Late-gadolinium enhancement predicts appropriate device therapies in non-ischemic recipients of primary prevention implantable cardioverter-defibrillators.

Background: Better risk stratification is needed to evaluate patients with non-ischemic cardiomyopathy (NICM) for prophylactic implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICD). Growing evidence suggests cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) may be useful in this regard.

Objective: We aimed to determine if late-gadolinium enhancement (LGE) seen on CMR (dichotomized as none/minimal <2% vs significant ≥2%) predicts appropriate ICD therapies (primary endpoint) and/or all-cause mortality/transplant/left-ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation (secondary endpoint) in NICM patients.

Upstream targeting for the prevention of atrial fibrillation: Targeting Risk Interventions and Metformin for Atrial Fibrillation (TRIM-AF)-rationale and study design.

Background: Despite advances in ablation and other therapies for AF, progression of atrial fibrillation (AF) remains a significant clinical problem, associated with worse prognosis and worse treatment outcomes. Upstream therapies targeting inflammatory or antifibrotic mechanisms have been disappointing in preventing AF progression, but more recently genetic and genomic studies in AF suggest novel cellular and metabolic stress targets, supporting prior studies of lifestyle and risk factor modification (LRFM) for AF. However, while obesity is a significant risk factor, weight loss and risk factor modification have not been successfully applied in a US population with AF.

Temporal changes in device-derived daily activity related to ventricular arrhythmias from the CERTITUDE registry.

Background: There have been limited data examining the temporal relationship between device-derived daily activity and ventricular arrhythmias (VAs).

Objective: We aimed to assess whether activity predicted VAs or VAs predicted changes in activity.

Methods: The CERTITUDE registry includes over 55,000 implanted devices active on Home Monitoring.

Bridging the Gap: Remote Evaluation and Programming of Cardiac Implantable Devices in Medically Underserved Areas.

Background: Delivering care in medically underserved areas (MUA) is a public health challenge.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the advantages of a noncommercial multivendor solution for remote interrogation and programming of cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) among inhabitants of MUAs.

Methods: This prospective comparative study evaluated benefits and safety of remote CIEDs evaluation in patients living >100 km from the Bordeaux University Hospital.

Impact of a universal monitoring system ("third party") on outcomes of ICD patients: A nationwide study.

Background: Adherence to recommended follow-up schedules for remote monitoring (RM) of patients with implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) is inconsistent, which may influence clinical outcomes. Systematic organization through a "third-party" universal monitoring system (UMS) may be beneficial.

Objective: We aimed to evaluate the clinical impact of RM and any incremental benefit of UMS vs conventional RM.

Effect of Chlorhexidine and Povidone-iodine Mouth Rinses on Corrosion Resistance and Surface Characteristics of Stainless Steel Orthodontic Brackets - An and Study.

Background: Stainless steel (SS) orthodontic brackets may have varying corrosion resistance when used with mouthwashes during orthodontic treatment. Studying their effects on orthodontic brackets will be beneficial.

Aim: The study's objective was to analyze the surface characteristics of SS orthodontic brackets and their resistance to corrosion, exposed to chlorhexidine and povidone-iodine mouth rinses - an and study.

State of the art of mobile health technologies use in clinical arrhythmia care.

The rapid growth in consumer-facing mobile and sensor technologies has created tremendous opportunities for patient-driven personalized health management. The diagnosis and management of cardiac arrhythmias are particularly well suited to benefit from these easily accessible consumer health technologies. In particular, smartphone-based and wrist-worn wearable electrocardiogram (ECG) and photoplethysmography (PPG) technology can facilitate relatively inexpensive, long-term rhythm monitoring.

Prognostic Significance of Regulatory T-Cells and PD-1 + CD8 T-Cells in Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Patients Treated with Generic Imatinib.

The impact of T-regulatory cells (Tregs), PD-1 + CD8 T-cells, and their dynamics during treatment with imatinib mesylate remains poorly understood in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). We conducted a prospective study on newly diagnosed, treatment-naïve adult (> 18 years old) patients with CML in the chronic phase (CP) and age- and sex-matched controls. Peripheral blood samples were collected at diagnosis and after three months of imatinib therapy to assess Tregs and PD-1 + CD8 T-cell levels using flow cytometry.

Imatinib Mesylate Causes Potential Cardiac Dysfunction in Patients With Chronic Myeloid Leukemia: the Results of a Case-control Study.

