Ready or not, routine use of genetic information is imminent in everyday cardiology practice. This impending reality stems partly from the declining cost of whole-genome sequencing that is now approaching the $1,000 barrier. Clinicians undoubtedly could use such insight in managing atrial fibrillation (AF), an extremely common and costly condition. However, analyzing and applying the vast amoun...

The compound MG-1(R,S), (1-[2-hydroxy-3(4-phenyl-1-piperazinyl)propyl]-pyrrolidin-2-one, and its enantiomers were tested for electrocardiographic, antiarrhythmic and hypotensive activities. The racemic mixture (MG-1(R,S)) and its S-enantiomer significantly decreased systolic and diastolic blood pressure and possessed antiarrhythmic activity. The S-enantiomer displayed the greatest effect. The R...

Many pharmaceutical agents interact with cardiac ion channels resulting in abnormal ventricular repolarization and prolongation of the QT interval. In rare circumstances, this has resulted in the development of the potentially life-threatening arrhythmia, torsades de pointes. It is recognized, however, that accurate measurement of the QT interval is challenging, and it is a poor predictor for t...

During the past decades there has been a consistent evolution of both surgical and catheter-based techniques for the treatment of stand-alone atrial fibrillation, as alternatives or in combination with anti-arrhythmic drugs. Transcatheter ablation has significantly improved outcomes, despite often requiring multiple procedures and with limited success rates especially in presence of persistent ...

AIM Pediatric surgeons frequently encounter children presenting with voiding dysfunction symptoms, including urgency, frequency, and incontinence. Antimuscarinic agents Oxybutynin) are the main drugs used to treat patients with overactive bladder (OAB) syndrome, defined as urgency, with or without urgency incontinence, usually with increased daytime frequency and nocturia. Increased QT dispersi...

Alteration of defibrillation threshold by antiarrhythmic drugs: a theoretical framework" (1981). Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering Faculty Publications. Paper 84.

The anti-arrhythmic effect was tested on the model of aconitine-induced arrhythmia. The experiment was performed in vivo with 31 male Wistar laboratory rats. Group A was first administered aconitine and, after the onset of the first sinus rhythm disorders, the 44Bu compound was administered. Group B was first administered the 44Bu compound and only after that the aconitine. The control group wa...

With regard to currently available class III agents, although their class III effect may reduce the likelihood of tachycardia initiation, their reverse use-dependent prolongation of action potential duration reduces their effectiveness during tachycardias and may even render them proarrhythmic, especially after long diastolic intervals. In contrast, agents that exhibit normal use-dependent prol...

In a prospective survey of treatment on a coronary care unit 23.6% of patients who received medication had one or more side effects. In several cases these were severe enough to cause marked deterioration of the patient's clinical status. Whilst antiarrhythmic therapy is an integral part of modern coronary care its potential hazards should be recognized, particularly in the elderly patient.