Usefulness of preprocedural 3-dimensional computed tomography planning in assisting one-stage pulmonary veins isolation with concomitant left atrial appendage occlusion procedure: A pilot study.

Background: The optimal imaging modality for selecting the device size in patients with atrial fibrillation undergoing one-stop left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) with concomitant pulmonary vein isolation (PVi) remains undefined. We compared preprocedural 3-dimensional computed tomography (3D CT) with intra-procedural transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) and left atrial appendage (LAA) angiography in guiding one-stage PVi and LAAO.

Methods: We measured the LAA ostium diameter using an interactive 3D CT system with a central line-based approach and compared these measurements with those from intra-procedural TEE and angiography, and the actual device size.

Increased risk of adenomatous colon polyps in patients with long-term use of proton pump inhibitors: a single-center retrospective study.

Background: It is unclear whether long-term use of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) has a potential carcinogenic effect on the colorectum.

Methods: We reviewed a consecutive series of neurosurgery outpatients who underwent two or more colonoscopies between January 2014 and April 2023. Patients in whom the timing of endoscopy was not in accordance with the guidelines and those without a history of previous endoscopy were excluded.

Cost-effectiveness of hearing aids in South Korea: a multistate Markov model analysis.

Objectives: This study evaluated the cost-effectiveness of using hearing aids among individuals aged 50 and older with varying levels of hearing loss in South Korea.

Methods: A state-transition Markov model was employed to assess the cost-effectiveness of hearing aid utilization from a societal perspective. We simulated a cohort of patients aged 50, tracking their progression through normal, mild, moderate, and severe stages of hearing loss until death or age 80.

Stiff-Stilbene-Linked Bis-Cholesterol: Synthesis and Investigation of Its Supramolecular Gelation and Photophysical Behaviors.

Here, we report the design, synthesis, and comprehensive characterization of the bis-cholesterol supramolecular gelator, which contains photochromic stiff-stilbene as a bridging unit. The -isomer of stiff-stilbene bridged bis-cholesterol (-) was first synthesized with a systematic design, which can be further converted into its -isomer (-) with a high degree of efficiency (ca. 100%) upon exposure to 385 nm UV light.

Investigating macro marine litter and beach cleanliness along Southern Vietnam beaches.

Plastic contamination is a major issue for marine ecosystems, with macro-litter posing a growing threat globally. This study assesses macro-marine litter on Vung Tau beaches, Southern Vietnam, providing baseline data for marine litter pollution and identifying critical action plans for plastic control. Survey results showed litter density ranging from 0.