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Front Pharmacol 2022 20;13:860546. Epub 2022 Apr 20.

Center for Clinical Laboratories, The Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China.

Gasdermin E (GSDME) is one of the executors of pyroptosis, a type of programmed lytic cell death, which can be triggered by caspase-3 activation upon stimulation. Silenced GSDME expression due to promoter hypermethylation is associated with gastric cancer (GC), which is confirmed in the present study by bioinformatics analysis and methylation-specific PCR (MSP) test of GC cell lines and clinical samples. GC cell lines and mouse xenograft models were used to investigate the pyroptosis-inducing effect of the common cholesterol-depleting, drug simvastatin (SIM), allied with upregulating GSDME expression by doxycycline (DOX)- inducible Tet-on system or DNA methyltransferase inhibitor 5-Aza-2'-deoxycytidine (5-Aza-CdR). Read More

Nat Protoc 2022 05 21;17(5):1189-1222. Epub 2022 Mar 21.

Center for Drug Research, Department of Pharmacy, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany.

The mouse is a common and cost-effective animal model for basic research, and the number of genetically engineered mouse models with cardiac phenotype is increasing. In vivo electrophysiological study in mice is similar to that performed in humans. It is indispensable for acquiring intracardiac electrocardiogram recordings and determining baseline cardiac cycle intervals. Read More

Eur Heart J 2022 Jun;43(22):2139-2156

Smidt Heart Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 8700 Beverly Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA.

Aims: Cardiomyopathy patients are prone to ventricular arrhythmias (VA) and sudden cardiac death. Current therapies to prevent VA include radiofrequency ablation to destroy slowly conducting pathways of viable myocardium which support re-entry. Here, we tested the reverse concept, namely that boosting local tissue viability in zones of slow conduction might eliminate slow conduction and suppress VA in ischaemic cardiomyopathy. Read More

Rev Cardiovasc Med 2022 Jan;23(2):44

Division of Cardiology, Queen's University, Kingston General Hospital, Kingston, K7K Ontario, Canada.

Brugada syndrome (BrS) is a complex arrhythmogenic disease displaying electrical and micro-structural abnormalities mainly located at the epicardium of the right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT). It is well-known that fibrosis, fatty infiltration, inflammation and reduced gap junction expression have been demonstrated at the epicardial anterior aspect of the RVOT providing the arrhythmogenic substrate for ventricular arrhythmic events in BrS. A number of models have been proposed for the risk stratification of patients with BrS. Read More

J Neurotrauma 2022 05 2;39(9-10):627-638. Epub 2022 Feb 2.

INRIA, University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France.

Two multi-contact epineural electrodes were placed around radial and median nerves of two subjects with high tetraplegia C4, American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale (AIS) A, group 0 of the International Classification for Surgery of the Hand in Tetraplegia. The purpose was to study the safety and capability of these electrodes to generate synergistic motor activation and functional movements and to test control interfaces that allow subjects to trigger pre-programmed stimulation sequences. The device consists of a pair of neural cuff electrodes and percutaneous cables with two extracorporeal connection cables inserted during a surgical procedure and maintained for 28 days. Read More

BMJ Open 2022 Jan 3;12(1):e059527. Epub 2022 Jan 3.

NIHR Leicester Biomedical Research Centre Cardiovascular Diseases, Leicester, UK.

Introduction: The purpose of this study is to assess the ability of two new ECG markers (Regional Repolarisation Instability Index (R2I2) and Peak Electrical Restitution Slope) to predict sudden cardiac death (SCD) or ventricular arrhythmia (VA) events in patients with ischaemic cardiomyopathy undergoing implantation of an implantable cardioverter defibrillator for primary prevention indication.

Methods And Analysis: Multicentre Investigation of Novel Electrocardiogram Risk markers in Ventricular Arrhythmia prediction is a prospective, open label, single blinded, multicentre observational study to establish the efficacy of two ECG biomarkers in predicting VA risk. 440 participants with ischaemic cardiomyopathy undergoing routine first time implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) implantation for primary prevention indication are currently being recruited. Read More

Respir Med 2022 01 9;191:106712. Epub 2021 Dec 9.

Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, Box 1232, New York, NY, 10029, USA. Electronic address:

Background: Ventricular arrhythmias (VA) account for at least 25% of deaths caused by cardiac sarcoidosis (CS) and may arise in patients with mildly impaired LVEF (>35%).

Objective: In the current study, we examine whether EP study may be used for sudden death risk stratification in CS patients who have mildly impaired LVEF and a diagnosis of highly probable or probable CS according to the World Association of Sarcoidosis and Other Granulomatous Diseases Sarcoidosis Organ Assessment Instrument (WASOGI).

