Predicting factors for omitting beta-blockers in patients with tachycardia-induced cardiomyopathy after successful catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation.

Tachycardia induces a reduction in the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), which is defined as tachycardia-induced cardiomyopathy (TIC). Conversion to and maintenance of sinus rhythm by catheter ablation can improve LVEF in patients with TIC due to atrial fibrillation (AF). Beta-blockers are mandatory for the treatment of heart failure with reduced LVEF(HFrEF), but the necessity of beta-blockers in TIC patients even after catheter ablation remains unclear. We examined the effect of beta-blockers on cardiac function in TIC patients after catheter ablation. We retrospectively analyzed 124 patients with a history of heart failure and an LVEF of ≤ 50% who underwent catheter ablation for AF. TIC was defined as a ≥ 10% improvement in the baseline LVEF and an improvement to an LVEF of ≥ 50% at 6 months after ablation. Patients with other cardiomyopathy diagnosed before the ablation were excluded. LVEF was significantly increased with the reductions of the left ventricular and left atrial volumes at the 6-month follow-up in all 80 patients with TIC. No beta-blockers were prescribed during the post-ablation follow-up in 21 patients with TIC. The absolute values of and changes in the echocardiographic parameters between before and after ablation were not significantly different between patients with and without beta-blockers after the ablation. A simple score using the history of hospitalization for heart failure and use of beta-blockers or diuretics prior to ablation was useful in identifying TIC patients who did not need prescription of beta-blockers after catheter ablation. LVEF similarly improved in both patients with and without prescription of beta-blockers after the ablation. Beta-blockers may not need to be prescribed after successful catheter ablation for AF in LVEF of ≤ 50% patients without other cause of cardiomyopathy diagnosed before the ablation, a history of hospitalization for heart failure and prescription of beta-blockers and diuretics before the ablation.

Thrombin induces a temporal biphasic vascular response through the differential phosphorylation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase via protease-activated receptor-1 and protein kinase C.

Endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) is a critical regulatory enzyme that controls vascular tone via the production of nitric oxide. Although thrombin also modulates vascular tone predominantly via the activation of protease-activated receptors (PARs), the time course and mechanisms involved in how thrombin controls eNOS enzymatic activity are unknown. eNOS enzymatic activity is enhanced by the phosphorylation of eNOS-Ser1177 and reduced by the phosphorylation of eNOS-Thr495. In this study, we hypothesized that thrombin regulates vascular tone through the differential phosphorylation of eNOS. Using rat descending aorta, we show that thrombin modulates vascular tone in an eNOS-dependent manner via activated PAR-1. We also show that thrombin causes a temporal biphasic response. Protein kinase C (PKC) is associated with second phase of thrombin-induced response. Western blot analysis demonstrated thrombin phosphorylated eNOS-Ser1177 and eNOS-Thr495 in human umbilical vein endothelial cells. A PKC inhibitor suppressed the thrombin-induced phosphorylation of eNOS-Thr495, but not that of eNOS-Ser1177. Our results suggest that thrombin induces a temporal biphasic vascular response through the differential phosphorylation of eNOS via activated PAR-1. Thrombin causes transient vasorelaxation by the phosphorylation of eNOS-Ser1177, and subsequent attenuation of vasorelaxation by the phosphorylation of eNOS-Thr495 via PKC, leading to the modulation of vascular tone.

Pre-ablation levels of brain natriuretic peptide are independently associated with the recurrence of atrial fibrillation after radiofrequency catheter ablation in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation.

