BACKGROUND Therapy with racemic compounds produces effects that can be attributed to both (S)- and (R)-enantiomers. Here we have tested the hypothesis that an enantiomer-enantiomer interaction would modulate the effects of treatment with a racemate, the antiarrhythmic propafenone. Previous studies have shown that while the enantiomers of propafenone exert similar sodium channel-blocking (QRS wi...

The usefulness of quinidine in treatment of cardiac arrhythmias is often limited by the difficulty of determining adequate dosage. When control has not been effected by small doses, the physician may be deterred from increasing these because of the risk of toxicity. The electrocardiogram does not help to indicate that this may be imminent, since the effects of overdosage (widening of QRS and ve...

search and education, alternative methods for animal testing came to be discussed on account of criticisms made on animal welfare and humanitarian grounds as well as awareness among scientists. Thus, based on social acceptance, experimental studies using chick embryos have drawn attention. In order to develop alternative methods, we have studied the biological effects of drugs on the cardiovasc...

Hyperkalemia is a common electrolyte abnormality frequently complicated with chronic kidney disease. By injecting potassium chloride (KCl) solutions intravenously into bullfrogs, we reproduced typical electrocardiogram (ECG) abnormalities of hyperkalemia in the frog hearts, such as peaked T waves and widening QRS complexes. Simultaneous recordings cardiac action potentials showed morphological ...

Arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy (ACM) is a progressive genetic disease of the myocardium characterized by loss myocardial cells and replacement fibrofatty tissue in right and/or left ventricle (RV/LV), clinically manifested syncope, palpitations, heart failure, or sudden cardiac death (SCD). We presented case where patient suffered from palpitations for previous three to four years, which resolve...

BACKGROUND Carbamazepine is an iminostilbene derivative structurally related to cyclic antidepressants which implies its potential cardiotxic properties, especially in acute poisoning. This study aimed to determine the frequency and severity of cardiovascular complications in carbamazepine intoxication and its relationship with level of consciousness. METHODS Patients with carbamazepine intox...

BACKGROUND Reduced cardiac sodium current slows conduction and renders the heart susceptible to ventricular fibrillation. Loss of function mutations in SCN5A, encoding the cardiac sodium channel, are one cause of the Brugada syndrome, associated with slow conduction and a high incidence of ventricular fibrillation, especially in Asians. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that an SCN5A prom...