Evaluation of an algorithm-guided photoplethysmography for atrial fibrillation burden using a smartwatch.

Background: Wearable devices based on the PPG algorithm can detect atrial fibrillation (AF) effectively. However, further investigation of its application on long-term, continuous monitoring of AF burden is warranted.

Method: The performance of a smartwatch with continuous photoplethysmography (PPG) and PPG-based algorithms for AF burden estimation was evaluated in a prospective study enrolling AF patients admitted to Beijing Anzhen Hospital for catheter ablation from September to November 2022.

Systolic Blood Pressure Time in Target Range and Incident Atrial Fibrillation in Patients With Hypertension: Insights From the SPRINT Trial.

Background: Systolic blood pressure (SBP) time in target range (TTR) indicates the mean value, exposure time, and variability in blood pressure over time. The prognostic value of SBP TTR for incident atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients with hypertension is unclear.

Methods: We performed a post hoc analysis of SPRINT (Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial), a randomized controlled trial comparing intensive (<120 mm Hg) and standard (<140 mm Hg) SBP interventions in participants with hypertension.

Burden of Knee Osteoarthritis in 204 Countries and Territories, 1990-2019: Results From the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019.

Objective: To report the global, regional, and national estimates of knee osteoarthritis (OA) burden and associated risk factors (high body mass index [BMI]) by age, sex, and sociodemographic index (SDI) for 204 countries from 1990 to 2019.

Methods: We analyzed the prevalence, incidence, years lived with disability (YLDs), and age-standardized rates of knee OA using data from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study 2019. Estimates of the knee OA burden were derived from data modeled using a Bayesian meta-regression analytical tool (DisMod-MR 2.

Systolic Blood Pressure Time in Target Range and Cognitive Outcomes: Insights From the SPRINT MIND Trial.

Background: The prognostic value of systolic blood pressure (SBP) time in target range (TTR) on cognitive outcomes among adults with hypertension remains unclear.

Methods: We performed secondary analysis of SPRINT MIND (Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial Memory and Cognition in Decreased Hypertension), which compared intensive (<120 mm Hg) versus standard (<140 mm Hg) SBP intervention in hypertensive individuals. TTR was calculated from baseline to month 3 using 110 to 130 mm Hg and 120 to 140 mm Hg as target range for the intensive and standard groups, respectively.

Diastolic Blood Pressure and Intensive Blood Pressure Control on Cognitive Outcomes: Insights From the SPRINT MIND Trial.

Background: The potential benefits or harms of intensive systolic blood pressure (BP) control on cognitive function and cerebral blood flow in individuals with low diastolic blood pressure (DBP) remain unclear.

Methods: We conducted a post hoc analysis of the SPRINT MIND (Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial Memory and Cognition in Decreased Hypertension) that randomly assigned hypertensive participants to an intensive (<120 mm Hg; n=4278) or standard (<140 mm Hg; n=4385) systolic blood pressure target. We evaluated the effects of BP intervention on cognitive outcomes and cerebral blood flow across baseline DBP quartiles.

Distal end side-to-side anastomosis of sequential coronary bypass for size mismatched saphenous vein grafts and coronary arteries.

Introduction: The distal end anastomosis is critical to the entire sequential grafts in coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), but caliber mismatch diminishes the quality of the anastomosis. We aimed to introduce a modified distal end side-to-side (deSTS) anastomosis to handle the size mismatch and compared with classic distal end end-to-side (deETS) anastomosis.

Methods: From January 2014 to December 2018, 185 patients who underwent off-pump CABG with size mismatched sequential vein grafts (≥3.

Evaluation of Safety and Effectiveness of Catheter Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation in Patients Aged ≥80 Years.

Aims: The prevalence and incidence of atrial fibrillation (AF) significantly increase with age. Catheter ablation is already recommended in the guidelines for this selected elderly population. This study aimed to explore the safety and effectiveness of AF catheter ablation in patients aged ≥80 years.

Chronic kidney disease and risks of adverse clinical events in patients with atrial fibrillation.

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is highly prevalent in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). However, the association between CKD and clinical consequences in AF patients is still under debate.

Methods: We included 19,079 nonvalvular AF patients with available estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) values in the Chinese Atrial Fibrillation Registry from 2011 to 2018.

Fully Automatic Scar Segmentation for Late Gadolinium Enhancement MRI Images in Left Ventricle with Myocardial Infarction.

Numerous methods have been published to segment the infarct tissue in the left ventricle, most of them either need manual work, post-processing, or suffer from poor reproducibility. We proposed an automatic segmentation method for segmenting the infarct tissue in left ventricle with myocardial infarction. Cardiac images of a total of 60 diseased hearts (55 human hearts and 5 porcine hearts) were used in this study.

Outcome of Anticoagulation Therapy of Left Atrial Thrombus or Sludge in Patients With Nonvalvular Atrial Fibrillation or Flutter.

Background: Both warfarin and nonvitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs) are increasingly used for thromboembolic prevention in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF). However, there are limited data concerning anticoagulation for left atrial (LA) thrombus or sludge. We aimed to determine the efficacy of warfarin and NOACs in LA thrombus or sludge in patients with NVAF or atrial flutter (AFL).

Effect of Mental Health Status on Arrhythmia Recurrence After Catheter Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation.

Background: Patients diagnosed with atrial fibrillation suffer more from anxiety and depression than the general population. This study sought to evaluate the association between mental health status and recurrence of atrial tachyarrhythmia (AT) after catheter ablation.

Methods: A total of 448 patients who underwent catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation were enrolled in this single-centre prospective cohort study.

Catheter Ablation of Recurrent Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation: Is Gap-Closure Combining Ganglionated Plexi Ablation More Effective?

Background: For repeat treatment with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF) recurrence, gap-closure at pulmonary vein ostia alone is not enough. Many recent studies indicated that ganglionated plexi (GPs) denervation could reduce the recurrence of AF. However, it is unclear whether the clinical outcomes of additional GP ablation plus pulmonary veins (PVs ) reisolation during a repeat procedure were associated with less recurrence in PAF patients.

Long-Term Persistence of Newly Initiated Warfarin Therapy in Chinese Patients With Nonvalvular Atrial Fibrillation.

Background: Despite its therapeutic efficacy, warfarin is extremely underused in Chinese patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (AF). Whether the nonpersistence of warfarin treatment contributes to its underuse is not known. The aims of this study were to determine nonpersistence rates of newly started warfarin treatment in Chinese patients with nonvalvular AF and to identify the factors associated with discontinuation of the treatment.