The Atrial Natriuretic Peptide-to-brain Natriuretic Peptide Ratio Predicts Left Atrial Reverse Remodeling after Rhythm Control Therapy in Patients with Persistent Atrial Fibrillation.

Objective The association between natriuretic peptide levels in atrial fibrillation (AF) patients with advanced left atrial (LA) remodeling and reverse remodeling after rhythm control therapy has not been clarified. The present study assessed the role of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) measurements to predict LA reverse remodeling after catheter ablation (CA) in persistent AF patients with LA enlargement. Methods This study included 88 persistent AF patients with LA enlargement (volume index >48 mL/m) who underwent CA.

Japan ablation registry: cryoablation in atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia ("JARCANRET study"): results from large multicenter retrospective investigation.

Purpose: Cryoenergy has been demonstrated to be a safe alternative to radiofrequency ablation for catheter ablation of atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT). This study aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of cryoablation in patients with AVNRT.

Methods: A multicenter retrospective study was performed.

Aortic Regurgitation Presenting with Recurrent Detachment of a Prosthetic Valve, as the First Presenting Symptom of Cardiovascular Behçet's Disease.

A 33-year-old man with severe aortic regurgitation underwent initial aortic valve replacement (AVR). During the 2 years after AVR, 3 reoperations for prosthetic valve detachment were required. During hospitalization, he had no typical clinical findings, with the exception of a persistent inflammatory reaction; a pseudo-aneurysm around the Bentall graft developed 27 days after the 4th operation.

Extracardiac Interatrial Tunnel and Atrial Septal Defect Closed With a Single Atrial Septal Occluder in an Adolescent Girl.

In contrast to the atrial septal defect (ASD) as a congenital interatrial shunt, the extracardiac interatrial tunnel is extremely rare. We report the first percutaneous closure of this entity during closure of a secundum ASD after careful investigation of ischemic risk in a 15-year-old girl. The extracardiac interatrial tunnel could entail interatrial shunt, and, if misidentified as an ASD, could result in lethal procedural complications during surgical or catheter interventions.

Effects of bepridil versus E-4031 on transmural ventricular repolarization and inducibility of ventricular tachyarrhythmias in the dog.

Background: Bepridil (a multiple channel blocker) may markedly prolong the QT interval and induce polymorphic ventricular tachyarrhythmias (VTA). We compared the transmural ventricular repolarization characteristics and inducibility of polymorphic VTA after administration of bepridil versus the pure I(Kr) blocker, E-4031, each administered to five open-chest dogs.

Methods: We used plunge needle electrode to record transmural left ventricular (LV) repolarization and activation-recovery interval (ARI) to estimate local repolarization.

Ventricular tachyarrhythmia associated with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: incidence, prognosis, and relation to type of hypertrophy.

Objective: To assess the incidence, characteristics, and prognosis of ventricular tachyarrhythmia in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM).

Patients: The study consisted of 66 consecutive patients with HCM who were admitted to Niigata University Hospital between 1992 and 2005. Their clinical characteristics and ECG morphology were investigated according to the type of HCM.

Effect of bepridil in atrial fibrillation inducibility facilitated by vagal nerve stimulation. - Prevention of vagal nerve activation-induced shortening of the atrial action potential duration -.

Background: Because bepridil blocks multiple myocardial ionic channels, including the muscarinic acetylcholine receptor-operated potassium current (I(KAch)), bepridil is expected to suppress atrial fibrillation (AF) mediated by vagal nerve stimulation (VNS).

Methods And Results: The therapeutic effects of bepridil were studied with a special focus on heart rate variability (HRV) in a canine model of AF. During VNS, AF was induced in 9 of 9 experiments before, vs 3 of 9 experiments after administration of bepridil (P<0.

Correlation between surface and intracardiac electrocardiogram in a patient with inappropriate defibrillation shocks due to hyperkalemia.

A 39-year-old man received implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) shocks during sinus rhythm, triggered by an increase in amplitude and oversensing of intracardiac T waves, caused by hyperkalemia. After treatment of hyperkalemia, the T wave morphology normalized, and oversensing and inappropriate ICD shocks were eliminated. Alteration of the intracardiac electrogram was well correlated to the surface electrocardiogram (ECG) changes.

Ventricular repolarization gradients in a patient with takotsubo cardiomyopathy.

A 61-year-old woman had recurrent syncopal attacks caused by torsades de pointes associated with remarkable QT prolongation (QTc = 740 ms). Left ventriculography showed apical akinesis (ballooning) and basal hyperkinesis, but coronary angiography was normal. This was compatible with takotsubo cardiomyopathy.

Knee-flexion torque and morphology of the semitendinosus after ACL reconstruction.

Purpose: The present study aimed to clarify the relationship between deficits in knee-flexion torque and morphological changes in the semitendinosus muscle-tendon complex after harvesting the semitendinosus tendon for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction.

Methods: Isometric knee-flexion torque at 45 and 90 degrees of knee flexion was measured in limbs of 23 patients (22 +/- 4 yr) who underwent unilateral ACL reconstruction (12-43 months postoperation) using ipsilateral semitendinosus tendon. Magnetic resonance imaging scans were used to calculate the muscle volume and the muscle length of the semitendinosus and to confirm the presence of the regenerated semitendinosus tendon.