Artemisinin-Quinidine Combination for Suppressing Ventricular Tachyarrhythmia in an Ex Vivo Model of Brugada Syndrome.

Background: The ionic mechanism underlying Brugada syndrome (BrS) arises from an imbalance in transient outward current flow between the epicardium and endocardium. Previous studies report that artemisinin, originally derived from a Chinese herb for antimalarial use, inhibits the Ito current in canines. In a prior study, we showed the antiarrhythmic effects of artemisinin in BrS wedge preparation models.

Evaluation of ventricular pacing suppression algorithms in dual chamber pacemaker: Results of "LEADER" study.

Background: There is limited research on the intra-individual efficacy of ventricular pacing minimization algorithms developed by Biotronik-the Ventricular Pace Suppression algorithm (VpS) and the Intrinsic Rhythm Support plus algorithm (IRSplus) (BIOTRONIK SE & Co. KG, Berlin, Germany). We performed a randomized pilot trial that evaluated the efficacy of two algorithms in patients with symptomatic sinus node dysfunction (SND) who received a dual-chamber pacemaker.

Left Atrium Volume Measured with Multislice Computed Tomography as a Prognostic Predictor for Atrial Fibrillation Catheter Ablation Outcomes.

Current guidelines consider atrial fibrillation (AF) type as the prognostic factor for a recommendation of catheter ablation. We aimed to determine whether LA and LA appendage (LAA) volumes measured using multislice computed tomography (MSCT) were related to long-term outcomes in AF following radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA). We evaluated 152 consecutive patients with drug-refractory AF (median age, 55.

Case Report: Comprehensive evaluation of ECG phenotypes and genotypes in a family with Brugada syndrome carrying .

Background: Brugada syndrome (BrS) is a channelopathy that can lead to sudden cardiac death in the absence of structural heart disease. Patients with BrS can be asymptomatic or present with symptoms secondary to polymorphic ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation. Even though BrS can exhibit autosomal dominant inheritance, it is not easy to identify the phenotype and genotype in a family thoroughly.

Modified application of SAMe-TT2R2 scoring system in Asian patients with atrial fibrillation for the selection of oral anticoagulants.

Background/aims: The SAMe-TT2R2 score is used for assessing anticoagulation control (AC) quality with warfarin. However, it is hard to apply SAMe-TT2R2 score in Asian patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), because it has not been proven in those populations. This study aimed to validate the SAMe-TT2R2 score in Asian patients with AF and suggest a modified SAMe- TT2R2 score for this population.

Standard-Intensity Versus Low-Intensity Anticoagulation with Warfarin in Asian Patients with Atrial Fibrillation: A Multi-Center, Randomized Controlled Trial.

Anticoagulation with warfarin in Asian patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) often has been decreased as an international normalized ratio (INR) of prothrombin time 1.6-2.6 due to fear of bleeding, although universal criteria recommend an INR of 2.

Effects of Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter-2 Inhibitors and Thiazolidinedione on New-Onset Atrial Fibrillation Risk to Patients with Type 2 Diabetes.

Background And Objectives: Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is an independent risk factor for the development of atrial fibrillation (AF). Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT-2i) have recently been shown to decrease the incidence of AF through several mechanisms, including the reduction of atrial dilatation via diuresis and the lowering of body weight. In observational studies of diabetic patients, the use of thiazolidinedione (TZD) was found to have a protective effect on new-onset AF.

Edoxaban-based long-term antithrombotic therapy in patients with atrial fibrillation and stable coronary disease: Rationale and design of the randomized EPIC-CAD trial.

Background: Anticoagulants are the standard therapy for patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and antiplatelet therapy for those with coronary artery disease (CAD). However, compelling clinical evidence is still lacking regarding the long-term maintenance strategy with the combination of anticoagulant and antiplatelet drugs in patients with AF and stable CAD.

Design: The EPIC-CAD trial is an investigator-initiated, multicenter, open-label randomized trial comparing the safety and efficacy of 2 antithrombotic strategies in patients with high-risk AF (CHADS-VASc score ≥ 2 points) and stable CAD (≥6 months after revascularization for stable angina or ≥12 months for acute coronary syndrome; or medical therapy alone).

