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St. Jude Medical Announces IRASE AF Clinical Trial To Evaluate Cardiac Ablation Catheter System For Treatment Of Atrial FibrillationEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
St. Jude Medical, Inc. (NYSE:STJ) announced it has received an Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to begin enrollment in the IRASE AF (IRrigated Ablation System Evaluation for AF) trial, a multicenter, randomized, single-blind study evaluating the safety and efficacy of the company's Duo 12 port open irrigated catheter ablation system for treatment of Atrial Fibrillation (AF). AF is the most common cardiac arrhythmia (abnormal heartbeat), affecting an estimated 3.3 million Americans and millions more worldwide... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)
Source: Health News from Medical News Today - February 4, 2010 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Cardiovascular / Cardiology Source Type: news

Ictal hypoventilation contributes to cardiac arrhythmia and SUDEP: Report on two deaths in video-EEG–monitored patientsEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
We report two cases of SUDEP in patients with intractable temporal lobe epilepsy undergoing video-EEG (electroencephalography) telemetry at two centers. Both had secondarily generalized convulsions. EEG, electrocardiography (ECG), and respiratory changes in these two patients are reported herein. Ictal/postictal hypoventilation may contribute to SUDEP with the resulting hypoxemia and acidosis leading to failure of recovery of cortical function and eventual cardiac failure. (Source: Epilepsia)
Source: Epilepsia - February 3, 2010 Category: Neurology Authors: Lisa M. Bateman, Mark Spitz, Masud Seyal Source Type: journals

Enhanced QT shortening and persistent tachycardia after generalized seizuresEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusions: Our data suggest a substantial disturbance of autonomic function following secondarily generalized tonic-clonic seizures (GTCS) in patients with medically refractory temporal lobe epilepsy. The observed alterations could potentially facilitate sudden cardiac death and might contribute to the association of sudden unexpected death in epilepsy with GTCS. (Source: Neurology)
Source: Neurology - February 1, 2010 Category: Neurology Authors: Surges, R., Scott, C. A., Walker, M. C. Tags: Epilepsy monitoring, Epilepsy semiology, Generalized seizures, Complex partial seizures ARTICLES Source Type: journals

Strokes After Cardiac Surgery and Relationship to Carotid StenosisEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusion: There is no causal relationship between significant carotid stenosis and stroke after cardiac surgery. Summary: There are potentially multiple mechanisms for stoke after a cardiac surgical procedure, including carotid artery stenosis, cardiac arrhythmia, aortic atherosclerosis, transient hypercoagulable states, and hypertension. These multiple and often coexisting causes make studying the mechanism of stroke after cardiac surgery difficult. Estimates are that in 2001, >5000 combined cardiac and carotid operations were performed in the United States (Neurology 2007;63:195-97). Recent analyses suggest increased ...
Source: Journal of Vascular Surgery - February 1, 2010 Category: Surgery Authors: Y. Li, D. Walicki, C. Mathiesen Tags: Abstracts Source Type: journals

Reduction of Ventricular Sodium Current in a Mouse Model of HIVEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusion: Overall, our observations suggest that elevated levels of proinflammatory cytokines in CD4C/HIV mice could alter Na+ channel function, thus altering cardiac depolarization and contribute to the generation of arrhythmias. (J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol, Vol. pp. 1-7) (Source: Journal of Cardiovascular Electrophysiology)
Source: Journal of Cardiovascular Electrophysiology - February 1, 2010 Category: Cardiology Authors: SCOTT A. GRANDY, JUDITH BROUILLETTE, CÉLINE FISET Source Type: journals

All is Not Lost: Utilizing Continuous Remote ILR Monitoring to Diagnose SyncopeEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
A 63-year-old man with frequent unexplained syncope was implanted with a second generation remotely monitored implantable loop recorder for continuous electrocardiogram (ECG) monitoring. He had a subsequent syncopal episode and despite accidental destruction of his patient activator, vital ECG data from the event were transmitted wirelessly, enabling a cardiac arrhythmia to be excluded. This case highlights the benefit of remote monitoring in syncope assessment, as well as a transmission system that ensures prompt analysis of the ECG data and therefore rapid optimal patient management.(PACE 2009; 1[ndash]3) (Source: Pacing...
Source: Pacing and Clinical Electrophysiology : PACE - February 1, 2010 Category: Cardiology Authors: PAUL S. G. HONG, RICK A. VEASEY, NEIL SULKE Source Type: journals

A Reaction-Diffusion Model of ROS-Induced ROS Release in a Mitochondrial NetworkEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Author Summary Cardiac cell injury and death is a key component of cardiac diseases such as heart failure or myocardial infarction, thus it is important to understand the earliest steps leading up to irreversible cell damage. Mitochondria are the organelles responsible for generating the energy required to keep the cell running, yet they are particularly vulnerable to damage by toxic byproducts of metabolism, which include reactive oxygen species (ROS). ROS wreak havoc on cellular functions by attacking proteins, lipids and DNA, so the cardiac cell has evolved sophisticated defenses to remove them. The work we present in ...
Source: PLoS Computational Biology - January 29, 2010 Category: Biology Authors: Lufang Zhou et al. Source Type: journals

Acute Effects of Sex Steroid Hormones on Susceptibility to Cardiac Arrhythmias: A Simulation StudyEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Author Summary It is well known that female gender is an independent risk factor for some types of cardiac arrhythmias. However, it has been difficult to determine how much of a role physiological concentrations of circulating sex steroid hormones play in gender linked arrhythmia susceptibility because the cardiac system is so extraordinarily complex. Here we employ a computational strategy, based on experimental measurements, to tease out the individual contributions of estrogen, progesterone and testosterone on cardiac electrical behavior and then make predictions about their effects in combination and in the presence o...
Source: PLoS Computational Biology - January 29, 2010 Category: Biology Authors: Pei-Chi Yang et al. Source Type: journals

2010 Louis-Jeantet Prize For MedicineEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
The 2010 Louis-Jeantet Prize For Medicine is awarded to the French cardiologist Michel Haissaguerre, professor of cardiology at the University Victor-Segalen Bordeaux 2 and head of the Department of Cardiac Arrhythmias of the University Hospital of Bordeaux, and to the British biologist Austin Smith, Medical Research Council professor at the Department of Biochemistry and director of the Welcome Trust Centre for Stem Cell Research at Cambridge University ... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)
Source: Health News from Medical News Today - January 28, 2010 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Cardiovascular / Cardiology Source Type: news

2010 Louis-Jeantet Prize For MedicineEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
The 2010 Louis-Jeantet Prize For Medicine is awarded to the French cardiologist Michel Haissaguerre, professor of cardiology at the University Victor-Segalen Bordeaux 2 and head of the Department of Cardiac Arrhythmias of the University Hospital of Bordeaux, and to the British biologist Austin Smith, Medical Research Council professor at the Department of Biochemistry and direc... (Source: Cardiovascular / Cardiology News From Medical News Today)
Source: Cardiovascular / Cardiology News From Medical News Today - January 28, 2010 Category: Cardiology Tags: Cardiovascular / Cardiology Source Type: news

School of Medicine Researchers Conducting Clinical Trial of Investigational Stem Cell Therapy for Heart Attack PatientsEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
This study is unique because it is testing cells that have been previously extracted and grown from healthy donors and are ready to be infused into the patient’s blood stream, just like an intravenous medication. Other stem cell therapies being studied elsewhere for heart attack patients use stem cells that are taken from the patient, grown in a lab for three-to-four weeks and then injected directly into the heart. This time delay may have a significant impact on the effectiveness of the therapy. “After a heart attack, there is a lot of scar tissue and dead heart muscle. Much of that muscle is lost up front, right aft...
Source: University of Maryland School of Medicine News Headlines - January 28, 2010 Category: Universities & Medical Training Source Type: news

Leaky RyR2 trigger ventricular arrhythmias in Duchenne muscular dystrophy [Medical_Sciences]Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) have a progressive dilated cardiomyopathy associated with fatal cardiac arrhythmias. Electrical and functional abnormalities... (Source: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences)
Source: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences - January 26, 2010 Category: Science Authors: Fauconnier, J., Thireau, J., Reiken, S., Cassan, C., Richard, S., Matecki, S., Marks, A. R., Lacampagne, A. Tags: Medical_Sciences Source Type: journals

Rac1 and Connective Tissue Growth Factor: The Missing Link Between Atrial Remodeling and the Pathogenesis of Atrial Fibrillation?⁎Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common type of cardiac arrhythmia and a major cause of morbidity and mortality (). AF typically occurs after cardiac surgery or in patients with hypertension or ischemic, valvular, structural, or metabolic heart disease (). In some cases, AF has no clear etiology, which is often referred to as lone or idiopathic AF. Nevertheless, most patients with AF have increased left atrial size (), and AF patients with left atrial enlargement have poorer cardiovascular prognosis compared with patients who have normal left atrial dimensions (). However, left atrium enlargement could also be a conseq...
Source: Journal of the American College of Cardiology - January 26, 2010 Category: Cardiology Authors: James K. Liao Tags: Editorial Comment Source Type: journals

