Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

M S Chang

Publications and source records attributed to M S Chang.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Effect of verapamil on long-term tachycardia-induced atrial electrical remodeling.

BACKGROUND: The effect of verapamil on long-term tachycardia-induced atrial electrical remodeling has not been reported. METHODS AND RESULTS: Forty-eight dogs were randomly divided into verapamil and control groups. The dogs in the verapamil group received verapamil 120 mg every day, those in the control group did not receive verapamil. Atrial effective refractory period (AERP), inducibility of atrial fibrillation (AF), and duration of AF were assessed before and after complete atrioventricular junction ablation with 1-day, 1-week, or 6-week rapid atrial pacing (780 bpm). AERP shortening, AERP dispersion, AERP maladaptation, and inducibility of AF after 1-day pacing was significantly attenuated by verapamil. However, verapamil did not have any significant effect on these parameters in the dogs with 1-week or 6-week pacing. Verapamil did not have any significant effect on the conduction velocity in the dogs with 1-day, 1-week, or 6-week pacing. Before rapid atrial pacing, verapamil significantly prolonged the duration of AF. In the dogs with 1-day pacing, the duration of AF measured immediately after termination of pacing was similar between the control and verapamil groups. However, in the dogs with 1-week or 6-week pacing, the duration of AF after pacing was significantly longer in the verapamil group. CONCLUSIONS: Verapamil cannot prevent long-term (1 and 6 weeks, respectively) tachycardia-induced changes of atrial electrophysiological properties. Furthermore, verapamil increases the duration of AF in the dogs either before or after long-term rapid atrial pacing.

Adaptation, Physiological↗

Analysis of tyrosine hydroxylase gene transcription using an intron specific probe.

The nuclear run-on assay is the most commonly used technique to determine transcription rates of specific genes such as tyrosine hydroxylase. Its application to studies in the nervous system is problematic, however, as a result of limitations in sensitivity and the loss of anatomical integrity. We observed that the relative levels of tyrosine hydroxylase intron 2-containing RNA using a ribonuclease protection assay in the adrenal medulla changed in response to pharmacological treatments consistently with changes shown by the nuclear run-on assay. Our results indicate that measures of tyrosine hydroxylase primary transcript levels offer an alternative to the nuclear run-on assay and validate the application of intron-specific in situ hybridization as a means of assessing the relative transcriptional activity of the tyrosine hydroxylase gene. Similar quantitative results were obtained using intron-specific in situ hybridization with oligonucleotide probes specific for rat tyrosine hydroxylase intron 2. Furthermore, we observed that intron-specific in situ hybridization could be used to measure tyrosine hydroxylase transcription rates in the locus coeruleus, providing resolution at the level of single neurons. Thus, measuring the levels of tyrosine hydroxylase intron 2 provides a sensitive measure of tyrosine hydroxylase transcription rate that can be applied to the study of brain catecholaminergic neurons.

Adrenal Medulla↗

Pharmacokinetics of a new proton pump inhibitor, YJA-20379-8, after intravenous and oral administration to spontaneously hypertensive rats and DOCA-salt-induced hypertensive rats.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the causes for the differences observed in the pharmacokinetics of YJA-20379-8 in 16-week-old spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs). To see if the hereditary characteristics of SHRs was the cause, 20 mg/kg of the drug was intravenously infused over 15 min and 50 mg/kg of the drug was orally administered to 6-week-old SHRs and 16-week-old SHRs and their age-matched control Kyoto-Wistar (KW) rats. Also to see if the hypertensive status itself was the cause, the same doses were administered to 16-week-old deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA) salt-induced hypertensive rats (DOCA-salt rats) and their age-matched control Sprague-Dawley rats. The areas under the plasma concentration-time curve from time zero to time infinity (for intravenous study) and to the last sampling time in plasma (for oral study) were significantly smaller after both intravenous and oral administration, and the total body clearances of the drug were significantly faster after intravenous administration to 6-week-old SHRs, 16-week-old SHRs, and 16-week-old DOCA-salt rats than those in their respective age-matched control rats. The above pharmacokinetic parameter changes in 16-week-old SHRs were due to both hereditary characteristic of SHRs and the hypertensive status itself.

