Pulmonary vein antrum isolation, atrioventricular junction ablation, and antiarrhythmic drugs combined with direct current cardioversion: survival rates at 7 years follow-up.

Purpose: To report survival rates in patients treated with pulmonary vein antrum isolation (PVAI), atrioventricular junctional ablation (AVJA), and antiarrhythmic and direct current cardioversion (A+DCCV) at 7 years follow-up.

Methods: From February 2002-December 2004, 1,000 consecutive patients underwent PVAI or A+DCCV or AVJA. These patients were matched in a nested casecontrolled methodology.

Formation of STIM and Orai complexes: puncta and distal caps.

In the last few years, great progress has been made in understanding how stromal interacting molecule 1 (STIM1), a protein containing a calcium sensor that is located in the endoplasmic reticulum, and Orai1, a protein that forms a calcium channel in the plasma membrane, interact and give rise to store-operated calcium entry. Pharmacological depletion of calcium stores leads to the formation of clusters containing STIM and Orai that appear to be sites for calcium influx. Similar puncta are also produced in response to physiological stimuli in immune cells.

Association of the X-chromosomal genes TIMP1 and IL9R with rheumatoid arthritis.

Objective: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an inflammatory joint disease with features of an autoimmune disease with female predominance. Candidate genes located on the X-chromosome were selected for a family trio-based association study.

Methods: A total of 1452 individuals belonging to 3 different sample sets were genotyped for 16 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) in 7 genes.

Impact of type of atrial fibrillation and repeat catheter ablation on long-term freedom from atrial fibrillation: results from a multicenter study.

Background/objective: The purpose of this prospective multicenter study was to compare results of catheter ablation in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF) and those with nonparoxysmal atrial fibrillation (NPAF). The impact and the role of repeat catheter ablation were assessed in patients with recurrence.

Methods/results: One thousand four hundred four patients underwent catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF) performed by 12 operators at four institutions using a single technique guided by intracardiac echocardiography.

Failure of a Torkildsen shunt after functioning for 50 years.

Mechanical obstruction is a severe complication of ventricular catheter use. Its incidence was shown to be high in the 1960s and 1970s, with up to 41% of the catheters becoming obstructed within 10 years after surgery. The authors present what is to their knowledge the first reported case of a patient with failure of a Torkildsen shunt after 50 years of functioning.

Rational patient selection for catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation.

During the past decade, catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation has been progressively used for the treatment of drug-refractory patients. As experience and technique have evolved, patient selection criteria have been modified to include a wider range of patients. Patients with paroxysmal, persistent, and longstanding persistent atrial fibrillation can be treated with catheter ablation.

Ablation of atrial fibrillation utilizing robotic catheter navigation in comparison to manual navigation and ablation: single-center experience.

Background: Robotic catheter navigation and ablation either with magnetic catheter driving or with electromechanical guidance have emerged in the recent years for the treatment of atrial fibrillation.

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare our center's experience of atrial fibrillation ablation using the Hansen Robotic Medical System with our current manual ablation technique in terms of acute and chronic success, as well as procedure time and radiation exposure to both the patient and the operator.

Methods: A total of 390 consecutive patients with symptomatic and drug-resistant atrial fibrillation (289 males, 62 +/- 11 years) were prospectively enrolled in the study.

Mapping and ablation of ventricular arrhythmias with magnetic navigation: comparison between 4- and 8-mm catheter tips.

Introduction: Remote magnetic navigation (RMN) has been reported as an effective and safe tool to overcome the need for advanced operator skill in the treatment of complex arrhythmias. We report a series of patients undergoing radiofrequency catheter ablation of ventricular arrhythmias (VAs) using RMN with either a 4-mm catheter tip or an 8-mm catheter tip at four different centers.

Methods: Sixty-five patients with clinical and symptomatic history of Vas were included.

Catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation: a promising therapy for congestive heart failure.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) and congestive heart failure (CHF) are cardiovascular epidemics. Catheter ablation of AF is increasingly performed in patients with CHF. Atrioventricular junction ablation (AVJA) and pulmonary vein isolation are the two predominant ablation strategies used to treat AF patients who are refractory to drugs.

Prevention of phrenic nerve injury during epicardial ablation: comparison of methods for separating the phrenic nerve from the epicardial surface.

Background: The proximity of the phrenic nerve (PN) to cardiac tissue relevant to arrhythmias may increase the risk of PN injury. Strategies for preventing PN injury in the pericardial space are limited.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare methods for separating the PN from the epicardial surface in order to prevent PN injury.

Association of MICA with rheumatoid arthritis independent of known HLA-DRB1 risk alleles in a family-based and a case control study.

Introduction: The gene MICA encodes the protein major histocompatibility complex class I polypeptide-related sequence A. It is expressed in synovium of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and its implication in autoimmunity is discussed. We analyzed the association of genetic variants of MICA with susceptibility to RA.

