1
|
Wong CX, Buch EF, Beygui R, Lee RJ. Hybrid Endo-Epicardial Therapies for Advanced Atrial Fibrillation. J Clin Med 2024; 13:679. [PMID: 38337373 PMCID: PMC10856493 DOI: 10.3390/jcm13030679] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2023] [Revised: 12/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a growing health problem that increases morbidity and mortality, and in most patients progresses to more advanced diseases over time. Recent research has examined the underlying mechanisms, risk factors, and progression of AF, leading to updated AF disease classification schemes. Although endocardial catheter ablation is effective for early-stage paroxysmal AF, it consistently achieves suboptimal outcomes in patients with advanced AF. Identification of the factors that lead to the increased risk of treatment failure in advanced AF has spurred the development and adoption of hybrid ablation therapies and collaborative heart care teams that result in higher long-term arrhythmia-free survival. Patients with non-paroxysmal AF, atrial remodeling, comorbidities, or AF otherwise deemed difficult to treat may find hybrid treatment to be the most effective option. Future research of hybrid therapies in advanced AF patient populations, including those with dual diagnoses, may provide further evidence establishing the safety and efficacy of hybrid endo-epicardial ablation as a first line treatment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Christopher X. Wong
- Centre for Heart Rhythm Disorders, University of Adelaide and Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide 5001, Australia
- Cardiac Electrophysiology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Eric F. Buch
- Cardiac Arrhythmia Center, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Ramin Beygui
- Cardiothoracic Surgery, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Randall J. Lee
- Cardiac Electrophysiology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Yu X. Promising Therapeutic Treatments for Cardiac Fibrosis: Herbal Plants and Their Extracts. Cardiol Ther 2023; 12:415-443. [PMID: 37247171 PMCID: PMC10423196 DOI: 10.1007/s40119-023-00319-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 04/27/2023] [Indexed: 05/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Cardiac fibrosis is closely associated with multiple heart diseases, which are a prominent health issue in the global world. Neurohormones and cytokines play indispensable roles in cardiac fibrosis. Many signaling pathways participate in cardiac fibrosis as well. Cardiac fibrosis is due to impaired degradation of collagen and impaired fibroblast activation, and collagen accumulation results in increasing heart stiffness and inharmonious activity, leading to structure alterations and finally cardiac function decline. Herbal plants have been applied in traditional medicines for thousands of years. Because of their naturality, they have attracted much attention for use in resisting cardiac fibrosis in recent years. This review sheds light on several extracts from herbal plants, which are promising therapeutics for reversing cardiac fibrosis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xuejing Yu
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Cardiology, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX, 75235, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Cronin B, Dalia A, Goh R, Essandoh M, Orestes O'Brien E. Temporary Epicardial Pacing After Cardiac Surgery. J Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth 2022; 36:4427-4439. [PMID: 36180288 DOI: 10.1053/j.jvca.2022.08.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2022] [Revised: 08/08/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Temporary epicardial pacing frequently is employed after cardiac surgery, and can have a significant impact on a patient's hemodynamics, arrhythmias, and valvulopathies. Given that anesthesiologists often are involved intimately in the initial programming and subsequent management of epicardial pacing in the operating room and intensive care unit, it is important for practitioners to have a detailed understanding of the modes, modifiable intervals, and potential complications that can occur after cardiac surgery. Because this topic has not been reviewed recently in anesthesia literature, the authors attempted to review relevant epicardial pacemaker specifics, discuss modes and parameters that apply to the perioperative period, present an algorithm for mode selection, describe the potential effects of epicardial pacing on valvulopathies and hemodynamics, and, finally, discuss some postoperative considerations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Brett Cronin
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of California-San Diego Medical Center, San Diego, CA.