Association between pre-ablation levels of biomarkers of cardiac and endothelial dysfunctions, CHADS2, CHA2DS2-VASc, and APPLE scores and the recurrence of atrial fibrillation (AF) after radiofrequency catheter ablation has not been fully studied. A total of 254 patients with nonvalvular AF were prospectively followed for AF recurrence after a single ablation procedure. During a two-year follow-up period, AF recurred in 65 (25.6%) patients. Patients with AF recurrence had significantly greater baseline ln brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) than those without AF recurrence (P < 0.01), whereas there were no significant differences in the levels of biomarkers of endothelial dysfunction and points of scoring systems. In the Cox regression analyses, the baseline ln BNP was significantly independently associated with AF recurrence (adjusted HR =1.286, 95% CI =1.000-1.655, P < 0.05). The baseline levels of ln BNP were significantly associated with rhythm at blood collection, age, sex, and left atrial diameter, and left ventricular ejection fraction (P < 0.05).The subgroup analysis showed a significant interaction on the risk of AF recurrence between ln BNP, sex difference, and rhythm at blood collection (P for interaction < 0.05). In conclusion, the results suggest that the pre-ablation levels of ln BNP are useful to evaluate the risk of AF recurrence after ablation therapy; however, there is a need to be careful while using BNP as a biomarker for the risk of AF recurrence by taking account of the effects of rhythm status at blood collection and sex difference.

Different Effects of Pulmonary Vein Isolation on Quality of Life Between Patients with Persistent and Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation.

The effect of restoring sinus rhythm by pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) on the quality of life (QOL) of patients with persistent atrial fibrillation (PerAF) has not been adequately investigated. This study was performed to compare the changes in QOL after extended PVI between patients with PerAF and paroxysmal AF (PAF).Patients with PAF (n = 38) and PerAF (n = 22) who underwent their first PVI and developed no AF recurrence 6 months after PVI were enrolled. QOL surveys were performed at baseline and 6 months post-ablation using Short Form-36 surveys.The mental component summary score (MCS) (53.4 ± 10.2 to 56.5 ± 7.1, P = 0.019) and physical component summary score (PCS) (46.1 ± 10.6 to 48.5 ± 8.3, P = 0.015) improved after PVI in the PAF group. The PCS, but not the MCS, improved after PVI in the PerAF group (45.8 ± 7.9 to 51.5 ± 6.2, P < 0.001). Changes in the PCS were greater in the PerAF group than in the PAF group (8.6 ± 6.9 versus 2.8 ± 5.2, P = 0.009). Multivariate regression analysis demonstrated that a low baseline MCS and the type of AF (PAF) were independent predictors of an increased MCS and that a low baseline PCS and the type of AF (PerAF) were independent predictors of an increased PCS.The changes in QOL differed between PAF and PerAF after PVI. Although most patients with PerAF were asymptomatic before PVI, their improvement in physical QOL was greater than that in patients with PAF. Such beneficial effects on physical QOL are likely expected in patients with PerAF with a low PCS before PVI.

Predictor of A4 amplitude using preprocedural electrocardiography in patients with leadless pacemakers.

BACKGROUND: Based on historical studies of leadless pacemakers (LPs), high atrioventricular synchrony (AVS) with mechanical sensing-based VDD pacing is largely influenced by A4 amplitude. A limited study investigated the predictors of A4 amplitude using clinical and echocardiographic parameters. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the predictors of A4 amplitude preoperatively to select patients who could benefit the most from AVS among patients with VDD LPs (Micra-AV, Medtronic). METHODS: Data from patients who received Micra-AV implantations from November 2021 to August 2023 at Tottori University Hospital were analyzed. Twelve-lead electrocardiography and transthoracic echocardiography were performed before the Micra-AV implantations. To assess the electrical indices associated with the A4 signal, electrocardiographic morphologic P-wave parameters were analyzed, including P-wave duration, P-wave amplitude, maximum deflection index (MDI), and P-wave dispersion. RESULTS: A total of 50 patients who underwent Micra-AV implantations (median age 84 years; 64% male) were included and divided into 2 groups based on the median value of A4 amplitude, the high-A4 group (A4 amplitude >2.5 m/s2; n = 26), and low-A4 group (A4 amplitude ≤2.5 m/s2; n = 24). There was a significant difference between the high-A4 and low-A4 groups with regard to left ventricular ejection fraction (P = .01), P-wave dispersion (P = .01), and MDI (P <.001). Multivariate logistic analysis revealed that lower MDI was an independent predictor of high A4-amplitude (odds ratio 0.78; 95% confidence interval 0.67-0.92; P = 0.003). CONCLUSION: Preoperative electrocardiographic evaluations of P-wave morphology may be useful for predicting A4 amplitude. MDI was the only independent A4 amplitude predictor that seemed promising for selecting Micra-AV patients.

