Smoking and the risk of sudden cardiac arrest in young-aged adults: a Korean nationwide population-based study.

Aims: Smoking is a risk factor for cardiovascular events. Regarding the different aetiology of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) in younger individuals compared with the elderly, we investigated the linkage between smoking and the risk of SCA in young-aged adults.

Methods And Results: In this retrospective analysis, an observational longitudinal cohort was obtained from the national health screening database in South Korea.

Intestinal luminal polyamines support the gut colonization of enteric bacterial pathogens by modulating flagellar motility and nitrate respiration.

Unlabelled: serovar Typhimurium (Tm) is an etiological agent of common foodborne diseases and a major health concern worldwide. Tm gastrointestinal infection induces intestinal inflammation, allowing Tm outgrowth in the gut lumen by exploiting inflammation-induced host factors. Polyamines, including putrescine and spermidine, are crucial for both intestinal homeostasis and Tm infectivity.

Artificial intelligence-estimated electrocardiographic sex as a recurrence predictor after atrial fibrillation catheter ablation.

Aims: We explored whether artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled electrocardiographic (ECG) sex discrepancy would predict atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence after catheter ablation for paroxysmal AF.

Methods And Results: The AI-ECG sex prediction model was developed from the MIMIC-IV and externally validated on CODE-15% (AUC 0.89) and UK Biobank (AUC 0.

A Patch-Type Electrocardiography Is Superior to Holter Monitoring for Detecting Paroxysmal Cardiac Arrhythmias.

Background: Patch-electrocardiography (ECG) enables prolonged ECG monitoring beyond 24 hours. However, diagnostic yield between patch-ECG and Holter monitoring needs further validation. We aimed to compare diagnostic capabilities of 14-day patch-ECG and one day Holter monitoring to detect cardiac arrhythmias.

Dietary fermentable polyols fuel gut inflammation through M1 macrophage polarization and gut microbiota.

While fermentable oligo- and di-, mono-saccharides and polyols (FODMAPs) have been implicated in exacerbating inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) symptoms, the exact influence of FODMAPs on gut microbiota and inflammation is unclear. Here, we show that sorbitol, a polyol, exacerbates colitis in mice induced by dextran sodium sulfate (DSS). Sorbitol increases the expression of inflammatory genes, including in the colon, associated with M1 macrophage-related genes elevated in IBD patients.

Fasting builds a favorable environment for effective gut microbiota modulation by microbiota-accessible carbohydrates.

Dietary nutrients are an important determinant of gut microbial composition (Asnicar et al, Nat Med 27:321-332, 2021; Arifuzzaman. et al, Nature 611:578-584, 2022; Bolte. et al, Gut 70:1287-1298, 2021).

Three Kampo medicines-bofutsushosan, boiogito, and daisaikoto-have different effects on host fat accumulation and the intestinal microbiota in a high-fat-diet-induced mouse model of obesity.

Inhibiting body fat accumulation is important for the prevention of obesity. In Japan, three Kampo medicines are commonly used to treat obesity: bofutsushosan, boiogito, and daisaikoto. To compare the influences of these Kampo medicines on the intestinal microbiota, it is necessary to conduct a simultaneous investigation using the same mouse model under the same experimental conditions.

Nationwide Epidemiology and Management Time Trends for Atrial Fibrillation: Insights From the Korean AF Factsheet.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) represents the most prevalent cardiac arrhythmia in clinical practice, with its incidence rising globally. Korea's comprehensive national health insurance system facilitates the meticulous collection and management of health care utilization data for its entire population. This robust data infrastructure has enabled numerous recent studies on AF in Korea, encompassing its prevalence, incidence, anticoagulation treatment rates, health care burden, and associated complications.

Decrease in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol is associated with an increased risk of mortality in patients with diabetes mellitus.

Introduction: Research on the effect of low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol levels and its serial change on all-cause mortality is limited. This study investigated serial change in LDL-cholesterol and its association with all-cause mortality or sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) in patients with diabetes mellitus.

Methods: Data was obtained from the nationwide health insurance database of South Korea.

Crohn's Disease‒Associated Escherichia coli BasRS Is Involved in Fimbriae Expression, Contributing to Epithelial Cell Invasion.

Crohn's disease‒associated adherent-invasive Escherichia coli (AIEC) colonizes the gut lumen through Type 1 fimbriae. We demonstrated that the two-component signal transduction system BasRS is involved in the expression of fimbriae in the AIEC strain LF82, as evidenced by the reduced transcriptional activity of fimA in an LF82 mutant lacking BasRS. Consequently, the basRS mutant showed decreased invasiveness to HeLa cells, which was restored by introducing a plasmid expressing fimbriae in a BasRS-independent manner.

Genotype and arrhythmic risk in patients with apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Background: Apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a rare variant of HCM, often considered to have a benign prognosis. This study aimed to compare the clinical characteristics and genetic predisposition of apical HCM with non-apical HCM.

