scholarly journals Calcium Signaling Silencing in Atrial Fibrillation: Implications for Atrial Sodium Homeostasis

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (19) ◽  
pp. 10513
Author(s):  
Aaron D. Kaplan ◽  
Humberto C. Joca ◽  
Liron Boyman ◽  
Maura Greiser

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common type of cardiac arrhythmia, affecting more than 33 million people worldwide. Despite important advances in therapy, AF’s incidence remains high, and treatment often results in recurrence of the arrhythmia. A better understanding of the cellular and molecular changes that (1) trigger AF and (2) occur after the onset of AF will help to identify novel therapeutic targets. Over the past 20 years, a large body of research has shown that intracellular Ca2+ handling is dramatically altered in AF. While some of these changes are arrhythmogenic, other changes counteract cellular arrhythmogenic mechanisms (Calcium Signaling Silencing). The intracellular Na+ concentration ([Na+])i is a key regulator of intracellular Ca2+ handling in cardiac myocytes. Despite its importance in the regulation of intracellular Ca2+ handling, little is known about [Na+]i, its regulation, and how it might be changed in AF. Previous work suggests that there might be increases in the late component of the atrial Na+ current (INa,L) in AF, suggesting that [Na+]i levels might be high in AF. Indeed, a pharmacological blockade of INa,L has been suggested as a treatment for AF. Here, we review calcium signaling silencing and changes in intracellular Na+ homeostasis during AF. We summarize the proposed arrhythmogenic mechanisms associated with increases in INa,L during AF and discuss the evidence from clinical trials that have tested the pharmacological INa,L blocker ranolazine in the treatment of AF.

2020 ◽  
Vol 75 (7-8) ◽  
pp. 179-182
Author(s):  
Murray B. Isman

AbstractInterest in the discovery and development of plant essential oils for use as bioinsecticides has grown enormously in the past 20 years. However, successful commercialization and utilization of crop protection products based on essential oils has thus far lagged far behind their promise based on this large body of research, most notably because with the exceptions of the USA and Australia, such products receive no special status from regulatory agencies that approve new pesticides for use. Essential oil-based insecticides have now been used in the USA for well over a decade, and more recently have seen use in the European Union (EU), Korea, and about a dozen other countries, with demonstrated efficacy against a wide range of pests and in numerous crop systems. For the most part these products are based on commodity essential oils developed as flavor and fragrance agents for the food and cosmetic industries, as there are formidable logistic, economic, and regulatory challenges to the use of many other essential oils that otherwise possess potentially useful bioactivity against pests. In spite of these limitations, the overall prospects for biopesticides, including those based on essential oils, are encouraging as the demand for sustainably-produced and/or organic food continues to increase worldwide.


Genetics ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 164 (1) ◽  
pp. 373-379
Author(s):  
Qi Zheng

Abstract During the past 14 years or so a large body of new evidence that supposedly supports the directed mutation hypothesis has accumulated. Interpretation of some of the evidence depends on mathematical reasoning, which can be subtler than it appears at first sight. This article attempts to clarify some of the mathematical issues arising from the directed mutation controversy, thereby offering alternative interpretations of some of the evidence.


2005 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 63-65
Author(s):  
Veronica Varney ◽  
◽  
Mary Warren ◽  
M Palmer ◽  
◽  
...  

A 61 year old former paramedic presented to A&E complaining of palpitations. He was found to be in atrial fibrillation, which reverted spontaneously to sinus rhythm. A chest x-ray taken at that time showed multiple pulmonary nodules consistent with metastatic malignancy (Figure 1). In the past he had been treated with amiodarone 200mg daily for 6 years following a previous diagnosis of atrial fibrillation, which had been attributed to alcoholic cardiomyopathy. He had discontinued the drug 8 months earlier, after selfdiagnosing hypotension and bradycardia. A previous chest X-ray, taken before starting amiodarone, was normal.


Circulation ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 142 (Suppl_3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mae'n Al-Dabbas ◽  
Jay Shah ◽  
devina adalja ◽  
Archana Gundabolu ◽  
Ashish Kumar ◽  
...  

Introduction: Hypertension has been reported as one of the most common risk factor causing atrial fibrillation (AF). Also, hypertension is associated with more persistent AF. However the epidemiology for incidence of hypertensive emergency in AF hospitalization is not well documented. Hypothesis: We hypothesize that frequency of hypertensive emergency has been increasingly associated with Atrial fibrillation. Methods: National inpatient sample from 2005 -2015 was used for the present analysis. Patients over 18 years, with AF as the primary diagnosis were identified using International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision-Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) code, 427.31. Patients with hypertensive emergency were identified using ICD-9-CM code. 401.0, 402.0, 403.0, 404.0, 405.0. Results: A total of 4,988,269 AF patients over 18 years of age were included in the present analysis. Of these hospitalization 49,423 had hypertensive emergency during hospitalizations and the rest 4,938,846 had no hypertensive emergency. There was a monotonic increase in the trend of rates of hypertensive emergency per 1000 AF hospitalizations, from 2005 - 2015. (P value <0.001) [Figure 1]. Conclusion: There has been a significant increase in the rates of hypertensive emergency among AF hospitalization, over the past decade. Further research is needed to investigate the reason for this increased trend.


