Atrial fibrillation burden and symptom, quality of life, and healthcare resource utilization after cryoballoon ablation in persistent atrial fibrillation.

Aims: To investigate the relationship between continuously monitored atrial fibrillation (AF) burden after cryoballoon ablation (CBA) and improvements in AF-related symptoms, quality of life (QoL), and AF-related healthcare resource utilization (HCRU) in early persistent AF.

Methods And Results: This secondary analysis of the multicentre COOL-PER trial included patients with early persistent AF who underwent CBA and continuous monitoring via an implantable loop recorder. Post-CBA AF burden was defined as the percentage of time in AF between 9- and 12-month after CBA, categorized as <0.

Secondhand tobacco smoke and risk of atrial fibrillation: An observational epidemiologic and gene-environment interaction analysis.

Background: The relationship between secondhand tobacco smoke (SHS) and the risk of incident atrial fibrillation (AF) remains controversial.

Objective: To evaluate the long-term risk of AF associated with SHS exposure and assess potential gene-environment interactions using extensive population-based data.

Methods: We performed a nationwide population-based cohort study using the UK Biobank database.

The N-degron pathway governs autophagy to promote thermotolerance in Arabidopsis.

Autophagy is a vital process that enables plants to adapt to various environmental changes. During heat stress (HS), misfolded and denatured proteins accumulate in cells, necessitating autophagy for their removal. Here, we show that a core autophagy component ATG8a is targeted for degradation via the Arg/N-degron pathway.

Early Rhythm Control of Atrial Fibrillation in Cancer Survivors: A Nationwide Population-Based Study.

Background: Although early rhythm control (ERC) is effective in reducing stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), its benefits have not been well elucidated in cancer survivors. This study aimed to compare the risk of ischemic stroke between ERC and usual care in cancer survivors with AF.

Methods: This nationwide observational study was conducted using the Korean National Health Insurance Service database.

Metabolic Engineering of for the Fermentative Production of Gallic Compounds by Extending the Shikimate Pathway.

Gallic acid, gallic aldehyde, and gallic alcohol are polyphenolic compounds with promising antioxidant and therapeutic properties. Despite their biological significance, a complete microbial biosynthetic route for their production from simple carbon sources has not been established. We engineered to produce gallic acid and its two reduced derivatives a synthetic pathway extended from the shikimate pathway.

Impact of steatotic liver diseases on diabetes mellitus risk in patients with atrial fibrillation: a nationwide population study.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) frequently coexists with diabetes mellitus (DM), leading to a worse prognosis if both are present. Steatotic liver disease (SLD) may also predispose to DM, but its impact among AF patients is unclear. We aimed to determine whether metabolic dysfunction-associated SLD (MASLD), MASLD with increased alcohol intake (MetALD), or alcohol-related liver disease (ALD) elevates DM risk in AF.

Comparative clinical profiles and outcomes of prior vs. concurrently diagnosed atrial fibrillation in acute ischaemic stroke: the implication of diagnosis timing.

Aims: Based on the diagnostic sequence in relation to stroke, a recent classification of atrial fibrillation (AF) categorizes AF into known AF (KAF) and AF detected after stroke or transient ischaemic attack (AFDAS). However, relatively little is known about AF 'concurrently diagnosed with stroke'-perhaps the 'grey zone' of AF between KAF and AFDAS, which has been less characterized in terms of its resemblance to clinical characteristics and outcomes compared with AFDAS or KAF.

Methods And Results: Patients with AF who were admitted for acute ischaemic stroke (IS) in 2010-20 were retrospectively reviewed.

Analysis of R-loop forming regions identifies RNU2-2 and RNU5B-1 as neurodevelopmental disorder genes.

R-loops are DNA-RNA hybrid structures that may promote mutagenesis. However, their contribution to human Mendelian disorders is unexplored. Here we show excess de novo variants in genomic regions that form R-loops (henceforth, 'R-loop regions') and demonstrate enrichment of R-loop region variants (RRVs) in ribozyme, snoRNA and snRNA genes, specifically in rare disease cohorts.

Erbin interacts with NHERF1 and Ezrin to stabilize a membrane ErbB2 signaling complex in HER2-positive breast cancer.

Approximately 20% of breast cancers overexpress ErbB2/HER2/Neu, a receptor tyrosine kinase. Our previous studies demonstrated that HER2 interacts with the calcium pump, PMCA2, and the scaffolding molecules, NHERF1 and Ezrin to stabilize HER2/HSP90 interactions and contribute to the retention of active HER2 at the plasma membrane. In the normal mammary epithelium where apical/basal polarity is tightly regulated by junctional proteins, HER2 is expressed at low levels in the basolateral membrane and interacts with the LAP family member, Erbin, whereas PMCA2, NHERF1, and Ezrin localize to the apical membrane.

Polygenic risk-based prediction of heart failure in young patients with atrial fibrillation: an analysis from UK Biobank.

Aims: Heart failure (HF) is the most concerning morbidity in atrial fibrillation (AF) through mutual influence on a poor prognosis. A polygenic risk score (PRS) has recently been proposed to improve the risk prediction for cardiovascular disease. The additive predictive role of PRS for incident HF in patients with AF who inherently carry a high risk of HF is unknown.

Generation of prostate cancer assembloids modeling the patient-specific tumor microenvironment.

Prostate cancer (PC) is the most frequently diagnosed malignancy among men and contributes significantly to cancer-related mortality. While recent advances in in vitro PC modeling systems have been made, there remains a lack of robust preclinical models that faithfully recapitulate the genetic and phenotypic characteristics across various PC subtypes-from localized PC (LPC) to castration-resistant PC (CRPC)-along with associated stromal cells. Here, we established human PC assembloids from LPC and CRPC tissues by reconstituting tumor organoids with corresponding cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), thereby incorporating aspects of the tumor microenvironment (TME).

