BACKGROUND: Approximately 70% patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) presented without ST-segment elevation on electrocardiogram. Patients with non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) often presented with atypical symptoms, which may be related to pre-hospital delay and increased risk of mortality. However, up to date few studies reported detailed symptomatology of NSTEMI, particularly among Asian patients. The objective of this study was to describe and compare symptoms and presenting characteristics of NSTEMI vs. STEMI patients. METHODS: We enrolled 21,994 patients diagnosed with AMI from China Acute Myocardial Infarction (CAMI) Registry between January 2013 and September 2014. Patients were divided into 2 groups according to ST-segment elevation: ST-segment elevation (STEMI) group and NSTEMI group. We extracted data on patients' characteristics and detailed symptomatology and compared these variables between two groups. RESULTS: Compared with patients with STEMI (N = 16,315), those with NSTEMI (N = 5679) were older, more often females and more often have comorbidities. Patients with NSTEMI were less likely to present with persistent chest pain (54.3% vs. 71.4%), diaphoresis (48.6% vs. 70.0%), radiation pain (26.4% vs. 33.8%), and more likely to have chest distress (42.4% vs. 38.3%) than STEMI patients (all P < 0.0001). Patients with NSTEMI were also had longer time to hospital. In multivariable analysis, NSTEMI was independent predictor of presentation without chest pain (odds ratio: 1.974, 95% confidence interval: 1.849-2.107). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with NSTEMI were more likely to present with chest distress and pre-hospital patient delay compared with patients with STEMI. It is necessary for both clinicians and patients to learn more about atypical symptoms of NSTEMI in order to rapidly recognize myocardial infarction. TRIAL REGISTRATION www.clinicaltrials.gov (No. NCT01874691).
Aged ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; pathology ; physiopathology ; China ; Electrocardiography ; methods ; Female ; Hospital Mortality ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myocardial Infarction ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Odds Ratio ; Registries ; Risk Factors ; ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction ; pathology ; physiopathology

OBJECTIVETo observe the in vivo effect of Danlou Tablet (, DLT) on myocardial ischemia and reperfusion (I/R) injury.

METHODSDLT effects were evaluated in mouse heart preparation using 30-min coronary occlusion followed by 24-h reperfusion and compared among sham group (n=6), I/R group (n=8), IPC group (ischemia preconditioning, n=6) and DLT group (I/R with DLT pretreatment for 3 days, 750 mg•kg•day, n=8). The effects of DLT were characterized in infarction size (IS) compared with risk region (RR) and left ventricle using the Evans blue/triphenyltetrazolium chloride double dye staining method in vivo. Furthermore, the dose-dependent effect of DLT on I/R injury was evaluated by double staining method. Five different concentrations of DLT (0.625, 1.25, 2.5, 5 and 10 g•kg•day) were chosen in this study, and dose-response curve of DLT was obtained on these data.

RESULTSThe ratio of IS to left ventricle was significantly smaller in the DLT and IPC groups than the I/R group (P<0.05 or P<0.01), the ratio of IS to RR was also reduced in the DLT and IPC groups (P<0.01), while there were no differences in RR among the four groups (P>0.05). Experiments showed incidence of arrhythmias was reduced in the DLT group (P<0.01). Furthermore, DLT produced a dose-dependent inhibitory effect with a half maximal inhibitory concentration of 1.225 g•kg•day.

CONCLUSIONSOur research concluded that DLT was effective in reducing I/R injury in mice, and provided experimental supports for the clinical use of DLT.

Animals ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; drug therapy ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Body Temperature ; drug effects ; Cardiotonic Agents ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Heart Rate ; drug effects ; Heart Ventricles ; drug effects ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Male ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Myocardial Reperfusion Injury ; drug therapy ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Risk Factors ; Tablets