| | - Adam Dalia
- Division of Cardiac Anesthesiology, Department of Anesthesia, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital (of Harvard Medical School), Boston, MA
| | - Regine Goh
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of California-San Diego Medical Center, San Diego, CA
| | - Michael Essandoh
- Cardiovascular Anesthesiology, Department of Anesthesiology, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH
| | - E Orestes O'Brien
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of California-San Diego Medical Center, San Diego, CA
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Deepa D, Singh Y, Mansoor W, Hu W, Paul R, Carlsson GE. Comparative study of left atrium epicardial fat tissue pattern using persistent homology approach. BMC Res Notes 2022; 15:299. [PMID: 36109768 PMCID: PMC9479320 DOI: 10.1186/s13104-022-06173-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2022] [Accepted: 08/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective Atrial Fibrillation (A-fib) is an abnormal heartbeat condition in which the heart races and beats in an uncontrollable way. It is observed that the presence of increased epicardial fat/fatty tissue in the atrium can lead to A-fib. Persistent homology using topological features can be used to recapitulate enormous amounts of spatially complicated medical data into a visual code to identify a specific pattern of epicardial fat tissue with non-fat tissue. Our aim is to evaluate the topological pattern of left atrium epicardial fat tissue with non-fat tissue. Results A topological data analysis approach was acquired to study the imaging pattern between the left atrium epicardial fat tissue and non-fat tissue patches. The patches of eight patients from CT images of the left atrium heart were used and categorized into “left atrium epicardial fat tissue” and “non-fat tissue” groups. The features that distinguish the “epicardial fat tissue” and “non-fat tissue” groups are extracted using persistent homology (PH). Our result reveals that our proposed research can discriminate between left atrium epicardial fat tissue and non-fat tissue. Specifically, the range of Betti numbers in the epicardial tissue is smaller (0–30) than the non-fat tissue (0–100), indicating that non-fat tissue has good topology.
Collapse
|
5
|
DeLurgio DB. The Hybrid Convergent Procedure for Persistent and Long-Standing Persistent Atrial Fibrillation From an Electrophysiologist's Perspective. J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol 2022; 33:1954-1960. [PMID: 35420730 DOI: 10.1111/jce.15492] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2022] [Revised: 02/20/2022] [Accepted: 03/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
In atrial fibrillation (AF), the pulmonary veins (PV) are central to arrhythmogenicity and are targeted by PV isolation (PVI). As AF progresses, triggers become more prevalent in non-PV areas including the left atrial posterior wall (LAPW). Reported benefits of LAPW isolation in Cox-maze IV led to exploration of ablation strategies using endocardial catheters. However, no single approach to endocardial LAPW isolation exists. Relative success in comparison to PVI alone has been mixed. The hybrid convergent procedure was developed to combine minimally invasive surgical and electrophysiology techniques to accomplish effective PVI and LAPW isolation. Epicardial LAPW isolation is performed by a cardiothoracic surgeon followed by endocardial ablation by an electrophysiologist who ensures PVI completion and targets any remaining gaps. Safety and effectiveness of hybrid convergent was evaluated in the prospective, multi-center, randomized controlled trial, Convergence of Epicardial and Endocardial Ablation for the Treatment of Symptomatic Persistent AF (CONVERGE). CONVERGE compared the effectiveness of the hybrid convergent procedure to endocardial catheter ablation for treatment of drug-refractory persistent and longstanding persistent AF and demonstrated primary effectiveness of higher freedom from atrial arrhythmias absent new/increased dose previously failed/intolerant anti-arrhythmic drugs through 12 months compared to endocardial catheter ablation. Greater freedom from AF and proportion of patients experiencing ≥90% burden reduction with hybrid convergent ablation were seen through 18 months follow-up. Improved electrophysiology lab efficiency was demonstrated by the reduction in endocardial ablation time with addition of epicardial ablation. This multi-disciplinary heart team procedure may improve outcomes in difficult-to-treat patients with advanced AF. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Collapse
|
6
|
Wang K, Meng X, Guo Z. Elastin Structure, Synthesis, Regulatory Mechanism and Relationship With Cardiovascular Diseases. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:596702. [PMID: 34917605 PMCID: PMC8670233 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.596702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2020] [Accepted: 09/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
As the primary component of elastic fibers, elastin plays an important role in maintaining the elasticity and tensile ability of cardiovascular, pulmonary and many other tissues and organs. Studies have shown that elastin expression is regulated by a variety of molecules that have positive and negative regulatory effects. However, the specific mechanism is unclear. Moreover, elastin is reportedly involved in the development and progression of many cardiovascular diseases through changes in its expression and structural modifications once deposited in the extracellular matrix. This review article summarizes the role of elastin in myocardial ischemia-reperfusion, atherosclerosis, and atrial fibrillation, with emphasis on the potential molecular regulatory mechanisms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Keke Wang
- Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease and Drug Research, Zhengzhou No. 7 People's Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Xiangguang Meng
- Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease and Drug Research, Zhengzhou No. 7 People's Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Zhikun Guo
- Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease and Drug Research, Zhengzhou No. 7 People's Hospital, Zhengzhou, China.,Henan Key Laboratory of Medical Tissue Regeneration, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Celotto C, Sánchez C, Mountris KA, Laguna P, Pueyo E. Location of Parasympathetic Innervation Regions From Electrograms to Guide Atrial Fibrillation Ablation Therapy: An in silico Modeling Study. Front Physiol 2021; 12:674197. [PMID: 34456743 PMCID: PMC8385640 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2021.674197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2021] [Accepted: 06/11/2021] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The autonomic nervous system (ANS) plays an essential role in the generation and maintenance of cardiac arrhythmias. The cardiac ANS can be divided into its extrinsic and intrinsic components, with the latter being organized in an epicardial neural network of interconnecting axons and clusters of autonomic ganglia called ganglionated plexi (GPs). GP ablation has been associated with a decreased risk of atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence, but the accurate location of GPs is required for ablation to be effective. Although GP stimulation triggers both sympathetic and parasympathetic ANS branches, a predominance of parasympathetic activity has been shown. This study aims was to develop a method to locate atrial parasympathetic innervation sites based on measurements from a grid of electrograms (EGMs). Electrophysiological models representative of non-AF, paroxysmal AF (PxAF), and persistent AF (PsAF) tissues were developed. Parasympathetic effects were modeled by increasing the concentration of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine (ACh) in randomly distributed circles across the tissue. Different circle sizes of ACh and fibrosis geometries were considered, accounting for both uniform diffuse and non-uniform diffuse fibrosis. Computational simulations were performed, from which unipolar EGMs were computed in a 16 × 1 6 electrode mesh. Different distances of the electrodes to the tissue (0.5, 1, and 2 mm) and noise levels with signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) values of 0, 5, 10, 15, and 20 dB were tested. The amplitude of the atrial EGM repolarization wave was found to be representative of the presence or absence of ACh release sites, with larger positive amplitudes indicating that the electrode was placed over an ACh region. Statistical analysis was performed to identify the optimal thresholds for the identification of ACh sites. In all non-AF, PxAF, and PsAF tissues, the repolarization amplitude rendered successful identification. The algorithm performed better in the absence of fibrosis or when fibrosis was uniformly diffuse, with a mean accuracy of 0.94 in contrast with a mean accuracy of 0.89 for non-uniform diffuse fibrotic cases. The algorithm was robust against noise and worked for the tested ranges of electrode-to-tissue distance. In conclusion, the results from this study support the feasibility to locate atrial parasympathetic innervation sites from the amplitude of repolarization wave.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Celotto
- Aragon Institute of Engineering Research-I3A-, University of Zaragoza, IIS Aragón, Zaragoza, Spain
- CIBER in Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Carlos Sánchez
- Aragon Institute of Engineering Research-I3A-, University of Zaragoza, IIS Aragón, Zaragoza, Spain
- CIBER in Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Konstantinos A. Mountris
- Aragon Institute of Engineering Research-I3A-, University of Zaragoza, IIS Aragón, Zaragoza, Spain
- CIBER in Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Pablo Laguna
- Aragon Institute of Engineering Research-I3A-, University of Zaragoza, IIS Aragón, Zaragoza, Spain
- CIBER in Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Esther Pueyo
- Aragon Institute of Engineering Research-I3A-, University of Zaragoza, IIS Aragón, Zaragoza, Spain
- CIBER in Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine, Zaragoza, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Kaba RA, Momin A, Camm J. Persistent Atrial Fibrillation: The Role of Left Atrial Posterior Wall Isolation and Ablation Strategies. J Clin Med 2021; 10:3129. [PMID: 34300301 PMCID: PMC8304563 DOI: 10.3390/jcm10143129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2021] [Revised: 07/13/2021] [Accepted: 07/13/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a global disease with rapidly rising incidence and prevalence. It is associated with a higher risk of stroke, dementia, cognitive decline, sudden and cardiovascular death, heart failure and impairment in quality of life. The disease is a major burden on the healthcare system. Paroxysmal AF is typically managed with medications or endocardial catheter ablation to good effect. However, a large proportion of patients with AF have persistent or long-standing persistent AF, which are more complex forms of the condition and thus more difficult to treat. This is in part due to the progressive electro-anatomical changes that occur with AF persistence and the spread of arrhythmogenic triggers and substrates outside of the pulmonary veins. The posterior wall of the left atrium is a common site for these changes and has become a target of ablation strategies to treat these more resistant forms of AF. In this review, we discuss the role of the posterior left atrial wall in persistent and long-standing persistent AF, the limitations of current endocardial-focused treatment strategies, and future perspectives on hybrid epicardial-endocardial approaches to posterior wall isolation or ablation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Riyaz A. Kaba
- Cardiovascular Clinical Academic Group, Molecular and Clinical Sciences Institute, St. George’s University of London and St. George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London SW17 0QT, UK; (A.M.); (J.C.)