Methods: All patients: (1) exhibited a diagnosis of highly probable or probable CS according to the WASOGI, (2) exhibited cardiac MRI findings consistent with CS, (3) exhibited LVEF >45% and (4) underwent EP study. Read More

Brain Stimul 2022 Jan-Feb;15(1):116-124. Epub 2021 Nov 21.

Department of Neuroscience and Biomedical Engineering, Aalto University School of Science, Espoo, Finland; BioMag Laboratory, HUS Medical Imaging Center, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.

Background: Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) allows non-invasive stimulation of the cortex. In multi-locus TMS (mTMS), the stimulating electric field (E-field) is controlled electronically without coil movement by adjusting currents in the coils of a transducer.

Objective: To develop an mTMS system that allows adjusting the location and orientation of the E-field maximum within a cortical region. Read More

Heart Rhythm 2022 03 1;19(3):417-426. Epub 2021 Nov 1.

Univ. Bordeaux, CRCTB U1045, Inserm, Bordeaux, France; IHU LIRYC, Electrophysiology and Heart Modeling Institute, Bordeaux, France.

Background: The Brugada pattern manifests as a spontaneous variability of the electrocardiographic marker, suggesting a variability of the underlying electrical substrate.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the response of the epicardial substrate of Brugada syndrome (BrS) to programmed ventricular stimulation and to Na blocker infusion.

Methods: We investigated 6 patients (all male; mean age 54 ± 14 years) with BrS and recurrent ventricular fibrillation. Read More

Sci Rep 2021 10 18;11(1):20570. Epub 2021 Oct 18.

Department of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, MetroHealth Campus, 2500 MetroHealth Drive, R654, Cleveland, OH, 44109, USA.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) affects more than 20 million people in the US, and it is associated with a significantly increased risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD). Despite the significance, the mechanistic relationship between SCD and CKD is not clear and there are few effective therapies. Using optical mapping techniques, we tested the hypothesis that mouse models of progressive diabetic kidney disease (DKD) exhibit enhanced ventricular arrhythmia incidence and underlying arrhythmia substrates. Read More

J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol 2021 11 22;32(11):2979-2986. Epub 2021 Sep 22.

Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Maebashi, Gunma, Japan.

Introduction: We tested our hypothesis that atrial entrainment pacing (EP) of a) the common-type (com-) fast-slow (F/S-) atypical atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT) using a typical slow pathway (SP), or b) the superior-type (sup-) F/S-AVNRT using a superior SP, both modify the retrograde conduction time across the SP immediately after termination of EP (retro-SP-time).

Methods: We measured the difference in the His-atrial interval (HA difference) immediately after cessation of EP, performed at 2 ± 2 rates from the high right atrium (HA[1]-HRA) versus from the proximal coronary sinus (HA[1]-CS) in 17 patients with com-F/S-AVNRT and 11 patients with sup-F/S-AVNRT. We also measured the atrial-His and HA intervals of the first and second cycles immediately after cessation of EP and during stable tachycardia. Read More

J Interv Card Electrophysiol 2022 Apr 31;63(3):555-560. Epub 2021 Aug 31.

LivaNova USA, Inc., Houston, TX, USA.

Purpose: Autonomic regulation therapy (ART) for heart failure (HF) is delivered using vagus nerve stimulation (VNS), and has been associated with improvement in cardiac function and HF symptoms. VNS is delivered using an implantable pulse generator (IPG) and a lead placed around the cervical vagus nerve. Because HF patients may receive concomitant cardiac defibrillation therapy, testing was conducted to determine the effect of defibrillation (DF) on VNS system performance. Read More

Hear Res 2021 09 6;408:108290. Epub 2021 Jun 6.

European Institute of Otorhinolaryngology, Antwerp, Belgium.

Following surgical implantation of a cochlear implant, the external processor must be programmed individually, which is typically achieved by behavioral measurements, with the user indicating the perceived loudness between the threshold and the maximum comfort levels (MCLs). However, the stapedius reflex measurement could be used instead, as the basis for programming the fitting maps. The electrically evoked stapedius reflex threshold is known to have a high correlation with the MCLs and thus is used as an objective tool to determine the MCL, especially in children and non-cooperative patients. Read More

Magn Reson Med 2021 10 3;86(4):2301-2315. Epub 2021 Jun 3.

Department of Radiology, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA.

Purpose: To demonstrate and validate electric field (E-field) calculation and peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS) prediction methods that are accurate, computationally efficient, and that could be used to inform regulatory standards.

