Publications
487 results found
Leong KMW, Ng FS, Roney C, et al., 2017, Repolarization abnormalities unmasked with exercise in sudden cardiac death survivors with structurally normal hearts, Journal of Cardiovascular Electrophysiology, Vol: 29, Pages: 115-126, ISSN: 1045-3873
BACKGROUND: Models of cardiac arrhythmogenesis predict that non-uniformity in repolarization and/or depolarization promotes ventricular fibrillation and is modulated by autonomic tone, but this is difficult to evaluate in patients. We hypothesize that such spatial heterogeneities would be detected by non-invasive ECG imaging (ECGi) in sudden cardiac death (SCD) survivors with structurally normal hearts under physiological stress. METHODS: ECGi was applied to 11 SCD survivors, 10 low-risk Brugada Syndrome patients (BrS) and 10 controls undergoing exercise treadmill testing. ECGi provides whole heart activation maps and > 1200 unipolar electrograms over the ventricular surface from which global dispersion of activation recovery interval (ARI) and regional delay in conduction were determined. These were used as surrogates for spatial heterogeneities in repolarization and depolarization. Surface ECG markers of dispersion (QT and Tpeak-end intervals) were also calculated for all patients for comparison. RESULTS: Following exertion, the SCD group demonstrated the largest increase in ARI dispersion compared to BrS and control groups (13±8 ms vs 4±7 ms vs 4±5 ms; p = 0.009), with baseline dispersion being similar in all groups. In comparison, surface ECG markers of dispersion of repolarisation were unable to discriminate between the groups at baseline or following exertion. Spatial heterogeneities in conduction were also present following exercise but were not significantly different between SCD survivors and the other groups. CONCLUSION: Increased dispersion of repolarization is apparent during physiological stress in SCD survivors and is detectable with ECGi but not with standard ECG parameters. The electrophysiological substrate revealed by ECGi could be the basis of alternative risk-stratification techniques. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Leong KMW, Ng FS, yao C, et al., 2017, ST-Elevation Magnitude Correlates With Right Ventricular Outflow Tract Conduction Delay in Type I Brugada ECG, Circulation: Arrhythmia and Electrophysiology, Vol: 10, ISSN: 1941-3084
Background: The substrate location and underlying electrophysiological mechanisms that contribute to the characteristic ECG pattern of Brugada syndrome (BrS) are still debated. Using noninvasive electrocardiographical imaging, we studied whole heart conduction and repolarization patterns during ajmaline challenge in BrS individuals.Methods and Results: A total of 13 participants (mean age, 44±12 years; 8 men), 11 concealed patients with type I BrS and 2 healthy controls, underwent an ajmaline infusion with electrocardiographical imaging and ECG recordings. Electrocardiographical imaging activation recovery intervals and activation timings across the right ventricle (RV) body, outflow tract (RVOT), and left ventricle were calculated and analyzed at baseline and when type I BrS pattern manifested after ajmaline infusion. Peak J-ST point elevation was calculated from the surface ECG and compared with the electrocardiographical imaging–derived parameters at the same time point. After ajmaline infusion, the RVOT had the greatest increase in conduction delay (5.4±2.8 versus 2.0±2.8 versus 1.1±1.6 ms; P=0.007) and activation recovery intervals prolongation (69±32 versus 39±29 versus 21±12 ms; P=0.0005) compared with RV or left ventricle. In controls, there was minimal change in J-ST point elevation, conduction delay, or activation recovery intervals at all sites with ajmaline. In patients with BrS, conduction delay in RVOT, but not RV or left ventricle, correlated to the degree of J-ST point elevation (Pearson R, 0.81; P<0.001). No correlation was found between J-ST point elevation and activation recovery intervals prolongation in the RVOT, RV, or left ventricle.Conclusions: Magnitude of ST (J point) elevation in the type I BrS pattern is attributed to degree of conduction delay in the RVOT and not prolongation in repolarization time.
Calkins H, Hindricks G, Cappato R, et al., 2017, 2017 HRS/EHRA/ECAS/APHRS/SOLAECE expert consensus statement on catheter and surgical ablation of atrial fibrillation, EP-Europace, Vol: 20, Pages: E1-E160, ISSN: 1099-5129
Mirza KB, Zuliani C, Hou B, et al., 2017, Injection moulded microneedle sensor for real-time wireless pH monitoring, 39th Annual International Conference of the IEEE-Engineering-in-Medicine-and-Biology-Society (EMBC), Publisher: IEEE, Pages: 189-192, ISSN: 1094-687X
This paper describes the development of an array of individually addressable pH sensitive microneedles using injection moulding and their integration within a portable device for real-time wireless recording of pH distributions in biological samples. The fabricated microneedles are subjected to gold patterning followed by electrodeposition of iridium oxide to sensitize them to 0.07 units of pH change. Miniaturised electronics suitable for the sensors readout, analog-to-digital conversion and wireless transmission of the potentiometric data are embodied within the device, enabling it to measure real-time pH of soft biological samples such as muscles. In this paper, real-time recording of the cardiac pH distribution, during ischemia followed by reperfusion cycles in cardiac muscles of male Wistar rats has been demonstrated by using the microneedle array.