Mitochondrial Responses to Sublethal Doxorubicin in H9c2 Cardiomyocytes: The Role of Phosphorylated CaMKII.

Background: Doxorubicin (Dox) is effective against different types of cancers, but it poses cardiotoxic side effects, frequently resulting in irreversible heart failure. However, the complexities surrounding this cardiotoxicity, especially at sublethal dosages, remain to be fully elucidated. We investigated early cellular disruptions in response to sublethal Dox, with a specific emphasis on the role of phosphorylated calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) in initiating mitochondrial dysfunction. Methods: This study utilized the H9c2 cardiomyocyte model to identify a sublethal concentration of Dox and investigate its impact on mitochondrial health using markers such as mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), mitophagy initiation, and mitochondrial calcium dynamics. We examined the roles of and interactions between CaMKII, dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp1), and the mitochondrial calcium uniporter (MCU) in Dox-induced mitochondrial disruption using specific inhibitors, such as KN-93, Mdivi-1, and Ru360, respectively. Results: Exposure to a sublethal dose of Dox reduced the MMP red-to-green fluorescence ratio in H9c2 cells by 40.6% compared with vehicle, and increased the proportion of cells undergoing mitophagy from negligible levels compared with vehicle to 62.2%. Mitochondrial calcium levels also increased by 8.7-fold compared with the vehicle group. Notably, the activation of CaMKII, particularly its phosphorylated form, was pivotal in driving these mitochondrial changes, as inhibition using KN-93 restored MMP and decreased mitophagy. However, inhibition of Drp1 and MCU functions had a limited impact on the observed mitochondrial disruptions. Conclusion: Sublethal administration of Dox is closely linked to CaMKII activation through phosphorylation, emphasizing its pivotal role in early mitochondrial disruption. These findings present a promising direction for developing therapeutic strategies that may alleviate the cardiotoxic effects of Dox, potentially increasing its clinical efficacy.

Pretreatment with cilnidipine attenuates hypoxia/reoxygenation injury in HL-1 cardiomyocytes through enhanced NO production and action potential shortening.

Myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury worsens in the absence of nitric oxide synthase (NOS). Cilnidipine, a Ca2+ channel blocker, has been reported to activate endothelial NOS (eNOS) and increases nitric oxide (NO) in vascular endothelial cells. We examined whether pretreatment with cilnidipine could attenuate cardiac cell deaths including apoptosis caused by hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) injury. HL-1 mouse atrial myocytes as well as H9c2 rat ventricular cells were exposed to H/R, and cell viability was evaluated by an autoanalyzer and flow cytometry; eNOS expression, NO production, and electrophysiological properties were also evaluated by western blotting, colorimetry, and patch clamping, respectively, in the absence and presence of cilnidipine. Cilnidipine enhanced phosphorylation of eNOS and NO production in a concentration-dependent manner, which was abolished by siRNAs against eNOS or an Hsp90 inhibitor, geldanamycin. Pretreatment with cilnidipine attenuated cell deaths including apoptosis during H/R; this effect was reproduced by an NO donor and a xanthine oxidase inhibitor. The NOS inhibitor L-NAME abolished the protective action of cilnidipine. Pretreatment with cilnidipine also attenuated H9c2 cell death during H/R. Additional cilnidipine treatment during H/R did not significantly enhance its protective action. There was no significant difference in the protective effect of cilnidipine under normal and high Ca2+ conditions. Action potential duration (APD) of HL-1 cells was shortened by cilnidipine, with this shortening augmented after H/R. L-NAME attenuated the APD shortening caused by cilnidipine. These findings indicate that cilnidipine enhances NO production, shortens APD in part by L-type Ca2+ channel block, and thereby prevents HL-1 cell deaths during H/R.