A multicenter, randomized, double-blind, controlled study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of dantrolene on ventricular arrhythmia as well as mortality and morbidity in patients with chronic heart failure (SHO-IN trial): rationale and design.

Background: Leakage of Ca from the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) is a critical contributing factor to heart failure pathophysiology. Therefore, reducing SR Ca leaks may provide significant additive benefits when used in combination with conventional therapies. Dantrolene, a drug routinely used to treat malignant hyperthermia, also stabilizes the cardiac isoform of the release channel (RyR2), thus decreasing SR Ca leaks.

Sorcin interacts with sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+)-ATPase and modulates excitation-contraction coupling in the heart.

Sorcin is a 21.6-kDa Ca(2+) binding protein of the penta-EF hand family. Several studies have shown that sorcin modulates multiple proteins involved in excitation-contraction (E-C) coupling in the heart, such as the cardiac ryanodine receptor (RyR2), L-type Ca(2+) channel, and Na(+)-Ca(2+) exchanger, while it has also been shown to be phosphorylated by cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA).

Rapid electrical stimulation of contraction modulates gap junction protein in neonatal rat cultured cardiomyocytes: involvement of mitogen-activated protein kinases and effects of angiotensin II-receptor antagonist.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of rapid electrical stimulation (RES) of contraction on the expression of connexin (Cx)43 gap junction in neonatal rat cultured ventricular myocytes and the consequent changes of conduction properties.

Background: The expression and distribution of gap junctions in cardiac muscle can be changed readily under a variety of pathological conditions because of dynamic turnover of Cxs. The effects of RES of contraction on gap junction remodeling are not well understood.

Comparison of expression of connexin in right atrial myocardium in patients with chronic atrial fibrillation versus those in sinus rhythm.

An abnormal distribution of the gap junction occurs in chronic atrial fibrillation (AF). There are conflicting data regarding changes in connexins (Cxs) in experimental models of AF. We examined whether patients with chronic AF have alterations in atrial Cxs.