冬虫夏草水提液对单个心室肌细胞钾通道的影响

目的　观察冬虫夏草水提液对豚鼠及大鼠心室肌细胞钾通道的作用 ,探讨冬虫夏草的抗心律失常作用机制。方法　应用全细胞膜片钳技术记录冬虫夏草水提物对豚鼠单个心室肌细胞内向整流钾电流 (IK1)、延迟整流钾电流 (IK)及大鼠心室肌细胞瞬时外向钾电流 (Ito)的影响。结果　应用 0 1g·L-1(生药浓度 )冬虫夏草水提液使豚鼠单个心室肌细胞内向整流钾电流在实验电压 - 12 0mV时从给药前(- 36 37± 5 15 ) pA/pF减少到 (- 2 9 70± 5 90 ) pA/ pF(n=5 ,P <0 0 5 ) ;延迟整流钾电流在实验电压 +70mV时 ,从给药前 (9 2 1± 2 4 2 ) pA/ pF增加至 (11 5 4± 2 98)pA/ pF(n =6 ,P <0 0 1) ;使大鼠心室肌细胞瞬时外向钾电流 (Ito)在实验电压 +5 0mV时 ,从给药前 (13 36± 0 88) pA/ pF增加至 (16 4 8± 1 0 9) (n =4 ,P <0 0 1)。结论　冬虫夏草抗心律失常作用与它对心肌细胞钾通道的作用有关。它增加IK,Ito的同时抑制IK1,将会使动作电位时程缩短而不至于发生早后除极和迟后除极     

胺碘酮治疗开胸手术后心律失常

目的 评价静脉注射胺碘酮对非心脏开胸手术后心律失常的治疗效果及安全性。方法 46例开胸手术后发生室上性心动过速24例、频发室性早搏15例、心房颤动7例。用胺碘酮150mg缓慢静脉注射后，效果不佳者重复上述剂量。结果 快速室上性与室性心律失常者治疗总有效率分别为91．66％(22／24)和86．67％(13／15)，心房颤动者达100％(7／7)。结论 胺碘酮对胸部手术后心律失常具有良好的安全性。     

Therapeutic potential of A1 adenosine receptor ligands: a survey of recent patent literature

Background: In recent years, a number of companies, universities and other institutions have invested in research on new molecules acting as agonists, antagonists and enhancers on A₁ adenosine receptors (ARs) and in the evaluation of their new therapeutic applications. Objective: To review recent patenting activity on this topic. Methods: The first part of this article describes the compounds patented, subdivided by functional activity, and the second part the most relevant therapeutic applications or new uses for A₁ AR ligands, with a focus on compounds in or soon to be in clinical trials. Conclusion: Although a number of potential therapeutic applications are proposed in the recent literature, at present, in the authors' opinion, very few A₁ ligands are close to coming on the market, probably due to limited selectivity towards the target tissue or organ.     

Ocular pressure waveform reflects ventricular bigeminy and aortic insufficiency

Ocular pulse amplitude (OPA) is defined as the difference between maximum and minimum intraocular pressure (IOP) during a cardiac cycle. Average values of OPA range from 1 to 4 mmHg. The purpose of this investigation is to determine the source of an irregular IOP waveform with elevated OPA in a 48-year-old male. Ocular pressure waveforms had an unusual shape consistent with early ventricular contraction. With a normal IOP, OPA was 9 mmHg, which is extraordinarily high. The subject was examined by a cardiologist and was determined to be in ventricular bigeminy. In addition, he had bounding carotid pulses and echocardiogram confirmed aortic insufficiency. After replacement of the aortic valve, the bigeminy resolved and the ocular pulse waveform became regular in appearance with an OPA of 1.6–2.0 mmHg. The ocular pressure waveform is a direct reflection of hemodynamics. Evaluating this waveform may provide an additional opportunity for screening subjects for cardiovascular anomalies and arrhythmias.     

A challenging ECG: a case of a lengthening PR interval

ABSTRACT

A 62-year-old man presented to the emergency department with shortness of breath and chest tightness. His initial ECG appeared to have an ectopic P-wave with a lengthening PR interval consistent with second degree AV block – Mobitz Type I. But closer inspection showed a faster, independent atrial rate. The patient was diagnosed with ectopic atrial bradycardia with complete AV block and junctional escape, and was ultimately referred for pacemaker.     

SERCA2a gene therapy in heart failure: an anti-arrhythmic positive inotrope

Therapeutic options that directly enhance cardiomyocyte contractility in chronic heart failure (HF) therapy are currently limited and do not improve prognosis. In fact, most positive inotropic agents, such as β-adrenoreceptor agonists and PDE inhibitors, which have been assessed in HF patients, cause increased mortality as a result of arrhythmia and sudden cardiac death. Cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca²⁺-ATPase2a (SERCA2a) is a key protein involved in sequestration of Ca²⁺ into the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) during diastole. There is a reduction of SERCA2a protein level and function in HF, which has been successfully targeted via viral transfection of the SERCA2a gene into cardiac tissue in vivo. This has enhanced cardiac contractility and reduced mortality in several preclinical models of HF. Theoretical concerns have been raised regarding the possibility of arrhythmogenic adverse effects of SERCA2a gene therapy due to enhanced SR Ca²⁺ load and induction of SR Ca²⁺ leak as a result. Contrary to these concerns, SERCA2a gene therapy in a wide variety of preclinical models, including acute ischaemia/reperfusion, chronic pressure overload and chronic myocardial infarction, has resulted in a reduction in ventricular arrhythmias. The potential mechanisms for this unexpected beneficial effect, as well as mechanisms of enhancement of cardiac contractile function, are reviewed in this article.     

Cardiovascular risk assessment in children and adolescents with congenital solitary kidneys

Patients with solitary kidneys (SKs) are at risk of hypertension (HT) and associated end‐organ damage. The authors aimed to evaluate whether children with congenital SKs (CSKs) have higher office, ambulatory, or central blood pressure (BP), increased arterial stiffness or left ventricular mass index, or any risk for arrhythmia. With this purpose, patients with CSK and healthy controls being followed up between January 2018 and June 2019 were enrolled in the study. Demographic, biochemical, and office blood pressure (BP) data were recorded. Then, ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) and measurements of central BP (cBP), pulse wave velocity (PWV), and augmentation index (AIx@75) were obtained. Ventricular repolarization parameters were acquired by 12‐lead electrocardiography. Left ventricular mass index (LVMI) and abdominal aortic stiffness parameters including strain, pressure strain elastic modulus (Ep), and normalized Ep (Ep*) were calculated with echocardiographic measurements. Finally, 36 children with CSK and 36 healthy controls were included. Serum creatinine, uric acid, total cholesterol levels, ABPM parameters, cBP levels, and PWV values were significantly higher, and eGFR levels were significantly lower in the CSK group. VR parameters, abdominal aortic stiffness indices, and LVMI were similar between the groups. CSK increased the risk of HT in ABPM (HT_ABPM) by 6 times. PWV was significantly correlated with Ep and Ep* in cases with CSK. Determination of cBP and PWV along with 24‐hour ABPM would be a useful tool in children with CSK.