Greater response to cardiac resynchronization therapy in patients with true complete left bundle branch block: a PREDICT substudy.

Aims: Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) benefits patients with heart failure and a wide QRS complex. Still, one-third derive no clinical benefit and a majority of patients demonstrate no objective improvement of left ventricular (LV) function. Left bundle branch block (LBBB) is a strong predictor of response to CRT.

Optical characterisation of silicon nanocrystals embedded in SiO2/Si3N4 hybrid matrix for third generation photovoltaics.

Silicon nanocrystals with an average size of approximately 4 nm dispersed in SiO2/Si3N4 hybrid matrix have been synthesised by magnetron sputtering followed by a high-temperature anneal. To gain understanding of the photon absorption and emission mechanisms of this material, several samples are characterised optically via spectroscopy and photoluminescence measurements. The values of optical band gap are extracted from interference-minimised absorption and luminescence spectra.

Uptake, efficacy, and systemic distribution of naked, inhaled short interfering RNA (siRNA) and locked nucleic acid (LNA) antisense.

Antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) and small interfering RNA (siRNA) promise specific correction of disease-causing gene expression. Therapeutic implementation, however, has been forestalled by poor delivery to the appropriate tissue, cell type, and subcellular compartment. Topical administration is considered to circumvent these issues.

Animal models to assess the toxicity, immunogenicity and effectiveness of candidate influenza vaccines.

Introduction: Every year, > 100 million doses of licensed influenza vaccine are administered worldwide, with relatively few serious adverse events reported. Initiatives to manufacture influenza vaccines on different platforms have come about to ensure timely production of strain-specific as well as universal vaccines. To prevent adverse events that may be associated with these new vaccines, it is important to evaluate the toxicity of new formulations in animal models.

2010 Canadian Cardiovascular Society/Canadian Heart Rhythm Society Training Standards and Maintenance of Competency in Adult Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology.

The last guidelines on training for adult cardiac electrophysiology (EP) were published by the Canadian Cardiovascular Society in 1996. Since then, substantial changes in the knowledge and practice of EP have mandated a review of the previous guidelines by the Canadian Heart Rhythm Society, an affiliate of the Canadian Cardiovascular Society. Novel tools and techniques also now allow electrophysiologists to map and ablate increasingly complex arrhythmias previously managed with pharmacologic or device therapy.

Rapid thermal annealing and crystallization mechanisms study of silicon nanocrystal in silicon carbide matrix.

In this paper, a positive effect of rapid thermal annealing (RTA) technique has been researched and compared with conventional furnace annealing for Si nanocrystalline in silicon carbide (SiC) matrix system. Amorphous Si-rich SiC layer has been deposited by co-sputtering in different Si concentrations (50 to approximately 80 v%). Si nanocrystals (Si-NC) containing different grain sizes have been fabricated within the SiC matrix under two different annealing conditions: furnace annealing and RTA both at 1,100°C.

Recommendations for the use of genetic testing in the clinical evaluation of inherited cardiac arrhythmias associated with sudden cardiac death: Canadian Cardiovascular Society/Canadian Heart Rhythm Society joint position paper.

The era of gene discovery and molecular medicine has had a significant impact on clinical practice. Knowledge of specific genetic findings causative for or associated with human disease may enhance diagnostic accuracy and influence treatment decisions. In cardiovascular disease, gene discovery for inherited arrhythmia syndromes has advanced most rapidly.

Posterior his bundle electrogram location in a patient with atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia and structurally normal heart.

Atrioventricular (AV) nodal reentrant tachycardia is the most common form of paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia in adults, and slow AV nodal pathway ablation has evolved into first-line therapy. Variations in conduction system anatomy are occasionally found at electrophysiological study and may make this ablation procedure very challenging. Here, we present the case of a 69-year-old man with a structurally normal heart and posterior displaced His bundle who underwent successful slow pathway ablation.

Arrhythmia characterization and long-term outcomes in catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia.

Background: Catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (CPVT) is characterized by adrenergically induced ventricular tachycardia (VT) associated with syncope and sudden death.

Objective: This study sought to characterize arrhythmias associated with CPVT with respect to provocation by exercise and drugs, electrocardiographic characteristics, and association with long-term outcomes; and to explore the relation between age and clinical presentation.

Methods: Seventy patients from 16 families were evaluated with exercise and selective adrenaline challenge, and screened for RyR2 mutations.

Pyrimido[4,5-d]azepines as potent and selective 5-HT2C receptor agonists: design, synthesis, and evaluation of PF-3246799 as a treatment for urinary incontinence.

New pyrimido[4,5-d]azepines 7 are disclosed as potent 5-HT(2C) receptor agonists. A preferred example, 7b had minimal activation at either the 5-HT(2A) or 5-HT(2B) receptors combined with robust efficacy in a preclinical canine model of stress urinary incontinence (SUI) and attractive pharmacokinetic and safety properties. Based on this profile, 7b (PF-3246799) was identified as a candidate for clinical development for the treatment of SUI.

