The World Health Organization announced that COVID-19, with SARS-CoV-2 as its pathogen, had become a pandemic on 11 March 2020. Today, the global epidemic situation is still serious. With the development of research, cardiovascular injury in patients with COVID-19, such as arrhythmia, myocardial injury, and heart failure, is the second major symptom in addition to respiratory symptoms, and cardiovascular injury is related to the prognosis and mortality of patients. The incidence of arrhythmia in COVID-19 patients ranges from 10% to 20%. The potential mechanisms include viral infection-induced angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 expression change, myocarditis, cytokine storm, cardiac injury, electrophysiological effects, hypoxemia, myocardial strain, electrolyte abnormalities, intravascular volume imbalance, drug toxicities and interactions, and stress response caused by virus infection. COVID-19 complicated with arrhythmia needs to be accounted for and integrated in management. This article reviews the incidence, potential mechanisms, and related management measures of arrhythmia in COVID-19 patients.

Postoperative adhesions are a prevalent complication following abdominal surgeries, often leading to significant clinical challenges. This study introduces an innovative solution utilizing a polyethylene glycol (PEG)-based triblock copolymer to form an injectable, self-healing hydrogel aimed at preventing these adhesions. The hydrogel, formulated with temperature-responsive and self-healing properties through the incorporation of poly (N-isopropyl acrylamide) (PNIPAM) and anion–pi interactions, was synthesized using reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization. The hydrogel’s physical properties, biocompatibility, hemostatic effect, and anti-adhesive capabilities were rigorously tested through in vitro and in vivo experiments involving rat models. It demonstrated excellent biocompatibility, effective tissue adhesion, and robust hemostatic properties. Most notably, it exhibited significant anti-adhesive effects in a rat abdominal wall–cecum model, reducing adhesion formation effectively compared to controls. The PEG-based injectable hydrogel presents a promising approach for postoperative adhesion prevention. Its ability to gel in situ triggered by body heat, coupled with its self-healing properties, provides a substantial advantage in clinical settings, indicating its potential utility as a novel anti-adhesion material.

Myocardial infarction (MI), a common and severe disease threatening human health worldwide, results from ischemic and hypoxic-induced necrosis of cardiac tissue due to coronary artery obstruction or rupture. Hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) is a gasotransmitter involved in various physiological and pathological processes. Exogenous supplementation of H₂S is significantly beneficial for the treatment of MI. In this study, a novel H₂S donor - zinc sulfide nanoparticles encapsulated in hyaluronic acid (HA@ZnS NPs), has been developed through a biomimetic mineralization process for the treatment of MI. HA@ZnS NPs can stably release H₂S at the site of myocardial ischemic injury due to the acidic microenvironment. Compared to the MI group, the NP-treated group significantly improved cardiac function, including increased left ventricular ejection fraction and fractional shortening, as well as reduced end-systolic volume. Furthermore, the NPs significantly reduced the size of the myocardial infarction area, improved left ventricular remodeling, and exerted therapeutic effects by promoting angiogenesis and reducing apoptosis in cardiac tissue. In conclusion, HA@ZnS NPs demonstrate potential for treating MI through precise control of H₂S release, providing valuable insights into new therapies for MI and laying the groundwork for the clinical application of H₂S-releasing materials in the future.