Efficacy and Safety of High-Power Short-Duration Ablation for Cavo-Tricuspid Isthmus With a Flexible-Tip Temperature-Controlled Power Regulation Catheter Performed by Electrophysiology Trainees.

Introduction: The suitability of high-power short-duration (HPSD) cavo-tricuspid isthmus ablation (CTI-Abl) for electrophysiology (EP) trainees, as well as the underlying mechanisms of its efficacy, remain unknown. The aim of this study was to clarify the efficacy and safety of HPSD CTI-Abl performed by EP trainees and assess lesion characteristics between HPSD and moderate-power long duration (MPLD) ablations.

Methods: Study 1: CTI-Abl was performed by first- to fourth-year EP trainees in consecutive 113 patients (67 ± 11 years, 27.

Significance of the local largest bipolar voltage for the optimized ablation strategy using very high-power short duration mode.

Purpose: Very high-power short-duration (vHPSD) ablation creates shallower lesions, potentially reducing efficacy. This study aims to identify factors leading to insufficient lesions during pulmonary vein antral isolation (PVAI) with vHPSD-ablation and to develop an optimized PVAI strategy using this technology.

Methods: PVAI was performed on 41 atrial fibrillation patients using vHPSD-ablation (90 W/4 s).

Embryological Classification of Arrhythmogenic Triggers Initiating Atrial Fibrillation.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a prevalent multifactorial arrhythmia associated with specific single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Pulmonary vein (PV) isolation is an established treatment for AF; however, recurrence risk remains caused by AF triggers beyond the PVs. Understanding the embryological origins of these triggers could improve treatment outcomes.

Feasibility and safety assessment of RF double applications in very high power and short duration ablation.

Background: Very high power and short duration (vHPSD) ablation is recently used for pulmonary vein isolation. However, low first-pass isolation rates have been reported, possibly because of shallow lesion formation, necessitating deeper lesions to improve treatment outcomes.

Objective: This study aimed to confirm the safety and efficacy of double radiofrequency applications of vHPSD ablation in an in vivo beating swine heart model.

Distribution of antral lesions with the novel size-adjustable cryoballoon for pulmonary vein isolation and the differences based on left atrial remodeling.

Introduction: The novel cryoballoon with 28 mm or 31 mm adjustable diameters, aims to achieve a wide antral pulmonary vein isolation (PVI). However, the distribution of antral lesions and their variations based on left atrial (LA) remodeling require further clarification.

Methods: We evaluated 22 patients (67 [59.

The impact of hyperbaric oxygen treatment for cardiovascular implantable electronic devices.

Introduction: The safety of hyperbaric oxygen treatment (HBO) in patients with cardiovascular implanted electronic devices (CIED) remains unclear.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of seven CIED patients (median age 79 [73-83] years, five males [71.4%]), including five with pacemakers and two with implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICD), who underwent HBO between June 2013 and April 2023.

An optimized approach for increasing lesion size in temperature-controled setting using a catheter with a surface thermocouple and efficient irrigation.

Background: We explore an optimized approach for increasing lesion size using a novel ablation catheter with a surface thermocouple and efficient irrigation in a temperature-control setting.

Methods: We conducted radiofrequency applications at various power levels (35 W, 40 W, and 45 W), contact forces (CFs, 10 g/20 g), and durations (60 s/120 s/180 s) in perpendicular/parallel catheter orientations, with normal saline irrigation (NS-irrigation) and Half NS-irrigation (HNS-irrigation) in an ex-vivo model (Step 1). In addition, we performed applications (35 W/40 W/45 W for 60 s/120 s/180 s in NS-irrigation and 35 W/40 W for 60 s/120 s/180 s in HNS-irrigation) in four swine (Step 2), evaluating lesion characteristics and the occurrence of steam pops.

Distribution of peak frequency and omnipolar voltage in electrograms across the atrial body and thoracic veins in a normal heart.

Background: The innovative peak frequency mapping facilitates the quantification of electrogram sharpness. However, reference values for normal atrial tissue are currently undefined. In this study, we explored the distribution of peak frequency and omnipolar peak-to-peak voltage (V-max) in a normal heart.

Impact of contact force on the lesion characteristics of very high-power short-duration ablation using a QDOT-MICRO catheter.

Background: Lesion size is reported to become larger as contact force (CF) increases. However, this has not been systematically evaluated in temperature-guided very high-power short-duration (vHPSD) ablation, which was therefore the purpose of this study.

Methods: Radiofrequency applications (90 W/4 s, temperature-control mode) were performed in excised porcine myocardium with four different CFs of 5, 15, 25, and 35 g using QDOT-MICRO™ catheter.

Association between the Decrease in Medical Visit Frequency and Chronic Disease Worsening in the Early Stages of COVID-19 - A Longitudinal Study.

Objective This longitudinal study aimed to clarify the changes in the medical treatment behavior of Japanese patients with chronic diseases during the early phase of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and examine the factors associated with disease worsening. Methods Subjects with chronic diseases were selected from a panel survey that started at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic consists of 2,400 participants recruited via the Internet. Medical treatment behaviors (decrease in medical visit frequency, inability to take regular medications, and utilization of telephone/online medical care), psychological distress, and sociodemographic factors were evaluated at baseline (May 2020) and at the follow-up survey (February 2021).

