Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Carlos Garcia-Padilla, Jorge N. Dominguez, Valeria Lodde, Rachel Munk, Kotb Abdelmohsen, Myriam Gorospe, Veronica Jimenez-Sabado, Antonino Ginel, Leif Hove-Madsen, Amelia E. Aranega, Diego Franco
Summary: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia in humans. Recent research shows that the Pitx2 transcription factor plays a crucial role in regulating the expression of growth factors, microRNAs, and ion channels, which contribute to the onset of AF. Additionally, several lncRNAs have been discovered to be involved in AF development and are regulated by different signaling pathways.
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Ailiya Adili, Xiyu Zhu, Hailong Cao, Xinlong Tang, Yali Wang, Junxia Wang, Jian Shi, Qing Zhou, Dongjin Wang
Summary: This study found that cellular senescence in the atria is significantly increased in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), along with upregulation of p16, p21, and p53 expression. P21 was identified as a significant independent predictor of early AF recurrence. In vitro experiments showed that rapid pacing induced atrial myocyte senescence and altered the expression of sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR)-related proteins. The study also observed higher levels of γH2AX, a marker of DNA damage, in AF patients compared to controls. These findings contribute to the understanding of AF-related senescence and may aid in the development of anti-aging therapies for AF.
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Vincent Portero, Shanliang Deng, Gerard J. J. Boink, Guo Qi Zhang, Antoine de Vries, Daniel A. Pijnappels
Summary: Atrial fibrillation is a common and progressive cardiac arrhythmia with negative impact on patients' mortality, morbidity, and quality of life. Noticing the need for acute out-of-hospital cardioversion, a method called optogenetics has been proposed. Optogenetics enables the control of cardiomyocyte electrical activity through the expression of light-activated ion channels or pumps, providing a potential means for shock-free cardioversion. Various studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of optogenetic cardioversion in vitro and in animal models, and translational insights have been gained through computational studies in humans. Further advancements in molecular biology, gene therapy, and optoelectronic engineering pave the way for clinical translations of optoelectronic control of cardiac rhythm.
JOURNAL OF INTERNAL MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Emile C. A. Nyns, Vincent Portero, Shanliang Deng, Tianyi Jin, Niels Harlaar, Cindy I. Bart, Thomas J. van Brakel, Meindert Palmen, Jesper Hjortnaes, Arti A. Ramkisoensing, Guo Qi Zhang, Rene H. Poelma, Balazs Ordog, Antoine A. F. de Vries, Daniel A. Pijnappels
Summary: Optogenetic cardioversion is effective for treating atrial fibrillation in aged rats and can penetrate the human atrial wall with sufficient light.
JOURNAL OF INTERNAL MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Tetsuma Kawaji, Hiroki Shiomi, Bingyuan Bao, Shun Hojo, Yuji Tezuka, Hidenori Yaku, Kenji Nakatsuma, Shintaro Matsuda, Kazuhisa Kaneda, Masashi Kato, Takafumi Yokomatsu, Shinji Miki
Summary: The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of intracardiac dynamics assessed by echo-vector flow mapping on atrial fibrillation (AF) complicated by heart failure (HF). The results showed that the average energy loss (EL) per stroke volume (SV) during AF rhythm was significantly higher in the high NT-proBNP group compared to the low NT-proBNP group. High levels of NT-proBNP were associated with large vortex formation and extreme EL during the diastolic phase. After sinus restoration, the average EL/SV significantly decreased in the high NT-proBNP group. There was no significant difference in average EL/SV during sinus rhythm between the high and low NT-proBNP groups.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CARDIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Fitzwilliam Seibertz, Tony Rubio, Robin Springer, Fiona Popp, Melanie Ritter, Aiste Liutkute, Lena Bartelt, Lea Stelzer, Fereshteh Haghighi, Jan Pietras, Hendrik Windel, Nuria Diaz i Pedrosa, Markus Rapedius, Yannic Doering, Richard Solano, Robin Hindmarsh, Runzhu Shi, Malte Tiburcy, Tobias Bruegmann, Ingo Kutschka, Katrin Streckfuss-Boemeke, George Kensah, Lukas Cyganek, Wolfram H. Zimmermann, Niels Voigt
Summary: The study successfully simulated atrial fibrillation-induced electrical remodelling in ventricular or human atrial-like cardiomyocytes, providing a novel platform for the development of antiarrhythmic therapies.
