Browse publications by year: 2023

  1. Murtaza SF, Lee LJ, Usaini NN, Gan WY, Sulaiman N
    Cureus, 2023 Feb;15(2):e35511.
    PMID: 37007386 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.35511
    Background Anemia is a global public health problem that needs urgent attention, especially in early childhood. Young children living in remote indigenous communities are vulnerable to anemia. This study aimed to determine factors associated with anemia among children of the Orang Asli (OA) community, aged two to six years old. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among 269 OA children, together with their biological non-pregnant mothers. Their mothers were interviewed using a structured questionnaire to gather information on sociodemographic characteristics, sanitation facility and personal hygiene, food security, and dietary diversity. Anthropometric and biochemical assessments were measured using standard protocols. Results One in five of the OA children was anemic (21.2%) and had a low birth weight (20.4%). About 27.7% of the children were underweight, 35.2 % were stunted, 6.1% were wasted, and 5.7% were overweight. One-third of them (35.0%) had parasitic infections and almost all were food-insecure (96.3%). As for the mothers, more than one-third of them were anemic (39.0%), 58.9% had abdominal obesity, and 61.8% were overweight and obese. Parasitic infections (adjusted OR (AOR)=2.49, 95%CI=1.23-5.06), not wearing shoes outside the house (AOR=2.95, 95%CI=1.39-6.27), and mothers with anemia (AOR=2.62, 95%CI=1.30-5.28) were associated with increased risk of anemia among OA children. Conclusion Preventing maternal anemia and strengthening knowledge on sanitation and hygiene could be incorporated into nutrition intervention programs to address anemia issues among OA children.
  2. Phang WK, Hamid MHBA, Jelip J, Mudin RNB, Chuang TW, Lau YL, et al.
    Front Microbiol, 2023;14:1178864.
    PMID: 37007492 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1178864
    [This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1126418.].
  3. Ling AOL, Toong LY, Omar TASBTD, Ghauth S
    Indian J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg, 2023 Mar;75(1):193-199.
    PMID: 37007880 DOI: 10.1007/s12070-022-03336-2
    Thyroid surgeries are associated with complications of vocal cord palsy and hypocalcemia which can be debilitating. The usage of intraoperative nerve monitoring is a useful adjunct to direct nerve visualization in thyroidectomies. We advocate the usage of direct transcricothyroid electromyographic monitoring in identifying recurrent laryngeal nerve. We retrospectively collected data of all patients who underwent thyroidectomies (total thyroidectomy, hemithyroidectomy, isthmusdectomy) using direct transcricothyroid electromyographic monitoring from April 2020 to August 2021. Data was analysed based on patient's demographics, comorbidities, complications post thyroidectomy such as vocal cord palsy, transient and permanent hypocalcemia. 50 thyroidectomies were performed, 10 developed unilateral vocal cord palsy. Out of 22 total thyroidectomies, 7 developed transient hypocalcemia and 4 permanently. 1 patient developed vocal cord hematoma secondary to direct insertion of intraoperative nerve monitor's electrode. Direct transcricothyroid electromyographic monitoring is a feasible and effective method in intraoperative monitoring of recurrent laryngeal nerve during thyroid surgeries.
  4. Aziz NA, Long F
    Front Big Data, 2023;6:1036174.
    PMID: 37007906 DOI: 10.3389/fdata.2023.1036174
    Drawing on previous literature on dynamic capability view (DCV), we examine the effects of data analytics capabilities (BDAC) on organizational ambidexterity and the paradoxical tensions between exploration and exploitation in the Malaysian banking sector. Although banks are often considered as mature commercial organizations, they are not free of issues concerning technological advancement and organizational changes for long-term competitiveness. Through statistical analysis by using data from 162 bank managers in Malaysia, it is confirmed that BDAC positively influences the two contradictory aspects of organizational ambidexterity (i.e., explorative dynamic capabilities and exploitative dynamic capabilities), and explorative dynamic capabilities also mediate the positive relationship between BDAC and exploitative marketing capabilities. The findings provide meaningful insights to researchers and bank managers on how to obtain sustainable competitive advances in the current digital era.
  5. Yapici H, Gülü M, Yagin FH, Ugurlu D, Comertpay E, Eroglu O, et al.
    Front Physiol, 2023;14:1148494.
