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Summary A 25‐year‐old Irish sport horse was presented for investigation of a 7‐day history of apathy and lethargy. Clinical examination revealed tachycardia, tachypnoea, distended, pulsating jugular veins and ventral oedema. Serum biochemistry showed azotaemia. The ultrasonographic examination of the abdomen and the thorax revealed peritoneal, pleural and pericardial effusion. Following the assessment, the mare was euthanised and a full post‐mortem examination was performed. The main findings included a ruptured mass in the left atrium of the heart with subsequent haemopericardium. By histological examination and immunoreactivity for thyroglobulin‐1, the cardiac mass could be further classified as a thyroid carcinoma. As there was no evidence of thyroid neoplasia in the rest of the carcass, it is likely that the neoplasia originated from ectopic thyroid tissue in the heart. Additional findings included multiple intestinal haemangiomas and perianal melanomas. The case report indicates that cardiac thyroid carcinoma may be a possible differential diagnosis in horses diagnosed with congestive heart failure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Methadone inhibits the cardiac potassium channel hERG and can cause a prolonged QT interval. Methadone is chiral but its therapeutic activity is mainly due to (R)-methadone. Whole-cell patch-clamp experiments using cells expressing hERG showed that (S)-methadone blocked the hERG current 3.5-fold more potently than (R)-methadone (IC50s (half-maximal inhibitory concentrations) at 37°C: 2 and 7 μM). As CYP2B6 slow metabolizer (SM) status results in a reduced ability to metabolize (S)-methadone, electrocardiograms, CYP2B6 genotypes, and (R)- and (S)-methadone plasma concentrations were obtained for 179 patients receiving (R,S)-methadone. The mean heart-rate-corrected QT (QTc) was higher in CYP2B6 SMs (*6/*6 genotype; 439±25 ms; n=11) than in extensive metabolizers (non *6/*6; 421±25 ms; n=168; P=0.017). CYP2B6 SM status was associated with an increased risk of prolonged QTc (odds ratio=4.5, 95% confidence interval=1.2–17.7; P=0.03). This study reports the first genetic factor implicated in methadone metabolism that may increase the risk of cardiac arrhythmias and sudden death. This risk could be reduced by the administration of (R)-methadone.Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics (2007) 81, 719–728. doi:10.1038/sj.clpt.6100120; published online 28 February 2007 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genetic relationships between Swiss sheep breeds were estimated on the basis of microsatellite analysis. In addition to the Swiss breeds wild-type Mouflon was included in this investigation. Polymerase chain reaction amplifications of 31 ovine, bovine and caprine microsatellites were performed in a total of 307 animals representing eight populations. The average heterozygosity within each population was high in the domestic breeds (0.60–0.71) and lower in Mouflon 0.45. The average coefficient of gene differentiation G[sub ST] over all loci was 0.17, i.e. a small part of the variability at the 31 microsatellite loci analysed must be ascribed to between-breed variability. Genetic distances between breeds were obtained, which were used to construct a phylogenetic tree. Microsatellites developed from closely related species of cattle and goat are useful for estimating genetic relationships among sheep breeds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Six previously unassigned genes have been assigned to the BTA13 by means of somatic cell hybrid analysis. Polymerase chain reaction primer design for the amplification of AHCY, PLTP, PPGB and PCK1 was based on nucleic acids sequence information of homologous genes on HSA20. Primers for PDYN and ASIP were designed from porcine and bovine sequence information, respectively. Homology was established by sequence analysis. These assignments support the previous finding of a conserved syntenic relationship between HSA20 and BTA13 and contribute to the understanding of the chromosomal evolution of BTA13. This is significant since the prion protein gene, thought to play a key rule in the development and course of bovine spongiforme encephalopathy is also located on BTA13. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies novel cosmid-derived canine microsatellites of dogs. Isolation of positive clones from the genomic cosmid library; Ligation of partially digested DNA; Denaturation of polyacrylamide gels using DNA sequencer models; Type of Mendelian inheritance observed in dog pedigrees.

Examines the occurrence of allelic variance in the bovine prion protein gene coding region. Role of the prion protein gene in transmissible spongiforme encephalopathies; Determination of the nucleotide sequence pattern in the third alele; Annealing of polymerase chain reaction primers to the template for sequencing.

