Prof Chia Boon Lock receives the SMA Honorary ... - nuhcs

1. Identify disease susceptibility polymorphisms for AF using
candidate gene association analysis
2. Define interaction of genetic factors with acquired factors in
modifying AF risk and phenotypic expression
3. Pave the way toward establishing a larger cohort to facilitate
genome-wide association analysis in the future
With preliminary data derived from this cohort of lone AF
patients, I successfully obtained a National Medical Research Council
grant that will support this research effort for the next three years.
Presently, approximately 100 lone AF patients have been enrolled;
I anticipate the enrollment process will be accelerated through
collaboration of colleagues in National Heart Center and Tan Tock
Seng Hospital. In addition, mutation scanning of candidate genes
such as potassium and sodium channel genes is underway.
This project would not have been possible if it was not
for the support of the following: Chief, Cardiac Department,
NUH, Assoc Prof Tan Huay Cheem; Head, Department of
Medicine, NUS, Prof Ho Khek Yu; my mentors, Prof Chia and
Assoc Prof Ling; colleagues in the Cardiac Department, NUH;
research nurses, Ms. Quay Chwee Neo and Ms. Loh Fong Chee;
collaborators in National Heart Center and Tan Tock Seng
Hospital; the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine and the National
Medical Research Council. Ultimately, the success of this project
will not only advance our understanding of a significant
cardiovascular disease, but also underscore the feasibility and
importance of multi-center collaboration in Singapore.
CIT Beijing meetingDr Adrian
Low, Cardiac Dept @ NUH
CIT Beijing 2008 (China
Interventional Therapeutics,
Beijing) is an annual major
meeting for interventional
cardiologists. It was held this year
from 19 to 23 March at the Beijing
Interventional Convention Center.
We were privileged to be given an
opportunity for live-transmission
to showcase our interventional techniques.
The live-transmission was held on the morning of the 2nd
day (20th March). We had 2 teams on hand: Prof Tan Huay Cheem
and Dr Lim Ing Haan; Dr Adrian Low and Prof Ronald Lee. As was
traditional, there was an introductory segment to Singapore; fusing
a blend of Singapore skyline, cultural activities, and images of our
esteemed interventionists, to a pulsating soundtrack. The montage
was expertly executed, earning praises even from professional media.
Prof Tan started the live-transmission with a case of “instent
restenosis”. This patient had had previous stenting to the heart
artery but returned because of re-narrowing of the same segment.
This was addressed with a novel drug-eluting balloon. This balloon
is coated with a medication that inhibits recurrent renarrowing of
the heart artery and has been shown in a recent published study to
be effective at least in patients with narrowing of the leg arteries.
The blockage was expertly cleared and treated with this new device
with good results. In contrast to the usual placement of another
medicated stent, this approach does away
with deploying an additional metal coat
which may have deleterious consequences.
The second case was an
intervention of a saphenous vein graft.
Traditionally, this is addressed using a distal
protection device, either a filter wire or
balloon occlusion device, to catch the
anticipated downstream flow of clots and
other debritus. We however demonstrated the safety and efficacy of
a new proximal protection device. This was a special catheter with
an inflatable balloon at its tip that can be inflated to seal off the
saphenous vein graft, thereby preventing flushing of debris
downstream. An advantage of this is the virtual protection from all
embolism, even with initial passage of our guide wire across the
blockage. This case was similarly well received. In addition, it was the
first time that a live-transmission of such as device was demonstrated
regionally. The audience’s curiosity was obviously piqued.
As usual, there was the usual banter by the chairperson
and other prominent interventional cardiologists. Our doctors
joined in the spirited exchange and responded well to the variety
of questions fielded. The teams enjoyed themselves doing difficult
cases under the glare of the media, and the live-transmission was
all too soon over. As the day came to a close, Prof Tan made his
sojourn to Beijing, representing our interventional cardiology team
and of course NUH.
THI PULSE | 15