CARDIOVASCULAR RESEARCH
(2023)
Review
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Chang-Hao Xu, Feng Xiong, Wei-Feng Jiang, Xu Liu, Tao Liu, Mu Qin
Summary: Despite significant progress in understanding atrial fibrillation, there are still challenges in its treatment. The review focuses on the rotor mechanism and compares recent clinical approaches to identifying rotors. Though initial studies have shown promising results in rotor ablation, there are some inconclusive outcomes. Hence, there is a need to improve the resolution of mapping techniques and address limitations in current research methodology.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Zhiyuan Chen, Nicolas Boyajian, Zexu Lin, Rose T. Yin, Sofian N. Obaid, Jinbi Tian, Jaclyn A. Brennan, Sheena W. Chen, Alana N. Miniovich, Leqi Lin, Yarong Qi, Xitong Liu, Igor R. Efimov, Luyao Lu
Summary: Transparent microelectrodes have emerged as a promising approach for crosstalk-free multifunctional electrical and optical biointerfacing, requiring high-performance flexible platforms for seamless integration with soft tissue systems. Silver nanowires (Ag NWs) based transparent microelectrode arrays (MEAs) and interconnects are designed to meet this demand, exhibiting high optical transparency, superior mechanical stability, low electrochemical impedance, and excellent sheet resistance. Studies demonstrate that Ag NWs MEAs enable real-time monitoring of heart rhythm during co-localized optogenetic pacing and optical mapping, showing potential for next-generation large-area multifunctional biointerfaces for interrogating complex biological systems.
ADVANCED MATERIALS TECHNOLOGIES
(2021)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Gregory F. Michaud, William G. Stevenson
Summary: A 63-year-old healthy male with atrial fibrillation presents with symptoms of dyspnea and irregular heartbeat. Physical examination reveals high blood pressure, irregular pulse, and ECG confirms atrial fibrillation. Further evaluation and treatment plan are needed.
NEW ENGLAND JOURNAL OF MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Anthony Tabet, Marc-Joseph Antonini, Atharva Sahasrabudhe, Jimin Park, Dekel Rosenfeld, Florian Koehler, Hyunwoo Yuk, Samuel Hanson, Jordan Stinson, Melissa Stok, Xuanhe Zhao, Chun Wang, Polina Anikeeva
Summary: Thermal drawing has been used to create multifunctional fiber-based neural probes, enabling integration of electrical, optical, and microfluidic modalities within a copolymer. This approach allows for simultaneous optogenetics and electrophysiology experiments, demonstrating the ability to deliver cellular cargo with high viability using multifunctional neural probes. The technology also enables the release of small molecules and nanomaterials into local tissue post-implantation through the formation of a hydrogel cladding.
ACS CENTRAL SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Physiology
Miguel Rodrigo, Kian Waddell, Sarah Magee, Albert J. Rogers, Mahmood Alhusseini, Ismael Hernandez-Romero, Alejandro Costoya-Sanchez, Alejandro Liberos, Sanjiv M. Narayan
Summary: This study suggests that non-invasive estimation of atrial activation rates is feasible and provides a moderate estimate of intracardiac recording rates in regional AF studies when filtered by high spectral organization. Non-invasive technology could be an effective tool to identify patients who may respond to AF ablation for personalized therapy.
FRONTIERS IN PHYSIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Tiago P. Almeida, Diogo C. Soriano, Michela Mase, Flavia Ravelli, Arthur S. Bezerra, Xin Li, Gavin S. Chu, Joao Salinet, Peter J. Stafford, G. Andre Ng, Fernando S. Schlindwein, Takashi Yoneyama
Summary: Utilizing unsupervised classification and AEG-derived markers, five distinct classes of AEGs were identified with significant differences in characteristics, potentially offering a more comprehensive substrate characterization for ablation target identification in future clinical studies.
IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING
(2021)
Article
Physiology
Michela Mase, Alessandro Cristoforetti, Maurizio Del Greco, Flavia Ravelli
Summary: A novel method using radial basis function interpolation to reconstruct activation patterns showed reliability in identifying focal drivers in a complex atrial fibrillation pattern, potentially helping to discover critical sites of atrial fibrillation. Validation indicated that localization was effective even with reduced mapping points and activation time misdetections.