2010 Louis-Jeantet prize for medicineEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
(European Molecular Biology Organization) The 2010 Louis-Jeantet prize for medicine is awarded to the French cardiologist Michel Haissaguerre, professor of cardiology at the University Victor-Segalen Bordeaux 2 and head of the Department of Cardiac Arrhythmias of the University Hospital of Bordeaux, and to the British biologist Austin Smith, Medical Research Council professor at the Department of Biochemistry and director of the Welcome Trust Centre for Stem Cell Research at Cambridge University. (Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health)
Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health - January 26, 2010 Category: Global & Universal Source Type: news

The Calsequestrin Mutation CASQ2D307H Does Not Affect Protein Stability and Targeting to the Junctional Sarcoplasmic Reticulum but Compromises Its Dynamic Regulation of Calcium Buffering [Protein Synthesis, Post-Translational Modification, and Degradation]Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
In this study we made a transgenic mouse model expressing the mutant CASQ2D307H protein in a CASQ2 null background and investigated if the disease is caused by accelerated degradation of the mutant protein. Our data suggest that the mutant protein can be expressed, is relatively stable, and targets appropriately to the junctional sarcoplasmic reticulum. Moreover, it partially normalizes the ultrastructure of the sarcoplasmic reticulum, which was altered in the CASQ2 null background. In addition, overexpression of the mutant protein does not cause any pathology and/or structural changes in the myocardium. We further demonst...
Source: Journal of Biological Chemistry - January 22, 2010 Category: Chemistry Authors: Kalyanasundaram, A., Bal, N. C., Franzini-Armstrong, C., Knollmann, B. C., Periasamy, M. Tags: Protein Synthesis, Post-Translational Modification, and Degradation Source Type: journals

Device-Related Infection Among Patients With Pacemakers and Implantable Defibrillators: Incidence, Risk Factors, and ConsequencesEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusion: CDI occurs in about 1% of cases in high volume facilities. Pulse generator replacement surgery and dual- or triple-chamber device implantation were associated with a significantly increased risk of infection. (J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol, Vol. pp. 1-5) (Source: Journal of Cardiovascular Electrophysiology)
Source: Journal of Cardiovascular Electrophysiology - January 22, 2010 Category: Cardiology Authors: PABLO B. NERY, RUSSELL FERNANDES, GIRISH M. NAIR, GLEN L. SUMNER, CARLOS S. RIBAS, SYAMKUMAR M. DIVAKARA MENON, XIAOYIN WANG, ANDREW D. KRAHN, CARLOS A. MORILLO, STUART J. CONNOLLY, JEFF S. HEALEY Source Type: journals

Ryanodine Receptor Calcium Channels and their Partners as Drug Targets.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Ryanodine receptors (RyRs) are high conductance intracellular cation channels that release calcium ions from stores such as the endoplasmic reticulum and sarcoplasmic reticulum. Although RyRs are expressed in many cell types, their roles have only been extensively characterised in tissues in which they are abundant: RyR1 is essential for excitation-contraction coupling in skeletal muscle; whereas RyR2 is required for the analogous signal transduction pathway in heart. Defects in RyR1 cause malignant hyperthermia and a spectrum of myopathies in skeletal muscle; whereas RyR2 dysregulation can result in fatal cardiac arrh...
Source: Biochemical Pharmacology - January 21, 2010 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Mackrill JJ Tags: Biochem Pharmacol Source Type: journals

Three-dimensional cardiac rotational angiography: effective radiation dose and image quality implicationsEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusion Three-dimensional rotational angiography can be performed with acceptable patient radiation dose, comparable to cardiac CT. With the 3DRA system studied (Siemens Axiom), slender patients may currently receive unnecessarily high radiation doses when compared with obese patients, so that further dose reduction seems feasible for many patients. Adequate collimation is imperative to limit patient exposure. (Source: Europace)
Source: Europace - January 20, 2010 Category: Cardiology Authors: Wielandts, J.-Y., De Buck, S., Ector, J., LaGerche, A., Willems, R., Bosmans, H., Heidbuchel, H. Tags: Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation Source Type: journals

Sigma-1 receptor agonist fluvoxamine for delirium in patients with Alzheimer's diseaseEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusion: Doctors should consider that fluvoxamine could be an alternative approach in treating delirium in patients with Alzheimer's disease because of the risk of extrapyramidal side effects by antipsychotic drugs. (Source: Annals of General Psychiatry)
Source: Annals of General Psychiatry - January 20, 2010 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Tsutomu FuruseKenji Hashimoto Source Type: journals