Sikkel MB, Francis DP, Howard J, et al., 2017, Hierarchical statistical techniques are necessary to draw reliable conclusions from analysis of isolated cardiomyocyte studies, Cardiovascular Research, Vol: 113, Pages: 1743-1752, ISSN: 1755-3245
AimsIt is generally accepted that post-MI heart failure (HF) changes a variety of aspects of sarcoplasmic reticular Ca2+ fluxes but for some aspects there is disagreement over whether there is an increase or decrease. The commonest statistical approach is to treat data collected from each cell as independent, even though they are really clustered with multiple likely similar cells from each heart. In this study, we test whether this statistical assumption of independence can lead the investigator to draw conclusions that would be considered erroneous if the analysis handled clustering with specific statistical techniques (hierarchical tests).Methods and resultsCa2+ transients were recorded in cells loaded with Fura-2AM and sparks were recorded in cells loaded with Fluo-4AM. Data were analysed twice, once with the common statistical approach (assumption of independence) and once with hierarchical statistical methodologies designed to allow for any clustering. The statistical tests found that there was significant hierarchical clustering. This caused the common statistical approach to underestimate the standard error and report artificially small P values. For example, this would have led to the erroneous conclusion that time to 50% peak transient amplitude was significantly prolonged in HF.Spark analysis showed clustering, both within each cell and also within each rat, for morphological variables. This means that a three-level hierarchical model is sometimes required for such measures. Standard statistical methodologies, if used instead, erroneously suggest that spark amplitude is significantly greater in HF and spark duration is reduced in HF.ConclusionCa2+ fluxes in isolated cardiomyocytes show so much clustering that the common statistical approach that assumes independence of each data point will frequently give the false appearance of statistically significant changes. Hierarchical statistical methodologies need a little more effort, but are necessary for relia
Sau A, Sikkel MB, Luther V, et al., 2017, The sawtooth EKG pattern of typical atrial flutter is not related to slow conduction velocity at the cavotricuspid isthmus., Journal of Cardiovascular Electrophysiology, Vol: 28, Pages: 1445-1453, ISSN: 1045-3873
INTRODUCTION: We hypothesized that very high density mapping of typical atrial flutter (AFL) would facilitate a more complete understanding of its circuit. Such very high density mapping was performed with the Rhythmia mapping system using its 64 electrode basket catheter. METHODS AND RESULTS: Data were acquired from 13 patients in AFL. Functional anatomy of the right atrium (RA) was readily identified during mapping including the Crista Terminalis and Eustachian ridge. The leading edge of the activation wavefront was identified without interruption and its conduction velocity (CV) calculated. CV was not different at the cavotricuspid isthmus (CTI) compared to the remainder of the RA (1.02 vs. 1.03 m/s, p = 0.93). The sawtooth pattern of the surface EKG flutter waves were compared to the position of the dominant wavefront. The downslope of the surface EKG flutter waves represented on average, 73% ± 9% of the total flutter cycle length. During the downslope the activation wavefront travelled significantly further than during the upslope (182 ± 21 ms vs. 68 ± 29 ms, p < 0.0001) with no change in conduction velocity between the two phases (0.88 vs. 0.91 m/s, p = 0.79). CONCLUSION: CV at the CTI is not slower than other RA regions during typical AFL. The gradual downslope of the sawtooth EKG is not due to slow conduction at the CTI suggesting that success of ablation at this site relates to anatomical properties rather than presence of a "slow isthmus". This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Thompson D, Mackay T, Matthews M, et al., 2017, Direct adherence measurement using an ingestible sensor compared with self-reporting in high-risk cardiovascular disease patients who knew they were being measured: a prospective intervention, JMIR mHealth and uHealth, Vol: 5, ISSN: 2291-5222
Background: Use of appropriate cardioprotective medication is a cornerstone of cardiovascular disease prevention, but less-than-optimal patient adherence is common. Thus, strategies for improving adherence are recommended to adopt a multifaceted approach.Objective: The objective of our study was to test a system comprising a biodegradable, ingestible sensor for direct measurement of medication ingestion in a group of patients at elevated cardiovascular risk attending a cardiac prevention and rehabilitation program.Methods: In this prospective intervention trial in a single group of 21 patients running from April 2014 to June 2015, we measured adherence by self-report and adherence determined objectively by the system. The sensor emits a signal when it encounters the acidic environment of the stomach, detectable by an externally worn patch and linked software app. Longitudinal adherence data in the form of daily progress charts for sensed dosing events as compared with scheduled dosing are visible to patients on their tablet computer’s medication dosing app, thus providing patients with continuous medication adherence feedback. We sought feedback on patient acceptability by questionnaire assessment. Participants used the system for the 12-week period of their cardiac prevention and rehabilitation program.Results: Only 1 patient at initial assessment and 1 patient at end-of-program assessment reported often missing medication. The remaining patients reported never missing medication or had missing data. Only 12 (57%) of patients overall achieved system-determined adherence of 80% or more, and 3 patients had scores below 40%. Participants reported high levels of acceptability.Conclusions: This integrated system was well tolerated in a group of 21 patients over an appreciable time frame. Its ability to measure adherence reveals the sizeable disconnect between patient self-reported adherence and actual medication taking and has promising potential for clinical use