Administration, Oral↗

General pharmacological properties of YJA20379-2, a new antiulcer agent.

The general pharmacological properties of YJA20379-2 2-dimethylamino-4,5-dihydrothiazolo[4,5:3,4]pyridol[1,2-a]++ +benzoimidazole, a novel proton pump inhibitor with antiulcer activities were investigated in mice, rats, guinea pigs and rabbits. YJA20379-2 at oral doses of 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg did not affect the general behaviour, hexobarbital hypnosis and motor coordination in mice. The drug did not have analgesic or anticonvulsant action at 200 mg/kg. Locomotor activity and body temperature were not influenced at 100 mg/kg. At a concentration up to 2 x 10(-4) g/ml, YJA20379-2 did not produce any contraction or relaxation of isolated preparations, such as the rat fundus, the guinea pig ileum and the rat uterus, and did not antagonize the contractile response to several spasmogens, such as histamine, acetylcholine, serotonin and oxytocin. At dosages up to 200mg/kg p.o. YJA20379-2 did not affect the pupil size of mice. Intestinal propulsion of mice was not affected up to 200 mg/kg p.o. and the drug did not affect urinary excretion at 100 mg/kg p.o. These results indicate that at dosages up to 100 mg/kg p.o. YJA20379 was found not to affect this pharmacological profile. However, at 200 mg/kg the drug lowered body temperature and showed decreases in locomotor activity and urine volume.

Animals↗

Radiofrequency catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation initiated by spontaneous ectopic beats.

Several reports have demonstrated that most paroxysmal atrial fibrillation is initiated by ectopic beats from a focal area, and radiofrequency catheter ablation can effectively cure atrial fibrillation. Although most of the ectopic beats originate from the orifices of the pulmonary veins or from the myocardial sleeves in the pulmonary veins, ectopic beats can also originate from superior vena cava, crista terminalis, coronary sinus, ligament of Marshall, or left atrial posterior free wall. Owing to the potential risk and complexity of catheter ablation, the ideal candidates should have frequent episodes and drug refractory paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.

Action Potentials↗

Reduced expression of the adherens junction protein cadherin-5 in a diabetic retina.

PURPOSE: Transvascular leakage occurs in diabetic retinopathy. The tight junction proteins occludin and zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) and adherens junction protein cadherin-5 are critical to the maintenance of endothelial barrier. We report a comparison of junction protein expression in the normal and diabetic retina. METHOD: Case report. Postmortem retinal cryosections were prepared from the left eye of a 73-year-old woman with diabetic retinopathy. Cryosections were immunostained for cadherin-5, occludin, and ZO-1 and compared with retinal cryosections from the right eye of a 72-year-old man with no progression of retinal disease. RESULTS: Immunofluorescence showed positive retinal vessel staining for occludin and ZO-1 in both eyes and cadherin-5 in the normal eye but reduced cadherin-5 staining in the retinal vessels of the diabetic eye. CONCLUSION: Increases in transvascular leakage observed in diabetic retinal vasculature may be associated with reduction in the expression of the critical adherens junction protein, cadherin-5.

Aged↗

Arrhythmogenic activity of cardiac muscle in pulmonary veins of the dog: implication for the genesis of atrial fibrillation.

OBJECTIVE: Pulmonary veins are important foci of ectopic beats to initiate paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. The purpose of this study were to investigate the electrophysiological characteristics of excitable cells in canine pulmonary veins obtained from healthy and chronic rapid atrial pacing dogs and their responses to cardioactive agents. METHODS: Transmembrane action potentials (APs) were recorded from multiple sites of pulmonary veins isolated from 17 healthy dogs and 14 dogs with chronic (6-8 weeks) rapid atrial pacing (780 bpm). RESULTS: In normal superfusate, several types of electrical activities were identified, including silent electrical activity, fast response APs driven by electrical stimulation, and spontaneous fast or slow response APs (with or without early afterdepolarizations). The incidences of AP with an early afterdepolarization (93% versus 41%) was greater in chronic pacing dogs. The spontaneous activities were depressed by beta-adrenoceptor blocker, calcium channel blocker, adenosine and acetylcholine. High frequency (>8 Hz) irregular rhythms occurred spontaneously or were induced by cardioactive agents or electrical stimuli. The incidence of spontaneously occurring tachyarrhythmias was much higher in preparations from chronic pacing dogs (93%) than from control (12%). The tachyarrhythmias were suppressed by sodium channel blocker, potassium channel blocker or magnesium. CONCLUSIONS: Pulmonary veins have arrhythmogenic ability through spontaneous activities or high-frequency irregular rhythms. The higher incidence of spontaneously occurring high-frequency irregular rhythms in chronic rapid atrial pacing dogs may account for the increased risk of atrial fibrillation in these dogs.

