BACKGROUND Atrial fibrillation (AF) leads to structural and neural remodeling in the atrium, which enhances AF complexity and perpetuation. Renal denervation (RDN) can reduce renal and whole-body sympathetic activity. Aim of this study was to determine the effect of sympathetic nervous system modulation by RDN on atrial arrhythmogenesis. METHODS AND RESULT Eighteen goats were instrumented wit...

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is accompanied by intracellular calcium overload. The purpose of this study was to assess the role of calcium-dependent calpains and cytokines during AF. Atrial tissue samples from 32 patients [16 with chronic AF and 16 in sinus rhythm (SR)] undergoing open heart surgery were studied. Atrial expression of calpain I and II, calpastatin, troponin T (TnT), troponin C (TnC)...

BACKGROUND Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) play an important role in degradation of the extracellular matrix of injured tissue. MMP-9 expression increases in fibrillating atrial tissue; however, the mechanism for this increase has not been clarified. METHODS AND RESULTS Changes in the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), VEGF receptors, and hypoxia-induced transcription f...

The hepatocyte nuclear factor-4 (HNF-4) contains two transcription activation domains. One domain, activation function-1 (AF-1), consists of the extreme N-terminal 24 amino acids and functions as a constitutive autonomous activator of transcription. This short transactivator belongs to the class of acidic activators, and it is predicted to adopt an amphipathic alpha-helical structure. Transcrip...

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with an increased risk of thromboembolism, and is the most prevalent factor for cardioembolic stroke. Vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) have been the standard of care for stroke prevention in patients with AF since the early 1990s. They are very effective for the prevention of cardioembolic stroke, but are limited by factors such as drug-drug interactions, food...

BACKGROUND The aims of the study are 1) to assess antiarrhythmic prophylaxis efficacy during the first 2 months after radiofrequency ablation (ARF) due to AF; 2) to define risk factors for early AF recurrence (EAFR) after ARF; 3) to determine the long-term follow-up results and risk factors for late AF recurrence (LAFR). METHODS A total number of 210 consecutive patients who had undergone ARF...

CONTEXT Obesity is associated with atrial enlargement and ventricular diastolic dysfunction, both known predictors of atrial fibrillation (AF). However, it is unclear whether obesity is a risk factor for AF. OBJECTIVE To examine the association between body mass index (BMI) and the risk of developing AF. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS Prospective, community-based observational cohort in ...

The aim of this study is to assess plastic changes of the sensorimotor cortex (SMC) in patients with traumatic brachial plexus injury (BPI) using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Twenty patients with traumatic BPI underwent fMRI using blood oxygen level-dependent technique with echo-planar imaging before the operation. Sixteen patients underwent their second fMRI at approximately o...

OBJECTIVES We studied the effects of beta-adrenergic and cholinergic stimulation and blockade on spontaneous atrial fibrillation (AF) in the intact dog heart. BACKGROUND Paroxysmal AF is often preceded by changes in autonomic tone, but the relative roles of adrenergic and cholinergic influences on AF induction are not well known. METHODS Perfusion of catecholamines and acetylcholine (ACh), ...

BACKGROUND Atrial fibrillation (AF) and heart failure (HF) are 2 of the most common cardiovascular conditions nationally and AF frequently complicates HF. We examined how AF has impacts on adverse outcomes in HF-PEF versus HF-REF within a large, contemporary cohort. METHODS AND RESULTS We identified all adults diagnosed with HF-PEF or HF-REF based on hospital discharge and ambulatory visit di...