Gentofte Hospital

WEDNESDAY, Sept. 4, 2024 -- The association of prenatal ω-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid (n-3 LCPUFA) with the risk for childhood atopic dermatitis (AD) varies based on the maternal cyclooxygenase-1 (COX1) genotype, according to a study published online Aug. 28 in JAMA Dermatology . Liang Chen, from Herlev and Gentofte Hospital in Copenhagen, Denmark, and colleagues examined the association of n-3 LCPUFA supplementation during pregnancy with the risk for childhood AD overall and by maternal COX1 genotype. A total of 736 pregnant women at 24 weeks of gestation were randomly assigned to n-3 LCPUFA (fish oil) or placebo (olive oil) until one-week postpartum; 635 children completed clinical follow-up. The researchers observed an association between pregnancy n-3 LCPUFA supplementation and lower urinary thromboxane A2 metabolites at age 1 year (β = −0.46), which was also associated with the COX1 rs1330344 genotype (β per C allele, 0.47). There were no associations for n-3 LCPUFA supplementation or the maternal COX1 genotype with the risk for childhood AD until age 10 years; however, evidence of an interaction between these variables was seen. The risk for AD was lower in the n-3 LCPUFA group versus the placebo group among mothers with the TT genotype, while no association was seen for mothers with the CT genotype. An increased risk was seen for offspring of mothers with the CC genotype. "These findings support use of a personalized prevention strategy for reducing the burden of AD in childhood by only providing n-3 LCPUFA supplementation to pregnant mothers carrying the COX1 rs1330344 TT genotype," the authors write. Several authors disclosed ties to the biopharmaceutical industry.

Using artificial intelligence (AI), breast radiologists in Denmark have improved breast cancer screening performance and reduced the rate of false-positive findings. Using artificial intelligence (AI), breast radiologists in Denmark have improved breast cancer screening performance and reduced the rate of false-positive findings. Results of the study were published today in Radiology, a journal of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA). Mammography successfully reduces breast cancer mortality, but also carries the risk of false-positive findings. In recent years, researchers have studied the use of AI systems in screening. "We believe AI has the potential to improve screening performance," said Andreas D. Lauritzen, Ph.D., a post-doctoral student at the University of Copenhagen and researcher at Gentofte Hospital in Denmark. When used to triage likely normal screening results or assist with decision support, AI also can substantially reduce radiologist workload. "Population-based screening with mammography reduces breast cancer mortality, but it places a substantial workload on radiologists who must read a large number of mammograms, the majority of which don't warrant a recall of the patient," Dr. Lauritzen said. "The reading workload is further compounded when screening programs employ double reading to improve cancer detection and decrease false-positive recalls." Dr. Lauritzen and colleagues set out to compare workload and screening performance in two cohorts of women who underwent screening before and after AI implementation. The retrospective study compared two groups of women between the ages of 50 and 69 who underwent biennial mammography screening in the Capital Region of Denmark. In the first group, two radiologists read the mammograms of women screened between October 2020 and November 2021 before the implementation of AI. The screening mammograms of the second group of women performed between November 2021 and October 2022 were initially analyzed by AI. Mammograms deemed likely to be normal by AI were then read by one of 19 specialized full-time breast radiologists (called a single-read). The remaining mammograms were read by two radiologists (called a double-read) with AI-assisted decision support. The commercially available AI system used for screening was trained by deep learning models to highlight and rate suspicious lesions and calcifications within mammograms. All women who underwent mammographic screening were followed for at least 180 days. Invasive cancers and ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) detected through screening were confirmed through needle biopsy or surgical specimens. In total, 60,751 women were screened without AI, and 58,246 women were screened with the AI system. In the AI implementation group, 66.9% (38,977) of the screenings were single-read, and 33.1% (19,269) were double-read with AI assistance. Compared to screening without AI, screening with the AI system detected significantly more breast cancers (0.82% versus 0.70%) and had a lower false-positive rate (1.63% versus 2.39%). "In the AI-screened group, the recall rate decreased by 20.5 percent, and the radiologists' reading workload was lowered by 33.4 percent," Dr. Lauritzen said. The positive predictive value of AI screening was also greater than that of screening without AI (33.5% versus 22.5%). In the AI group, a higher proportion of invasive cancers detected were 1 centimeter or less in size (44.93% vs. 36.60%). "All screening performance indicators improved except for the node-negative rate which showed no evidence of change," Dr. Lauritzen said. Dr. Lauritzen said more research is needed to evaluate long-term outcomes and ensure overdiagnosis does not increase. "Radiologists typically have access to the women's previous screening mammograms, but the AI system does not," he said. "That's something we'd like to work on in the future." It is also important to note that not all countries follow the same breast cancer screening protocols and intervals. U.S. breast cancer screening protocols differ from protocols used in Denmark.

