BACKGROUND Vagal nerve stimulation (VNS) has been shown to provide a protective effect against ischemia/reperfusion (I/R)-related arrhythmias by preventing the loss of Connexin43 (Cx43). Our previous studies showed that atrial epicardial ganglionated plexus stimulation (GPS) might exert a VNS-like effect on ventricular electrophysiology. OBJECTIVES To investigate whether GPS could preserve Cx...

OBJECTIVE Cardiac energetics and performance depend on the expression level of the fast (alpha-) and slow (beta-) myosin heavy chain (MHC) isoform. In ventricular tissue, the beta-MHC isoform predominates, whereas in atrial tissue a variable mixture of alpha- and beta-MHC is found. In several cardiac diseases, the slow isoform is upregulated; however, the functional implications of this transit...

Radiofrequency (RF) catheter ablation has become standard therapy for many types of arrhythmias. RF energy may cause deterioration in left ventricular function by damaging the myocardium. The aim of the present study was to assess the changes in left ventricular function after catheter ablation using various echocardiographic parameters. Forty patients (22 women), aged 37 +/- 14 years (range, 1...

We mapped the sequence of ventricular depolarization in the crocodile Crocodylus johnstoni. We also attempted to find specialized conduction tissue within the ventricular myocardium. Electrical recordings with miniature multi-point electrodes revealed two strands of rapidly conducting tissue (channels) within the interventricular septum, suggestive of conductive tissue pathways. From these sept...

We mapped the sequence of ventricular depolarization in the crocodile Crocodylus johnstoni. We also attempted to find specialized conduction tissue within the ventricular myocardium. Electrical recordings with miniature multi-point electrodes revealed two strands of rapidly conducting tissue (channels) within the interventricular septum, suggestive of conductive tissue pathways. From these sept...

Left ventricular pseudoaneurysm is a rare complication of myocardial infarction or cardiac trauma. We report a case of sudden death from rupture of such a lesion. Clinically, these lesions need to be distinguished from the other ventricular out-pouching lesions (true aneurysms and diverticula) because of their greater likelihood for rupture. Pathologically, apart from often being infarct-relate...

Objective(s) Dracocephalum moldavica (D. moldavica) have been traditionally used as a cardiotonic agent in the folk medicine of some regions of Iran. In the present study, effects of total extract of D. moldavica on ischemia/reperfusion induced arrhythmias and infarct size investigated in isolated rat heart. Materials and Methods The isolated hearts were mounted on a Langendorff apparatus th...

• The action of cyclopropane in sensitizing the myocardium to catecholamines has been the subject of numerous investigations."" Little information is available on the effects of cyclopropane alone on cellular processes in cardiac tissue. Recently, however, using electrophysiological recording techniques, Smith et al. found that the ventricular strengthinterval curve shifted to the right in dogs...

A ten-year-old girl with severe subaortic stenosis was found to have relatively mature valvular endocardial cushion tissue (fibromyxomatous sheets with a chorda tendinea attached to a left ventricular papillary muscle) immediately beneath the aortic valve. This structure behaved like a valve mechanism, obstructing the left ventricular outflow tract during ventricular systole. This anomaly is an...

Objective: In ventricular arrhythmias, due to their free radical scavenging action, antioxidant agents are usually used in the treatment of cardiovascular disease. Since stress is considered as risk factor for increased mortality by causing malignant arrhythmias, the study was designed to evaluate the cardioprotective effects of ellagic acid (EA) on CaCl2-induced arrhythmias in rat stress model...