Roney CH, Cantwell CD, Bayer JD, et al., 2017, Spatial resolution requirements for accurate identification of drivers of atrial fibrillation, Circulation-Arrhythmia and Electrophysiology, Vol: 10, Pages: 1-13, ISSN: 1941-3084
Background—Recent studies have demonstrated conflicting mechanisms underlying atrial fibrillation (AF), with the spatial resolution of data often cited as a potential reason for the disagreement. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the variation in spatial resolution of mapping may lead to misinterpretation of the underlying mechanism in persistent AF.Methods and Results—Simulations of rotors and focal sources were performed to estimate the minimum number of recording points required to correctly identify the underlying AF mechanism. The effects of different data types (action potentials and unipolar or bipolar electrograms) and rotor stability on resolution requirements were investigated. We also determined the ability of clinically used endocardial catheters to identify AF mechanisms using clinically recorded and simulated data. The spatial resolution required for correct identification of rotors and focal sources is a linear function of spatial wavelength (the distance between wavefronts) of the arrhythmia. Rotor localization errors are larger for electrogram data than for action potential data. Stationary rotors are more reliably identified compared with meandering trajectories, for any given spatial resolution. All clinical high-resolution multipolar catheters are of sufficient resolution to accurately detect and track rotors when placed over the rotor core although the low-resolution basket catheter is prone to false detections and may incorrectly identify rotors that are not present.Conclusions—The spatial resolution of AF data can significantly affect the interpretation of the underlying AF mechanism. Therefore, the interpretation of human AF data must be taken in the context of the spatial resolution of the recordings.
Mirza K, Zuliani C, Hou B, et al., 2017, An Individually Addressable Microneedle Device for Real-Time Wireless pH Monitoring, 9th Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine & Biology Society (EMBC'17)
This paper describes the development of an array of individually addressable pH sensitive microneedles using injection moulding and their integration within a portable device for real-time wireless recording of pH distributions in biological samples. The fabricated microneedles are subjected to gold pat- terning followed by electrodeposition of iridium oxide to sensitize them to 0.07 units of pH change. Miniaturised electronics suitable for the sensors readout, analog-to-digital conversion and wireless transmission of the potentiometric data are embodied within the device, enabling it to measure real-time pH of soft biological samples such as muscles. In this paper, real-time recording of the cardiac pH distribution, during ischemia followed by reperfusion cycles in cardiac muscles of male Wistar rats has been demonstrated by using the microneedle array.
Mirza K, Zuliani C, Hou B, et al., 2017, An Individually Addressable Microneedle Device for Real-Time Wireless pH Monitoring, 39th Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine & Biology Society (EMBC'17)
This paper describes the development of an array of individually addressable pH sensitive microneedles using injection moulding and their integration within a portable device for real-time wireless recording of pH distributions in biological samples. The fabricated microneedles are subjected to gold pat- terning followed by electrodeposition of iridium oxide to sensitize them to 0.07 units of pH change. Miniaturised electronics suitable for the sensors readout, analog-to-digital conversion and wireless transmission of the potentiometric data are embodied within the device, enabling it to measure real-time pH of soft biological samples such as muscles. In this paper, real-time recording of the cardiac pH distribution, during ischemia followed by reperfusion cycles in cardiac muscles of male Wistar rats has been demonstrated by using the microneedle array.
Ciaccio EJ, Biviano AB, Wan EY, et al., 2017, Development of an automaton model of rotational activity driving atrial fibrillation, Computers in Biology and Medicine, Vol: 83, Pages: 166-181, ISSN: 0010-4825
Background:Atrial fibrillation (AF) is difficult to treat effectively, owing to uncertainty in where to best ablate to eliminate arrhythmogenic substrate. A model providing insight into the electrical activation events would be useful to guide catheter ablation strategy.Method:A two-dimensional, 576×576 node automaton was developed to simulate atrial electrical activity. The substrate field was altered by the presence of differing refractory period at varying locations. Fibrosis was added in the form of short, randomly positioned lines of conduction block. Larger areas of block were used to simulate ablation lesions. Anisotropy was imposed in a 2:1 ratio. A premature electrical impulse from one of four grid corners was utilized to initiate activation.Results:Rotational activity was uninducible when refractory patch dimensions were less than 20×20 mm. For larger refractory regions, a single premature stimulus was capable of inducing an average of 1.19±1.10 rotors, which often formed near the patch edges. A maximum of 5 rotors formed when refractory patch dimensions approached the size of the entire left atrial virtual field. Rotors formed along a refractory patch edge, after wavefront arrival was delayed at turning points or due to the presence of a fiber cluster of sufficient size. However, rotational activity could also occur around a large fiber cluster without the need of spatially variable refractoriness. When obstacles to conduction were lacking in size, nascent rotors drifted and either extinguished, or stabilized upon anchoring at a sufficiently large fiber cluster elsewhere in the field. Transient rotors terminated when traversing a region with differing refractory periods, if no obstacle to conduction was present to sufficiently delay wavefront arrival beyond the longest refractory period. Other rotors were annihilated when a nearby rotor with faster spin rate gradually interrupted the activation pathway. Elimination of anchors by removal
