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A 67‐year‐old male presented with symptomatic bradycardia caused by atrial fibrillation and underwent His bundle pacing (HBP) and left bundle branch pacing (LBBP). Electrocardiography (ECG) revealed a complete right bundle branch block (RBBB). John Jiang's connecting cable was used during the transventricular septal process. An interesting dynamic retrograde His bundle potential (RHP) was recorded with uninterrupted lead screws. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Saponins are an important class of surface-active substances. When formulated as an active ingredient or co-used with other drugs, the effect of their surface activity on efficacy or safety must be considered. In this paper, diammonium glycyrrhizinate (DG), a clinical hepatoprotective drug that has long been used as a biosurfactant, was taken as the research object to study its combined hepatoprotective effect with baicalin (BAI). Animal experiments proved that the preparation of DG and BAI integrated into micelles (BAI-DG Ms) had a better protective effect on acute liver injury caused by carbon tetrachloride than the direct combined use of the two. From the perspective of biopharmaceutics, the synergistic mechanism of BAI-DG Ms was further explored. The results showed that after forming BAI-DG Ms with DG, the solubility of BAI increased by 4.75 to 6.25 times, and the cumulative percentage release in the gastrointestinal tract also increased by 2.42 times. In addition, the negatively charged BAI-DG Ms were more likely to penetrate the mucus layer and be absorbed by endocytosis. These findings provide support for the rational application of glycyrrhizin, and other saponins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We reported a 65‐year‐old man with symptomatic bradycardia caused by chronic atrial fibrillation who underwent pacemaker implantation by left bundle branch pacing (LBBP) via right subclavian vein (RSV) approach. A tricuspid valve annulus (TVA) angiography was performed, and a different connecting cable that can monitor electrocardiograms (ECG) and intracardiac electrograms (EGM) in real time was used during the process. By TVA angiography, we could easily find the ideal location of LBBP; a new connecting cable helped us avoid perforation and guide effective endpoint without the need to stop pacing. The case showed that it was feasible and safe to use the new method for LBBP through RSV route. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hospital-based case control studies have found family history of herpes zoster (HZ) was associated with risk of HZ, but the role of family history is not fully examined for other HZ-associated outcomes such as recurrent HZ, occurrence of postherpetic neuralgia (PHN), and HZ with different pain severities.Methods: We conducted a population-based matched case control study. HZ cases that occurred during December 1, 2011 to November 30, 2012 were identified by face-to-face interview with all residents of eight selected communities/villages from three districts of Beijing, China. Medical records were reviewed for those who sought healthcare for HZ. For each case-patient, three, age-matched controls (±5 years) without HZ were enrolled from the same community/village of the matched case. Data on family history of HZ were collected by interview and only defined among first-degree relatives.Results: A total of 227 case-patients and 678 matched controls were enrolled. Case-patients were more likely to report a family history of HZ [odds ratio (OR) =2.4, P = 0.002]. Compared with controls, association of family history decreased from HZ with PHN to HZ without PHN (OR = 6.0 and 2.3, respectively; P = 0.002 for trend), from recurrent HZ to primary HZ (OR = 9.4 and 2.2, respectively; P = 0.005 for trend), and from HZ with moderate or severe pain to HZ with mild or no pain (OR = 3.2 and 0.8, respectively; P < 0.001 for trend).Conclusions: Family history of HZ was associated with HZ occurrence and was more likely in HZ case-patients with PHN, recurrences, and painful HZ. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research underlines the potential of alginate multilayered gel microspheres for the layered encapsulation and the simultaneous delivery of vitamin B2 (VB) and β-carotene (BC). Chitosan was used to improve the stability and controlled release ability of alginate-based gel microspheres. It was shown that a clear multilayered structure possessed the characteristics of pH response, and excellent thermal stability. The sodium alginate concentration and the number of layers had notable effects on mechanical properties and particle size of gel microspheres. