title: Recent clinical and experimental advances in atrial fibrillation.
abstract: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia in clinical settings (Fuster et al., 2001), and it is often associated with congestive heart diseases (Issac et al., 2007). Many studies in both laboratory and clinical settings have sought to analyze the mechanisms of AF, develop treatments based on these mechanisms, and examine atrial remodeling in chronic AF. The aim of this paper is to analyze recent findings regarding the atrial remodeling that occurs in AF. In particular, we will describe the electrical and structural changes that involve atrial myocytes and the extracellular matrix. We will also describe the general classification and basic pathophysiology of AF and its surgical treatments.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-2 Yamada-oka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan.
authors.forename: Shigeru
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Miyagawa
authors.forename: Taichi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sakaguchi
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nishi
authors.forename: Yasushi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yoshikawa
authors.forename: Satsuki
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fukushima
authors.forename: Shunsuke
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saito
authors.forename: Yoshiki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sawa