Luther V, Sikkel M, Bennett N, et al., 2017, Visualizing Localized Reentry With Ultra-High Density Mapping in Iatrogenic Atrial Tachycardia Beware Pseudo-Reentry, CIRCULATION-ARRHYTHMIA AND ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY, Vol: 10, ISSN: 1941-3149
Background—The activation pattern of localized reentry (LR) in atrial tachycardia remains incompletely understood. We used the ultra–high density Rhythmia mapping system to study activation patterns in LR.Methods and Results—LR was suggested by small rotatory activations (carousels) containing the full spectrum of the color-coded map. Twenty-three left-sided atrial tachycardias were mapped in 15 patients (age: 64±11 years). 16 253±9192 points were displayed per map, collected over 26±14 minutes. A total of 50 carousels were identified (median 2; quartiles 1–3 per map), although this represented LR in only n=7 out of 50 (14%): here, rotation occurred around a small area of scar (<0.03 mV; 12±6 mm diameter). In LR, electrograms along the carousel encompassed the full tachycardia cycle length, and surrounding activation moved away from the carousel in all directions. Ablating fractionated electrograms (117±18 ms; 44±13% of tachycardia cycle length) within the carousel interrupted the tachycardia in every LR case. All remaining carousels were pseudo-reentrant (n=43/50 [86%]) occurring in areas of wavefront collision (n=21; median 0.5; quartiles 0–2 per map) or as artifact because of annotation of noise or interpolation in areas of incomplete mapping (n=22; median 1, quartiles 0–2 per map). Pseudo-reentrant carousels were incorrectly ablated in 5 cases having been misinterpreted as LR.Conclusions—The activation pattern of LR is of small stable rotational activations (carousels), and this drove 30% (7/23) of our postablation atrial tachycardias. However, this appearance is most often pseudo-reentrant and must be differentiated by interpretation of electrograms in the candidate circuit and activation in the wider surrounding region.
Jones DG, Markides V, Chow AW, et al., 2017, Characterization and consistency of interactions of triggers and substrate at the onset of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation., Europace, Vol: 19, Pages: 1454-1462, ISSN: 1099-5129
Aims: Initiating mechanisms of atrial fibrillation (AF) remain poorly understood, involving complex interaction between triggers and the atrial substrate. This study sought to classify the transitional phenomena, hypothesizing that there is consistency within and between patients in trigger-substrate interaction during transition to AF. Methods and results: Non-contact left atrial (LA) mapping was performed in 17 patients undergoing ablation for paroxysmal AF. All had spontaneous ectopy. Left atrial activation from the first ectopic to established AF was examined offline to characterize the initiating and transitional sequence of activation. In 57 fully mapped spontaneous AF initiations in 8 patients, all involved interaction of pulmonary venous/LA triggers with a septopulmonary line of block (SP-LOB) also evident in sinus rhythm, by 4 different transitional mechanisms characterized by (i) continuous focal firing: AF resulted from fragmentation of each ectopic wavefront through gaps in the SP-LOB and persisted only while focal firing continued (n = 18/32%) (ii) transient focal firing, wavefront fragmentation at the SP-LOB produced wavelet re-entry that persisted after cessation of an initiating ectopic source (n = 12/21%), (iii) of two separate interacting ectopic foci (n = 15/26%), or from (iv) transiently stable macroreentry (n = 12/21%), around the SP-LOB extending to the LA roof, resulting in progressive wavefront fragmentation. It was found that 79 ± 22% of each of the initiations in individual patients showed the same triggering mechanism. Conclusion: Onset of paroxysmal AF can be described by discrete mechanistic categories, all involving interaction of ectopic activity with a common SP-LOB. Within/between-patient consistency of initiations suggests constancy of the interacting triggers and substrate, and supports the concept of mechanistically tailored treatment.
Thomas NM, Gray R, Fry CH, et al., 2016, Functional consequences of co-expressing connexin40 or connexin45 with connexin43 on intercellular electrical coupling, Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, Vol: 483, Pages: 191-196, ISSN: 0006-291X
The functional characteristics of the co-expression of connexin43, connexin40, and connexin45 proteins in human myocardium are thought to play an important role in governing normal propagation of the cardiac electrical impulse and in generating the myocardial substrate for some arrhythmias and conduction disturbances.A rat liver epithelial cell line, that endogenously expresses connexin43, was used to induce also expression of connexin40 or connexin45 after stable transfection using an inducible ecdysone system. Electrical coupling was estimated from measurement of the input resistance of transfected cells using an intracellular microelectrode to inject current and record changes to membrane potential.However, varied expression of the transfected connexin40 or connexin45 did not change electrical coupling, although connexin43/40 co-expression led to better coupling than connexin43/45 co-expression. Quantification of endogenous connexin43 expression, at both mRNA and protein levels, showed that it was altered in a manner dependent on the transfected connexin isotype.The data using rat liver epithelial cells indicate an increased electrical coupling upon expression of connexin40 and connexin43 but decreased coupling with connexin45 and connexin43 co-expression.
