The impact of iron deficiency on prognosis in stroke and non-stroke populations: A retrospective cohort study.

Background And Aims: Iron deficiency (ID) leads to a significant global health burden, but research on the impact of ID on the prognosis of stroke patients is rare. We aim to investigate the impact of ID on the all-cause mortality of both the stroke and non-stroke individuals.

Methods And Results: This retrospective cohort study used data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) conducted from 1999 to 2002.

Long-term outcomes of catheter ablation for ventricular arrhythmias: comparing techniques with and without intracardiac echocardiography - what matters?

Background: The increasing use of intracardiac echocardiography (ICE) in the ablation of premature ventricular complexes (PVCs) has raised questions about its true efficacy and safety.

Methods: This retrospective study collected the periprocedural complications and PVC burden post ablation. The risk factors of PVC recurrence was further explored.

Iron deficiency: prevalence, mortality risk, and dietary relationships in general and heart failure populations.

Background: Iron deficiency (ID) is the most common nutritional deficiency, with little research on its prevalence and long-term outcomes in the general population and those with heart failure (HF). Both the relationships between dietary iron and ID, as well as dietary folate and ID, are understudied.

Methods: We used data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 1999 to 2002 to investigate the prevalence, prognosis, and relationship between dietary and ID defined by different criteria in the general population ( = 6,660) and those with HF ( = 182).

Comparative effectiveness and safety of DOACs vs. VKAs in treatment of left ventricular thrombus- a meta-analysis update.

Background And Objective: Left ventricular thrombus (LVT) formation in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) or cardiomyopathies is not uncommon. The optimal oral anticoagulation therapy for resolving LVT has been under intense debate. Vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) remain the anticoagulant of choice for this condition, according to practice guidelines.

A review on regulation of DNA methylation during post-myocardial infarction.

Myocardial infarction (MI) imposes a huge medical and economic burden on society, and cardiac repair after MI involves a complex series of processes. Understanding the key mechanisms (such as apoptosis, autophagy, inflammation, and fibrosis) will facilitate further drug development and patient treatment. Presently, a substantial body of evidence suggests that the regulation of epigenetic processes contributes to cardiac repair following MI, with DNA methylation being among the notable epigenetic factors involved.

Direct Oral Anticoagulants versus Vitamin K Antagonists in Cirrhotic Patients with Atrial Fibrillation: Update of Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Prevention of ischemic stroke is an essential part of managing atrial fibrillation (AF). In recent years, direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) have emerged as an alternative to vitamin K antagonists (VKAs). Little is understood regarding the efficacy and safety of DOACs in AF patients with liver cirrhosis (LC).

Sodium Butyrate Ameliorates Type 2 Diabetes-Related Sarcopenia Through IL-33-Independent ILC2s/IL-13/STAT3 Signaling Pathway.

Purpose: Sarcopenia has been described as a new complication of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). T2DM and sarcopenia impact each other, resulting in a variety of adverse outcomes such as frailty, disability, poor quality of life and increased mortality. Sodium butyrate (NaB) is reported to play a protective role against T2DM.

Research on the local regional similarity of automatic fingerprint identification system fingerprints based on close non-matches in a ten million people database-Taking the central region of whorl as an example.

The local regional similarity of fingerprints has always been a hot issue in the field of fingerprint research. With the increasing size of ten-print databases, the appearance of close non-matches (CNMs) in automatic fingerprint identification system (AFIS) candidate lists has attracted increasing attention from forensic science departments worldwide. In this study, three categories (high-, medium-, and low-level) of standards for CNMs were established and 60 whorl samples were marked with different numbers of minutiae to explore the occurrence and influencing factors of CNMs in AFIS candidate lists based on a ten million people database.

The risk factors of thrombus formation and the effect of catheter ablation on repetitive thrombus formation in patients with atrial fibrillation: a single center retrospective study in China.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) predisposes patients to the formation of atrial thrombi. The CHADS-VASc score does not include all risk factors for atrial thrombosis. The present study is designed to explore the influencing factors of thrombus formation in patients with AF and to investigate the effect of catheter ablation (CA) on recurrent thrombosis in patients with a history of intracardiac thrombus.

Western blot normalization: Time to choose a proper loading control seriously.

Recent research has questioned the validity of housekeeping proteins in Western blot. Our present study proposed new ideas for Western blot normalization that improved the reproducibility of scientific research. We used the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database and the web tool GEO2R to exclude unstable housekeeping genes quickly.

Efficacy and Safety of NOACs Compared With VKAs for Patients With Atrial Fibrillation After Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation: A System Review and Meta-Analysis.

Novel oral anticoagulants (NOACs) are preferentially recommended in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (AF) for stroke prevention over vitamin K antagonists (VKAs). However, the evidence regarding the efficacy and safety of NOACs versus VKAs after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) in patients with AF is very rare. Pubmed, Embase, Web of science, and Cochrane Databases were searched for eligible studies published before May 19, 2022.

