Intrapatient Comparison of Atrial and Ventricular Sensing, Pacing Threshold, and Impedance: Benefits with Steroid-Eluting Leads

We compared the atrial and ventricular bioelectrical effects relating to pacing threshold, pacing impedance, and pacing energy in each of 58 patients to determine the importance of pacing impedance in safe low energy stimulations. The study was conducted during 4 years of follow-up. Of the 58 patients in our study, 31 were stimulated in both chambers with steroid-eluting leads (Capsure 4503 and 4003) and 27 with platinum electrode catheters (Target Tip 4511 and 4011). The two groups were homogeneous in sex, age, cardiopathy, and reason for implant. At 6 months, the mean impedance values for the Target Tip were: 358 ± 72 Ω for the atrium and 443 ± 87 Ω for the ventricle (P < 0.00002): after 1 year, atrium = 386 ± 77 Ω, ventricle = 439 ± 42 Ω (P < 0.04); at 2 years, atrium = 409 ± 86 Ω, ventricle = 510 ± 94 Ω (P < 0.0001); at 3 years, atrium = 428 ± 81 Ω, ventricle = 494 ± 67 Ω (P < 0.02); and at 4 years, atrium = 424 ± 71 Ω and ventricle = 501 ± 69 Ω (P < 0.003). The mean impedance value (for the Capsure) was: atrium = 351 ± 43 Ω, ventricle = 431 ± 81 Ω at 6 months (P < 0.03); at 1 year, atrium = 359 ± 38 Ω, ventricle = 446 ± 83 Ω (P < 0.01); at 2 years, atrium = 304 ± 124 Ω, ventricle = 459 + 108 Ω (P <0.0003); at 3 years, atrium = 359 ± 108 Ω, ventricle = 461 ± 89 Ω (P < 0.02); and at 4 years, atrium = 419 ± 133 Ω and ventricle = 515 ± 75 Ω (P < 0.03;. In view of the chronic threshold, low energy stimulation was used at follow-up. The mean low energy stimulation values programmed for Target Tip were: atrium = 2.5 V/0.35 ms, ventricle = 2.5 V/0.30 ms; for Capsure, atrium = 2.5 V/0.25 ms, ventricle = 2.5 V/0.25 ms. The mean stimulation energy value was 31% higher in the atrium than in the ventricle with Capsure leads, and 39% higher with Target Tip. Pacing impedance was lower in the atrium than in the ventricle with both leads. Energy consumption in the atrium is significantly greater than in the ventricle with both leads, particularly with Target Tip.     

Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy:

In patients with heart failure and wide QRS complex, cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is associated with improvement of symptoms and cardiac function. This study examined the effects of a 3-month period of CRT on left ventricular (LV) and right ventricular (RV) ejection fraction (EF) and on LV volumes, both at rest and during exercise. A CRT system was implanted in 15 patients with severe heart failure and wide QRS. Before implant and 3 months later, all patients underwent assessment of cardiac performance with equilibrium Tc⁹⁹ radionuclide angiography with imaging in the best septal left anterior oblique view. Exercise was performed on a bicycle ergometer. At 3 months, a significant improvement in New York Heart Association functional class was observed, and radionuclide angiography showed a significant decrease in LV volumes and a significant increase in LVEF at rest, as well as a significant increase in LVEF during exercise. The remodeling processes associated with CRT did not appear to include RV function, since RVEF did not improve, and changes in RVEF did not correlate with changes in LVEF, neither at rest nor during exercise.     

Inappropriate Sinus Tachycardia After Radiofrequency Ablation of Para-Hisian Accessory Pathways

Inappropriate Sinus Tachycardia After Catheter Ablation. Introduction : Inappropriate sinus tachycardia (IST) has been observed following radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of the AV nodal fast pathway. This study was aimed to prospectively analyze the incidence and clinical significance of IST following RFA of para-Hisian accessory pathways (APs).
Methods and Results : Twenty-eight patients (pts) with para-Hisian APs underwent RFA. An AP was defined as para-Hisian whenever its atrial and ventricular insertions were associated with a His-bundle potential ≥ 0.1 mV. RF current was always delivered at the atrial aspect of the tricuspid annulus. to a site where the His-bundle potential was < 0.15 mV. Time- and frequency-domain analysis of heart rate variability was performed in 22 patients, before and after RFA. Abolition of AP conduction was obtained in all pts, and no AV conduction alteration occurred. Six pts (21.4%) presented with IST 45 to 240 minutes after the ablation procedure. In 5 of them, IST disappeared spontaneously within 72 hours, whereas in 1 pt β-blockers were required for 2 months. The atrial potential amplitude (1.217 ± 0.264 mV vs 0.882 ± 0.173 mV, P = 0.009) and A/V potential amplitude ratio (2.633 vs 1.686, P = 0.05) were significantly higher in pts who developed IST than in those who did not. A marked decrease in heart rate variability was observed only in pts who developed IST.
Conclusion : IST is a relatively frequent complication after RFA of para-Hisian APs: it is generally short-lasting and usually does not require any treatment. IST after catheter ablation is likely to depend upon transient parasympathetic denervation of the sinus node.     

Recognizing and Managing Permanent Junctional Reciprocating Tachycardia in the Catheter Ablation Era

Permanent Junctional Reciprocating Tachycardia. There is general agreement that an orthodromic AV reentry using a concealed slow conducting accessory pathway as the retrograde limb of the circuit constitutes the underlying mechanism of the permanent form of junctional reciprocating tachycardia (PJRT). In this arrhythmia, the standard ECG typically shows a "long R-P' tachycardia" with retrograde P waves negative in the inferior leads. A careful electrophysiologic evaluation is necessary to confirm the diagnosis of PJRT. Recent re ports have demonstrated that the radiofrequency current catheter technique provides a safe and highly effective therapeutic tool for patients suffering from this arrhythmia.     

