The Properties of the Transient Outward, Inward Rectifier and Acetylcholine-Sensitive Potassium Currents in Atrial Myocytes from Dogs in Sinus Rhythm and Experimentally Induced Atrial Fibrillation Dog Models.

Aims: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common chronic/recurrent arrhythmia, which significantly impairs quality of life and increases cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the properties of three repolarizing potassium currents which were shown to contribute to AF-induced electrical remodeling, i.e.

Gender-Related Electrocardiographic Changes in Athletes.

Objectives: To assess gender differences in training-related electrocardiographic (ECG) patterns of athletes, highlighting the importance of these differences for ECG interpretation used in the cardiovascular screening of athletes.

Design: Observational cross-sectional study.

Methods: 315 athletes were enrolled in the study (150 males and 165 females, mean age 23,7±6,6 and 20,7±6,8, respectively).

Posterior vitreous detachment and macular anatomical changes - a tomographic-electroretinographic study.

Aim: Posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) is a physiological phenomenon due to aging characterized by separation of the vitreous cortex from the retina and may induce a variety of pathological events at the vitreoretinal junction. The aim of this study is to highlight in vivo anatomical and functional changes in early stages of PVD allowing the correct treatment.

Material And Methods: Non-consecutive case series; optical coherence tomography (OCT) relies on analyzing the reflectivity of coherent light from different anatomical interfaces within posterior vitreous and retinal histological layers, thus acquiring transverse sections through vitreoretinal interface, sensory retina, retinal pigment epithelium and choroid.

The Effect of a Novel Highly Selective Inhibitor of the Sodium/Calcium Exchanger (NCX) on Cardiac Arrhythmias in In Vitro and In Vivo Experiments.

Background: In this study the effects of a new, highly selective sodium-calcium exchanger (NCX) inhibitor, ORM-10962 were investigated on cardiac NCX current, Ca2+ transients, cell shortening and in experimental arrhythmias. The level of selectivity of the novel inhibitor on several major transmembrane ion currents (L-type Ca2+ current, major repolarizing K+ currents, late Na+ current, Na+/K+ pump current) was also determined.

Methods: Ion currents in single dog ventricular cells (cardiac myocytes; CM), and action potentials in dog cardiac multicellular preparations were recorded utilizing the whole-cell patch clamp and standard microelectrode techniques, respectively.

The investigation of the cellular electrophysiological and antiarrhythmic effects of a novel selective sodium-calcium exchanger inhibitor, GYKB-6635, in canine and guinea-pig hearts.

The sodium-calcium exchanger (NCX) is considered as the major transmembrane transport mechanism that controls Ca homeostasis. Its contribution to the cardiac repolarization has not yet been directly studied due to lack of specific inhibitors, so that an urgent need for more selective compounds. In this study, the electrophysiological effects of GYKB-6635, a novel NCX inhibitor, on the NCX, L-type calcium, and main repolarizing potassium currents as well as action potential (AP) parameters were investigated.