Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Jae-Hyuk Lee, Inseok Hwang, Hee Tae Yu, Tae-Hoon Kim, Jae-Sun Uhm, Boyoung Joung, Moon-Hyoung Lee, Hui-Nam Pak
Summary: This study found that left atrial (LA) size only affects 1-year recurrence rate after catheter ablation in the highest tertile group, while pulmonary vein (PV) to LA volume ratio (PV/LA%vol) can predict 1-year recurrence rate in all LA size groups. Patients with lower PV/LA%vol have a higher AF recurrence rate, and in patients with smaller LA size, PV/LA%vol is more accurate in predicting AF recurrence rate compared to LA dimension (LAD). Additionally, PV/LA%vol is associated with the PITX2 gene.
FRONTIERS IN CARDIOVASCULAR MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Yaacoub Chahine, Fima Macheret, Karen Ordovas, Joonseok Kim, Patrick M. M. Boyle, Nazem Akoum
Summary: The volume of left atrial epicardial adipose tissue (EAT), assessed using cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, is independently associated with atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence following catheter ablation. Integration of EAT with clinical risk factors improves prediction of AF recurrence.
FRONTIERS IN CARDIOVASCULAR MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Fabien Squara, Didier Scarlatti, Sok-Sithikun Bun, Pamela Moceri, Emile Ferrari, Olivier Meste, Vicente Zarzoso
Summary: By evaluating the value of ACI for discriminating AD from BZ and predicting AF termination and recurrence, this study found that ACI is helpful in identifying AF drivers and is correlated with AF termination and recurrence.
FRONTIERS IN CARDIOVASCULAR MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Jonathan M. Kalman, Ahmed M. Al-Kaisey, Ramanathan Parameswaran, Joshua Hawson, Robert D. Anderson, Michael Lim, David Chieng, Stephen A. Joseph, Alex McLellan, Joseph B. Morton, Paul B. Sparks, Geoffrey Lee, Prashanthan Sanders, Peter M. Kistler
Summary: This study aimed to determine if the timing of catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF) affects arrhythmia outcomes. The results showed that there was no significant difference in the atrial arrhythmia free survival at 12 months post-ablation between patients who underwent early ablation and those who underwent delayed ablation. Other secondary outcomes also showed no significant difference. Therefore, delaying AF ablation by 12 months for antiarrhythmic drug management does not reduce the efficacy of ablation.
EUROPEAN HEART JOURNAL
(2023)
Review
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Gianluigi Bisleri, Arjun K. Pandey, Subodh Verma, Syed M. Ali Hassan, Bobby Yanagawa, Masud Khandaker, Mario Gaudino, Andrea M. Russo, Atul Verma, Deepak L. Bhatt, Andrew C. T. Ha
Summary: Hybrid ablation is a novel therapy that combines minimally invasive surgical and percutaneous catheter-based techniques for the management of atrial fibrillation (AF). Observational studies have shown approximately 70% success rates but higher risks compared to catheter-based ablation. Hybrid ablation is typically offered to patients with persistent or longstanding persistent AF, requiring two procedures. While a randomized trial demonstrated its superiority over catheter-based ablation, it also showed higher complication rates. Contemporary studies have shown a decrease in the incidence of serious complications. Additional randomized trials are needed to determine the risks, benefits, and cost effectiveness of hybrid ablation in clinical practice.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF CARDIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Geoffroy Ditac, Pierre Jean Cottinet, Minh Quyen Le, Daniel Grinberg, Josselin Duchateau, Kevin Gardey, Arnaud Dulac, Antoine Deliniere, Christelle Haddad, Julie Boussuge-Roze, Frederic Sacher, Pierre Jais, Philippe Chevalier, Francis Bessiere
Summary: Atrial fibrillation (AF) catheter ablation procedure contributes significantly to GHG emissions, with a carbon footprint of 76.9 kg CO2-e. With approximately 600,000 annual procedures worldwide, AF catheter ablation leads to 125 tons of CO2 emissions every day, equivalent to a daily car ride of 700,000 km. Electrophysiology catheters and patches are identified as the main contributors to the carbon footprint, highlighting the importance of reducing, reusing, and recycling these items.
