AF

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether postoperative administration of Shensong Yangxin capsules (SSYX) and dronedarone for atrial fibrillation (AF) can reduce the recurrence of paroxysmal AF after radiofrequency ablation, thus providing a more optimal choice of antiarrhythmic medication during the blank period. METHODS: We included 120 patients with paroxysmal AF who underwent radiofrequency ablation at our hospital between July 2020 and July 2022. They underwent routine circumferential pulmonary vein ablation and, subsequently, left and right atrial pressure monitoring to assess sinoatrial node recovery time under burst 400/300 ms stimulation...

BACKGROUND: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is 1 of the most common types of arrhythmias. At present, the treatment for patients with AF mainly includes oral anticoagulants (OACs). Studies have shown that OACs are associated with cognitive decline in patients with atrial fibrillation; however, there is a lack of relevant evidence. This study used Bayesian network meta-analysis (NMA) to investigate the effects of different oral anticoagulants on cognitive decline in patients with AF. METHODS: We systematically searched for clinical studies on oral anticoagulants in patients with AF in PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and the Cochrane Library as of July 3, 2023...

To explore the anticoagulant effect and safety of utilizing different doses of rivaroxaban for the treatment of patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) in the real world. A retrospective case-control analysis was performed by applying the hospital database, and 3595 patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) who were hospitalized and taking rivaroxaban at Wuhan Asia Heart Hospital and Wuhan Asia General Hospital from March 2018 to December 2021 were included in the study, and were divided into the rivaroxaban 10 mg and 15 mg groups according to the daily prescribed dose, of which 443 cases were in the 10 mg group and 3152 cases were in the 15 mg group...

AIMS: Doppler mean gradient (MG) can underestimate aortic stenosis (AS) severity in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) compared to patients in sinus rhythm (SR), potentially delaying intervention in AF. This study compared outcomes in patients with AF and SR following transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) and investigated delay in TAVR based on computed tomography aortic valve calcium score (AVCS). METHODS AND RESULTS: Patients who underwent TAVR from 2013 to 2017 for native valve severe AS were identified from an institutional database...

OBJECTIVE: This study sought to three-dimensionally (3D) evaluate the maxillomandibular basal bone and dentoalveolar widths using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans in adult Chinese populations with different vertical and sagittal facial skeletal patterns whilst no apparent posterior dental crossbite. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The retrospective cross-sectional comparative study enrolled CBCT images of 259 adult patients (125 males and 134 females). The subjects were divided into the hyperdivergent(n = 82), hypodivergent(n = 88), and normodivergent(n = 89) groups based on the Jarabak ratio (S-GO/N-Me), which were further divided into three subgroups of skeletal Class I, II and III, based on both the ANB angle and AF-BF parameters...

There is great concern about the risk posed by the consumption of food contaminated with aflatoxins (AF), produced mostly by Aspergillus strains, that can also be found in dry-fermented meat products (DFMPs). The aim of this study was to investigate the inhibitory effect of meat starter culture (SC), frequently used for fermentation in the meat industry, on A. parasiticus growth and the production of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), aflatoxin B2 (AFB2), aflatoxin G1 (AFG1), aflatoxin G2 (AFG2), and sterigmatocystin (STE) on different meat-based (CMA) and salami model (SM-G) media...

BACKGROUND: Early detection of atrial fibrillation (AF) is essential to prevent stroke and other cardiac and embolic complications. We compared the diagnostic properties for AF detection of the percentage of successive RR interval differences greater than or equal to 30 ms or 3.25% of the previous RR interval (pRR30 and pRR3.25%, respectively), and asymmetric entropy descriptors of RR intervals. Previously, both pRR30 and pRR3.25% outperformed many other heart rate variability (HRV) parameters in distinguishing AF from sinus rhythm (SR) in 60 s electrocardiograms (ECGs)...

Heart failure (HF) represents a significant global health challenge that is still responsible for increasing morbidity and mortality despite advancements in pharmacological treatments. This review investigates the effectiveness of non-pharmacological interventions in the management of HF, examining lifestyle measures, physical activity, and the role of some electrical therapies such as catheter ablation, cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT), and cardiac contractility modulation (CCM). Structured exercise training is a cornerstone in this field, demonstrating terrific improvements in functional status, quality of life, and mortality risk reduction, particularly in patients with HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF)...

Purpose: Atrioesophageal fistula is one of the most feared complications of radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) of atrial fibrillation (AF) as it is associated with high mortality. Determining the esophagus location during RFCA might reduce the risk of esophageal injury. The present study aims to evaluate the feasibility of using intracardiac echocardiography integrated into a 3-dimensional electroanatomical mapping system (ICE/3D EAM) for the assessment of esophageal position and shifts in response to ablation...

