Noninvasive assessment of hydroquinidine effect in Brugada syndrome (QUIET BrS).

Background: Hydroquinidine reduces arrhythmic events in patients with Brugada syndrome (BrS). The mechanism by which it exerts antiarrhythmic benefit and its electrophysiological effects on BrS substrate remain incompletely understood.

Objective: This study aimed to determine the effect of hydroquinidine on ventricular depolarization and repolarization in patients with BrS in vivo.

Community Health Workers' Concept and Understanding of Diabetes: A Qualitative Study.

Objectives: Community health workers (CHWs) fill in the insufficiency of health professionals in low-income countries. The CHWs' roles include health education of their constituents whose health they likewise take care. This study aimed to describe the concept and understanding of diabetes among CHWs in the Philippines.

Clinical and health care utilization variables can predict 90-day hospital re-admission in adults with Crohn's disease for point of care risk evaluation.

Background: Hospital re-admission for persons with Crohn's disease (CD) is a significant contributor to morbidity and healthcare costs. We derived prediction models of risk of 90-day re-hospitalization among persons with CD that could be applied at hospital discharge to target outpatient interventions mitigating this risk.

Methods: We performed a retrospective study in persons with CD admitted between 2009 and 2016 for an acute CD-related indication.

2023 Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand Expert Position Statement on Catheter and Surgical Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation.

Catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF) has increased exponentially in many developed countries, including Australia and New Zealand. This Expert Position Statement on Catheter and Surgical Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation from the Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand (CSANZ) recognises healthcare factors, expertise and expenditure relevant to the Australian and New Zealand healthcare environments including considerations of potential implications for First Nations Peoples. The statement is cognisant of international advice but tailored to local conditions and populations, and is intended to be used by electrophysiologists, cardiologists and general physicians across all disciplines caring for patients with AF.

Predicting Adverse Outcomes Following Catheter Ablation Treatment for Atrial Flutter/Fibrillation.

Background & Aim: To develop prognostic survival models for predicting adverse outcomes after catheter ablation treatment for non-valvular atrial fibrillation (AF) and/or atrial flutter (AFL).

Methods: We used a linked dataset including hospital administrative data, prescription medicine claims, emergency department presentations, and death registrations of patients in New South Wales, Australia. The cohort included patients who received catheter ablation for AF and/or AFL.

Healthcare exposures and associated risk of endocarditis after open-heart cardiac valve surgery.

Background: Infective endocarditis (IE) following cardiac valve surgery is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Data on the impact of iatrogenic healthcare exposures on this risk are sparse. This study aimed to investigate risk factors including healthcare exposures for post open-heart cardiac valve surgery endocarditis (PVE).

Clinical Management of Brugada Syndrome: Commentary From the Experts.

Although there is consensus on the management of patients with Brugada Syndrome with high risk for sudden cardiac arrest, asymptomatic or intermediate-risk patients present clinical management challenges. This document explores the management opinions of experts throughout the world for patients with Brugada Syndrome who do not fit guideline recommendations. Four real-world clinical scenarios were presented with commentary from small expert groups for each case.

Objective Measures of Gaze Behaviors and the Visual Environment during Near-Work Tasks in Young Adult Myopes and Emmetropes.

Purpose: To objectively quantify near-work gaze behaviors and the visual environment during reading tasks performed on a smartphone and on paper in both indoor and outdoor environments in myopes and emmetropes.

Methods: A novel wearable gaze and viewing distance tracking device was used to quantify near-work gaze behaviors (focusing demand) and the visual environment (20° peripheral scene relative defocus) during a series of reading tasks. Data from nine myopes (mean age, 21 ± 1.

Outcomes Following Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator Insertion in Patients 80 Years of Age or Older: A Statewide Population Cohort Study.

Background: Patients ≥ 80 years of age are underrepresented in major implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) trials, and real-world data are lacking. In this study, we sought to assess ICD utilisation, outcomes, and their predictors, in an unselected statewide population including patients ≥ 80 years old.

Methods: We extracted details of ICDs implanted from 2009 to 2018 in New South Wales (NSW), Australia from the Centre for Health Record Linkage administrative data sets.

Provocation testing in congenital long QT syndrome: A practical guide.

Congenital long QT syndrome (LQTS) is a hereditary cardiac channelopathy with an estimated prevalence of 1 in 2500. A prolonged resting QT interval corrected for heart rate (QTc interval) remains a key diagnostic component; however, the QTc value may be normal in up to 40% of patients with genotype-positive LQTS and borderline in a further 30%. Provocation of QTc prolongation and T-wave changes may be pivotal to unmasking the diagnosis and useful in predicting genotype.

The New South Wales Sudden Cardiac Arrest Registry: A Data Linkage Cohort Study.

Background: Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) in young people aged 1 to 50 years often occurs with no presenting symptoms or risk factors prompting screening for cardiovascular disease prior to their cardiac arrest. Approximately 3,000 young Australians suffer from sudden cardiac death (SCD) each year, making this a major public health issue. However, there is significant variation in the way incidence is estimated resulting in discrepancy across reporting which impacts our ability to understand and prevent these devastating events.

Prognostic benefit of catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation in heart failure: An updated meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Background: The prognostic role of catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients with heart failure (HF) remains uncertain, with guideline recommendations largely based on a single trial. We conducted a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing the prognostic impact of AF ablation in patients with HF.

Methods: Electronic databases were searched for RCTs comparing 'AF ablation' versus 'other care' (medical therapy and/or atrioventricular node ablation with pacing) in patients with HF.