- Ashford and St. Peter’s Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Surrey KT16 0PZ, UK
| | - Aziz Momin
- Cardiovascular Clinical Academic Group, Molecular and Clinical Sciences Institute, St. George’s University of London and St. George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London SW17 0QT, UK; (A.M.); (J.C.)
- Ashford and St. Peter’s Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Surrey KT16 0PZ, UK
| | - John Camm
- Cardiovascular Clinical Academic Group, Molecular and Clinical Sciences Institute, St. George’s University of London and St. George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London SW17 0QT, UK; (A.M.); (J.C.)
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Deepa D, Singh Y, Wang MC, Hu W. An automated method for detecting atrial fat using convolutional neural network. Proc Inst Mech Eng H 2021; 235:1329-1334. [PMID: 34227422 DOI: 10.1177/09544119211029745] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Atrial Fibrillation (A-fib) is a common cardiac rhythm problem in the population these days in which irregular heartbeat leads to blood clots, heart failure, stroke, and other significant clinical complications. Researchers have found that the atrial fat can lead to AF in most patients. To develop an automated method for detecting the epicardial fat present in the atrium using a Convolutional Neural Network. Cardiac Computed Tomography (CT) images of ten patients were pre-processed to remove the unwanted structure around the heart. An automated pixel value masking was done to locate the epicardial fat in the atrium and a 3D view of the heart was constructed for correct visualization of the location of the fat. A fast and fully automated Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) was applied to detect the atrial epicardial fat through feature selection from the CT images. We achieved 89.22% accuracy, 90.18% sensitivity, and 88.52% specificity in the detection of atrial epicardial fat using our CNN architecture. Our results showed that this CNN-based method can be helpful in atrial epicardial fat detection. Since Deep learning techniques add robustness, rapidness, and reliability, this study provides an unutilized way to detect the atrial fat tissue.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Deepa Deepa
- Biomedical Engineering, Chung Yuan Christian University, Zhongli, Taoyuan city
| | - Yashbir Singh
- Biomedical Engineering, Chung Yuan Christian University, Zhongli, Taoyuan city
| | - Ming Chen Wang
- Biomedical Engineering, Chung Yuan Christian University, Zhongli, Taoyuan city
| | - Weichih Hu
- Biomedical Engineering, Chung Yuan Christian University, Zhongli, Taoyuan city
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Boyle PM, Trayanova NA. Leave the light on: chronic optogenetic tachypacing of human engineered cardiac tissue constructs. Cardiovasc Res 2020; 116:1405-1406. [PMID: 32031599 DOI: 10.1093/cvr/cvaa029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Patrick M Boyle
- Department of Bioengineering and Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, University of Washington, Mailbox 355061, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Natalia A Trayanova
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, 216 Hackerman Hall, 3400 North Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Abstract
Atrial fibrillation has been identified to be associated with disordered gut microbiota. Notably, atrial fibrillation is a progressive disease and could be categorized as paroxysmal and persistent based on the duration of the episodes. The persistent atrial fibrillation patients are accompanied by higher risk of stroke and lower success rate of rhythm control. However, the microbial signatures of different categories of atrial fibrillation patients remain unknown. We sought to determine whether disordered gut microbiota occurs in the self-terminating PAF or intestinal flora develops dynamically during atrial fibrillation progression. We found that different types of atrial fibrillation show a limited degree of gut microbiota shift. Gut microbiota dysbiosis has already occurred in mild stages of atrial fibrillation, which might act as an early modulator of disease, and therefore may be regarded as a potential target to postpone atrial fibrillation progression. Dysbiotic gut microbiota (GM) and disordered metabolic patterns are known to be involved in the clinical expression of atrial fibrillation (AF). However, little evidence has been reported in characterizing the specific changes in fecal microbiota in paroxysmal AF (PAF) and persistent AF (psAF). To provide a comprehensive understanding of GM dysbiosis in AF types, we assessed the GM signatures of 30 PAF patients, 20 psAF patients, and 50 non-AF controls based on metagenomic and metabolomic analyses. Compared with control subjects, similar changes of GM were identified in PAF and psAF patients, with elevated microbial diversity and similar alteration in the microbiota composition. PAF and psAF patients shared the majority