Agnodice: indexing experimentally supported bacterial sRNA-RNA interactions.

In the last decade, the immense growth in the field of bacterial small RNAs (sRNAs), along with the biotechnological breakthroughs in Deep Sequencing permitted the deeper understanding of sRNA-RNA interactions. However, microbiology is currently lacking a thoroughly curated collection of this rapidly expanding universe. We present Agnodice (https://dianalab.

TarBase-v9.0 extends experimentally supported miRNA-gene interactions to cell-types and virally encoded miRNAs.

TarBase is a reference database dedicated to produce, curate and deliver high quality experimentally-supported microRNA (miRNA) targets on protein-coding transcripts. In its latest version (v9.0, https://dianalab.

DIANA-miRPath v4.0: expanding target-based miRNA functional analysis in cell-type and tissue contexts.

DIANA-miRPath is an online miRNA analysis platform harnessing predicted or experimentally supported miRNA interactions towards the exploration of combined miRNA effects. In its latest version (v4.0, http://www.

Uric acid elevation in atrial fibrillation.

Introduction: Uric acid is a cardiovascular risk marker associated with oxidative stress and inflammation. Recently, atrial fibrillation (AF) has been associated with inflammation and oxidative stress. We therefore investigated the association between AF and uric acid levels.

Wide QRS complex supraventricular tachycardia with negative precordial concordance.

The authors describe the case of a 49-year-old man who experienced an episode of palpitations and dizziness. The results of 24-hour Holter monitoring demonstrated an episode of wide QRS complex regular tachycardia. During the electrophysiological study, a wide QRS complex tachycardia with negative precordial concordance was induced.

Potential-guided versus anatomic-guided approach for slow pathway ablation of the common type atrioventricular nodal reentry tachycardia: a randomized study.

Objective: The present study aimed to compare the effectiveness and safety of the potential- and the anatomic-guided approach for slow pathway ablation in patients with recurrent episodes of symptomatic common type atrioventricular (AV) nodal reentrant tachycardia.

Methods: Two hundred and twenty-eight patients were randomly assigned to undergo either a potential- (n=114, 47% men, mean age 52.85 +/- 14.

Excessive vagal response during left atrial ablation in a patient with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.

Vagal reflexes can be induced by stimulation of select epicardial and endocardial areas of the left atrium. The present report describes the case of a 54-year-old woman with a history of recurrent symptomatic episodes of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. During radiofrequency application around the left superior pulmonary vein, the patient exhibited an excessive vagal response with a sinus pause of 17 s.

Predictors of atrial fibrillation recurrence in patients with long-lasting atrial fibrillation.

Background: Limited data are available on the predictors of atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence in patients with chronic AF.

Objectives: To evaluate potential clinical, echocardiographic and electrophysiological predictors of AF recurrence, after internal cardioversion for long-lasting AF.

Methods: A total of 99 consecutive patients (63 men and 36 women, mean age 63.

Sensitivity and specificity of sodium channel blocking test in the diagnosis of Brugada syndrome.

The ECG features of Brugada syndrome are dynamic and frequently concealed. Sodium channels blockers are widely used to unmask the Brugada electrocardiographic (ECG) pattern. The sensitivity and specificity of I(Na) channel blocking test varies significantly.

Clinical characteristics of patients with drug-induced QT interval prolongation and torsade de pointes: identification of risk factors.

The present study aimed to investigate the causative medications and underlying risk factors that predispose to drug-induced QT interval prolongation. Twenty-one patients with drug-induced long QT (90% females, mean age 64.3 +/- 14.

Determinants of plasma NT-pro-BNP levels in patients with atrial fibrillation and preserved left ventricular ejection fraction.

Objectives: The present study aimed to investigate the clinical and echocardiographic determinants of plasma NT-pro-BNP levels in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF).

Methods: NT-pro-BNP levels were measured in 45 patients with paroxysmal AF, 41 patients with permanent AF and 48 controls.

Results: NT-pro-BNP levels were found significantly elevated in patients with paroxysmal (215+/-815 pg/ml) and permanent AF (1,086+/-835 pg/ml) in relation to control population (86.

ECG findings of acute myocardial infarction and atrioventricular block during a transseptal procedure for left atrial ablation.

We report on a patient with transient atrioventricular block and ST-segment elevation mimicking the ECG of myocardial infarction during transseptal puncture for radiofrequency catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation. Symptoms and EGG findings resolved spontaneously. A neurally-mediated mechanism, activated by the mechanical effects of the transseptal puncture on the interatrial septum and leading to coronary artery spasm, may be considered as a possible explanation of this phenomenon.