    PMID: 37007992 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2023.1148494
    The overarching aim of this study was to investigate the combined effects of chocolate milk consumption (500 mL) with 8-week of resistance training on muscle hypertrophy, body composition, and maximal strength in untrained healthy men. A total of 22 Participants were randomly divided into two experimental groups: combined resistance training (3 sessions per week for 8 weeks) and chocolate milk consumptions (include 30 g protein) Resistance Training Chocolate Milk (RTCM) (Age: 20.9 ± 0.9 years old) and resistance training (RT) only (Age: 19.8 ± 0.7 years old). Muscle thickness (MT), using a portable ultrasound, body composition, body mass, maximal strength (one repetition maximum (1 RM), counter movement jump (CMJ) and peak power (PP) were determined at baseline and 8 weeks later. In the RTCM, finding showed a significant improvement in the outcomes compared to the RT group, besides the main effect of time (pre and post). The 1 RM total increased by 36.7% in RTCM group compared to 17.6% increased in the RT group (p < 0.001). Muscle thickness increased by 20.8% in the RTCM group and 9.1% in the RT group (p < 0.001). In the RTCM group, the PP increased by 37.8% compared to only 13.8% increase in the RT group (p = 0.001). The group*time interaction effect was significant for MT, 1RM, CMJ, and PP (p < 0.05), and it was observed that the RTCM and the 8-week resistance training protocol maximized performance. Body fat percentage (%) decreased more in the RTCM (18.9%) group than in the RT (6.7%) group (p = 0.002). In conclusion, chocolate milk (500 mL) with high protein content consumed in addition to resistance training provided superior gains in terms of MT, 1 RM, body composition, CMJ, and PP. The finding of the study demonstrated the positive effect of casein-based protein (chocolate milk) and resistance training on the muscle performance. Chocolate milk consumption has a more positive effect on muscle strength when combined with RT and should be considered as a suitable post-exercise nutritional supplement. Future research could be conducted with a larger number of participants of different ages and longer study durations.
  6. Tadesse L, Abdullah NH, Awadalla HMI, D'Amours S, Davies F, Kissoon N, et al.
    Bull World Health Organ, 2023 Apr 01;101(4):231-231A.
    PMID: 37008261 DOI: 10.2471/BLT.23.289916
  7. Yu Y, Tham SK, Roslan FF, Shaharuddin B, Yong YK, Guo Z, et al.
    Front Cardiovasc Med, 2023;10:1011880.
    PMID: 37008331 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2023.1011880
    Myocardial infarction is the most common cause of heart failure, one of the most fatal non-communicable diseases worldwide. The disease could potentially be treated if the dead, ischemic heart tissues are regenerated and replaced with viable and functional cardiomyocytes. Pluripotent stem cells have proven the ability to derive specific and functional cardiomyocytes in large quantities for therapy. To test the remuscularization hypothesis, the strategy to model the disease in animals must resemble the pathophysiological conditions of myocardial infarction as in humans, to enable thorough testing of the safety and efficacy of the cardiomyocyte therapy before embarking on human trials. Rigorous experiments and in vivo findings using large mammals are increasingly important to simulate clinical reality and increase translatability into clinical practice. Hence, this review focus on large animal models which have been used in cardiac remuscularization studies using cardiomyocytes derived from human pluripotent stem cells. The commonly used methodologies in developing the myocardial infarction model, the choice of animal species, the pre-operative antiarrhythmics prophylaxis, the choice of perioperative sedative, anaesthesia and analgesia, the immunosuppressive strategies in allowing xenotransplantation, the source of cells, number and delivery method are discussed.
  8. Basavarajappa GM, Priyanka KM, Goudanavar P, Narasimha LG, Naveen NR, Gowthami B, et al.
    Des Monomers Polym, 2023;26(1):106-116.
    PMID: 37008384 DOI: 10.1080/15685551.2023.2194176