Methods: We describe a simplified method for calculating the spatial distribution of induced E-field over the volume of a body model given a gradient coil vector potential field. The method is easily programmed without finite element or finite difference software, allowing for straightforward and computationally efficient E-field evaluation. Read More

Heart Rhythm 2021 08 20;18(8):1310-1317. Epub 2021 Apr 20.

University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada; Smidt Heart Institute, Cedars-Sinai Hospital, Los Angeles, California.

Background: Syncope may be caused by intermittent complete heart block in patients with bundle branch block. Electrophysiology studies (EPS) testing for infra-Hisian heart block are recommended by the European Society of Cardiology syncope guidelines on the basis of decades-old estimates of their negative predictive values (NPVs) for complete heart block.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the NPV of EPS for complete heart block in patients with syncope and bundle branch block. Read More

J Am Heart Assoc 2021 05 17;10(9):e020006. Epub 2021 Apr 17.

National Heart & Lung Institute and ElectroCardioMaths Programme of the Imperial Centre for Cardiac EngineeringImperial College London London United Kingdom.

Background Survivors of myocardial infarction are at increased risk of late ventricular arrhythmias, with infarct size and scar heterogeneity being key determinants of arrhythmic risk. Gap junctions facilitate the passage of small ions and morphogenic cell signaling between myocytes. We hypothesized that gap junctions enhancement during infarction-reperfusion modulates structural and electrophysiological remodeling and reduces late arrhythmogenesis. Read More

Ann Noninvasive Electrocardiol 2021 07 19;26(4):e12831. Epub 2021 Feb 19.

Department of Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular Division, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan.

Background: Brugada syndrome (BrS) is diagnosed in patients with ST-segment elevation with spontaneous, drug-induced, or fever-induced type 1 morphology. Prognosis in type 2 or 3 Brugada electrocardiogram (Br-ECG) patients remains unknown. The purpose of this study is to evaluate long-term prognosis in non-type 1 Br-ECG patients in a large Japanese cohort of idiopathic ventricular fibrillation (The Japan Idiopathic Ventricular Fibrillation Study [J-IVFS]). Read More

ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2020 04 5;6(4):2135-2145. Epub 2020 Mar 5.

Departament d'Enginyeria Quı́mica and Barcelona Research Center for Multiscale Science and Engineering, EEBE, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, C/Eduard Maristany 10-14, 08019 Barcelona, Spain.

Cys-Arg-Glu-Lys-Ala (CREKA) is an important fibrin-homing pentapeptide that has been extensively demonstrated for diagnoses and therapies (e.g., image diagnosis of tumors and to inhibit tumor cell migration and invasion). Read More

Rev Med Chil 2020 Sep;148(9):1368-1370

Unidad Coronaria, Hospital Militar de Santiago, Santiago, Chile.

We report a 44-year-old male who was admitted for Influenza B and fever, presenting a type I Brugada pattern on the electrocardiogram. He evolved without cardiovascular symptoms. The pharmacological test with intravenous Procainamide reproduced type I Brugada pattern and the programmed electrical stimulation was negative for ventricular arrhythmias. Read More

J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol 2021 02 29;32(2):507-514. Epub 2020 Dec 29.

Cardiovascular Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan.

Background: The prognostic value of programmed electrical stimulation (PES) in Brugada syndrome (BrS) remains controversial. Asymptomatic BrS patients generally have a better prognosis than those with symptoms. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the value of nonaggressive PES with up to two extra stimuli and predict clinical factors for risk stratification in asymptomatic BrS patients. Read More

Int J Cardiol 2021 04 23;328:130-140. Epub 2020 Nov 23.

The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia; South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, Adelaide, Australia; Lyell McEwin Hospital, Adelaide, Australia. Electronic address:

Background: To evaluate the risk for ventricular arrhythmia (VA) and sudden cardiac death (SCD) in patients with cardiac sarcoidosis (CS) and determine the prognostic factors.

Methods And Results: PUBMED, EMBASE and SCOPUS were searched up to 14th April 2020. Studies reporting the incidence of SCD, appropriate ICD therapy in CS patients, or relevant prognostic information in patients having undergone MRI, PET, or programmed electrical stimulation (PES) were included. Read More

Childs Nerv Syst 2021 04 10;37(4):1237-1241. Epub 2020 Nov 10.

Department of Neurosurgery, Birmingham Children's Hospital, Birmingham, B4 6NH, UK.

Purpose: The recent VNS models (AspireSR® Model 106, SenTiva™ Model 1000 (VNS Therapy®, LivaNova)) include a new function of cardiac-based seizure detection (CBSD) automatic stimulation, known as 'AutoStim'. This algorithm uses tachycardia as a proxy to a seizure, and the battery delivers a closed-loop electrical current in addition to its programmed stimulation. This function leads to further seizure reduction in adults, but this advantage has not been reported in the paediatric population. Read More

J Cell Mol Med 2020 12 1;24(23):13660-13668. Epub 2020 Nov 1.