of differential taxa compared with non-AF controls. Moreover, the similarity was also illuminated in microbial function and associated metabolic alterations. Additionally, minor disparity was observed in PAF compared with psAF. Several distinctive taxa between PAF and psAF were correlated with certain metabolites and atrial diameter, which might play a role in the pathogenesis of atrial remodeling. Our findings characterized the presence of many common features in GM shared by PAF and psAF, which occurred at the self-terminating PAF. Preventative and therapeutic measures targeting GM for early intervention to postpone the progression of AF are highly warranted. IMPORTANCE Atrial fibrillation has been identified to be associated with disordered gut microbiota. Notably, atrial fibrillation is a progressive disease and could be categorized as paroxysmal and persistent based on the duration of the episodes. The persistent atrial fibrillation patients are accompanied by higher risk of stroke and lower success rate of rhythm control. However, the microbial signatures of different categories of atrial fibrillation patients remain unknown. We sought to determine whether disordered gut microbiota occurs in the self-terminating PAF or intestinal flora develops dynamically during atrial fibrillation progression. We found that different types of atrial fibrillation show a limited degree of gut microbiota shift. Gut microbiota dysbiosis has already occurred in mild stages of atrial fibrillation, which might act as an early modulator of disease, and therefore may be regarded as a potential target to postpone atrial fibrillation progression.
Collapse
|
12
|
Li J, Chen R, Wu J. Structural Analysis of Complex Atrial Intramural Microstructure from A Multi-layer Model Based on Siamese Network. ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF THE IEEE ENGINEERING IN MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY SOCIETY. IEEE ENGINEERING IN MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY SOCIETY. ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE 2020; 2019:294-297. [PMID: 31945899 DOI: 10.1109/embc.2019.8857276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Quantitative analysis of complex atrial intramural microstructure is a crucial step towards understanding the mechanism behind atrial fibrillation (AF) maintenance. Siamese network was adopted to extract features from computationally simulated multi-layer fibrosis structure. Through analysis of the features produced by the feature extractor, the difference between Non-sustained and Sustained simulations was comprehended intuitively and electrophysiologically. Complex conduction pathway marked by the feature extractor might be an indicator for AF radio-frequency ablation clinically.
Collapse
|
13
|
Fischer G, Handler M, Johnston PR, Baumgarten D. Impedance and conductivity of bovine myocardium during freezing and thawing at slow rates - implications for cardiac cryo-ablation. Med Eng Phys 2019; 74:89-98. [PMID: 31570217 DOI: 10.1016/j.medengphy.2019.09.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2019] [Revised: 09/12/2019] [Accepted: 09/16/2019] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Increasing impedance during freezing might be a valuable marker for guiding cardiac cryo-ablation. We provide model based insights on how decreasing temperature below the freezing point of tissue relates to the percentage of frozen water. Furthermore, we provide experimental data for comparing this percentage with the increase in impedance. Measurements were performed on a bovine tissue sample at frequencies between 5 and 80 kHz. Slow cooling and heating rates were applied to minimize temperature gradients in the myocardial sample and to allow accurate assessment of the freezing point. Computer simulation was applied to link impedance with temperature dependent conductivities. The osmotic virial equation was used to estimate the percentage of frozen water. Measurements identified the freezing point at -0.6 ∘C. At -5 ∘C, impedance rose by more than a factor of ten compared to that at the freezing point and the percentage of frozen water was estimated as being 89%. At -49 ∘C impedance had increased by up to three orders of magnitude and ice formation was most pronounced in the extracellular space. Progressive ice formation in tissue is reflected by a large increase in impedance, and impedance increases monotonically with the percentage of frozen water. Its analysis allows for experimental assessment of factors relevant to cell death. Solid ice contributes to the rupture of the micro-vasculature, while phase shifts reflect concentration differences between extra- and intracellular space driving osmotic water transfer across cell membranes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- G Fischer
- Institute of Electrical and Biomedical Engineering, UMIT - Private University for Health Sciences, Medical Informatics and Technology, Eduard-Wallnoefer-Zentrum 1, Hall in Tyrol 6060, Austria; AFreeze GmbH, Innsbruck, Austria.
