Stroke risk associated with balloon based catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation: Rationale and design of the MACPAF Study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Catheter ablation of the pulmonary veins has become accepted as a standard therapeutic approach for symptomatic paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF). However, there is some evidence for an ablation associated (silent) stroke risk, lowering the hope to limit the stroke risk by restoration of rhythm over rate control in AF. The purpose of the prospective randomized single-center study "Mesh Ablator versus Cryoballoon Pulmonary Vein Ablation of Symptomatic Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation" (MACPAF) is to compare the efficacy and safety of two balloon based pulmonary vein ablation systems in patients with symptomatic paroxysmal AF.</p> <p>Methods/Design</p> <p>Patients are randomized 1:1 for the Arctic Front^®or the HD Mesh Ablator^®catheter for left atrial catheter ablation (LACA). The predefined endpoints will be assessed by brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), neuro(psycho)logical tests and a subcutaneously implanted reveal recorder for AF detection. According to statistics 108 patients will be enrolled.</p> <p>Discussion</p> <p>Findings from the MACPAF trial will help to balance the benefits and risks of LACA for symptomatic paroxysmal AF. Using serial brain MRIs might help to identify patients at risk for LACA-associated cerebral thromboembolism. Potential limitations of the study are the single-center design, the existence of a variety of LACA-catheters, the missing placebo-group and the impossibility to assess the primary endpoint in a blinded fashion.</p> <p>Trial registration</p> <p>clinicaltrials.gov NCT01061931</p

2017 HRS/EHRA/ECAS/APHRS/SOLAECE expert consensus statement on catheter and surgical ablation of atrial fibrillation: executive summary.

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Seed yield, oil and phytate concentration in the seeds of two oilseed rape cultivars as affected by different phosphorus supply

Abstract A greenhouse pot experiment was conducted for studying seed and oil yield, P uptake and phytate concentration in the seed of two oilseed rape cultivars (Brassica napus L. var. Oleifera, cv. Bristol and cv. Lirajet), grown on a soil substrate at different levels of plant available phosphorus (6, 19, 31 and 106 mg P-CAL kg−1 soil, resp.). All other nutrients were maintained at a high level. At maturity, seed yield and seed quality were investigated. An increase in the phosphorus soil supply resulted in a significant (P&lt;0.05) increase in seed and oil yield, oil and P concentration of the seeds, and P transported to the seeds. The phytate-phosphorus concentration ranged from 0.5 to 6.9 g kg−1 in the seeds and from 0.9 to 12.8 g kg−1 in rapeseed meal. Insufficient P supply resulted in a reduced concentration of phosphorus and phytate in the seeds. Significant interactions between the factors cultivar and P supply were found for the traits seed yield, oil yield, and P-harvest index