Impact of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors on catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation in heart failure patients without type-2 diabetes.

Background: Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2is) reportedly decreased the new-onset atrial arrhythmias in patients with type-2 diabetes (T2DM) or heart failure (HF). This study examined the impact of SGLT2is on catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF) in HF patients without T2DM.

Methods: Persistent AF (PeAF) and HF (N-terminal prohormone of brain natriuretic peptide, NT-proBNP ≥400 pg/ml) patients without T2DM undergoing catheter ablation were prospectively enrolled (n = 102).

Use of the inter-Laennec approach for laparoscopic anatomical right posterior sectionectomy in semi-prone position.

Background: Among the laparoscopic anatomical liver resections, the right posterior sectionectomy is highly demanding [1, 2], particularly when exposing the right hepatic vein (RHV). To standardize the procedure, the inter-Laennec approach was developed based on the Laennec's capsule structure, composed of two layers surrounding the RHV. One is derived from the proper membrane (hepatic Laennec's capsule) and the other from the pericardium (cardiac Laennec's capsule) [3].

Preimplantation genetic diagnosis/screening by comprehensive molecular testing.

Although embryo screening by preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) has become the standard technique for the treatment of recurrent pregnancy loss in couples with a balanced gross chromosomal rearrangement, the implantation and pregnancy rates of PGD using conventional fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) remain suboptimal. Comprehensive molecular testing, such as array comparative genomic hybridization and next-generation sequencing, can improve these rates, but amplification bias in the whole genome amplification method remains an obstacle to accurate diagnosis. Recent advances in amplification procedures combined with improvements in the microarray platform and analytical method have overcome the amplification bias, and the data accuracy of the comprehensive PGD method has reached the level of clinical laboratory testing.