Unlike second-generation tyrosine kinase inhibitors, effects of imatinib on the cardiovascular (CV) system are debatable. The current case-control study aimed to evaluate the CV effects of imatinib in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) using non-invasive 2D-echocardiography testing. Patients with CML ≥ 13 years attending the adult haematology clinic of a tertiary care hospital in north India were prospectively enrolled over 1.

Fast singlet excited-state deactivation pathway of flavin with a trimethoxyphenyl derivative.

Incorporation of the trimethoxyphenyl group at position 7 of flavin can drastically change the photophysical properties of flavin. We show unique fast singlet (π,π*) excited state deactivation pathway through nonadiabatic transition to the (n,π*) excited- state, and subsequent deactivation to the ground electronic state (S), closing the photocycle. This mechanism explains the exceptionally weak fluorescence and the short excited-state lifetime for the flavin trimethoxyphenyl derivative and the lack of excited triplet T state formation.

Left ventricular mass as a modulator of ventricular arrhythmia risk and sex differences after CRT for nonischemic cardiomyopathy and LBBB.

Background: The risk of ventricular arrhythmias (VAs) after cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) has been associated with ischemic disease/scar, sex, and possibly left ventricular mass (LVM).

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate sex differences and baseline/postimplant change in LVM on VA risk after CRT implantation in patients with nonischemic cardiomyopathy and left bundle branch block.

Methods: In patients meeting the criteria, baseline and follow-up echocardiographic images were obtained for LVM assessment.

Ultrasound Evaluation of Achilles Tendon Thickness in Diabetic Patients With and Without Foot Complications.

Introduction Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a multifaceted metabolic disorder distinguished by elevated blood sugar levels. Type 2-DM (T2DM) stands as a significant contributor to disability due to its widespread occurrence of microvascular and macrovascular complications. According to certain researchers, prolonged elevated blood sugar levels have been observed to trigger a sequence of irregular alterations in the Achilles tendon (AT).

Wearable Devices, Health Care Use, and Psychological Well-Being in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation.

Background: Wearables are increasingly used by patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) for symptom monitoring and health management, but their impact on patient health care use and psychological well-being is not well understood.

Methods And Results: In this retrospective, propensity-matched study of patients with AF, survey and electronic health record data were merged to compare AF-specific health care use (outpatient/inpatient visits, rhythm-related testing, and procedures) and informal health care use (telephone calls and patient portal messages) over a 9-month period between wearable users and nonusers. We also examined the effects of wearable cardiac monitoring features (eg, heart rate alerts, irregular rhythm notification, and ECG) on patient behavior and well-being.

Heart Size Difference Drives Sex-Specific Response to Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy: A Post Hoc Analysis of the MORE-MPP CRT Trial.

Background: Studies have reported that female sex predicts superior cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) response. One theory is that this association is related to smaller female heart size, thus increased relative dyssynchrony at a given QRS duration (QRSd). Our objective was to investigate the mechanisms of sex-specific CRT response relating to heart size, relative dyssynchrony, cardiomyopathy type, QRS morphology, and other patient characteristics.

Aberrant baseline cytokine profile in patients with newly diagnosed acquired aplastic anaemia correlates with disease severity and the treatment response.

Background: Immune dysregulation is crucial in the pathogenesis of acquired aplastic anaemia (aAA). There is paucity of data regarding correlation of baseline cytokine profile with treatment response in aAA.

Objective: Present prospective case-control study aimed to correlate the baseline cytokines in patients with aAA with the treatment response.

A Trial of Automated Outbreak Detection to Reduce Hospital Pathogen Spread.

Background: Detection and containment of hospital outbreaks currently depend on variable and personnel-intensive surveillance methods. Whether automated statistical surveillance for outbreaks of health care-associated pathogens allows earlier containment efforts that would reduce the size of outbreaks is unknown.

Methods: We conducted a cluster-randomized trial in 82 community hospitals within a larger health care system.

Effect of Different Mini Implant Assisted Rapid Palatal Expansion (MARPE) Designs on Maxillary Protraction in Skeletal Class III malocclusion: An FEM Study.

Background: Four different designs of mini-implant-assisted rapid palatal expansion (MARPE) and protraction in nasomaxillary complex and mid-palatal sutures in late adolescent skeletal Class III malocclusion were compared using a three-dimensional finite element analysis.

Methods: A finite element model of skull and related sutures was constructed using the computed tomography scan of a 16-year-old female patient with skeletal Class III and ANB of -2°. Four appliance designs: Type I: MARPE with palatal force, Type II: MARPE with buccal force, Type III: Hybrid hyrax with palatal force, and Type IV: Hybrid hyrax with buccal force.