Roney CH, Cantwell CD, Qureshi NA, et al., 2016, Rotor tracking using phase of electrograms recorded during atrial fibrillation, Annals of Biomedical Engineering, Vol: 45, Pages: 910-923, ISSN: 1573-9686
Extracellular electrograms recorded during atrial fibrillation (AF) are challenging to interpret due to the inherent beat-to-beat variability in amplitude and duration. Phase mapping represents these voltage signals in terms of relative position within the cycle, and has been widely applied to action potential and unipolar electrogram data of myocardial fibrillation. To date, however, it has not been applied to bipolar recordings, which are commonly acquired clinically. The purpose of this study is to present a novel algorithm for calculating phase from both unipolar and bipolar electrograms recorded during AF. A sequence of signal filters and processing steps are used to calculate phase from simulated, experimental, and clinical, unipolar and bipolar electrograms. The algorithm is validated against action potential phase using simulated data (trajectory centre error <0.8 mm); between experimental multi-electrode array unipolar and bipolar phase; and for wavefront identification in clinical atrial tachycardia. For clinical AF, similar rotational content (R (2) = 0.79) and propagation maps (median correlation 0.73) were measured using either unipolar or bipolar recordings. The algorithm is robust, uses standard signal processing techniques, and accurately quantifies AF wavefronts and sources. Identifying critical sources, such as rotors, in AF, may allow for more accurate targeting of ablation therapy and improved patient outcomes.
Peters NS, Ciaccio EJ, 2016, The Barrel of the Smoking Gun Finding Diastolic Pathways During Sinus Rhythm, CIRCULATION-ARRHYTHMIA AND ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY, Vol: 9, ISSN: 1941-3149
Ciaccio EJ, Coromilas J, Wit AL, et al., 2016, Formation of functional conduction block during the onset of reentrant ventricular tachycardia., Circulation: Arrhythmia and Electrophysiology, Vol: 9, ISSN: 1941-3149
Manani KA, Christensen K, Peters NS, 2016, Myocardial architecture and patient variability in clinical patterns of atrial fibrillation, Physical Review E, Vol: 94, ISSN: 1539-3755
Atrial fibrillation (AF) increases the risk of stroke by a factor of 4-5 and is the most common abnormal heart rhythm. The progression of AF with age, from short self-terminating episodes to persistence, varies between individuals and is poorly understood. An inability to understand and predict variation in AF progression has resulted in less patient-specific therapy. Likewise, it has been a challenge to relate the microstructural features of heart muscle tissue (myocardial architecture) with the emergent temporal clinical patterns of AF. We use a simple model of activation wave-front propagation on an anisotropic structure, mimicking heart muscle tissue, to show how variation in AF behavior arises naturally from microstructural differences between individuals. We show that the stochastic nature of progressive transversal uncoupling of muscle strands (e.g., due to fibrosis or gap junctional remodeling), as occurs with age, results in variability in AF episode onset time, frequency, duration, burden, and progression between individuals. This is consistent with clinical observations. The uncoupling of muscle strands can cause critical architectural patterns in the myocardium. These critical patterns anchor microreentrant wave fronts and thereby trigger AF. It is the number of local critical patterns of uncoupling as opposed to global uncoupling that determines AF progression. This insight may eventually lead to patient-specific therapy when it becomes possible to observe the cellular structure of a patient's heart.
Manani K, Christensen K, Peters NICHOLAS, 2016, Myocardial architecture and patient variability in clinical patterns of atrial fibrillation, Physical Review E - Statistical Physics, Plasmas, Fluids, and Related Interdisciplinary Topics, Vol: 94, ISSN: 1063-651X
Atrial fibrillation (AF) increases the risk of stroke by a factor of 4–5 and is the most common abnormal heart rhythm. The progression of AF with age, from short self-terminating episodes to persistence, varies between individuals and is poorly understood. An inability to understand and predict variation in AF progression has resulted in less patient-specific therapy. Likewise, it has been a challenge to relate the microstructural features of heart muscle tissue (myocardial architecture) with the emergent temporal clinical patterns of AF. We use a simple model of activation wave-front propagation on an anisotropic structure, mimicking heart muscle tissue, to show how variation in AF behavior arises naturally from microstructural differences between individuals. We show that the stochastic nature of progressive transversal uncoupling of muscle strands (e.g., due to fibrosis or gap junctional remodeling), as occurs with age, results in variability in AF episode onset time, frequency, duration, burden, and progression between individuals. This is consistent with clinical observations. The uncoupling of muscle strands can cause critical architectural patterns in the myocardium. These critical patterns anchor microreentrant wave fronts and thereby trigger AF. It is the number of local critical patterns of uncoupling as opposed to global uncoupling that determines AF progression. This insight may eventually lead to patient-specific therapy when it becomes possible to observe the cellular structure of a patient's heart.