    Polymers are a fundamental part of numerous industries and can be conjugated with many other materials and components to have a vast array of products. Biomaterials have been extensively studied for their application in pharmaceutical formulation development, tissue engineering, and biomedical areas. However, the native form of many polymers has limitations concerning microbial contamination, susceptibility, solubility, and stability. Chemical or physical modifications can overcome these limitations by tailoring the properties of polymers to meet several requirements. The polymer modifications are interdisciplinary, cutting across conventional materials, physics, biology, chemistry, medicine, and engineering limitations. Microwave irradiation has become a well-established technique for a few decades to drive and promote chemical modification reactions. This technique allows ease of temperature and power control to perform the synthesis protocols efficiently. Additionally, microwave irradiation contributes to green and sustainable chemistry. In this contribution, microwave-assisted polymer modifications were described with a special focus on their application in developing several novel dosage forms.
  9. Akpoviri FI, Baharum SN, Zainol ZA
    Nanoethics, 2023;17(1):1.
    PMID: 37008389 DOI: 10.1007/s11569-023-00436-3
    With the advent of synthetic biology, scientists are increasingly relying on digital sequence information, instead of physical genetic resources. This article examines the potential impact of this shift on the access and benefit-sharing (ABS) regime of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the Nagoya Protocol. These treaties require benefit-sharing with the owners of genetic resources. However, whether "genetic resources" include digital sequence information is unsettled. The CBD conceives genetic resources as genetic material containing functional units of heredity. "Material" implies tangibility, and for some scholars, "functional units of heredity," undefined in both treaties, mean full-coding sequences. This article argues that digital sequence information obtained from physical genetic resources, full-coding or not, should be treated as genetic resources. Literal construction of the CBD risks eroding its usefulness and the ABS regime. This is because through bioinformatics, sequence information can easily be obtained from genetic resources for utilization, without physically moving them or concluding ABS agreement with owners. The CBD must evolve with scientific progress also because sequence functionality depends on the state of knowledge. These arguments are vindicated by domestic ABS laws equating genetic information with genetic resources; Nagoya Protocol provisions deeming research exploiting the genetic composition of genetic resources as utilization of genetic resources; and CBD provisions requiring the sharing of benefits from the utilization of genetic resources. Moreover, treaty interpretation and case law demand that generic, scientific terms, such as "genetic resources" and "functional units of heredity" be interpreted in an evolutionary manner to capture scientific developments.
  10. Tang KS, Maher S, Lee SWH
    Med Sci Educ, 2023 Feb;33(1):83-89.
    PMID: 37008431 DOI: 10.1007/s40670-022-01703-w
    Interdisciplinary learning combining foundational science concepts and clinical practice applications is important in many healthcare-related programmes, including pharmacy. The coherent, structured interdisciplinary curricula designed by specialists may not always be perceived as integrated by students. Team teaching, an education approach where two or more instructors share teaching responsibilities within a classroom setting, may help eliminate this perception. This study aims to explore whether team teaching can improve Asian students' experience of learning in an undergraduate pharmacy programme in Malaysia. A single 2-h interactive lecture session was delivered using a team-based approach to year 4 undergraduate pharmacy students enrolled at the School of Pharmacy, Monash University Malaysia, from 2015 to 2017. All students who attended the team-based teaching lectures were provided with an anonymous link, which requested responses on their views towards team-based teaching. Fifty out of 104 participants from three different cohorts responded to the survey of this study. Over 75% of students reported that they learnt better with the team teaching approach compared to traditional lectures delivered by one lecturer and that the team teaching approach was superior to private study. About 60% of the participants agreed that the team-based teaching approach helped develop their information-synthesising and problem-solving skills. This study provides evidence for using team teaching for design and delivery in an Asian context. The approach was well received by the participants.
  11. Tay JEF, Kaur S, Tham WW, Gan WY, Ya NNC, Tan CH, et al.
    Nutr Res Pract, 2023 Apr;17(2):269-283.
    PMID: 37009138 DOI: 10.4162/nrp.2023.17.2.269
    BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to examine the food security status of urban poor adolescents and its association with diet quality.

