Primary Cardiac Lymphoma With Dramatic Response to Chemotherapy Diagnosed by Transvenous Biopsy.

Primary cardiac lymphoma is a rare disease with the potential to be fatal. This case reports a patient who developed primary cardiac lymphoma resulting in cardiac tamponade. Despite a compromised general condition, the lymphoma was diagnosed through a transvenous tumor biopsy.

Embryological Classification of Arrhythmogenic Triggers Initiating Atrial Fibrillation.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a prevalent multifactorial arrhythmia associated with specific single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Pulmonary vein (PV) isolation is an established treatment for AF; however, recurrence risk remains caused by AF triggers beyond the PVs. Understanding the embryological origins of these triggers could improve treatment outcomes.

Segmental evaluation of predictive value of left atrial epicardial adipose tissue following catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation.

Background: Left atrial epicardial adipose tissue (LA-EAT) is associated with the recurrence of atrial tachyarrhythmias (AF/AT) after catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF). However, no previous studies have assessed the predictive value of segment-specific LA-EAT volumes for AF/AT recurrence. This study aimed to assess the relationship between segmental LA-EAT volume and AF/AT recurrence.

Patient-Reported Outcomes and Patient Satisfaction Following Surgery for Thoracic Myelopathy.

Introduction: The association between postoperative patient-reported outcomes (PROs) and patient satisfaction remains poorly defined in patients undergoing surgery for thoracic myelopathy. This study aimed to investigate PROs and patient satisfaction following surgical intervention for thoracic myelopathy.

Methods: A prospective cohort of 133 patients who underwent surgery for thoracic myelopathy at 13 hospitals between April 2017 and August 2021 was enrolled.

Mapping-Guided Ablation for Persistent Atrial Fibrillation (MAP-AF): A Multicenter, Single-Blind, Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: The clinical outcome of pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) for persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) is suboptimal. Mapping studies have demonstrated atrial sites outside of the pulmonary veins displaying focal activation patterns during AF. We sought to determine whether adding catheter ablation of focal activation sites to PVI improves clinical outcomes of catheter ablation for persistent AF.

A randomized controlled trial of the size-adjustable cryoballoon vs conventional cryoballoon for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation: The CONTRAST-CRYO II trial rationale and design.

Background: Pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) with cryoballoon technology is a well-established therapy for treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF). Recently, a size-adjustable cryoballoon (POLARx FIT) that enables delivery in a standard 28-mm or an expanded 31-mm size was introduced.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to perform a randomized clinical trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of this novel cryoballoon compared to the conventional cryoballoon.

A Single Atrial Extrastimulation Resetting His Bundle During Supraventricular Tachycardia to Differentiate Atrial Tachycardia.

Background: Catheter ablation is the curative treatment for paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (SVT). However, atrial tachycardia (AT) diagnosis is often challenging, especially when SVT is terminated by pacing.

Objectives: This study sought to develop a novel method for AT diagnosis.

Clinical role of crosslink augmentation during short-segment posterior lumbar interbody fusion with total facetectomy: A propensity score-matched analysis.

We investigated the clinical role of crosslink augmentation during PLIF with total facetectomy. We retrospectively reviewed 376 patients who underwent one- or two-segment PLIF with unilateral or bilateral total facetectomy between January 2017 and March 2022. The patients were categorized into two groups based on whether a crosslink was instrumented or not.

Phrenic nerve injury after atrial fibrillation ablation: different recovery courses among cryoballoon, laser balloon, and radiofrequency ablation.

Background: Phrenic nerve injury (PNI) is one of the common complications in atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation, which often recovers spontaneously. However, the course of its recovery has not been examined fully, especially in regard to the different ablation methods. We sought to compare the recovery course of PNI in cryoballoon, laser balloon, and radiofrequency ablation.

Comparative Analysis of Microendoscopic and Open Laminectomy for Single-Level Lumbar Spinal Stenosis at L1-L2 or L2-L3.

Background: Several reports have highlighted comparable surgical outcomes between microendoscopic laminectomy (MEL) and open laminectomy (open) for lumbar spinal stenosis. However, the unilateral approach in MEL may present challenges for the upper lumbar levels, where facet joints are located deeper inside. Our objective was to compare surgical outcomes and radiographic evaluations for single-level decompression cases at L1-L2 or L2-L3 between MEL and open laminectomy.

Characteristics of two different cryoballoon systems for treatment of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation: study protocol for a multicenter randomized controlled trial (CONTRAST-CRYO Trial).

Background: Single-shot pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) utilizing cryothermal energy is an effective and safe treatment for atrial fibrillation (AF) patients. A novel cryoballoon system, POLARx™, has been recently introduced. The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy, safety, and biophysical parameters of PVI between the novel cryoballoon system, POLARx™, and the standard cryoballoon system, Arctic Front Advance Pro™ (AFA-Pro), in patients with paroxysmal AF.

Clinical evaluation of deep learning and atlas-based auto-segmentation for organs at risk delineation.

Manual delineation of organs at risk and clinical target volumes is essential in radiotherapy planning. Atlas-based auto-segmentation (ABAS) algorithms have become available and been shown to provide accurate contouring for various anatomical sites. Recently, deep learning auto-segmentation (DL-AS) algorithms have emerged as the state-of-the-art in medical image segmentation.

Acute procedural efficacy and safety of a novel expandable diameter cryoballoon in atrial fibrillation ablation: Early results from a multicenter ablation registry.

Introduction: The major limitation of the current cryoballoon (CB) system is a fixed 28 mm balloon-size. We sought to analyze real-world early experience with novel-sized adjustable CB.

Methods: This multicenter observational study included 140 consecutive atrial fibrillation patients (71 years, 94 men, 86 paroxysmal) who underwent pulmonary vein (PV) isolation using expandable diameter CB capable of ablation at 28 or 31 mm.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on surgical volume and outcomes in spine surgery: a multicentre retrospective study in Tokyo.

Objectives: To investigate the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on surgical volume and outcomes in spine surgery.

Design: A retrospective cohort study using prospectively collected data.

Setting And Participants: A total of 9935 patients who underwent spine surgery between January 2019 and December 2021 at eight high-volume spine centres in the Greater Tokyo metropolitan area were included.

Symptomatic periesophageal vagal nerve injury by different energy sources during atrial fibrillation ablation.

Background: Symptomatic gastric hypomotility (SGH) is a rare but major complication of atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation, but data on this are scarce.

Objective: We compared the clinical course of SGH occurring with different energy sources.

Methods: This multicenter study retrospectively collected the characteristics and clinical outcomes of patients with SGH after AF ablation.

Does surgical site infection affect patient-reported outcomes after spinal surgery? A multicenter cohort study.

Background: Surgical site infections are common in spinal surgeries. It is uncertain whether outcomes in spine surgery patients with vs. without surgical site infection are equivalent.

Adjunctive posterior wall isolation for the treatment of persistent and longstanding persistent atrial fibrillation (CORNERSTONE AF) trial: Design and rationale.

Background: A left atrial posterior wall isolation (LAPWI) is one of the atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation strategies.

Hypothesis: We hypothesized that an additional empirical LAPWI would increase the freedom from recurrent atrial arrhythmias as compared to standard AF ablation in persistent AF patients.

Methods: The CORNERSTONE AF study is a prospective, randomized, multicenter study investigating patients with AF persisting for >7 days and <3 years undergoing first-time AF ablation.