Case Report: Temporary pacing using active fixation lead and invasive electrophysiology studies for immune checkpoint inhibitor associated reversible advanced atrioventricular block.

A case of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs)-associated myocarditis with reversible advanced atrioventricular block (AVB) was reported. We innovatively used active fixation lead connected to an external device for prolonged temporary pacing until atrioventricular conduction recovered. Invasive electrophysiology studies were performed to evaluate atrioventricular conduction in detail.

Case Report: Left bundle branch pacing in an amyloid light-chain cardiac amyloidosis patient with atrioventricular block.

Introduction: Amyloid light-chain cardiac amyloidosis is a progressive infiltrative disease characterized by the deposition of amyloid fibrils in the cardiac tissue, which can cause serious atrioventricular block requiring pacemaker implantation. Left bundle branch pacing has emerged as an alternative method for delivering physiological pacing to achieve electrical synchrony of the left ventricle. However, left bundle branch pacing in patients with amyloid light-chain cardiac amyloidosis has not been studied in detail.

Three-dimensional High-Resolution Dark-Blood Late Gadolinium Enhancement Imaging for Improved Atrial Scar Evaluation.

Background Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a widely used treatment for atrial fibrillation, reducing the risk of cardiac arrhythmia. Detailed visualization and quantification of atrial scarring has the potential to improve preprocedural decision-making and postprocedural prognosis. Conventional bright-blood late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) MRI can help detect atrial scars; however, its suboptimal myocardium to blood contrast inhibits accurate scar estimation.

Case report: Recurrent syncope as initial symptom in a patient with neck lymphoma.

Syncope may have many different causes, requiring careful identification. Recurrent syncope is uncommon as an initial symptom of neck lymphoma. Head and neck tumors involving the carotid artery cause syncope associate with carotid sinus syndrome.

Relationship between the distribution of left atrial low-voltage zones and post-ablation atrial arrhythmia recurrence in patients with atrial fibrillation.

Background: Low-voltage zones (LVZ) are surrogate markers for cardiac fibrosis, which contribute to the maintenance of atrial fibrillation (AF). The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of the distribution of left atrial (LA) LVZ on the outcome following catheter ablation.

Methods: This retrospective study enrolled patients with AF who underwent initial catheter ablation.

Mitral valve regurgitation is associated with left atrial fibrosis in patients with atrial fibrillation.

Background: Low voltage zones (LVZ) are associated with poor outcomes in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). The APPLE and DR-FLASH scores predict LVZ in patients undergoing catheter ablation. This study aimed to assess the relationship of mitral valve regurgitation (MR) and LVZ after adjusting for APPLE or DR-FLASH scores.

The prognostic significance of electrocardiography findings in patients with coronavirus disease 2019: A retrospective study.

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has reached a pandemic level. Cardiac injury is not uncommon among COVID-19 patients. We sought to describe the electrocardiographic characteristics and to identify the prognostic significance of electrocardiography (ECG) findings of patients with COVID-19.

Noninvasive electrocardiography monitoring for very early recurrence predicts long-term outcome in patients after atrial fibrillation ablation.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained arrhythmia, and catheter ablation has been shown to be a highly effective treatment for patients with symptomatic AF. Very early recurrence (VER) of AF within 7 days after catheter ablation is common, but the clinical significance of VER remains unclear. We have examined the usefulness of the noninvasive electrocardiography monitor for the detection of VER and the relationship between VER and late recurrence (LR).

The impact of fixed-dose combination versus free-equivalent combination therapies on adherence for hypertension: a meta-analysis.

Nonadherence to antihypertensive medication is considered as a reason of inadequate control of blood pressure. This meta-analysis aimed to systemically evaluate the impact of fixed-dose combination (FDC) therapy on hypertensive medication adherence compared with free-equivalent combination therapies. Articles were retrieved from MEDLINE and Embase databases using a combination of terms "fixed-dose combinations" and "adherence or compliance or persistence" and "hypertension or antihypertensive" from January 2000 to June 2017 without any language restriction.

The impact of medication adherence on clinical outcomes of coronary artery disease: A meta-analysis.

Background Long-term use of evidence-based medications is recommended by international guidelines for the management of stable coronary artery disease, however, non-adherence to medications is common. This meta-analysis aims to systematically evaluate the impact of medication adherence on clinical outcomes in patients with stable coronary artery disease. Methods Articles from January 1960-December 2015 were retrieved from the MEDLINE and EMBASE databases without any language restriction.

The amplitude of fibrillatory waves on leads aVF and V1 predicting the recurrence of persistent atrial fibrillation patients who underwent catheter ablation.

