Whole-cell calcium current (ICa) and inwardly rectifying potassium current (IK1) were studied in 21-day fetal, 28-day fetal (total gestation, 31 days), 2-5-day neonatal, and adult rabbit ventricular myocytes isolated by enzymatic dissociation. Whole-cell peak ICa and IK1 at -100 mV increased significantly after birth. Cell size approximated from cell membrane capacitance also increased with age, with the most significant increase occurring after birth. When normalized to cell surface area, peak ICa density increased from day 21 of gestation to the neonate and then increased again from neonate to adult. In all age groups, peak ICa occurred at a test potential of +10 mV, and the shape of the Ca2+ current-voltage relation did not change with age. These findings suggest that there are no significant developmental changes in the voltage dependence of ICa. Therefore, the measured age-related increase in Ca2+ current density may result from increased channel expression. IK1 also exhibited a pattern of increasing current density with age. For IK1, the increase in current density was most rapid between day 21 and the perinatal period and much slower after birth. These results demonstrate that ICa and IK1 undergo significant changes during late fetal and postnatal development.

We describe the case of a 62-year-old female presenting with new onset progressive dyspnea on exertion and a new diagnosis of aortic stenosis. Transesophageal echocardiography showed fusion of the aortic valve leaflets suspicious for bicuspid aortic valve with dilated ascending aorta. Surgical replacement of the valve revealed a unicuspid aortic valve with one true commissure at the level of the left and noncoronary cusps. The case is supported by clinical, echocardiographic and angiographic imaging and discussion of current imaging modalities used in diagnosis of aortic valve pathology.

Invariant *-quantization means quantization with the introduction of invariant *-products on C∞ functions on phase space. A systematic method of constructing invariant *-products for dynamical Lie groups is presented. It involves the notions of invariant Wigner correspondence and *-representation. As an illustration, all possible invariant *-products, in an integral form, are constructed for the affine group of the real line. The Moyal product is recovered as a special case.

Giant cell myocarditis (GCM), a rapidly progressive inflammation of the myocardium, is associated with fulminant heart failure, refractory ventricular arrhythmias, and conduction system abnormalities. Few case reports have noted orbital myositis as the initial clinical presentation. Our case demonstrates a unique presentation of GCM with only ocular symptoms, which unlike prior studies, rapidly progressed to heart failure, tachyarrhythmias, and conduction disease. Our case necessitated quick recognition and treatment with mechanical support making this the first known case of GCM with successful placement of biventricular assist devices and ultimately with heart transplantation.

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