Exosomal miRNAs Differentiate Chronic Total Occlusion from Acute Myocardial Infarction.

Although coronary artery occlusion can have a negative effect on the myocardium, chronic total occlusion (CTO) exhibits different clinical features from those of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). In this study, we identify the differential associations of exosomal miRNAs with CTO and AMI. Exosomes were isolated from the plasma obtained from coronary arteries of patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention to treat CTO (n = 29) and AMI (n = 24), followed by small RNA sequencing, target gene predictions, and functional enrichment analyses.

Incidence of atrial fibrillation in patients with renal infarction: A retrospective cohort analysis of the Korean national health insurance registry.

Background: Regarding the pathophysiology of renal infarction (RI), cardioembolic causes could have large proportion. However, there are notable variations in prevalence of atrial fibrillation (AF) among patients with RI across different studies, ranging from 17 to 65%. The primary objective of this study is to analyze the incidence of AF in patients with RI.

Hemo-metabolic impairment in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction: Data from the INTERSTELLAR registry.

Background: Not only hemo-dynamic (HD) factors but also hemo-metabolic (HM) risk factors reflecting multi-organ injuries are considered as important prognostic factors in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). However, studies regarding HM risk factors in STEMI patients are currently limited.

Method: Under analysis were 1,524 patients with STEMI who underwent primary percutaneous coronary intervention in the INTERSTELLAR registry.

Clinical efficacy of angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitor in de novo heart failure with reduced ejection fraction.

Background/aims: We aimed to analyze the efficacy of angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitor (ARNI) by the disease course of heart failure (HF).

Methods: We evaluated 227 patients with HF in a multi-center retrospective cohort that included those with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≤ 40% undergoing ARNI treatment. The patients were divided into patients with newly diagnosed HF with ARNI treatment initiated within 6 months of diagnosis (de novo HF group) and those who were diagnosed or admitted for HF exacerbation for more than 6 months prior to initiation of ARNI treatment (prior HF group).

Temporal Trend of the Incidence and Characteristics of Renal Infarction: Korean Nationwide Population Study.

Background: Large-scale studies about epidemiologic characteristics of renal infarction (RI) are few. In this study, we aimed to analyze the incidence and prevalence of RI with comorbidities in the South Korean population.

Methods: We investigated the medical history of the entire South Korean adult population between 2013 and 2019 using the National Health Insurance Service database (n = 51,849,591 in 2019).

Clinical benefits and risks of anticoagulation therapy according to the degree of chronic kidney disease in patients with atrial fibrillation.

Background: The clinical benefits and risks of anticoagulation therapy in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) are still inconclusive. We describe the outcomes of patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) after anticoagulation therapy according to differences in creatinine clearance (CrCl). We also aimed to determine the patients who could benefit from anticoagulation therapy.

Right bundle branch block-type wide QRS complex tachycardia with a reversed R/S complex in lead V: Development and validation of electrocardiographic differentiation criteria.

Background: Differentiation of supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) with a right bundle branch block (RBBB) pattern from ventricular tachycardia (VT) is difficult, particularly when the R/S ratio in lead V is below 1.0.

Objective: We sought to investigate the electrocardiographic criteria for distinguishing between these arrhythmias.

Long-term Clinical Outcomes of Radiofrequency Catheter Ablation versus Permanent Pacemaker Implantation in Patients with Tachycardia-Bradycardia Syndrome.

Background And Objectives: Pacemaker (PM) implantation is a well-accepted treatment option for patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF) and related tachycardia-bradycardia syndrome (TBS). Data on the long-term clinical outcomes after radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) or PM implantation are sparse.

Methods: The medical records of 217 patients with TBS were retrospectively assessed.

Incidence of Atrial Tachyarrhythmias in Patients With Early Repolarization Syndrome.

Atrial tachyarrhythmias (ATAs) occur in a significant proportion of Brugada syndrome (BrS) patients and are often an important cause of inappropriate shocks. The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the incidence of ATAs and ATA-induced inappropriate shocks in early repolarization syndrome (ERS) patients as compared to BrS patients.We analyzed data from 20 consecutive patients who were diagnosed with ERS and compared them with patients diagnosed with BrS (n = 31).