1997 ◽  
Vol 81 (6) ◽  
pp. 1045-1052 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rania Gaspo ◽  
Ralph F. Bosch ◽  
Elias Bou-Abboud ◽  
Stanley Nattel

1970 ◽  
Vol 1 (7) ◽  
pp. 336-337
Author(s):  
I. D. Johnston

There is a large body of evidence to suggest that the anomalous OH emission sources—particularly those which are classified as class I sources—are associated with protostars. It is also known, from the theories brought forward over the past four years, that maser action can be caused by quite a variety of non-equilibrium situations. It is argued here that one particular kind of non-equilibrium situation which can plausibly be expected to exist in protostars is very similar to that proposed previously in the electron-pumping model, and that, in this new context, it can mimic most of the observed features of class I sources.


2020 ◽  
pp. 175069802092145
Author(s):  
Joseph S Robinson

A large body of literature assumes post-conflict societies can and should mediate public memory towards frames conducive to a reconciled future. However, this article argues that such a drive marginalises survivors of political violence who narrate the past as still-present wounds. The linear temporality of transitional justice presumes an idealised trajectory through time, away from violence and towards reconciliation. However, this idealised temporality renders anachronistic survivors who depend on the prolongation of traumatic pasts for the possibility of political change. Using the case of former Ulster Defence Regiment in Northern Ireland, this article examines this prolongation through the lens of Ulster Defence Regiment survivors’ resistant place-memory along the Southwest run of the Irish border. Through the performative retemporalisation of everyday places and landscapes, survivors demand that their resistant memories and narrative frames of past violence still belong and still have active political resonance in transitional political space.


Author(s):  
Robert M. MacGregor ◽  
Spencer J. Melby ◽  
Richard B. Schuessler ◽  
Ralph J. Damiano

The surgical treatment of atrial fibrillation has evolved over the past 2 decades due to the advent of ablation technology, and the introduction of less invasive surgical approaches. Current devices produce ablation lines that aim to replace the incisions of traditional surgical ablation strategies, such as the Cox-Maze procedure. This has helped to simplify and shorten surgical ablation procedures and has allowed for the development of minimally invasive surgical techniques. This review discusses surgical ablation energy sources and devices, providing background on device characteristics, mechanism of tissue injury, and success in creating transmural lesions.


Author(s):  
Áine Tierney ◽  
Anthony Callanan ◽  
Tim M. McGloughlin

Cardiovascular disease concerns any disease which affects the heart or blood vessels. Aneurysms account for a significant portion of these cardiovascular diseases. The most common type of aneurysm is abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) which affects up to 5% of the population over the age of 55. AAA is a focal balloon like dilation of the terminal aorta that occurs gradually over a span of years [1]. There are approximately 200,000 patients in the US and 500,000 patients worldwide diagnosed with AAA each year [2]. The incidences of AAA’s has increased largely during the past two decades due in part to the aging demographic, the rise in the number of smokers, the introduction of screening programmes and improved diagnostic tools [3].


2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 177-193 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Keinänen ◽  
M. Kilpeläinen ◽  
J. Pajuoja ◽  
S. Tyni

AbstractPrison leave was introduced into the Finnish legal system in 1971, with the aim to reduce negative effects of institutionalization and disadvantages caused by the length of the prison sentence. After the total reform of prison legislation in 2006, the role of the prison leave has become even more central; the number of prisoners has decreased, but the amount of prison leave has increased. Historically, the length of the sentence has been the most common ground for prison leave. A prisoner can be granted a prison leave when two thirds of the prison term has been served, for example, after 2 years if the length of the total sentence served in prison is 3 years. However, during the past 10 years, prison leave based on an important reason has grown into the most common type of prison leave. This indicates a structural change from the rigid legal rules to a more flexible practice. In 2018, there were about 17,000 prison leave applications, and over 13,000 of those were granted, i.e. 79%. The conditions were breached 466 times, which is 3.5% of all prison leaves. The most common breaches of prison leave conditions were returning from a prison leave after the set time limit or under the influence of alcohol or drugs. The majority of prison leave applications are decided in the prisons. On the other hand, for example, the decision on the prison leave of a life-sentenced prisoner is made by the Criminal Sanctions Agency. There have been significant differences in the probability of granting prison leave, which are emphasized especially in the practices of closed prisons. Among those prisoners who serve longer than 1 year in prison, the application rate of prison leave rises over 90%. For the sentences under 3 months, it is less than 20%.


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