Herein, the crystal structures and physical properties of two previously unreported barium seleno-germanates, Ba6Ge2Se12 and Ba7Ge2Se17, are presented. Ba6Ge2Se12 adopts the P21/c space group with a ...= 10.0903(2) Å, b = 9.3640(2) Å, c = 25.7643(5) Å, and β = 90.303(1)°, whereas Ba7Ge2Se17 crystallizes in the Pnma space group with a = 12.652(1) Å, b = 20.069(2) Å, c = 12.3067(9) Å. Both structures feature polyatomic anion disorder: Se22– in the case of Ba6Ge2Se12 and GeSe54– in the case of Ba7Ge2Se17. The anion disorder is verified by comparing pair distribution functions of ordered and disordered models of the structures. These anions are split unevenly across two possible sets of atomic coordinates. The optical band gaps obtained from the powdered samples are found to be 1.75 and 1.51 eV for Ba6Ge2Se12 and Ba7Ge2Se17, respectively. Differential scanning calorimetry experiments indicate that the compounds are stable under the exclusion of air up to at least 673 K. The thermal diffusivity measurements revealed thermal conductivities reaching values as low as 0.33 W m–1 K–1 in both compounds at 573 K.
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has influenced health-care organization worldwide, including management of non-communicable diseases. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of ...COVID-19 pandemic on cardiac implantable electronic devices' (CIEDs) implantation rates in Croatia.
A retrospective, observational, national study was conducted. The data on CIEDs' implantation rates from 20 Croatian implantation centres, between January 2018 and June 2021, were extracted from the national Health Insurance Fund registry. Implantation rates before and after COVID-19 pandemic started, were compared.
The overall numbers of CIED implantations in Croatia during COVID-19 pandemic were not different in comparison to 2 years pre-COVID-19 time (2618 vs. 2807, p = .081). The pacemaker implantation rates decreased significantly (by 45%) during April (122 vs. 223, p < .001) and May 2020 (135 vs. 244, p = .001), as well as during November 2020 (177 vs. 264, p = .003), but significantly increased during summer months 2020 comparing to 2018 and 2019 (737 vs. 497, p<0.001). The ICD implantation rates decreased significantly by 59% in April 2020 (26 vs. 64, p = .048).
To the authors best knowledge this is a first study including complete national data on CIED implantation rates and COVID-19 pandemic impact. A significant reduction in number of both pacemaker and ICD implants during specific months of the COVID-19 pandemic was determined. However, afterwards compensation in implants resulted in similar total number when the complete year was evaluated.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Herein, the crystal structures and physical properties of two previously unreported barium seleno-germanates, Ba
Ge
Se
and Ba
Ge
Se
, are presented. Ba
Ge
Se
adopts the
2
/
space group with
= ...10.0903(2) Å,
= 9.3640(2) Å,
= 25.7643(5) Å, and β = 90.303(1)°, whereas Ba
Ge
Se
crystallizes in the
space group with
= 12.652(1) Å,
= 20.069(2) Å,
= 12.3067(9) Å. Both structures feature polyatomic anion disorder: Se
in the case of Ba
Ge
Se
and GeSe
in the case of Ba
Ge
Se
. The anion disorder is verified by comparing pair distribution functions of ordered and disordered models of the structures. These anions are split unevenly across two possible sets of atomic coordinates. The optical band gaps obtained from the powdered samples are found to be 1.75 and 1.51 eV for Ba
Ge
Se
and Ba
Ge
Se
, respectively. Differential scanning calorimetry experiments indicate that the compounds are stable under the exclusion of air up to at least 673 K. The thermal diffusivity measurements revealed thermal conductivities reaching values as low as 0.33 W m
K
in both compounds at 573 K.
Purpose
PR interval prolongation > 200 ms resulting in the diagnosis of first-degree atrioventricular block (AVB1) is caused by a delay in the AV nodal/His conduction and/or the right intra-atrial ...conduction (RIAC). The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence of AVB1 due to RIAC delay (AVB1 with normal AH and HV) in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and atrial flutter (AFlu).
Methods
We included 1067 consecutive patients (33% female, age 63 ± 13 years) referred for catheter ablation of AF (AF-group) (453 patients), AF and AFlu (136 patients), AFlu (292 patients), and AVNRT/AVRT (186 patients). AH-, HV-, PR-interval, and
P
-wave duration were measured on the 12-lead ECG and the intracardiac electrograms in sinus rhythm. RIAC delay was defined as a prolonged PR interval > 200 ms with normal AH and HV intervals.