MARLBOROUGH, Mass., May 14, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- CardioFocus, Inc., a medical device company dedicated to advancing ablation treatment for cardiac arrythmias, today announced its participation at the Heart Rhythm 2024 conference, taking place in person at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center and virtually, May 16-19, 2024. CardioFocus will feature its portfolio of innovative ablation systems which optimize lesion creation via confirmed tissue contact and sophisticated energy delivery. This will include the foundational HeartLight X3®, the next generation ultra-compliant PFA balloon for true single shot pulmonary vein isolation, as well as the recently acquired Centauri™ Pulsed Electric Field System, and QuickShot™ large-area focal PFA catheter. Using a novel proprietary waveform, Centauri is compatible with several marketed focal ablation catheters and mapping systems. "Our pursuit of innovation towards clinically meaningful ablation systems is driven by a focus on patient outcomes" said CardioFocus CEO Steve Ogilvie. "At Heart Rhythm 2024, we will present new data and products demonstrating our ability to customize proprietary pulsed field waveforms with each catheter system to deliver precise energy for safe and durable lesion creation." CardioFocus will present new clinical data at two abstract sessions as well as a Rhythm Theater presentation titled, "Shaping The Future of Cardiac Ablation: How Contact and Waveform Science Enhance PFA's Lesion Durability". Data Driven Pulsed Field Abstracts Shephal K. Doshi, MD, FACC, Pacific Heart Institute, Santa Monica, CA, and Keita Watanabe, MD, Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, NY, will present data supporting Centauri and companion QuickShot catheter, and CardioFocus' pulsed field ablation balloon for true single shot pulmonary vein isolation, which is currently in development: PO-02-108 – Pulsed Field Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation Using a Large-Area Focal Catheter with a Novel Contact Detection Algorithm – Invasive Remapping Results for the QuickShot Catheter & CENTAURI System – Poster Session II – Ablation – Friday, May 17, 1:00-3:00p.m. EDT – Abstract Pavilion PO-06-144 – First Demonstration of a Multielectrode Endoscopic Balloon Pulsed Field Ablation Catheter: Initial Preclinical Feasibility – Poster Session VI - Ablation – Sunday, May 19, 9:30-11:30a.m. EDT – Abstract Pavilion Rhythm Theatre Presentations on Pulsed Field Lesion Durability Dr. Shephal K. Doshi will chair a Rhythm Theater presentation titled, "Shaping The Future of Cardiac Ablation: How Contact and Waveform Science Enhance PFA's Lesion Durability." Presentations will be made by Hiroshi Nakagawa, MD, PhD, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, David Kenigsberg, MD, FHRS, FACC, Westside Regional Medical Center, Plantation, FL, Jacob Koruth, MD, Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, NY, and Jim Hansen, MD, DMSc, Gentofte Hospital, Hellerup, DK, on May 18, 2024, from 10:30a.m.-11:30a.m. EDT, in Rhythm Theater #2. Exhibit Hall Booth and Tech Suites CardioFocus' home at Heart Rhythm 2024 will be at Booth 653, where the company will release new visual branding to capture CardioFocus' foundation and future, combining both elements into a modern design. The booth will highlight HeartLight X3 and the Centauri PFA System. CardioFocus will also play host at two Tech Suites (TS254 and TS256), sharing products that the company is currently developing, including navigation enabled QuickShot and the true single shot ultra-compliant PFA balloon. Abstracts will be available May 16, 2024. Abstracts and presentations can be accessed, once live, at: . For addition information and to register for Heart Rhythm 2024, please visit: . About CardioFocus, Inc. Headquartered in Marlborough, MA, CardioFocus is a medical device innovator and manufacturer dedicated to advancing ablation treatment for cardiac disorders such as atrial fibrillation, the most common heart arrhythmia. For more information, visit . Media Relations Sean Leous ICR Westwicke 646-866-4012 [email protected] SOURCE CardioFocus, Inc.