All concepts, explanations, trials, and studies have been
re-written in plain English and may contain errors. I am
not a doctor
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The Cardiac Action Potential

The function of the cardiac action potential is to let heart
muscle cells talk to each other. When a cell depolarizes, it
stimulates neighboring cells. Electrical current through
the membranes of these cells and the space around the
cells completes the local current circuit (conduction).

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June, 2004 - It is widely assumed that one of the problems
CHFers have is improper calcium handling in the heart, 
weakening the heart's pumping ability. Correcting this
calcium handling problem could increase the heart's
pumping strength, thus helping CHFers.
	CCM or cardiac contractility modulation using
non-excitatory electrical currents delivered during the action
potential plateau has been shown to improve heart function
in CHFers.
	Our first efforts in human CHFers show CCM
therapy to be safe and possible. We do not see CCM causing
any arrhythmias. Our data shows CCM gradually improving
heart output, symptoms and heart class.
	Controlled randomized trials are now needed.

Title:      Cardiac contractility modulation by non-excitatory
              electrical currents. The new frontier for electrical
              therapy of heart failure.
Authors: Augello G, Santinelli V, Vicedomini G, Mazzone P,
              Gulletta S, Maggi F, Mika Y, Chierchia G, Pappone C.
Source:   Ital Heart J. 2004 Jun;5 Suppl 6:68S-75S.
PMID:   15185918.