Biome conservatism prevailed in repeated long-distance colonization of Madagascar's mountains by Helichrysum (Compositae, Gnaphalieae).

Colonization and diversification processes are responsible for the distinctiveness of island biotas, with Madagascar standing out as abiodiversity hotspot exceptionally rich in species and endemism. Regardless of its significance, the evolutionary history and diversification drivers of Madagascar's flora remain understudied. Here we focus on Helichrysum (Compositae, Gnaphalieae) to investigate the evolutionary and biogeographic origins of the Malagasy flora.

Kinetic and Mechanistic Release Studies on Hyaluronan Hydrogels for Their Potential Use as a pH-Responsive Drug Delivery Device.

Hyaluronic acid, a biocompatible polymer, holds significant potential for drug delivery applications. Its variable degree of protonation, which entails tunable physical properties, makes it an ideal candidate for developing pH-sensitive hydrogels. Like other smart drug delivery systems, pH-responsive hydrogels can enhance medical treatment and expedite the healing process.

The Effect of Everolimus Versus Calcineurin Inhibitors on Quality of Life 10-12 Years After Heart Transplantation: The Results of a Randomized Controlled Trial (SCHEDULE Trial).

Background: Calcineurin inhibitors (CNIs) are associated with long-term complications after heart transplantation (HTx). Everolimus (EVR)-based immunosuppression allows for CNI withdrawal. We used data from The Scandinavian heart transplant everolimus de novo study with early CNI avoidance (SCHEDULE) trial to assess whether health-related quality of life (HRQoL) differed between patients on long-term treatment with EVR versus a CNI-based regimen.

Histopathological Evaluation of Somatostatin Receptor 2 Expression in Myocarditis-Rationale for the Diagnostic Use of Somatostatin Receptor Imaging.

Background/objectives: Myocarditis is an inflammatory disease of the myocardium and remains to this day a challenging diagnosis. A promising novel imaging method uses the expression of somatostatin receptors (SSTRs) on inflammatory cells to visualize myocardial inflammation. However, little is known about the histopathological correlate of SSTR imaging in different forms of myocarditis.

Super-Resolved Protein Imaging Using Bifunctional Light-Up Aptamers.

Efficient labeling methods for protein visualization with minimal tag size and appropriate photophysical properties are required for single-molecule localization microscopy (SMLM), providing insights into the organization and interactions of biomolecules in cells at the molecular level. Among the fluorescent light-up aptamers (FLAPs) originally developed for RNA imaging, RhoBAST stands out due to its remarkable brightness, photostability, fluorogenicity, and rapid exchange kinetics, enabling super-resolved imaging with high localization precision. Here, we expand the applicability of RhoBAST to protein imaging by fusing it to protein-binding aptamers.

Severe heart failure in a unique case of cobalamin-C-deficiency resolved with LVAD implantation and subsequent heart transplantation.

Introduction Cobalamin c deficiency (cblC), an inborn error of vitamin B12 metabolism, is caused by mutations of the MMACHC gene. It usually leads to a multisystemic disease; 50% of all patients with cblC have various structural heart defects. Severe congestive heart failure (HF) may also occur and its prognosis is poorly documented.

Waiting list and post-transplant outcome in Sweden after national centralization of heart transplant surgery.

Background: Previous studies have demonstrated an association between transplantation rate per center and postoperative mortality after heart transplantation. In 2011, Sweden centralized heart transplants and waiting lists, reducing the number of centers from 3 to 2. We aimed to assess the active waiting time and pre- and post-transplant mortality before and after centralization.

Hospitalized patients' attitudes towards participating in a randomized control trial in case of a cardiac arrest.

Background: No previous study has evaluated patients attitudes towards inclusion in an ongoing cardiac arrest clinical trial. The aim of this study was to assess patientś willingness and motives to participate in the ongoing randomized controlled drug trial "Vasopressin and Steroids in addition to Adrenaline in cardiac arrest" (VAST-A trial) in case of an in-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA).

Objectives: Hospitalized patients, men ≥ 18 and women ≥ 50 years, were asked for informed consent for inclusion in the VAST-A trial in case of an IHCA, the reason for approving or declining inclusion in the trial and baseline characteristics.

Estimating the clinical and budgetary impact of using angiotensin receptor neprilysin inhibitor as first line therapy in patients with HFrEF.

Aims: Recent updates of international treatment guidelines for heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) differ regarding the use of angiotensin receptor neprilysin inhibitor (ARNI) as first-line treatment. The American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology/Heart Failure Society of America (AHA/ACC/HFSA) 2022 guidelines gives ARNI a Class IA recommendation for HFrEF patients while the European Society of Cardiology's guidelines are less clear when ARNI could be considered as first line treatment option in de novo patients. This study aimed to model the clinical and budgetary outcomes of implementing these guidelines, comparing conservative ARNI prescription patterns with less conservative in Sweden and in the United Kingdom.

The oxylipin analog CS585 prevents platelet activation and thrombosis through activation of the prostacyclin receptor.

Cardiovascular disease remains the primary cause of morbidity and mortality globally. Platelet activation is critical for maintaining hemostasis and preventing the leakage of blood cells from the vessel. There has been a paucity in the development of new drugs to target platelet reactivity.

Clinical Outcomes and Predictors of Long-Term Survival in Patients With and Without Previously Known Extracardiac Sarcoidosis Using Machine Learning: A Swedish Multicenter Study.

Background Cardiac involvement can be an initial manifestation in sarcoidosis. However, little is known about the association between various clinical phenotypes of cardiac sarcoidosis (CS) and outcomes. We aimed to analyze the relation of different clinical manifestations with outcomes of CS and to investigate the relative importance of clinical features influencing overall survival.

Rationale and design of ENDEAVOR: A sequential phase 2b-3 randomized clinical trial to evaluate the effect of myeloperoxidase inhibition on symptoms and exercise capacity in heart failure with preserved or mildly reduced ejection fraction.

Aims: Mitiperstat (formerly AZD4831) is a novel selective myeloperoxidase inhibitor. Currently, no effective therapies target comorbidity-induced systemic inflammation, which may be a key mechanism underlying heart failure with preserved or mildly reduced ejection fraction (HFpEF/HFmrEF). Circulating neutrophils secrete myeloperoxidase, causing oxidative stress, microvascular endothelial dysfunction, interstitial fibrosis, cardiomyocyte remodelling and diastolic dysfunction.

Diploid and tetraploid cytotypes of the flagship Cape species Dicerothamnus rhinocerotis (Asteraceae): variation in distribution, ecological niche, morphology and genetics.

Background And Aims: The Greater Cape Floristic Region is one of the world's biodiversity hotspots and is considered poor in polyploids. To test this assumption, ploidy variation was investigated in a widespread Cape shrub, Dicerothamnus rhinocerotis (renosterbos, Asteraceae). The aim was to elucidate the cytotype distribution and population composition across the species range, and to assess differences in morphology, environmental niches and genetics.

Phenotyping of giant cell myocarditis versus cardiac sarcoidosis using cardiovascular magnetic resonance.

Background: Giant cell myocarditis (GCM) and cardiac sarcoidosis (CS) are rare inflammatory diseases of the myocardium with poor prognosis. Little is known about the cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) appearance of GCM and the methods ability to distinguish the two rare entities from one another.

Methods: We assessed a total of 40 patients with endomyocardial biopsy-proven GCM (n = 14) and CS (n = 26) concerning their clinical and CMR appearance in a blinded manner.

Heart transplantation in patients bridged with mechanical circulatory support: outcome comparison with matched controls.

Aims: Due to the shortage of heart donors, increasing numbers of heart transplantation (HTx) candidates are receiving long-term mechanical circulatory support (MCS) as bridge-to-transplantation. Treatment with MCS is associated with increased formation of anti-human leukocyte antigen antibodies (allosensitization), but whether this affects post-HTx outcomes is unclear.

Methods And Results: We included all adult patients who received long-term MCS as bridge-to-transplantation and underwent subsequent HTx at our centre between 2008 and 2018.

Repeatedly Northwards and Upwards: Southern African Grasslands Fuel the Colonization of the African Sky Islands in (Compositae).

The Afromontane and Afroalpine areas constitute some of the main biodiversity hotspots of Africa. They are particularly rich in plant endemics, but the biogeographic origins and evolutionary processes leading to this outstanding diversity are poorly understood. We performed phylogenomic and biogeographic analyses of one of the most species-rich plant genera in these mountains, (Compositae-Gnaphalieae).

Differences in phenotypes, symptoms, and survival in patients with cardiomyopathy-a prospective observational study from the Sahlgrenska CardioMyoPathy Centre.

Introduction: Cardiomyopathy is the fourth most common cause of heart failure. The spectrum of cardiomyopathies may be impacted by changes in environmental factors and the prognosis may be influenced by modern treatment. The aim of this study is to create a prospective clinical cohort, the Sahlgrenska CardioMyoPathy Centre (SCMPC) study, and compare patients with cardiomyopathies in terms of phenotype, symptoms, and survival.

Echocardiography in inflammatory heart disease: A comparison of giant cell myocarditis, cardiac sarcoidosis, and acute non-fulminant myocarditis.

Background: Giant cell myocarditis (GCM) and cardiac sarcoidosis (CS) are, in contrast to acute non-fulminant myocarditis (ANFM), rare inflammatory diseases of the myocardium with poor prognosis. Although echocardiography is the first-line diagnostic tool in these patients, their echocardiographic appearance has so far not been systematically studied.

Methods: We assessed a total of 71 patients with endomyocardial biopsy-proven GCM (n = 21), and CS (n = 25), as well as magnetic resonance-verified ANFM (n = 25).

Pulmonary Hypertension Phenotype Can Be Identified in Heart Failure With Reduced Ejection Fraction Using Echocardiographic Assessment of Pulmonary Artery Pressure With Supportive Use of Pressure Reflection Variables.

Background: Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is frequent in patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) with 2 different phenotypes: isolated postcapillary PH (IpcPH) and, with the worst prognosis, combined pre- and postcapillary PH (CpcPH). The aims of the present echocardiography study were to investigate (1) the ability to identify PH phenotype in patients with HFrEF using the newly adopted definition of PH (mean pulmonary artery pressure >20 mm Hg) and (2) the relationship between PH phenotype and right ventricular (RV) function.

Methods: One hundred twenty-four patients with HFrEF consecutively referred for heart transplant or heart failure workup were included with echocardiography and right heart catheterization within 48 hours.

Prehospital monitoring of cerebral circulation during out of hospital cardiac arrest ? A feasibility study.

Background: About two-thirds of the in-hospital deaths after out-of-hospital cardiac arrests (OHCA) are a consequence of anoxic brain injuries, which are due to hypoperfusion of the brain during the cardiac arrests. Being able to monitor cerebral perfusion during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is desirable to evaluate the effectiveness of the CPR and to guide further decision making and prognostication.

Methods: Two different devices were used to measure regional cerebral oxygen saturation (rSO2): INVOS™ 5100 (Medtronic, Minneapolis, MN, USA) and Root® O3 (Masimo Corporation, Irvine, CA, USA).

Case report of eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangitis presenting as acute myocarditis.

This case presents a challenging diagnosis of EGPA presenting as eosinophilic myocarditis. It is a condition that can mimic many other diseases and where prompt diagnosis and early treatment is essential for recovery. The diagnosis was made after an endomyocardial biopsy (EMB) and showed the importance of EMB in the diagnostic work-up.