Objective: To evaluate whether the amplitude of fibrillatory wave (F wave) on electrocardiography could predict the recurrence in persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) patients who underwent catheter ablation.

Methods: All consecutive persistent AF patients who underwent catheter ablation at Peking Union Medical College Hospital between November 2006 and February 2012, were enrolled. The amplitude of F wave was measured on three orthogonal leads (leads I, V1 and aVF) on the Prucka CardioLab recording system.

The findings of electrocardiography in patients with cardiac amyloidosis.

Objective: The electrocardiography (ECG) was the simplest and common adjunctive diagnostic tool for cardiac amyloidosis (CA). We sought to clarify the findings of ECG in patients with CA in order to early identification of CA according to the findings of ECG.

Methods: A total of 276 patients with diagnosis of systemic amyloidosis admitted to Peking Union Medical College Hospital from January 2000 to December 2011, were enrolled.

The R-wave deflection interval in lead V3 combining with R-wave amplitude index in lead V1: a new surface ECG algorithm for distinguishing left from right ventricular outflow tract tachycardia origin in patients with transitional lead at V3.

Background: To distinguish left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) from right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) origin in idiopathic premature ventricular contractions or ventricular tachycardia (PVCs/VT) patients with transitional lead at V3 is still a challenge. We sought to develop a new electrocardiography (ECG) algorithm for distinguishing LVOT from RVOT origin in patients with idiopathic outflow tract PVCs/VT with precordial transitional lead at V3.

Methods: We analyzed the surface ECG characteristics in a retrospective cohort of idiopathic PVCs/VT patients with transitional lead at V3 who underwent successful radiofrequency catheter ablation and developed a new surface ECG algorithm, then validated it in a prospective cohort.

Elimination of fatal arrhythmias through ablation of triggering premature ventricular contraction in type 3 long QT syndrome.

Congenital long QT syndrome (LQTS) is the most common inherited arrhythmia, fatal arrhythmias are the main causes of sudden death, and often induced by the premature ventricular contractions (PVCs). Ablation of the triggering PVCs may eliminate the fatal arrhythmias and prevent the sudden death in patients with LQTS. We report a 19-year-old boy diagnosed with type 3 LQTS, frequent fatal arrhythmias induced by PVCs with the identical QRS morphology.

[Clinical and echocardiographic features of cardiac myxomas in 64 patients].

Objective: To summarize the clinical and echocardiographic features of cardiac myxomas.

Methods: The medical records of patients with diagnosis of cardiac myxomas who hospitalized in our department from October 1985 to February 2011 were analyzed.

Results: A total of 64 patients were enrolled [40 female, the mean age was 2 - 77 (47 ± 17) years].

Danon disease: focusing on heart.

Danon disease is a rare X-linked dominant lysosomal disease due to the primary deficiency of lysosome-associated membrane protein 2 (LAMP2) gene. Cardiomyopathy, skeletal myopathy and mental retardation are the typical triad of Danon disease. More than 60 LAMP2 mutations have been reported.

Poor prognosis in chronic heart failure patients with reduced ejection fraction in China.

Most Chinese cardiologists are challenged by the high mortality rate of heart failure (HF) in patients with reduced ejection fraction in China. This study was designed as a single-center, retrospective study. All consecutive HF patients with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≤ 45% from January 1, 2007, to December 31, 2009, were enrolled.

Incidence and clinical predictors of low defibrillation safety margin at time of implantable defibrillator implantation.

Background: Determination of the defibrillation safety margin (DSM) is the most common method of testing device effectiveness at the time of implantation of implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) or cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillator (CRTD). Low DSM remains a problem in clinical practice.

Objective: The purpose of this study is to ascertain the incidence and clinical predictors of low DSM and the treatment strategies for low DSM in ICD or CRTD recipients.

[Value of cardiac magnetic resonance imaging for the diagnosis of cardiac amyloidosis].

Objective: To observe the clinical features and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) characteristics of patients with endomyocardial biopsy (EMB)-proven cardiac amyloidosis (CA).

Methods: EMB proven CA patients underwent CMR examination from September 2006 to December 2010 were included. The findings of clinical manifestation, electrocardiogram, echocardiography and CMR were analyzed.

Danon disease as a cause of concentric left ventricular hypertrophy in patients who underwent endomyocardial biopsy.

Background: Danon disease is an X-linked dominant disorder; concentric left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is one of its manifestations. In this study, we investigated the prevalence of Danon disease in patients with concentric LVH who underwent endomyocardial biopsy (EMB).

Methods And Results: A total of 50 patients with concentric LVH underwent EMB from January 2008 to December 2010.