Novel Technologies in the Detection of Atrial Fibrillation: Review of Literature and Comparison of Different Novel Technologies for Screening of Atrial Fibrillation.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is globally the most common arrhythmia associated with significant morbidity and mortality. It impairs the quality of the patient's life, imposing a remarkable burden on public health, and the healthcare budget. The detection of AF is important in the decision to initiate anticoagulation therapy to prevent thromboembolic events.

Frontal Polymerizations: From Chemical Perspectives to Macroscopic Properties and Applications.

The synthesis and processing of most thermoplastics and thermoset polymeric materials rely on energy-inefficient and environmentally burdensome manufacturing methods. Frontal polymerization is an attractive, scalable alternative due to its exploitation of polymerization heat that is generally wasted and unutilized. The only external energy needed for frontal polymerization is an initial thermal (or photo) stimulus that locally ignites the reaction.

A practical approach to curate clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential in human genetic data sets.

Clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential (CHIP) is a common form of age-related somatic mosaicism that is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. CHIP mutations can be identified in peripheral blood samples that are sequenced using approaches that cover the whole genome, the whole exome, or targeted genetic regions; however, differentiating true CHIP mutations from sequencing artifacts and germ line variants is a considerable bioinformatic challenge. We present a stepwise method that combines filtering based on sequencing metrics, variant annotation, and population-based associations to increase the accuracy of CHIP calls.

Diazoxide Choline Extended-Release Tablet in People With Prader-Willi Syndrome: A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial.

Context: Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is a rare neurobehavioral-metabolic disease caused by the lack of paternally expressed genes in the chromosome 15q11-q13 region, characterized by hypotonia, neurocognitive problems, behavioral difficulties, endocrinopathies, and hyperphagia resulting in severe obesity if not controlled.

Objective: The primary end point was change from baseline in hyperphagia using the Hyperphagia Questionnaire for Clinical Trials (HQ-CT). Other end points included Global Impression Scores, and changes in body composition, behaviors, and hormones.

Automated segmentation of lungs and lung tumors in mouse micro-CT scans.

Here, we have developed an automated image processing algorithm for segmenting lungs and individual lung tumors in micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) scans of mouse models of non-small cell lung cancer and lung fibrosis. Over 3000 scans acquired across multiple studies were used to train/validate a 3D U-net lung segmentation model and a Support Vector Machine (SVM) classifier to segment individual lung tumors. The U-net lung segmentation algorithm can be used to estimate changes in soft tissue volume within lungs (primarily tumors and blood vessels), whereas the trained SVM is able to discriminate between tumors and blood vessels and identify individual tumors.

The Soluble Folate Receptor in Autism Spectrum Disorder: Relation to Autism Severity and Leucovorin Treatment.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a heterogeneous neurodevelopmental disorder with life-long consequences that affects up to 1 in 44 children. Treatment with leucovorin (folinic acid), a reduced form of folate, has been shown to improve symptoms in those with ASD and folate pathway abnormalities in controlled clinical trials. Although soluble folate binding proteins (sFBPs) have been observed in the serum of some patients with ASD, the significance of this finding has not been studied.

Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields) Concomitant with Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors Are Therapeutically Effective in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) In Vivo Model.

Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields) are electric fields that exert physical forces to disrupt cellular processes critical for cancer cell viability and tumor progression. TTFields induce anti-mitotic effects through the disruption of the mitotic spindle and abnormal chromosome segregation, which trigger several forms of cell death, including immunogenic cell death (ICD). The efficacy of TTFields concomitant with anti-programmed death-1 (anti-PD-1) treatment was previously shown in vivo and is currently under clinical investigation.

Prospective evaluation of smartwatch-enabled detection of left ventricular dysfunction.

Although artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms have been shown to be capable of identifying cardiac dysfunction, defined as ejection fraction (EF) ≤ 40%, from 12-lead electrocardiograms (ECGs), identification of cardiac dysfunction using the single-lead ECG of a smartwatch has yet to be tested. In the present study, a prospective study in which patients of Mayo Clinic were invited by email to download a Mayo Clinic iPhone application that sends watch ECGs to a secure data platform, we examined patient engagement with the study app and the diagnostic utility of the ECGs. We digitally enrolled 2,454 unique patients (mean age 53 ± 15 years, 56% female) from 46 US states and 11 countries, who sent 125,610 ECGs to the data platform between August 2021 and February 2022; 421 participants had at least one watch-classified sinus rhythm ECG within 30 d of an echocardiogram, of whom 16 (3.

Pembrolizumab in Asian patients with microsatellite-instability-high/mismatch-repair-deficient colorectal cancer.

The phase 3 KEYNOTE-177 study evaluated pembrolizumab versus chemotherapy with or without bevacizumab or cetuximab in patients with newly diagnosed, microsatellite-instability-high (MSI-H)/mismatch-repair-deficient (dMMR) metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). Primary endpoints were progression-free survival (PFS) per RECIST v1.1 by blinded independent central review (BICR) and overall survival (OS).

Probiotic Bifidobacteria Mitigate the Deleterious Effects of -Cresol in a Drosophila melanogaster Toxicity Model.

Renal impairment associated with chronic kidney disease (CKD) causes the buildup of uremic toxins that are deleterious to patient health. Current therapies that manage toxin accumulation in CKD offer an incomplete therapeutic effect against toxins such as -cresol (-cresol) and cresyl sulfate. Probiotic therapies can exploit the wealth of microbial diversity to reduce toxin accumulation.

Direct Identification of Proteolytic Cleavages on Living Cells Using a Glycan-Tethered Peptide Ligase.