Pancolonic Dye Spray Chromoendoscopy to Detect and Resect Ill-Defined Neoplastic Lesions in Colonic Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Background: Pancolonic dye spray chromoendoscopy (DCE) is used as an adjunct to white light endoscopy (WLE) to enhance the detection and delineation of ill-defined neoplastic (dysplastic) lesions in persons with colonic inflammatory bowel diseases (cIBD). We evaluated the utility of DCE as follow-up to high-definition WLE (HD-WLE) to "unmask" and/or facilitate endoscopic resection of neoplastic lesions.

Methods: We retrospectively studied persons with cIBD who underwent DCE as follow-up to HD-WLE between 2013 and 2020.

Longitudinal assessment of structural phenotype in Brugada syndrome using cardiac magnetic resonance imaging.

Background: Despite historically being considered a channelopathy, subtle structural changes have been reported in Brugada syndrome (BrS) on histopathology and cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging. It is not known if these structural changes progress over time.

Objective: The study sought to assess if structural changes in BrS evolve over time with serial CMR assessment and to investigate the utility of parametric mapping techniques to identify diffuse fibrosis in BrS.

A Prospective, Multicentre Randomised Controlled Trial Comparing Catheter Ablation Versus Antiarrhythmic Drugs in Patients With Structural Heart Disease Related Ventricular Tachycardia: The CAAD-VT Trial Protocol.

Importance: Randomised trials have shown that catheter ablation (CA) is superior to medical therapy for ventricular tachycardia (VT) largely in patients with ischaemic heart disease. Whether this translates to patients with all forms and stages of structural heart disease (SHD-e.g.

The role of genetic testing in diagnosis and care of inherited cardiac conditions in a specialised multidisciplinary clinic.

Background: The diagnostic yield of genetic testing for inherited cardiac diseases is up to 40% and is primarily indicated for screening of at-risk relatives. Here, we evaluate the role of genomics in diagnosis and management among consecutive individuals attending a specialised clinic and identify those with the highest likelihood of having a monogenic disease.

Methods: A retrospective audit of 1697 consecutive, unrelated probands referred to a specialised, multidisciplinary clinic between 2002 and 2020 was performed.

Novel Epicardial Access Technique Facilitated by Carbon Dioxide Insufflation of the Pericardium for Ablation of Ventricular Arrhythmias: Lessons From the Early Experience From a Single Centre in Australia.

Introduction: Epicardial access for mapping and ablation of the epicardial substrate may be required in catheter ablation of ventricular tachycardias (VT). However, high complication rates are associated with the standard epicardial access approach. Recently, a novel method of intentional coronary vein (CV) exit with pericardial CO insufflation to facilitate epicardial access has been described.

Concealed Cardiomyopathy in Autopsy-Inconclusive Cases of Sudden Cardiac Death and Implications for Families.

Background: Genetic testing following sudden cardiac death (SCD) is currently guided by autopsy findings, despite the inherent challenges of autopsy examination and mounting evidence that malignant arrhythmia may occur before structural changes in inherited cardiomyopathy, so-called "concealed cardiomyopathy" (CCM).

Objectives: The authors sought to identify the spectrum of genes implicated in autopsy-inconclusive SCD and describe the impact of identifying CCM on the ongoing care of SCD families.

Methods: Using a standardized framework for adjudication, autopsy-inconclusive SCD cases were identified as having a structurally normal heart or subdiagnostic findings of uncertain significance on autopsy.

An Observational Study of Clinical and Health System Factors Associated With Catheter Ablation and Early Ablation Treatment for Atrial Fibrillation in Australia.

Objective: To investigate clinical and health system factors associated with receiving catheter ablation (CA) and earlier ablation for non-valvular atrial fibrillation (AF).

Methods: We used hospital administrative data linked with death registrations in New South Wales, Australia for patients with a primary diagnosis of AF between 2009 and 2017. Outcome measures included receipt of CA versus not receiving CA during follow-up (using Cox regression) and receipt of early ablation (using logistic regression).

Congenital Long QT Syndrome.

Congenital long QT syndrome (LQTS) encompasses a group of heritable conditions that are associated with cardiac repolarization dysfunction. Since its initial description in 1957, our understanding of LQTS has increased dramatically. The prevalence of LQTS is estimated to be ∼1:2,000, with a slight female predominance.

Systematic review of electrophysiology procedures in patients with obstruction of the inferior vena cava.

Aims: The objective of the study was to conduct a systematic review to describe and compare the different approaches for performing cardiac electrophysiology (EP) procedures in patients with interrupted inferior vena cava (IVC) or equivalent entities causing IVC obstruction.

Methods: We conducted a structured search to identify manuscripts reporting EP procedures with interrupted IVC or IVC obstruction of any aetiology published up until August 2020. No restrictions were applied in the search strategy.

A unique case report of relapsing eosinophilic myocarditis causing atrial myopathy and persistent sinus arrest.

Background: Eosinophilic myocarditis (EM) is a rare and devastating condition. The underlying cause of EM is unknown, and the natural history is not well understood.

Case Summary: A 20-year-old male presented in cardiogenic shock with preceding 24-h history of pleuritic chest pain associated with nausea and vomiting.

The rs1458038 variant near FGF5 is associated with poor response to calcium channel blockers among Filipinos.

Genetic variation is known to affect response to calcium channel blockers (CCBs) among different populations. This study aimed to determine the genetic variations associated with poor response to this class of antihypertensive drugs among Filipinos.One hundred eighty one hypertensive participants on CCBs therapy were included in an unmatched case-control study.