Jones S, Lumens J, Sohaib SMA, et al., 2016, Cardiac Resynchronisation Therapy: mechanisms of action and scope for further improvement in cardiac function, Europace, Vol: 19, Pages: 1178-1186, ISSN: 1532-2092
BackgroundCardiac resynchronisation therapy(CRT) may exert its beneficial hemodynamic effect by improving ventricular synchrony and improving atrioventricular(AV) timing.Aims To establish the relative importance of the mechanisms through which CRT improves cardiac function and explore the potential for additional improvements with improved ventricular resynchronisation. Methods We performed simulations using the CircAdapt haemodynamic model and performed haemodynamic measurements while adjusting AV delay, at low and high heart rates, in 87 patients with CRT devices. We assessed QRS duration, presence of fusion and haemodynamic response.ResultsThe simulations suggest intrinsic PR interval and the magnitude of reduction in ventricular activation determine the relative importance of the mechanisms of benefit. For example, if PR interval is 201ms and LV activation time is reduced by 25ms (typical for current CRT methods) then AV delay optimisation is responsible for 69% of overall improvement. Reducing LV activation time by an additional 25ms produced an additional 2.6mmHg increase in BP (30% of effect size observed with current CRT).In the clinical population, ventricular fusion significantly shortened QRS duration (∆-27±23ms, P <0.001), and, improved SBP (mean 2.5 mmHg increase). Ventricular Fusion was present in 69% of patients, yet in 40% of patients with fusion, shortening AV delay (to a delay where fusion was not present) produced the optimal haemodynamic response.ConclusionsImproving LV preloading by shortening AV delay is an important mechanism through which cardiac function is improved with CRT. There is substantial scope for further improvement if methods for delivering more efficient ventricular resynchronisation can be developed.
Zaman J, Harling L, Ashrafian H, et al., 2016, Post-operative atrial fibrillation is associated with a pre-existing structural and electrical substrate in human right atrial myocardium, International Journal of Cardiology, Vol: 220, Pages: 580-588, ISSN: 1874-1754
BackgroundPost-operative atrial fibrillation (POAF) is a major health economic burden. However, the precise mechanisms in POAF remain unclear. In other forms of AF, sites of high dominant frequency (DF) in sinus rhythm (SR) may harbour ‘AF nests’. We studied AF inducibility in relation to substrate changes using epicardial electrograms and cardiomyocyte calcium handling in the atria of AF naïve patients.MethodBipolar electrograms were recorded from the lateral right atrial (RA) wall in 34 patients undergoing coronary surgery using a high-density array in sinus rhythm (NSR). RA burst pacing at 200/500/1000 ms cycle lengths (CL) was performed, recording episodes of AF > 30 s. Co-localised RA tissue was snap frozen for RNA and protein extraction.ResultsElectrograms prolonged during AF (76.64 ± 29.35 ms) vs. NSR/pacing (p < 0.001). Compared to NSR, electrogram amplitude was reduced during AF and during pacing at 200 ms CL (p < 0.001). Electrogram DF was significantly lower in AF (75.87 ± 23.63 Hz) vs. NSR (89.33 ± 25.99 Hz) (p < 0.05), and NSR DF higher in AF inducible patients at the site of AF initiation (p < 0.05). Structurally, POAF atrial myocardium demonstrated reduced sarcolipin gene (p = 0.0080) and protein (p = 0.0242) expression vs. NSR. Phospholamban gene and protein expression was unchanged. SERCA2a protein expression remained unchanged, but MYH6 (p = 0.0297) and SERCA2A (p = 0.0343) gene expression was reduced in POAF.ConclusionsHuman atrial electrograms prolong and reduce in amplitude in induced peri-operative AF vs. NSR or pacing. In those sustaining AF, high DF sites in NSR may indicate ‘AF nests’. This electrical remodelling is accompanied by structural remodelling with altered expression of cardiomyocyte calcium handling detectable before POAF. These novel upstream substrate changes offer a novel mechanism and manifestation of human POAF.
