Data.

Objectives: We aimed to identify mechanical and pharmacological revascularization strategies correlated with the index of microcirculatory resistance (IMR) in ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients.

Background: Microvascular dysfunction (MVD) after STEMI is correlated with infarct size and poor long-term prognosis, and the IMR is a useful analytical method for the quantitative assessment of MVD. However, therapeutic strategies that can reliably reduce MVD remain uncertain.

An analysis of vascular properties using pulse wave analysis in patients with vasovagal syncope.

Background: Vasovagal syncope (VVS) is a common cause of recurrent syncope. Nevertheless, the exact hemodynamic mechanism has not been elucidated. Pulse wave analysis (PWA) is widely used to evaluate vascular properties, as it reflects the condition of the entire arterial system.

Hyperglycaemia, ejection fraction and the risk of heart failure or cardiovascular death in patients with type 2 diabetes and a recent acute coronary syndrome.

Aims: Chronic hyperglycaemia, assessed by elevated glycated haemoglobin (A1C), is a known risk factor for heart failure (HF) and cardiovascular (CV) death among subjects with diabetes. Whether this risk varies with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) is unknown. This study evaluated whether A1C influences a composite outcome of either HF hospitalization or CV death differently along the spectrum of LVEF.

Improving the Mechanical Durability of Short-Side-Chain Perfluorinated Polymer Electrolyte Membranes by Annealing and Physical Reinforcement.

Physically reinforced short-side-chain perfluorinated sulfonic acid electrolyte membranes were fabricated by annealing and using a porous support. Five types of solution-cast membranes were produced from commercial perfluorinated ionomers (3M and Aquivion (AQ)) with different equivalent weights, annealed at different temperatures, and characterized in terms of ion conductivity, water uptake, and in-plane/through-plane swelling, while the effect of annealing on physical structure of membranes was evaluated by small-angle X-ray scattering and dynamic mechanical analysis. To create a reinforced composite membrane (RCM), we impregnated a polytetrafluoroethylene porous support with 3M 729 and AQ 720 electrolytes exhibiting excellent proton conductivity and water uptake.

Impact of gender on heart failure presentation in non-obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a genetic cardiac disease that represents a broad spectrum of morphologic features and clinical presentations. However, little is known about the impact of gender differences in heart failure (HF) development in non-obstructive HCM. We assessed clinical and echocardiographic parameters according to gender in patients with non-obstructive HCM and evaluated the impact of gender on HF presentation and cardiovascular (CV) outcomes in this population.

Increasing the Durability of Polymer Electrolyte Membranes Using Organic Additives.

Herein, we utilize organic radical scavengers to mitigate the chemical degradation of polymer membranes without sacrificing their proton conductivity. Several hydrocarbon composite membranes based on sulfonated poly(arylene ether sulfone) (SPES50, degree of sulfonation = 50%) and containing organic radical scavengers were prepared and characterized in terms of water uptake, ion-exchange capacity, proton conductivity, and oxidative stability, being additionally exposed to hydrogen peroxide for accelerated oxidative stability testing. Precise analysis of the molecular weight and its distribution before and after the above test confirmed that the incorporation of radical scavengers enhanced the chemical durability of membranes while maintaining their proton conductivity.

Relation of blood pressure variability to left ventricular function and arterial stiffness in hypertensive patients.

Introduction: Variability of blood pressure (BP) has been reported to be related to worse cardiovascular outcomes. We examined the impact of daytime systolic BP variability on left ventricular (LV) function and arterial stiffness in hypertensive patients.

Methods: Ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM) and echocardiography were performed in 116 hypertensive patients.

Angiotensin Receptor Neprilysin Inhibitor for Functional Mitral Regurgitation.

Background: The morbidity and mortality of patients with functional mitral regurgitation (MR) remain high, but no pharmacological therapy has been proven effective. The hypothesis of this study was that sacubitril/valsartan would be superior to valsartan alone in improving functional MR via dual inhibition of the renin-angiotensin system and neprilysin.

Methods: In this double-blind trial, we randomly assigned 118 patients with heart failure with chronic functional MR secondary to left ventricular (LV) dysfunction to receive either sacubitril/valsartan or valsartan, in addition to standard medical therapy for heart failure.

Prognostic Impact of Left Atrial Minimal Volume on Clinical Outcome in Patients with Non-Obstructive Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy.

Maximal left atrial volume (LAVmax) has been suggested to be an important indicator of left ventricular (LV) diastolic function and a prognosticator in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). However, LAVmax can be influenced by LV longitudinal systolic function, which causes systolic descent of the mitral plane. We investigated the prognostic role of LAVmin in patients with HCM and tested if LAVmin is better than LAVmax in predicting clinical outcome in these patients.