Serious Cardiac Arrhythmias Detected by Subcutaneous Long-term Cardiac Monitors in Patients With Drug-Resistant Epilepsy.

Background And Objectives: Epilepsy is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and premature mortality, including sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP). Serious cardiac arrythmias might go undetected in routine epilepsy and cardiac investigations.

Methods: This prospective cohort study aimed to detect cardiac arrhythmias in patients with chronic drug-resistant epilepsy (≥5 years duration) using subcutaneous cardiac monitors for a minimum follow-up duration of 12 months.

ANZAED practice and training standards for dietitians providing eating disorder treatment.

Introduction: Dietitians involved in eating disorder treatment are viewed as important members of the multidisciplinary team. However, the skills and knowledge that they require are not well characterised. Therefore, as part of a broader project to identify the key principles and clinical practice and training standards for mental health professionals and dietitians providing eating disorder treatment, the Australia & New Zealand Academy for Eating Disorders (ANZAED) sought to identify the key practice and training standards specific to dietitians.

ANZAED eating disorder treatment principles and general clinical practice and training standards.

Introduction: Eating disorders are complex to manage, and there is limited guidance around the depth and breadth of knowledge, skills and experience required by treatment providers. The Australia & New Zealand Academy for Eating Disorders (ANZAED) convened an expert group of eating disorder researchers and clinicians to define the clinical practice and training standards recommended for mental health professionals and dietitians providing treatment for individuals with an eating disorder. General principles and clinical practice standards were first developed, after which separate mental health professional and dietitian standards were drafted and collated by the appropriate members of the expert group.

The transesophageal echo probe may contribute to esophageal injury after catheter ablation for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation under general anesthesia: a preliminary observation.

Introduction: The transesophageal echo probe (TEE) is commonly used before and during atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation under general anesthesia (GA). We sought to determine the potential contribution of the TEE probe to esophageal injury after pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) alone for paroxysmal AF.

Methods And Results: Seventy-six patients undergoing PVI with TEE, PVI/TEE, 16 undergoing PVI without TEE (PVI/No TEE), and 27 undergoing TEE without any left atrial ablation (TEE/No LA ablation) under GA were included.

Effects of long-term ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation on paroxysmal atrial tachyarrhythmia burden in patients with implanted pacemakers: results from a prospective randomised study.

Background: Sino-atrial node disease and aging increase AF risk. We investigated if long-term fish oil supplementation reduces paroxysmal atrial tachycardia/fibrillation (AT/AF) burden in patients aged ≥60 years with sinoatrial node disease and dual chamber pacemakers.

Methods: Following a run-in period of 6 months (p1) where AT/AF burden was logged,78 patients were randomised to control or fish oil group (total omega-3 6 g/d) and AT/AF burden evaluated after 6 months (p2; 39 controls, 39 fish oil) and 12 months (p3; 39 controls; 18 fish oil).

Effects of high dose intravenous fish oil on human atrial electrophysiology: implications for possible anti- and pro-arrhythmic mechanisms in atrial fibrillation.

Background: Intravenous omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (ω-3 PUFAs) may prevent atrial fibrillation (AF) inducibility and perpetuation in animal models. We examined the effect of high dose IV ω-3 PUFAs on human atrial electrophysiology.

Methods And Results: We randomised 88 patients with no structural heart disease to receive saline (control group) or high dose IV ω-3 PUFA infusion prior to detailed atrial electrophysiologic evaluation.

Atrial fibrillation inducibility in the absence of structural heart disease or clinical atrial fibrillation: critical dependence on induction protocol, inducibility definition, and number of inductions.

Background: Inducibility of atrial fibrillation (AF) after pulmonary vein isolation has been used to guide additional left atrial ablation in paroxysmal AF. The sensitivity and specificity of AF induction in this setting remains uncertain. We examined the incidence and characteristics of inducible AF in patients without structural heart disease or clinical AF and the effect of different induction protocols on AF inducibility.

Long-term omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation reduces the recurrence of persistent atrial fibrillation after electrical cardioversion.