Understanding the scope of intracardiac echocardiography in catheter ablation of ventricular arrhythmia.

Over the last few decades, catheter ablation has emerged as the first-line treatment for ventricular arrhythmias. However, detailed knowledge of cardiac anatomy during the surgery remains the prerequisite for successful ablation. Intracardiac echocardiography (ICE) is a unique imaging technique, which provides real-time visualization of cardiac structures, and is superior to other imaging modalities in terms of precise display of cardiac tissue characteristics as well as the orientation of anatomical landmarks.

A prediction model of atrial fibrillation recurrence after first catheter ablation by a nomogram: HASBLP score.

Background: At present, catheter ablation is an effective method for rhythm control in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). However, AF recurrence is an inevitable problem after catheter ablation. To identify patients who are prone to relapse, we developed a predictive model that allows clinicians to closely monitor these patients and treat them with different personalized treatment plans.

Integrated Analysis of the microRNA-mRNA Network Predicts Potential Regulators of Atrial Fibrillation in Humans.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a form of sustained cardiac arrhythmia and microRNAs (miRs) play crucial roles in the pathophysiology of AF. To identify novel miR-mRNA pairs, we performed RNA-seq from atrial biopsies of persistent AF patients and non-AF patients with normal sinus rhythm (SR). Differentially expressed miRs (11 down and 9 up) and mRNAs (95 up and 82 down) were identified and hierarchically clustered in a heat map.

The role of alcohol consumption on echocardiographic and electrophysiologic changes in atrial fibrillation.

Background: A wealth of evidence suggests that alcohol consumption is a risk factor for atrial fibrillation (AF); however, the mechanisms underlying this association are unclear. This makes it challenging to develop therapeutic strategies in patients with AF attributed to alcohol consumption.

Purpose: To investigate the echocardiographic and electrophysiologic changes caused by alcohol consumption in patients with AF.

Is Epicardial Adipose Tissue Associated with Atrial Fibrillation Following Cardiac Surgery? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Although epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) has been proven to be related to atrial fibrillation (AF) and post-ablation AF recurrence, the association between EAT and AF after cardiac surgery (AFACS) remains unclear.

Objective: This study was a systematic review and meta-analysis that assessed the relationship between EAT and AFACS.

Methods: Electronic databases were systematically searched for "atrial fibrillation" and "epicardial adipose tissue.

Clinical Manifestations, Outcomes, and Mortality Risk Factors of Atrial-Esophageal Fistula: A Systematic Review.

Introduction: Atrial-esophageal fistula (AEF) is a rare but life-threatening complication of catheter ablation. The clinical presentation and mortality risk factors of AEF have not been fully elucidated. The aim of this study was to systematically review the clinical characteristics and prognosis of AEF.

Feasibility and safety of left atrial appendage occlusion guided by procedural fluoroscopy only: A pilot study.

Background: Left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) is usually performed via the guidance of procedural transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) companied by general anesthesia (GA).

Objective: To investigate the feasibility and safety of LAAO guided by procedural fluoroscopy only.

Methods: The patients eligible for LAAO were enrolled into the current study and received implantation of either Watchman device or LAmbre device.

A systematic review and meta-analysis to determine the effect of oral anticoagulants on incidence of dementia in patients with atrial fibrillation.

Aims: To assess the effect of oral anticoagulant (OAC) administration on incidence of dementia in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) with Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Methods: We systematically searched the electronic databases including Pubmed, Embase, Cochrane library and ClinicalTrails.gov for relevant articles.

Thromboembolic Risk of Cessation of Oral Anticoagulation Post Catheter Ablation in Patients With and Without Atrial Fibrillation Recurrence.

Cessation of oral anticoagulation (OAC) is common after the first 3 months of catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF); however, thromboembolic risk has not been defined in patients with and without AF recurrence (RAF vs NRAF) post ablation. We identified 796 patients who discontinued OAC at 3 months post AF ablation from January 2015 to May 2018 in our center. Regular follow-up was performed to detect RAF, collect medication management and thromboembolic and major bleeding events.

Preparation of TTO/UF resin microcapsule via polymerisation and modelling of its slow release.

For slow release of tea tree oil (TTO), TTO were encapsulated by urea-formaldehyde (UF) resin via polymerisation. The effects of curing time and drying condition on particle size, and TTO loading of the TTO/UF microcapsules were investigated. The results indicated that TTO/UF resin microcapsules with curing time of 80 min had narrow size distribution and good wall cover.

Successful catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation improves but not reverses the abnormalities of left atrial mechanics and energy loss.

Background: Dissipative energy loss (EL), a new index to quantify the inefficient blood flow, has not been explored within left atrium (LA) in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). We aimed to study the intra-atrial flow and mechanics in patients with AF before and after successful catheter ablation by evaluating EL and LA global longitudinal strain (LAS).

Methods: In our study, there were 53 patients undergoing catheter ablation for AF at baseline (AF group) and 33 age- and sex-matched controls.