Methods: We included 195 patients with HCM who underwent next-generation sequencing at two tertiary centres in South Korea (2017-2024).

Proteinuria Is Associated With an Increased Risk of Sudden Cardiac Arrest in the Young Population.

Background: Proteinuria is a risk factor for cardiovascular events, but its prognostic value for sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) in young individuals remains unproven. We aimed to evaluate whether proteinuria in young people is associated with an increased risk of SCA.

Methods And Results: Individuals aged between 20 and 39 years who underwent health screening between 2009 and 2012 in South Korea were included (n=6 891 400).

Increased Mortality Associated with Amiodarone Compared to Other Antiarrhythmic Drugs in New-Onset Atrial Fibrillation.

Antiarrhythmic drugs (AADs) are the primary treatment for maintaining sinus rhythm in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). While amiodarone is mainly used in patients with structural heart disease, its effects on all-cause mortality compared to other AADs remain unclear. This study utilized nationwide healthcare insurance data involving patients with new-onset AF from 2013 to 2019.

Oral administration of Bifidobacterium longum and Bifidobacterium infantis ameliorates cefcapene pivoxil-induced attenuation of anti-programmed cell death protein-1 antibody action in mice.

Gut bacteria play pivotal roles in the antitumor effects of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). However, antimicrobial therapy, often necessary for infections in cancer patients, can reduce the efficacy of ICIs. The potential of probiotics to restore ICI efficacy remains uncertain.

Epigenetic regulation on left atrial function and disease recurrence after catheter ablation in atrial fibrillation.

Background: Genetic variation and modifiable risk factors play a significant role in the pathogenesis of atrial fibrillation (AF). The influence of epigenetic modification on AF remains to be elucidated. We investigated the role of DNA methylation in the etiology of AF.

Linear Ablation Using a Contact Force-Sensing Catheter in Ablation for Persistent Atrial Fibrillation: A Prospective Randomized Trial.

: Pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) using radiofrequency catheter ablation with contact force (CF)-sensing technology has improved long-term outcomes in patients with atrial fibrillation. This prospective randomized study aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of CF-sensing technology for additional left atrial (LA) linear ablation of persistent AF (PerAF). : After PVI, anteromitral (AM) line and roof line ablation were performed using a CF-sensing catheter.

Deep learning algorithm for predicting left ventricular systolic dysfunction in atrial fibrillation with rapid ventricular response.

Aims: Although evaluation of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) is crucial for deciding the rate control strategy in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), real-time assessment of LVEF is limited in outpatient settings. We aimed to investigate the performance of artificial intelligence-based algorithms in predicting LV systolic dysfunction (LVSD) in patients with AF and rapid ventricular response (RVR).

Methods And Results: This study is an external validation of a pre-existing deep learning algorithm based on residual neural network architecture.

Hydrogen gas and the gut microbiota are potential biomarkers for the development of experimental colitis in mice.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic disease characterised by repeated relapses and remissions and a high recurrence rate even after symptom resolution. The primary method for IBD diagnosis is endoscopy; however, this method is expensive, invasive, and cumbersome to use serially. Therefore, more convenient and non-invasive methods for IBD diagnosis are needed.

Salmonella Typhimurium exploits host polyamines for assembly of the type 3 secretion machinery.

Bacterial pathogens utilize the factors of their hosts to infect them, but which factors they exploit remain poorly defined. Here, we show that a pathogenic Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium (STm) exploits host polyamines for the functional expression of virulence factors. An STm mutant strain lacking principal genes required for polyamine synthesis and transport exhibited impaired infectivity in mice.

Association of fatty liver index with sudden cardiac arrest in young adults.

Background: Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) contributes to cardiovascular events. Therefore, we aimed to identify the association of MASLD, as indicated by the fatty liver index (FLI), on sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) in young adults.

Methods: We analyzed data from adults aged 20-39 years, who underwent health examinations between 2009 and 2012, sourced from the Korean National Health Insurance Service database.

Atrial fibrillation and risk of sudden cardiac arrest in young adults.

Aims: Evidence of an association between atrial fibrillation (AF) and sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) in young adults is limited. In this study, we aim to evaluate this association in a general population aged between 20 and 39 years.

Methods And Results: Young adults who underwent health check-ups between 2009 and 2012 were screened from a nationwide healthcare database in South Korea.

Sufficient water intake maintains the gut microbiota and immune homeostasis and promotes pathogen elimination.

Water is the most abundant substance in the human body and plays a pivotal role in various bodily functions. While underhydration is associated with the incidence of certain diseases, the specific role of water in gut function remains largely unexplored. Here, we show that water restriction disrupts gut homeostasis, which is accompanied by a bloom of gut microbes and decreased numbers of immune cells, especially T17 cells, within the colon.