Synthesis of glycine betaine from choline in the moderate halophile Halobacillus halophilus: co-regulation of two divergent, polycistronic operons.

The moderately halophilic bacterium Halobacillus halophilus can synthesize glycine betaine from choline. Oxidation of choline is induced by salinity and repressed by exogenous glycine betaine. The genes encoding the choline dehydrogenase (gbsB) and the glycine betaine aldehyde dehydrogenase (gbsA) were identified and shown to constitute an operon.

Ezrin and moesin function together to promote T cell activation.

The highly homologous proteins ezrin, radixin, and moesin link proteins to the actin cytoskeleton. The two family members expressed in T cells, ezrin and moesin, are implicated in promoting T cell activation and polarity. To elucidate the contributions of ezrin and moesin, we conducted a systematic analysis of their function during T cell activation.

Real-time RT-PCR discriminating mRNA encoding osteocalcin from unspecific targets.

Osteocalcin is a noncollagenous protein produced by osteoblasts and odontoblasts. It is used as a marker for bone formation in regenerative medical approaches. In addition, serum levels in humans are used to indicate bone turnover.

Relationship between catheter forces, lesion characteristics, "popping," and char formation: experience with robotic navigation system.

Introduction: Popping, char and perforation are complications that can occur following catheter ablation. We measured the amount of grams (g) applied to the endocardium during ablation using a sensor incorporated in the long sheath of a robotic system. We evaluated the relationship between lesion formation, pressure, and the development of complications.

Integration of positron emission tomography/computed tomography with electroanatomical mapping: a novel approach for ablation of scar-related ventricular tachycardia.

Background: Despite the recent advances in cardiac mapping, ablation of scar-related ventricular tachycardia (VT) still remains a clinical challenge. A detailed electroanatomical map is a prerequisite for accurate localization and ablation of the VT substrate.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and accuracy of integrating the positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) with the electroanatomical map and compare the accuracy of the voltage-based scar with the biological scar.

Drug metabolism studies with the incubated hen's egg. Identification of 2,3,5-trihydroxybenzoic acid as a metabolite of gentisic acid.

Previous investigations have shown that an ex vivo model on the basis of the incubated hen's egg represents a potential alternative to animal experimentation for xenobiotic metabolism studies. This model is characterized by administration of the xenobiotic into the yolk sac and identification of metabolites in the allantoic fluid. In the present study, gentisic acid (2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid, 2,5-DHBA, CAS 490-79-9) was used as a test substance.

The impact of myocardial viability on the clinical outcome of cardiac resynchronization therapy.

Introduction: Around 30% of patients do not respond to cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). Nonischemic cardiomyopathy has been identified as an independent predictor of response to CRT, probably due to the absence of compact scar.

Methods And Results: The relationship between cardiac scar, ischemia, and hibernation (both at the left-ventricular pacing site and as a total burden) and response to CRT was studied in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy using the perfusion-viability positron emission tomography (PET) test.

Automotive technicians' training as a community-of-practice: implications for the design of an augmented reality teaching aid.

The paper presents an ergonomic analysis carried out in the early phases of an R&D project. The purpose was to investigate the functioning of today's Automotive Service Technicians (ASTs) training in order to inform the design of an Augmented Reality (AR) teaching aid. The first part of the paper presents a literature review of some major problems encountered by ASTs today.

Atrial fibrillation ablation using a robotic catheter remote control system: initial human experience and long-term follow-up results.

Objectives: We present the initial clinical human experience with the use of a robotic remote navigation system (Hansen Medical, Mountain View, California), to perform left and right atrial mapping and radiofrequency ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF) and atrial flutter (AFL).

Background: Catheter ablation is an established curative modality for various arrhythmias. A robotic steerable sheath system (SSS) (Hansen Medical) allows better catheter stability and greater degrees of freedom of catheter movement.

Integrins put the brakes on microcluster dynamics at the immunological synapse.

Integrin engagement costimulates T cell receptor signaling, but the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. In this issue of Immunity, Nguyen et al. (2008) show that engagement of VLA-4 promotes sustained signaling by altering the dynamics of actin filaments and signaling molecules at the immunological synapse.

Esophageal luminal temperature measurement underestimates esophageal tissue temperature during radiofrequency ablation within the canine left atrium: comparison between 8 mm tip and open irrigation catheters.

Introduction: Evaluation of luminal temperature during left atrial ablation is used clinically; however, luminal temperature does not necessarily reflect temperature within the esophageal wall and poses a risk of atrioesophageal fistula. This animal study evaluates luminal esophageal temperature and its relation to the temperature of the external esophageal tissue during left atrial lesions using the 8 mm solid tip and the open irrigated tip catheters (OIC).

Methods And Results: A thermocouple was secured to the external surface of the esophagus at the level of the left atrium of the dogs.