Longitudinal changes in neurometabolite concentrations in the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex after concentrated exposure therapy for obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Background: The dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC) plays an important role in the pathophysiology of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) due to its role in error processing, cognitive control and emotion regulation. OCD patients have shown altered concentrations in neurometabolites in the dACC, particularly Glx (glutamate+glutamine) and tNAA (N-acetylaspartate+N-acetyl-aspartyl-glutamate). We investigated the immediate and prolonged effects of exposure and response prevention (ERP) on these neurometabolites.

Home monitoring of implantable cardioverter-defibrillators: interpretation reliability of the second-generation "IEGM Online" system.

Aims: Intracardiac electrograms (IEGMs) are essential for the assessment of implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) function. The Biotronik Home Monitoring systems transmit an 'IEGM Online' that is shorter than the full-length programmer IEGM due to technical constrains. The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of the physician's classification of the underlying rhythm based on the second-generation IEGM Online.

Differences in clinical and echocardiographic parameters between paroxysmal and persistent atrial flutter in the AURUM 8 study: targets for prevention of persistent arrhythmia?

Purpose: Cavotricuspid isthmus-dependent atrial flutter (AFL) can occur in a paroxysmal or persistent pattern. The aim of this study was to identify clinical, echocardiographic, and electrophysiological risk factors independently associated with persistence of AFL.

Methods: Patients of the recently published AURUM 8 study with paroxysmal versus persistent AFL were compared with respect to clinical and echocardiographic baseline characteristics as well as procedural parameters.

Gold vs. platinum-iridium tip catheter for cavotricuspid isthmus ablation: the AURUM 8 study.

Aims: Gold electrodes have the theoretical advantage of creating bigger lesions than platinum-iridium (Pt-Ir) electrodes. We performed a prospective randomized study to compare the clinical efficacy of standard 8 mm Pt-Ir tip catheter (control) and 8 mm gold-tip catheters in the ablation of the cavotricuspid isthmus (CTI)-dependent atrial flutter.

Methods And Results: A total of 463 patients undergoing CTI ablation in 19 clinical centres were randomized to receive the treatment by gold-tip or control catheter.

[Arterial hypertension and cardiac arrhythmias].

VENTRICULAR ARRHYTHMIAS: Different factors--like hypertrophy, fibrosis, ischemia and apoptosis increase the risk of ventricular arrhythmias and sudden arrhythmic death. ACE inhibitors and Angiotensin receptor antagonists offer a curative therapeutic approach. Beta-blocker are strongly recommended.