Journal of cardiovascular electrophysiology
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J. Cardiovasc. Electrophysiol. · May 2012
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter StudyCelivarone for maintenance of sinus rhythm and conversion of atrial fibrillation/flutter.
Celivarone, a new noniodinated benzofuran derivative pharmacologically related to dronedarone and amiodarone, has been shown to have antiarrhythmic properties at a molecular level. The purpose of the 2 trials presented here (MAIA and CORYFEE) was to assess celivarone efficacy in the maintenance of sinus rhythm postcardioversion and for the conversion of atrial fibrillation (AF)/atrial flutter (AFL). ⋯ In these studies, celivarone does not appear to be efficacious in the maintenance of sinus rhythm in AF/AFL patients or for the conversion of AF/AFL patients.
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J. Cardiovasc. Electrophysiol. · May 2012
Gender-specific differences in susceptibility to low-dose methadone-associated QTc prolongation in patients with heroin dependence.
Methadone is associated with QTc prolongation and sudden death in susceptible patients. We sought to investigate whether there is a gender-based difference in susceptibility to methadone-associated QTc prolongation in heroin-dependent patients receiving a low-dose treatment regimen. ⋯ Low-dose methadone therapy shows dose-dependent QTc prolongation and is associated with significant QTc lengthening within 6 months of treatment initiation. Men are more susceptible than women to low-dose methadone-associated QTc prolongation.
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J. Cardiovasc. Electrophysiol. · May 2012
Thoracic spinal cord stimulation improves cardiac contractile function and myocardial oxygen consumption in a porcine model of ischemic heart failure.
Prior experimental studies show that thoracic spinal cord stimulation (SCS) improves left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (LVEF). The mechanism of this improvement in the LV contractile function after SCS and its effects on the myocardial oxygen consumption remains unknown. ⋯ In a porcine model of ischemic HF, acute SCS improved global and regional LV contractile function and intraventricular dyssynchrony, and decreased myocardial oxygen consumption without elevation of norepinephrine level.