Successful control of life-threatening polymorphic ventricular tachycardia by radiofrequency catheter ablation in an infant.

We present a case of a 9-month-old girl in whom malignant polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (VT) was successfully controlled by radiofrequency catheter ablation under guidance with a three-dimensional mapping system. The VTs originated from the left ventricular lateral wall, left ventricular anterior wall, and left ventricular apex. At least six types of VTs were documented during the electrophysiology study. All VTs were successfully controlled after two sessions of radiofrequency catheter ablation, and she was discharged from our hospital on propranolol, mexiletine, flecainide, and aprindine.

Abdominal adiposity is associated with high-density lipoprotein subclasses in Japanese schoolchildren.

BACKGROUND: The large HDL subclass is considered to possess cardioprotective properties. The purpose of this study is to determine the relationship among abdominal adiposity, insulin resistance and HDL subclass profiles of Japanese schoolchildren. METHODS: The study subjects included 164 children (79 boys and 85 girls). We obtained waist to height ratio (WHtR), lipid profile, and HOMA-IR. The HDL subclass profile was analyzed by HPLC. RESULTS: Children of either sex with abdominal obesity (WHtR≥0.5) had reduced concentrations of very large, large, and medium HDLC in conjunction with elevated triglyceride (TG) concentrations and HOMA-IR. WHtR was inversely related to the concentrations of very large (boys: r=-0.5306, p<0.0001; girls: r=-0.3483, p=0.0011), large (r=-0.6168, p<0.0001; r=-0.4387, p<0.0001), and medium (r=-0.4170, p=0.0001; r=-0.4116, p<0.0001) HDLC. The multiple regression analyses revealed that WHtR was an independent factor of the concentrations of very large, large, small, and very small HDLC in boys and the concentrations of large and medium HDLC in girls. CONCLUSIONS: In Japanese schoolchildren, abdominal obesity is associated with atherogenic HDL subclass profile. Abdominal obesity may be an important target for the prevention and management of HDL subclass alteration, even in children who do not suffer from insulin resistance or hypertriglyceridemia.

Short naps and exercise improve sleep quality and mental health in the elderly.

The effects of short naps and exercise on the sleep quality and mental health of elderly people was investigated. 'Interventions' by short naps after lunch and exercise of moderate intensity in the evening were carried out for 4 weeks. After the 'intervention', awake time after sleep onset decreased significantly and sleep efficiency increased significantly, demonstrating that sleep quality had improved. Also, the frequency of nodding in the evening decreased significantly. These results demonstrate that proper awakening maintenance in the evening was effective in improving sleep quality. After the 'intervention', mental health and volition and physical health had also improved with improving sleep quality.