Atrial fibrillation has progressively become a more common reason for emergency department visits, representing 0.5% of presenting reasons. Registry data have indicated that about 60% of atrial fibrillation patients who present to the emergency department are admitted, emphasizing the need for more efficient management of atrial fibrillation in the acute phase. Management of atrial fibrillation in the setting of the emergency department varies between countries and healthcare systems. The most plausible reason to justify a conservative rather than an aggressive strategy in the management of atrial fibrillation is the absence of specific guidelines from diverse societies...

The management of atrial fibrillation has evolved significantly over the last ten years with advancements in medical and catheter ablation approaches, but these have limited success when used in isolation. Trends in the management of lifestyle modifications have surfaced, as it is now better understood that modifiable risk factors contribute significantly to the development and propagation of atrial fibrillation, as well as failure of treatment. International guidelines have integrated the role of lifestyle modification in the management of atrial fibrillation and specifically in the persistent form of atrial fibrillation; these guidelines must be addressed prior to considering catheter ablation...

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a major driver of morbidity and mortality among older adults with frailty. Moreover, frailty is highly prevalent in older adults with AF. Understanding and addressing the needs of frail older adults with AF is imperative to guide clinicians caring for older adults. In this review, we summarize current evidence to support the assessment and management of older adults with AF and frailty, incorporating numerous recent landmark trials and studies in the context of the 2023 US AF guideline...

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

Semi-leafless represents an advantageous plant architecture in pea breeding due to its ability to enhance resistance to lodging and potentially to powdery mildew. The introduction of semi-leafless pea varieties is considered a seminal advancement in pea breeding over the past half-century. The afila (af) mutation leads to the replacement of lateral leaflets by highly branched tendrils; combined with the semi-dwarfing le mutation, it forms the semi-leafless cultivated variety. In this study, we identified that mutations in two tandemly-arrayed genes encoding Cys(2)His(2) zinc finger transcription factors, PsPALM1a and PsPALM1b, were closely associated with the afila phenotype...

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Cardiac surgery often necessitates considerable post-operative vasoactive-inotropic support. Given an encouraging literature on the prognostic potential of leucoglycemic index (LGI) [serum glucose (mg/dl) × total leucocytes count (cells/mm3 )/1000], we aimed to evaluate whether intensive care unit (ICU)-admission LGI can predict post-operative vasopressor-inotropic requirements following cardiac surgery on cardio-pulmonary bypass (CPB). MATERIAL AND METHODS: The data of patients undergoing cardiac surgery at our tertiary care center between January 2015 and December 2020 was retrospectively reviewed...

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

INTRODUCTION: Asphyxia at birth remains the leading cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality worldwide, accounting for ∼23% of all neonatal deaths. Although the causes vary from country to country, early identification and treatment of risk factors can improve the situation. OBJECTIVES: To determine the risk factors of birth asphyxia in hospital-delivered neonates in Dodoma, Tanzania. METHODS: A matched case-control study was conducted from May to July 2017 at Dodoma Region Referral Hospital...

BACKGROUND: Anomalous aortic origin of a coronary artery from the opposite sinus is a rare congenital abnormality that may be encountered during primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). CASE SUMMARY: A 65-year-old man presented with chest pain and signs of heart failure. Electrocardiogram demonstrated atrial fibrillation with ST elevation in the high lateral leads, and he was taken emergently to the cardiac catheterization laboratory for primary PCI...

A pregnant woman had a normal second-trimester anatomic survey at 22 weeks gestation. She was revealed to have a fetal oral mass with polyhydramnios and invisible stomach bubble by ultrasound at 28 weeks. A 50 mm × 36 mm × 42 mm, solid mass was found in the fetal mouth, filling the entire oral cavity. Fetal magnetic resonance imaging showed a homogeneous solid mass in the oral cavity compressing the hypopharynx. At 33 weeks, preterm labor occurred because of the continuation of increased amniotic fluid volume, and a female infant was vaginally delivered...

BACKGROUND: Smartwatches have become readily accessible tools for detecting atrial fibrillation (AF). There remains limited data on how they affect psychosocial outcomes and engagement in older adults. We examine the health behavior outcomes of stroke survivors prescribed smartwatches for AF detection stratified by age. METHODS: We analyzed data from the Pulsewatch study, a randomized controlled trial that enrolled patients (≥ 50 years) with a history of stroke or transient ischemic attack and CHA2DS2-VASc ≥ 2...