Physiological-Model-Constrained Noninvasive Reconstruction of Volumetric Myocardial Transmembrane PotentialsEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Personalized noninvasive imaging of subject-specific cardiac electrical activity can guide and improve preventive diagnosis and treatment of cardiac arrhythmia. Compared to body surface potential (BSP) recordings and electrophysiological information reconstructed on heart surfaces, volumetric myocardial transmembrane potential (TMP) dynamics is of greater clinical importance in exhibiting arrhythmic details and arrythmogenic substrates inside the myocardium. This paper presents a physiological-model-constrained statistical framework to reconstruct volumetric TMP dynamics inside the 3-D myocardium from noninvasive BSP recor...
Source: IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering - January 19, 2010 Category: Biomedical Engineering Source Type: journals

Detecting Space-Time Alternating Biological Signals Close to the Bifurcation PointEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
We present a new approach for automatic detection of alternating signals in large noisy spatiotemporal datasets by exploiting quantitative measures of alternans evolution, e.g., temporal persistence, and by preserving phase information. The technique specifically targets low amplitude, relatively short alternating sequences and is validated by combinatorics-derived probabilities and empirical datasets with white noise. Using high-resolution optical mapping in live cardiomyocyte networks, exhibiting calcium alternans, we reveal for the first time early fine-scale alternans, close to the noise level, which are linked to the ...
Source: IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering - January 19, 2010 Category: Biomedical Engineering Source Type: journals

Pathophysiology of Sleep ApneaEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Sleep-induced apnea and disordered breathing refers to intermittent, cyclical cessations or reductions of airflow, with or without obstructions of the upper airway (OSA). In the presence of an anatomically compromised, collapsible airway, the sleep-induced loss of compensatory tonic input to the upper airway dilator muscle motor neurons leads to collapse of the pharyngeal airway. In turn, the ability of the sleeping subject to compensate for this airway obstruction will determine the degree of cycling of these events. Several of the classic neurotransmitters and a growing list of neuromodulators have now been identified th...
Source: Physiological Reviews - January 19, 2010 Category: Physiology Authors: Dempsey, J. A., Veasey, S. C., Morgan, B. J., O'Donnell, C. P. Tags: Articles Source Type: journals

Maternal-fetal monitoring during dental procedure in patients with heart valve diseaseEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
CONCLUSION: The use of 1.8mL of lidocaine 2% in combination with epinephrine was safe and efficient in restorative dental procedures during pregnancy in women with rheumatic heart valve disease.FUNDAMENTO: Los efectos de la anestesia local en odontología con lidocaína y epinefrina, sobre los parámetros cardiovasculares de gestantes portadoras de valvulopatías y sus conceptos, no son claros. OBJETIVO: Evaluar y analizar parámetros de la cardiotocografía, de la presión arterial y electrocardiográficos de la gestante portadora de enfermedad valvular reumática, al someterse a anestesia local con 1,8 ml de lidocaína 2...
Source: Arquivos Brasileiros de Cardiologia - January 19, 2010 Category: Cardiology Source Type: journals

The effect of sertindole on QTD and TPTEEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusion: These findings might be related to the absence of confirmed Torsade de Pointes (TdP) cases related to sertindole exposure, despite sertindole's QTc prolonging effects. (Source: Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica)
Source: Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica - January 19, 2010 Category: Psychiatry Authors: J. Nielsen, M. P. Andersen, C. Graff, J. K. Kanters, T. Hardahl, J. Dybbro, J. J. Struijk, J. M. Meyer, E. Toft Source Type: journals

CardioNet taps new CFOEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
CardioNet, a wireless medical technology company focused on cardiac arrhythmias, has appointed Heather C. Getz to the position of senior vice president and chief financial officer (CFO), effective Jan. 15. (Source: Cardiovascular Business News)
Source: Cardiovascular Business News - January 18, 2010 Category: Cardiology Tags: Latest News Source Type: news

St. Jude Medical Showcases Latest Products At Boston Atrial Fibrillation Symposium 2010Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
St. Jude Medical, Inc. (NYSE:STJ) today announced it will display and demonstrate products and technologies from the company's arrhythmia management portfolio at the 15th annual Boston Atrial Fibrillation (BAF) Symposium. The featured products reflect the company's continued commitment to the treatment of abnormal heart rhythms, including Atrial Fibrillation (AF). St. Jude Medical will feature products and technologies that aid physicians in the diagnosis and treatment of cardiac arrhythmias and cardiovascular disease in the U.S. and around the globe... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)
Source: Health News from Medical News Today - January 16, 2010 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Cardiovascular / Cardiology Source Type: news

