introduction: previous studies have indicated a relationship between mptp pore and av nodal rate-dependent properties. the aim of present study was to determine acute direct effects of cyclosporine on extracellular field potential of isolated rabbit av node during experimental atrial fibrillation. methods: in one group of male new zealand rabbits (1.5-2.5 kg) cumulative concentrations of cyclos...

Fatal bilateral cerebro-vascular accident with variable atrio-ventricular blocks, atrial fibrillation and refractory tachy-arrhythmias in a previously healthy 75-years-old hypertensive female is presented.

BACKGROUND Percutaneous catheter radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and cryoablation of the left atrium and pulmonary vein ostia have become successful therapeutic modalities in the management of atrial fibrillation. Atrio-esophageal fistula is a rare complication. Awareness of complication risk is imperative because without prompt diagnosis and urgent surgical intervention, the outcome is often fat...

AIMS The study was designed to assess atrio-ventricular (AV) conduction with non-invasive methods at least 1 year after radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of the slow pathway for AV node reentry tachycardia. METHODS AND RESULTS Medical records of all patients who underwent RFA before their 18th birthday were reviewed. Patients were brought back for clinical evaluation, an electrocardiogram, an exe...

Letter by Jackson et al Regarding, “PR Interval Identifies Clinical Response in Patients With Non-Left Bundle Branch Block: A Multicenter Automatic Defibrillator Implantation Trial-Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy Substudy” by Kutyifa et al Kutyifa et al present an interesting post hoc analysis of the Multicenter Automatic Defibrillator Implantation Trial-cardiac resynchronization therapy data...

OBJECTIVE To investigate the effect of biventricular and high septal pacing on the normal contraction sequence of the helical ventricular myocardial band, and its impact on left ventricular function. METHODS Ten pigs (25-68 kg) underwent analysis of percent segmental shortening (SS%) by sonomicrometry, with crystals placed along the fiber orientation of the ascending, descending segments, and...

The operative mortality for atrio-ventricular septal defect (AVSD) has fallen dramatically over the last 15 years as the preferred age of surgery has fallen. For the survivor, the long-term function of the left atrio ventricular valve (LAVV) is crucial in determining quality of life and to avoid re-operation. It is now well established that the zone of apposition (‘cleft’) between the superior ...

This work intends to be a review of the current status of knowledge on the cardiac conduction system in the crib death as well as remaining challenges, including reflections upon authors' personal works as well as many studies by others. The cardiac conduction system findings of resorptive degeneration, His bundle dispersion, Mahaim fibers, cartilaginous meta-hyperplasia, persistent fetal dispe...

Familial Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome has an autosomal dominant inheritance. Previous genetic linkage studies showed the locus was on Chromosome 7 (7q3), and the gene was identified to be PRKAG2, which encodes for gamma-2 subunit of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). The PRKAG2 mutation has been related to familial WPW syndrome with concomitant hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and/or atrio...