FRONTIERS IN PHYSIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Physiology
Bastien Guillot, Arthur Boileve, Richard Walton, Alexandre Harfoush, Caroline Conte, Yannis Sainte-Marie, Sabine Charron, Olivier Bernus, Alice Recalde, Laurent Salle, Fabien Brette, Frank Lezoualc'h
Summary: This study found that EPAC1 and EPAC2 signaling pathways have different effects on atrial electrophysiology, and only the EPAC1 isoform is involved in the genesis of atrial fibrillation (AF). Selective blockade of EPAC1 with AM-001 can prevent AF in mice.
FRONTIERS IN PHYSIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Taiyuan Huang, Juan Chen, Bjoern Mueller-Edenborn, Louisa Mayer, Martin Eichenlaub, Zoraida Moreno Weidmann, Juergen Allgeier, Marius Bohnen, Heiko Lehrmann, Dietmar Trenk, Simon Schoechlin, Dirk Westermann, Thomas Arentz, Amir Jadidi
Summary: This study evaluated the spatial correlation between low-voltage substrate and fractionated potentials in both sinus rhythm (SR) and atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients with persistent AF. The results showed that PFP-SR were mainly located within low-voltage areas, and PFPs were more frequent in AF. The distribution and correlation of PFP and CFP with LVA were different in SR and AF, which should be considered in substrate-based ablation strategies.
FRONTIERS IN CARDIOVASCULAR MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Emile C. A. Nyns, Tianyi Jin, Magda S. Fontes, Titus van den Heuvel, Vincent Portero, Catilin Ramsey, Cindy Bart, Katja Zeppenfeld, Martin J. Schalij, Thomas J. van Brakel, Arti A. Ramkisoensing, Guoqi Zhang, Rene H. Poelma, Balazs Ordog, Antoine A. F. de Vries, Daniel A. Pijnappels
Summary: This study demonstrates the feasibility of optogenetic termination of ventricular tachyarrhythmias in the pathologically remodelled heart. By locally illuminating the ventricular apex with an implanted multi-LED device, effective and repetitive termination of ventricular tachyarrhythmias was achieved, leading to sustained restoration of sinus rhythm.
CARDIOVASCULAR RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Mathematics, Interdisciplinary Applications
Sergei F. Pravdin, Alexander Panfilov
Summary: Spiral waves of electrical excitation can occur in the heart in cases of dangerous arrhythmias. This study investigated the effect of external pacing on the drift and Doppler shift of 2D and 3D solitary spiral waves. The results showed that the period of the source decreased in the direction of the drift and could be described by the Doppler shift formula. The boundary annihilation site of the spiral could be accurately predicted based on the minimal period at the boundary.
CHAOS SOLITONS & FRACTALS
(2022)
Letter
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Emile C. A. Nyns, Tianyi Jin, Cindy I. Bart, Wilhelmina H. Bax, Guoqi Zhang, Rene H. Poelma, Antoine A. F. de Vries, Daniel A. Pijnappels
CIRCULATION-ARRHYTHMIA AND ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
T. Nezlobinsky, A. Okenov, A. Panfilov
Summary: This study investigated the relationship between geometric characteristics of cardiac fibrosis textures and the onset of arrhythmias through extensive in silico analysis. It identified cluster area and solidity as key predictors for arrhythmogenic textures with an overall accuracy of 67%. The accuracy of predictions was found to depend on the size of the chosen region, with an optimal local area size of approximately 0.28 times the wavelength of the arrhythmia.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Niels Harlaar, Sven O. Dekker, Juan Zhang, Rebecca R. Snabel, Marieke W. Veldkamp, Arie O. Verkerk, Carla Cofino Fabres, Verena Schwach, Lente J. S. Lerink, Mathilde R. Rivaud, Aat A. Mulder, Willem E. Corver, Marie Jose T. H. Goumans, Dobromir Dobrev, Robert J. M. Klautz, Martin J. Schalij, Gert Jan C. Veenstra, Robert Passier, Thomas J. van Brakel, Daniel A. Pijnappels, Antoine A. F. de Vries
Summary: Functional human atrial myocytes can be massively expanded via a conditional cell-immortalization method, and used in in vitro models of atrial fibrillation. This study successfully generated immortalized cell lines with properties resembling primary atrial myocytes, and used them to create in vitro models of atrial fibrillation, displaying fibrillatory activity consistent with clinical manifestations and responding to antiarrhythmic drugs.