Luther V, Linton NW, Jamil-Copley S, et al., 2016, A prospective study of ripple mapping the post-infarct ventricular scar to guide substrate ablation for ventricular tachycardia, Circulation: Arrhythmia and Electrophysiology, Vol: 9, Pages: 1-12, ISSN: 1941-3084
BACKGROUND: Post-infarct ventricular tachycardia is associated with channels of surviving myocardium within scar characterized by fractionated and low-amplitude signals usually occurring late during sinus rhythm. Conventional automated algorithms for 3-dimensional electro-anatomic mapping cannot differentiate the delayed local signal of conduction within the scar from the initial far-field signal generated by surrounding healthy tissue. Ripple mapping displays every deflection of an electrogram, thereby providing fully informative activation sequences. We prospectively used CARTO-based ripple maps to identify conducting channels as a target for ablation. METHODS AND RESULTS: High-density bipolar left ventricular endocardial electrograms were collected using CARTO3v4 in sinus rhythm or ventricular pacing and reviewed for ripple mapping conducting channel identification. Fifteen consecutive patients (median age 68 years, left ventricular ejection fraction 30%) were studied (6 month preprocedural implantable cardioverter defibrillator therapies: median 19 ATP events [Q1-Q3=4-93] and 1 shock [Q1-Q3=0-3]). Scar (<1.5 mV) occupied a median 29% of the total surface area (median 540 points collected within scar). A median of 2 ripple mapping conducting channels were seen within each scar (length 60 mm; initial component 0.44 mV; delayed component 0.20 mV; conduction 55 cm/s). Ablation was performed along all identified ripple mapping conducting channels (median 18 lesions) and any presumed interconnected late-activating sites (median 6 lesions; Q1-Q3=2-12). The diastolic isthmus in ventricular tachycardia was mapped in 3 patients and colocated within the ripple mapping conducting channels identified. Ventricular tachycardia was noninducible in 85% of patients post ablation, and 71% remain free of ventricular tachycardia recurrence at 6-month median follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Ripple mapping can be used to identify conduction channels within scar to guide functional substrate
Ng FS, Ariff B, Punjabi PP, et al., 2016, Pyopneumopericardium Secondary to Pericardioesophageal Fistula After Radiofrequency Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation, JACC: Clinical Electrophysiology, Vol: 2, Pages: 397-399, ISSN: 2405-500X
Ng FS, Kalindjian JM, Cooper SA, et al., 2016, Enhancement of Gap Junction Function During Acute Myocardial Infarction Modifies Healing and Reduces Late Ventricular Arrhythmia Susceptibility, JACC. Clinical electrophysiology, Vol: 2, Pages: 574-582, ISSN: 2405-5018
Objectives: To investigate the effects of enhancing gap junction (GJ) coupling during acute myocardial infarction (MI) on the healed infarct scar morphology and late post-MI arrhythmia susceptibility. Background: Increased heterogeneity of myocardial scarring after MI is associated with greater arrhythmia susceptibility. We hypothesized that short-term enhancement of GJ coupling during acute MI can produce more homogeneous infarct scars, reducing late susceptibility to post-MI arrhythmias. Methods: Following arrhythmic characterisation of the rat 4-week post-MI model (n=24), a further 27 Sprague-Dawley rats were randomised to receive rotigaptide to enhance GJ coupling (n=13) or saline control (n=14) by osmotic minipump immediately prior to, and for the first 7 days following surgical MI. At 4 weeks post-MI, hearts were explanted for ex vivo programmed electrical stimulation (PES) and optical mapping. Heterogeneity of infarct border zone (IBZ) scarring was quantified by histomorphometry. Results: Despite no detectable difference in infarct size at 4 weeks post-MI, rotigaptide-treated hearts had reduced arrhythmia susceptibility during PES (Inducibility score: rotigaptide 2.40.8, control 5.00.6, p=0.02) and less heterogeneous IBZ scarring (standard deviation of IBZ Complexity Score: rotigaptide 1.10.1, control 1.40.1, p=0.04), associated with an improvement in IBZ conduction velocity (rotigaptide 43.13.4 cm/s, control 34.82.0 cm/s, p=0.04). Conclusions: Enhancement of GJ coupling for only 7 days at the time of acute MI produced more homogeneous IBZ scarring and reduced arrhythmia susceptibility at 4 weeks post-MI. Short-term GJ modulation at the time of MI may represent a novel treatment strategy to modify the healed infarct scar morphology and reduce late post-MI arrhythmic risk.
Zuliani C, Ng FS, Alenda A, et al., 2016, An array of individually addressable micro-needles for mapping pH distributions, Analyst, Vol: 141, Pages: 4659-4666, ISSN: 1364-5528
This work describes the preparation of an array of individually addressable pH sensitive microneedles which are sensitized by electrodepositing iridium oxide. The impact of the deposition potential, storage conditions and interferents on the sensor characteristics such as slope, offset, intra- and inter-batch reproducibility is investigated. The device may be a useful tool for carrying out direct pH measurements of soft and heterogeneous samples such as tissues and organs. For example, we demonstrated that the microneedle array can be employed for real-time mapping of the cardiac pH distribution during cycles of global ischemia and reperfusion.
Ciaccio EJ, Coromilas J, Wit AL, et al., 2016, Formation of reentrant circuits in the mid-myocardial infarct border zone, COMPUTERS IN BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE, Vol: 71, Pages: 205-213, ISSN: 0010-4825
- Author Web Link
- Open Access Link
- Cite
- Citations: 9
Vassilicos C, 2016, Streamlines in stationary homogeneous isotropic turbulenceand fractal-generated turbulence, Fluid Dynamics Research, Vol: 48, ISSN: 1873-7005
We compare streamline statistics in stationary homogeneous isotropic turbulence and in turbulence generated by a fractal square grid. We examine streamline segments characterised by the velocity difference ${\rm{\Delta }}u$ and the distance l between extremum points. We find close agreement between the stationary homogeneous isotropic turbulence and the decay region of the fractal-generated turbulence as well as the production region of the fractal flow for small segments. The statistics of larger segments are very similar for the isotropic turbulence and the decay region, but differ for the production region. Specifically, we examine the first, second and third conditional mean $\langle {[{\rm{\Delta }}u]}^{n}| l\rangle $. Noticeably, non-vanishing $\langle {[{\rm{\Delta }}u]}^{n}| l\rangle $ for $n=1,3$ are due to an asymmetry of positive and negative segments, i.e. those for which ${\rm{\Delta }}u\gt 0$ and ${\rm{\Delta }}u\lt 0$, respectively. This asymmetry is not only kinematic, but is also due to dissipative effects and therefore $\langle {[{\rm{\Delta }}u]}^{n}| l\rangle $ contains cascade information.
