Patients perspectives on integrating eHealth in regular care pathways for atrial fibrillation: evaluating photoplethysmography for remote self-assessment.

Aims: Smartphone applications for heart rate and rhythm assessment are increasingly used for the management of atrial fibrillation (AF). Although the use of a photoplethysmography (PPG)-based smartphone application with subsequent (tele)consultations for AF management has been proven feasible in the TeleCheck-AF project, specific needs, and expectations of patients with AF are unclear. The aim of this study is to evaluate patients' perspectives on the use of remote PPG-based electronical health (eHealth) integrated in regular care pathways for AF.

Atrial fibrillation-specific refinement of the STOP-Bang sleep apnoea screening questionnaire: insights from the Virtual-SAFARI study.

Background: Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) is prevalent in up to 50% of patients referred for atrial fibrillation (AF) catheter ablation (CA). Currently, it remains unclear how to improve pre-selection for SDB screening in patients with AF.

Aim: We aimed to (1) assess the accuracy of the STOP-Bang screening questionnaire for detection of SDB within an AF population referred for CA; (2) derive a refined, AF-specific SDB score to improve pre-selection.

Rationale and Design of the ISOLATION Study: A Multicenter Prospective Cohort Study Identifying Predictors for Successful Atrial Fibrillation Ablation in an Integrated Clinical Care and Research Pathway.

Introduction: Continuous progress in atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation techniques has led to an increasing number of procedures with improved outcome. However, about 30-50% of patients still experience recurrences within 1 year after their ablation. Comprehensive translational research approaches integrated in clinical care pathways may improve our understanding of the complex pathophysiology of AF and improve patient selection for AF ablation.

A VIRTUAL Sleep Apnoea management pathway For the work-up of Atrial fibrillation patients in a digital Remote Infrastructure: VIRTUAL-SAFARI.

Aims: In atrial fibrillation (AF) patients, untreated sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) is associated with lower success rates of rhythm control strategies and as such structured SDB testing is recommended. Herein, we describe the implementation of a virtual SDB management pathway in an AF outpatient clinic and examine the utility and feasibility of this new approach.

Methods And Results: Prospectively, consecutive AF patients accepted for AF catheter ablation procedures without previous diagnosis of SDB were digitally referred to a virtual SDB management pathway and instructed to use WatchPAT-ONE (ITAMAR) for one night.

On-Demand Mobile Health Infrastructure for Remote Rhythm Monitoring within a Wait-and-See Strategy for Recent-Onset Atrial Fibrillation: TeleWAS-AF.

Recently, we introduced the TeleCheck-AF approach, an on-demand mobile health (mHealth) infrastructure using app-based heart rate and rhythm monitoring for 7 days, to support long-term atrial fibrillation (AF) management through teleconsultation. Herein, we extend the mHealth approach to patients with recent-onset AF at the emergency department (ED). In the proposed TeleWAS-AF approach, on-demand heart rate and rhythm monitoring are used to support a wait-and-see strategy at the ED.

Long-term intermittent versus short continuous heart rhythm monitoring for the detection of atrial fibrillation recurrences after catheter ablation.

Background: The utility of long-term intermittent heart rhythm monitoring after atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation remains unclear. Therefore, we compared the efficacy and usability of long-term intermittent (AliveCor Kardia® (ACK)) versus short continuous (Holter) heart rhythm monitoring for the detection of AF recurrences after AF ablation and evaluated ACK accuracy to detect AF.

Methods: Patients were provided with Holter (for ≥24 h) simultaneously with an ACK (4 weeks) used three times a day and in case of symptoms.

Evaluation of the users value of salts against apple scab and powdery mildew for the integrated fruit production.

As new fungicides are mainly unisite action fungicides, the problem of fungicide resistance development is becoming more important every year. Combining chemical fungicides, which is the best anti-resistance strategy, is not always possible or recommended in the case when the number of available chemical fungicides are limited or a reduction in fungicide use is asked for. Therefore the use of salts as an anti-resistance strategy was looked upon.

Screening preharvest/postharvest strategies to prevent fruit rot decay.

In fruit growing preharvest sprayings in the orchard are mainly applied to protect fruit from decaying. Next to multisite fungicides (captan, thiram, tolylfluanid) the most commonly used products recognized for the Belgium market are Bellis (pyraclostrobin & boscalid) and the combination of Topsin M (thiophanate-methyl) and Frugico (diethofencarb). In general the spraying schedule varies depending on weather conditions (infection risk), preharvest interval of available fungicides, fruitgrower and cultivar of pome fruit (apple/pear).

Brown spot control on pear: infection models versus the inoculum pressure in Belgium.

Stemphylium conidia and Pleospora ascospores were monitored in pear orchards in the region of Haspengouw in Belgium during the infectious periods of brown spot disease (end May - end August) in the years 2002, 2004 and 2005. The seasonal and daily dynamics of the captured fungal spores are discussed and a correlation analysis was performed to determine possible correlation with weather parameters. Furthermore the fungicide cover obtained by spraying upon climatological infection risk is compared with the inoculum pressure in the orchards.

A new post-harvest fungicide to control fruit rot on apple and pear.

PHILABUSTER is a new post-harvest fungicide developed by Janssen Pharmaceutica N.V..