Background: The analysis of circulating microparticles in pregnancy is of revolutionary potential because it represents an in vivo biopsy of active gestational tissues.
Objective: We hypothesized that circulating microparticle signaling will differ in pregnancies that experience spontaneous preterm birth from those delivering at term and that these differences will be evident many weeks in advance of clinical presentation.
Study Design: Utilizing plasma specimens obtained between 10 and 12 weeks' gestation as part of a prospectively collected birth cohort in which pregnancy outcomes are independently validated by 2 board-certified maternal-fetal medicine physicians, 25 singleton cases of spontaneous preterm birth ≤ 34 weeks were matched by maternal age, race, and gestational age of sampling (±2 weeks) with 50 uncomplicated term deliveries.
Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine whether the proteomic biosignature of circulating microparticles in maternal serum obtained in the second trimester could identify pregnancies that result in spontaneous preterm birth (SPTB).
Study Design: Microparticles were isolated from blinded biorepository-sourced serum samples from 48 pregnant women at 15 to 17 weeks of gestation. Microparticle proteins were extracted and analyzed using label-free liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry.
J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol
May 2006
Multiple components of cardiac Na current play a role in determining electrical excitation in the heart. Recently, the role of nonequilibrium components in controlling cardiac action potential plateau duration, and their importance in regulating the occurrence of afterdepolarizations and arrhythmias have garnered more attention. In particular, late Na current (late I(Na)) has been shown to be important in LQT2 and LQT3 arrhythmias.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: RSD1235 is a novel antiarrhythmic drug with atria-selective electrophysiological actions on Na(+) and K(+) currents. The mechanism for its protection of ventricular repolarization was assessed by its action on Purkinje fibers, and by block of late sodium current active during repolarization. Further, RSD1235's ability to reverse the pro-arrhythmic actions of the class III agents dofetilide and clofilium was assessed in isolated Purkinje fibers and an in vivo model of torsades de pointes (TdP).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: RSD1235 is a novel drug recently shown to convert AF rapidly and safely in patients.(1) Its mechanism of action has been investigated in a rat model of ischemic arrhythmia, along with changes in action potential (AP) morphology in isolated rat ventricular myocytes and effects on cloned channels.
Methods And Results: Ischemic arrhythmias were inhibited with an ED50 of 1.
Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy and safety of intravenous RSD1235 in terminating recent onset atrial fibrillation (AF).
Background: Anti-arrhythmic drugs currently available to terminate AF have limited efficacy and safety. RSD1235 is a novel atrial selective anti-arrhythmic drug.