Background: Persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with a high risk of recurrence after electrical cardioversion.

Objective: We examined if long-term supplementation with omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in fish oils commenced >1 month prior to electrical cardioversion and continued thereafter reduces recurrence of persistent AF.

Methods: This was an open-label, randomized study of 178 patients with persistent AF >1-month duration.

Effects of chronic omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation on human pulmonary vein and left atrial electrophysiology in paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.

Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in fish oils may have antifibrillatory effects; however, their electrophysiologic effects in paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF) remain unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of chronic fish oil supplementation on human pulmonary vein (PV) and left atrial electrophysiology in PAF. Patients with PAF undergoing PV isolation were randomized ≥1 month before their procedure into a control group (n = 18) or a fish oil group (n = 18) in an unblinded fashion.

Effects of chronic omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation on human atrial mechanical function after reversion of atrial arrhythmias to sinus rhythm: reversal of tachycardia-mediated atrial cardiomyopathy with fish oils.

Background: Atrial mechanical stunning is a form of tachycardia-mediated atrial cardiomyopathy that manifests after reversion of persistent atrial arrhythmias to sinus rhythm.

Objectives: This study sought to examine whether chronic omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation with fish oils can reverse atrial mechanical stunning.

Methods: Patients undergoing reversion of persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) or atrial flutter (AFL) to sinus rhythm were randomized to a control group (n = 26) or an omega-3 group (n = 23).

Effects of chronic omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation on human atrial electrophysiology.

Background: Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in fish oils may have antifibrillatory effects. Their mechanism of action in humans is poorly understood.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of chronic fish oil supplementation on human atrial electrophysiology (EP).

Prevalence of fractionated electrograms in the coronary sinus: comparison between patients with persistent or paroxysmal atrial fibrillation and a control population.

Background: Complex fractionated atrial electrograms (CFAEs) are often identified as targets for radiofrequency ablation in the coronary sinus (CS) of patients with atrial fibrillation (AF).

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine whether similar features are present in a normal control population.

Methods: Twenty-four patients with AF (12 paroxysmal, 12 persistent) were compared with 12 controls (undergoing radiofrequency ablation for supraventricular tachycardia) in whom at least 1 minute of AF was induced by rapid atrial pacing.

Cardioprotective efficacy of zoniporide, a potent and selective inhibitor of Na+/H+ exchanger isoform 1, in an experimental model of cardiopulmonary bypass.

1. We determined (1) the inhibitory potency of zoniporide against the native Na(+)/H(+) exchanger isoform 1 (NHE1) that is expressed in adult rat ventricular myocytes and platelets, and (2) the cardioprotective efficacy of zoniporide in isolated, blood-perfused adult rat hearts subjected to cardioplegic arrest, hypothermic ischaemia (150 min at 25 degrees C) and normothermic reperfusion (60 min at 37 degrees C). 2.

Responses to ischaemia and reperfusion in the mouse isolated perfused heart and the phenomenon of 'contractile cycling'.

1. The aims of the present study were to examine the response of the murine heart to ischaemia and reperfusion and to determine whether these responses are influenced by the strain of mouse. 2.

Mouse isolated perfused heart: characteristics and cautions.

1. Owing to the considerable potential for manipulating the murine genome and, as a consequence, the increasing availability of genetically modified models of cardiovascular diseases, the mouse is fast becoming a cornerstone of animal research. However, progress in the use of various murine preparations is hampered by the lack of facilities and skills for the adequate physiological assessment of genetically modified mice.

Inhibitory amino acid transmitters associated with axons in presynaptic apposition to cutaneous primary afferent axons in the cat spinal cord.

The purpose of the present study was to characterize the transmitter content of structures in presynaptic apposition to the central terminals of cutaneous afferent fibers in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord. Axons in the Aalphabeta conduction velocity range were identified in adult cats, stained intra-axonally with horseradish peroxidase, and prepared for combined light and electron microscopy. In total, we labeled two slowly adapting (Type 1) axons, two hair-follicle afferents, and one rapidly adapting (Krause) afferent.