| | - M Handler
- Institute of Electrical and Biomedical Engineering, UMIT - Private University for Health Sciences, Medical Informatics and Technology, Eduard-Wallnoefer-Zentrum 1, Hall in Tyrol 6060, Austria; School of Environment and Science, Queensland Micro- and Nanotechnology Centre, Griffith University, Nathan, Queensland, Australia
| | - P R Johnston
- School of Environment and Science, Queensland Micro- and Nanotechnology Centre, Griffith University, Nathan, Queensland, Australia
| | - D Baumgarten
- Institute of Electrical and Biomedical Engineering, UMIT - Private University for Health Sciences, Medical Informatics and Technology, Eduard-Wallnoefer-Zentrum 1, Hall in Tyrol 6060, Austria; Institute of Electrical and Biomedical Engineering, Technische Universität Ilmenau, Ilmenau, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Dudink EA, Weijs B, Tull S, Luermans JG, Fabritz L, Chua W, Rienstra M, Gelder ICV, Schotten U, Kirchhof P, Crijns HJ. The Biomarkers NT-proBNP and CA-125 are Elevated in Patients with Idiopathic Atrial Fibrillation. J Atr Fibrillation 2018; 11:2058. [PMID: 31139280 PMCID: PMC6533832 DOI: 10.4022/jafib.2058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2017] [Revised: 09/19/2017] [Accepted: 08/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Blood biomarkers related to AF could be useful to detect silent AF and to develop stratified strategies for AF prevention. Previous studies identified markers that predict incident AF. However, it is difficult to differentiate whether biomarkers relate to underlying cardiovascular diseases, are generated by the atria in response to an AF episode, or both. We therefore measured a panel of blood biomarkers in patients without overt CVD with and without AF to investigate the association between biomarkers and atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients without overt cardiovascular disease (CVD). METHODS Blood samples - drawn remote from an AF episode - of 60 patients with AF but without overt forms of CVD (idiopathic AF; iAF) were compared to 120 matched patients with sinus rhythm only. A novel antibody-based method for quantification of blood biomarkers (OlinkProseek Multiplex Cardiovascular) was used to compare 92 biomarkers between the two groups. RESULTS N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), Cathepsin L1, Endothelial cell-specific molecule 1, Cancer Antigen-125 (CA-125), Heat shock 27kDa protein, Galanin peptides, Proteinase-activated receptor 1, Stem cell factor, and CD40-ligand were all higher in iAF patients than in SR controls. Both NT-proBNP (OR1.55(1.07-2.25);p=0.022) and CA-125 (OR1.68(1.07-2.64);p=0.026) were independently associated with iAF. CONCLUSIONS This exploratory study, investigating over 90 cardiovascular blood biomarkers in patients without known CVD, identified one established biomarker for paroxysmal AF, NT-proBNP, and a novel marker, CA-125. CA-125 - previously unrelated to paroxysmal AF in an otherwise healthy population - may thus be a potential indicator of remote paroxysms of AF.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Elton Amp Dudink
- Maastricht University Medical Center+ and Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht (CARIM), Department of Cardiology, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Bob Weijs
- Maastricht University Medical Center+ and Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht (CARIM), Department of Cardiology, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Samantha Tull
- University of Birmingham, Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Justin Glm Luermans
- Maastricht University Medical Center+ and Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht (CARIM), Department of Cardiology, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Larissa Fabritz
- University of Birmingham, Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Winnie Chua
- University of Birmingham, Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Michiel Rienstra
- University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Cardiology, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Isabelle C Van Gelder
- University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Cardiology, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Ulrich Schotten
- Maastricht University and Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht (CARIM), Department of Physiology, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Paulus Kirchhof
- University of Birmingham, Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, Birmingham, United Kingdom
- Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals and University Hospitals Birmingham NHS trusts, Birmingham, United Kingdom
- AFNET, Münster, Germany
| | - Harry Jgm Crijns