Comparison of Clinical Outcomes Between Left Bundle Branch Area Pacing With a Stylet-Driven Lead and Conventional Right Ventricular Pacing.

Backgrounds And Aims: Left bundle branch area pacing (LBBAP) has been shown to reduce the risk of pacing-facilitated heart failure (HF) compared to right ventricular pacing (RVP), but limited data exists comparing LBBAP with stylet-driven leads (SDL) and conventional RVP. The study aims to compare clinical outcomes between LBBAP using SDL and conventional RVP.

Methods: From December 2018 to December 2023, patients who underwent pacemaker implantation at two tertiary hospitals were enrolled.

Reduction of AF Burden After Cryoballoon Ablation in Patients With Early Persistent AF: The COOL-PER Trial.

Background: Limited data exist on reducing the atrial fibrillation (AF) burden, the regression from persistent to paroxysmal AF, and symptom improvement after cryoablation in patients with persistent AF.

Objectives: This study sought to evaluate the efficacy of cryoablation in reducing the AF burden, regression to paroxysmal AF, and symptom improvement in patients with early persistent AF.

Methods: This investigator-initiated, multicenter, and prospective cohort study enrolled the patients with early persistent AF (≤3 years).

Genomic analysis of 11,555 probands identifies 60 dominant congenital heart disease genes.

Congenital heart disease (CHD) is a leading cause of infant mortality. We analyzed de novo mutations (DNMs) and very rare transmitted/unphased damaging variants in 248 prespecified genes in 11,555 CHD probands. The results identified 60 genes with a significant burden of heterozygous damaging variants.

Apixaban outcomes in atrial fibrillation patients with a single-dose reduction criterion: ASPIRE 1-year results.

Aims: This study, using a prospective cohort, evaluated the effectiveness and safety of off-label reduced-dose apixaban vs. the on-label dose in atrial fibrillation (AF) patients meeting a single-dose reduction criterion.

Methods And Results: The efficAcy and Safety of aPixaban In REal-world practice in Korean frail patients with AF (ASPIRE) study is a multicentre, prospective observational cohort involving AF patients who met a single-dose reduction criterion of apixaban.

Cardiovascular benefits of early rhythm control and healthy lifestyle in young atrial fibrillation.

Background: Limited evidence exists regarding the consistent and synergistic benefits of early rhythm control (ERC) and healthy lifestyle (HLS) on major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) in young patients with atrial fibrillation (AF).

Aims: To evaluate the individual and synergistic benefits of ERC and HLS on MACEs in young AF patients.

Methods: In an observational cohort study using a Korean nationwide claims database, new-onset AF patients (age 20-<65 years) were included.

Benefits of Early Catheter Ablation in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation: A Nationwide Cohort Study.

Background: Although early rhythm control showed better clinical outcomes in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), limited data exist on the relationship between the timing of atrial fibrillation catheter ablation (AFCA) and clinical outcomes.

Objectives: This study investigated the impact of early vs late AFCA on clinical outcomes.

Methods: Using the Korean claims database, 944,710 AF patients without previous AFCA were investigated.

Combination of Body Mass Index and Waist Circumference Burden Determines the Risk of Atrial Fibrillation.

Background: There is limited evidence regarding the significance of the combination or cumulative burden of waist circumference (WC) with body mass index (BMI) to predict future atrial fibrillation (AF) risks.

Objectives: The authors investigated the impact of the cumulative burden of BMI and WC and their combination on the incident AF risk.

Methods: We included subjects 20 years of age and older who underwent 4 consecutive national health check-ups annually (between 2009 and 2013), excluding those with previous AF.

Proteinuria and the risk of Incident atrial fibrillation according to glycemic stages: a nationwide population-based cohort study.

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) and proteinuria each independently raise the risk of atrial fibrillation (AF). We aimed to investigate the relationship between proteinuria and the risk of incident AF across glycemic stages.

Methods: A cohort of 4,044,524 individuals without prior AF and type 1 DM was selected from the 2009 Korean National Health Insurance Service health checkup data.

Robust genome editing activity and the applications of enhanced miniature CRISPR-Cas12f1.

With recent advancements in gene editing technology using the CRISPR/Cas system, there is a demand for more effective gene editors. A key factor facilitating efficient gene editing is effective CRISPR delivery into cells, which is known to be associated with the size of the CRISPR system. Accordingly, compact CRISPR-Cas systems derived from various strains are discovered, among which Un1Cas12f1 is 2.

Therapeutic effect of novel drug candidate, PRG-N-01, on NF2 syndrome-related tumor.

Background: NF2-related schwannomatosis (NF2-SWN) is associated with multiple benign tumors in the nervous system. NF2-SWN, caused by mutations in the NF2 gene, has developed into intracranial and spinal schwannomas. Because of the high surgical risk and frequent recurrence of multiple tumors, targeted therapy is necessary.

Risk of Death From Various Causes According to Prevalent Atrial Fibrillation: A Nationwide Population-Based Study.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with increased risks of adverse events including stroke and all-cause death. Understanding the pattern of causes of death (COD) with the relative risks in patients with AF compared to the non-AF population is essential in planning optimal care for patients with AF. We aimed to analyze the COD and its relative risks in patients with AF, using a nationwide population-based cohort.

Increasing Very Low-Dose Edoxaban Prescription: Effectiveness and Safety Data of Korean AF Patients.

Background And Objectives: Evidence remains limited on the real-world prescription of very low-dose oral anticoagulation among frail patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). We described the practice patterns, effectiveness, and safety of very low-dose edoxaban (15 mg once daily).

Methods: Patients with AF prescribed edoxaban 15 mg once daily in 2 tertiary hospitals between 2016 and September 2022 were included.