Acetylcholine↗

Differential coronary hemodynamics and left ventricular contractility in patients with syndrome X.

The relationship between coronary hemodynamics and left ventricular contractility was studied in 20 patients with syndrome X. Among them, 10 patients with a resting left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF, by radionuclide method) equal to or greater than the mean value of the whole group (58%) were defined as having relative increased left ventricular contractility (group H), and another 10 patients with relatively normal contractility (50%</=LVEF<58%) were in group N. Eight subjects with normal contractility, exercise test and coronary angiograms served as the control (group C). Baseline great cardiac venous flow (GCVF) was higher in group N than in group H (P<0.05) and C (P<0.05), but similar between group H and C. After dipyridamole infusion (0.56 mg/kg, i.v., for 4 min), maximum GCVF was less in group H than in group N (P<0.001) and C (P<0.001), but similar between group N and C. As compared to group C (3.09+/-0.35), coronary flow reserve was reduced in both group H (2.34+/-0.55, P=0. 004) and N (2.40+/-0.36, P=0.001). In all syndrome X patients, resting LVEF was negatively correlated to baseline GCVF (P=0.026) and tended to be positively correlated to baseline coronary vascular resistance (P=0.057). Thus, coronary hemodynamics was altered with left ventricular contractility in syndrome X patients. In these patients, coronary flow reserve was similarly reduced with different underlying mechanisms. The limited increase of GCVF after dipyridamole infusion suggests impaired coronary microvascular dilation capacity in patients with relatively increased left ventricular contractility and the increase of baseline GCVF in those with normal contractility is more likely due to an altered basal myocardial metabolism.

Adult↗

Increased transcription of the tyrosine hydroxylase gene in individual locus coeruleus neurons following footshock stress.

Footshock-evoked change in transcriptional activity of tyrosine hydroxylase in neurons of the locus coeruleus was examined using an intron-specific in situ hybridization histochemical technique. A significant increase in the cellular concentration of tyrosine hydroxylase primary transcripts was found in locus coeruleus neurons 3h following 30 min of intermittent footshock. However, the footshock-induced increase in tyrosine hydroxylase transcription was not homogeneously expressed in locus coeruleus neurons. Similarly, administration of the alpha(2)-adrenergic receptor antagonist idazoxan produced a significant increase in the cellular concentration of tyrosine hydroxylase primary transcripts that was heterogeneously distributed among locus coeruleus neurons. Both footshock and idazoxan significantly increased the regional levels of tyrosine hydroxylase messenger RNA in the locus coeruleus. The time-course of changes in tyrosine hydroxylase transcription rate and messenger RNA levels in the locus coeruleus was examined after a 15 min exposure to footshock. A robust increase in tyrosine hydroxylase transcription rate was found at the end of 15 min of footshock, which remained elevated for 6h and was back to the control levels by 24h. In contrast, in response to a 15 min period of footshock tyrosine hydroxylase messenger RNA concentrations in the locus coeruleus did not increase until 6h and remained elevated at 24h. These findings demonstrate that transcription of the tyrosine hydroxylase gene in locus coeruleus neurons in response to footshock stress occurs rapidly, is sustained for many hours and is heterogeneously distributed. These data also suggest that the increase in tyrosine hydroxylase messenger RNA following footshock is mediated, at least in part, by an increase in tyrosine hydroxylase gene transcription.

Animals↗

Effect of phenylephrine on focal atrial fibrillation originating in the pulmonary veins and superior vena cava.

