With the increasing trend of cross mixing of populations, aconitine induced poisoning and its related arrhythmias may be more frequently encountered worldwide. However, the clinical experience is often too limited to draw any conclusion on the optimal treatment for tachycardia induced by aconitine intoxication. The clinical presentation, serial electrocardiographic changes, and responses to antiarrhythmic agents are reported in a patient with aconitine induced life threatening ventricular tachyarrhythmia. Amiodarone was eVective in suppressing polymorphic ventricular tachycardia, which might provide an example of successful pharmacological intervention in aconitine induced ventricular tachyarrhythmia. (Heart 2000;84:e8)

No abstract

To explain the lower atrial natriuretic peptide concentrations after total cavopulmonary connection than after the Fontan procedure, a prospective study was carried out in seven rats to count the specific granules of atrial natriuretic peptide by electronmicroscope. After fasting from water for 12 days, the quantity of specific granules in the right atrial appendage (pectinated part), intercaval sinus (smooth part), and superior vena cava were counted. The number of specific granules present in the pectinated part of right atrium was 97 +/- 19 in 20 cells, while in the intercaval sinus it was 23 +/- 19 (mean +/- SD). The difference was significant statistically (p < 0.0001). No granule was present in the superior vena cava. We conclude that the granularity of atrial natriuretic peptide is less in the intercaval sinus than the pectinated part of the right atrium.

Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, SUNY Stony Brook, NY 11794-8181 Department of Surgery, U. Massachusetts at Worchester, MA 01655 %eparhnent of Mechanical Engineering, SUNY Stony Brook, NY 11794-2300 3Abstract-Determination of mechanical effeets of pacing in the intact heart with high spatial resolution is necessary to M y assess the regional consequences of pacing. Herein we ntllize an advanced phase correlation technique to track ventricular surface markers on the intact porcine heart in order to assess the functionality of the regional tissue. Pacing at 150 heats per minute reduces the regional stroke work siguilicantly and produces an increasing functional pattern distal to the stimulator.