Impact of high-power short-duration atrial fibrillation ablation technique on the incidence of silent cerebral embolism: a prospective randomized controlled study.

Background: High-power short-duration (HPSD) ablation strategy has emerged as a popular approach for treating atrial fibrillation (AF), with shorter ablation time. The utilized Smart Touch Surround Flow (STSF) catheter, with 56 holes around the electrode, lowers electrode-tissue temperature and thrombus risk. Thus, we conducted this prospective, randomized study to investigate if the HPSD strategy with STSF catheter in AF ablation procedures reduces the silent cerebral embolism (SCE) risk compared to the conventional approach with the Smart Touch (ST) catheter.

Application value of double-layer spectral detector CT in differentiating central lung cancer from atelectasis.

Background: Central lung cancer with obstructive atelectasis is very common in clinical practice. Determination of the tumor borderline is important. Conventional computed tomography (CT) alone may not be sufficiently accurate to distinguish central lung cancer from obstructive atelectasis.

Differential diagnosis of pulmonary nodular mucinous adenocarcinoma and tuberculoma with dynamic CT: a retrospective study.

Background: Pulmonary nodular mucinous adenocarcinoma (PNMA) tends to be easily misdiagnosed as tuberculoma in practice. In this study, we aimed to discriminate PNMA from tuberculoma with dynamic computed tomography (CT).

Methods: In this study, 38 consecutive pathologically confirmed cases of PNMA and 23 cases of tuberculoma from January 2015 to December 2019 were retrospectively collected.

Better CRT Response in Patients Who Underwent Atrioventricular Node Ablation or Upgrade From Pacemaker: A Nomogram to Predict CRT Response.

Response rates for cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) in patients without intrinsic left bundle-branch block (LBBB) morphology are poor. We sought to develop a nomogram model to predict response to CRT in patients without intrinsic LBBB. We searched electronic health records for patients without intrinsic LBBB who underwent CRT at Mayo Clinic.

Efficacy and Safety of Long-Term Oral Bosentan in Different Types of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Objective: This systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to identify if long-term bosentan is an effective and safe treatment for pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) regardless of type, including idiopathic PAH (IPAH), and PAH associated with congenital heart disease (APAH-CHD), connective tissue disease (APAH-CTD), and human immunodeficiency virus (APAH-HIV).

Methods: All relevant observations were systematically searched by two independent investigators and obtained from three databases, including PubMed, EMBASE and the Cochrane Library, from the inception of each database to February 2020. Currently, long-term administration was defined as no less than 12 months.

Cardiac resynchronization therapy modulates peripheral sympathetic activity.

Background: Heightened sympathetic nerve activity has been associated with poorer prognosis in patients with reduced left ventricular systolic function (ie, heart failure with reduced ejection fraction [HFrEF]).

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) on sympathetic nerve activity, measured by average skin sympathetic nerve activity (aSKNA).

Methods: This prospective study enrolled 36 patients with HFrEF who received CRT.

The Impact of Renal Denervation on the Progression of Heart Failure in a Canine Model Induced by Right Ventricular Rapid Pacing.

Heart failure (HF) has been proposed as a potential indication of renal denervation (RDN). However, the mechanisms enabling RDN to attenuate HF are not well understood, especially the central effects of RDN. The aim of this study was to decipher the mode of operation of RDN in the treatment of HF using a canine model of right ventricular rapid pacing-induced HF.

Selective vs. Global Renal Denervation: a Case for Less Is More.

Purpose Of Review: Review the renal nerve anatomy and physiology basics and explore the concept of global vs. selective renal denervation (RDN) to uncover some of the fundamental limitations of non-targeted renal nerve ablation and the potential superiority of selective RDN.

Recent Findings: Recent trials testing the efficacy of RDN showed mixed results.

Diagnosis and prognosis of neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin for acute kidney injury with sepsis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) has been identified as an early biomarker for prediction of acute kidney injury (AKI). However, the utility of NGAL to predict the occurrence of AKI in septic patients remains controversial. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the evidence on diagnosis of sepsis AKI and the prediction of other clinical outcomes.

Efficacy and safety of phosphodiesterase type-5 inhibitors for pulmonary arterial hypertension: A meta-analysis focusing on 6MWD.

Background And Objective: Phosphodiesterase type-5 inhibitors (PDE-5 inhibitors) have been suggested as a first-line drug for treating pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). The aim of present meta-analysis was to fully evaluate the efficacy and safety of treating PAH with PDE-5 inhibitors, focusing on the improvement of 6-min walk distance (6MWD).

Methods: Studies were identified from The Cochrane Library, EMBASE, and PUBMED databases.

[Prevalence and risk factors of atrial fibrillation in hospitalized patients with chronic kidney disease].

Objective: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained tachyarrhythmia in the general population. AF and Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) share several common risk factors. We investigated the association between chronic kidney disease and risk of atrial fibrillation in hospitalized patients with CKD.