OBJECTIVES: This study was aimed at evaluating the effects of phenylephrine infusion on the occurrence of focal atrial fibrillation (AF). BACKGROUND: Paroxysmal AF can be initiated by ectopic atrial beats originating in the pulmonary vein (PV) or superior vena cava (SVC). The effect of change in autonomic tone on this focal AF is unknown. METHODS: This study included 12 patients with frequent bursts of AF documented by 24-h Holter monitoring. The number and coupling interval of spontaneous ectopic activity and bursts of AF were evaluated for 1 min before and after phenylephrine (2 to 3 microg/kg) injection. RESULTS: After detailed mapping, four patients had a focus located in the left superior PV, six in the right superior PV and two in the SVC. In 10 patients with AF foci originating in the PVs, the frequency of ectopic activity (19.5 +/- 27.4 vs. 11.4 +/- 22.9 beats/min, p = 0.059) was reduced as well as AF bursts (14 +/- 3 vs. 1.8 +/- 2.7 bursts/min, p = 0.005) before versus after phenylephrine injection; the minimal coupling interval of ectopic activity and AF bursts became longer compared with baseline. The maximal percent increase in sinus cycle length after phenylephrine injection was significantly greater in patients with complete suppression of AF compared with those with partial suppression (43 +/- 19 vs. 14 +/- 5%, p = 0.01). However, no significant effect of phenylephrine on AF originating in the SVC was found. CONCLUSIONS: Change in autonomic tone induced by phenylephrine injection was effective in suppressing focal AF originating in the PVs but not in the SVC.

Aged↗

Lack of evidence for an association between alpha-adducin and blood pressure regulation in Asian populations.

Recent studies have found the tryptophan allele of a glycine to tryptophan polymorphism at position 460 (G460W) of the alpha-adducin protein to be associated with essential hypertension in European populations. We examined whether the tryptophan allele is associated with hypertension in a different population, comprised of subjects of Chinese origin from Taiwan, and Chinese and Japanese origin from the San Francisco Bay area and Hawaii. We adapted the 5' allelic discrimination assay or TaqMan to type individuals for the G460W polymorphism, and using this method we typed more than 1000 individuals. The frequency of the W allele was slightly increased in the treated subjects in the Chinese population (0.458 v 0.423) but not the Japanese population (0.549 v 0.558). We considered dominant, recessive, and additive models in our analysis. There was a significant result for a recessive model for systolic blood pressure in the Chinese population (chi2 6.84, df = 2, P < .05), but only suggestive evidence for diastolic blood pressure (chi2 3.30). In contrast, in the Japanese population, there was no evidence for a positive association under any model. For the combined Chinese and Japanese samples, the evidence for association with alpha-adducin was not significant.

Adult↗

Epstein-Barr virus in gastric carcinomas with lymphoid stroma.

AIMS: To clarify the relationship between the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and gastric carcinoma with lymphoid stroma (GCLS) in Koreans, and to characterize the EBV-positive GCLS. METHODS AND RESULTS: EBV infection was examined using EBER in-situ hybridization and polymerase chain reaction in 45 cases of GCLS among Koreans, and in 292 consecutive cases of gastric carcinomas without lymphoid stroma (non-GCLS) as controls. EBV infection was found in 30 tumours (67%) of GCLS and 10 tumours (3.4%) of non-GCLS (P < 0.05). EBV-positive GCLS was more prevalent in males, poorly differentiated histological type and diffuse type in Lauren's classification, and tended to be located more in the middle third of the stomach than EBV-negative GCLS (P < 0.05). p53 overexpression was observed in 22% of GCLS (17% of EBV-positive GCLS and 33% of EBV-negative GCLS), and 34% of non-GCLS (EBV-positive GCLS vs. non-GCLS: P = 0.056). The survival of the patient with GCLS was not correlated with EBV infection or p53 immunoexpression (follow-up period: 11-97 months). CONCLUSIONS: GCLS in Koreans is strongly associated with EBV infection. The prognosis in GCLS is not dependent upon either the status of EBV infection or the status of p53 immunoexpression.

Adult↗

Microsatellite instability and Epstein-Barr virus infection in gastric remnant cancers.

