High-density mapping in catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation in Asia Pacific region: An observational study.

Background: Few clinical studies of atrial fibrillation (AF) have focused on Asian patients; data are lacking on current mapping and ablation strategies in the Asia Pacific region (APAC).

Objective: The HD Mapping Observational Study (NCT04022954) was designed to characterize electroanatomic mapping (EAM) with market-released high-density mapping (HDM) catheters in subjects with AF in APAC.

Methods: Subjects undergoing HDM and indicated for radiofrequency ablation (RFA) to treat AF were prospectively enrolled in APAC.

Incidence and outcome of hepatitis D virus infection in people with HIV in the era of tenofovir-containing antiretroviral therapy.

Background: Tenofovir-containing antiretroviral therapy (ART) improves survival in HBV-coinfected people with HIV (PWH). We investigated the incidence of HDV infection and its clinical impact in HBV-coinfected PWH in the era of tenofovir-containing ART.

Methods: Between 2011 and 2022, HBV-coinfected PWH were included and followed until December 2023.

Utility of F-Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography in Evaluating Disseminated Nontuberculous Mycobacterial Infection in Patients With Anti-interferon-γ Autoantibodies.

Background: Managing disseminated nontuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) infection in patients with neutralizing anti-interferon-γ autoantibodies (AIGAs) poses substantial challenges due to the lack of established treatment guidance and predictive tools for clinical outcomes. In this study, we investigated the utility of F-fluorodeoxyglucose (2-[F]FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) in guiding treatment decisions, with a focus on its ability to predict rehospitalization outcomes.

Methods: We conducted a post hoc analysis of the first available 2-[F]FDG PET scans of patients with AIGAs and disseminated NTM infection from a prospective observational multicenter cohort.

High-resolution imaging of organic and inorganic nanoparticles at nanometre-scale resolution by X-ray ensemble diffraction microscopy.

Coherent diffraction microscopy (CDM) is a robust direct imaging method due to its unique 2D/3D phase retrieval capacity. Nonetheless, its resolution faces limitations due to a diminished signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) in high-frequency regions. Addressing this challenge, X-ray ensemble diffraction microscopy (XEDM) emerges as a viable solution, ensuring an adequate SNR in high-frequency regions and effectively surmounting resolution constraints.

Multistep Algorithm to Predict RVOT PVC Site of Origin for Successful Ablation Using Available Criteria: A Two-Center Cross-Validation Study.

Background: Predicting premature ventricular contraction (PVC) origin pre-ablation is a fundamental step, as right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) PVC often leads to higher success rates.

Objective: To compare nine published ECG criteria to differentiate between RVOT and non-RVOT origins of PVCs and develop a stepwise algorithm using those criteria to better determine PVC origin to predict ablation success.

Methods: Two centers were involved in this study, the derivation group and the validation group.

Clinical manifestations and viral kinetics of people with Mpox: A case series during the 2023 outbreak in Taiwan.

Monkeypox (Mpox) has emerged as a global threat since 2022. We reported 14 cases of Mpox in 10 people with HIV (PWH) and 4 people without HIV (PWoH), of whom 64.3% had sexually transmitted co-infections.

Gender Differences in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation Receiving Oral Anticoagulants.

Background: Gender is a well-recognized risk factor in atrial fibrillation (AF)-related ischemic stroke. The association of gender with the use of oral anticoagulants (OACs) and prognosis remains unknown.

Methods: The National Health Insurance Research Database in Taiwan identified 203,775 patients with AF aged 20 years from 2012 to 2018, with 55.

Implication of genotypes for prognosis of Candida glabrata bloodstream infections.

Background: Genotyping isolates of a specific pathogen may demonstrate unique patterns of antimicrobial resistance, virulence or outcomes. However, evidence for genotype-outcome association in Candida glabrata is scarce. We aimed to characterize the mycological and clinical relevance of genotypes on C.

Serological responses to COVID-19 vaccination in patients with chronic liver diseases.

Longitudinal analysis of antibody responses following three-dose COVID-19 vaccination in patients with chronic liver disease (CLD) has been limited. From August 2021 to February 2023, sequential anti-SARS-CoV-2 spike IgG titers were determined in 45 patients with CLD who received two or three doses of COVID-19 vaccine. The geometric mean of anti-spike IgG at four weeks after the second and third doses were 1313.

Uropathogens and clinical manifestations of pyuria-negative urinary tract infections in young infants: A single center cross-sectional study.

Background: Urine leukocyte count under microscopy is one of the most frequently used routine screening tests for urinary tract infection (UTI). Nevertheless, it is observed that pyuria is lacking in 10-25% of children with UTI. This study aims to determine the factors related to pyuria-negative UTI in young infants aged under four months old.

Robust, Reproducible, and Scalable Synthesis of Silver Nanocubes.

It remains a challenge to accomplish colloidal synthesis of noble-metal nanocrystals marked by high quality, large quantity, and batch-to-batch consistency. Here we report a self-airtight setup for achieving robust, reproducible, and scalable production of Ag nanocubes with uniform and controlled sizes from 18 to 60 nm. Different from the conventional open-to-air setup, the self-airtight system makes it practical to stabilize the reaction condition by minimizing the loss of volatile reagents.