Proteolytic cleavage of cell surface proteins triggers critical processes including cell-cell interactions, receptor activation, and shedding of signaling proteins. Consequently, dysregulated extracellular proteases contribute to malignant cell phenotypes including most cancers. To understand these effects, methods are needed that identify proteolyzed membrane proteins within diverse cellular contexts.

Enhanced vapor sorption in block and random copolymer brushes.

Polymer brushes in gaseous environments absorb and adsorb vapors of favorable solvents, which makes them potentially relevant for sensing applications and separation technologies. Though significant amounts of vapor are sorbed in homopolymer brushes at high vapor pressures, at low vapor pressures sorption remains limited. In this work, we vary the structure of two-component polymer brushes and investigate the enhancement in vapor sorption at different relative vapor pressures compared to homopolymer brushes.

Preemptive Septal Radiofrequency Ablation to Prevent Left Ventricular Outflow Tract Obstruction With Transcatheter Mitral Valve Replacement: A Case Series.

Background: Left ventricular outflow tract obstruction may occur following transcatheter mitral valve replacement in the setting of mitral annular calcification.

Methods: We present a case series whereby preemptive septal radiofrequency ablation (RADIO-TMVR) was used to augment the left ventricular outflow tract for transcatheter mitral valve replacement in 4 patients at risk for left ventricular outflow tract obstruction despite alcohol septal ablation.

Results: All patients were female, average age of 74.

A mobile-optimized artificial intelligence system for gestational age and fetal malpresentation assessment.

Background: Fetal ultrasound is an important component of antenatal care, but shortage of adequately trained healthcare workers has limited its adoption in low-to-middle-income countries. This study investigated the use of artificial intelligence for fetal ultrasound in under-resourced settings.

Methods: Blind sweep ultrasounds, consisting of six freehand ultrasound sweeps, were collected by sonographers in the USA and Zambia, and novice operators in Zambia.

Effects of Pulsed Electric Fields on the Coronary Arteries in Swine.

Background: Previous animal studies have shown no significant vascular injury from pulsed electrical field (PEF) ablation. We sought to assess the effect of PEF on swine coronary arteries.

Methods: We performed intracoronary and epicardial (near the coronary artery) PEF ablations in swine pretreated with dual antiplatelet and antiarrhythmic therapy.

Interventional Management of Acquired Lymphatic Disorders.

The lymphatic system is a complex network of tissues, vessels, and channels found throughout the body that assists in fluid balance and immunologic function. When the lymphatic system is disrupted related to idiopathic, iatrogenic, or traumatic disorders, lymphatic leaks can result in substantial morbidity and/or mortality. The diagnosis and management of these leaks is challenging.

Interventional Radiology Management of Adult Liver Transplant Complications.

Liver transplant remains the definitive therapy for patients with end-stage liver disease. Outcomes have continued to improve, in part owing to interventions used to treat posttransplant complications involving the hepatic arteries, portal vein, hepatic veins or inferior vena cava (IVC), and biliary system. Significant hepatic artery stenosis can be treated with angioplasty or stent placement to prevent thrombosis and biliary ischemic complications.

Machine learning for classification of hypertension subtypes using multi-omics: A multi-centre, retrospective, data-driven study.

Background: Arterial hypertension is a major cardiovascular risk factor. Identification of secondary hypertension in its various forms is key to preventing and targeting treatment of cardiovascular complications. Simplified diagnostic tests are urgently required to distinguish primary and secondary hypertension to address the current underdiagnosis of the latter.

Detection of Atrial Fibrillation in a Large Population Using Wearable Devices: The Fitbit Heart Study.

Background: Morbidity from undiagnosed atrial fibrillation (AF) may be preventable with early detection. Many consumer wearables contain optical photoplethysmography (PPG) sensors to measure pulse rate. PPG-based software algorithms that detect irregular heart rhythms may identify undiagnosed AF in large populations using wearables, but minimizing false-positive detections is essential.

Substrate Characterization and Outcomes of Catheter Ablation of Ventricular Arrhythmias in Patients With Mitral Annular Disjunction.

Background: Mitral annular disjunction (MAD) has recently been recognized as an arrhythmogenic entity. Data on the electrophysiological substrate as well as the outcomes of catheter ablation of ventricular arrhythmias in patients with MAD is limited.

Methods: Forty patients with MAD (mean age 47±15 years; 70% female) underwent catheter ablation for ventricular arrhythmias.

Psychological Distress among Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients in Denmark during the First 12 Months of the Pandemic.

This study aimed to investigate psychological distress among patients hospitalized with a COVID-19 diagnosis in Denmark during the first 12 months of the pandemic and to assess changes in psychological distress in the three months following discharge. A single-center prospective observational survey study among patients hospitalized with a COVID-19 diagnosis between May 2020 and May 2021 was conducted. Participants completed a survey at three time points: at admission, and 1 and 3 months after discharge.

Effect of AZD9977 and spironolactone on serum potassium in heart failure with preserved or mildly reduced ejection fraction, and renal impairment: A randomized trial.

This phase Ib study compared the effects of AZD9977, a selective mineralocorticoid receptor modulator with predicted low hyperkalemia risk, with spironolactone on serum potassium (sK ) in patients with heart failure (HF) with preserved or mildly reduced ejection fraction (EF; ≥40%), and renal impairment. Patients with HF with EF greater than or equal to 40% and estimated glomerular filtration rate of 40-70 ml/min/1.73 m were randomized to once-daily AZD9977 100 mg or spironolactone 25 mg for 14 days, up-titrated to AZD9977 200 mg or spironolactone 50 mg for another 14 days.