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Haiwei Li, Weiping Sun, Zefeng Wang, Ziyu Wang, Xiao Du, Junjun Chen, Jianwei Gao, Xuxia Liu, Xipeng Wang, Yueli Wang, Yongquan Wu, Xiaoping Zhang
Summary: This study found that elevated preoperative TIMP-1 levels are strongly associated with a higher risk of AF recurrence following radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA), and can independently predict AF recurrence after RFCA.
FRONTIERS IN CARDIOVASCULAR MEDICINE
(2022)
Review
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Pengfei Chen, Yujiao Shi, Jianqing Ju, Deng Pan, Lina Miao, Xiaolin Guo, Zhuhong Chen, Jianpeng Du
Summary: Through a systematic review and meta-analysis, we found that lower left atrial appendage flow velocity may be associated with an increased risk of atrial fibrillation recurrence after catheter ablation.
FRONTIERS IN CARDIOVASCULAR MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Karim Benali, Paul Khairy, Nefissa Hammache, Adrian Petzl, Antoine Da Costa, Atul Verma, Jason G. Andrade, Laurent Macle
Summary: A systematic review and pooled analysis of randomized control trials showed that catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation is associated with low rates of procedure-related complications and mortality, which have declined over the past decade.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF CARDIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Ghaith Zaatari, Raul Mitrani, Jorge Bohorquez, Jason Ng, Justin Ng, Harold Rivner, Alex Velasquez, Litsa Lambrakos, Rishi Arora, Jeffrey J. Goldberger
Summary: This study compared the recurrence of electrogram morphology in the left and right atria in patients undergoing initial and repeat ablation for persistent atrial fibrillation. The results showed that electrogram morphology recurrence was mainly observed in the left atrium, and the shortest cycle length recurrence occurred during the initial ablation process. Most sites had low recurrence, suggesting that they may not be critical for maintaining atrial fibrillation.
JACC-CLINICAL ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Qianhui Wang, Zheng Liu, Ying Dong, Xinchun Yang, Mulei Chen, Yuanfeng Gao
Summary: Leukocyte telomere length is significantly associated with AF types and independently predicts progression from PAF to PsAF after catheter ablation therapy.
FRONTIERS IN CARDIOVASCULAR MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Daisetsu Aoyama, Shinsuke Miyazaki, Kanae Hasegawa, Ryohei Nomura, Shota Kakehashi, Moe Mukai, Machiko Miyoshi, Junya Yamaguchi, Yusuke Sato, Yuichiro Shiomi, Hiroyuki Ikeda, Kentaro Ishida, Hiroyasu Uzui, Hiroshi Tada
Summary: This retrospective study investigates the association between AF activation patterns and clinical outcomes post-ablation. It found that non-paroxysmal AF, larger left atrial size, and higher left atrial activation ratios are predictive factors for AF recurrence.
FRONTIERS IN CARDIOVASCULAR MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Elena Arbelo, Nikolaos Dagres
Summary: This article critically reviews the recommendations of the 2020 ESC guidelines for the management of AF in light of two landmark trials, emphasizing the safety of contemporary rhythm control treatment and the importance of personalized treatment strategies.
Article
Physiology
Jae-Hyuk Lee, Oh-Seok Kwon, Hee Tae Yu, Tae-Hoon Kim, Jae-Sun Uhm, Boyoung Joung, Moon-Hyoung Lee, Hui-Nam Pak
Summary: Catheter ablation is an effective method for treating atrial fibrillation, but it may lead to atrial tissue damage and increase the risk of stiff LA physiology. Factors such as diabetes, E/Em ratio, LA pulse pressure, low LA voltage, empirical extra-PV ablation, and radiofrequency ablation duration are associated with stiff LA physiology after AFCA.
FRONTIERS IN PHYSIOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Ramanathan Parameswaran, Ahmed M. Al-Kaisey, Jonathan M. Kalman
Summary: Catheter ablation is a key strategy for managing atrial fibrillation, with technological advancements focusing on improving safety and effectiveness. Guidelines recommend the procedure for symptomatic patients with paroxysmal or persistent AF, but evidence from trials is mixed. Pulmonary vein isolation remains a cornerstone technique in AF ablation, with ongoing developments in technology aimed at enhancing patient outcomes.