A Single Atrial Extrastimulation Resetting His Bundle During Supraventricular Tachycardia to Differentiate Atrial Tachycardia.

Background: Catheter ablation is the curative treatment for paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (SVT). However, atrial tachycardia (AT) diagnosis is often challenging, especially when SVT is terminated by pacing.

Objectives: This study sought to develop a novel method for AT diagnosis.

Effect of reference electrode on intracardiac electrograms: Close indifferent electrode vs Wilson central terminal.

Background: Unipolar electrograms (uni-EGMs) are an essential part of intracardiac mapping. Although Wilson central terminal (WCT) is conventionally used as a reference for signals, avoidance of contamination by far-field and nonphysiologic signals is challenging.

Objective: The aim of the study was to explore the impact of an intracardiac indifferent reference electrode close to the recording electrodes, in lieu of WCT, on electrograms.

Transcoronary mapping with an over-the-wire multielectrode catheter in scar-related ventricular tachycardia patients.

Aims: The usefulness of coronary venous system mapping has been reported for assessing intramural and epicardial substrates in patients with scar-related ventricular tachycardia (VT). However, there has been little data on mapping from coronary arteries. We investigated the safety and utility of mapping from coronary arteries with a novel over-the-wire multielectrode catheter in scar-related VT patients.

[Commute mode - physical activity and the possibility of change to active commuting among Japanese workers: a descriptive study by region].

Objectives: Changing the mode of commuting from nonactive by car or motorcycle to active by walking, cycling, or public transport is expected to benefit health. However, the proportion of nonactive commuters who can change their commute mode to active forms remains unclear. The aim of this study was to determine the proportions of nonactive commuters and of those who can change their commute mode to an active form in various regions in Japan.

Safety verification of a novel irrigation catheter with flexible tip of laser-cut kerfs and contact force sensor.

Background And Aims: The safety evaluation of TactiFlex, a novel contact-force sensing catheter with a flexible 4-mm tip irrigated through laser-cut kerfs, has been ongoing. This study aimed to verify the safety of this type of catheter.

Methods: Study 1: Radiofrequency (RF) applications at a range of powers (30-50 W), contact forces (10-20 g), and durations (10-60 s) using perpendicular/parallel catheter orientation with half-normal (HNS) or normal saline irrigation were compared between TactiFlex (4-mm tip) and TactiCath (3.

Can phrenic nerve injury be anticipated by larger cryoballoons?

Recently, a novel size-adjustable cryoballoon has been introduced in clinical practice, which can be inflated to two different diameters (28 and 31 mm). The 31 mm cryoballoon is specifically designed to achieve better contact with remodeled pulmonary veins (PVs) that have wider ostia while avoiding deep cannulation, thereby potentially reducing the risk of phrenic nerve injury (PNI) associated with deep balloon cannulation. However, we encountered two cases of PNI during cryoballoon ablation using the novel system among our initial 25 consecutive case series.

Estimation of cutoff score for the 7C of vaccination readiness scale.

The 7C of the vaccination readiness scale provides a score to evaluate the willingness and readiness to get vaccinated (vaccination readiness). This cross-sectional study clarifies the cutoff vaccination readiness score to determine whether an individual is willing to be vaccinated. We conducted an online survey of 774 participants.

Structural and Computational Analyses of the Unique Interactions of Opicapone in the Binding Pocket of Catechol -Methyltransferase: A Crystallographic Study and Fragment Molecular Orbital Analyses.

A third-generation inhibitor of catechol -methyltransferase (COMT), opicapone (), has the 3-nitrocatechol scaffold as do the second-generation inhibitors such as entacapone () and tolcapone (), but only can sustainably inhibit COMT activity making it suitable for a once-daily regimen. These improvements should be attributed to the optimized sidechain moiety (oxidopyridyloxadiazolyl group) of substituted at the 5-position of the 3-nitrocatechol ring. We analyzed the role of the sidechain moiety by solving the crystal structures of COMT/-adenosylmethionine (SAM)/Mg/ and COMT/-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH)/Mg/ complexes.

The association of subjective vision with objectively measured intensity-specific physical activity and bout-specific sedentary behavior among community-dwelling older adults in Japan.

Purpose: Visual impairment is a possible cause of physical frailty. Reduced physical activity (PA) may be involved in the pathway from visual impairment to physical frailty, although the association between vision and objectively measured PA among older adults remains unclear. This study examined the sex-specific association of subjective vision with intensity-specific PA and bout-specific sedentary behavior (SB) among community-dwelling, older Japanese adults.

Changes in prevalence of in Japan from 2008 to 2018: a repeated cross-sectional study.

Objectives: To understand the recent prevalence and time trends of infection rates in the Japanese population.

Design: Repeated cross-sectional study.

Participants: A total of 22 120 workers (age: 35-65 years) from one Japanese company, who underwent serum antibody tests in a health check-up between 2008 and 2018.

Unwillingness to cooperate with COVID-19 contact tracing in Japan.

Objectives: Contact tracing for COVID-19 relies heavily on the cooperation of individuals with authorities to provide information of contact persons. However, few studies have clarified willingness to cooperate and motivation to provide information for contact tracing. This study sought to describe willingness to cooperate and motivation to report contact persons for COVID-19 contact tracing among citizens in Japan, and to assess any associated sociodemographic factors.