From barriers to opportunities from COVID-19 pandemic: Stakeholder perspectives on cervical cancer screening programs in LMICs of the Asia-Pacific region.

Cervical cancer is preventable, yet it remains the fourth most common cancer in women globally. The highest incidence and mortality occur in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where over 70% of women have never been screened, and 58% of the cases are in Asia. While the COVID-19 pandemic caused significant disruptions to cervical screening programs, particularly for LMICs, there were opportunities that emerged from the pandemic that were enablers of program recovery.

Prognostic benefits of His-Purkinje capture in physiological pacemakers for bradycardia.

Introduction: Clinical outcomes of long-term ventricular septal pacing (VSP) without His-Purkinje capture remain unknown. This study evaluated the differences in clinical outcomes between conduction system pacing (CSP), VSP, and right ventricular pacing (RVP).

Methods: Consecutive patients with bradycardia indicated for pacing from 2016 to 2022 were prospectively followed for the clinical endpoints of heart failure (HF)-hospitalizations and all-cause mortality at 2 years.

Chiral anomaly and Weyl orbit in three-dimensional Dirac semimetal CdAsgrown on Si.

Preparing CdAs, which is a three-dimensional (3D) Dirac semimetal in certain crystal orientation, on Si is highly desirable as such a sample may well be fully compatible with existing Si CMOS technology. However, there is a dearth of such a study regarding CdAsfilms grown on Si showing the chiral anomaly. Here,, we report the novel preparation and fabrication technique of a CdAs(112) film on a Si (111) substrate with a ZnTe (111) buffer layer which explicitly shows the chiral anomaly with a nontrivial Berry's phase of.

Comparison of Pacing Performance and Clinical Outcomes Between Left Bundle Branch and His Bundle Pacing.

Background: Left bundle branch (LBBP) and His-bundle pacing (HBP) provide physiological ventricular activation.

Objectives: This study investigated differences in feasibility, device performance, and clinical outcomes between LBBP and HBP.

Methods: Consecutive patients with LBBP and HBP from 2018 to 2021 in 2 centers were prospectively studied.

The recovery strategies to support cervical cancer elimination in lower-and middle-income countries (LMICs) following COVID-19 disruptions.

The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the existing challenges to achieving the WHO target of eliminating cervical cancer as a public health problem by working towards the target of fewer than four cases per 100 000 women. We reviewed the literature to identify potential recovery strategies to support cervical cancer prevention programs in lower-and middle-income countries (LMICs) following COVID-19 disruptions and the extent to which strategies have been implemented. Utilising the WHO health systems framework, we mapped these recovery strategies against the six building blocks to examine their reach across the health system.

Clinical Outcomes in Conduction System Pacing Compared to Right Ventricular Pacing in Bradycardia.

Background: Conduction system pacing (CSP) provides more physiological ventricular activation than right ventricular pacing (RVP).

Objectives: This study evaluated the differences in clinical outcomes in patients receiving CSP and RVP.

Methods: Consecutive patients with pacemakers implanted for bradycardia from 2016 to 2021 in 2 centers were prospectively followed for the primary composite outcome of heart failure (HF) hospitalizations, upgrade to biventricular pacing, or all-cause mortality, stratified by ventricular pacing burden (Vp) .

Use of extendable helix leads for conduction system pacing: Differences in lead handling and performance lead design impacts conduction system pacing.

Introduction: Pacing leads with extendable-retractable helix (EHL) are alternatives to fixed-helix leads (FHL) for conduction system pacing (CSP), but data on handling characteristics are limited. This study evaluated a dual-center experience of lead handling and performance during CSP.

Methods And Results: Consecutive patients with His-bundle pacing (HBP) or left bundle branch pacing (LBBP) were evaluated for the primary outcome of lead failure, defined as structural damage to the lead necessitating lead replacement.

A First Reported Adjustable Breast Volume Simulator for Teaching Oncoplastic Surgery Marking: Adjustable Breast Oncoplastic Surgery Simulator.

Background: The current simulators for teaching oncoplastic surgery marking are available in a fixed size for each model. This is not an accurate reflection of the variety of patient's breast volumes in reality and may limit the teaching to certain techniques associated with the particular breast ptosis/size.

Device Description: This is the first reported simulator with varying breast volumes/ptosis in a single model for teaching oncoplastic surgery marking, known as Adjustable Breast Oncoplastic Surgery Simulator (ABOSS).

Machine Learning-Guided Prediction of Central Anterior Chamber Depth Using Slit Lamp Images from a Portable Smartphone Device.

There is currently no objective portable screening modality for narrow angles in the community. In this prospective, single-centre image validation study, we used machine learning on slit lamp images taken with a portable smartphone device (MIDAS) to predict the central anterior chamber depth (ACD) of phakic patients with undilated pupils. Patients 60 years or older with no history of laser or intraocular surgery were recruited.

A sustainable model for raising colposcopy expertise in low-to-middle-income countries.

Objective: The objective of the study was to assess the effectiveness of training low-to-middle-income countries' local healthcare providers using the Train-the-trainers model in basic colposcopy for cervical cancer prevention.

Method: This project was designed based on a philosophy known as Train-the-trainers which train proficient colposcopists and a cadre of local trainers who can continue to train and maintain their expertise in a self-sustaining system. The Train-the-trainers workshop is a 1-day program that focuses on three domains; knowledge, communication, and practical skills.

The Effects of a Functional Three-dimensional (3D) Printed Knee Joint Simulator in Improving Anatomical Spatial Knowledge.

In recent decades, three-dimensional (3D) printing as an emerging technology, has been utilized for imparting human anatomy knowledge. However, most 3D printed models are rigid anatomical replicas that are unable to represent dynamic spatial relationships between different anatomical structures. In this study, the data obtained from a computed tomography (CT) scan of a normal knee joint were used to design and fabricate a functional knee joint simulator for anatomical education.

Virtual breast oncoplastic surgery simulator (VBOSS): A novel training tool in breast surgery.

Virtual simulators have been employed for the teaching of breast surgery. However, there remains no virtual simulator for the training of oncoplastic breast conserving surgery. This is the first known report of virtual simulator for oncoplastic breast conserving surgery training, to the best of our knowledge.

Comparison between fixed-dose, intracoronary bolus-only versus standard weight-adjusted dose, intravenous bolus and infusion administration of abciximab in patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention.

We studied the safety and effectiveness of fixed-dose, intracoronary bolus-only abciximab in 195 patients who underwent primary percutaneous coronary intervention for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction. The patients were divided into 2 groups: Group A (n=120, 61.5%) received fixed-dose, intracoronary bolus-only, abciximab 10 mg; and Group B (n=75, 38.