M. Tremblay

Role of the Compact Node and Its Posterior Extension in Normal Atrioventricular Nodal Conduction, Refractory, and Dual Pathway Properties

AV Nodal Conduction and Dual Pathways. Introduction: The functional origin of AV nodal conduction, refractory, and dual pathway properties remains debated. The hypothesis that normal conduction and refractory properties of the compact node and its posterior nodal extension (PNE) play a critical role in the slow and the fast pathway, respectively, is tested with ablation lesions targeting these structures.

Properties and Substrate of Slow Pathway Exposed with a Compact Node Targeted Fast Pathway Ablation in Rabbit Atrioventricular Node

Selective Slow Nodal Pathway Model. Introduction: The properties and substrates of slow and fast AV nodal pathway remain unclear. This applies particularly to the slow pathway (SP), which is largely concealed by fast pathway (FP) conduction. We designed a new FP ablation approach that exposes the SP over the entire cycle length range and allows for its independent characterization and ablation.

Coxofemoral joint kinematics using video fluoroscopic images of treadmill-walking cats: development of a technique to assess osteoarthritis-associated disability

The objectives of this pilot study were to develop a video fluoroscopy kinematics method for the assessment of the coxofemoral joint in cats with and without osteoarthritis (OA)-associated disability. Two non-OA cats and four cats affected by coxofemoral OA were evaluated by video fluoroscopy. Video fluoroscopic images of the coxofemoral joints were captured at 120 frames/s using a customized C-arm X-ray system while cats walked freely on a treadmill at 0.4 m/s. The angle patterns over time of the coxofemoral joints were extracted using a graphic user interface following four steps: (i) correction for image distortion; (ii) image denoising and contrast enhancement; (iii) frame-to-frame anatomical marker identification; and (iv) statistical gait analysis. Reliability analysis was performed. The cats with OA presented greater intra-subject stride and gait cycle variability. Three cats with OA presented a left–right asymmetry in the range of movement of the coxofemoral joint angle in the sagittal plane (two with no overlap of the 95% confidence interval, and one with only a slight overlap) consistent with their painful OA joint, and a longer gait cycle duration. Reliability analysis revealed an absolute variation in the coxofemoral joint angle of 2º–6º, indicating that the two-dimensional video fluoroscopy technique provided reliable data. Improvement of this method is recommended: variability would likely be reduced if a larger field of view could be recorded, allowing the identification and tracking of each femoral axis, rather than the trochanter landmarks. The range of movement of the coxofemoral joint has the potential to be an objective marker of OA-associated disability.

A versatile PC-based stimulator for experimental cardiac investigations

A versatile PC-based stimulator has been developed for experimental cardiac electrophysiological investigations. The stimulator is based upon generator units which can be activated in any desired sequence. Each unit includes a trigger controlling the synchronisation conditions, a core determining the pulse characteristics and a sequencer controlling the interconnections between generators. The stimulator allows uninterrupted control over the pulse sequence during the entire experimental time, regardless of the number and nature of protocols. Pulse sequences are automatically generated but are continuously accessible for immediate on-line dynamic adjustments. The stimulator can also operate in a beat to beat sensing and pacing mode. The stimulator generates a broad range of protocols without software modification.