BACKGROUND Antiarrhythmic drugs are considered to terminate atrial fibrillation by prolonging refractoriness, but direct experimental evaluation of this concept has been limited. The atria are activated rapidly during atrial fibrillation, and antiarrhythmic drugs are known to have important rate-dependent actions. The potential role of such properties in determining drug effects during atrial f...

INTRODUCTION Stunning of the left atrium and atrial appendage is a well known but not fully clarified phenomenon observed during the cardioversion of atrial fibrillation regardless of the cardioversion method attempted. AIM To assess the effects of propafenone and amiodarone on left atrium and left atrial appendage contractility. METHODS Forty patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (2...

Background. The fatty acid composition of the phospholipids in sarcolemma may significantly influence cell membrane functions. We evaluated the effects of dietary fat on the pharmacodynamics of the antiarrhythmic drug propafenone in isolated, perfused rabbit hearts. Methods and Results. Three groups of weanling rabbits (n=9 each group) were fed diets of 10%O wtlwt lard, fish oil, or safflower o...

Symbolic dynamics as a non linear method and computation of the normalized algorithmic complexity (C alpha) was applied to basket-catheter mapping of atrial fibrillation (AF) in the right human atrium. The resulting different degrees of organisation of AF have been compared to conventional classification of Wells. Short time temporal and spatial distribution of the C alpha during AF and effects...

PURPOSE The aim was to prepare and evaluate unitary doses of propafenone (UDP) used in children with supraventricular tachycardia. METHODS UDP were prepared from four brands of tablets at doses of propafenone, 11, 25 and 90 mg, used in the Cardiology Service of this Institute. The stability of doses was determined at 20±5°C and 40°C for up to day 30. Besides, a weight variation test was perfo...

The molecular determinants of high-affinity human ether-a-go-go-related gene (HERG) potassium channel blockade by methanesulfonanilides include two aromatic residues (Phe656 and Tyr652) on the inner helices (S6) and residues on the pore helices that face into the inner cavity, but determinants for lower-affinity HERG blockers may be different. In this study, alanine-substituted HERG channel mut...

BACKGROUND A prospective, randomized study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of oral propafenone and quinidine for the conversion of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF). METHODS Eighty one consecutive patients (female/male 46/35; mean age 64.0 +/- 11.6), admitted to hospital with AF lasting no longer than 48 hours, were randomized in terms of their pharmacological therap...

In patch-clamped membranes from neonatal rat cardiocytes, elementary Na+ currents were recorded at 19 degrees C for study of the inhibitory influence of several antiarrhythmic drugs including lidocaine, diprafenone, propafenone, and prajmalium on DPI-modified cardiac Na+ channels. Diprafenone (20 mumol/l) and lidocaine (300 mumol/l) induced a voltage- and time-dependent block of reconstructed m...