Maze surgery normalizes left ventricular function in patients with persistent lone atrial fibrillation.

Objectives: The aim of this study is to evaluate the mid-term clinical and functional outcomes of maze surgery in symptomatic refractory lone atrial fibrillation (AF) patients.

Methods: Between March 2008 and January 2013, 39 highly symptomatic patients [mean age 51 ± 10 (mean ± standard deviation); 95% CI, European Heart Rhythm Association class III-IV] underwent maze surgery for lone AF. Biatrial ablations were performed with bipolar radiofrequency and cryoenergy, according to a maze III lesion set (modified by omitting the intercaval line in 5 of 39 patients).

A novel truncated form of eNOS associates with altered vascular function.

Aims: Nitric oxide (NO) plays a key role in vascular homeostasis and is produced by endothelial NO synthase (eNOS), encoded by NOS3 gene. We previously reported the genetic association between NOS3 rs753482-A>C polymorphism on intron 19 and coronary artery disease (CAD). In the attempt of conferring functional implication to the rs753482-A>C polymorphism, we investigated its influence on transcript maturation.