Due to the negative autopsy and without cardiac structural abnormalities, unexpected sudden cardiac death （USCD） is always a tough issue for forensic pathological expertise. USCD may be associated with parts of fatal arrhythmic diseases. These arrhythmic diseases may be caused by disorders of cardiac ion channels or channel-related proteins. Caveolin can combine with multiple myocardial ion channel proteins through its scaffolding regions and plays an important role in maintaining the depolarization and repolarization of cardiac action potential. When the structure and function of caveolin are affected by gene mutations or abnormal protein expression, the functions of the regulated ion channels are correspondingly impaired, which leads to the occurrence of multiple channelopathies, arrhythmia or even sudden cardiac death. It is important to study the effects of caveolin on the functions of ion channels for exploring the mechanisms of malignant arrhythmia and sudden cardiac death.
Arrhythmias, Cardiac/physiopathology* ; Autopsy ; Caveolins/metabolism* ; Channelopathies/genetics* ; Death, Sudden, Cardiac/pathology* ; Forensic Pathology ; Humans ; Ion Channels/metabolism* ; Mutation ; Myocardium

Sudden unexplained nocturnal death syndrome （SUNDS） is always a difficulty in forensic medicine researches. Although the development of molecular genetics promotes the etiologic study of SUNDS, the pathogenesis of most such cases is still unclear. Sleep apnea syndrome （SAS） is one of the common forms of sleep disorders, and obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome （OSAHS） is the most common. In recent years, some domestic and international researches show that OSAHS is related to the development of cardiovascular disease, which may cause cardiac arrhythmia, even sudden death. This article reviews the relationship between SUNDS and OSAHS and aims to provide new ideas for the pathogenesis of SUNDS.
Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Brugada Syndrome/pathology* ; Death, Sudden/etiology* ; Humans ; Male ; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive/pathology*

BACKGROUNDProlongation of the Tpeak-Tend (TpTe) interval as a measurement of transmural dispersion of repolarization (TDR) is an independent risk factor for chronic heart failure mortality. However, the cardiac resynchronization therapy's (CRT) effect on TDR is controversial. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate CRTs acute and chronic effects on repolarization dispersion. Furthermore, we aimed to investigate the relationship between TpTe changes and ventricular arrhythmia.

METHODSThe study group consisted of 101 patients treated with CRT-defibrillator (CRT-D). According to whether TpTe was shortened, patients were grouped at immediate and 1-year follow-up after CRT, respectively. The echocardiogram index and ventricular arrhythmia were observed and compared in these subgroups.

RESULTSFor all patients, TpTe slightly increased immediately after CRT-D implantation, and then decreased at the 1-year follow-up (from 107 ± 23 to 110 ± 21 ms within 24 h, to 94 ± 24 ms at 1-year follow-up, F = 19.366,P< 0.001). No significant difference in the left ventricular reverse remodeling and ventricular tachycardia/ventricular fibrillation (VT/VF) episodes between the TpTe immediately shortened and TpTe immediately nonshortened groups. However, patients in the TpTe at 1-year shorten had a higher rate of the left ventricular (LV) reverse remodeling (65% vs. 44%, χ2 = 4.495, P = 0.038) and less VT/VF episodes (log-rank test, χ2 = 10.207, P = 0.001) compared with TpTe 1-year nonshortened group. TpTe immediately after CRT-D independently predicted VT/VF episodes at 1-year follow-up (hazard ratio [HR], 1.030; P = 0.001).

CONCLUSIONSPatients with TpTe shortened at 1-year after CRT had a higher rate of LV reverse remodeling and less VT/VF episodes. The acute changes of TpTe after CRT have minimal value on mechanical reverse remodeling and ventricular arrhythmia.

Aged ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; etiology ; Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy ; adverse effects ; Female ; Heart Ventricles ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies

An unusual grayish brown discoloration of the synovium was found during a knee arthroscopy of a 72-year-old man. He also had similar pigmentation affecting the skin on the legs, arms, hands, and face. It was found he had been taking 400 mg of amiodarone hydrochloride daily for last 7 years. Amiodarone is known to cause a slate grey pigmentation of skin and cornea, but we believe this is the first report of amiodarone-induced pigmentation of the synovium. The arthroscopist should be aware of the possibility of drug-related synovial pigmentation and include this in differential diagnosis.
Aged ; Amiodarone/*adverse effects/therapeutic use ; Anti-Arrhythmia Agents/*adverse effects/therapeutic use ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac/complications/drug therapy ; Arthroscopy ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Knee Joint/surgery ; Male ; Pigmentation Disorders/*chemically induced/*diagnosis ; Skin/pathology ; Synovial Membrane/*pathology

