Predictors of Prescriber Preference for Expensive Insulins: A Single Institution Survey.

Background: The average cost of insulin has increased greatly recently, partly due to prescription of newer expensive insulins. This has caused insulin underuse among economically vulnerable uninsured patients. Herein, predictors of preference for expensive (higher retail price) insulins among primary care physicians are investigated.

Language Barriers to Online Search Interest for COVID-19: A Global Infodemiological Study.

Background Implementation of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic control measures requires the engagement and participation of the public in a synchronized manner. Language may be a barrier to captivating public interest in a concerted manner. The relative volume of English and non-English COVID-19-related web searches estimate public interest among English and Non-English "searchers," respectively.

Personalized Fluoroscopic Angles in Watchman™ Left Atrial Appendage Closure Landing Zone Assessment: A Three-Dimensional Printed Simulation Study.

Background Atrial fibrillation causes ischemic stroke when thrombi dislodge from a cardiac outpouching, the left atrial appendage (LAA), and embolize to the brain. LAA occlusion with the Watchman™ device (Boston Scientific Corporation, MA, USA), which prevents stroke, requires accurate LAA measurements for device sizing. We explore whether standard fluoroscopic LAA measurements improve when obtained at CT-derived viewing angles personalized to LAA anatomy while concurrently referring to three-dimensional (3D) CT.

Clinical efficacy of irrigated catheter application of amiodarone during ablation of persistent atrial fibrillation.

Background: Pharmacological treatment during ablation of persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) is common, but utility of irrigated catheter application of amiodarone during ablation of persistent AF remains unclear.

Hypothesis: Irrigated catheter application of amiodarone improves quality of ablation and long-term outcomes.

Methods: We enrolled 90 persistent AF patients who underwent catheter ablation.