Andersen-Tawil syndrome (ATS) type-1 is associated with loss-of-function mutations in gene. encodes the tetrameric inward-rectifier potassium channel Kir2.1, important to the resting phase of the cardiac action potential. Kir-channels' activity requires interaction with the agonist phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate (PIP). Two mutations were identified in ATS patients, V77E in the cytosoli...

Paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF) is associated with cardioembolic risk, however events may occur during sinus rhythm (SR). 4D-flow cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging allows visualisation of left atrial blood flow, to determine the residence time distribution (RTD), an assessment of atrial transit time.To determine if atrial transit time is prolonged in PAF patients during SR, consiste...

Stroke rates and risk factors may change as percutaneous coronary intervention practice evolves and no data are available comparing stroke incidence after percutaneous coronary intervention to the general population.This study aimed to identify the incidence and risk factors for inpatient and subsequent stroke following percutaneous coronary intervention with comparison to age-matched controls....

Enduring isolation of the pulmonary veins (PV) is becoming increasingly common in patients undergoing repeat catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation. We describe our approach to ablation strategy in a patient with enduring isolation of PV and briefly discuss the role of non-PV triggers.

Elevated levels of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk markers are highly prevalent in people with a spinal cord injury (SCI). Breaking up prolonged sedentary time with short, regular bouts of physical activity can reduce postprandial glucose and lipid levels in able-bodied individuals. The effects in people with paraplegia are unknown. The study aims were to examine the acute postprandial glucos...

Creating more physical activity-supportive built environments is recommended by the World Health Organization for controlling noncommunicable diseases. The IPEN (International Physical Activity and Environment Network) Adult Study was undertaken to provide international evidence on associations of built environments with physical activity and weight status in 12 countries on 5 continents ( > 14...

Balloon aortic valvuloplasty (BAV) has seen renewed interest since the advent of transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). The study aimed to characterise a contemporary BAV cohort and determinants of clinical outcomes.Patients undergoing BAV at a single tertiary centre were retrospectively reviewed over a 10-year period, and functional and mortality outcomes were reported with up to a 2-...

Atherogenic LDL particles are physicochemically and metabolically heterogeneous. Can bioactive lipid cargo differentiate LDL subclasses, and thus potential atherogenicity? What is the effect of statin treatment? Obese hypertriglyceridemic hypercholesterolemic males [n = 12; lipoprotein (a) <10 mg/dl] received pitavastatin calcium (4 mg/day) for 180 days in a single-phase unblinded study. The li...

Obesity is one of the most common risk factors for cardiometabolic diseases in Australia and worldwide. Recent studies show that people with normal body mass index (BMI) but with central obesity are at increased risk of morbidity and mortality from cardiometabolic diseases. This risk has not been explained well. The aim of this study was to examine the magnitude, correlates and effects of norma...

While many studies have examined the impacts of multiple sclerosis (MS) on health-related quality of life (HRQoL), none have used the SF-6D multi-attribute utility instrument in a large international cohort (> 2000 subjects) of people with MS.To derive SF-6D health state utilities (HSUs) for participants of the HOLISM (Health Outcomes and Lifestyle In a Sample of people with Multiple Sclerosis)...

Increased sedentary behavior (SB) can adversely affect health. Understanding time-dependent patterns of SB and its correlates can inform targeted approaches for prevention. This study examined diurnal patterns of SB and its sociodemographic associations among Japanese workers. The proportion of sedentary time (% of wear time) and the number of breaks in SB (times/sedentary hour) of 405 workers ...

Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) and T1 mapping techniques enable the quantification of focal and diffuse myocardial LGE, respectively. Studies have shown evidence of fibrosis in middle-age athletes, but not relative to physically active (PA) adults who perform recommended physical activity levels. Therefore, we examined cardiac remodeling and presence of left ...

Lipid metabolism is altered in Alzheimer's disease (AD); however, the relationship between AD risk factors (age, APOEɛ4, and gender) and lipid metabolism is not well defined.We investigated whether altered lipid metabolism associated with increased age, gender, and APOE status may contribute to the development of AD by examining these risk factors in healthy controls and also clinically diagnos...

Individuals with hereditary sensory and autonomic neuropathy type III (HSAN III), also known as Riley-Day syndrome or familial dysautonomia, do not have functional muscle spindle afferents but do have essentially normal cutaneous mechanoreceptors. Lack of muscle spindle feedback from the legs may account for the poor proprioception at the knee and the ataxic gait typical of HSAN III. Given that...

Acute venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a commonly diagnosed condition and requires treatment with anticoagulation to reduce the risk of embolisation as well as recurrent venous thrombotic events. In many cases, cessation of anticoagulation is associated with an unacceptably high risk of recurrent VTE, precipitating the use of indefinite anticoagulation. In contrast, however, continuing anticoagu...

In localized tumors, basement membrane (BM) prevents invasive outgrowth of tumor cells into surrounding tissues. When carcinomas become invasive, cancer cells either degrade BM or reprogram stromal fibroblasts to breach BM barrier and lead invasion of cancer cells into surrounding tissues in a process called fibroblast-led invasion. However, tumor-derived factors orchestrating fibroblast-led in...

Patients admitted to hospital with acute heart failure (AHF) are at increased risk of readmission and mortality post-discharge. The aim of the study was to examine health service utilisation within 30 days post-discharge from an AHF hospitalisation.This was a prospective, observational, non-randomised study of consecutive patients hospitalised with acute HF to one of 16 Victorian hospitals over...

In order to show that reduced functional capacity in subclinical heart failure portends a higher risk of clinically overt (stage C) heart failure, we obtained the Duke activity status index (DASI) and 6-minute walk distance (6MWD) in 814 patients (age 70 [interquartile range 67 to 74] years, 51% female) with nonischemic subclinical heart failure. Reduced functional capacity was defined as: (1) ...