Safety of atrial fibrillation ablation with novel multi-electrode array catheters on uninterrupted anticoagulation—a single-center experienceEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusion Despite the larger diameter and increased stiffness of multi-electrode array catheters and their deflectable transseptal sheaths, their use for catheter ablation in patients with atrial fibrillation on uninterrupted warfarin in this single-center experience does not appear to be unsafe, and thus, an adequately powered multicenter prospective randomized controlled trial should be considered. Content Type Journal ArticleDOI 10.1007/s10840-009-9457-9Authors Christopher Ruslan Hayes, St Vincent’s University Hospital Cardiac Arrhythmia Service Elm Park Dublin IrelandDavid Keane, St Vincent’...
Source: Journal of Interventional Cardiac Electrophysiology - January 15, 2010 Category: Cardiology Tags: Journal of Interventional Cardiac Electrophysiology Source Type: journals

Obstructive sleep apnea and cardiac arrhythmiasEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Hersi Ahmad SalahAnnals of Thoracic Medicine 2010 5(1):10-17Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB), which includes obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as its most extreme variant, is characterized by intermittent episodes of partial or complete obstruction<sup> </sup> of the upper airway, leading to cessation of breathing while asleep. Cardiac arrhythmias are common problems in OSA patients, although the true prevalence and clinical relevance of cardiac arrhythmias remains to be determined. The presence and complexity of tachyarrhythmias and bradyarrhythmias may influence morbidity, mortality an...
Source: Annals of Thoracic Medicine - January 15, 2010 Category: Respiratory Medicine Authors: Hersi Ahmad Salah Source Type: journals

Recognition of Ventricular Extrasystoles Over the Reconstructed Phase Space of Electrocardiogram.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Distinguishing ventricular extrasystoles from normal heartbeats is crucial to cardiac arrhythmia analysis. This paper proposes novel morphological descriptors, the major portrait partition area (MPPA) and point distribution percentage (PDP), which are extracted from the reconstructed phase space of the QRS complex. These measures can be linked to QRS width and prolonged ventricular contraction, and offer several advantages over traditional characterization of the QRS structure: it does not require QRS boundary detection, is robust under R-peak misalignment, and including some information from nearby points. The first f...
Source: Annals of Biomedical Engineering - January 13, 2010 Category: Biomedical Engineering Authors: Chan HL, Wang CL, Fang SC, Chao PK, Wei JD Tags: Ann Biomed Eng Source Type: journals

Controversial Weight-Loss Method, Still in Use Today, May Have Contributed to Early Death of 1950's Film/Recording Star Mario LanzaEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
University of Maryland medical expert warns that weight loss regime is still in use today The death at age 38 of film and recording star Mario Lanza may have been related to a controversial weight loss program based on a hormone derived from the urine of pregnant women. The diet was developed in the 1950’s and debunked in the 1960’s, but has undergone a recent revival and is touted on numerous Web sites. Lanza’s career in film, recording and live performance reached its height in the late 1940’s and through the 1950’s. His operatic voice and style inspired some of the world’s greatest singers, includin...
Source: University of Maryland School of Medicine News Headlines - January 12, 2010 Category: Universities & Medical Training Source Type: news

Smoking and cardiovascular health: A review of the epidemiology, pathogenesis, prevention and control of tobaccoEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Prasad D S, Kabir Zubair, Dash A K, Das B CIndian Journal of Medical Sciences 2009 63(11):520-533The causal associations between cigarette smoking and human diseases are irrefutable. In this review, we focus on the epidemiological pattern of cigarette smoking on cardiovascular risk, the underlying mechanistic process of such a causal link, how to prevent premature cardiovascular morbidity and mortality particularly through smoking cessation, and the health benefits of such cessation measures. Finally, we conclude our review summarizing a few of the proven evidence-based tobacco control strategies and policies from across t...
Source: Indian Journal of Medical Sciences - January 12, 2010 Category: Journals (General) Authors: Prasad D S, Kabir Zubair, Dash A K, Das B C Source Type: journals

Refeeding syndrome: Treatment considerations based on collective analysis of literature case reportsEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Abstract: Refeeding syndrome (RFS) represents a group of clinical findings that occur in severely malnourished individuals undergoing nutritional support. Cardiac arrhythmias, multisystem organ dysfunction, and death are the most severe symptoms observed. As the cachectic body attempts to reverse its adaptation to the starved state in response to the nutritional load, symptoms result from fluid and electrolyte imbalances, with hypophosphatemia playing a central role. Because guidelines for feeding the malnourished patient at risk for refeeding syndrome is scarce, we have provided management recommendations based on the kno...
Source: Nutrition - January 11, 2010 Category: Nutrition Authors: Akwasi Afriyie Boateng, Krishnan Sriram, Michael M. Meguid, Martin Crook Tags: Reviews Source Type: journals