Ultrasound targeted microbubble destruction promotes angiogenesis and heart function by inducing myocardial microenvironment change.

The myocardial microenvironment plays a decisive role in the survival, migration and differentiation of stem cells. We studied myocardial micro-environmental changes induced by ultrasound-targeted microbubble destruction (UTMD) and their influence on the transplantation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). Various intensities of ultrasound were applied to the anterior chest in canines with myocardial infarction after intravenous injection of microbubbles.

[Efficacy of rate and rhythm control strategy in patients with atrial fibrillation: meta-analysis].

Objective: The efficacy of rate and rhythm control strategies for treating atrial fibrillation (AF) patients was analyzed in this meta-analysis.

Methods: Eligible trials were searched in MEDLINE, the Cochrane Library, the Clinical Trials, the Chinese VIP database up to May 31, 2010. Ten prospective randomized control trials with 7876 patients (rate control n = 3932, rhythm control n = 3944) were included for final analysis.

One-year clinical outcome of a randomized trial of polymer-free paclitaxel-eluting stents versus biodegradable polymer-based rapamycin-eluting stents in patients with coronary heart disease.

Background:  More widespread use of drug-eluting stents (DES) to treat coronary heart disease (CHD) has recently generated more attention to thrombosis, which was relative to the polymer. Polymer-free and biodegradable polymer-based stents are more frequently studied, but their efficacy on preventing detrimental clinical events is unclear.

Methods And Results: To assess whether polymer-free paclitaxel-eluting stent (YINYI stent) was noninferior or equivalent to biodegradable polymer-based rapamycin-eluting stents (EXCEL stent) in preventing detrimental clinical cardiovascular events, a total of 167 consecutive CHD patients requiring DES implantation were randomly divided into the YINYI group (n = 82) and the EXCEL group (n = 85).

A region-specific quantitative profile of autonomic innervation of the canine left atrium and pulmonary veins.

The aim of the present study was to determine and quantify the cardiac autonomic innervation of the canine atria and pulmonary vein. Tissue specimens were taken from the canine pulmonary veins (PVs), posterior left atrium (PLA), left atrial roof (LAR), anterior left atrium (ALA), interatrial septum (IAS), and left atrial appendage (LAA) respectively for immunohistochemical analysis and nerve density determination. Both sympathetic and parasympathetic nerve densities decreased in the order: PLA>PV>IAS>LAR>ALA>LAA.

Cryoablation versus radiofrequency energy for the ablation of atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia (the CYRANO Study): results from a large multicenter prospective randomized trial.

Background: Cryoablation has emerged as an alternative to radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) for the treatment of atrioventricular (AV) nodal reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT). The purpose of this prospective randomized study was to test whether cryoablation is as effective as RFCA during both short-term and long-term follow-up with a lower risk of permanent AV block.

Methods And Results: A total of 509 patients underwent slow pathway cryoablation (n=251) or RFCA (n=258).

Coronary score adds prognostic information for patients with acute coronary syndrome.

Background: The aim of the present study was to explore the association of 3 coronary scores with major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS).

Methods And Results: The 958 consecutive patients with ACS were followed up until either MACE or 31(st) December 2008 occurred; 257 patients reached clinical endpoints. Cox regression analysis demonstrated that the Gensini score was associated with 90-day MACE (relative risk (RR) 1.

[Renin-angiotensin system blocking agents reverse the myocardial hypertrophy in experimental hyperthyroid cardiomyopathy via altering intracellular calcium handling].

Objective: To explore the mechanisms of myocardial hypertrophy induced by Levothyroxine (L-Thy).

Methods: A rabbit model of hyperthyroidism was established by daily intraperitoneal injections of L-Thy (45 microg/kg per day) for 28 days. New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into four groups (n = 10 each): control group, L-Thy group (L-Thy alone), imidapril group (L-Thy + 0.

[Predict value of clinical risk score, thrombolysis in myocardial infarction flow grade and combined clinical risk score plus TIMI flow on outcome evaluation of patients with acute coronary syndrome].

Objective: To compare the prognostic value of clinical risk score and thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) flow grade alone or combined on outcome of acute coronary syndrome (ACS).

Methods: A total of 206 eligible patients [135 males, mean age (67.57 +/- 9.

[Expression of angiotensin converting enzyme and angiotensin II receptor in rabbits with hyperthyroid cardiomyopathy].

Objective: To explore the pathogenesis of hyperthyroid cardiomyopathy.

Methods: A rabbit model of hyperthyroid cardiomyopathy was reproduced by daily intraperitoneal injection of L-thyroxine (L-Thy, 45 microg x kg(-1)xd(-1)) for 28 consecutive days. Forty New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into four groups: control group, L-Thy group, imidapril group, and valsartan group.