Atrial Fibrillation Begets Atrial Fibrillation in the Pulmonary Veins On the Impact of Atrial Fibrillation on the Electrophysiological Properties of the Pulmonary Veins in Humans

ObjectivesOur purpose was to investigate the impact of short-lasting atrial fibrillation (AF) on the electrophysiological properties of the atria and pulmonary veins (PVs) in patients devoid of AF.BackgroundThe presence of AF is associated with electrical remodeling processes that promote a substrate for arrhythmia maintenance in the atria, which has been termed “AF begets AF.” However, it is unclear whether those electrical alterations also occur in the PVs.MethodsThirty-five patients with a left-sided accessory pathway and without a prior history of AF were included. After successful ablation, the effective refractory periods (ERPs) and conduction times of the right atrium (RA), left atrium (LA), and the PVs were determined. Afterwards, AF was induced and maintained for a period of 15 min. Thereafter, the stimulation protocol was repeated.ResultsAt baseline, the PVs had significantly longer ERPs than the atria. After exposure to AF, the ERPs of both the atria and the PVs decreased significantly. The ERPs of the PVs, however, decreased by a significantly greater extent than the ERPs of the atria (PVs: 248 ± 27 ms vs. 211 ± 40 ms, p < 0.001; LA: 233 ± 23 ms vs. 214 ± 20 ms, p = 0.004; RA: 226 ± 29 ms vs. 188 ± 20 ms; p = 0.003). After AF exposure, the PVs demonstrated a significant conduction slowing whereas the atria did not (PVs: 125 ± 33 ms vs. 159 ± 37 ms, p < 0.001; LA: 129 ± 26 ms vs. 130 ± 24 ms, p = NS; RA: 192 ± 36 ms vs. 196 ± 32 ms, p = NS). Finally, AF was more frequently induced after the presence of AF, particularly by pacing in the PVs (14% vs. 49%, p = 0.001).ConclusionsNew-onset, short-lasting AF creates electrical characteristics similar to those of patients with AF. However, these alterations are pronounced in the PVs compared with the atria, indicating that “AF begets AF in the PVs” (Electrophysiological Properties of the Pulmonary Veins; NCT00530608)

2017 HRS/EHRA/ECAS/APHRS/SOLAECE expert consensus statement on catheter and surgical ablation of atrial fibrillation: executive summary.

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2017 HRS/EHRA/ECAS/APHRS/SOLAECE expert consensus statement on catheter and surgical ablation of atrial fibrillation: executive summary.

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withdrawn 2017 hrs ehra ecas aphrs solaece expert consensus statement on catheter and surgical ablation of atrial fibrillation

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Assessment of the hypnotic/sedative effects and toxicity of Passiflora edulis aqueous extract in rodents and humans

Passiflora species are used in folk medicine as hypnotic and sedative treatments. in this study the hypnotic-sedative effects and toxicity of Passiflora edulis were assessed in rats and mice and in healthy volunteers. It was verified that some samples of Passiflora edulis had a nonspecific central nervous system depressant effect. Furthermore, hepatobiliary and pancreatic toxicity to animals and humans were detected.ESCOLA PAULISTA MED SCH,DEPT PSYCHOBIOL,862 RUA BOTUCATU,BR-04023 São Paulo,BRAZILESCOLA PAULISTA MED SCH,DEPT PSYCHOBIOL,862 RUA BOTUCATU,BR-04023 São Paulo,BRAZILWeb of Scienc

Decennial follow-up in patients with recurrent tachycardia originating from the right ventricular outflow tract: electrophysiologic characteristics and response to treatment

Aims In the setting of right ventricular outflow tract-tachycardia (RVOT-T), data about long-term follow-up (FU) with respect to the therapeutic strategies are missing. All patients (pts) referred to our institution during the last 20 years for the treatment of RVOT-T were studied in a retrospective analysis to assess mortality and efficacy of treatment. Methods and results One hundred and thirty-three patients (77 female; 39 ± 13 years) with sustained RVOT-T were included in this study. At the time of first presentation, diagnosis of RVOT-T was made by complete invasive and non-invasive diagnostic assessment, including electrophysiology study and two-dimensional echocardiography. After 135 ± 68 months (median 136, range 29–248), patients were invited to undergo clinical assessment. Of the 133 pts, 127 (95%) survived and six (5%) died from non-cardiac disease. Anti-arrhythmic (AA) drugs were given to 62 of the 133 pts (47%); of them 32 (52%) had recurrences during follow-up. The mean time to recurrence was 10.02 years (95% CI 7.46–12.59). The other 71 study patients (53%) underwent catheter ablation. The procedure was successful in 58 pts (82%). During follow-up, 30 (52%) of the 58 successfully treated patients had recurrences of RVOT-T. The mean time to recurrence was 6.28 years (95% CI 4.96–7.6). RVOT-T recurrences were similar in morphology to those treated previously in 33% and different in 67% of cases. Conclusions Long-term follow-up in patients with RVOT-T is favourable. Catheter ablation is effective in this setting. However, late recurrences with similar or different morphology may arise in half of the patients after initially successful treatment. AA drug therapy is a valid initial therapeutic option, since it is effective in about half of the patients