Nineteen further polymorphic loci were typed on the DogMap reference panel. Five new linkage groups were identified. Additionally, five markers were added to earlier defined linkage groups. Three of the new linkage groups contain markers mapped earlier to specific dog chromosomes by physical mapping. These results make a further contribution to the canine genome map and provides more linkage groups physically assigned to known chromosomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present chromosomal fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) results that both extend the HSA20/BTA13 comparative map as well as cytogenetically anchor two microsatellite markers. A bovine bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) library was screened for conserved genes (type I loci) previously assigned to HSA10 or HSA20 and BTA13, and for microsatellites selected from two published BTA13 linkage maps. Clones from six out of nine comparative loci and both microsatellites were found represented in the BAC library. These BAC clones were used as probes in single colour FISH to determine the chromosome band position of each locus. As predicted by the human/bovine comparative map, all type I loci mapped to BTA13. Because single colour FISH analysis revealed that the loci were clustered within the distal half of BTA13, dual colour FISH was used to confirm the locus order. Established order was centromere-PRNP-(SODIL/AVP/OXT)-(BL42/GNAS1)-HCK-CSSM30 . The findings confirm the presence of a conserved HSA20 homologous synteny group on BTA13 distal of a HSA10 homologous segment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

RF Ablation-Induced Bezold-Jarisch Phenomenon. We report a case of asystole induced by radiofrequency (RF) ablation via the coronary sinus in a 35-year-old man suffering from symptomatic left posteroseptal accessory pathway. RF application provoked progressive slowing of the sinus rhythm, disappearance of the preexcitation, and an 8-second period of asystole followed by atrial fibrillation. The causal mechanism proposed is a strong stimulation of vagal afferent pathways linked with sensory endings of the inferoposterior myocardial wall leading to a Bezold-Jarisch-like phenomenon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary We have constructed a canine bacterial artificial chromosome library amenable to PCR screening. The library consists of 96 768 clones and was initially screened with 112 microsatellites representing all canine chromosomes. For 87 primer sets (77%) one to seven positive superpools were identified. The library will be expanded by adding additional superpools in order to increase the genome coverage. Interested researchers can access the library following the rules published at http://www.dogmap.ch. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents a corrected reprint to an article previously published in August 2000 issue of the 'Journal of Animal Breeding and Genetics' Volume 117.

Presents several abstracts on molecular genetics. 'Assignment of the Canine Microsatellite ZuBeCa1 to Canine Chromosome 10q22-q24,' by C. Schelling, G. Stranzinger, G. Dolf, J. Schläpfer and M. Switonski; 'Physical and Genetic Mapping of Bovine CEBPA and PPARG Genes,' by N. Ihara, H. Yamakuchi, T. Hirano, H. Takeda, Y. Taniguchi, et al.

Background The incidence and predictors of atrial fibrillation (AF) progression are currently not well defined, and clinical AF progression partly overlaps with rhythm control interventions (RCIs). Methods and Results We assessed AF type and intercurrent RCIs during yearly follow-ups in 2869 prospectively followed patients with paroxysmal or persistent AF. Clinical AF progression was defined as progression from paroxysmal to nonparoxysmal or from persistent to permanent AF. An RCI was defined as pulmonary vein isolation, electrical cardioversion, or new treatment with amiodarone. During a median follow-up of 3 years, the incidence of clinical AF progression was 5.2 per 100 patient-years, and 10.9 per 100 patient-years for any RCI. Significant predictors for AF progression were body mass index (hazard ratio [HR], 1.03; 95% CI, 1.01-1.05), heart rate (HR per 5 beats/min increase, 1.05; 95% CI, 1.02-1.08), age (HR per 5-year increase 1.19; 95% CI, 1.13-1.27), systolic blood pressure (HR per 5 mm Hg increase, 1.03; 95% CI, 1.00-1.05), history of hyperthyroidism (HR, 1.71; 95% CI, 1.16-2.52), stroke (HR, 1.50; 95% CI, 1.19-1.88), and heart failure (HR, 1.69; 95% CI, 1.34-2.13). Regular physical activity (HR, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.66-0.98) and previous pulmonary vein isolation (HR, 0.69; 95% CI, 0.53-0.90) showed an inverse association. Significant predictive factors for RCIs were physical activity (HR, 1.42; 95% CI, 1.20-1.68), AF-related symptoms (HR, 1.84; 95% CI, 1.47-2.30), age (HR per 5-year increase, 0.88; 95% CI, 0.85-0.92), and paroxysmal AF (HR, 0.61; 95% CI, 0.51-0.73). Conclusions Cardiovascular risk factors and comorbidities were key predictors of clinical AF progression. A healthy lifestyle may therefore reduce the risk of AF progression.

