Background-The management of long-QT syndrome (LQTS) patients who continue to have cardiac events (CEs) despite ␤-blockers is complex. We assessed the long-term efficacy of left cardiac sympathetic denervation (LCSD) in a group of high-risk patients. Methods and Results-We identified 147 LQTS patients who underwent LCSD. Their QT interval was very prolonged (QTc, 543Ϯ65 ms); 99% were symptomatic; 48% had a cardiac arrest; and 75% of those treated with ␤-blockers remained symptomatic. The average follow-up periods between first CE and LCSD and post-LCSD were 4.6 and 7.8 years, respectively. After LCSD, 46% remained asymptomatic. Syncope occurred in 31%, aborted cardiac arrest in 16%, and sudden death in 7%. The mean yearly number of CEs per patient dropped by 91% (PϽ0.001). Among 74 patients with only syncope before LCSD, all types of CEs decreased significantly as in the entire group, and a post-LCSD QTc Ͻ500 ms predicted very low risk. The percentage of patients with Ͼ5 CEs declined from 55% to 8% (PϽ0.001). In 5 patients with preoperative implantable defibrillator and multiple discharges, the post-LCSD count of shocks decreased by 95% (Pϭ0.02) from a median number of 25 to 0 per patient. Among 51 genotyped patients, LCSD appeared more effective in LQT1 and LQT3 patients. Conclusions-LCSD is associated with a significant reduction in the incidence of aborted cardiac arrest and syncope in high-risk LQTS patients when compared with pre-LCSD events. However, LCSD is not entirely effective in preventing cardiac events including sudden cardiac death during long-term follow-up. LCSD should be considered in patients with recurrent syncope despite ␤-blockade and in patients who experience arrhythmia storms with an implanted defibrillator.

To evaluate the impact of gene polymorphisms of Cytochrome P450 2C9 (CYP2C9), Vitamin K epoxide reductase complex subunit 1 (VKORC1) and Cytochrome P450 4F2 (CYP4F2) and clinical factors on warfarin maintenance dose in Han-Chinese patients from main land. DNA was extracted from 115 patients taking warfarin for more than 3 months with a stable international normalized ratio (INR) and genotyped for CYP2C9*3, VKORC1-1639 and CYP4F2 (rs2108622) polymorphisms using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). Univariate analysis and multiple regression analysis were undertaken to assess the effect of genetic and clinical factors on the warfarin maintenance dose. Our study demonstrated that patients carrying CYP4F2 CT or TT allele needed a significantly higher warfarin dose compared to those carrying CC ((3.36 ± 0.14 mg/d vs. 2.77 ± 0.14 mg/d), P = 0.004). We also confirmed CYP2C9 *3 variant was related to lower warfarin dose (2.01 ± 0.23 mg/d) requirement compared to wild type (3.21 ± 0.11 mg/d) (P = 0.001). VKORC1-1639 AG genotype was associated with a higher maintenance dose compared to those with the AA genotype (4.06 ± 0.21 mg/d vs. 2.95 ± 0.11 mg/d, P < 0.001). The multiple linear regression model including VKORC1-1639G>A, CYP2C9, CYP4F2 and clinical factors (body surface area (BSA) and age) could explain 42 % of the variance in the warfarin maintenance dose. We developed a dose algorithm based on genetic polymorphism and clinical variables for Han-Chinese patients and evaluated its performance. CYP4F2 rs2108622 has a small but significant association with warfarin stable dose in Han-Chinese population.

Background-Timothy syndrome (TS) is a rare long-QT syndrome caused by CACNA1C mutations G406R in exon 8A(TS1) and G402S/G406R in exon 8 (TS2). Management of TS is a challenge and prognosis is poor. This study aimed to explore the inheritance pattern and mechanism of an I Na blocker, mexiletine, to improve clinical manifestations in TS. Methods and Results-A 2-year-old Chinese girl with a typical TS1 phenotype underwent candidate gene screening.Qualitative and quantitative cloning sequence and analyses for mosaicism were performed on family members. Therapeutic effects of mexiletine were evaluated using ECG and Holter monitoring. The electrophysiological effect of mexiletine was evaluated in a TS model using rabbit ventricular wedges. The proband with severe syndactyly and delayed language skills was identified harboring a G406R mutation in CACNA1C. Her baseline ECG showed markedly prolonged QTc, 2:1 AV block and macro-T wave alternans. G406R was absent in her mother but expressed in her father's oral mucosa, sperm, and white blood cells, indicating a mosaic carrier. Although asymptomatic, he exhibited mild QTc prolongation (470-490 ms) and syndactyly. Mexiletine shortened QTc from 584 to 515 ms, blunted QT-RR relationship, and abolished 2:1 AV block and T wave alternans in the girl. In in vitro studies, mexiletine inhibited late I Na with IC 50 of 17.6±1.9 µmol/L and attenuated brady-dependent QT prolongation and reduced QT-RR slope in the TS model using BayK 8644. Conclusions-Mexiletine shortened QTc, attenuated QT-RR slope, abolished 2:1 AV block and T wave alternans in a TS1 patient and TS model via inhibition of late I Na . (Circ Arrhythm Electrophysiol. 2013;6:614-622.)Key Words: atrioventricular block ◼ late sodium current ◼ LQT8 ◼ mexiletine ◼ T wave alternans ◼ Timothy syndrome

Background. Diverticulum, one of the long-term sequelae of cesarean section, can cause abnormal uterine bleeding and increase the risk of uterine scar rupture. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the efficacy of combined laparoscopic and hysteroscopic repair, a newly occurring method, treating post-cesarean section uterine scar diverticulum. Methods. Data relating to 40 patients with post-cesarean section uterine diverticulum who underwent combined laparoscopic and hysteroscopic repair were retrospectively analyzed. Preoperative clinical manifestations, size of uterine defects, thickness of the lower uterine segment (LUS), and duration of menstruation were compared with follow-up findings at 1, 3, and 6 months after surgery. Results. The average preoperative length and width of uterine diverticula and thickness of the lower uterine segment were recorded and analyzed. The average durations of menstruations at 1, 3, and 6 months after surgery were significantly shorter than the preoperative one (p < 0.05), respectively. At 6 months after surgery, the overall success improvement rate of surgery was 90% (36/40). Three patients (3/40 = 7.5%) developed partial improvement, and 1/40 (2.5%) was lost to follow-up. Conclusions. Our findings showed that combined treatment with laparoscopy and hysteroscopy was an effective method for the repair of post-cesarean section uterine diverticulum.