OBJECTIVES Surgical ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF) is an established therapy for the treatment of concomitant AF in cardiac surgery patients. We aim to present our prospective experience with 99 continuously monitored patients and investigate whether enhanced monitoring can identify patterns and factors influencing AF recurrence after surgical AF ablation. METHODS Ninety-nine patients ...

BACKGROUND Zinc deficiency has been well documented in alcoholic liver disease. OBJECTIVE This study was undertaken to determine whether dietary zinc supplementation provides beneficial effects in treating alcohol-induced gut leakiness and endotoxemia. METHODS Male Sprague Dawley rats were divided into 3 groups and pair-fed (PF) Lieber-DeCarli liquid diet for 8 wk: 1) control (PF); 2) alcoh...

BACKGROUND the objective of this study is to investigate the detection rate of undiagnosed atrial fibrillation (AF) with short intermittent ECG recordings during four weeks among out-of-hospital patients, having at least one additional risk factor (CHADS2) for stroke. METHOD DESIGN Cross-sectional study. SETTING Eight family practice centres and two hospital-based out-patient clinics in ...

The abnormal furrow (af) gene was identified through a maternal effect mutation that causes a defect in cell division in Xenopus embryos. In eggs obtained from mutant females (af eggs), polar body formation and cytokinesis are completely inhibited while nuclear division continues uninterrupted. Cleavage furrows are recognized as unpigmented narrow bands on the egg surface but they do not contra...

BACKGROUND Atrial fibrillation (AF) leads to structural and neural remodeling in the atrium, which enhances AF complexity and perpetuation. Renal denervation (RDN) can reduce renal and whole-body sympathetic activity. Aim of this study was to determine the effect of sympathetic nervous system modulation by RDN on atrial arrhythmogenesis. METHODS AND RESULT Eighteen goats were instrumented wit...

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is accompanied by intracellular calcium overload. The purpose of this study was to assess the role of calcium-dependent calpains and cytokines during AF. Atrial tissue samples from 32 patients [16 with chronic AF and 16 in sinus rhythm (SR)] undergoing open heart surgery were studied. Atrial expression of calpain I and II, calpastatin, troponin T (TnT), troponin C (TnC)...

BACKGROUND Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) play an important role in degradation of the extracellular matrix of injured tissue. MMP-9 expression increases in fibrillating atrial tissue; however, the mechanism for this increase has not been clarified. METHODS AND RESULTS Changes in the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), VEGF receptors, and hypoxia-induced transcription f...

The hepatocyte nuclear factor-4 (HNF-4) contains two transcription activation domains. One domain, activation function-1 (AF-1), consists of the extreme N-terminal 24 amino acids and functions as a constitutive autonomous activator of transcription. This short transactivator belongs to the class of acidic activators, and it is predicted to adopt an amphipathic alpha-helical structure. Transcrip...

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with an increased risk of thromboembolism, and is the most prevalent factor for cardioembolic stroke. Vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) have been the standard of care for stroke prevention in patients with AF since the early 1990s. They are very effective for the prevention of cardioembolic stroke, but are limited by factors such as drug-drug interactions, food...

BACKGROUND The aims of the study are 1) to assess antiarrhythmic prophylaxis efficacy during the first 2 months after radiofrequency ablation (ARF) due to AF; 2) to define risk factors for early AF recurrence (EAFR) after ARF; 3) to determine the long-term follow-up results and risk factors for late AF recurrence (LAFR). METHODS A total number of 210 consecutive patients who had undergone ARF...