Results
The prevalence of AVB1 is higher in patients with AFlu (41%) and AF (21%) and patients with both arrhythmias (30%) as compared with a reference group (8%) of patients with AVNRT/AVRT. AVB1 was due to RIAC delay in 42 of 67 patients (63%) in the AF-group, in 37 of 96 patients (39%) in the AFlu-group, and in 17 of 36 patients (47%) in the AF/AFlu group, respectively. AV nodal conduction delay was more common in AFlu patients compared with AF patients.
Conclusion
RIAC delay is a common underlying cause of AVB1 in patients with AF and AFlu. These findings may impact the prescription of antiarrhythmic and AV-nodal blocking drugs.
Chloride validity in Emergency Department settings Kolačević, Matea; Baudoin, Dina Vukičević; Babacanli, Alen ...
The American journal of emergency medicine,
August 2018, 2018-08-00, 20180801, Letnik:
36, Številka:
8
Journal Article
Recenzirano
587 patients with low chloride (67.3%) were admitted to hospital, mostly due to acute heart failure, myocardial infarction, gastrointestinal pathology (hepatic cirrhosis, ileus, pancreatitis) or ...hyponatraemia. According to this, chloride does not contribute significantly to patients' management in the ED. Chloride P value Sodium 13.3% (2409/18102) 6.37% (1148/18020) < 0.0001 Potassium 9.16% (1528/16671) 6.37% (1148/18020) < 0.0001 AST 23.22% (4130/17790) 6.37% (1148/18020) < 0.0001 Hb 32.09% (5780/18012) 6.37% (1148/18020) < 0.0001 Table 1 Pathological chloride levels frequency in comparison with that of sodium, potassium aspartate-aminotranspherase and haemoglobin levels in the Emergency Department settings
Background
Atrial fibrillation recurrence (AFR) is common after pulmonary vein isolation (PVI), and the rate does not differ between radiofrequency (RF) and cryoballoon (CB) ablation. The aim of this ...study was to assess the impact of the ablation modality used at the index PVI on the outcome after redo PVI in patients with paroxysmal AF.
Methods
In this prospective, single-center, non-randomized study, consecutive patients with paroxysmal AF who have undergone the index PVI with either RF ablation (RF group) or 2nd-generation CB (CB group) were included. The primary endpoint was freedom from recurrence of atrial arrhythmia lasting > 30 s.
Results
A total of 105 patients undergoing redo PVI for paroxysmal AF were included (median age 61 years; 24% female; left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) 57 ± 8%; left atrial volume index (LAVI) 34 ± 11 mm). Index PVI was done either with focal RF (
n
= 81) or with CB (
n
= 24) and redo PVI only with focal RF. Total procedure time (139 vs. 113 min,
p
= 0.10) and RF delivery time (1017 vs. 870 s,
p
= 0.33) of the redo PVI were not significantly different. After a median follow-up of 371 (185–470) days, there were no differences between the RF and CB groups regarding the AFR rate after the second PVI (24 vs. 23%,
p
= 0.89). The Kaplan-Meier analysis showed no difference between the groups regarding AFR freedom time (
p
= 0.81). In multivariable logistic regression, only coronary artery disease was identified as an independent long-term predictor of AFR (OR 4.15, 95% CI 1.17–14.71,
p
= 0.027).
Conclusions
The ablation modality used at the index PVI has no impact on long-term outcome after redo PVI in patients with paroxysmal AF.
Two most common causes of elevated serum calcium levels, which together account for nearly 90% of all cases, are primary hyperparathyroidism and malignancy. Thus, it is necessary to consider other ...disorders in the diagnostic evaluation of patients with hypercalcemia. We report the case of a 40-year-old female patient with an intellectual disability who was admitted to the Emergency Department with severe symptomatic hypercalcemia and acute renal failure, caused by recurrent intentional vomiting. The aim of this report is to help clinicians make an accurate diagnosis by considering recurrent vomiting habits as a potential cause of hypercalcemia and acute renal failure. Our case provides a comprehensive diagnostic work-up and multidisciplinary treatment strategies for patients with symptomatic hypercalcemia.
Distal embolization of plaque and thrombotic debris in the infarct-related artery (IRA) may lead to microvascular obstruction resulting in impaired myocardial reperfusion.
The aim of the study was to ...assess the impact of contrast injection pressure in IRA, during primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), on myocardial reperfusion in patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).
