An unannounced balance loss during walking, i.e., balance perturbation, is a stressful event, which changes the activity of the sympathetic nervous system (SNS).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFZnT1 is a major zinc transporter that regulates cellular zinc homeostasis. We have previously shown that ZnT1 has additional functions that are independent of its activity as a Zn2+ extruder. These include inhibition of the L-type calcium channel (LTCC) through interaction with the auxiliary β-subunit of the LTCC and activation of the Raf-ERK signaling leading to augmented activity of the T-type calcium channel (TTCC).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAm J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol
April 2023
The utility of rodents for research related to atrial fibrillation (AF) is growing exponentially. However, the obtained arrhythmic waveforms are often mixed with ventricular signals and the ability to analyze regularity and complexity of such events is limited. Recently, we introduced an implantable quadripolar electrode adapted for advanced atrial electrophysiology in ambulatory rats.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: The medical school admission process is complicated, perhaps reflecting unresolved debates concerning the most important skills necessary to become an ideal physician. The Goldman Medical School at Ben-Gurion University in Israel is known for placing great emphasis on the personal attributes of candidates in addition to their academic excellence. To this end, 1-h consecutive interviews are embedded in the admission process.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Non-Vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs) emerged as an alternative with comparable or superior efficacy and safety to vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) for stroke prevention in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (AF).
Objectives: The aim of the current study was to investigate the patterns, predictors, timelines and temporal trends of shifting from VKAs to NOACs.
Methods: In this retrospective observational study, the computerized database of a large healthcare provider in Israel, Maccabi Healthcare Services, was searched to identify patients with AF for whom either a VKA or NOAC was prescribed between 2012 and 2015.
Context: Lower fasting ghrelin levels (FGL) are associated with obesity and metabolic syndrome.
Objective: We aimed to explore the dynamics of FGL during weight loss and its metabolic and adiposity-related manifestations beyond weight loss.
Methods: This was a secondary analysis of a clinical trial that randomized participants with abdominal obesity/dyslipidemia to 1 of 3 diets: healthy dietary guidelines (HDG), Mediterranean diet (MED), or green-MED diet, all combined with physical activity (PA).
Introduction: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a major increasing public health problem worldwide, with clinical and epidemiological differences between men and women. However, contemporary population-level data on incidence and survival are scarce.
Aim: To evaluate sex-specific contemporary trends in the incidence, prevalence, and long-term survival of non-valvular AF in a real-world setting.
Background: A Mediterranean diet is favourable for cardiometabolic risk.
Objective: To examine the residual effect of a green Mediterranean diet, further enriched with green plant-based foods and lower meat intake, on cardiometabolic risk.
Methods: For the DIRECT-PLUS parallel, randomised clinical trial we assigned individuals with abdominal obesity/dyslipidaemia 1:1:1 into three diet groups: healthy dietary guidance (HDG), Mediterranean and green Mediterranean diet, all combined with physical activity.
Background: Paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF) can be caused by gain-of-function mutations in genes, encoding the cardiac potassium channel subunits KCNJ2, KCNE1, and KCNH2 that mediate the repolarizing potassium currents I, I, and I, respectively.
Methods: Linkage analysis, whole-exome sequencing, and Xenopus oocyte electrophysiology studies were used in this study.
Results: Through genetic studies, we showed that autosomal dominant early-onset nocturnal paroxysmal AF is caused by p.
Background: Multiform fascicular tachycardia (FT) was recently described as a ventricular tachycardia (VT) that has a reentrant mechanism using multiple fascicular branches and produces alternate fascicular VT forms. Ablating the respective fascicle may cause a change in the reentrant circuit resulting in a change in morphology. Ablation of the septal fascicle is crucial for successful treatment.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: Multisite cardiac resynchronization therapy (MSCRT) with dual-vein left ventricular (LV) pacing has theoretical advantages over conventional CRT in faster and more physiological LV activation. We aimed to define indications, feasibility, safety, acute, and long-term results of MSCRT.
Methods: All patients implanted with MSCRT during 2008-2014 in a single center were reviewed and analyzed.
Organophosphates (OP) are used extensively as pesticides and as chemical weapons. Cardiotoxicity is a major concern in survivors of the acute poisoning. To characterize the delayed cardiac effects of OP, rats were poisoned by intraperitoneal administration of dichlorvos.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjectives: Transradial access for percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) reduces procedural complications however, there are concerns regarding the potential for increased exposure to ionizing radiation to the primary operator. We evaluated the efficacy of a lead-attenuator in reducing radiation exposure during transradial PCI.
Methods And Results: This was a non-randomized, prospective, observational study in which 52 consecutive patients were assigned to either standard operator protection (n = 26) or the addition of the lead attenuator across their abdomen/pelvis (n = 26).
Traditionally, proteins are considered to perform a single role, be it as an enzyme, a channel, a transporter or as a structural scaffold. However, recent studies have described moonlighting proteins that perform distinct and independent functions; for example, TRPM7 is both an ion channel and a kinase. ZnT-1 is a member of the Carrier Diffusion Facilitator family that is expressed throughout the phylogenetic tree from bacteria to humans.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAims: Cardiopoietic cells, produced through cardiogenic conditioning of patients' mesenchymal stem cells, have shown preliminary efficacy. The Congestive Heart Failure Cardiopoietic Regenerative Therapy (CHART-1) trial aimed to validate cardiopoiesis-based biotherapy in a larger heart failure cohort.
Methods And Results: This multinational, randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled study was conducted in 39 hospitals.
Aims: Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) with a defibrillator (CRT-D) has downsides of high cost and inappropriate shocks compared to CRT without a defibrillator (CRT-P). Recent data suggest that the survival benefit of implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) therapy is attenuated in the older age group. We hypothesized that, among octogenarians eligible for cardiac resynchronization therapy, CRT-P confers similar morbidity and mortality benefits as CRT-D.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Not all echo laboratories have the capability of measuring direct online 3D images, but do have the capability of turning 3D images into 2D ones "online" for bedside measurements. Thus, we hypothesized that a simple and rapid rotation of the sagittal view (green box, x-plane) that shows all needed left atrial appendage (LAA) number of lobes, orifice area, maximal and minimal diameters and depth parameters on the 3D transesophageal echocardiography (3DTEE) image and LAA measurements after turning the images into 2D (Rotational 3DTEE/"Yosefy Rotation") is as accurate as the direct measurement on real-time-3D image (RT3DTEE).
Methods: We prospectively studied 41 consecutive patients who underwent a routine TEE exam, using QLAB 10 Application on EPIQ7 and IE33 3D-Echo machine (BORTHEL Phillips) between 01/2013 and 12/2015.
Aims: We compare our experience with available circular multi-electrode catheters for atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation: PVAC(®), a phased radiofrequency system, and nMARQ™, an irrigated tip-CARTO-based technology.
Methods And Results: Prospective observational study of 175 consecutive patients with follow-up duration of at least 5 months who underwent pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) for symptomatic AF using PVAC(®) (n = 93, age 61.4 ± 9.
Purpose: Previous data showed that pain sensation was common during pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) using an 8-mm radiofrequency (RF) ablation catheter. Pain was more common in the left pulmonary veins (PVs). We characterized the location of pain during PVI using circular multi-electrode ablation catheters.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF