From a laboratory to the wearables: a review on history and evolution of electrocardiogram / Del laboratorio a la práctica: una revisión sobre la historia y evolución del electrocardiograma

The development of electrocardiography, one of the top scientific breakthroughs of the 20th century, occurred in the field of cardiology. The history of the ECG began long before its invention, with the advent of the study of electricity in the medical field. The idea of electrophysiology and Waller's initial recording of the ‘electrogram’ encouraged Willem Einthoven to develop new string galvanometers and turn this remarkable physiologic occurrence into a vital clinical recording tool. It has progressed from Einthoven's innovation to wearable technology. In the first part of the 20th century, a number of inventive people achieved a remarkable succession of discoveries and advancements that led to the development of the 12-lead ECG as we know it today. It went further than that. The evolution of science and technology over the years has allowed for continual development in terms of usefulness, ranging from five operators to one operator meant to record the ECG trace, and mobility, ranging from around 300 Kg to roughly around 1 Kg. Electrocardiographs in minimized form now exist thanks to the modern era of digitalization. We will go over the significant processes in the development of the ECG in this article. (AU)

El desarrollo de la electrocardiografía, uno de los principales avances científicos del siglo XX, se produjo en el campo de la cardiología. La historia del ECG comenzó mucho antes de su invención, con el advenimiento del estudio de la electricidad en el campo médico. La idea de la electrofisiología y el registro inicial del "electrograma" de Waller animó a Willem Einthoven a desarrollar nuevos galvanómetros de hilo y convertir este acontecimiento fisiológico notable en una herramienta de registro clínico vital. Ha progresado desde la innovación de Einthoven hasta la tecnología portátil. En la primera parte del siglo XX, varias personas ingeniosas lograron una notable sucesión de descubrimientos y avances que condujeron al desarrollo del ECG de 12 derivaciones tal como lo conocemos hoy. Fue más allá que eso. La evolución de la ciencia y la tecnología a lo largo de los años ha permitido un desarrollo continuo en términos de utilidad, que va desde cinco operadores a un operador destinado a registrar el trazo de ECG, y la movilidad, que va desde alrededor de 300 kg hasta aproximadamente 1 kg. Los electrocardiógrafos en forma minimizada ahora existen gracias a la era moderna de la digitalización. Repasaremos los procesos significativos en el desarrollo del ECG en este artículo. (AU)

C. Richard Conti and Chinese cardiology 1989-2022.

The death of C. Richard Conti, MD, MACC in February 2022 marked the passing of a global leader in cardiology who played a pivotal role in the history of the American College of Cardiology and the College's outreach to the People's Republic of China.

Pulmonary Circulation Discovery Before Ibn Nafis-Ancient Persian and Greek Theories: A Narrative Review.

Importance: The recognition of the pulmonary circulation is a complex evolution in medical history and draws on theories across eras and cultures. Observations: This narrative review summarizes evidence suggesting that the recognition of pulmonary circulation is older than the time of Ibn Nafis. The theory of pulmonary circulation originated in ancient Persia (ad 224-637), was overshadowed by Greek theory from the 11th century, and reestablished by Ibn Nafis in the 13th century. Conclusions and Relevance: The findings of this review may help contextualize the story of the discovery of pulmonary circulation in ancient Persian and Greek theories before Ibn Nafis.

What is in the Dash? An Examination of the Life and Contributions of John B. Flege, Jr., MD.

It is, indeed, a privilege to stand here before you this morning to give the annual Flege Lecture.  Dr. Sande Starnes has kindly supplied me with a list of prior visiting professors, who previously have had the honor to deliver this talk. When we examine the names of those who have been so honored, and note their many accomplishments, I cannot help but remember the words of Winston Churchill, who, when speaking of another person, could well have been speaking of me, when he described "a modest little person, with much to be modest about."

Bernard Lown y el arte de sanar / Bernard Lown and the art of healing

RESUMEN: Se presenta una semblanza del Dr. Bernard Lown, uno de los más destacados cardiólogos del siglo XX. Muy relevantes fueron sus estudios sobre arritmias ventriculares e isquemia miocárdica, como también la influencia del estrés sobre el umbral de la fibrilación ventricular. Simultáneamente con otros investigadores europeos desarrolló el cardiovertor eléctrico. Se releva particularmente su condición de gran clínico y el trato humano con sus pacientes. Finalmente, se destaca su contribución a evitar una guerra nuclear por lo cual, junto al Dr Chazov, recibió el Premio Nobel de la Paz.

ABSTRACT: This is a biographical note on Bernard Lown MD, recently deceased. He was one of the foremost cardiologist in the XXth century. Relevant were his studies on ventricular arrhythmias and myocardial ischemia, as well the effect of mental stress in lowering the ventricular arrhythmia threshold. Along with European researchs he developed the electric cardiovertor. Special emphasis is placed on his skills as a clinician and is humane approach to patient care. He contributed to international efforts to prevent nuclear war. For this effort he was awarded, along with Dr Chazov, the Nobel Peace Price.

Was William Harvey's commitment to experimentation reflected in his clinical practice?

The physician and physiologist Dr William Harvey is known for having discovered that the heart pumps arterial blood round the whole body and receives venous blood from the periphery, which it forwards to the lungs for reoxygenation. Harvey's discovery was based on anatomical and physiological evidence and experiments using ligatures of varying tensions. As a clinician, however, Harvey does not appear to have appreciated the value of experiments in assessing treatment effects. Although he criticised Galenic views about the clinical value of experience and authority in the absence of accompanying empirical evidence, two handwritten prescriptions that he wrote for his friend and future biographer John Aubrey provide evidence that he conformed with Galenic theory when it came to drug therapy in clinical practice. This was consistent with his senior position in the College of Physicians, whose Pharmacopoeia Londinensis was based on Galenic principles, an appreciation of which was required for entry into the College. Harvey's prescriptions reflect this and open a window onto 17th-century therapeutic practice and the personal elements on which such practice was sometimes based.

Framingham Heart Study: JACC Focus Seminar, 1/8.

The Framingham Heart Study is the longest-running cardiovascular epidemiological study, starting in 1948. This paper gives an overview of the various cohorts, collected data, and most important research findings to date. In brief, the Framingham Heart Study, funded by the National Institutes of Health and managed by Boston University, spans 3 generations of well phenotyped White persons and 2 cohorts comprised of racial and ethnic minority groups. These cohorts are densely phenotyped, with extensive longitudinal follow-up, and they continue to provide us with important information on human cardiovascular and noncardiovascular physiology over the lifespan, as well as to identify major risk factors for cardiovascular disease. This paper also summarizes some of the more recent progress in molecular epidemiology and discusses the future of the study.

Hybrid Coronary Revascularization: Perspective Current State After 25 Years of Start.

Hybrid coronary revascularization (HCR) represents a minimally invasive revascularization strategy in which the durability of the internal mammary artery to the left anterior descending artery graft is combined with percutaneous coronary intervention to treat remaining lesions. It first was introduced in the mid-1990s and aspired to bring together the "best of both worlds" - the excellent patency rates and survival benefits associated with the durable left internal mammary artery graft to the left anterior descending artery alongside the good patency rates of drug-eluting stents, which outlive saphenous vein grafts to non-left anterior descending vessels. Although in theory this is a very attractive revascularization strategy, several years later, only small randomized controlled trials comparing HCR with coronary artery bypass grafting has recently emerged in the medical literature, raising concerns regarding HCR's role. In the current review, we discuss HCR's rationale, the current evidence behind it, its limitations, and procedural challenges.