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction analyses further proved that VB and BC were encapsulated within the gel microspheres. Compared with the three-layer VB-loaded gel microspheres, the total release of VB from the three-layer VB and BC-loaded gel decreased from 93.23% to 85.58%. The total release of BC from the three-layer VB and BC-loaded gel increased from 66.11% to 69.24% compared with three-layer BC-loaded gel. The simultaneous encapsulation of VB and BC in multilayered gel microspheres can markedly improve their bioaccessibility and bioavailability. These results showed the multilayer gel microspheres synthesized herein have potential for applications in the layered encapsulation and simultaneous delivery of various bioactive substances to the intestinal tract. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intestinal absorption of compounds is significant in drug research and development. To evaluate this efficiently, a method combining mathematical modeling and molecular simulation was proposed, from the perspective of molecular structure. Based on the quantitative structure-property relationship study, the model between molecular structure and their apparent permeability coefficients was successfully constructed and verified, predicting intestinal absorption of drugs and interpreting decisive structural factors, such as AlogP98, Hydrogen bond donor and Ellipsoidal volume. The molecules with strong lipophilicity, less hydrogen bond donors and receptors, and small molecular volume are more easily absorbed. Then, the molecular dynamics simulation and molecular docking were utilized to study the mechanism of differences in intestinal absorption of drugs and investigate the role of molecular structure. Results indicated that molecules with strong lipophilicity and small volume interacted with the membrane at a lower energy and were easier to penetrate the membrane. Likewise, they had weaker interaction with P-glycoprotein and were easier to escape from it and harder to export from the body. More in, less out, is the main reason these molecules absorb well., (© 2024 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

This research underlines the potential of alginate multilayered gel microspheres for the layered encapsulation and the simultaneous delivery of vitamin B 2 (VB) and β-carotene (BC). Chitosan was used to improve the stability and controlled release ability of alginate-based gel microspheres. It was shown that a clear multilayered structure possessed the characteristics of pH response, and excellent thermal stability. The sodium alginate concentration and the number of layers had notable effects on mechanical properties and particle size of gel microspheres. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction analyses further proved that VB and BC were encapsulated within the gel microspheres. Compared with the three-layer VB-loaded gel microspheres, the total release of VB from the three-layer VB and BC-loaded gel decreased from 93.23% to 85.58%. The total release of BC from the three-layer VB and BC-loaded gel increased from 66.11% to 69.24% compared with three-layer BC-loaded gel. The simultaneous encapsulation of VB and BC in multilayered gel microspheres can markedly improve their bioaccessibility and bioavailability. These results showed the multilayer gel microspheres synthesized herein have potential for applications in the layered encapsulation and simultaneous delivery of various bioactive substances to the intestinal tract.

Objective: To compare the efficacy and safety of bridging therapy with fondaparinux versus low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) in patients undergoing radiofrequency ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF)., Methods: AF patients undergoing radiofrequency ablation between January, 2009 and June, 2013 in Nanfang Hospital were analyzed. The patients received subcutaneous injection of either fondaparinux or LMWH as a bridging therapy during warfarin discontinuation 5 days before the ablation until a post-ablation international normalized ratio (INR) of 2.0-3.0 was achieved. Anticoagulant-related complications, identified and classified as thromboembolic and bleeding events, were compared between the two groups., Results: A total of 465 patients (68% male; mean age 52.3∓15 years, range 25 to 80 years) were enrolled in the study, including 265 in fondaparinux group and 200 in LMWH group. Anticoagulation-related complications were observed in 3 patients in fondaparinux group, as compared with 13 in LMWH group (P=0.002), but the thromboembolic rate did not differ significantly between the two groups (P=0.111). Two patients in fondaparinux group and 8 in LMWH group showed bleeding complications (P=0.039). No cardiovascular death occurred in these patients during a mean follow-up period of 3 months., Conclusions: Fondaparinux as the bridging therapy during catheter ablation for AF does not increase the risk of thromboembolic complications but slightly reduces the risk of bleeding compared to LMWH, suggesting its safety and effectiveness for periprocedural anticoagulation management in AF patients undergoing radiofrequency ablation.