Ventricular Fibrillation Complicating Endomyocardial Biopsy of Transplanted Heart

Life‐threatening arrhythmia is an unusual complication of endomyocardial biopsy in transplanted heart. Herein we described a case of VF during endomyocardial biopsy. The possibility of VF during a biopsy necessitates immediate access to defibrillation during endomyocardial biopsy.     

Tachyarrhythmias and catheter ablation in adult congenital heart disease

Advances in surgical technique have had an immense impact on longevity and quality of life in patients with congenital heart disease. However, an inevitable consequence of these surgical successes is the creation of a unique patient population whose anatomy, surgical history and haemodynamics result in the development of a challenging and complex arrhythmia substrate. Furthermore, this patient group remains susceptible to the arrhythmias seen in the general adult population. It is through a thorough appreciation of the cardiac structural defect, the surgical corrective approach, and haemodynamic impact that the most effective arrhythmia care can be delivered. Catheter ablation techniques offer a highly effective management option but require a meticulous attention to the real-time integration of anatomical and electrophysiological information to identify and eliminate the culprit arrhythmia substrate. This review describes the current approach to the interventional management of patients with tachyarrhythmias in the context of congenital heart disease.     

Markers of left ventricular decompensation in aortic stenosis

Calcified aortic stenosis is a condition that affects the valve and the myocardium. As the valve narrows, left ventricular hypertrophy occurs initially as an adaptive mechanism to maintain cardiac output. Ultimately, the ventricle decompensates and patients transition towards heart failure and adverse events. Current guidelines recommend aortic valve replacement in patients with severe aortic stenosis and evidence of decompensation based on either symptoms or an impaired ejection fraction <50%. However, symptoms can be subjective and correlate only modestly with the severity of aortic stenosis whilst impaired ejection fraction is an advanced manifestation and often irreversible. In this review, the authors will discuss the pathophysiology of left ventricular hypertrophy and the transition to heart failure. Subsequently, the authors will examine novel biomarkers that may better identify the transition from hypertrophy to heart failure and therefore guide the optimal timing for aortic valve replacement.     

Role of AMPK in pancreatic beta cell function

Pharmacological activation of AMP activated kinase (AMPK) by metformin has proven to be a beneficial therapeutic approach for the treatment of type II diabetes. Despite improved glucose regulation achieved by administration of small molecule activators of AMPK, the potential negative impact of enhanced AMPK activity on insulin secretion by the pancreatic beta cell is an important consideration. In this review, we discuss our current understanding of the role of AMPK in central functions of the pancreatic beta cell, including glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS), proliferation, and survival. In addition we discuss the controversy surrounding the role of AMPK in insulin secretion, underscoring the merits and caveats of methods used to date.     

急诊内科应用APACHEⅡ与SAPSⅡ评分在对患者重症评估时的价值比较

目的比较急性生理与慢性健康状况评分系统Ⅱ(APACHEⅡ)与简化急性生理学评分系统Ⅱ(SAPSⅡ)在临床急诊内科重症患者评估时的临床价值差异。方法收集本院2011年～2012年急诊内科收治的重症患者157例的临床资料,分别依据APACHEⅡ评分系统和SAPSⅡ系统对其预计病死率进行预计,并与真实病死率进行比较。结果两组患者的APACHEⅡ和SAPSⅡ评分和预计病死率方面均以死亡组较高(P<0.01),且SAPSⅡ评分法计算的两组预计死亡概率均高于APACHEⅡ法(P<0.05),两种分析方法的AUROCC分别为0.874和0.798(P<0.05)。随着入院时分值增加,病死率亦增加,且SAPSⅡ预计病死率高于实际病死率(P<0.05)。结论两种评价系统均适用于急诊内科重症患者的评估,其中APACHEⅡ校准度高,宜为首选。     

The brain‐derived neutrophic factor val66met polymorphism and sudden unexpected infant death

Aim: Findings of hypoxia prior to death and involvement of a dysregulation of the serotonergic network in sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) may indicate that brain‐derived neutrophic factor (BDNF) also is of importance with regard to sudden unexpected infant death. Based on this, the purpose of this study was to investigate the BDNF val66met polymorphism in SIDS cases, cases of infectious death and controls. Methods: The polymorphism was investigated in 163 SIDS cases, 34 cases of infectious death and 121 controls, using real‐time PCR and fluorescence melting curve analysis. Results: There were no differences in val66met genotype distribution between neither the SIDS cases nor the cases of infectious death and controls (p = 0.95 and p = 0.52, respectively). Conclusion: The study indicates that the val66met polymorphism is not important for sudden unexpected infant death. However, several other SNPs in the BDNF gene, as well as in other genes involved in this pathway, including G‐protein, have to be investigated to fully exclude any involvement of BDNF in SIDS.