Maintenance mechanism of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation from the activation occurring within the pulmonary vein: analysis using non-contact mapping.

It is unclear how pulmonary veins (PVs) maintain paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF). To clarify the PV's arrhythmogenic role, we examined PV activation sequences during paroxysmal AF. Left superior PV (LSPV) endocardial non-contact mapping was performed after a right PV isolation in 13 paroxysmal AF patients.

Stress-induced vagal activity influences anxiety-relevant prefrontal and amygdala neuronal oscillations in male mice.

The vagus nerve crucially affects emotions and psychiatric disorders. However, the detailed neurophysiological dynamics of the vagus nerve in response to emotions and its associated pathological changes remain unclear. In this study, we demonstrated that the spike rates of the cervical vagus nerve change depending on anxiety behavior in an elevated plus maze test, and these changes were eradicated in stress-susceptible male mice.

Efficacy of catheter ablation from the noncoronary aortic cusp of verapamil-sensitive atrial tachycardia arising near the atrioventricular node.

Background: The efficacy of catheter ablation from the noncoronary aortic cusp (NCC) of verapamil-sensitive atrial tachycardia arising near the atrioventricular node (AVN-AT) has yet to be fully clarified.

Objective: We elucidated the determinant of an effective AVN-AT ablation from the NCC.

Methods: After identifying the earliest atrial activation site (EAAS) during tachycardia, the direction of the slow conduction zone (SCZ) of the reentry circuit was identified by demonstrating manifest entrainment in 26 patients with AVN-AT.

Verification of Coronary Computed Tomography-Derived Fractional Flow Reserve Measurement Site for Detection of Significant Coronary Artery Disease.

The optimal site for measuring computed tomography (CT)-derived fractional flow reserve (FFR) to detect significant coronary artery disease (CAD) remains unknown. We investigated how diagnostic performance changes with FFR measurement site. The diagnostic performance of FFR, measured 1-2 cm distal to the stenosis vs.