Project description:Biatrial tachycardia via Bachmann's bundle, interatrial septum, and left atrial anterior wall can be treated by left atrial anterolateral linear ablation without left atrial appendage isolation, even under mitral isthmus block.
Project description:Sustained atrial tachycardia leads to multiple molecular and cellular effects collectively defined as atrial tachycardia remodeling (ATR). ATR is thought to play a major role in the self-perpetuating nature of atrial fibrillation (AF) and has been a subject of intense research in large mammalian models of AF. Recently, rodents are increasingly used to gain insight on the pathophysiology AF. However, little is known regarding the effects of rapid pacing on the atria of rats and mice mainly due to technical challenges in electrophysiological studies of unanesthetized rodents. Using an implantable device for electrophysiological studies in unanesthetized rodents we examine, on a daily basis, the effects of continuous rapid atrial pacing (RAP) for at least 4 consecutive days on the developed AF substrate of Sprague-Dawley rats and C57BL6 mice. AF induction protocol consisted 10 aggressive bursts (20 seconds, double diastolic threshold, 10 ms cycle length [CL]). This protocol failed to induce AF at baseline in both species, but repeatedly induced AF episodes in rats following 2 days of sustained RAP. Microarray study of left atrial tissue from rats exposed for 2 days to RAP (70 ms CL) vs control pacing (140 ms CL) identified 304 differentially expressed genes (155 upregulated and 149 downregulated). Real-time qt-PCR confirmed the validity of the microarray. Enrichment analysis and comparison with a dataset of atrial tissue from AF patients revealed indications of increased carbohydrate metabolism, and changes in pathways that are thought to have critical role in human AF including TGF-beta and IL-6 signaling. Among 19 commonly affected genes in comparison with human AF, downregulation of FOXP1 and upregulation of the KCNK2 gene encoding the Kir2.1 potassium channel were conspicuous finding suggesting NFAT activation. Further results in line with NFAT activation included reduced expression of MIR-26, MIR-101, which were linked to upregulation of the KCNK2 in human AF. Our results demonstrate electrophysiological evidence for AF promoting effects of RAP in rats and some important molecular similarities between the effects of RAP in large and small mammalian models. The effects of atrial tachypacing are well documented in large mammals but very little is know regarding the effects of tacypacing on the rodent atria.
Project description:Background Severe conduction delay and inter/intra-atrial dissociation may occur in patients who undergo an extensive catheter ablation or a maze procedure for atrial tachyarrhythmia. We report a series of patients with inter/intra-atrial dissociation that mimicked complete atrioventricular block or ventricular tachycardia. Methods and Results We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 7 patients who were referred for the evaluation of atrioventricular block (patients 1-6) or ventricular tachycardia (patient 7) that occurred after biatrial maze procedure and valvular surgery. During the electrophysiologic study, slow atrial or junctional escape rhythm dissociated from isolated atrial activity mimicked complete atrioventricular blocks. Intra-atrial dissociation of the right atrium or left atrium was observed. Atrioventricular nodal conduction from the nondissociated atrium to the ventricle was preserved in all patients, while the conduction from the dissociated atrium was blocked. In patient 7, the pacing of the ventricle by tracking of atrial tachycardia from the nondissociated left atrium/coronary sinus mimicked ventricular tachycardia during pacemaker interrogation. A total of 5 patients received new permanent pacemaker implantations during the index hospitalization for the surgery (n=2) or as a deferred procedure (n=3) according to the treatment for sick sinus syndrome. Conclusions Pseudo-atrioventricular block or pseudo-ventricular tachycardia may occur because of inter/intra-atrial dissociation after a maze procedure. The selection of patients for permanent pacemaker implantation should be determined based on the patient's symptoms and the status of the escape pacemaker and not on the apparent atrioventricular block. Proper diagnosis is important to avoid unnecessary implantation of a pacemaker or a defibrillator.
Project description:It is not uncommon for protein crystals to crystallize with more than a single molecule per asymmetric unit. When more than a single molecule is present in the asymmetric unit, various pathological situations such as twinning, modulated crystals and pseudo translational or rotational symmetry can arise. The presence of pseudosymmetry can lead to uncertainties about the correct space group, especially in the presence of twinning. The background to certain common pathologies is presented and a new notation for space groups in unusual settings is introduced. The main concepts are illustrated with several examples from the literature and the Protein Data Bank.
Project description:Inadvertent direct atrial capture and pure his capture can result in variable findings during parahis pacing manoeuvre (PHP). Understanding the results and positioning the pacing bipole towards ventricular aspect (distal his region) is helpful to avoid ambiguous results during PHP.