BACKGROUND Atrial fibrillation (AF) risk has been associated with leaky ryanodine receptor 2 (RyR2) Ca release channels. Patients with mutations in RyR2 or in the sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca-binding protein calsequestrin 2 (Casq2) display an increased risk for AF. Here, we examine the underlying mechanisms of AF associated with loss of Casq2 and test mechanism-based drug therapy. METHODS AND RE...

BACKGROUND Atrial fibrillation (AF) is one of the most common complications after cardiac surgery. Several therapeutic and preventive strategies have been introduced for postoperative AF, but the treatment and prophylaxis of AF remain controversial. We aimed to compare the efficacy of intravenous amiodarone and oral propafenone in the treatment of AF after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG)...

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% wt/wt lard, fish oil, or safflower ...

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...

In this study, an easy, fast, sensitive and accurate technique has been described for extraction and quantitative analysis of fluoxetine and propafenone using off-line coupling of ionic liquid–based dispersive liquid–liquid micro-extraction with high performance liquid chromatography. The effective extraction variables including: the ionic liquid volume, the type and volume of dispersive solven...

BACKGROUND Pill-in-the-pocket treatment should be prescribed only if the administration of a loading oral dose of flecainide or propafenone has been proved safe in hospital, since major adverse effects have been reported in 5% of patients during in-hospital treatment. However, in emergency rooms, the oral administration of these drugs for the conversion of atrial fibrillation (AF) is very rarel...

BACKGROUND There is little data on the long-term efficacy of antiarrhythmic drugs (AADs) and radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) in patients with symptomatic premature ventricular complexes (PVCs) and no organic heart disease. AIM To evaluate the short- and long-term efficacy and tolerance of AAD therapy and RFCA in patients with idiopathic PVCs. METHODS This was a prospective, crossove...