University of Michigan Cardiovascular Center Summer Fellowship ProgramEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
The University of Michigan Cardiovascular Center Summer Fellowship Program is now accepting applications for the summer of 2010.The University of Michigan Cardiovascular Center is pleased to offer a summer fellowship program to support undergraduate students that are interested in cardiovascular research. Any student who is currently enrolled at any degree granting University or College is eligible to apply, with preference give to those students interested in a career in research.Each student will be matched, based on their interests, to a laboratory that is led by a faculty member of the University of Michigan Cardiovas...
Source: ScanGrants feed - January 10, 2010 Category: Research Authors: University of Michigan Cardiovascular Center Source Type: funding

Cardiac remodeling and effects on exercise capacity after interventional closure of atrial septal defects in different adult age groupsEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusion Patients benefit from interventional closure of hemodynamically significant ASD regardless of their age. However, the defect should be repaired as early as possible to prevent hemodynamic complications, such as the development of pulmonary hypertension and cardiac arrhythmias. Content Type Journal ArticleCategory Original PaperDOI 10.1007/s00392-009-0105-2Authors Smita Jategaonkar, Städt. Klinikum Braunschweig Department of Internal Medicine 2 Braunschweig GermanyWerner Scholtz, Ruhr University Bochum Department of Cardiology, Heart and Diabetes Center North Rhine-Westphalia Georgstr. 11 3...
Source: Clinical Research in Cardiology - January 8, 2010 Category: Cardiology Tags: Clinical Research in Cardiology Source Type: journals

Limited forward trafficking of connexin 43 reduces cell-cell coupling in stressed human and mouse myocardiumEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Gap junctions form electrical conduits between adjacent myocardial cells, permitting rapid spatial passage of the excitation current essential to each heartbeat. Arrhythmogenic decreases in gap junction coupling are a characteristic of stressed, failing, and aging myocardium, but the mechanisms of decreased coupling are poorly understood. We previously found that microtubules bearing gap junction hemichannels (connexons) can deliver their cargo directly to adherens junctions. The specificity of this delivery requires the microtubule plus-end tracking protein EB1. We performed this study to investigate the hypothesis that t...
Source: Journal of Clinical Investigation - January 5, 2010 Category: Biomedical Science Authors: James W. Smyth, Ting-Ting Hong, Danchen Gao, Jacob M. Vogan, Brian C. Jensen, Tina S. Fong, Paul C. Simpson, Didier Y.R. Stainier, Neil C. Chi, Robin M. Shaw Source Type: journals

Human voltage-gated sodium channel mutations that cause inherited neuronal and muscle channelopathies increase resurgent sodium currentsEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Inherited mutations in voltage-gated sodium channels (VGSCs; or Nav) cause many disorders of excitability, including epilepsy, chronic pain, myotonia, and cardiac arrhythmias. Understanding the functional consequences of the disease-causing mutations is likely to provide invaluable insight into the roles that VGSCs play in normal and abnormal excitability. Here, we sought to test the hypothesis that disease-causing mutations lead to increased resurgent currents, unusual sodium currents that have not previously been implicated in disorders of excitability. We demonstrated that a paroxysmal extreme pain disorder (PEPD) mutat...
Source: Journal of Clinical Investigation - January 5, 2010 Category: Biomedical Science Authors: Brian W. Jarecki, Andrew D. Piekarz, James O. Jackson, Theodore R. Cummins Source Type: journals

Oxidant stress derails the cardiac connexon connectionEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Connexin 43 (Cx43) is the major protein component of gap junctions that electrically couple cardiomyocytes at the intercalated disc. Oxidant stress, reduced Cx43 expression, and altered subcellular localization are present in many forms of structural heart disease. These changes in Cx43 lead to alterations in electrical conduction in the ventricle and predispose to lethal cardiac arrhythmias. In their study in this issue of the JCI, Smyth et al. tested the hypothesis that oxidant stress perturbs connexon forward trafficking along microtubules to gap junctions (see the related article beginning on page 266). Failing human v...
Source: Journal of Clinical Investigation - January 5, 2010 Category: Biomedical Science Authors: Gordon F. Tomaselli Source Type: journals

Catheter Ablation Prior To Defibrillator Shock Reduces Risk Of Recurrence Of Ventricular Tachycardia (VTACH Study)Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
The VTACH study is published in this week's edition of The Lancet. It is the work of Professor Karl-Heinz Kuck, Asklepios Klinik St Georg, Hamburg, Germany, and colleagues. It shows that use of catheter ablation prior to implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) implantation reduces the risk of ventricular tachycardia recurrence at two years. This is an invasive procedure used to remove a faulty electrical pathway from the heart of people who are prone to developing cardiac arrhythmias... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)
Source: Health News from Medical News Today - January 1, 2010 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Cardiovascular / Cardiology Source Type: news

