Characteristics and Prognostic Relevance of Ventricular Arrhythmia in Patients with Myocarditis

Myocarditis is characterized by various clinical manifestations, with ventricular arrhythmia (VA) as a frequent symptom at initial presentation. Here, we investigated characteristics and prognostic relevance of VA in patients with myocarditis. The study population consisted of 76 patients with myocarditis, verified by biopsy and/or cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging, including 38 consecutive patients with VA (45 ± 3 years, 68% male) vs. 38 patients without VA (NVA) (38 ± 2 years, 84% male) serving as a control group. VA was monomorphic ventricular tachycardia in 55% of patients, premature ventricular complexes in 50% and ventricular fibrillation in 29%. The left ventricular ejection fraction at baseline was 47 ± 2% vs. 40 ± 3% in VA vs. NVA patients (p = 0.069). CMR showed late gadolinium enhancement more often in VA patients (94% vs. 69%; p = 0.016), incorporating 17.6 ± 1.8% vs. 8.2 ± 1.3% of myocardial mass (p < 0.001). Radiofrequency catheter ablation for VA was initially performed in nine (24%) patients, of whom five remained free from any recurrence over 24 ± 3 months. Taken together, in patients with myocarditis, reduced left ventricular ejection fraction does not predict VA occurrence but CMR shows late gadolinium enhancement more frequently and to a larger extent in VA than in NVA patients, potentially guiding catheter ablation as a reasonable treatment of VA in this population

Correction: Pathological Impact of Hepatitis B Virus Surface Proteins on the Liver Is Associated with the Host Genetic Background

<p>Correction: Pathological Impact of Hepatitis B Virus Surface Proteins on the Liver Is Associated with the Host Genetic Background</p

Activation of tumorigenic pathways in hepatocytes of HBV transgenic mice.

<p>Western blot analysis of total protein lysates from the liver of 12-, 26-, and 52-week-old mice was performed using (A) anti-Jun, (B) anti-phospho-SAPK/JNK, (C), anti-phospho-c-Jun and (D) anti-phospho-STAT3 antibodies. Samples were loaded as described in the legend of <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0090608#pone-0090608-g001" target="_blank">Fig. 1</a>. Equal protein loading was confirmed with anti-β-actin (A, B and C) and anti-STAT3 (D) antibodies.</p

Fibrogenesis in the liver of HBV transgenic mice.

<p>(A) Entire collagen was assessed by measurement of hydroxyproline (HYP) in murine liver (mean±SEM, n = 5–10). (B) Activation of hepatic stellate cells in HBV transgenic mice. Paraffin-embedded liver sections of 26-week-old HBVTg/c mice were analysed using anti-GFAP (left panel) and anti-Desmin (right panel) antibodies. Inserts - immunohistochemical analysis of the liver from wild-type BALB/c mouse. 100× - original magnification 100×, bar  = 200 µm. 200× – original magnification 200×, bar  = 200 µm.</p

HBs proteins-induced liver injury depends on host genetic background.

<p>(A) Assessment of liver damage in wild-type and HBV transgenic mice. ALT was measured in serum of 12-, 26-, and 52-week-old mice (mean±SEM, n = 5–10). (B-D) Western blot analysis of total protein lysates from the liver of 12-, 26-, and 52-week-old mice was performed using (B) anti-CHOP/GADD153, (C) anti-phospho-PERK, and (D) anti-phospho-eIF2α (Ser51) antibodies. Equal protein loading was confirmed with anti-PERK (B), anti-eIF2α (C), and anti-β-actin (D) antibodies. <b>1</b> – female BALB/c; <b>2,3</b> – female HBVTg/c; <b>4</b> – male BALB/c; <b>5, 6</b> – male HBVTg/c; <b>7</b> – female C57BL/6; <b>8, 9</b> – female HBVTg/6; <b>10</b> – male C57BL/6; <b>11, 12</b> – male HBVTg/6 mice.</p

Expression of CHOP/GADD153 and BiP/GRP78 in the liver of HBV transgenic mice.

<p>Immunohistochemical analysis of paraffin-embedded liver sections from 12-, 26-, and 52-week-old mice was performed using specific anti-CHOP/GADD153 (A) and anti-BiP (B) antibodies. 100x-original magnification 100×, bar  = 200 µm. 200-original magnification 200×, bar = 100 µm. <b>*</b>-central vein. <b>#</b>-periportal vein.</p