EP News: Basic and Translational October 6, 2011
Posted by Peng-Sheng Chen, MD, FHRS in Science & Research.Tags: Atrial fibrillation, Defibrillation, Heart Failure
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Defibrillation with High-Frequency Electric Field
Tandri et al (Sci Transl Med 2011;3:102ra96) studied the effects of electrical stimulation on conduction block in cardiac tissues. Electrical stimulation has been applied to nervous tissue to cause reversible conduction block, but has not been explored sufficiently in cardiac tissue.
The authors show that reversible propagation block can be achieved in cardiac tissue by holding myocardial cells in a refractory state for a designated period of time by applying a sustained sinusoidal high-frequency alternating current (HFAC). In doing so, reentrant arrhythmias are terminated.
EP News: Basic and Translational September 9, 2011
Posted by Peng-Sheng Chen, MD, FHRS in Science & Research.Tags: Arrhythmias, cardiomyopathy
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Genetic Variation in Titin in Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy
Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) is an inherited genetic myocardial disease characterized by fibrofatty replacement of the myocardium and a predisposition to cardiac arrhythmias and sudden death.
Taylor et al (Circulation 2011; 124:876, PMID 21810661) evaluated the cardiomyopathy gene titin (TTN) as a candidate ARVC gene because of its proximity to an ARVC locus at position 2q32 and the connection of the titin protein to the transitional junction at intercalated disks. (more…)
August EP News: Basic and Translational August 8, 2011
Posted by Peng-Sheng Chen, MD, FHRS in Science & Research.Tags: AF, Arrhythmia, Clinical trials, Sodium channels
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Structure and function of sodium channels
Many voltage-gated ion channel (VGIC) superfamily members contain six-transmembrane segments in which the first four form a voltage-sensing domain (VSD) and the last two form the pore domain (PD).
Studies of potassium channels from the VGIC superfamily together with identification of voltage-sensor only proteins have suggested that the VSD and the PD can fold independently. Whether such transmembrane modularity is common to other VGIC superfamily members has remained untested. (more…)
HRS Update: FDA Issues Alert on the Heart Drug Multaq (dronedarone) July 22, 2011
Posted by Heart Rhythm Society in EP Physicians, Science & Research.Tags: AF, Afib, Atrial fibrillation, Clinical trials, Dronedarone, Multaq, PALLAS Study
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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is reviewing data from the Permanent Atrial Fibrillation Outcome Study Using Dronedarone on Top of Standard Therapy (PALLAS) study that was evaluating the effects of the antiarrhythmic drug Multaq (dronedarone) in patients with permanent atrial fibrillation. (more…)
EP News: Basic and Translational July 20, 2011
Posted by Peng-Sheng Chen, MD, FHRS in Science & Research.Tags: Afib, Arrhythmias, Atrial fibrillation, Long QT Syndrome, LQTS, Repolarization, Sex hormones
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Sex Hormones and Arrhythmia
Buber et al (Circulation 2011;123:2748, PMID 21632495) hypothesized that the hormonal changes associated with menopause may affect clinical risk in this population. The authors studied 282 LQT1 (n=151) and LQT2 (n=131) women enrolled in the Long-QT Syndrome Registry. (more…)
Should We Wiki? July 5, 2011
Posted by Heather M. Ross, DNP, ANP-BC, CCDS, CEPS, FHRS in Science & Research.Tags: Wikipedia
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A few weeks ago, the BBC World Service reported on a survey of European physicians concerning their use of Wikipedia. As it turns out, 60% of those surveyed use Wikipedia as a medical reference tool.
This garnered much snickering in the media as reporters immediately went to the street to solicit public opinion. As it turns out, some of the public were apparently surprised that health care professionals don’t know everything about everything. In the public’s defense, I have met some health care professionals who don’t realize that they don’t know everything about everything.
The media did raise the reasonable question of whether a resource without stringent peer review should be included as a source of medical information for professionals. What do you think? Do you ever use Wikipedia as a resource? Which instant references do you use to navigate our entropic world of EP knowledge? How should we – as EP professionals – determine which references are valid enough to use on the spot?
Recent EP Research: Basic and Translational June 20, 2011
Posted by Peng-Sheng Chen, MD, FHRS in Science & Research.Tags: Long QT Syndrome, LQTS, Ventricular preexcitation
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Using Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells to Investigate Cardiac Phenotypes in Timothy Syndrome
Individuals with long QT syndrome (LQTS) are at risk of life-threatening ventricular arrhythmia. LQTS is commonly genetic in origin but can also be caused or exacerbated by environmental factors. A missense mutation in the L-type calcium channel Ca(V)1.2 leads to LQTS in patients with Timothy syndrome. (more…)
June Science and Research Highlights June 7, 2011
Posted by Peng-Sheng Chen, MD, FHRS in Science & Research.Tags: Brain Pathology, Circulation, Circulation Research, PNAS
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Imaging the electromechanical activity of the heart in vivo
Provost et al (PNAS 2011;108:8565, PMID: 21571641) developed a new method to image electromechanical activity of the heart in vivo. Cardiac conduction abnormalities remain a major cause of death and disability worldwide. However, there is no standard clinical imaging modality that can noninvasively map the electrical activation. (more…)
Basic and Translational Research May 20, 2011
Posted by Peng-Sheng Chen, MD, FHRS in Science & Research.Tags: Cardiovascular Research Journal, Circulation Research Journal, European Heart Journal, Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Journal of Physiology
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Upregulation of ventricular potassium channels by chronic tamoxifen treatment
Tamoxifen is a selective estrogen receptor modulator widely used in the prevention and treatment of breast cancer. Although acute perfusion of tamoxifen has been shown to inhibit cardiac K(+) currents, women receiving long term tamoxifen therapy do not have increased arrhythmia. (more…)
New Treatments for Vasovagal Syncope May 16, 2011
Posted by Peng-Sheng Chen, MD, FHRS in Science & Research, Scientific Sessions.Tags: Heart Rhythm 2011
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Many interesting basic-translational science abstracts were presented during the Heart Rhythm Society’s 32nd Annual Scientific Sessions. The following two abstracts provide new hope for breakthrough treatment of the vasovagal syncope (VVS), a major clinical problem for EP consultants. (more…)
Heart Rhythm Society
Laurie Racenet, RN, MSN, ANP
Michael Giudici, MD, FACC, FACP, FHRS
Heather M. Ross, DNP, ANP-BC, CCDS, CEPS, FHRS
Anne Dubin, MD, FHRS
John D. Day, MD, FHRS
Andrea M. Russo, MD, FACC, FHRS
Joshua M. Cooper, MD, FACC
Amit J. Shanker, MD, FHRS, FACC
Bruce Stambler, MD
David Wiggins, RN, BS BME, CEPS
Fred M. Kusumoto, MD, FHRS
Leonard Ganz, MD, FHRS
christinechiuman
Craig Delaughter, MD, PhD
Ariana Del Negro, Heart Rhythm 2010 Quality
Peng-Sheng Chen, MD, FHRS
MSKremers MD,FHRS
Ann C. Garlitski, MD, FACC, FHRS
Alan Cheng, MD, FHRS
Ulrika Birgersdotter-Green, MD
Christopher Clyne, MD, FHRS
Kathleen Blake, MD, MPH, FHRS
David Scher, MD, FHRS
Sanjay Deshpande, MD, FHRS
Thomas F. Deering, MD, FHRS
