Joint British Societies' position statement on cardiology training in the United Kingdom.

Cardiology training in the UK is facing significant challenges due to a range of factors. Recent curriculum changes have further compounded this issue and significantly risk the ability to produce adequately trained consultants capable of managing patients with increasingly complex cardiovascular disease. The introduction of mandatory dual accreditation in general internal medicine (GIM) alongside cardiology, by design, results in significantly reduced training opportunities, including procedural and subspecialty exposure.

Spectroscopic and Thermal Characterisation of Interpenetrating Hydrogel Networks (IHNs) Based on Polymethacrylates and Pluronics, and Their Physicochemical Stability under Aqueous Conditions.

This study describes the physicochemical characterisation of interpenetrating hydrogel networks (IHNs) composed of either poly(hydroxyethylmethacrylate, p(HEMA)) or poly(methacrylic acid, p(MAA)), and Pluronic block copolymers (grades F127, P123 and L121). IHNs were prepared by mixing the acrylate monomer with Pluronic block copolymers followed by free radical polymerisation. p(HEMA)-Pluronic blends were immiscible, evident from a lack of interaction between the two components (Raman spectroscopy) and the presence of the glass transitions (differential scanning calorimetry, DSC) of the two components.

Isothiourea-Catalysed Acylative Kinetic Resolution of Tertiary Pyrazolone Alcohols.

The development of methods for the selective acylative kinetic resolution (KR) of tertiary alcohols is a recognised synthetic challenge with relatively few successful substrate classes reported to date. In this manuscript, a highly enantioselective isothiourea-catalysed acylative KR of tertiary pyrazolone alcohols is reported. The scope and limitations of this methodology have been developed, with high selectivity observed across a broad range of substrate derivatives incorporating varying substitution at N(2)-, C(4)- and C(5)-, as well as bicyclic constraints within the pyrazolone scaffold (30 examples, selectivity factors (s) typically >100) at generally low catalyst loadings (1 mol %).

Navigating the research landscape in cardiology. Part 1: research - career necessity or bonus?

Undertaking a period of research in cardiology is considered a vital part of training. This has many advantages including enhancing skills that better equip the clinician for patient care. However, in modern cardiology training, the feasibility and necessity of undertaking a period of formal research during training should be considered on an individual basis.

A cloud-based medical device for predicting cardiac risk in suspected coronary artery disease: a rapid review and conceptual economic model.

Background: The CaRi-Heart® device estimates risk of 8-year cardiac death, using a prognostic model, which includes perivascular fat attenuation index, atherosclerotic plaque burden and clinical risk factors.

Objectives: To provide an Early Value Assessment of the potential of CaRi-Heart Risk to be an effective and cost-effective adjunctive investigation for assessment of cardiac risk, in people with stable chest pain/suspected coronary artery disease, undergoing computed tomography coronary angiography. This assessment includes conceptual modelling which explores the structure and evidence about parameters required for model development, but not development of a full executable cost-effectiveness model.

Glucose influences endometrial receptivity to embryo implantation through O-GlcNAcylation-mediated regulation of the cytoskeleton.

Phenotypic changes to endometrial epithelial cells underpin receptivity to embryo implantation at the onset of pregnancy but the effect of hyperglycemia on these processes remains poorly understood. Here, we show that physiological levels of glucose (5 mM) abolished receptivity in the endometrial epithelial cell line, Ishikawa. However, embryo attachment was supported by 17 mM glucose as a result of glucose flux through the hexosamine biosynthetic pathway (HBP) and modulation of cell function via protein O-GlcNAcylation.

Pre- and post-procedural cardiac imaging (computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging) in electrophysiology: a clinical consensus statement of the European Heart Rhythm Association and European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging of the European Society of Cardiology.

Imaging using cardiac computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance (MR) imaging has become an important option for anatomic and substrate delineation in complex atrial fibrillation (AF) and ventricular tachycardia (VT) ablation procedures. Computed tomography more common than MR has been used to detect procedure-associated complications such as oesophageal, cerebral, and vascular injury. This clinical consensus statement summarizes the current knowledge of CT and MR to facilitate electrophysiological procedures, the current value of real-time integration of imaging-derived anatomy, and substrate information during the procedure and the current role of CT and MR in diagnosing relevant procedure-related complications.

KardiaMobile 6L for measuring QT interval in people having antipsychotic medication to inform early value assessment: a systematic review.

Background: The indication for this assessment is the use of the KardiaMobile six-lead electrocardiogram device for the assessment of QT interval-based cardiac risk in service users prior to the initiation of, or for the monitoring of, antipsychotic medications, which are associated with an established risk of QT interval prolongation.

Objectives: To provide an early value assessment of whether KardiaMobile six-lead has the potential to provide an effective and safe alternative to 12-lead electrocardiogram for initial assessment and monitoring of QT interval-based cardiac risk in people taking antipsychotic medications.

