atrial fibrillation/potassium

BACKGROUND Dysfunction of small conductance calcium activated potassium (SK) channels plays a vital role in atrial arrhythmogenesis. Amiodarone and dronedarone are the most effective class III antiarrhythmic drugs. It is unclear whether the antiarrhythmic effect of amiodarone and dronedarone is

Excessive consumption of alcohol is a well-established risk factor of atrial fibrillation (AF). However, the effects of moderate alcohol drinking remain to be elucidated. This study was designed to determine the effects of moderate ethanol ingestion on atrial fibrillation and the

OBJECTIVE Vagus-induced atrial fibrillation is of particular clinical interest. The muscarinic potassium current I(K(ACh)) mediates the induction of vagus-induced atrial fibrillation. Selective inhibition of I(K(ACh)) seems to be an option to treat atrial fibrillation. The application of amiodarone,

BACKGROUND Negative tracheal pressure (NTP) during tracheal obstruction in obstructive apnea increases vagal tone and causes pronounced shortening of the atrial effective refractory period (AERP), thereby perpetuating atrial fibrillation (AF). The role of different atrial potassium channels under

Small-conductance Ca(2+)-activated potassium (SK) channels are relative newcomers within the field of cardiac electrophysiology. In recent years, an increased focus has been given to these channels because they might constitute a relatively atrial-selective target. This review will give a general

Subunits of inwardly rectifying potassium channels (Kir) are expressed in many different tissues of the human body. Inward rectifier currents expressed in the heart are constituted by pore-forming alpha-subunits of Kir2, Kir3, and Kir6 subfamilies. Characteristic properties of inward rectifiers

OBJECTIVE To investigate the effects of parenteral administration of MgSO4, and glucose, insulin, and potassium (GIK), on the dominant atrial cycle length during chronic atrial fibrillation (CAF). RESULTS The length of the dominant atrial cycle (DACL) in the power-frequency spectrum of the

Inherited gain-of-function mutations of genes coding for subunits of the heart slow potassium (I Ks) channel can cause familial atrial fibrillation (AF). Here we consider a potentially more prevalent mechanism and hypothesize that beta-adrenergic receptor (beta-AR)-mediated regulation of the I Ks

Structural and electrical remodeling within the atrium mediate the pathogenesis of atrial fibrillation (AF). Two key genes that sever a role in this remodeling are connexin 40 (Cx40) and potassium voltage-gated channel subfamily A member 5 (KCNA5), respectively. Electrical remodeling is considered

OBJECTIVE To explore the effects of MgSO4 in combination with glucose, insulin, and potassium (GIK) on intrinsic AV-nodal properties during chronic atrial fibrillation. METHODS The study included two patient groups--(a) control and intervention and (b) intervention--with different infusion times and

Despite being the most common arrhythmia currently treated by cardiologists, safe and effective treatments for atrial fibrillation (AF) remain elusive. To address this issue, Astellas Pharma Inc, Merck & Co Inc and Cardiome Pharma Corp are developing vernakalant (RSD-1235), a drug which

Recent studies suggest that genetic mutation of the slow delayed rectifier potassium channel (I(Ks)) may underlie atrial fibrillation (AF). We investigated the association between AF and the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of genes KCNQ1, KCNE1 and KCNE4 associated with this channel. Common

Peri-operative atrial fibrillation (peri-op AF) is a common complication following thoracic surgery. This arrhythmia is thought to be triggered by an inflammatory response and can be reproduced in various animal models. Previous work has shown that the lipid inflammatory mediator,