NATURE REVIEWS CARDIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Radiology, Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging
Marius Vach, Julian A. Luetkens, Anton Faron, Alexander Isaak, Babak Salam, Daniel Thomas, Ulrike Attenberger, Alois M. Sprinkart
Summary: This study aimed to investigate whether total volume of epicardial (ECF) and pericardial fat (PCF) can be estimated by axial single-slice measurements and in a four-chamber view. The results showed strong correlations between axial single-slice measurements and total fat volumes, with the best correlation found at the level of the left coronary artery. The correlations between single-slice measurements in the four-chamber view and total fat volumes were lower. This time-efficient analysis allows for studies of larger patient cohorts and the opportunist determination of ECF/PCF from routine examinations.
Article
Radiology, Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging
Nikolaus A. Handke, Annika Ollig, Ulrike Attenberger, Julian A. Luetkens, Anton Faron, Claus C. Pieper, Frederic C. Schmeel, Patrick A. Kupczyk, Carsten Meyer, Daniel Kuetting
Summary: The study aimed to compare success and complication rates of percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD) in patients with and without accompanying technical risk factors. The results showed that PTBD is a safe and effective method for the treatment of biliary obstruction and biliary leaks, even in procedures with risk factors, as the complication rates were low.
Letter
Dermatology
Signe Holm Nielsen, Solveig Skovlund Groen, Yiqiu Yao, Astrid-Helene Ravn Jorgensen, Valdemar Wendelboe Nielsen, Morten Karsdal, Kristoffer Gehring, Anne-Christine Bay-Jensen, Simon Francis Thomsen
JOURNAL OF INVESTIGATIVE DERMATOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Helena Port, Anne-Christine Bay-Jensen, Yi He, Morten A. A. Karsdal, Thorbjorn Gantzel, Christian S. S. Thudium, Signe Holm Nielsen
Summary: The development of a competitive chemiluminescence enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, CALC2, targeting the type II collagen C-terminal pro-peptide as a marker of cartilage formation was evaluated. The CALC2 level was measured after in vitro cleavage of recombinant type II collagen and treatment of human osteoarthritis cartilage explant model with insulin-like growth factor-1. Serum CALC2 levels were found to be decreased in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis compared to controls. These results suggest that CALC2 may be a novel biomarker of type II collagen formation, but further studies are needed to confirm these findings.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Transplantation
Daan Kremer, Firas F. Alkaff, Adrian Post, Tim J. Knobbe, Martin Tepel, Olivier Thaunat, Stefan P. Berger, Jacob van den Born, Federica Genovese, Morten A. Karsdal, Daniel G. K. Rasmussen, Stephan J. L. Bakker, Behalf Transplant Lines Investigators
Summary: This study found a strong association between plasma endotrophin and graft failure and mortality in kidney transplant recipients. The findings suggest that abnormal extracellular matrix turnover and fibrosis play a key role in the prognosis of kidney transplant recipients and highlight the need for interventional studies targeting the profibrotic state of these patients.
NEPHROLOGY DIALYSIS TRANSPLANTATION
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Florian Fronhoffs, Leona Dold, Marijo Parcina, Arne Schneidewind, Maria Willis, Thomas F. E. Barth, Tobias J. Weismueller, Taotao Zhou, Philipp Lutz, Julian A. Luetkens, Peter Gerlach, Steffen Manekeller, Joerg C. Kalff, Tim O. Vilz, Christian P. Strassburg, Glen Kristiansen
Summary: Primary sclerosing cholangitis is a significant cause of liver transplantation. Hepatic alveolar echinococcosis, caused by Echinococcus multilocularis, can be detected by ultrasound or CT scan of the liver showing characteristic calcified conglomerates. Symptoms of alveolar echinococcosis occur after a long period of infection, accompanied by cholestasis or cholangitis. This report presents a case of presumed autoimmune hepatitis and primary sclerosing cholangitis in a patient, and post-transplantation diagnosis revealed alveolar echinococcosis in the explanted liver.
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Mette J. Nielsen, Grace E. Dolman, Rebecca Harris, Peder Frederiksen, Jane Chalmers, Jane I. Grove, William L. Irving, Morten A. Karsdal, Keyur Patel, Diana Julie Leeming, Indra Neil Guha
Summary: This study investigated the prognostic value of the fibrogenesis marker PRO-C3 and the ALBI score in predicting clinical outcomes and mortality in two cohorts of compensated cirrhosis patients. The results showed that both PRO-C3 and ALBI were independently associated with liver-related clinical outcomes, suggesting that PRO-C3 may be a valuable predictor of treatment efficacy.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Lea C. Kaminski, Julia Wagenpfeil, Jens Buermann, Philipp L. Lutz, Julian A. Luetkens, Ulrike I. Attenberger, Christian P. Strassburg, Jorg C. Kalff, Hans H. Schild, Claus C. Pieper
Summary: The aim of this study was to retrospectively evaluate the long-term results of lymphatic interventions in adults with abdomino-thoracic lymphatic pathologies. The study found that lymph-vessel embolization (LVE) has a high clinical success rate for treating abdomino-thoracic chylous effusions and can significantly prolong patient survival.