The management of pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum (PA/IVS) remains controversial. The goal of separating systematic and pulmonary circulation can be achieved by biventricular or uni-ventricular (Fontan or one and a half ventricle repair) strategies. Although outcomes have been improved, these surgical procedures are still associated with high mortality and morbidity. An optimal strategy for definitive repair has yet to be defined. We searched databases for genetically randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing biventricular with uni-ventricular repair for patient with PA/IVS. Data extraction and quality assessment were performed following the guidelines of the Cochrane Collaboration. Primary outcome measures were overall survival, and secondary criteria included exercise function, arrhythmia-free survival and treatment-related mortality. A total number of 669 primary citations were screened for relevant studies. Detailed analysis revealed that no RCTs were found to adequately address the research question and no systematic meta-analysis would have been carried out. Nevertheless, several retrospective analyses and case series addressed the question of finding right balance between biventricular and uni-ventricular repair for patient with PA/IVS. In this review, we will discuss the currently available data.
Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; physiopathology ; prevention & control ; Cardiac Valve Annuloplasty ; methods ; mortality ; Fontan Procedure ; methods ; mortality ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; mortality ; pathology ; surgery ; Heart Ventricles ; abnormalities ; pathology ; surgery ; Humans ; Pulmonary Atresia ; mortality ; pathology ; surgery ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Analysis ; Treatment Outcome

In patients with non-ischemic cardiomyopathy (NICM), risk stratification for sudden cardiac death (SCD) and selection of patients who would benefit from prophylactic implantable cardioverter-defibrillators remains challenging. We aim to discuss the evidence of cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR)-derived myocardial scar for the prediction of adverse cardiovascular outcomes in NICM. From the 15 studies analyzed, with a total of 2747 patients, the average prevalence of myocardial scar was 41%. In patients with myocardial scar, the risk for adverse cardiac events was more than 3-fold higher, and risk for arrhythmic events 5-fold higher, as compared to patients without scar. Based on the available observational, single center studies, CMR scar assessment may be a promising new tool for SCD risk stratification, which merits further investigation.
Arrhythmias, Cardiac/*diagnosis ; Cardiomyopathies/*diagnosis ; Cicatrix/*diagnosis ; Death, Sudden, Cardiac ; Defibrillators, Implantable ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Cine/*methods ; Myocardium/pathology ; Risk Assessment ; Risk Factors

To study the antiarrhythmic effect of the newly developed alpha/beta-blocker TJ0711, a variety of animal models of arrhythmia were induced by CaCl2, ouabain and ischemia/reperfusion. Glass microelectrode technique was used to observe action potentials of right ventricular papillary muscle of guinea pig. The onset time of arrhythmia induced by CaCl2 was significantly prolonged by TJ0711 at 0.75, 1.5 and 3 mg x kg(-1) doses. TJ0711 (1.5 and 3 mg x kg(-1)) can significantly shorten the ventricular tachycardia (VT) and ventricular fibrillation (VF) duration, the incidence of VF and mortality were significantly reduced. On ischemia-reperfusion-induced arrhythmic model, TJ0711 (0.25, 0.5, 1 and 2 mg x kg(-1)) can significantly reduce the ventricular premature contraction (PVC), VT, VF incidence, mortality, arrhythmia score with a dose-dependent manner. At the same time, rats serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and creatine kinase (CK) activities decreased significantly by TJ0711 (1 and 2 mg x kg(-1)). Ouabain could cause arrhythmia in guinea pigs, when TJ0711 (0.375, 0.75, 1.5 and 3 mg x kg(-1)) was given, the doses of ouabain inducing a variety of arrhythmia PVC, VT, VF, cardiac arrest (CA) were significantly increased with a dose-dependent manner. In the TJ0711 0.1-30 micromol x L(-1) concentration range, guinea pig right ventricular papillary muscle action potential RP (rest potential), APA (action potential amplitude) and V(max) (maximum velocity of depolarization) were not significantly affected. APD20, APD50 and APD90 had a shortening trend but no statistical difference with the increase of TJ0711 concentration. TJ0711 has antiarrhythmic effect on the sympathetic nerve excitement and myocardial cell high calcium animal arrhythmia model. Myocardial action potential zero phase conduction velocity and resting membrane potential were not inhibited by TJ0711. APD20, APD50 and APD90 were shortened by TJ0711 at high concentration. Its antiarrhythmic action mechanism may be besides the action of blocking beta1 receptor, may also have a strong selective blocking action on alpha1 receptor and reducing intracellular calcium concentration.
Action Potentials ; drug effects ; Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Adrenergic beta-Antagonists ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Anti-Arrhythmia Agents ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; blood ; chemically induced ; etiology ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Calcium Chloride ; Creatine Kinase ; blood ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Female ; Guinea Pigs ; Heart Ventricles ; cytology ; Lactate Dehydrogenases ; blood ; Male ; Myocardial Reperfusion Injury ; complications ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; drug effects ; physiology ; Ouabain ; Papillary Muscles ; cytology ; Phenoxypropanolamines ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of bronchoalveolar lavage on the heart rhythm and conduction of children with severe pneumonia through monitoring the electrocardiogram change of different step of the bronchoalveolar lavage, for proving the safety of the operation of bronchoalveolar lavage from the perspective of cardiac electrophysiology.