Department of General Practice/VIP Medical Service, Beijing Hospital, National Center of Gerontology, Beijing, China.

Obesity is a significant risk factor for atrial fibrillation (AF), which is the most common sustained arrhythmia with increased mortality and morbidity. High-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity is associated with the activation of endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS). However, the role of ERS in HFD-induced AF remains elusive. Read More

J Investig Med 2021 02 28;69(2):364-370. Epub 2020 Oct 28.

Sarver Heart Center, University of Arizona Arizona Health Sciences Center, Tucson, Arizona, USA.

Patients diagnosed with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) are at increased risk of monomorphic ventricular tachycardia (VT) and ventricular fibrillation. The presence of myocardial fibrosis provides both anatomical and functional barriers that promote arrhythmias in these patients. Propagation of VT in a reentrant circuit depends on the presence of excitable myocardium and the refractoriness of the circuit. Read More

Circ J 2020 11 17;84(12):2158-2165. Epub 2020 Oct 17.

Division of Arrhythmia and Electrophysiology, Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center.

Background: The new guideline (NG) published by the Japanese Circulation Society (JCS) places emphasis on previous arrhythmic syncope and inducibility of ventricular fibrillation (VF) by ≤2 extrastimuli during programmed electrical stimulation (PES) for deciding the indication of an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator in patients with Brugada syndrome (BrS). This study evaluated the usefulness of the NG and compared it with the former guideline (FG) for risk stratification of patients with BrS.Methods and Results:This was a multicenter (7 Japanese hospitals) retrospective study involving 234 patients with BrS who underwent PES at baseline (226 males; mean age at diagnosis: 44. Read More

Heart Rhythm 2021 01 7;18(1):118-129. Epub 2020 Sep 7.

Libin Cardiovascular Institute, Department of Cardiac Sciences, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Electronic address:

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is highly prevalent in diabetes mellitus (DM), yet the basis for this finding is poorly understood. Type 2 DM may be associated with unique patterns of atrial electrical and structural remodeling; however, this has not been investigated in detail.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate AF susceptibility and atrial electrical and structural remodeling in type 2 diabetic db/db mice. Read More

Neuromodulation 2021 Jan 31;24(1):86-101. Epub 2020 Aug 31.

PRISMATICS Lab (Predictive Research In Spine/neurostimulation Management and Thoracic Innovation in Cardiac Surgery), Poitiers University Hospital, Poitiers, France.

Background: Recent studies have highlighted multicolumn spinal cord stimulation (SCS) efficacy, hypothesizing that optimized spatial neural targeting provided by new-generation SCS lead design or its multicolumn programming abilities could represent an opportunity to better address chronic back pain (BP).

Objective: To compare multicolumn vs. monocolumn programming on clinical outcomes of refractory postoperative chronic BP patients implanted with SCS using multicolumn surgical lead. Read More

J Am Heart Assoc 2020 09 31;9(18):e016084. Epub 2020 Aug 31.

Institute of Biomedical Engineering College of Electrical and Computer Engineering National Chiao Tung University Hsinchu Taiwan.

Background Patients with rheumatoid arthritis are at twice the risk of ventricular arrhythmia and sudden cardiac death as the general population. We hypothesize that β-blocker treatment of rheumatoid arthritis is antiarrhythmic by producing synergistic anticatecholaminergic and anti-inflammatory effects. Methods and Results Collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) was induced in Lewis rats by immunization with type II collagen in Freund's incomplete adjuvant. Read More

Acta Cardiol 2021 Oct 20;76(8):805-824. Epub 2020 Jul 20.

Department of Anesthesiology.

Brugada syndrome (BrS) is an inherited cardiac arrhythmia syndrome that causes a heightened risk for ventricular tachyarrhythmias and sudden cardiac death. BrS is characterised by a coved ST-segment elevation in right precordial leads. The prevalence is estimated to range between 1 in 5,000 to 1 in 2,000 in different populations, with the highest being in Southeast Asia and in males. Read More

J Cardiovasc Pharmacol 2020 10;76(4):452-460

Department of Cardiology, Shanghai Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China; and.

Navitoclax, which is a type of senolytic drug, selectively eliminates senescent cells. This study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic potential of navitoclax in treatment of angiotensin II (Ang II)-induced heart failure in mice. Navitoclax or vehicle was administrated in mice with Ang II-induced heart failure. Read More