Risk assessment in patients with symptomatic and asymptomatic pre-excitation.

Aims: Controversy remains as to whether the exercise stress test (EST) is sufficient for risk evaluation in patients with pre-excitation. This study aims to clarify the usefulness of EST in risk stratification in both asymptomatic and symptomatic patients presenting with pre-excitation.

Methods And Results: This prospective study includes consecutive asymptomatic and symptomatic patients with pre-excitation referred for risk assessment.

Association between catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation and mortality or stroke.

Objective: Catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation effectively reduces symptomatic burden. However, its long-term effect on mortality and stroke is unclear. We investigated if patients with atrial fibrillation who undergo catheter ablation have lower risk for all-cause mortality or stroke than patients who are managed medically.

Cryoablation of substrates adjacent to the atrioventricular node: acute and long-term safety of 1303 ablation procedures.

Aims: Radiofrequency (RF) ablation is effective for ablation of atrial arrhythmias. However, RF ablation in the vicinity of the atrioventricular (AV) node is associated with a risk of inadvertent, irreversible high-grade AV block, depending on the type of substrate. Cryoablation is an alternative method.

Continuous warfarin therapy is safe and feasible in catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation.

Objectives: In the context of catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation, oral anticoagulant therapy has been traditionally replaced by bridging with heparin during the periprocedural period. We wanted to study the feasibility and safety of continuous warfarin therapy compared to traditional bridging therapy.

Design: The complication rates were compared retrospectively in a consecutive patient series.

Cryothermal vs. radiofrequency ablation as atrial flutter therapy: a randomized comparison.

Aims: Radiofrequency (RF) ablation of the cavotricuspid isthmus (CTI) is an effective treatment for atrial flutter (AFL). However, RF may injure cardiac structures such as the atrio-ventricular node or the right coronary artery and is usually painful. This prospective, randomized study compares cryoablation (Cryo) with RF ablation regarding efficacy, safety, and perceived pain.

Manganese chloride tetrahydrate (CMC-001) enhanced liver MRI: evaluation of efficacy and safety in healthy volunteers.

Object: To evaluate the efficacy of three dose levels of the oral hepatobiliary manganese-based magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agent CMC-001, and assess its safety profile and patient acceptability.

Materials And Methods: After ethics committee approval, 32 healthy volunteers (males/females: 18/14) were included. Liver MRI was performed before and 3 h after ingestion of 0.

The ischemic preconditioning effect of adenosine in patients with ischemic heart disease.

Introduction: In vivo and in vitro evidence suggests that adenosine and its agonists play key roles in the process of ischemic preconditioning. The effects of low-dose adenosine infusion on ischemic preconditioning have not been thoroughly studied in humans.

Aims: We hypothesised that a low-dose adenosine infusion could reduce the ischemic burden evoked by physical exercise and improve the regional left ventricular (LV) systolic function.

Preconditioning effects of adenosine in patients with severe coronary artery disease but preserved coronary flow reserve.

Background: Adenosine plays a key role in different protective and adaptive responses to ischemia and has been suggested to induce ischemic preconditioning.

Aim: To investigate whether a low-dose adenosine infusion reduces the ischemic burden induced by pharmacological stress without affecting the coronary flow reserve (CFR).

Materials And Methods: Myocardial ischemia was induced by dobutamine stress test and quantified by tissue Doppler echocardiography in 11 patients with advanced coronary artery disease.

Acute and long-term outcome of cryoablation therapy of typical atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia.

Aims: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of cryoablation in a large series of patients with typical (slow-fast) atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT).

Methods And Results: Between 2003 and 2007, 312 patients with typical AVNRT--median age of 53 years (range 10-92), 200 women (64%)--underwent cryoablation, using exclusively a 6 mm tip catheter tip. Acute success was achieved in 309 of 312 patients (99%).

Safety and efficacy of cryoablation of atrial tachycardia with high risk of ablation-related injuries.

Aims: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of cryoablation as an alternative to radio frequency (RF) ablation in high-risk-located atrial tachycardia (AT).

Methods And Results: Between 2004 and 2007, 164 patients underwent catheter ablation due to AT at our institution. Twenty-six of these patients (22 women and 4 men), median age 58 years (range 14-76), were considered having high-risk-located AT and were treated by cryoablation.

beta-Endorphin modulates adenosine provoked chest pain in men, but not in women-a comparison between patients with ischemic heart disease and healthy volunteers.

Introduction: Increasing evidence suggests the existence of sex differences in pain perception. Adenosine, an early messenger for myocardial ischemia induces angina pectorislike symptoms in healthy volunteers and in patients with ischemic heart disease.

Aims: To study whether sex influences adenosine-provoked chest pain and the analgesic effect of the opioid receptor agonist beta-endorphin.