Prospective randomized comparison between upgraded '2C3L' vs. PVI approach for catheter ablation of persistent atrial fibrillation: PROMPT-AF trial design.

Background: In randomized studies, the strategy of pulmonary vein antral isolation (PVI) plus linear ablation has failed to increase success rates for persistent atrial fibrillation (PeAF) ablation when compared with PVI alone. Peri-mitral reentry related atrial tachycardia due to incomplete linear block is an important cause of clinical failures of a first ablation procedure. Ethanol infusion (EI) into the vein of Marshall (EI-VOM) has been demonstrated to facilitate a durable mitral isthmus linear lesion.

Clinical characteristics and long-term prognosis of ischemic and non-ischemic cardiomyopathy.

Objectives: The different etiology of HF has different prognostic risk factors. Prognosis assessment of ICM and NICM has important clinical value. This study is aimed to explore the predicting factors for ICM and NICM.

Cardiac electrical and mechanical synchrony of super-responders to cardiac resynchronization therapy.

Background: Super-responders (SRs) to cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) regain near-normal or normal cardiac function. The extent of cardiac synchrony of SRs and whether continuous biventricular (BIV) pacing is needed remain unknown. The aim of this study was to evaluate the cardiac electrical and mechanical synchrony of SRs.

Quality assessment of kidney cancer clinical practice guidelines using AGREE II instrument: A critical review.

Background: Evidence-based guidelines are expected to provide clinicians with explicit recommendations on how to manage health conditions and bridge the gap between research and clinical practice. However, the existing practice guidelines(CPGs) vary in quality. This study aimed to evaluate the quality of CPGs of kidney cancer.

Microvolt T-wave alternans complemented with electrophysiologic study for prediction of ventricular tachyarrhythmias in patients with arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy: a long-term follow-up study.

Background: The long-term predicted value of microvolt T-wave alternans (MTWA) for ventricular tachyarrhythmia in patients with arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) remains unclear. Our study explored the characteristics of MTWA and its prognostic value when combined with an electrophysiologic study (EPS) in patients with ARVC.

Methods: All patients underwent non-invasive MTWA examination with modified moving average (MMA) analysis and an EPS.

Piperine metabolically regulates peritoneal resident macrophages to potentiate their functions against bacterial infection.

Pepper, a daily-used seasoning for promoting appetite, is widely used in folk medicine for treating gastrointestinal diseases. Piperine is the major alkaloid in pepper and possesses a wide range of pharmacological activities. However, the mechanism for linking metabolic and medicinal activities of piperine remains unknown.

Piperine Suppresses the Expression of CXCL8 in Lipopolysaccharide-Activated SW480 and HT-29 Cells via Downregulating the Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Pathways.

The anti-inflammatory effect of piperine has been largely investigated in macrophages, but its activity on epithelial cells in inflammatory settings is unclear. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of piperine on the expression of inflammatory cytokines in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated human epithelial-like SW480 and HT-29 cells. Our data showed that although piperine inhibited the proliferation of SW480 and HT-29 cells in a dose-dependent manner, it had low cytotoxicity on these cell lines with 50 % inhibiting concentration (IC50) values greater than 100 μM.

Isomeric chain structures of {[Mn(H₂O)₄]₂Ru₂(CO₃)₄Br₂}n(n-): syntheses, structural diversity and magnetic properties.

The self-assembly of Ru2(CO3)4(3-) paddle-wheel precursors and Mn(2+) ions in aqueous solution yields various carbonate complexes. With appropriate selection of the synthetic conditions, we are able to intentionally tune the composition and structure of Mn-Ru2-carbonate assemblies to form infinite chain structural complexes, e.g.

The second-generation mTOR kinase inhibitor INK128 exhibits anti-inflammatory activity in lipopolysaccharide-activated RAW 264.7 cells.

Cross-talk between the mTOR (mechanistic target of rapamycin) and NF-κB (nuclear factor kappa-B) pathways has been reported to regulate macrophage responses to lipopolysaccharide (LPS). In this study, we aimed to explore the effect of INK128, a second-generation inhibitor of mTOR, on the inflammatory cytokine production in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells.

[Catheter ablation of epicardial accessory pathway associated with coronary sinus musculature].

Objective: To report the single-center clinical experience of catheter ablation of epicardial accessory pathway associated with coronary sinus musculature.

Methods: The data of 721 cases of left sided accessory pathway ablation were retrospectively analyzed. Ablation in the coronary sinus was performed in 17 (2.

[Catheter ablation of focal atrial tachycardia:the topographic distribution and long-term outcome].

Objective: To explore the topographic distribution and long-term outcome of catheter ablation for focal atrial tachycardia (AT).

Method: The data of 207 patients who underwent electrophysiologic study for AT were retrospectively analyzed.

Results: A total of 200 AT were identified in 185 patients.

Downregulation of quinone reductase 2 attenuates vascular smooth muscle cells proliferation and neointimal formation in balloon injured rat carotid artery.

Background/aims: Quinone reductase 2 (NQO2) is a flavoprotein that catalyzes the metabolic reduction of quinines, but its biological mechanism in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) is unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of NQO2 on VSMCs proliferation and the neointimal formation in balloon injured rat carotid artery.

Methods: Left common carotid arteries from Sprague-Dawley rats were injured by a balloon catheter, and the injured arteries were incubated with 50 μL solution of NQO2-siRNA-GFP lentiviral vectors, NC-siRNA-GFP lentiviral vectors or PBS for 1 h.

[Clinical characteristics of congenital ventricular aneurysm and diverticula in inland China].

Objective: To summarize the clinical characteristics of congenital ventricular aneurysm and diverticula in inland China.

Methods: To identify the literature of congenital aneurysm and diverticula from Wanfang, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) and PubMed databases, and to analyze the clinical characteristics of congenital aneurysm and diverticula from January of 2001 to December of 2009.

Results: A total of 116 patients [78 men, 1 - 80 (33.

[Impact of metoprolol use in the treatment of patients with electrical-storm after cardioverter defibrillators implantation].

Objective: To explore the effectiveness of the metoprolol dosage adjustment on reducing the incidence of electrical-storm (ES) in patients with Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators (ICDs).

Methods: Data from patients with ICD implantation between Jan, 2003 and Jun, 2006 in our hospital were retrospectively analyzed. ES was defined as either ≥ 3 times of ventricular tachyarrhythmias (VTAs) resulting in ICD therapy or VTAs lasting more than 30 s detected by ICD without any therapy within 24 hours.

Late recurrent high degree atrioventricular block after percutaneous closure of a perimembranous ventricular septal defect.

High degree atrioventricular block (HDAVB) is a serious complication of transcatheter closure of a perimembranous ventricular septal defect (PMVSD). We report one patient who developed transient HDAVB seven days after transcathter closure of PMVSD and had recurrent HDAVB 42 months after the procedure.

An algorithm to predict the site of origin of focal atrial tachycardia.

Background: Only a few algorithms for predicting the site of origin of focal atrial tachycardia (AT) have been reported. We aimed to develop a new and more effective algorithm.

Methods: Surface 12-lead electrocardiograms were collected during tachycardia and sinus rhythm in 61 patients who received successful radiofrequency ablation.

Right-sided free wall accessory pathway refractory to conventional catheter ablation: lessons from 3-dimensional electroanatomic mapping.

Introduction: the aim of this study was to delineate the electroanatomic substrates of right-sided free wall (RFW) accessory pathways (APs) that were refractory to conventional catheter ablation utilizing 3-dimensional (3-D) mapping.

Methods And Results: eleven patients with RFW APs that failed initial conventional catheter ablation(s) by a mean of 1.9 ± 0.

[Prevalence of Epsilon wave in patients with arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy].

Objective: To investigate the prevalence of Epsilon wave in patients with arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC).

Methods: The epsilon wave was detected in 32 patients [24 men, mean age (42.3 +/- 13.

Premature ventricular contractions originating from the right ventricular outflow tract: three-dimensional distribution of the target sites and their electrocardiographic characteristics.

1. The purpose of the present study was to explore the relationship between electrocardiogram (ECG) patterns of right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) premature ventricular contractions and the three-dimensional distribution of the target sites. 2.