Clinicopathological analysis, microsatellite analysis, detection of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), and immunohistochemistry on p53 protein were performed in 26 cases of gastric remnant cancer (GRC). They were divided into two groups; Group A (n = 14) who had undergone a primary gastrectomy for benign gastric disease, and Group B (n = 12) who had undergone the same operation for gastric cancer. EBV infection was present in 29% of Group A, 8% of Group B and 6% of the conventional gastric carcinoma (CGC) (Group A vs CGC, P = 0.01). Microsatellite instability (MSI) was found in 7% of Group A, 25% of Group B, and 9% of the CGC (Group B vs CGC; P = 0.08). p53 Overexpression was observed in 46% of the GRC and 33% of the CGC. p53 Overexpression was observed in 90% of the intestinal type of GRC, but in only 20% of the diffuse type of GRC (P = 0.002). The cancer stage was a significant factor in the univariate analysis of survival (P = 0.04). In conclusion, GRC is different from CGC in terms of MSI or EBV association. The pathogenetic differences between the two groups require further investigation. EBV infection may have been involved in the carcinogenesis of Group A. MSI may be an important factor in the carcinogenesis of metachronous multiple gastric cancer (Group B).

Adult↗

Differentiating the ligament of Marshall from the pulmonary vein musculature potentials in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation: electrophysiological characteristics and results of radiofrequency ablation.

It was reported that paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF) can be initiated by ectopic atrial beats originating from the pulmonary vein (PV) or left atrial tract (LAT) within the ligament of Marshall (LOM). The aim of this study was to differentiate the LAT from the PV potentials, and to investigate the results of radiofrequency ablation guided by these potentials. Ten patients (age 60 +/- 12 years) with PAF who had a recording of double potentials (DPs) in or around the left PV were included. Group I had five patients with the second deflection of DPs (D2) due to activation of the LAT, and Group II had five patients with D2 due to activation of the PV musculature. There were no significant difference in the isoelectric interval between DPs, the activation time, and amplitude of D2 between Groups I and II. During distal coronary sinus (CS) pacing, the CS ostium (CSO) to D2 interval was shorter compared with that during sinus rhythm in Group I (39 +/- 19 vs 71 +/- 25 ms, P = 0.04), but was longer in Group II (96 +/- 16 vs 44 +/- 19 ms, P = 0.04). During ectopic activation, three patients in Group I, but no Group II patients, had transformation of recorded DPs into triple potentials. Radiofrequency ablation guided by the earliest activation of the LAT potential was performed with transient suppression of PAF, but ablation guided by the earliest activation of the PV potentials had a high success rate in eliminating PAF. In conclusion, differentiating the LAT from the PV potentials for initiation of PAF is feasible by an electrophysiological approach, and may be important for radiofrequency ablation of PAF.