    SUBJECTS/METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 188 adolescents aged 13-18 yrs living in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Household food insecurity and dietary intake data were collected using the Radimer/Cornell hunger and food insecurity instrument and 2-day 24-h dietary recalls, respectively. Diet quality was determined using the Malaysian Healthy Eating Index (HEI). Weight and height were measured and body mass index-for-age, as well as height-for-age z scores were calculated.

    RESULTS: The present study revealed that 47.9% of the adolescents experienced household food insecurity, 24.5% experienced individual food insecurity, 18.6% household food security, and 9.0% child hunger. The mean score of diet quality was 56.83 ± 10.09, with a significantly lower HEI score among food insecure adolescents (household food insecure, individual food insecure, and child hunger) than household food secure adolescents (P = 0.001). The differences between food secure and food insecure households were found to be significant for energy (P = 0.001) and nutrients including proteins (P = 0.006), carbohydrates (P = 0.005), dietary fiber (P = 0.001), folate (P < 0.001), and vitamin C (P = 0.006). The multiple linear regression showed that adolescents who experienced food insecurity (β = -0.328; P = 0.003) were found to be significantly associated with poor diet quality (F = 2.726; P < 0.01), wherein 13.3% of the variation in the diet quality was explained by the food security status.

    CONCLUSIONS: Experiencing food insecurity contributed to poor diet quality among urban poor adolescents. Further longitudinal studies are needed to comprehensively understand this association to improve food insecurity and diet quality among urban poor communities.

  12. Zolkiflee NF, Meor Mohd Affandi MMR, Abdul Majeed AB
    Heliyon, 2023 Apr;9(4):e14363.
    PMID: 37009243 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e14363
    Levocetirizine dihydrochloride (LCTZ) is a second-generation antihistamine known for its efficacy without sedation. However, the binding mechanism with plasma protein which makes it devoid of sedative effects is yet to be uncovered. In this study, we elucidated thermodynamic parameters of solute-solvent and solute-cosolute interactions between LCTZ, and the amino acids l-alanine (Ala) and l-glutamine (Gln) in aqueous solutions. The volumetric and conductance parameters were calculated using the experimental density and conductance data of aqueous solutions of Ala and Gln (concentration range of 0.02-0.20 mol kg-1) and LCTZ (concentration range of 0.01, 0.07, and 0.13 mol kg-1) at 298.15, 303.15, 308.15, and 313.15 K. Volumetric analysis study revealed that the apparent molar volume (Vφ), limiting apparent molar volume (Vφ 0), and Masson's coefficient (Sv) values indicated predominantly solute-solvent interactions that were influenced by the solute's concentration and temperature. Meanwhile, partial molar expansibilities (Eφ 0), transfer volume ΔtrVφ 0 and Hepler's constant (δ2V0/δT2) established the solution system's structure-breaking tendency. The Gibb's free energy (ΔG0) values derived from conductometry data indicated the system's spontaneity. These calculated constants provided a detailed understanding of the different types of intermolecular interactions found in the ternary (LCTZ + water + amino acids) system.
  13. Lai QQ, Gouwanda D, Gopalai AA
    Motor Control, 2023 Apr 01;27(2):179-193.
    PMID: 36216337 DOI: 10.1123/mc.2021-0138
    Balance control is essential for postural adjustment in physical activities. This study investigates the behavior of human postural control and the coordination and adaptation strategy of hip, knee, and ankle when standing on an unstable surface. Twenty participants were recruited. Four different conditions were investigated: a quiet bipedal stance with eyes open and eyes closed, and standing on an unstable surface with eyes open and eyes closed. Other than the joint angle, the standard body sway measures, such as sway area and sway velocity, were computed. A nonlinear time series measure, that is, sample entropy, was used to determine the regularity of the time series and body adaptability to change and perturbation. The results show that the body sway increases as the difficulty increases. This study also confirms the coordination of the hip, knee, and ankle to maintain body balance on the unstable surface by decreasing the joint angle and adopting a lower posture. Even though the individual joint has lower sample entropy value and is deemed to be rigid and less adaptive to perturbation, the postural control exhibits higher sample entropy value, particularly in the anterior-posterior direction, and has the ability to stabilize the body by manipulating the joints simultaneously. These outcomes suggest that an unstable surface not only challenges the human postural control, but also reduces the hip, knee, and ankle adaptability to perturbation, thus making it a great tool to train body balance.
    MeSH terms: Ankle*; Ankle Joint*; Postural Balance; Humans; Posture; Lower Extremity; Young Adult
  14. Liem A, Anggraini L, Bariyah, Nasrikah, Lestari E
    Lancet Healthy Longev, 2023 Apr;4(4):e129-e130.
    PMID: 37003270 DOI: 10.1016/S2666-7568(23)00033-8
    MeSH terms: Aged; Asia; Humans; Caregivers*
  15. Young G, Srivastava A, Kavakli K, Ross C, Sathar J, You CW, et al.
    Lancet, 2023 Mar 29.
    PMID: 37003287 DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(23)00284-2
    BACKGROUND: Fitusiran, a subcutaneous investigational small interfering RNA therapeutic, targets antithrombin to rebalance haemostasis in people with haemophilia A or haemophilia B, irrespective of inhibitor status. We evaluated the efficacy and safety of fitusiran prophylaxis in people with haemophilia A or haemophilia B with inhibitors.