Guest Editors' IntroductionEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
With their propensity to lead to sudden death, cardiac arrhythmias are a major clinical problem. They also represent an exciting medical challenge which needs the association of fundamental molecular and cell physiologists and cardiologists to unravel the underlying arrhythmogenic mechanisms and to imagine new therapeutic approaches. Since the development of the patch-clamp technique some 30 years ago, an incredibly large amount of knowledge has been obtained. After biophysical dissection of ion currents, the inputs from molecular biology and genetics have allowed the identification and functional description of many prot...
Source: Journal of Molecular and Cellular Cardiology - January 1, 2010 Category: Cytology Authors: Isabelle Baró, Flavien Charpentier Tags: Editorial Source Type: journals

[Progress in treatment of chronic heart failure in Western medicine and treatment strategies in traditional Chinese medicine.]Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
The concept of modern medicine in treating chronic heart failure (CHF) has changed markedly in recent years. To improve the quality of life and prolong life, the treatment goal is no longer just temporary improvement of symptoms, more importantly, is to prevent and delay the occurrence and development of ventricular remodeling. Long-term chronic over-activation of sympathetic system, renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system and other neuroendocrine factors promotes myocardial remodeling, increases myocardial injury and deteriorates cardiac function. Despite short-term use can significantly improve the blood flow dynamics, ...
Source: Zhong xi yi jie he xue bao : Journal of Chinese Integrative Medicine. - January 1, 2010 Category: Complementary Medicine Authors: Chen CX, Gao JP, Wu Q, Guo J, Gu WL Tags: Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Xue Bao Source Type: journals

Pathophysiology of sleep apnea.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Sleep-induced apnea and disordered breathing refers to intermittent, cyclical cessations or reductions of airflow, with or without obstructions of the upper airway (OSA). In the presence of an anatomically compromised, collapsible airway, the sleep-induced loss of compensatory tonic input to the upper airway dilator muscle motor neurons leads to collapse of the pharyngeal airway. In turn, the ability of the sleeping subject to compensate for this airway obstruction will determine the degree of cycling of these events. Several of the classic neurotransmitters and a growing list of neuromodulators have now been identifie...
Source: Physiological Reviews - January 1, 2010 Category: Physiology Authors: Dempsey JA, Veasey SC, Morgan BJ, O'Donnell CP Tags: Physiol Rev Source Type: journals

Guide for AuthorsEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
HeartRhythm is the Official Journal of the Heart Rhythm Society and the Cardiac Electrophysiology Society. HeartRhythm provides rapid online electronic (3-5 business days) and print publication of the most important current scientific developments in the field of cardiac arrhythmias and electrophysiology. The Journal publishes both clinical and basic original, peer-reviewed articles devoted to the diagnosis and treatment of heart rhythm disorders, as well as the electrophysiology of the heart and blood vessels, including ion channels and biophysics, pharmacology, genetics, modeling, and cellular and in vivo electrophysiol...
Source: Heart Rhythm - December 29, 2009 Category: Cardiology Tags: Author Guidelines Source Type: journals

Genetic Origins of Pediatric Heart DiseaseEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Abstract Pediatric heart disease comprises many forms of cardiovascular disease in the young including cardiovascular malformations (CVM), cardiomyopathies, vasculopathies, e.g., Marfan syndrome, and cardiac arrhythmias. CVM are an important component of pediatric heart disease and constitute a major portion of clinically significant birth defects. In the past decade, the complementary nature of genetic, developmental, and biochemical approaches have contributed to extraordinary advances in understanding the origins of pediatric heart disease. Results of the studies of the cardiac transcription factor, NKX2....
Source: Pediatric Cardiology - December 23, 2009 Category: Cardiology Tags: Pediatric Cardiology Source Type: journals

Predictors of Short-Term (Seven-Day) Cardiac Outcomes After Emergency Department Visit for SyncopeEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Syncope is a common reason for emergency department (ED) visits, and patients are often admitted to exclude syncope of cardiovascular origin. Population-based data on patterns and predictors of cardiac outcomes may improve decision-making. Our objective was to identify patterns and predictors of short-term cardiac outcomes in ED patients with syncope. Administrative data from an integrated health system of 11 Southern California EDs were used to identify cardiac outcomes after ED presentation for syncope from January 1, 2002, to December 31, 2005. Syncope and cause of death were identified by codes from the International C...
Source: The American Journal of Cardiology - December 23, 2009 Category: Cardiology Authors: Gelareh Z. Gabayan, Stephen F. Derose, Steven M. Asch, Vicki Y. Chiu, Sungching C. Glenn, Carol M. Mangione, Benjamin C. Sun Tags: Arrhythmias and Conduction Disturbances Source Type: journals