Conventional induction treatments do not influence overall survival in multiple myeloma

A retrospective analysis was performed on two subsequent myeloma patient series treated with the same conventional induction treatments, melphalan and prednisone or alternating VMCP/VBAP: 273 were enrolled in the multicentre M83 trial (M83 trial group) from 1983 to 1986; 160 were referred to a single institution (Haemat.To group) from 1986 to 1994. Response to treatment was very similar in the two groups (53% v 50.3%). Remission duration curves merely overlapped (median 20 v 21 months). However, overall survival was significantly longer in the Haemat.To group (43.2 v 33 months, P  < 0.04). This difference was due to a prolonged period from relapse or progression to death (21 v 8 months, P  < 0.01; 20.8 v 7 months, P  < 0.009). Prolonged survival was also observed in poor-prognosis patients with a serum β₂-microglobulin level > 3 mg/l, in the Haemat.To group (31.8 v 24.2 months, P  < 0.04). The same induction treatments produced almost identical response rate and remission duration in both groups, but overall survival was 10 months longer for one group. However, it could be argued that treatment salvage modalities and support therapies have been improved in a decade. Lastly, induction treatments did not influence overall survival.     

An Algorithm for Verifying Biventricular Capture Based on Evoked-Response Morphology

Cardiac resynchronization therapy relies on consistent beat-by-beat myocardial capture in both ventricles. A pacemaker ensuring right (RV) and left ventricular (LV) capture through reliable capture verification and automatic output adjustment would contribute to patients' safety and quality of life. We studied the feasibility of an algorithm based on evoked-response (ER) morphology for capture verification in both the ventricles. RV and LV ER signals were recorded in 20 patients (mean age 72.5 years, range 64.3–80.4 years, 4 females and 16 males) during implantation of biventricular (BiV) pacing systems. Leads of several manufacturers were tested. Pacing and intracardiac electrogram (IEGM) recording were performed using an external pulse generator. IEGM and surface-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) signals were recorded under different pacing conditions for 10 seconds each: RV pacing only, LV pacing only, and BiV pacing with several interventricular delays. Based on morphology characteristics, ERs were classified manually for capture and failure to capture, and the validity of the classification was assessed by reference to the ECG. A total of 3,401 LV- and 3,345 RV-paced events were examined. In the RV and LV, the sensitivities of the algorithm were 95.6% and 96.1% in the RV and LV, respectively, and the corresponding specificities were 91.4% and 95.2%, respectively. The lower sensitivity in the RV was attributed to signal blanking in both channels during BiV pacing with a nonzero interventricular delay. The analysis revealed that the algorithm for identifying capture and failure to capture based on the ER-signal morphology was safe and effective in each ventricle with all leads tested in the study.     

Increase in liver pigmentation during natural hibernation in some amphibians

The amount/distribution of liver melanin in 3 amphibian species ( Rana esculenta , Triturus a. apuanus , Triturus carnifex ) was studied during 2 periods of the annual cycle (summer activity–winter hibernation) by light and electron microscopy, image analysis and microspectrofluorometry. The increase in liver pigmentation (melanin content) during winter appeared to be correlated with morphological and functional modifications in the hepatocytes, which at this period were characterised by a decrease in metabolic activity. These findings were interpreted according to the functional role (e.g. phagocytosis, cytotoxic substance inactivation) played by the pigment cell component in the general physiology of the heterothermic vertebrate liver and, in particular, in relation to a compensatory engagement of these cells against hepatocellular hypoactivity during the winter period.     

Randomized Clinical Trial on Short‐Time Compression with Kaolin‐Filled Pad: A New Strategy to Avoid Early Bleeding and Subacute Radial Artery Occlusion after Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

Background: Despite the increasing use of transradial techniques for cardiac percutaneous procedures, none of the strategies commonly utilized for hemostasis has been able to reduce the occurrence of radial artery occlusion (RAO). The aim of this study was to evaluate the occurrence of 24‐hour RAO and the rate of bleeding of a novel hemostatic device for radial closure after percutaneous interventions, in adjunct to short‐time compression. Methods: Once the radial access was obtained, patients were randomized to 3 different strategies of radial closure: a short compression with the QuikClot® Interventional? pad (Z‐Medica Corporation, Wallingford, CT, USA) (15 minutes, group 1), a short compression (15 minutes, group 2), and a conventional prolonged compression (2 hours, group 3) both without QuikClot® utilization. Results: Fifty patients in group 1, 20 in group 2, and 50 in group 3 were enrolled. The three groups were homogenous for baseline and procedural characteristics. None of patients in group 1 developed RAO, 1 (5%) occurred in group 2, and 5 (10%) in group 3 (P = 0.05). Active bleeding after compression removal occurred in 10 patients (20%) in group 1, 18 (90%) in group 2, and 1 (2%) in group 3 (P < 0.001). Among patients in group 1, at univariate analysis, the predictors of acute bleeding resulted in chronic therapy with clopidogrel (Odds Ratio 28.78, 95% Confidence Intervals 4.79–172.82, P < 0.001) and high levels of activated clotting time (ACT) at the time of sheath removal (OR 1.02, 95% CI 1.00–1.03, P = 0.009). At ROC analysis, the cutoff value of ACT for the risk of bleeding with a sensitivity of 80% and specificity of 75% was 287 seconds. Conclusions: Early sheet removal and short‐time compression with QuikClot® Interventional? can reduce the rate of RAO after diagnostic or interventional procedures especially in patients not on double antiplatelet therapy. (J Interven Cardiol 2011;24:65–72)