Physiological pacing: just a lot of buzz or the next paradigm shift in bradycardia pacing?

Cardiac pacing has been an established therapy for bradyarrhythmia due to sinus or atrioventricular nodal disease since the 1950s. However, contemporary studies have shown that conventional right ventricular pacing (RVP) causes electromechanical dyssynchrony, which can lead to atrial fibrillation, heart failure and even death. Recently, the push for a more physiological cardiac pacing has seen a revival in the utilisation and development of conduction system pacing (CSP).

Predicting Atrial Fibrillation after Ischemic Stroke: Clinical, Genetics, and Electrocardiogram Modelling.

Introduction: Detection of atrial fibrillation (AF) is challenging in patients after ischaemic stroke due to its paroxysmal nature. We aimed to determine the utility of a combined clinical, electrocardiographic, and genetic variable model to predict AF in a post-stroke population.

Materials And Methods: We performed a cohort study at a single comprehensive stroke centre from November 09, 2009, to October 31, 2017.

Rhythm blues in the time of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19): how the cardiac electrophysiologist adapts to a viral pandemic in Singapore.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a major healthcare disaster in the modern times. Healthcare services must adapt to effectively juggle between pandemic management and maintenance of business-as-usual services so that both COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 patients receive appropriate clinical care. We share our experience of significant cardiac rhythm abnormalities seen in COVID-19 patients in Singapore, how the viral pandemic has affected the cardiac electrophysiology and pacing service in a large acute care general hospital and the steps taken to alleviate the negative impact.

Biodegradable Self-Assembled Micelles Based on MPEG-PTMC Copolymers: An Ideal Drug Delivery System for Vincristine.

Despite advantageous properties, micelles using methoxy poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(trimethylene carbonate) (MPEGPTMC) have not been widely studied. In this work, we aim to develop a novel vehicle for vincristine (VCR) based on a MPEG-PTMC micelle system. MPEG-PTMC with a series of molecular weights were synthesized and screened for the appropriate range for forming stable VCR micelles.

Toxicity Evaluation and Anti-Tumor Study of Docetaxel Loaded mPEG-Polyester Micelles for Breast Cancer Therapy.

In this work, docetaxel (DTX) was encapsulated in monomethoxy poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(ε-caprolactone) (mPEG-PCL) micelles and monomethoxy poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(D, L-lactic acid) (mPEG-PLA) micelles, respectively. For the further application, the acute/genetic toxicity evaluation and pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic study of the two kinds of micellar nanomedicines were performed. In the study of anticancer activity in vitro and in vivo, DTX micelles showed better tumorgrowth inhibition than free DTX.

Targeting Therapy of Neuropilin-1 Receptors Overexpressed Breast Cancer by Paclitaxel-Loaded CK3-Conjugated Polymeric Micelles.

Chemotherapy for breast cancer is significantly restricted by the tumor's physio-pathological complexity. Here we have constructed a targeted nano-system based on PEGylated poly (D, L-lactide) (PEG-PDLLA) using a novel ligand, CLKADKAKC (CK3) peptide, for active targeting to Neuropilin-1-rich breast cancer cells. CK3 increased the cellular uptake of micelles 4.

A simple method to improve the stability of docetaxel micelles.

Self-assembled polymeric micelles have been widely applied in drug delivery systems. In this study, we found that pH value of micellar system solution was the decisive factor of physical stability. Furthermore, the weak basic solution could maintain the solution clarification for a relative long time.

Mild photothermal therapy/photodynamic therapy/chemotherapy of breast cancer by Lyp-1 modified Docetaxel/IR820 Co-loaded micelles.

Patients suffering from cancer have benefited from combination therapy. Nanocarriers are the ideal candidates for combination therapy. In this study, we constructed docetaxel (DTX) loaded micellar nanomedicines co-loaded with near infrared (NIR) dye-IR820 for photothermal therapy (PTT)/photodynamic therapy (PDT)/chemotherapy of breast cancer.

An efficient injectable formulation with block copolymer micelles for hydrophobic antitumor candidate-pyridazinone derivatives.

Aim: To make delivery improvements via delivery systems for 6-(4-morpholino-3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)pyridazin-3(2H)-one (DZO) - a model compound of hydrophobic antitumor candidate pyridazinone derivatives.

Materials & Methods: Methoxy poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(D,L-lactide) (MPEG-PDLLA) micelle was employed as a vector, and DZO was encapsulated in. The DZO-loaded micelles were characterized in detail and its cytotoxicity, maximum tolerated dose (MTD) and pharmacokinetic experiments were done.

PEG-PCL based micelle hydrogels as oral docetaxel delivery systems for breast cancer therapy.

In this study, a composite drug delivery system was developed and evaluated for oral delivery of docetaxel: docetaxel-loaded micelles in pH-responsive hydrogel (DTX-micelle-hydrogel). Docetaxel was successfully loaded in micelles with small particle size of 20 nm and high drug loading of 7.76%, which contributed to the drug absorption in the intestinal tract.

The use of cationic MPEG-PCL-g-PEI micelles for co-delivery of Msurvivin T34A gene and doxorubicin.

In our previous study, a series of triblock copolymers based on MPEG-PCL-g-PEI were successfully synthesized, and the physicochemical properties of their self-assembled micelles were also investigated. Here, a further evaluation of these micelles was carried out, including in vitro drug release behavior, body distribution as well as blood compatibility. The developed MPEG-PCL-g-PEI micelles was labeled with (99)Tc for tracing the body distribution of micelles after i.

Modification of charge transport in triphenyldiamine films induced by acid oxidized single-walled carbon nanotube interlayers.

We report the modification of the transport, optical and electrical properties of 200 nm thick N,N'-diphenyl-N,N'-bis(3-methylphenyl)-1,1'biphenyl-4,4'diamine (TPD) films on indium-tin oxide (ITO) when a low density of acid oxidized single-walled carbon nanotubes (o-SWCNTs) are present at the ITO/TPD interface. Most significantly, current-voltage measurements show strong evidence for a change from contact to bulk limited transport. We postulate that these observations result from a change in the structure of the TPD film seeded by the presence of o-SWCNTs at the ITO surface.