Cardiology News & Articles

1 Newly diagnosed atrial fibrillation linked to wake-up stroke and TIA: Hypothetical implications Neurology, May 8, 2013
Riccio PM et al. - Based on the higher frequency of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation during night and early morning hours, the authors sought to analyze the association between newly diagnosed atrial fibrillation and wake-up ischemic cerebrovascular events. The odds of detecting a newly diagnosed atrial fibrillation were 3-fold higher among wake-up cerebrovascular events than among non–wake-up events. Methods The authors prospectively assessed every acute ...

2 Effects of high dose intravenous fish oil on human atrial electrophysiology: Implications for possible anti- and pro-arrhythmic mechanisms in atrial fibrillation International Journal of Cardiology, April 25, 2013
Kumar S et al. – Intravenous omega–3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (ω–3 PUFAs) may prevent atrial fibrillation (AF) inducibility and perpetuation in animal models. The authors examined the effect of high dose IV ω–3 PUFAs on human atrial electrophysiology. IV ω–3 PUFAs (as free fatty acids) cause acute atrial conduction slowing, suppress AF inducibility, organise AF into atrial flutter and enhance atrial flutter inducibility. These findings provide a novel insight into ...

3 Role of Late Sodium Channel Current Block in the Management of Atrial Fibrillation Cardiovascular Drugs and Therapy, February 1, 2013
Burashnikov A et al. – The anti–arrhythmic efficacy of the late sodium channel current (late INa) inhibition has been convincingly demonstrated in the ventricles, particularly under conditions of prolonged ventricular repolarization. The value of late INa block in the setting of atrial fibrillation (AF) remains poorly investigated. The impact of late INa inhibition is reduced by the abbreviation of the action potential that occurs in AF patients secondary to electrical remodeling. It stands ...

4 Focal adhesion kinase mediates atrial fibrosis via the AKT/S6K signaling pathway in chronic atrial fibrillation patients with rheumatic mitral valve disease International Journal of Cardiology, May 2, 2013
Zhang P et al. - atrial fibrosis, as a hallmark of atrial structural remodeling, plays a critical role in the maintenance of chronic atrial fibrillation (AF), but the mechanisms responsible for atrial fibrosis are still uncertain. Fibrogenesis represents a complex process in which focal adhesion kinase (FAK) plays an important role. Therefore, the authors investigated the role of FAK-mediated signaling in atrial fibrosis in patients with chronic AF related to rheumatic mitral valve ...

5 Atrial Fibrillation in Athletes International Journal of Sports Medicine, May 3, 2013
Mascia G et al. - Many studies have shown a relationship between long-term endurance sport practice and atrial fibrillation. Inflammation, anatomic remodelling, alterations in the autonomic system and neurohormonal activation are all possible explanations for the increased prevalence of this arrhythmia in athletes. atrial fibrillation may determine disabling symptoms like palpitations and impaired physical performance, compromising eligibility for competitive activities, but ...

6 Predictors and prognostic implications of incident heart failure following the first diagnosis of atrial fibrillation in patients with structurally normal hearts: the Belgrade Atrial Fibrillation Study European Heart Journal, March 26, 2013
Potpara T.S. et al.- atrial fibrillation (AF) commonly co-exists with heart failure (HF). The risk factors for and prognostic implications of incident HF development in patients with first-diagnosed AF and structurally normal hearts are poorly defined. In a cohort of patients with first-diagnosed AF and structurally normal hearts on baseline echocardiography, this study investigated baseline risk factors for the development of incident HF and tested the hypothesis that ...

7 Continuous warfarin versus periprocedural dabigatran to reduce stroke and systemic embolism in patients undergoing catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation or left atrial flutter Journal of Interventional Cardiac Electrophysiology , May 1, 2013
Kaiser DW et al. – The authors sought to evaluate the safety and efficacy of a dabigatran use strategy versus warfarin, at a single high–volume AF ablation center. In patients undergoing left atrial catheter ablation for AF or left atrial flutter, use of periprocedural dabigatran etexilate provides a safe and effective anticoagulation strategy compared to warfarin. A prospective randomized study is warranted. Methods The authors performed a retrospective analysis on consecutive patients ...

8 Left Atrial Function Assessed by Doppler Echocardiography Rather Than Left Atrial Volume Predicts Recurrence in Patients With Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation Clinical Cardiology, March 15, 2013
Yoon JH et al. - Paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PaAF) may present as a single self-terminating episode of atrial fibrillation (AF) or a more persistent form after sinus conversion. The authors investigated predictors of recurrence in patients with PaAF. A', which indicates left atrial (LA) contractile function after sinus conversion, was the independent predictor of PaAF recurrence, whereas LA volume was not. LA function may be more important than LA volume in predicting ...

9 Predicting the future in patients with atrial fibrillation: who develops heart failure? European Journal of Heart Failure, March 28, 2013
Mulder B.A. et al.- This editorial refers to ‘Predictors and prognostic implications of incident heart failure following the first diagnosis of atrial fibrillation in patients with structurally normal hearts: the Belgrade atrial fibrillation Study’, by T.S. Potpara et al. atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained cardiac arrhythmia; the lifetime risk is 1 in 4 for persons over the age of 55 years in The Netherlands. AF is associated with a five-fold ...

10 Hospitalized patients with atrial fibrillation compared to those included in recent trials on novel oral anticoagulants: A population-based study European Journal of Internal Medicine , March 29, 2013
Joppi R. et al.- To describe clinical features and pharmacological treatments of a population-based cohort of patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation and ascertain whether they are comparable with those included in the three main phase III clinical trials on NOACs.Nonvalvular atrial fibrillation is associated with a substantial risk of stroke. Novel oral anticoagulants (NOACs) with predictable anticoagulant effect and no need for routine coagulation monitoring have recently ...