    METHODS: This multicentre, randomised, open-label phase 3 study was done at 26 sites (primarily secondary or tertiary centres) in 12 countries. Men, boys, and young adults aged 12 years or older with severe haemophilia A or haemophilia B with inhibitors previously treated with on-demand bypassing agents were randomly assigned (2:1) to receive once-a-month 80 mg subcutaneous fitusiran prophylaxis (fitusiran prophylaxis group) or to continue with bypassing agents on-demand (bypassing agents on-demand group) for 9 months. The primary endpoint was mean annualised bleeding rate during the efficacy period in the intention-to-treat population estimated by negative binomial model. Safety was assessed as a secondary endpoint in the safety population. This trial is complete and is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03417102.

    FINDINGS: Between Feb 14, 2018, and June 23, 2021, 85 participants were screened for inclusion, of whom 57 (67%; 57 [100%] men; median age 27·0 years [IQR 19·5-33·5]) were randomly assigned: 19 (33%) participants to the bypassing agent on-demand group and 38 (67%) participants to the fitusiran prophylaxis. Negative binomial model-based mean annualised bleeding rate was significantly lower in the fitusiran prophylaxis group (1·7 [95% CI 1·0-2·7]) than in the bypassing agents on-demand group (18·1 [10·6-30·8]), corresponding to a 90·8% (95% CI 80·8-95·6) reduction in annualised bleeding rate in favour of fitusiran prophylaxis (p<0·0001). 25 (66%) participants had zero treated bleeds in the fitusiran prophylaxis group versus one (5%) in the bypassing agents on-demand group. The most frequent treatment-emergent adverse event in the fitusiran prophylaxis group was increased alanine aminotransferase in 13 (32%) of 41 participants in the safety population; there were no increased alanine aminotransferase treatment-emergent adverse events in the bypassing agents on-demand group. Suspected or confirmed thromboembolic events were reported in two (5%) participants in the fitusiran prophylaxis group. No deaths were reported.

    INTERPRETATION: Subcutaneous fitusiran prophylaxis resulted in statistically significant reductions in annualised bleeding rate in participants with haemophilia A or haemophilia B with inhibitors, with two-thirds of participants having zero bleeds. Fitusiran prophylaxis might show haemostatic efficacy in participants with haemophilia A or haemophilia B with inhibitors; therefore, the therapeutic might have the potential to improve the management of people with haemophilia.

    FUNDING: Sanofi.