Action Potentials↗

Shortening of cardiac action potentials in endotoxic shock in guinea pigs is caused by an increase in nitric oxide activity and activation of the adenosine triphosphate-sensitive potassium channel.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the roles of nitric oxide and adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-sensitive potassium channels (KATP) in the shortening of cardiac action potential in endotoxic shock. DESIGN: Prospective animal study with concurrent controls. SETTING: University animal research laboratory. SUBJECTS: Adult Hartley guinea pigs, weighing 300-400 g. INTERVENTIONS: Guinea pigs were anesthetized and mechanically ventilated for 6 hrs. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or saline (sham group) were given intravenously. Drug effects were examined at the end of 6 hrs. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Plasma nitrate concentration was measured hourly, while guanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cGMP) content and action potential duration at 90% of repolarization (APD90) of papillary muscle were examined every 2 hrs in the 6-hr endotoxemia in both the sham and the LPS-treated groups. The basal levels of these three variables showed no difference in the two groups. In the sham group, these variables did not change significantly (n = 14 for plasma nitrate determination; n = 5 for cGMP content measurement; n = 5-14 for APD90 measurement; all p > .05). But in the LPS-treated group, both plasma nitrate concentration and cGMP content of papillary muscle showed time-dependent increases and they were significantly higher than those in the sham group (at the 6th hr, plasma nitrate: 42.6 +/- 7.7 vs. 21.8 +/- 3.1 micromol/L, both n = 14, p < .01; cGMP: 1.52 +/- 0.15 vs. 0.73 +/- 0.08 pmol/mg protein, both n = 5, p < .01). In contrast, APD90 revealed a time-dependent decrease compared with that in the sham group (at the 6th hr, 137.1 +/- 52 vs. 188.2 +/- 4.8 msecs, both n = 14, p < .001). In the following 60-min in vitro recording of action potentials after the end of 6-hr endotoxemia, the shortened APD90 in the LPS-treated group did not recover and remained shorter compared with that in the sham group, in which the APD90 showed no significant changes (at the 60th min, 165.1 +/- 5.7 vs. 200.2 +/- 3.8 msecs, each n = 14, p < .01). However, in the presence of glibenclamide, a specific KATP blocker (100 micromol/L; n = 10), the APD90 could be reversed almost completely to the same value as that in the sham group (n = 14) (196.6 +/- 3.5 vs. 200.2 +/- 3.8 msecs; p > .05), despite glibenclamide having no effect on the APD90 in the sham group. In the LPS-treated group, NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (1 mmol/L; n = 4), methylene blue (10 micromol/L; n = 5), and aminoguanidine (100 micromol/L; n = 4) significantly prolonged the shortened APD90 (192.5 +/- 3.1, 195.0 +/- 3.3, and 176.5 +/- 3.3 msecs, respectively; p < .01, p < .01, and p < .05, respectively, compared with that without these agents, 165.1 +/- 5.7 msecs, n = 14). These agents had negligible effects on the APD90 in the sham group (all p > .05). Furthermore, 8-bromoguanosine-3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (500 micromol/L; n = 5) decreased APD in intact papillary muscle (mean reduction of APD90, 13.5 +/- 3.5%, n = 5; p < .05), an effect abolished by pretreatment with glibenclamide (100 micromol/L; n = 5) that did not have an effect by itself. CONCLUSIONS: In this experimental model, we provide reasonably convincing evidence to suggest that in endotoxic shock, an increase in nitric oxide activity may activate KATP, which plays a major role in the shortening of APD, presumably through a cGMP-dependent pathway.

Action Potentials↗

Impact of transisthmus linear ablation of typical atrial flutter on coronary sinus activation time.

Complete or incomplete bidirectional isthmus conduction block after linear ablation of atrial flutter is difficult to interpret without detailed multiple electrodes mapping along the tricuspid annulus and the low right atrial isthmus area. The influence of isthmus block on the intraatrial septal and coronary sinus activation has not been assessed by endocardial mapping. This study was designed to analyze the intraartial and interatrial activation times in a retrospective fashion to investigate (1) whether isthmus conduction block can change the coronary sinus activation sequence during low lateral right atrial pacing, and (2) the correlation between change of coronary sinus activation time and isthmus conduction block. Sixty-five consecutive patients (mean age, 57 +/- 18 years) with clinically documented typical atrial flutter were studied. A 20-pole "Halo" catheter was placed around the tricuspid annulus including the entire low right atrial isthmus to verify complete bidirectional isthmus block. Activation time from ostium to distal coronary sinus (OCS-->DCS), and interatrial septum and isthmus activation times during right atrial pacing were analyzed and compared before and after incomplete or complete isthmus block. Complete bidirectional isthmus block was achieved in 50 (77%) patients. During low lateral right atrial pacing, linear ablation at low right atrial isthmus results in a significant delay of activation in all coronary sinus recording sites with greater extent at the ostium area without influence on interatrial septum activation in complete and incomplete isthmus conduction block. The difference of the OCS-->DCS interval before and after ablation, delta (OCS-->DCS), was well correlated with results of isthmus conduction block and significantly longer in patients with complete than those with incomplete isthmus block (34 +/- 11 vs 11 +/- 8 ms, P < 0.001), thereby allowing a value of 20 ms as a discriminative parameter to differentiate incomplete (< 20 ms) from complete (> or = 20 ms) isthmus counterclockwise conduction block with a sensitivity of 96% and a specificity of 88%. In conclusion, creation of a line of block at the inferior vena cava-tricuspid annulus isthmus could change coronary sinus activation sequence during low lateral right atrial pacing in sinus rhythm. The change of coronary sinus activation time after linear ablation, delta (OCS-->DCS), was well correlated with isthmus conduction block by using a value > or = 20 ms to discern complete counterclockwise isthmus block.

Adolescent↗