Effects of docosahexaenoic acid on sodium channel current and transient outward potassium channel current in rat ventricular myocytes / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effects of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) on sodium channel current (I(Na)) and transient outward potassium channel current (I(to)) in rat ventricular myocytes and to evaluate potential anti-arrhythmic mechanisms of DHA.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>I(Na) and I(to) of individual ventricular myocytes were recorded by patch-clamp technique in whole-cell configuration at room temperature. Effects of DHA at various concentrations (0, 20, 40, 60, 80, 100 and 120 micromol/L) on I(Na) and I(to) were observed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) I(Na) was blocked in a concentration-dependent manner by DHA, stably inactivated curves were shifted to the left, and recover time from inactivation was prolonged while stably activated curves were not affected by DHA. At -30 mV, I(Na) was blocked to (1.51 ± 1.32)%, (21.13 ± 4.62)%, (51.61 ± 5.73)%, (67.62 ± 6.52)%, (73.49 ± 7.59)% and (79.95 ± 7.62)% in the presence of above DHA concentrations (all P < 0.05, n = 20), and half-effect concentration (EC(50)) of DHA on I(Na) was (47.91 ± 1.57)micromol/L. (2) I(to) were also blocked in a concentration-dependent manner by DHA, stably inactivated curves were shifted to the left, and recover time from inactivation was prolonged with increasing concentrations of DHA, and stably activated curves were not affected by DHA. At +70 mV, I(to) was blocked to (2.61 ± 0.26)%, (21.79 ± 4.85)%, (63.11 ± 6.57)%, (75.52 ± 7.26)%, (81.82 ± 7.63)% and (84.33 ± 8.25)%, respectively, in the presence of above DHA concentrations (all P < 0.05, n = 20), and the EC(50) of DHA on I(to) was (49.11 ± 2.68)micromol/L.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The blocking effects of DHA on APD and I(to) may serve as one of the anti-arrhythmia mechanisms of DHA.</p>

Echocardiographic standardized myocardial segmentation features in patients with left ventricular noncompaction / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To analyze the echocardiographic standardized myocardial segmentation features in patients with left ventricular noncompaction (LVNC).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Echocardiographic characteristics of 9 patients with LVNC were analyzed and the localization of lesions were determined according to the standardized myocardial segmentation (SMS) recommended by American Heart Association (AHA).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Loose trabeculation in the myocardial lesions were evidenced in all LVNC patients. Communication between deep intertrabecular recess and LV cavity was evident with color flow imaging. According to SMS of AHA, noncompaction of ventricular myocardium was localized in apical segment in all 9 patients, in apical segment of the inferior wall (IW) in 9 patients, in apical segment of the lateral wall (LW) in 7 patients, in middle segment (MS) of IW in 7 patients, in MS of LW in 6 patients. One NC segment was also evidenced in apical segment and MS of septal ventricular wall, basal segment of IW and LW and right ventricular apex, respectively. NC was not found in left ventricular anterior wall.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Echocardiographic standardized myocardial segmentation is helpful to diagnose LVNC and NC was mostly localized in the apical segments of LVNC patients.</p>