Background: We prospectively assessed sex-specific differences in health perception, overall symptom status, and specific symptoms in a large cohort of patients with atrial fibrillation., Methods and Results: We performed a prospective multicenter observational cohort study of 1553 patients with atrial fibrillation. Patients completed questionnaires about personal characteristics, comorbidities, and symptoms on a yearly basis. Mean age was 70±11 years among women and 67±12 years among men. Health perception on a visual analogue scale ranging from 0 to 100 (with higher scores indicating better health perception) was significantly lower in women than in men (70 [interquartile range: 50-80] versus 75 [interquartile range: 60-85]; P <0.0001). More women than men had any symptoms (85.0% versus 68.3%; P <0.0001), palpitations (65.2% versus 44.4%; P <0.0001), dizziness (25.6% versus 13.5%; P <0.0001), dyspnea (35.7% versus 21.8%; P <0.0001), and fatigue (25.3% versus 19.1%; P =0.006). At 1-year follow-up, symptoms decreased in both sexes but remained more frequent in women (49.1% versus 32.6%, P <0.0001). In multivariable adjusted longitudinal regression models, female sex remained an independent predictor for lower health perception (ß=-4.8; 95% CI, -6.5 to -3.1; P <0.0001), any symptoms (odds ratio [OR]: 2.6; 95% CI, 2.1-3.4; P <0.0001), palpitations (OR: 2.6; 95% CI, 2.1-3.2; P <0.0001), dizziness (OR: 2.9; 95% CI, 2.1-3.9; P <0.0001), dyspnea (OR: 2.1; 95% CI, 1.6-2.8; P <0.0001), fatigue (OR: 1.6; 95% CI, 1.2-2.2; P =0.0008), and chest pain (OR: 1.8; 95% CI, 1.3-2.6; P =0.001)., Conclusions: Women with atrial fibrillation have a substantially higher symptom burden and lower health perception than men. These relationships persisted after multivariable adjustment and during prospective follow-up., (© 2017 The Authors. Published on behalf of the American Heart Association, Inc., by Wiley.)

Background: An elevated early (E) to late (A) diastolic filling velocities ratio, typically seen in advanced diastolic dysfunction, has also been observed after cardioversion of atrial fibrillation as a consequence of the depressed left atrial (LA) contractility. We hypothesized that the impaired LA contractile function demonstrated after orthotopic cardiac transplantation (OCT) could also lead to this "pseudorestrictive" pattern., Method: E/A ratio related to the tissue Doppler early mitral annular velocity (Ea) as preload-independent index of LV relaxation was evaluated in all consecutive OCT patients between 2005 and 2007., Results: The study population comprised 48 patients 97 ± 77 months after OCT. Thirty-two patients (67%) had an E/A ratio > 2. LV systolic function and myocardial relaxation assessed by the Ea velocity were similar compared to patients with normal ratio (61 ± 6% vs. 60 ± 12%, P = 0.854 and 15 ± 4 cm/s vs. 14 ± 3 cm/s, r = 0.15, P = 0.323, respectively). On the other hand, the proportion of the recipient and donor LA cuffs as estimated by the recipient/global LA area ratio and the LA emptying fraction significantly correlated with the E/A ratio (r = 0.40, P = 0.005 and r =-0.33, P = 0.022, respectively)., Conclusion: Our study shows that there is a high prevalence of elevated E/A ratio after standard OCT which seems mainly related to reduced LA contractility. Recognition of this "pseudorestrictive" pattern may avoid misdiagnosis of diastolic dysfunction., (© 2011, Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)