International journal of cardiology
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Letter Case Reports
An unusual electrocardiographic pattern of cardiac glycoside poisoning.
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The aim of the study was to evaluate by Doppler tissue imaging (DTI) the combined effects of atrio-ventricular (AV) delay and heart rate (HR) changes on global and segmental right (RV) and left (LV) ventricular diastolic function in 15 patients with dual-chamber pacemakers paced in the DDD mode. RV and LV inflow velocities and regional systolic and diastolic pulsed-wave (PW) DTI parameters were analyzed at four different pacing modes: (1) HR 70 beats/min, AV delay 125 ms; (2) HR 70 beats/min, AV delay 188 ms; (3) HR 89 beats/min, AV delay 125 ms; (4) HR 89 beats/min, AV delay 188 ms. For each pacing mode selected, RV diastolic filling velocities always prevailed over LV ones. ⋯ Conversely, Em encountered a progressive reduction in RV free wall, while remaining quite unchanged in all the LV regions. Both ventricles shared a similar pattern of global and regional adaptation to programmed HR and AV delay modifications, consisting in a progressive greater contribution of late diastole to ventricular filling at higher HR and more prolonged AV delay. However, at a regional level the right ventricle exhibited higher systolic and diastolic wall velocities than all left ventricular regions.
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Twenty elderly patients (12 females and 8 males, aged 65-88 years) were treated because of hypothermia: 11 suffered from moderate (35-32 degrees C) and nine from severe hypothermia (<32 degrees C). The control group consisted of 20 age and sex-matched healthy elderly persons. Twelve-channel electrocardiograms were recorded on admission and during hospitalization. ⋯ The dispersion of the Q-Tc and of the JTc lasted more than Osborn wave. There was no correlation between rectal temperature and PR interval, RR interval and QRS duration. The prolonged dispersion of the Q-Tc (and JTc) last 24-48 h longer than Osborn wave.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Intravenous magnesium sulfate versus diltiazem in paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.
Drugs currently available for the acute treatment of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation have significant limitations. We assessed the safety and effectiveness of intravenous magnesium sulfate versus diltiazem therapy in patients with prolonged episodes of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. ⋯ Magnesium sulfate favorably affects rate control and seems to promote the conversion of long lasting episodes of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation to sinus rhythm, representing a safe, reliable and cost-effective alternative treatment strategy to diltiazem.