Atrial fibrillatory wave amplitude revisited: A predictor of recurrence after catheter ablation independent of the degree of left atrial structural remodeling.

Background: The fibrillatory wave amplitude (FWA) during atrial fibrillation (AF) is thought to reflect structural atrial remodeling, but it remains unclear what determines the FWA.

Methods: 114 consecutive patients were prospectively studied who underwent catheter ablation of AF. The mean FWA was computed by automated surface ECG analyses.

Last Entrainment Sequence: A Novel Diagnostic Technique for Atrial Tachycardia Mimicking Other Supraventricular Tachycardias.

Background: Adenosine-sensitive re-entrant atrial tachycardia (AT) originating from near the atrioventricular (AV) node or AV annulus resembles other supraventricular tachycardias (SVTs), and the differential diagnosis is sometimes challenging.

Objectives: This study sought to develop a novel technique to distinguish adenosine-sensitive re-entrant AT from AV nodal re-entrant tachycardia (AVNRT) and orthodromic reciprocating tachycardia (ORT).

Methods: The study retrospectively studied 117 re-entrant SVTs that were successfully entrained by atrial overdrive pacing (AOP) (27 adenosine-sensitive re-entrant ATs, 63 AVNRTs, 27 ORTs).

Differences in pharmacological property between combined therapy of the vasopressin V2-receptor antagonist tolvaptan plus furosemide and monotherapy of furosemide in patients with hospitalized heart failure.

Background: Tolvaptan has been shown to improve congestion in heart failure patients. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the pharmacology and clinical efficacy of combined tolvaptan and furosemide therapy.

Methods: This study included 40 patients with systemic volume overload who were hospitalized for heart failure.

Clinical significance of arterial stiffness as a factor for hospitalization of heart failure with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction: a retrospective matched case-control study.

Background: Previous studies have been conducted to identify characteristics of patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), but the risk factors of HFpEF remain unclear. We investigated the associations between arterial stiffness and the risk of hospitalization for HFpEF patients.

Methods: For the case group, we enrolled patients with preserved EF who had been hospitalized for HF from April 2013 to March 2015 and examined the cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI).