Safety and efficacy of PCSK9 inhibitors and effect on coronary plaque phenotype in statin-treated patients following acute coronary syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Acute coronary syndrome continues to be a significant cardiovascular issue. Statins are commonly acknowledged as medications that reduce LDL-C levels and stabilize plaques. Nevertheless, their efficacy is limited.

Variation in secondary prevention of coronary heart disease: the INTERASPIRE study.

Background And Aims: INTERASPIRE is an international study of coronary heart disease (CHD) patients, designed to measure if guideline standards for secondary prevention and cardiac rehabilitation are being achieved in a timely manner.

Methods: Between 2020 and 2023, adults hospitalized in the preceding 6-24 months with incident or recurrent CHD were sampled in 14 countries from all 6 World Health Organization regions and invited for a standardized interview and examination. Direct age and sex standardization was used for country-level prevalence estimation.

The Effect of Omega-3 Supplementation on Heart Failure Outcome: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Clinical Trial.

The effect of omega-3 supplementation on cardiovascular (CV) disease has been widely studied in several large clinical trials. However, the evidence of the effect of omega-3 supplementation in patients with heart failure (HF) remains controversial. This meta-analysis investigated the effects of omega-3 supplementation on patients with HF.

The potential of triglyceride-glucose index in improving the prediction of post-percutaneous coronary intervention clinical outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: Despite percutaneous coronary intervention is the current preferred reperfusion modality, the incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) is still high. Currently, GRACE score is used for predicting PCI outcomes. The TyG (triglyceride-glucose) index, a potential predictor based on insulin resistance of cardiovascular disease, has not been considered in the GRACE score.

Adherence to penicillin treatment is essential for effective secondary prevention of rheumatic heart disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Penicillin is essential for secondary prevention of acute rheumatic fever (ARF) and rheumatic heart disease (RHD). However, the incidences of ARF recurrence and RHD progression remain high, particularly in endemic countries. This meta-analysis evaluated the effectiveness of penicillin adherence in secondary prevention of ARF recurrence and RHD progression.

Current Evidence and Future Directions of Omega-3 Supplementation and Cardiovascular Disease Risk.

Omega-3 supplementation has a controversial role in the secondary prevention of cardiovascular diseases. Despite large clinical trials published over the years, the evidence of omega-3 in preventing cardiovascular diseases, especially coronary heart disease, is still inconclusive. However, recent clinical trials using higher dose of omega-3 or highly purified esters of omega-3 shows promising result, with reduction in cardiovascular death and incidence of cardiovascular disease.

The effect of resistance training on PCSK9 levels in patients undergoing cardiac rehabilitation after coronary artery bypass grafting: a randomized study.

Background: Resistance training is commonly recommended as part of secondary prevention for post-coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) patients in conjunction with aerobic exercise. Despite its potential benefits, there is currently a lack of studies investigating the impact of resistance training on proprotein convertase subtilisin kexin 9 (PCSK9).

Aim: To evaluate the effect of intensive resistance training on proprotein convertase subtilisin kexin 9 (PCSK9) levels among post-CABG patients undergoing cardiac rehabilitation (CR).

Smartphone-Based Cardiac Rehabilitation Program Improves Functional Capacity in Coronary Heart Disease Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) reduces mortality and morbidity in coronary heart disease (CHD); however, patients show a lack of adherence to CR. Alternatively, telehealth interventions have shown promising results for improving target outcomes in CR. This study aimed to review the effect of smartphone-based CR on the functional capacity of CHD patients.

Anti-Inflammatory, Antioxidant, Metabolic and Gut Microbiota Modulation Activities of Probiotic in Cardiac Remodeling Condition: Evidence from Systematic Study and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Heart failure (HF) is a global pandemic with increasing prevalence and mortality rates annually. Its main cause is myocardial infarction (MI), followed by rapid cardiac remodeling. Several clinical studies have shown that probiotics can improve the quality of life and reduce cardiovascular risk factors.

A Novel Peptide Elabela is Associated with Hypertension-Related Subclinical Atherosclerosis.

Introduction: Elabela is a newly identified peptide which, alongside apelin, acts as an endogenous ligand that activates the angiotensin receptor-like 1 receptor. Previous studies have shown the association of elabela with hypertension, but information about the role of elabela in hypertension-related subclinical atherosclerosis is scarce.

Aim: We aimed to determine the elabela levels in hypertensive patients and explore its association with subclinical atherosclerosis.

Asian Pacific Society of Cardiology Consensus Recommendations for Pre-participation Screening in Young Competitive Athletes.

Sports-related sudden cardiac death is a rare but devastating consequence of sports participation. Certain pathologies underlying sports-related sudden cardiac death could have been picked up pre-participation and the affected athletes advised on appropriate preventive measures and/or suitability for training or competition. However, mass screening efforts - especially in healthy young populations - are fraught with challenges, most notably the need to balance scarce medical resources and sustainability of such screening programmes, in healthcare systems that are already stretched.

External Counterpulsation Improves Angiogenesis by Preserving Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor-A and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 but Not Regulating MicroRNA-92a Expression in Patients With Refractory Angina.

External counterpulsation (ECP) provides long-term benefits of improved anginal frequency and exercise tolerance in patients with refractory angina (RA). This is postulated as a result of improved angiogenesis and endothelial function through an increase in shear stress. Angiogenesis is mainly represented by vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A) and its receptor, vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR-2).

Randomised controlled trial into the role of ramipril in fibrosis reduction in rheumatic heart disease: the RamiRHeD trial protocol.

Introduction: Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) is a major burden in developing countries and accounts for 80% of all people living with the disease, where it causes most cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in children and young adults. Chronic inflammation and fibrosis of heart valve tissue due to chronic inflammation in RHD will cause calcification and thickening of the impacted heart valves, especially the mitral valve. This fibrogenesis is enhanced by the production of angiotensin II by increased transforming growth factor β expression and later by the binding of interleukin-33, which is known to have antihypertrophic and antifibrotic effects, to soluble sST2.

Determinants and Prediction Equations of Six-Minute Walk Test Distance Immediately After Cardiac Surgery.

To date, there is no reference for a 6-min walk test distance (6-MWD) immediately after cardiac surgery. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the determinants and to generate equations for prediction reference for 6-MWD in patients immediately after cardiac surgery. This is a cross-sectional study of the 6-min walk test (6-MWT) prior to participation in the cardiac rehabilitation (CR) program of patients after coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG) or valve surgery.

The effect of external counterpulsation on intrinsic myocardial function evaluated by speckle tracking echocardiography in refractory angina patients: a randomized controlled trial.

External Counterpulsation (ECP) is one of the therapeutic options in patients with refractory angina inadequately controlled by medical, interventional, or surgical therapy. The 2D Speckle Tracking Echocardiography (2D-STE) method is considered superior in assessing clinical improvement. We would like to evaluate any improvement of myocardial intrinsic function using 2D-STE in patients underwent standard ECP protocol (35 sessions).

Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Inhibitors (ACEIs) Decrease the Progression of Cardiac Fibrosis in Rheumatic Heart Disease Through the Inhibition of IL-33/sST2.

Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) is common in developing countries and poses a big medical challenge and burden. The pathogenesis of RHD is influenced by the triad of host, agent, and environment. Autoantigens generated from Group A Streptococcus (GAS) infection are captured by the resident dendritic cells (DCs) in the heart's valvular endothelium.

The Effects of Aerobic Exercise on N-terminal Pro-B-type Natriuretic Peptide and Cardiopulmonary Function in Patients With Heart Failure: A Meta-Analysis of Randomised Clinical Trials.

Background: Aerobic exercise (AEx) improves outcomes in heart failure (HF). N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-pro-BNP) is a prognosticator in HF. There are few data on the association of AEx, NT-pro-BNP, and cardiopulmonary function; hence, robust evidence is needed.