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Morten A. Karsdal, Kate Hallsworth, Jadine Scragg, Diana J. Leeming, Ida F. Villesen, Leah Avery, Laura Haigh, Olivier Govaere, Sarah Wichmann, Guy Taylor, Sophie Cassidy, Stuart Mcpherson, Quentin M. Anstee
Summary: The amount of fibroblast activity in patients with NAFLD can be defined by circulating biomarkers of collagen formation. The high-risk, high-fibrogenesis patient endotype with greater fibroblast activity exhibited a marked reduction in collagen fibrogenesis with a very low-calorie diet intervention, while fibrogenesis remained unchanged in the low activity group. The quantification of fibrogenesis biomarkers at baseline can predict the likelihood of treatment response.
HEPATOLOGY COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Radiology, Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging
Alexander Isaak, Johanna Bratz, Dmitrij Kravchenko, Narine Mesropyan, Irina Eckardt, Leon M. Bischoff, Leonie Weinhold, Daniel Kuetting, Claus Christian Pieper, Ulrike Attenberger, Sebastian Zimmer, Julian A. Luetkens
Summary: Simple imaging-based features on cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) can be used to predict major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in patients with takotsubo syndrome (TTS). A newly developed (PERT)-R-2 score was found to be associated with MACE in TTS patients. Higher score was associated with increased risk of MACE, and the presence of two or more (PERT)-R-2 complications was strongly associated with MACE occurrence.
EUROPEAN RADIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Radiology, Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging
Thomas M. Vollbrecht, Christopher Hart, Shuo Zhang, Christoph Katemann, Alexander Isaak, Claus C. Pieper, Daniel Kuetting, Bettina Faridi, Brigitte Strizek, Ulrike Attenberger, Florian Kipfmueller, Ulrike Herberg, Annegret Geipel, Julian A. Luetkens
Summary: The purpose of this study was to investigate the diagnostic performance of DUS-gated fetal cardiac cine MRI compared with fetal echocardiography in complex congenital heart disease. The results showed that the performance of fetal cardiac MRI was comparable to that of fetal echocardiography in diagnosing complex fetal CHD.
RADIOLOGY-CARDIOTHORACIC IMAGING
(2023)
Article
Rheumatology
S. Holm Nielsen, C. Magee, S. S. Groen, D. Sinkeviciute, A. C. Bay-Jensen, M. A. Karsdal, S. R. Pennington, O. FitzGerald
Summary: This study investigated collagen biomarkers and their potential use in differentiating patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA), cutaneous psoriasis (PsC), and healthy controls. The results suggest that these biomarkers are dysregulated in PsA and PsC patients compared to healthy controls, and may potentially serve as indicators of joint involvement.
CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL RHEUMATOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Urology & Nephrology
Philipp Krausewitz, Dorothea Fostitsch, Richard Weiten, Niklas Kluemper, Johannes Stein, Julian Luetkens, Glen Kristiansen, Joerg Ellinger, Manuel Ritter
Summary: Additive systematic biopsy has added value in prostate cancer detection, improving cancer detection rates and accuracy. However, the use of biopsy should consider the diagnostic uncertainty.
WORLD JOURNAL OF UROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Radiology, Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging
Sebastian Nowak, Andreas Henkel, Maike Theis, Julian Luetkens, Sergej Geiger, Alois M. Sprinkart, Claus C. Pieper, Ulrike Attenberger
Summary: A deep learning pipeline using MR imaging data for assessing shape, volume, and asymmetry of the lower extremities in patients with lipedema or lymphedema is proposed. The pipeline includes localization of anatomical landmarks and quality-assured tissue segmentation. The results show excellent performance in landmark detection and segmentation, allowing for standardized analysis of tissue volume and distribution.
EUROPEAN RADIOLOGY
(2023)
