Left bundle branch pacing vs biventricular pacing in heart failure patients with left bundle branch block: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Left bundle branch pacing (LBBP) is a novel pacing modality of cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) that achieves more physiologic native ventricular activation than biventricular pacing (BiVP). AIM: To explore the validity of electromechanical resynchronization, clinical and echocardiographic response of LBBP-CRT. METHODS: Systematic review and Meta-analysis were conducted in accordance with the standard guidelines as mentioned in detail in the methodology section. RESULTS: In our analysis, the success rate of LBBP-CRT was determined to be 91.1%. LBBP-CRT significantly shortened QRS duration, with significant improvement in echocardiographic parameters, including left ventricular ejection fraction, left ventricular end-diastolic diameter and left ventricular end-systolic diameter in comparison with BiVP-CRT. CONCLUSION: A significant reduction in New York Heart Association class and B-type natriuretic peptide levels was also observed in the LBBP-CRT group vs BiVP-CRT group. Lastly, the LBBP-CRT cohort had a reduced pacing threshold at follow-up as compared to BiVP-CRT.

Monkeypox has devastated the world; should we prepare for the outbreak of a new pandemic?

The monkeypox virus, which belongs to the orthopoxy virus family, causes fever, lethargy, headache, lymphadenopathy, myalgia, and rash, as well as various complications such as superimposed infections, sepsis, keratitis, encephalitis, and bronchopneumonia. Following replication at the site of injection, the virus often enters by the oropharynx, nasopharynx, or intradermal pathway, spreading to lymph nodes before viremia, promoting viral dissemination to other organ systems. Monkeypox cases have recently been brought to WHO's notice from 12 presently non-endemic member nations spread over three WHO regions, with 92 laboratory-confirmed cases and 28 cases of suspicion as of May 21, 2022. Monkeypox is presently endemic in the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Benin, Cameroon, Gabon, Sierra Leone, and South Sudan. Monkeypox cases have been detected all across the world, posing a challenge to healthcare infrastructure that is still recovering from the COVID-19 outbreak. Close monitoring and exact data collecting, the implementation of successful programs across the world, and public support of preventative measures are some of the strategies being used to cope with the increasing incidence of monkeypox.