Impacts of Post-metallisation Processes on the Electrical and Photovoltaic Properties of Si Quantum Dot Solar Cells.

As an important step towards the realisation of silicon-based tandem solar cells using silicon quantum dots embedded in a silicon dioxide (SiO(2)) matrix, single-junction silicon quantum dot (Si QD) solar cells on quartz substrates have been fabricated. The total thickness of the solar cell material is 420 nm. The cells contain 4 nm diameter Si quantum dots.

Psychological adjustment in ICD patients living with advisory fidelis leads.

Unlabelled: Psychological Adjustment and Fidelis ICD Leads. 

Introduction: Implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICD) advisory notices present treatment dilemmas for physicians and patients. On one side, the risk of device malfunction and the likely severity of clinical sequelae have to be estimated.

Characterization of a novel mutation in the cardiac ryanodine receptor that results in catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia.

Catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (CPVT) is an arrhythmogenic disease that manifests as syncope or sudden death during high adrenergic tone in the absence of structural heart defects. It is primarily caused by mutations in the cardiac ryanodine receptor (RyR2). The mechanism by which these mutations cause arrhythmia remains controversial, with discrepant findings related to the role of the RyR2 binding protein FKBP12.

Ventricular tachycardia following tube thoracotomy.

Arrhythmias provoked by tube thoracotomy are a rare complication. We report a ventricular tachycardia after chest tube insertion for a device-related pneumothorax. Sinus rhythm was restored only by removal of the chest tube and insertion of a pliable pleural drain.

Association of the Ottawa Aggressive Protocol with rapid discharge of emergency department patients with recent-onset atrial fibrillation or flutter.

Objective: There is no consensus on the optimal management of recent-onset episodes of atrial fibrillation or flutter. The approach to these conditions is particularly relevant in the current era of emergency department (ED) overcrowding. We sought to examine the effectiveness and safety of the Ottawa Aggressive Protocol to perform rapid cardioversion and discharge patients with these arrhythmias.

Antiarrhythmic use from 1991 to 2007: insights from the Canadian Registry of Atrial Fibrillation (CARAF I and II).

Background: The pharmacologic management of atrial fibrillation (AF), the most common sustained cardiac arrhythmia, has been traditionally dichotomized into control of ventricular rate or re-establishment and maintenance of sinus rhythm.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the use of rate-controlling drugs and antiarrhythmic drugs (AAD) in the Canadian Registry of Atrial Fibrillation (CARAF) over a 16-year period from 1991 through 2007.

Methods: 1,400 patients with new-onset paroxysmal AF who were enrolled in CARAF were included in this analysis.

In-hospital mortality in 13,263 survivors of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in Canada.

Background: There is a substantial mortality rate in patients admitted alive after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. The primary objective of our study was to examine trends in in-hospital survival in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest survivors in Canada between 1994 and 2004. The secondary objective was to examine predictors of in-hospital survival in these patients.

Why some women look young for their age.

The desire of many to look young for their age has led to the establishment of a large cosmetics industry. However, the features of appearance that primarily determine how old women look for their age and whether genetic or environmental factors predominately influence such features are largely unknown. We studied the facial appearance of 102 pairs of female Danish twins aged 59 to 81 as well as 162 British females aged 45 to 75.

Predictors of fracture risk of a small caliber implantable cardioverter defibrillator lead.

Introduction: The Sprint Fidelis 6949 implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD; Medtronic Inc., Minneapolis, MN, USA) lead has a high rate of fracture. Identification of predictors of subsequent fracture is useful in decision making about lead replacement and for future lead design.

RCN clinical leadership programme in action.

The 203 (Welsh) Field Hospital (Volunteers) unit provides field hospital support in Afghanistan. On a recent deployment there, some of the 203 unit's members, while continuing their studies, undertook the RCN clinical leadership programme. This article describes how one aspect of this programme, the taking down of patient stories, has helped patients express their needs and how nurses can refer to these stories when improving care.

Management interventions in dairy herds: exploring within herd uncertainty using an integrated Bayesian model.

Knowledge of the efficacy of an intervention for disease control on an individual farm is essential to make good decisions on preventive healthcare, but the uncertainty in outcome associated with undertaking a specific control strategy has rarely been considered in veterinary medicine. The purpose of this research was to explore the uncertainty in change in disease incidence and financial benefit that could occur on different farms, when two effective farm management interventions are undertaken. Bovine mastitis was used as an example disease and the research was conducted using data from an intervention study as prior information within an integrated Bayesian simulation model.

Ultrafast transient grating spectroscopy in silicon quantum dots.

Transient grating spectroscopy detects directly the relaxation of the excited carriers rather than time-resolved photoluminescence and thus it is particularly desired for the indirect semiconductors such as silicon quantum dots. We investigate ultrafast carrier dynamics in silicon quantum dots embedded in silicon oxide matrix using femtosecond transient grating spectroscopy. Two ultrafast decay components are observed with decay time of 800 fs and 4 ps at various detection wavelengths, which are attributed to the transverse optical and transverse acoustic phonon assisted relaxation.