  16. Usmani Z, Sharma M, Tripathi M, Lukk T, Karpichev Y, Gathergood N, et al.
    Sci Total Environ, 2023 Jul 10;881:163002.
    PMID: 37003333 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.163002
    The increasing emphasis on the development of green replacements to traditional organic solvents and ionic liquids (ILs) can be attributed to the rising concerns over human health and detrimental impacts of conventional solvents towards the environment. A new generation of solvents inspired by nature and extracted from plant bioresources has evolved over the last few years, and are referred to as natural deep eutectic solvents (NADES). NADES are mixtures of natural constituents like sugars, polyalcohols, sugar-based alcohols, amino acids and organic acids. Interest in NADES has exponentially grown over the last eight years, which is evident from an upsurge in the number of research projects undertaken. NADES are highly biocompatible as they can be biosynthesized and metabolized by nearly all living organisms. These solvents pose several noteworthy advantages, such as easy synthesis, tuneable physico-chemical properties, low toxicity, high biodegradability, solute sustainability and stabilization and low melting point. Research on the applicability of NADES in diverse areas is gaining momentum, which includes as - media for chemical and enzymatic reactions; extraction media for essential oils; anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial agent; extraction of bioactive composites; as chromatographic media; preservatives for labile compounds and in drug synthesis. This review gives a complete overview of the properties, biodegradability and toxicity of NADES which we propose can assist in further knowledge generation on their significance in biological systems and usage in green and sustainable chemistry. Information on applications of NADES in biomedical, therapeutic and pharma-biotechnology fields is also highlighted in the current article along with the recent progress and future perspectives in novel applications of NADES.
    MeSH terms: Amino Acids; Anti-Infective Agents*; Humans; Plant Extracts/chemistry; Preservatives, Pharmaceutical; Solvents/chemistry; Ionic Liquids*
  17. Nguyen HT, Nguyen HT, Ahmed SF, Rajamohan N, Yusuf M, Sharma A, et al.
    Environ Res, 2023 Mar 30;227:115800.
    PMID: 37003549 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.115800
    The considerable increase in world energy consumption owing to rising global population, intercontinental transportation and industrialization has posed numerous environmental concerns. Particularly, in order to meet the required electricity supply, thermal power plants for electricity generation are widely used in many countries. However, an annually excessive quantity of waste fly ash up to 1 billion tones was globally discarded from the combustion of various carbon-containing feedstocks in thermoelectricity plants. About half of the industrially generated fly ash is dumped into landfills and hence causing soil and water contamination. Nonetheless, fly ash still contains many valuable components and possesses outstanding physicochemical properties. Utilizing waste fly ash for producing value-added products has gained significant interests. Therefore, in this work, we reviewed the current implementation of fly ash-derived materials, namely, zeolite and geopolymer as efficient adsorbents for the environmental treatment of flue gas and polluted water. Additionally, the usage of fly ash as a catalyst support for the photodegradation of organic pollutants and reforming processes for the corresponding wastewater remediation and H2 energy generation is thoroughly covered. In comparison with conventional carbon-based adsorbents, fly ash-derived geopolymer and zeolite materials reportedly exhibited greater heavy metal ions removal and reached the maximum adsorption capacity of about 150 mg g-1. As a support for biogas reforming process, fly ash could enhance the activity of Ni catalyst with 96% and 97% of CO2 and CH4 conversions, respectively.
  18. Vignesh D, Banerjee S
    Chaos, 2023 Mar;33(3):033126.
    PMID: 37003836 DOI: 10.1063/5.0139967
    Chemical reactions form the basis of life and understanding the different patterns and unpredictable changes in the reactions are noteworthy in real life situations. The article aims at constructing a mathematical model of two step reversible chemical reactions with a Caputo fractional difference operator. The reversible reaction involves the breakdown of an ester compound in the presence of water followed by the formation of fatty acid salts from the reaction of a free fatty acid with alkali hydroxide, such as NaOH. Using bifurcation diagrams, the chaotic response exhibited by the system is illustrated for state variables with identical fractional order and variables with non-identical fractional orders. The changes in periodic states of the system are investigated for each state variables with time varying plots and maximum Lyapunov exponents using the Jacobian matrix method are presented in support of the bifurcation diagrams. The synchronization of the subsystems of the proposed system is achieved with nonlinear control functions. Numerical simulations are presented to provide comparison of commensurate and incommensurate order models. Understanding the nature of these processes has significant applications in the production of bio-fuels from vegetable oils and animal fats by a transesterification reaction.
  19. Otto S, Díaz VAJ, Weilenmann D, Cuculi F, Nuruddin AA, Leibundgut G, et al.
    BMC Cardiovasc Disord, 2023 Mar 31;23(1):176.
    PMID: 37003986 DOI: 10.1186/s12872-023-03187-x
    BACKGROUND: A decade ago, the iopromide-paclitaxel coated balloon (iPCB) was added to the cardiologist's toolbox to initially treat in-stent restenosis followed by the treatment of de novo coronary lesions. In the meantime, DES technologies have been substantially improved to address in-stent restenosis and thrombosis, and shortened anti-platelet therapy. Recently, sirolimus-coated balloon catheters (SCB) have emerged to provide an alternative drug to combat restenosis.

    METHODS: The objective of this study is to determine the safety and efficacy of a novel crystalline sirolimus-coated balloon (cSCB) technology in an unselective, international, large-scale patient population. Percutaneous coronary interventions of native stenosis, in-stent stenosis, and chronic total occlusions with the SCB in patients with stable coronary artery disease or acute coronary syndrome were included. The primary outcome variable is the target lesion failure (TLF) rate at 12 months, defined as the composite rate of target vessel myocardial infarction (TV-MI), cardiac death or ischemia-driven target lesion revascularization (TLR). The secondary outcome variables include TLF at 24 months, ischemia driven TLR at 12 and 24 months and all-cause death, cardiac death at 12 and 24 months.

    DISCUSSION: Since there is a wealth of patient-based all-comers data for iPCB available for this study, a propensity-score matched analysis is planned to compare cSCB and iPCB for the treatment of de novo and different types of ISR. In addition, pre-specified analyses in challenging lesion subsets such as chronic total occlusions will provide evidence whether the two balloon coating technologies differ in their clinical benefit for the patient.

    TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04470934.

    MeSH terms: Clinical Trials as Topic; Constriction, Pathologic/complications; Humans; Treatment Outcome; Angioplasty/adverse effects; Paclitaxel/adverse effects; Sirolimus/adverse effects
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