A novel Ventricular map of Electrograms DUration as a Method to identify areas of slow conduction for ventricular tachycardia ablation: The VEDUM pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Bipolar electrogram (EGM) duration is indicative of local activation property and, if prolonged, is useful to discover areas of slow conduction favoring arrhythmias. OBJECTIVE: The present study aimed to create a map of EGM duration during the ventricular tachycardia (VT) (Ventricular Electrograms DUration as a Method map [VEDUM map]) to verify if the slowest activation area is crucial for reentry and could represent a suitable target for rapid VT interruption during ablation. METHODS: Prospectively 30 patients were enrolled for this study. Twenty-one patients were selected, and 24 VT maps with complete circuit delineation (>90% tachycardia cycle length) were analyzed. Activation and VEDUM maps during VT as well as voltage maps during sinus rhythm were created. RESULTS: Twenty-two of 24 VTs (88%) were interrupted during the first radiofrequency delivery (mean time 7.3 ± 5.4 seconds; range 3-25 seconds) at the area with the longest EGM duration (212 ± 47 ms; range 113-330 ms). The mean percentage of the cycle length of VT covered by the EGM with the longest duration was 58% ± 12%. In 9 patients (37%), the longest EGM was located at the isthmus entrance, at the exit in 7 maps (30%), and the mid-isthmuses in 8 maps (33%). In 6 patients (25%), the EGM covered the full diastolic phase. The mean isthmus width was 28 ± 11 mm (range 16-48 mm; median 25 mm). CONCLUSION: A VEDUM map is highly accurate in defining a conductive vulnerable zone of the VT circuit. The longest EGM duration within the isthmus is highly predictive of rapid VT termination at the first radiofrequency delivery even in the case of large isthmuses.

Long-term effects of nutraceuticals (berberine, red yeast rice, policosanol) in elderly hypercholesterolemic patients.

INTRODUCTION: Statins are at the forefront of strategies to manage dyslipidemia, although they are not always well tolerated. At 6-7 months after the drug was supplied, discontinuation rates averaged 30%. Alternate agents to statins have been studied. Some nutraceuticals demonstrated an efficacy in reducing cholesterol concentrations. However, there are no data regarding the use of nutraceuticals in elderly dyslipidemic patients. The purpose of this study was to examine the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of a nutraceutical-based protocol in elderly hypercholesterolemic patients previously intolerant to statins. METHODS: This study was performed as a randomized, prospective, parallel group, single-blind study. Patients were included in the study if they had high total cholesterolemia, high low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), >75 years of age, statin-intolerant, and were refusing other pharmaceutical treatments for hypercholesterolemia. At the baseline visit, eligible patients were randomized to either nutraceutical-combined pill (containing berberine 500 mg, policosanol 10 mg, red yeast rice 200 mg, folic acid 0.2 mg, coenzyme Q10 2.0 mg, and astaxanthin 0.5 mg) or placebo, and the first dose was dispensed. The efficacy, safety, and tolerability of the proposed treatment were fully assessed after 3, 6, and 12 months of treatment. RESULTS: Out of 106 consecutive patients screened, 80 eligible patients were randomized to receive either nutraceutical-combined pill (40 patients) or placebo (40 patients). No patients were lost and no deaths occurred during the follow-up. There was a statistically significant reduction in total cholesterolemia (-20%), LDL-C (-31%), and insulin resistance (-10%) with nutraceutical treatment. No significant changes were detected for plasma high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). Furthermore, no statistical differences were found between baseline and end-study safety parameters. Medication compliance and tolerability were high. CONCLUSION: In this study the authors have demonstrated that combined nutraceuticals significantly reduce cholesterolemia and achieved acceptable plasma LDL-C levels in elderly hypercholesterolemic patients who were previously statin-intolerant. Combined nutraceuticals is also safe and well tolerated in these patients.