Neurally mediated susceptibility in individuals with Brugada-type ECG pattern.

Background: Neurally mediated syncope and Brugada syndrome (BS) share common pathophysiologic mechanisms related to autonomic nervous system modulations, and particularly with increased vagal tone. This study aimed to investigate the incidence of neurally mediated susceptibility in individuals with Brugada-type electrocardiogram (ECG) pattern.

Methods And Results: Eight asymptomatic male individuals (mean age 41.

Ablation of atrial fibrillation in patients with heart failure: reversal of atrial and ventricular remodelling.

Introduction: The management of patients with heart failure and atrial fibrillation (AF) is a medical challenge, especially in the case of patients in whom sinus rhythm or rate control cannot be achieved with optimal pharmaceutical treatment.

Methods: Thirteen consecutive patients (11 men and 2 women, 35-70 years old, median age 55 +/- 23 years) with heart failure (NYHA I-IV, median ejection fraction 35 +/- 5%, range 25-40%) and symptomatic persistent (10 patients, 76.9%) or permanent (3 patients, 23.

Reversal of premature ventricular complex-induced cardiomyopathy following successful radiofrequency catheter ablation.

Premature ventricular complex (PVC)-induced cardiomyopathy is an underappreciated cause of left-ventricular (LV) dysfunction. The present report describes the case of an elderly man with a very high burden of monomorphic PVCs and LV dysfunction. Elimination of the left ventricular focus following radiofrequency catheter ablation resulted in reversal of cardiomyopathy.

Large left atrial myxoma presented as fever of unknown origin: a challenging diagnosis and a review of the literature.

Myxoma is the most common type of primary tumors of the heart in adults. The majority of patients with myxomas may experience symptoms due to central or peripheral embolism or intracardiac obstruction, while in some cases, they may be completely asymptomatic. Rarely, patients develop unusual symptoms that complicate the diagnostic evaluation.

The natural history of arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy.

The authors describe the case of a 66-year-old woman with arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia masqueraded as dilated cardiomyopathy. Her medical history included recurrent episodes of syncope beginning at the age of 28. The natural history of the disease is discussed.

Prevalence of Brugada sign in a Greek tertiary hospital population.

Aims: The purpose of the present study was to determine for the first time the prevalence of Brugada-type electrocardiographic (ECG) pattern (Brugada sign) in unselected individuals served by an urban Greek tertiary hospital during a 4-year time period.

Methods And Results: Among 11,488 individuals (6640 males, 4848 females), 25 (23 males, 2 females, aged 36.8 +/- 19.

Prevalence of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation in Brugada syndrome: a case series and a review of the literature.

Objective: The present study aimed at investigating the incidence of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation in 10 patients with spontaneous or induced type 1 electrocardiographic pattern of Brugada syndrome (three with syncopal episodes and seven asymptomatic). Both clinical entities are closely associated with changes in autonomic modulation and, particularly, with increased vagal tone.

Methods: Transthoracic echocardiography, exercise treadmill test and 24-h Holter recordings were performed to all patients.

Brugada electrocardiographic pattern induced during febrile state with marked leukocytosis.

Several agents and conditions have been reported to unmask or accentuate the electrocardiographic pattern of Brugada syndrome including fever. At a molecular level, sodium channels have been showed to be temperature dependent. Herein, we describe a case of Brugada electrocardiographic pattern unmasked during febrile state and marked leukocytosis.

Acute myocardial infarction with normal coronary arteries in a patient with Hodgkin's disease: a late complication of irradiation and chemotherapy.

We describe the case of a 31-year-old man who experienced an acute myocardial infarction 16 years after undergoing radiation and vinca alkaloid therapy for Hodgkin's disease. Even though coronary artery disease is a well-established complication after mediastinal radiation therapy, this adult patient had normal coronary angiographic results, with no traditional risk factors for coronary artery disease, and no hematologic or other abnormality associated with hypercoagulability.

ST-segment elevation induced during the transseptal procedure for radiofrequency catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation.

We report two cases of transient coronary artery ischemia manifested as chest discomfort with ST-segment elevation in inferior leads during the transseptal procedure for radiofrequency catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation. This unexpected complication was resolved by intravenous administration of nitrates. All patients exhibited normal coronary arteries in angiography.