NATURE BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING
(2022)
Letter
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Niels Harlaar, Daniel A. Pijnappels, Antoine A. F. de Vries
CARDIOVASCULAR RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
P. R. R. van Gorp, J. Zhang, J. Liu, R. Tsonaka, H. Mei, S. O. Dekker, C. Bart, T. De Coster, H. Post, A. J. R. Heck, M. J. Schalij, D. E. Atsma, D. A. Pijnappels, A. A. F. de Vries
Summary: This study used conditionally immortalized iAMs cells to identify and characterize genes with unknown functions in cardiomyocyte differentiation. Sbk2 was identified as a regulator of atrial sarcomerogenesis.
CIRCULATION RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Mathematics
Tatiana Nesterova, Roman Rokeakh, Olga Solovyova, Alexander Panfilov
Summary: In this study, we investigated the effects of elevated plasma leptin levels on the electrophysiological properties of cardiomyocytes and cardiac arrhythmias using cardiac models. Through parameter modification of a rat ventricular cardiomyocyte model, we found that leptin increased the duration of the action potential and predisposed to arrhythmias. Leptin also increased the period of cardiac arrhythmia caused by a spiral wave and enhanced dynamic instability. These findings provide insights into the potential risk of cardiovascular disease associated with hyperleptinemia.
Article
Physics, Fluids & Plasmas
Sergei F. Pravdin, Mikhail A. Patrakeev, Alexander V. Panfilov
Summary: One interesting feature of rotating spiral waves in an excitable medium is meandering, where the tip of the wave moves along a complex trajectory. The cycle lengths of the meandering spiral wave vary and depend on the meandering dynamics. This study shows that the cycle lengths have two mean values inside and outside the meandering trajectory, and the ratio of these mean values depends on the number of petals in the trajectory.
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Tim De Coster, Alexander S. Teplenin, Iolanda Feola, Cindy Bart, Arti A. Ramkisoensing, Bram L. den Ouden, Dirk L. Ypey, Serge A. Trines, Alexander Panfilov, Katja Zeppenfeld, Antoine A. F. de Vries, Daniel A. Pijnappels
Summary: Diseased atria with functional and structural heterogeneities may lead to fractionated electrograms, potentially involved in the onset and perpetuation of atrial fibrillation. Research found that regions of dense fibrosis could create electrically isolated conduction pathways where re-entry could be trapped, generating localized arrhythmias that could escape and cause global arrhythmias.
CARDIOVASCULAR RESEARCH
(2023)
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Vincent Portero, Shanliang Deng, Gerard J. J. Boink, Guo Qi Zhang, Antoine de Vries, Daniel A. Pijnappels
Summary: Atrial fibrillation is a common and progressive cardiac arrhythmia with negative impact on patients' mortality, morbidity, and quality of life. Noticing the need for acute out-of-hospital cardioversion, a method called optogenetics has been proposed. Optogenetics enables the control of cardiomyocyte electrical activity through the expression of light-activated ion channels or pumps, providing a potential means for shock-free cardioversion. Various studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of optogenetic cardioversion in vitro and in animal models, and translational insights have been gained through computational studies in humans. Further advancements in molecular biology, gene therapy, and optoelectronic engineering pave the way for clinical translations of optoelectronic control of cardiac rhythm.
JOURNAL OF INTERNAL MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Physics, Fluids & Plasmas
Yuan-Xu Xia, Xin-Pei Zhi, Teng-Chao Li, Jun-Ting Pan, Alexander Panfilov, Hong Zhang
Summary: In this paper, a method of inducing directed linear drift of spiral waves in cardiac tissue is proposed using optical feedback control and photosensitive ion channels. The authors illustrate the method using different models and light sources, demonstrating its effectiveness.
Article
Physics, Fluids & Plasmas
Qi-Hao Li, Yuan-Xun Xia, Shu-Xiao Xu, Zhen Song, Jun-Ting Pan, Alexander Panfilov, Hong Zhang
Summary: This paper investigates the resonant drift of spiral waves in cardiac tissue under weak periodic optical stimulation. The results show that the periodic optical stimulation induces resonant drift of spiral waves and can be used for control of spiral waves in cardiac tissue.
Article
Physics, Fluids & Plasmas
Teng-Chao Li, Wei Zhong, Bao-quan Ai, Alexander Panfilov, Hans Dierckx
Summary: This study demonstrates the reversal of spiral wave chirality through rotating spiral-shaped illumination, and shows how this method can be used to control and create desired spatial excitation patterns. It was also found that the control process is sensitive to the area of illuminated region.
Review
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Chen Wang, David A. Sallman
CIRCULATION-ARRHYTHMIA AND ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY
(2022)
