[Characteristics of body surface mapping in the cases of idiopathic ventricular fibrillation].

Body surface mapping was recorded in three patients with idiopathic ventricular fibrillation (VF). A late r' wave appeared and disappeared in the precordial leads in all three patients. In one case, the late r' wave appeared with epithides of VF.

[Classification of the site of the conduction disturbance in right bundle branch block using body surface mapping].

We can estimate the conduction disturbance in right bundle branch block (RBBB) using body surface mapping. Characteristics of body surface mapping in the cases with RBBB are classified into three types using the appearance time and the site of the breakthrough. In the first type, breakthrough appeared in the center of the anterior chest within the normal time.

[Determining factors of successful percutaneous transvenous mitral commissurotomy and eligible indications for the procedure].

The aim of this report is to investigate the factors which influence mean left atrial pressure (LAP) after percutaneous transvenous mitral commissurotomy (PTMC) and the characteristics of patients in whom PTMC is most effective. Fifty one patients with symptomatic mitral stenosis underwent PTMC. The patients included 8 males and 43 females, aged 26-66 years (mean age of 46).

[Linkage analysis in a Japanese long QT syndrome family].

Romano-Ward syndrome is an autosomal dominant trait disease, which is characterized by QT prolongation and normal hearings and shows predisposal to sudden death from cardiac arrhythmia. Recently, Keating et al. reported that Harvey ras-1 locus (H-ras-1) was closely linked to long QT syndrome (LQTS), being located on the short arm of chromosome 11.

[Congestive heart failure and arrhythmia].

About 40% of cardiac death in patients with congestive heart failure (CHF) has been reported to be due to ventricular tachyarrhythmia. Therefore, it is important to know how to treat ventricular arrhythmia associated with CHF. Recently, proarrhythmic effect and negative inotropic effect of antiarrhythmic drugs (class I agents), have been noted and class III agents, especially amiodarone is expected to have preventing effects for sudden death.

Background current in sino-atrial node cells of the rabbit heart.

1. The Ca2+ current, K+ current, hyperpolarization-activated current, Na(+)-K+ pump current and the Na(+)-Ca2+ exchange current were all blocked by appropriate blockers and the remaining time-independent currents were investigated in single pacemaker cells of the rabbit sino-atrial node using the whole-cell patch clamp technique. 2.

Evaluation of proarrhythmic effect of antiarrhythmic drugs on ventricular tachycardia associated with congestive heart failure.

The usefulness and limitations of antiarrhythmic drugs in ventricular tachycardias (VT) associated with congestive heart failure remain uncertain. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the proarrhythmic effects of antiarrhythmic drugs in patients with refractory VT associated with left ventricular dysfunction using electrophysiologic study (EPS). Twenty-four patients with left ventricular dysfunction, defined by left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) lower than 40% using left ventriculography, were studied.

Spatial distribution of late potentials assessed by signal-averaged body surface mapping.

In order to evaluate the spatial location of late potentials (LPs), we designed a new system for the body surface mapping of signal-averaged, filtered ECG using 45 thoracic unipolar leads (5 X 9 array). Signals from patients with old myocardial infarction (MI, N = 8), arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia (N = 1) and dilated cardiomyopathy (N = 2) were amplified and passed through a digital bandpass filter (60-300Hz). Departure maps, LP isopotential maps, and LP30 area maps were generated and superimposed.

Detection of the spatial distribution of late potentials by body surface mapping using forty-five unipolar, leads.

For evaluating the spatial location of late potentials (LPs), the authors designed a new system for the body surface mapping of signal-averaged, filtered ECGs using forty-five thoracic unipolar leads (5 x 9 array). The signals from patients with old myocardial infarction (MI, N = 7) and arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia (ARVD, N = 1) were amplified and passed through a bandpass (100-300 Hz) filter. The departure maps, LP isopotential maps, and LP30 area maps were generated and superimposed.