Screening for atrial fibrillation in subjects aged 65 using a long-term continuous ECG telemonitoring vest: the NOninvasive Monitoring for early detection of atrial fibrillation (NOMED-AF) study

Background

Atrial fibrillation (AF) confers a high healthcare burden from stroke, heart failure, dementia and hospitalisation, and one challenge is. Early detection of this arrhythmia in the community, given that it is often asymptomatic.

Aim

To perform population screening for atrial fibrillation and flutter (AF/AFl) using a mobile long-term continuous ECG telemonitoring vest in a representative Polish and European population aged ≥65 years (age range 65–100 years).

Methods

The NOMED-AF study is a cross-sectional study based on a representative sample of adults aged ≥65 years (n=3014; mean age 77.5±7.9 years; 49.1% female). All study participants were equipped with a mobile long-term continuous ECG telemonitoring vest. National and European estimations were calculated on weighted data.

Results

In 680 subjects AF/AFl (including 279 with SAF; 9.3%) was confirmed. In the NOMED-AF population, the prevalence of AF/AFl was 22.6%, estimated to be 19.2% for Poland [1,251,100 (95% CI: 1,158,300–1,344,000) and 480,100 (95% CI: 426,60–533,700) subjects with AF/AFl and SAF, respectively] and 20.4% for Europe [20,300,000 (95% CI 18.8–21.9 M), including 8,000,000 (95% CI: 6.9–9.3 M) subjects with AF/AFl and SAF, respectively]. The prevalence of AF/AFl was 2.56-fold higher in men than in women and the incidence of silent AF (SAF) was 4.73-fold higher in men than in women. Although the risk of either AF/AFl or SAF increased with age, the odds ratio was significantly higher in women of a particular age group than in men of the corresponding age. Based on our survey, the total number of subjects with AF/AFl in Europe is estimated to be roughly 20.3 million (95% CI 18.8–21.9M), including 8.0 million (95% CI: 6.9–9.3M) subjects with silent AF/AFl (Figure).

Conclusions

Approximately 1 in 5 subjects aged ≥65 years suffers from AF/AFl. The risk for AF/AFl and SAF is higher in men than that in women, but when correlated to a particular age group, the risk increases significantly in women. Continuous ECG telemonitoring allows for more credible AF/AFl and SAF detection.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: Public Institution(s). Main funding source(s): The research has received funding from the National Centre for Research and Development under grant agreement (STRATEGMED2/269343/18/NCBR/2016

A Derivative of the Blatter Radical as a Potential Metal-Free Magnet for Stable Thin Films and Interfaces

Organic radicals are fascinating materials because of their unique properties, which make them suitable for a variety of applications. Their synthesis may be challenging, and big efforts have focused on chemical stability. However, introducing a new material in electronics not only requires chemically stable molecules but also stable monolayers and thin films in view of their use in devices. In this work, we have investigated the thin films of a derivative of the Blatter radical that was synthesized bearing in mind the thermodynamic factors that govern thin film stability. We have proved our concept by investigating the electronic structure, the paramagnetic character, and stability of the obtained films under UHV and ambient conditions by in situ X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, ex situ atomic force microscopy, and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy.

Magnetic ordering in an organic polymer

We describe preparation and magnetic properties of an organic pi-conjugated polymer with very large magnetic moment and magnetic order at low temperatures. The polymer is designed with a large density of cross-links and alternating connectivity of radical modules with unequal spin quantum numbers (S), macrocyclic S = 2 and, cross-linking S = (1/2) modules, which permits large net S values for either ferromagnetic or antiferromagnetic exchange couplings between the modules. In the highly cross-linked polymer, an effective magnetic moment corresponding to an average S of about 5000 and slow reorientation of the magnetization by a small magnetic field (less than or equal to 1 oersted) below a temperature of about 10 kelvin are found. Qualitatively, this magnetic behavior is comparable to that of insulating spin glasses and blocked superparamagnets.

A new cholesterol derivative suitable for transfecting certain type of cells in the presence of 10% serum

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Inhibitory effects of mixed disulfides from disulfiram on the metabolism and genotoxicity of N-nitrosodiethylamine

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New mixed disulfides of L-cysteine derivatives and of glutathione with diethyldithiocarbamic acid and 2-mercaptoethanesulfonic acid

It is generally assumed that thiol anticarcinogens like disulfiram (DSF) or sodium 2-mercaptoethane-sulfonate (mesna) after in vivo administration react rapidly with serum protein sulfhydryl groups forming mixed disulfides. Different methods have been established for the synthesis of mixed disulfides between cysteine or glutathione and diethyldithiocarbamate (DDTC) or mesna in order to elucidate their chemical and biological effects. A short summary is given of pilot biochemical experiments carried out with two mixed disulfides.