Risk of Dementia After Smoking Cessation in Patients With Newly Diagnosed Atrial Fibrillation.

Importance: Incident atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with an increased risk of dementia. However, data on the association between smoking cessation after AF diagnosis and dementia risk are limited. Objective: To evaluate the association between changes in smoking status after AF diagnosis and dementia risk. Design, Setting, and Participants: This nationwide cohort study with 126 252 patients used data from the Korean National Health Insurance Service database, including patients who had a national health checkup examination within 2 years before and after AF diagnosis between January 1, 2010, and December 31, 2016. Based on their smoking status, participants were classified as never smokers, ex-smokers, quit smokers, and current smokers. Ex-smokers were defined as those who had quit smoking before the first examination and remained quit until the second examination. Patients who were current smokers at the first health examination but had quit smoking before the second examination were classed as quit smokers. The index date was the second health examination. Patients were followed up until dementia, death, or the study period ended (December 31, 2017), whichever occurred first. Data were analyzed from January 13, 2020, to March 29, 2022. Exposures: Smoking cessation after newly diagnosed AF. Main Outcomes and Measures: Dementia, including Alzheimer disease and vascular dementia, was the primary outcome. Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to estimate hazard ratios. Results: A total of 126 252 patients (mean [SD] age, 62.6 [12.0] years; 61.9% men) were included in the analysis. The mean (SD) CHA2DS2-VASc score, which measures the risk of ischemic stroke, was 2.7 (1.7). Smoking status of the total study population was as follows: 65 579 never smokers (51.9%), 34 670 ex-smokers (27.5%), 8919 quit smokers (7.1%), and 17 084 current smokers (13.5%). During a median of 3 years of follow-up, dementia occurred in 5925 patients (1.11 per 1000 person-years). After multivariable adjustment, the risk of quit smokers was significantly lower than that of current smokers (hazard ratio, 0.83 [95% CI, 0.72-0.95]). Conclusions and Relevance: The findings of this cohort study suggest that all types of smoking were associated with a significantly higher risk of dementia in patients with new-onset AF. Smoking cessation after AF diagnosis was associated with a lower risk of dementia than among current smokers. These findings may support promoting smoking cessation to reduce dementia risk in patients with new-onset AF.

A comparison of standard dual-tip hemodialysis catheter split lumen hemodialysis catheter.

PURPOSE: To compare a split lumen (SLC) with the standard dual-tip hemodialysis catheter (DTC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The patients who underwent DTC insertion or SLC insertion were enrolled. Initial catheter dwell times (ICDT) and catheter-related complications were compared. RESULTS: SLC (n=80) and DTC (n=133) were enrolled. ICDT was 71.94 days (SLC) and 68.55 days (DTC) (P=.76). Catheter migration was detected in 10.5% and 12.4% (SLC) and in 1.7% and 2.0% (DTC) (P=.0026). CONCLUSIONS: SLC did not extend the ICDT compared to DTC. Furthermore, SLC was more prone to catheter-related complications, particularly catheter migration, than DTC.

Multidirectional instability of the shoulder: rotator interval dimension and capsular laxity evaluation using MR arthrography.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the rotator interval and capsular dimension as measured on MR arthrography between patients with clinically diagnosed multidirectional instability (MDI) and control subjects with no instability. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed a consecutive series of 658 shoulders that had undergone MR arthrography between 2006 and 2010. Of these, 97 shoulders were included in the present study. These shoulders were divided into two groups according to the clinically established diagnoses. The MDI group comprised 47 shoulders with atraumatic multidirectional shoulder instability, and the control group comprised 50 shoulders with no instability. Two independent observers measured the width and depth of the rotator interval, and the capsular dimensions at the anterior, anteroinferior, inferior, posteroinferior, and posterior regions in the two groups using MR arthrography. RESULTS: The rotator interval width and depth were significantly greater in the MDI group (width, observer 1, 17.7 mm, observer 2, 17.9 mm; depth, observer 1, 8.9 mm, observer 2, 8.8 mm) than in the control group (width, observer 1, 14.3 mm, observer 2, 14.5 mm; depth, observer 1, 5.9 mm, observer 2, 6.2 mm) (p < .001). The capsular dimensions at the inferior and posteroinferior regions were significantly larger in the MDI group (inferior, observer 1, 27.9 mm, observer 2, 27.8 mm; posteroinferior, observer 1, 27.0 mm, observer 2, 27.1 mm) than in the control group (inferior, observer 1, 25.7 mm, observer 2, 25.3 mm; posteroinferior, observer 1, 23.3 mm, observer 2, 23.6 mm) (p < .05). A width greater than 15.2 mm or a depth greater than 6.4 mm of the rotator interval, suggesting MDI, had sensitivities of 81 and 92 % for observer 1, and 79 and 94 % for observer 2, and specificities of 66 and 72 % for observer 1, and 62 and 66 % for observer 2, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Measurements of the rotator interval and the size of the distended inferior and posteroinferior joint capsule on MR arthrography are greater in shoulders with clinical MDI than in stable shoulders.

Strategies for successful percutaneous revascularization of chronic total occlusion of the femoropopliteal arteries when the antegrade passage of a guide wire fails.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of various strategies for revascularization of chronic total occlusion of femoropopliteal arteries when the guide wire does not pass in an anterograde direction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-four patients with totally occluded femoropopliteal arteries (mean occlusion length 13.75 cm; range, 6-22 cm) were treated by using a retrograde approach and two novel catheters. After successful recanalization or reentry, balloon angioplasty followed by stent placement was performed to complete the revascularization. RESULTS: In 16 cases in which to cross the occlusion via intraluminal or subintimal route was failed, we used Frontrunner catheters in five cases and Outback catheters in 11 cases. In eight cases in which to reenter after subintimal passage of the guide wire was failed, we used Outback catheters. Successful recanalization was achieved intraluminally or subintimally in all cases. One perforation occurred during subintimal passage of the guide wire that was controlled by recanalization of another subintimal tract. There were no cases of distal thromboembolism or other complications. CONCLUSION: A retrograde approach and using the Frontrunner and Outback catheters are safe and effective for successful revascularization of chronic total occlusion of femoropopliteal arteries. In particular, they are useful when the initial antegrade attempts at recanalization have failed.