Luther V, Linton NW, Koa-Wing M, et al., 2016, A prospective study of ripple mapping in atrial tachycardias: a novel approach to interpreting activation in low-voltage areas, Circulation: Arrhythmia and Electrophysiology, Vol: 9, Pages: 1-13, ISSN: 1941-3084
BACKGROUND: Post ablation atrial tachycardias are characterized by low-voltage signals that challenge current mapping methods. Ripple mapping (RM) displays every electrogram deflection as a bar moving from the cardiac surface, resulting in the impression of propagating wavefronts when a series of bars move consecutively. RM displays fractionated signals in their entirety thereby helping to identify propagating activation in low-voltage areas from nonconducting tissue. We prospectively used RM to study tachycardia activation in the previously ablated left atrium.METHODS AND RESULTS: Patients referred for atrial tachycardia ablation underwent dense electroanatomic point collection using CARTO3v4. RM was played over a bipolar voltage map and used to determine the voltage "activation threshold" that differentiated functional low voltage from nonconducting areas for each map. Ablation was guided by RM, but operators could perform entrainment or review the isochronal activation map for diagnostic uncertainty. Twenty patients were studied. Median RM determined activation threshold was 0.3 mV (0.19-0.33), with nonconducting tissue covering 33±9% of the mapped surface. All tachycardias crossed an isthmus (median, 0.52 mV, 13 mm) bordered by nonconducting tissue (70%) or had a breakout source (median, 0.35 mV) moving away from nonconducting tissue (30%). In reentrant circuits (14/20) the path length was measured (87-202 mm), with 9 of 14 also supporting a bystander circuit (path lengths, 147-234 mm). In breakout tachycardias, splitting of wavefronts resulted in 2 to 4 incomplete circuits. RM-guided ablation interrupted the tachycardia in 19 of 20 cases with the first ablation set. CONCLUSIONS: RM helps to define activation through low-voltage regions and aids ablation of atrial tachycardias.
Desplantez T, Grikscheit K, Thomas NM, et al., 2015, Relating specific connexin co-expression ratio to connexon composition and gap junction function, Journal of Molecular and Cellular Cardiology, Vol: 89, Pages: 195-202, ISSN: 1095-8584
Cardiac connexin 43 (Cx43), Cx40 and Cx45 are co-expressed at distinct ratios in myocytes. This pattern is considered a key factor in regulating the gap junction channels composition, properties and function and remains poorly understood.This work aims to correlate gap junction function with the connexin composition of the channels at accurate ratios Cx43:Cx40 and Cx43:Cx45.Rat liver epithelial cells that endogenously express Cx43 were stably transfected to induce expression of accurate levels of Cx40 or Cx45 that may be present in various areas of the heart (e.g. atria and ventricular conduction system). Induction of Cx40 does not increase the amounts of junctional connexins (Cx43 and Cx40), whereas induction of Cx45 increases the amounts of junctional connexins (Cx43 and Cx45). Interestingly, the non-junctional fraction of Cx43 remains unaffected upon induction of Cx40 and Cx45. Co-immunoprecipitation studies show low level of Cx40/Cx43 heteromerisation and undetectable Cx45/Cx43 heteromerisation. Functional characterisation shows that induction of Cx40 and Cx45 decreases Lucifer Yellow transfer. Electrical coupling is decreased by Cx45 induction, whereas it is decreased at low induction of Cx40 and increased at high induction.These data indicate a fine regulation of the gap junction channel make-up in function of the type and the ratio of co-expressed Cxs that specifically regulates chemical and electrical coupling. This reflects specific gap junction function in regulating impulse propagation in the healthy heart, and a pro-arrhythmic potential of connexin remodelling in the diseased heart.
Kyriacou A, Hayat S, Qureshi N, et al., 2015, Dissociated pulmonary vein potentials: expression of the cardiac autonomic nervous system following pulmonary vein isolation?, HeartRhythm case reports, Vol: 1, Pages: 401-405, ISSN: 2214-0271
In the electrically nonisolated pulmonary veins, the cardiacautonomic system has been shown to play an important rolein initiating pulmonary vein (PV) ectopy and triggering atrialfibrillation (AF).1–3 However, the effects of the cardiacautonomic system on the isolated PV are not currentlyknown. We present the observations from a case whereopportunistic stimulation of the autonomic system wasperformed in the presence of dissociated pulmonary veinpotentials (PVPd).
This data is extracted from the Web of Science and reproduced under a licence from Thomson Reuters. You may not copy or re-distribute this data in whole or in part without the written consent of the Science business of Thomson Reuters.