Variants of Brugada Syndrome and Early Repolarization Syndrome: An Expanded Concept of J-Wave Syndrome.

Background: The role of J-waves in the pathogenesis of ventricular fibrillation (VF) occurring in structurally normal hearts is important.

Methods: We evaluated 127 patients who received an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) for Brugada syndrome (BS, n = 53), early repolarization syndrome (ERS, n = 24), and patients with unknown or deferred diagnosis (n = 50). Electrocardiography (ECG), clinical characteristics, and ICD data were analyzed.

Characteristics of early repolarization parameters and prognostic implications in the general ambulatory Korean population.

Background: We tested a hypothesis that the 2 fundamental components of early repolarization (ER), J wave and ST elevation (STE) might have different prevalence and prognostic implications.

Methods: The study population comprised 26,345 general ambulatory Korean subjects (mean 48.0±10.

Transvenous Lead Extraction via the Inferior Approach Using a Gooseneck Snare versus Simple Manual Traction.

Background And Objectives: The number of patients with cardiac implantable electronic devices needing lead extraction is increasing for various reasons, including infections, vascular obstruction, and lead failure. We report our experience with transvenous extraction of pacemaker and defibrillator leads via the inferior approach of using a gooseneck snare as a first-line therapy and compare extraction using a gooseneck snare with extraction using simple manual traction.

Subjects And Methods: The study included 23 consecutive patients (43 leads) who underwent transvenous lead extraction using a gooseneck snare (group A) and 10 consecutive patients (17 leads) who underwent lead extraction using simple manual traction (group B).

Electrocardiographic predictors of bradycardia-induced torsades de pointes in patients with acquired atrioventricular block.

Background: Predictors of torsades de pointes (TdP) in bradyarrhythmia-induced acquired long QT syndrome are not well defined.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to search for electrocardiographic (ECG) TdP predictors in patients with acquired atrioventricular block (AVB) and QT prolongation.

Methods: We analyzed 12-lead ECGs from 20 patients (15 females, age 65.

Temporal variation and morphologic characteristics of J-waves in patients with early repolarisation syndrome.

Objective: Electrocardiographic markers identifying malignant forms of early repolarisation (ER) from ER of normal variants are of prime clinical importance. We compared the ECG parameters of ER patterns in patients with early repolarisation syndrome (ERS) proximate to the ventricular fibrillation (VF) episodes, remote from the events and those with normal controls with ER.

Design: A retrospective, case-control study.

Effect of substrate modification in catheter ablation of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation: pulmonary vein isolation alone or with complex fractionated electrogram ablation.

Catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation that targets complex fractionated electrogram sites has been widely applied in the management of persistent atrial fibrillation. The clinical outcomes of pulmonary vein isolation alone and pulmonary vein isolation plus the use of complex fractionated electrogram-guided ablation (CFEA) have not been fully compared in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.This prospective study included 70 patients with symptomatic paroxysmal atrial fibrillation that remained inducible after pulmonary vein isolation.

Circadian and seasonal variations of ventricular tachyarrhythmias in patients with early repolarization syndrome and Brugada syndrome: analysis of patients with implantable cardioverter defibrillator.

Introduction: The circadian and seasonal patterns of ventricular tachyarrhythmia (VTA) in patients with early repolarization syndrome (ERS) have not been determined. We compared the timing of VTAs in patients with ERS and Brugada syndrome (BS).

Methods And Results: We enrolled patients with ERS (n = 14) and BS (n = 53) who underwent implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) implantation.

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy: a case of persistent apical ballooning complicated by an apical mural thrombus.

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TTC) is an infrequent cardiac syndrome characterized by acute onset chest pain with apical ballooning on echocardiography. It is often triggered by severe emotional or physical stress, and in contrast to acute myocardial infarction (AMI), the regional wall motion abnormality returns to normal within days. Here, we describe a 62-year-old female who presented with acute onset chest pain during treatment for a liver abscess.