Mycoplasma genitalium infection and resistance-associated mutations to macrolides and fluoroquinolones among high-risk patients in Taiwan.

Background: Mycoplasma genitalium is an emerging etiology of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) with increasing resistance to antimicrobials. Surveillance on the epidemiology of M. genitalium infection and antimicrobial resistance is warranted.

From Blur to Brilliance: The Ascendance of Advanced Microscopy in Neuronal Cell Biology.

The intricate network of the brain's neurons and synapses poses unparalleled challenges for research, distinct from other biological studies. This is particularly true when dissecting how neurons and their functional units work at a cell biological level. While traditional microscopy has been foundational, it was unable to reveal the deeper complexities of neural interactions.

Evaluation of the synergistic effect of eravacycline and tigecycline against carbapenemase-producing carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae.

Background: Carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) poses a substantial healthcare challenge. This study assessed the in vitro efficacy of selected antibiotic combinations against CRKP infections.

Methods: Our research involved the evaluation of 40 clinical isolates of CRKP, with half expressing Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC) and half producing Metallo-β-lactamase (MBL), two key enzymes contributing to carbapenem resistance.

Sexually transmitted coinfections among at-risk HIV-positive MSM: implications for optimal preemptive treatment.

Background: Concurrent sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are common in sexually active populations. We aimed to estimate the prevalence and coinfection rates of bacterial STIs among sexually active, HIV-positive men who have sex with men (MSM), and to assess the potential benefits of different combination treatment regimens in managing concurrent bacterial STIs.

Methods: From September 2021 to September 2023, HIV-positive MSM underwent STI testing when they had symptoms suggestive of STIs or recently acquired hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection or early syphilis.

Clinical manifestations and risk factors for COVID-19 and its severity in patients with hematological malignancies.

Background: Patients with hematological malignancies (HM) were at a high risk of developing severe disease from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). We aimed to assess the clinical outcome of COVID-19 in hospitalized patients with HM.

Methods: Adult patients with HM who were hospitalized with a laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 between May, 2021 and November, 2022 were retrospectively identified.

Effectiveness and evolution of anti-SARS-CoV-2 spike protein titers after three doses of COVID-19 vaccination in people with HIV.

Background: Real-world vaccine effectiveness following the third dose of vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 remains less investigated among people with HIV (PWH).

Methods: PWH receiving the third dose of BNT162b2 and mRNA-1273 (either 50- or 100-μg) were enrolled. Participants were followed for 180 days until the fourth dose of COVID-19 vaccination, SARS-CoV-2 infection, seroconversion of anti-nucleocapsid IgG, death, or loss to follow-up.

Effect of early dexamethasone on outcomes of COVID-19: A quasi-experimental study using propensity score matching.

Background: The RECOVERY trial demonstrated that the use of dexamethasone is associated with a 36% lower 28-day mortality in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 on invasive mechanical ventilation. Nevertheless, the optimal timing to start dexamethasone remains uncertain.

Methods: We conducted a quasi-experimental study at National Taiwan University Hospital (Taipei, Taiwan) using propensity score matching to simulate a randomized controlled trial to receive or not to receive early dexamethasone (6 mg/day) during the first 7 days following the onset of symptoms.

Feasibility of Auto-Quantified Epicardial Adipose Tissue in Predicting Atrial Fibrillation Recurrence After Catheter Ablation.

Background: The aim of this study was to build an auto-segmented artificial intelligence model of the atria and epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) on computed tomography (CT) images, and examine the prognostic significance of auto-quantified left atrium (LA) and EAT volumes for AF.

Methods and results: This retrospective study included 334 patients with AF who were referred for catheter ablation (CA) between 2015 and 2017. Atria and EAT volumes were auto-quantified using a pre-trained 3-dimensional (3D) U-Net model from pre-ablation CT images.

activity of cefiderocol and comparator antibiotics against multidrug-resistant non-fermenting Gram-negative bacilli.

Background: This study evaluated the activity of cefiderocol, ceftazidime/avibactam, and aztreonam/avibactam against clinically important multidrug-resistant non-fermenting Gram-negative bacilli.

Methods: Bacteraemic isolates of 126 multidrug-resistant (MDRAB), 110 imipenem-resistant [including 14 difficult-to-treat resistant (DTRPA)], 45 beta-lactam-non-susceptible complex (BCC), 47 levofloxacin or trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole-non-susceptible and 22 ciprofloxacin-non-susceptible spp. collected between 2019 and 2021 were subjected to MIC determination for cefiderocol, ceftazidime/avibactam and aztreonam/avibactam.

Catheter ablation in patients with atrial fibrillation and dilated cardiomyopathy.

Introduction: Catheter ablation is an effective and safe strategy for treating atrial fibrillation patients. Nevertheless, studies on the long-term outcomes of catheter ablation in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy are limited. This study aimed to assess the electrophysiological characteristics of atrial fibrillation patients with dilated cardiomyopathy and compare the long-term clinical outcomes between patients undergoing catheter ablation and medical therapy.