Symptom-focused management is one of the cornerstones of optimal atrial fibrillation (AF) therapy. To evaluate the use of rhythm control and rate control strategy. Second, to identify predictors of the use of amiodarone in patients with rhythm control and of the use of rhythm control strategy in patients with paroxysmal AF in the Balkans. Prospective enrolment of consecutive patients from seven Balkan countries to the BALKAN-AF survey was performed. Of 2712 enrolled patients, 2522 (93.0%) with complete data were included 1622 (64.3%) patients were assigned to rate control strategy and 900 (35.7%) to rhythm control. Patients with rhythm control were younger, more often hospitalised for AF and with less comorbidities (all P<.05) than those with rate control. Selleck K03861 Symptom score [European Heart Rhythm Association (EHRA)] was not an independent predictor of a rhythm control strategy [odds ratio (OR) 0.99, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.90-1.10, P=.945]. The most commonly chosen antiarrhythmic agents were amiodarone (49.7%), followed by propafenone (24.3%). More than one-third of patients in the BALKAN-AF survey received a rhythm control strategy, and these patients tended to be younger with less comorbidities than those managed with rate control. EHRA symptom score is not significantly associated with rhythm control strategy. The most commonly used antiarrhythmic agents were amiodarone, followed by propafenone.More than one-third of patients in the BALKAN-AF survey received a rhythm control strategy, and these patients tended to be younger with less comorbidities than those managed with rate control. EHRA symptom score is not significantly associated with rhythm control strategy. The most commonly used antiarrhythmic agents were amiodarone, followed by propafenone.Chlorophyll is the vivid chromophore which imparts the green color to plant leaves, and is consumed by humans through green vegetables. The basic porphyrin structure of chlorophyll binds magnesium in plants, but can bind different divalent metals (e.g., copper, zinc, iron) facilitated by food processing techniques and/or chemical synthesis. This review covers the known elements of chlorophyll and metallo-chlorophyll absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion in vitro and in vivo. The review discusses what is understood about the ability of these novel metallo-chlorophyll derivatives to deliver essential metals. This review also detail chlorophyll and metallo-chlorophyll toxin binding properties which largely occur during digestion, focusing on toxins including dioxins, heterocyclic aromatic amines, polyaromatic hydrocarbons, and aflatoxin. Finally, the article highlights the gaps in the understanding of the metabolism and metal and toxin-binding bioactivity of this family of molecules. The optimal systemic chemotherapy for combined hepatocellular-cholangiocarcinoma (cHCC-CCA) has not yet been defined. The definition and classification of cHCC-CCA has changed recently in the 5th edition of WHO classification. We reviewed the pathological findings with the new classification and analysed the efficacy of systemic chemotherapy in patients with unresectable/metastatic cHCC-CCA. Among 254 patients with histologically confirmed cHCC-CCA from 1999 to 2015 in Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea, 99 patients who received systemic chemotherapy for unresectable/metastatic disease were included. Overall response rate (ORR), progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were retrospectively evaluated. Sorafenib (n=62) and cytotoxic chemotherapy (n=37) were administered as first-line chemotherapies; the ORR was 14.1%, and the median PFS and OS were 3.8 and 10.6months, respectively, with a median follow-up duration of 39.6months. The efficacy outcomes were not significantly different betweeerapeutic agent or assessing the prognosis. To overcome the poor treatment outcomes, further studies are needed to find proper treatment targets, biomarkers and the best treatment strategies.Accurate assessments of the burden of hand eczema (HE) in the general population are important for public awareness and intervention. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to provide updated estimates of prevalence and incidence, alongside additional epidemiological endpoints on HE in the general population. PubMed, Embase and Web of Science were searched for studies reporting the prevalence and/or incidence of HE in the general population. Proportion meta-analyses were performed to calculate pooled estimates of prevalence, incidence, severity, and the proportion of individuals with HE and a history of atopic dermatitis. Sixty-six studies were included in the quantitative analysis encompassing 568 100 individuals. The pooled estimates for lifetime, 1-year, and point prevalence were 14.5% (95% confidence interval [CI] 12.6-16.5), 9.1% (95% CI 8.4-9.8) and 4.0% (95% CI 2.6-5.7), respectively. The pooled incidence rate of HE was 7.3 cases/1000 person-years (95% CI 5.4-9.5). The occurrence of HE was 1.5-2 times higher in females than males. More than one third suffered from moderate/severe disease and around one third had a history of atopic dermatitis. HE was a recurrent, long-lasting disease with an average age at onset of the early- to mid-twenties. In conclusion; HE is a highly prevalent disease in the general population and carries a significant risk of long-term or chronic disease.Blocking the mevalonate pathway for cholesterol reduction by using statin may have adverse effects including statin-induced colitis. Moreover, one of the predisposing factors for colitis is an imbalanced CD4+ T cell, which can be observed on the complete deletion of HMG-CoA reductase (HMGCR), a target of statins. In this study, we inquired geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate (GGPP) is responsible for maintaining the T-cell homeostasis. Following dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis, simvastatin increased the severity of disease, while cotreatment with GGPP, but not with cholesterol, reversed the disease magnitude. GGPP ameliorated DSS-induced colitis by increasing Treg cells. GGPP amplified Treg differentiation through increased IL-2/STAT 5 signaling. GGPP prenylated Ras protein, a prerequisite for extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathway activation, leading to increased IL-2 production. Higher simvastatin dose increased the severity of colitis. GGPP ameliorated simvastatin-increased colitis by increasing Treg cells.