METHODFrom July 2011 to March 2012, 30 patients who were hospitalized in pneumology department of Dalian Children's Hospital and met the inclusion criteria and therapeutic indications of bronchoalveolar lavage were chosen. They were 3 to 12 years old, the average age was 5.3 years, including 17 boys and 13 girls, the ratio of boys and girls is 1.3: 1. Continuous sampling the electrocardiogram before and during the process including anesthesia, entering into glottis, lavage, aspiration, and revive, and recording the heart rate, rhythm amplitude and width of P wave, the PR interval, the form and width of QRS complex were also measured. The recorded data were analyzed and statistical analysis to reflect the change of the cardiac electrophysiology.

RESULTThe incidence of heart rate increase was 100.0%, 26 (86.7%) patients began to emerge after anesthesia, the rest of the patients also developed heart rate increase after the start of bronchoscopic operation. All patients had sinus tachycardia, and were most obvious in the progress of lavage and revive. In the process of entering into glottis, lavage, aspiration, 13 (43.3%) patients had arrhythmia episodes. Types of arrhythmia included sinus bradycardia, atrioventricular block and premature beat. Incidences of intraoperative arrhythmia compared with the pre- and post-operation were all statistically significantly different (P = 0.00). The most common arrhythmia were premature beat, in 17 of the 30 cases there were premature beat including 9 cases with atrial premature beats and 8 cases ventricular premature contraction. Two patients had III° atrioventricular block accompanied by serious sinus bradycardia. All kinds of arrhythmias except sinus tachycardia disappeared after the operation was ended. Five patients (16.7%) had PR interval prolongation. Five patients (16.7%) had incomplete right bundle branch block (IRBBB) . Incidences of IRBBB compared with the pre-operation and post-operation were all not significantly different [13.3% (n = 4) vs. 0(n = 0) and 3.3% (n = 1), all P > 0.05]. Different operating progress made no significant difference in the measurement value of electrocardiogram[13.3% (n = 4) vs. 0(n = 0) and 3.3% (n = 1), all P > 0.05], but showed the most notable effect on heart rate.

CONCLUSIONBronchoalveolar lavage can influence the heart rhythm and conduction, but most of the influence with pathological significance are transient. Cardiac electrophysiological changes were the most obvious in endotracheal operation with the risk of malignant arrhythmia but the risk is low, the bronchoalveolar lavage technique is safe. The contingency plans for dealing with all kinds of adverse reactions must be ready before the operations of bronchoalveolar lavage. During the procedure, the patient's ECG changes should be closely monitored to reduce the incidence of adverse reactions.

Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; etiology ; physiopathology ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage ; adverse effects ; methods ; Bronchoscopy ; adverse effects ; methods ; Cardiac Complexes, Premature ; etiology ; physiopathology ; Cardiac Electrophysiology ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Electrocardiography ; Female ; Heart Block ; etiology ; physiopathology ; Heart Rate ; physiology ; Humans ; Hypoxia ; etiology ; physiopathology ; Male ; Pneumonia ; pathology ; therapy