This prospective, randomized, open label, pilot trial evaluated acute STEMI patients who underwent primary PCI, with blinded evaluation of end points. Patients were assigned to higher injection pressure group A (550 pound/inch2) or lower injection pressure group B (200 pound/inch2). Primary endpoint was the postprocedural incidence of restored myocardial perfusion defined as myocardial blush grade (MBG) 3.
Study included 100 consecutive acute STEMI patients, with median age of 63 (56–72) years (77% men) who were randomized to higher and lower injection pressure group. Baseline demographic, clinical and angiographic characteristics did not differ significantly between the groups. There were no significant differences between the study groups regarding difference in achieved MBG 3 (33 vs 36 patients, p = 0.247) nor regarding the ST-segment deviation score neither immediately after (3 vs 4 mm, p > 0.3) nor 24 h after primary PCI (2 vs 3 mm, p > 0.3).
There was no impact of lower intracoronary contrast injection pressure in comparison to higher injection pressure, during primary PCI in patients with acute STEMI, on myocardial reperfusion as assessed by MBG or ST segment changes in the ECG.
The study was registered at registry ClinicalTrials.gov with the registration number: NCT03445364, on February 26th 2018.
Diet rich in lipids and hyperlipidaemia increases incidence of atrial premature beats and all supraventricular arrhythmias. The aim of the study was to investigate the prevalence of hyperlipidaemia ...in patients with AV re-entry tachycardia (AVRT) and AV nodal re-entry tachycardia (AVNRT). We conducted a retrospective, cross-sectional, case-control study that included all consecutive patients for whom AVRT or AVNRT was confirmed during electrophysiology study. Age and gender-matched patients admitted to hospital or outpatient clinic for various reasons were randomly included and served as a control group. Hyperlipidaemia was defined according to 2016 European Society of Cardiology guidelines. A total of 1448 subjects were included: 725 patients with AVRT/AVNRT and 723 controls. AVRT/AVNRT patients had high hyperlipidaemia prevalence, which was significantly higher when compared to the control group (50.1 vs. 35.8%, p < 0.001). AVRT patients, with median age of 37.5 years, had hyperlipidaemia prevalence of 45.7%. In a multivariate analysis, hyperlipidaemia was independently associated with AVRT/AVNRT (OR 2.128, p < 0.001), both with AVNRT (OR 1.878, p < 0.001) and AVRT (OR 2.786, p < 0.001). Hypercholesterolemia was significantly more prevalent in patients with AVNRT and AVRT, while this was not the case for hypertriglyceridemia. There were no differences between the AVRT and AVNRT patients regarding hyperlipidaemia prevalence (51.9 vs. 45.7%, p = 0.801), even though AVRT patients were significantly younger (37.5 vs. 48.5, p < 0.001). In conclusion, this is the first study that investigated hyperlipidaemia prevalence in patients with AVRT or AVNRT. AVRT/AVNRT patients had higher prevalence of hyperlipidaemia and higher total and LDL cholesterol levels.
•Data on atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence after multiple-procedure pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) are rare.•After up to two procedures (PVI only), left atrial volume predicts AF recurrence.•Burden ...based classification (AF burden score) predicts AF recurrence as well.•But conventional classification (paroxysmal or persistent) does not.
Catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF) by means of pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) focuses on the PVs as the putative trigger of AF. However, which classification should be used to identify patients that are most suitable for PVI is uncertain. The aim of the study was to evaluate rhythm-, burden-, and anatomically-based classification schemes to predict success rates after up to two procedures of an ablation strategy strictly aimed at isolation of the PVs.
Patients with paroxysmal or non-longstanding persistent AF undergoing PVI-only ablation with the option of one repeat PVI in case of AF recurrence were included. An AF burden score (AFB) was determined based on frequency, episode duration, and number of previous cardioversions and then categorized as minimal, mild, moderate, or severe. Two- and three-dimensional anatomical assessment of the left atrium (LA) was performed based on pre-interventional imaging by computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging.
Of 195 patients analyzed, 24 presented with recurrence after the last intervention (12%, median follow up: 16±11 months). In multivariable analysis, a more than 6-fold increase of risk for AF recurrence was identified for patients with a severe compared to a mild AFB hazard ratio: 6.241 (95% confidence interval: 1.914–20.167, p=0.002). In contrast to univariable analysis, no other parameter was associated with recurrence in multivariable analysis.
Burden-based (AFB) classification was identified as a significant predictor for AF recurrence even after repeat PVI, while neither anatomical parameters nor the established rhythm-based classification of paroxysmal and persistent AF did.
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