Catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (CPVT) is a lethal genetic arrhythmia that manifests syncope or sudden death in children and young adults under stress conditions. CPVT patients often present bradycardia and sino-atrial node (SAN) dysfunction. However, the mechanism remains unclear. We analyzed SAN function in two CPVT families and in a novel knock-in (KI) mouse model carry...

BACKGROUND This study was performed to investigate the incidence of arrhythmias in patients with Kawasaki disease (KD). METHODS AND RESULTS Electrophysiologic studies (EPS) were performed in 40 patients (mean age: 10.3+/-5.1 years; 30 males, 10 females) with KD who had severe to moderate coronary artery disease. Clinical arrhythmias were documented in 4 patients (premature ventricular contrac...

INTRODUCTION SICK SINUS SYNDROME The sinus node is composed of a collection of specialised pacemaker cells embedded in a fibrous matrix that lies in the sulcus terminalis between the superior vena cava and the right atrial appendage. The sinus node serves as the primary cardiac pacemaker and controls the heart rate in normal individuals. Recent research indicates, that the sinus node is a heter...

OBJECTIVE To investigate the characteristics of ectopic automaticity and cation current (I(f)) of cardiac myocytes from pulmonary vein sleeves (PVs) in canines with atrial fibrillation. METHODS The canines (8-10 years old) were subjected to long-term, rapid atrial pacing (RAP) for 10 weeks, which induced the atrial fibrillation model. Disassociation of PVs of canines yielded single cardiac my...

introduction: recent evidence has indicated that statins can reduce the incidence of both supraventricular and ventricular arrhythmias with various mechanisms. the primary goal of the present study was to determine direct protective role of simvastatin in modifying concealed conduction and the zone of concealment in a simulated model of atrial fibrillation (af) in an isolated atrioventricular (...

introduction: the aim of the present study was to determine direct effects of no modulation on protective electrophysiological properties of atrioventricular node (av node) in the experimental model of af in rabbit. methods: isolated perfused rabbit av nodal preparations were used in two groups. in the first group (n=7), lname (50μm) was applied. in the second group (n=12), different concentrat...

The action of acetylcholine on atrioventricular nodal fibers has been studied with the aid of intracellular microelectrodes. It has been found that during total atrioventricular dissociation no block of conduction occurs at the junction between the A-V node and the bundle of His or within fibers of the atrium. Failure of impulse transmission occurs in fibers in the atrial margin of the A-V node...