Role of endothelin in the effects of isoprenaline on potassium currents and calsequestrin 2 expression in the heart.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
SUMMARY 1. Activation of beta-receptors may modulate potassium channels and calcium handling proteins AND serve as a basis for arrhythmogenesis. We determined whether an endothelin (ET) receptor antagonist CPU0213 could relieve the ISO (isoprenaline) induced changes in I(Kr) and I(Ks) and calsequestrin 2 (CASQ2) in the heart. 2. In isolated ventricular myocytes the I(Kr) and I(Ks) currents and expression for CASQ2, FKBP12.6, SERCA2a and ET(A)R were measured in the presence of ISO and either propranolol or CPU0213. 3. In the presence of ISO, I(Kr) and I(Ks) currents were significantly exaggerated and FKBP12.6, SERCA2a a...
Source: Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology and Physiology - December 23, 2009 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Li N, Jia N, Dai DZ, Hu C, Dai Y Tags: Clin Exp Pharmacol Physiol Source Type: journals

A Rectangular Dermatosis of the Left Back [Observation]Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusions The clinical cases and corresponding histologic findings represent possible long-term sequelae of electrical cardioversion or defibrillation. They are presented in order to enhance the diagnostic acumen of dermatologists and to avoid potential misdiagnosis. (Source: Archives of Dermatology)
Source: Archives of Dermatology - December 21, 2009 Category: Dermatology Authors: Craiglow, B., Kim, J., Watsky, K., Heald, P. Tags: Pacemakers/ Defibrillators, Dermatology, Dermatologic Disorders, Dermatologic Disorders, Other, Cardiovascular Intervention Observation Source Type: journals

Prevention of sudden cardiac death: Need for a plaque stabilizerEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Prevention of sudden cardiac death due to cardiac arrhythmias, asystole, or electromechanical dissociation remains a major medical and epidemiologic problem. There are many potential causes of sudden cardiac death, including acute coronary occlusion, chronic coronary heart disease with myocardial scar from one or more prior myocardial infarctions, cardiomyopathy, a host of cardiac genetic disorders such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and long QT syndrome to name a few, and a spectrum of other cardiac conditions. It is well recognized that acute coronary-related events account for most of the sudden cardiac deaths in the ad...
Source: American Heart Journal - December 19, 2009 Category: Cardiology Authors: Arthur J. Moss, Ilan Goldenberg Tags: Editorials Source Type: journals

Review: Medical complications after strokeEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Source: Lancet Neurology Area: News In this review in Lancet Neurology, the authors discuss some of the important medical complications after a stroke and highlight the relevant preventive and treatment aspects of care. Topics include: . Cardiac complications: myocardial infarction, cardiac arrhythmias . Pulmonary complications: pneumonia, congestive heart failure and cardiomyopathy, oxygen desaturation and apnoea . Gastrointestinal complications: dysphagia, gastrointestinal bleeding, faecal incontinence . Genitourinary complications: urinary tract infections...
Source: NeLM - Cardiovascular Medicine - December 18, 2009 Category: Cardiology Source Type: organizations

Effect of electrical cardioversion on stented coronary arteryEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Abstract Direct current cardioversion, which produces electrical energy, is highly effective for the termination of cardiac arrhythmia and sometimes is indicated in patients with coronary artery stents due to arrhythmias. Only a few reports have been published describing the potential adverse interactions between foreign bodies and electrical cardioversion. The aim of this animal study was to investigate the acute effect of repeated external defibrillation on coronary artery tissue and adjacent myocardium at the implantation site of coronary stents. Custom-made stainless steel stents were implanted in the co...
Source: Central European Journal of Medicine - December 17, 2009 Category: Journals (General) Tags: Central European Journal of Medicine Source Type: journals

Effect of 4-Aminopyridine on Action Potential Parameters in Isolated Dog Purkinje FibersEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Introduction. 4-Aminopyridine (fampridine), a potassium channel blocker, has demonstrated efficacy in improving lower extremity strength and walking speed in patients with multiple sclerosis. Since in vitro electrophysiologic studies are recommended for evaluating a drug's potential to prolong the QT interval and induce such cardiac arrhythmias as Torsades de Pointes, we examined the electrophysiologic effects of 4-aminopyridine (0.5, 5.0, 50, and 500 µM) on isolated canine Purkinje fibers.Methods. Microelectrodes monitored the resting membrane potential, overshoot, amplitude of action potential (AP), and maximal rate of ...
Source: Archives of Drug Information - December 16, 2009 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: George Thomas, Brian Klatt, Andrew Blight Source Type: journals