Bleeding risk in patients with atrial fibrillation treated with combined anti-platelet and non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulant therapy.

Background: The use of non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs) in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (AF) has been increasing. Accordingly, the combined use of antiplatelet agents (APT) and NOAC therapy is commonly encountered in clinical practice. The purpose of this study was to compare the clinical outcomes between combination therapy (NOAC and APT) vs.

Corrigendum to "Covid-19 and the aviation industry: The interrelationship between the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic and the frequency of flights on the EU Market" [Ann. Tour. Res., Volume 91, November 2021, 103298].

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1016/j.annals.

Algorithm for diagnosing hypertension using out-of-office blood pressure measurements.

The authors developed and validated a diagnostic algorithm using the optimal upper and lower cut-off values of office and home BP at which ambulatory BP measurements need to be applied. Patients presenting with high BP (≥140/90 mm Hg) at the outpatient clinic were referred to measure office, home, and ambulatory BP. Office and home BP were divided into hypertension, intermediate (requiring diagnosis using ambulatory BP), and normotension zones.

Social distancing, trust and post-COVID-19 recovery.

With the tourism and hospitality sector reopening post-lockdown of COVID-19, the recovery of customers' purchase intentions is essential to reboot the sector. This study aims to examine the relationship between social distancing measures and purchase intentions in the UK's restaurant and hotel sectors using a propensity score weighting experimental design method. The findings suggest that the impact of social distancing measures on purchase intentions is mediated by the trust in the targeted restaurant and hotel.

COVID-19 and the aviation industry: The interrelationship between the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic and the frequency of flights on the EU market.

This study aims to investigate the contribution of aviation related travel restrictions to control the spread of COVID-19 in Europe by using quasi-experiment approaches including the regression discontinuity design and a two-stage spatial Durbin model with an instrumental variable. The study provides concrete evidence that the severe curtailing of flights had a spontaneous impact in controlling the spread of COVID-19. The counterfactual analysis encapsulated the spillover effects deduced that a 1% decrease in flight frequency can decrease the number of confirmed cases by 0.

Corrigendum: Comparison of Mobile Application-Based ECG Consultation by Collective Intelligence and ECG Interpretation by Conventional System in a Tertiary-Level Hospital.

This corrects the article on p. 351 in vol. 51, PMID: 33821585.

Comparison of Mobile Application-Based ECG Consultation by Collective Intelligence and ECG Interpretation by Conventional System in a Tertiary-Level Hospital.

Background And Objectives: A mobile application (app)-based electrocardiogram (ECG) consultation system (InterMD Co., Ltd., Seoul, Korea) using the collective intelligence (CI) and the availability of large-scale digitized ECG data would extend the utility of ECGs beyond their current limitations, while at the same time preserving interpretability that remains critical to medical decision-making.

The shape of the left lateral ridge as a predictor of long-term outcome of catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation based on clinical and experimental data.

Background: The left lateral ridge (LLR) is an important structure for ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF). This study assessed how the LLR shape is associated with the long-term outcomes of AF ablation and investigated the relationship with radiofrequency (RF) lesion formation.

Methods And Results: Clinical study - we assessed multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT) images in 247 patients who underwent AF ablation.

Outcomes of Direct Oral Anticoagulants in Patients With Mitral Stenosis.

Background: Patients with mitral stenosis and atrial fibrillation (AF) require anticoagulation for stroke prevention. Thus far, all studies on direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) have excluded patients with moderate to severe mitral stenosis.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to validate the efficacy of DOACs in patients with mitral stenosis.

Utility of acute arrhythmia termination as an ablation endpoint for induced atrial tachyarrhythmia after complete pulmonary vein isolation during catheter ablation for persistent atrial fibrillation.

Purpose: The presence of inducible atrial tachyarrhythmia after pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) during radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) for persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) may indicate the necessity of further substrate modification, but the optimal ablation endpoint is unknown. We sought to assess the impact of procedural termination of inducible atrial tachyarrhythmia after PVI in comparison with continued atrial tachyarrhythmia after PVI.

Methods: Among patients who underwent RFCA for persistent AF, we enrolled 93 patients who were in sinus rhythm after PVI and had inducible atrial tachyarrhythmia and 157 patients with continued atrial tachyarrhythmia after PVI.