- Maastricht University Medical Center+ and Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht (CARIM), Department of Cardiology, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Li KHC, Dong M, Gong M, Bazoukis G, Lakhani I, Ting YY, Wong SH, Li G, Wu WKK, Vassiliou VS, Wong MCS, Letsas K, Du Y, Laxton V, Yan BP, Chan YS, Xia Y, Liu T, Tse G. Atrial Fibrillation Recurrence and Peri-Procedural Complication Rates in nMARQ vs. Conventional Ablation Techniques: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Front Physiol 2018; 9:544. [PMID: 29892228 PMCID: PMC5985711 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2018.00544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2017] [Accepted: 04/27/2018] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Atrial fibrillation is a common abnormal cardiac rhythm caused by disorganized electrical impulses. AF which is refractory to antiarrhythmic management is often treated with catheter ablation. Recently a novel ablation system (nMARQ) was introduced for PV isolation. However, there has not been a systematic review of its efficacy or safety compared to traditional ablation techniques. Therefore, we conducted this meta-analysis on the nMARQ ablation system. Methods: PubMed and EMBASE were searched up until 1st of September 2017 for articles on nMARQ. A total of 136 studies were found, and after screening, 12 studies were included in this meta-analysis. Results: Our meta-analysis shows that the use of nMARQ was associated with higher odds of AF non-recurrence (n = 1123, odds ratio = 6.79, 95% confidence interval 4.01–11.50; P < 0.05; I2 took a value of 83%). Moreover, the recurrence rate of AF using nMARQ was not significantly different from that of traditional ablation procedures (n = 158 vs. 196; OR = 0.97, 95% confidence interval:0.59–1.61). No significant difference in complication rates was observed between these groups (RR: 0.86; 95% CI: 0.37–1.99; P > 0.05). There were four reported mortalities in the nMARQ group compared to none in the conventional ablation group (relative risk: 1.58; 95% CI: 0.09–29.24; P > 0.05). Conclusions: AF recurrence rates are comparable between nMARQ and conventional ablation techniques. Although general complication rates are similar for both groups, the higher mortality with nMARQ suggests that conventional techniques should be used for resistant AF until improved safety profiles of nMARQ can be demonstrated.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ka H C Li
- Faculty of Medicine, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom.,Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.,Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Mei Dong
- Department of Cardiology, The Affiliated Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital of Qingdao University, Yantai City, China
| | - Mengqi Gong
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Ionic-Molecular Function of Cardiovascular Disease, Department of Cardiology, Tianjin Institute of Cardiology, Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - George Bazoukis
- Laboratory of Cardiac Electrophysiology, Second Department of Cardiology, Evangelismos General Hospital of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Ishan Lakhani
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.,Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Yan Y Ting
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.,Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Sunny H Wong
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.,Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Guangping Li
- Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Remodeling and Function Research, Chinese Ministry of Education and Chinese Ministry of Health, Department of Cardiology, Shandong University Qilu Hospital, Jinan, China
| | - William K K Wu
- Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, State Key Laboratory of Digestive Disease, LKS Institute of Health Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | | | - Martin C S Wong
- The Jockey Club School of Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Konstantinos Letsas
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Ionic-Molecular Function of Cardiovascular Disease, Department of Cardiology, Tianjin Institute of Cardiology, Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Yimei Du
- Research Center of Ion Channelopathy, Institute of Cardiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Victoria Laxton
- Department of Cardiology, First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Bryan P Yan
- Faculty of Medicine, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Yat S Chan
- Faculty of Medicine, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Yunlong Xia
- Department of Cardiology, First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Tong Liu
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Gary Tse
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.,Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | | |
Collapse
|