Review Methods: Twenty-seven databases were searched to April/May 2022.

Software with artificial intelligence-derived algorithms for analysing CT brain scans in people with a suspected acute stroke: a systematic review and cost-effectiveness analysis.

Background: Artificial intelligence-derived software technologies have been developed that are intended to facilitate the review of computed tomography brain scans in patients with suspected stroke.

Objectives: To evaluate the clinical and cost-effectiveness of using artificial intelligence-derived software to support review of computed tomography brain scans in acute stroke in the National Health Service setting.

Methods: Twenty-five databases were searched to July 2021.

Machine learning reveals singing rhythms of male Pacific field crickets are clock controlled.

Circadian rhythms are ubiquitous in nature and endogenous circadian clocks drive the daily expression of many fitness-related behaviors. However, little is known about whether such traits are targets of selection imposed by natural enemies. In Hawaiian populations of the nocturnally active Pacific field cricket (, males sing to attract mates, yet sexually selected singing rhythms are also subject to natural selection from the acoustically orienting and deadly parasitoid fly, .

Consistent traffic noise impacts few fitness-related traits in a field cricket.

Background: Anthropogenic habitat change is occurring rapidly, and organisms can respond through within-generation responses that improve the match between their phenotype and the novel conditions they encounter. But, plastic responses can be adaptive or maladaptive and are most likely to be adaptive only when contemporary conditions reasonably mimic something experienced historically to which a response has already evolved. Noise pollution is a ubiquitous anthropogenic stressor that accompanies expanding urbanization.

Better Lucky Than Clever.

With an ever-expanding field of advanced cardiac imaging, clinicians tend to underestimate the importance of a detailed clinical history in reaching the correct diagnosis. This case illustrates 1 such example. ().

The year 2022 in the European Heart Journal-Cardiovascular Imaging: Part I.

The European Heart Journal-Cardiovascular Imaging with its over 10 years existence is an established leading multi-modality cardiovascular imaging journal. Pertinent publications including original research, how-to papers, reviews, consensus documents, and in our journal from 2022 have been highlighted in two reports. Part I focuses on cardiomyopathies, heart failure, valvular heart disease, and congenital heart disease and related emerging techniques and technologies.

Backbone Conformational Equilibrium in Mismatched DNA Correlates with Enzyme Activity.

T:G mismatches in mammals arise primarily from the deamination of methylated CpG sites or the incorporation of improper nucleotides. The process by which repair enzymes such as thymine DNA glycosylase (TDG) identify a canonical DNA base in the incorrect pairing context remains a mystery. However, the abundant contacts of the repair enzymes with the DNA backbone suggest a role for protein-phosphate interaction in the recognition and repair processes, where conformational properties may facilitate the proper interactions.

Improving the biological interfacing capability of diketopyrrolopyrrole polymers p-type doping.

Polydiketopyrrolopyrrole terthiophene (DPP3T) is an organic semiconducting polymer that has been widely investigated as the active layer within organic electronic devices, such as photovoltaics and bioelectronic sensors. To facilitate interfacing between biological systems and organic semiconductors it is crucial to tune the material properties to support not only cell adhesion, but also proliferation and growth. Herein, we highlight the potential of molecular doping to judiciously modulate the surface properties of DPP3T and investigate the effects on Schwann cell behaviour on the surface.

Innovative approach to medical leadership and management development: clinician secondment to a management consulting firm.

Background And Aim: Opportunities to participate in leadership and management with protected time can be limited for clinical trainees. The aim of this fellowship was to gain experience of gold standard healthcare management by becoming part of multidisciplinary teams working to deliver transformational change in the National Health Service (NHS).

Methods: A 6-month pilot fellowship, structured as an Out of Programme Experience was created for two registrars to be seconded to the healthcare division of Deloitte, a leading professional services firm.

The Parasite Reduction Ratio (PRR) Assay Version 2: Standardized Assessment of Viability after Antimalarial Treatment In Vitro.

With artemisinin-resistant parasites emerging in Africa, the need for new antimalarial chemotypes is persistently high. The ideal pharmacodynamic parameters of a candidate drug are a rapid onset of action and a fast rate of parasite killing or clearance. To determine these parameters, it is essential to discriminate viable from nonviable parasites, which is complicated by the fact that viable parasites can be metabolically inactive, whilst dying parasites can still be metabolically active and morphologically unaffected.

Plasma S1P and Sphingosine are not Different Prior to Pre-Eclampsia in Women at High Risk of Developing the Disease.

Sphingolipids like sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) have been implicated in the pathophysiology of pre-eclampsia. We hypothesized that plasma S1P would be increased in women at high risk of developing pre-eclampsia who subsequently develop the disease. Low circulating placental growth factor (PlGF) is known to be associated with development of pre-eclampsia; so further, we hypothesized that increased S1P would be associated with concurrently low PlGF.