The Triglyceride to HDL Ratio and Its Relationship to Insulin Resistance in Pre- and Postpubertal Children: Observation from the Wausau SCHOOL Project.

Insulin resistance (IR) is a risk factor for ischemic heart disease and diabetes and raises the triglyceride/high-density lipoprotein (TG/HDL) ratio in adults, but is not well defined in children. Purpose. To investigate the TG/HDL ratios in children as an IR marker.

The use of ranolazine to facilitate electrical cardioversion in cardioversion-resistant patients: a case series.

Background: Occasionally atrial fibrillation (AF) is resistant to electrical cardioversion (EC). Ranolazine (RZ) is an antianginal agent, which inhibits abnormal late Na(+) channel currents in cardiomyocytes and decreases Na(+) /Ca(++) overload. RZ is a potent inhibitor of after-depolarizations and triggered activity and prolongs atrial refractory periods.

Comparison of effectiveness and safety of ranolazine versus amiodarone for preventing atrial fibrillation after coronary artery bypass grafting.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is common after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and increases the morbidity and cost. Amiodarone reduces AF after CABG. Ranolazine, an antianginal agent, also prolongs atrial refractoriness and inhibits after depolarizations and triggered activity; effects that could decrease AF after CABG.

Suppression of frequent ventricular ectopy in a patient with hypertrophic heart disease with ranolazine: a case report.

Background: Pro-arrhythmic concerns with most anti-arrhythmic agents in patients with significant left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) limits options when anti-arrhythmic therapy is indicated. Ranolazine, an anti-anginal agent which inhibits late Na+ currents, indirectly causes a decrease in diastolic cardiomyocyte Ca++ levels producing an energy sparing effect. Ranolazine also inhibits triggered activity in animal studies and has anti-arrhythmic properties in patients with ischemic heart disease.

Electrophysiological Changes of the Atrium in Patients with Lone Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation.

Background: The "Pill-in-Pocket" (PIP) is an approach to atrial fibrillation (AF) where oral anti-arrhythmics at 75% to 100% of the normal daily dose, given as a single dose, is used to convert recent-onset AF. Pro-arrhythmic risk has limited this approach to patients without structural heart disease (SHD). Ranolazine is an anti-anginal agent, which inhibits the abnormal late Na+ channel current resulting in decreased Na+/Ca++ overload.

Suppression of non-sustained ventricular tachycardia with ranolazine: a case report.

Background: Ranolazine is a new anti-anginal agent that inhibits abnormal late sodium currents, indirectly causing a decrease in diastolic cardiomyocyte calcium levels. This produces an energy-sparing effect and stabilizes cardiac membranes. Ranolazine has been shown to be a potent inhibitor of triggered activity in the experimental setting.

The use of oral ranolazine to convert new or paroxysmal atrial fibrillation: a review of experience with implications for possible "pill in the pocket" approach to atrial fibrillation.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia requiring treatment. High dose oral anti-arrhythmics may cardiovert some paroxysmal AF. This "pill in pocket" approach has allowed patients to treat themselves on an as needed basis.

Cardiovascular risk profile: comparison between white and Southeast Asian youth in Wausau SCHOOL Project.

Introduction: The Wausau School Children Have Early Onset Of Leading Risk Factors of Cardiovascular Disease and Diabetes Mellitus (SCHOOL) Project is a community-based effort to assess the cardiovascular (CV) health of students in the Wausau School District (WSD). It has been previously demonstrated that risk factors for CV disease are prevalent and increase with age. Wausau is also a major relocation center for Southeast Asian (SEA) immigrants.

The effect of ranolazine on maintaining sinus rhythm in patients with resistant atrial fibrillation.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) may arise out of anomalous impulse activity at atrial venous junctions. Triggered activity may be a source of abnormal impulse activity. Ranolazine is an anti-anginal agent, which inhibits normal and abnormal late Na+ channel current in the ventricle and peak Na+ channel current in the atrium.

Ranolozine-induced suppression of ventricular tachycardia in a patient with nonischemic cardiomyopathy: a case report.

Ranolazine is an antianginal agent, which inhibits the abnormal inward Na(+) current and by this inhibition decreases diastolic cardiomyocyte calcium levels and improves electrical stability. Ranolazine has also been shown to be a potent inhibitor of after depolarizations and triggered activity. In this case report, we describe the dramatic antiarrhythmic effects of ranolazine in a patient with nonischemic cardiomyopathy who had malignant ventricular tachycardia.

Effect of body mass index on insulin resistance and lipids in prepubertal and postpubertal children: SCHOOL observations.

As part of the School Children Have Early Onset of Leading Risk Factors for Cardiovascular Disease and Diabetes Mellitus (SCHOOL) project, this study examines the effect of elevated body mass index on metabolic parameters and its relationship to insulin resistance in prepubertal and postpubertal students from the Wausau School District in central Wisconsin. Two hundred forty-seven nondiabetic students were randomly selected (125 prepubertal [2nd graders] and 122 postpubertal [11th graders]). Waist/hip ratio and body mass index corrected for age and sex were calculated.

School children have leading risk factors for cardiovascular disease and diabetes: the Wausau SCHOOL project.

Introduction: Risk factors for cardiovascular disease and diabetes acquired in childhood commonly persist in later life and are particularly strong predictors of subclinical atherosclerosis in young adults. A rising tide of obesity and other lifestyle-related risk factors threatens to negate much of the success achieved in the prevention and treatment of these diseases. The SCHOOL project (School Children Have Leading Risk Factors for Cardiovascular Disease and Diabetes), was designed to measure the prevalence and magnitude of known risk factors in school-age children in Wausau, Wis.

Benefit of adding pioglitazone to statin therapy in non-diabetic patients with the metabolic syndrome.

Statins frequently do not control all of the lipid abnormalities found in patients with the metabolic sydrome. Pioglitizone (PIO), an insulin sensitizing agent, has been shown to have favorable lipid effects in diabetic patients. Little information is available regarding the effect of combined statin and PIO therapy in non-diabetic patients with the metabolic syndrome.

Stroke and atrial fibrillation following cardiac surgery.

Objective: Stroke is an occasional devastating complication of cardiac surgery. Transient atrial fibrillation (AF) is a frequent complication of cardiac surgery. Emboli originating from the fibrillating left atrium are a known cause of stroke in the non-surgical setting.