Impact of matrix metalloproteinase-2 levels on long-term outcome following pharmacological or electrical cardioversion in patients with atrial fibrillation.

Aims: The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) for the prediction of long-term maintenance of sinus rhythm (SR) after cardioversion in atrial fibrillation (AF).

Methods And Results: The study comprised 102 patients with AF. Pharmacological cardioversion was attempted for a 4-week period with anti-arrhythmic drugs in all patients.

Assessment of genetic risk factors for thoracic aortic aneurysm in hypertensive patients.

Background: Conventional risk factors for thoracic aortic aneurysm including dissection (TAA) are thought to include age, arteriosclerosis, and hypertension. In addition, evidence suggests that genetic factors play a role in the development of this condition. The purpose of the present study was to identify genetic variants that confer susceptibility to TAA in hypertensive subjects.

A pathophysiologic study of tako-tsubo cardiomyopathy with F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography.

Unlabelled: AIMS; Our study aims to investigate the pathophysiologic mechanism underlying tako-tsubo cardiomyopathy using F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET).

Methods And Results: Fifteen patients with tako-tsubo cardiomyopathy were enrolled in this study. Plasma catecholamines, cardiac troponin T (cTnT), and D-dimer were serially evaluated in all patients.

Diagnostic accuracy of cardiac markers for myocardial damage after radiofrequency catheter ablation.

Aims: This study compares serum markers of myocardial damage incurred during radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA).

Methods And Results: Blood was sampled from 34 patients with atrial flutter (n = 16), atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT; n = 13), and Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome (WPW; n = 5) to measure creatine kinase MB subfraction (CK-MB), human heart-type fatty acid protein (h-FABP), and cardiac troponin T (cTnT) values at baseline and after RFCA. The controls comprised 12 patients without significant elevation of all myocardial markers during electrophysiological study (EPS) without RFCA.