Chronically altered ventricular activation causes pro-arrhythmic cardiac electrical remodelling in the chronic AV block dog model.

Aims: Altered ventricular activation (AVA) causes intraventricular mechanical dyssynchrony (MD) and impedes contraction, promoting pro-arrhythmic electrical remodelling in the chronic atrioventricular block (CAVB) dog. We aimed to study arrhythmogenic and electromechanical outcomes of different degrees of AVA.

Methods And Results: Following atrioventricular block, AVA was established through idioventricular rhythm (IVR; n = 29), right ventricular apex (RVA; n = 12) pacing or biventricular pacing [cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT); n = 10].

Diagnosis of allergy against beta-lactams in primary care: prevalence and diagnostic criteria.

Background: Secondary care studies showed that a recorded allergy to beta-lactams could not be confirmed by valid allergy testing in >85% of cases. In daily practice, recorded beta-lactam allergies probably cause prescription of secondary choice antibiotics. This overrating of beta-lactam allergy hampers appropriate use of narrow spectrum antibiotic and generates unnecessary cost and bacterial resistance.