Rationale and Design of the InsightPFA Trial: A Prospective, Multicenter, Randomized Controlled Trial of the Irreversible Electroporation-Based Pulsed Field Ablation Versus Radiofrequency Ablation in Chinese Patients With Symptomatic Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation.

Background: Pulsed field ablation (PFA) is gaining recognition as a nonthermal, tissue-specific technique for the treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF). The preclinical evaluation of the investigated novel PFA system from Insight Medtech Co. Ltd has demonstrated feasibility, safety, and 30-day efficacy for pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) in the swine model.

Causal associations between telomere length and pulmonary arterial hypertension: A two-sample Mendelian randomization study.

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a life-threatening condition characterized by elevated pulmonary artery pressure, leading to right heart failure, and mortality. The role of telomere length, a marker of biological aging, in PAH remains unclear. We utilized summary-level data from genome-wide association studies for various measures of telomere length and PAH.

A study on the correlation between MRI-assessed breast volume asymmetry and patient satisfaction after immediate breast reconstruction in breast cancer patients.

Immediate breast reconstruction provides breast cancer patients with a valuable opportunity to restore breast shape. However, post-reconstruction breast asymmetry remains a common issue that affects patient satisfaction. This study aims to quantify breast asymmetry after surgery using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and assess its impact on both breast satisfaction and overall outcome satisfaction, offering scientific evidence to guide improvements in preoperative evaluation.

Case Report: Zero-contrast balloon pulmonary angioplasty guided by real-time fusion of CT angiography with x-ray fluoroscopy.

Background: Allergy to iodine contrast agents has long been a contraindication for balloon pulmonary angioplasty (BPA). We report the successful zero-contrast BPA procedure of a patient with inoperable chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) and severe iodine allergy using real-time fusion of computed tomography angiography (CTA) with x-ray fluoroscopy.

Case Presentation: A 62-year-old woman with CTEPH who developed a severe allergic reaction after the first BPA procedure.

Exploring the Impact of Niacin Intake on Cardiovascular Outcomes: A Comprehensive Analysis Using NHANES Data (2003-2018).

Background: The relationship between cardiovascular outcomes and niacin consumption levels remains unclear. This study aimed to examine the correlation between niacin intake and the incidence of cardiovascular disease, as well as the mortality rates associated with cardiovascular disease and other causes.

Methods: From 2003 to 2018, we continually investigated updated information from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Multi-omics analysis deciphers intercellular communication regulating oxidative stress to promote oral squamous cell carcinoma progression.

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a common malignant tumor in the head and neck, associated with high recurrence and poor prognosis. We performed an integrated analysis of single-cell RNA and spatial transcriptomic data from cancerous and normal tissues to create a comprehensive atlas of epithelial cells and cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs). Our findings show that AKR1C3 epithelial cells, located at the tumor's stromal front, exhibit significant copy number variation and poor prognostic indicators, suggesting a role in tumor invasion.

Membraneless organelles in health and disease: exploring the molecular basis, physiological roles and pathological implications.

Once considered unconventional cellular structures, membraneless organelles (MLOs), cellular substructures involved in biological processes or pathways under physiological conditions, have emerged as central players in cellular dynamics and function. MLOs can be formed through liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS), resulting in the creation of condensates. From neurodegenerative disorders, cardiovascular diseases, aging, and metabolism to cancer, the influence of MLOs on human health and disease extends widely.

Single-cell transcriptomics reveals IRF7 regulation of the tumor microenvironment in isocitrate dehydrogenase wild-type glioma.

Mutations in isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) are important markers of glioma prognosis. However, few studies have examined the gene expression regulatory network (GRN) in IDH-mutant and wild-type gliomas. In this study, single-cell RNA sequencing and spatial transcriptome sequencing were used to analyze the GRN of cell subsets in patients with IDH-mutant and wild-type gliomas.

Molecular mechanisms and diagnostic model of glioma-related epilepsy.

Epilepsy is one of the most common symptoms in patients with gliomas; however, the mechanisms underlying its interaction are not yet clear. Moreover, epidemiological studies have not accurately identified patients with glioma-related epilepsy (GRE), and there is an urgent need to identify the molecular mechanisms and markers of its occurrence. We analyzed the demographics, transcriptome, whole-genome, and methylation sequences of 997 patients with glioma, to determine the genetic differences between glioma and GRE patients and to determine the upregulated molecular function, cellular composition, biological processes involved, signaling pathways, and immune cell infiltration.

Accurate prenatal diagnosis of coarctation of the aorta by 3-step echocardiographic diagnostic protocol.

Background: Coarctation of the aorta (CoA) is the most common undiagnosed congenital heart defect during prenatal screening. High false positive and false negative rates seriously affect prenatal consultation and postnatal management. The objective of the study was to assess the utility of various measurements to predict prenatal CoA and to derive a diagnostic algorithm.

Matrix metalloproteinases in aortic dissection.

Aortic dissection, characterized by a high immediate mortality, is primarily caused by excessive bleeding within the walls of the aorta or a severe tear within the intimal layer of the aorta. Inflammation, as well as oxidative stress and the degradation of extracellular matrix (ECM), are significant factors in the development and occurrence of aortic dissection. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are pivotal enzymes responsible for degrading the ECM.

Causality between migraine and cardiovascular disease: a bidirectional Mendelian randomization study.

Background: While growing evidence suggests a relationship between migraine and cardiovascular disease, the genetic evidence for a causal relationship between migraine and cardiovascular disease is still scarce. Investigating the causal association between migraine and cardiovascular disease is vital.

Methods: We carried out a bidirectional Mendelian randomization (MR) study including discovery samples and replication samples using publicly available genome-wide association study (GWAS) summary datasets and stringent screening instrumental variables.

FLT4 gene polymorphisms influence isolated ventricular septal defect predisposition in a Southwest China population.

Background: Ventricular septal defect (VSD) is the most common congenital heart disease. Although a small number of genes associated with VSD have been found, the genetic factors of VSD remain unclear. In this study, we evaluated the association of 10 candidate single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with isolated VSD in a population from Southwest China.

The heart sound classification of congenital heart disease by using median EEMD-Hurst and threshold denoising method.

Heart sound signals are vital for the machine-assisted detection of congenital heart disease. However, the performance of diagnostic results is limited by noise during heart sound acquisition. A limitation of existing noise reduction schemes is that the pathological components of the signal are weak, which have the potential to be filtered out with the noise.