Modeling the Impact of Extracellular Vesicle Cargoes in the Diagnosis of Coronary Artery Disease.

: We aimed to assess the relationship among circulating extracellular vesicles (EVs), hypoxia-related proteins, and the conventional risk factors of life-threatening coronary artery disease (CAD) to find more precise novel biomarkers. : Patients were categorized based on coronary CT angiography. Patients with a Segment Involvement Score > 5 were identified as CAD patients.

Safety and Efficacy of BioMime Sirolimus-Eluting Stent System in All-Comers Real-World Population With Coronary Artery Stenosis: MILES Global Registry.

Background: This study evaluated the safety and efficacy of BioMime sirolimus-eluting stent (SES) system, with an ultra-low strut thickness (65 µm), in real-world all-comers population with coronary artery stenosis (CAD).

Methods: This was a post-marketing, multicenter, single-arm, observational clinical registry among patients undergoing intervention for CAD. Patients were clinically followed up at 1, 9, 12, and 24 months after the index percutaneous coronary intervention.

The Complex Connection Between Myocardial Dysfunction and Cancer Beyond Cardiotoxicity: Shared Risk Factors and Common Molecular Pathways.

Cardiovascular diseases and cancer represent the largest disease burden worldwide. Previously, these two conditions were considered independent, except in terms of cardiotoxicity, which links cancer treatment to subsequent cardiovascular issues. However, recent studies suggest that there are further connections between cancer and heart disease beyond cardiotoxicity.

Effect of sacubitril/valsartan in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction across the age spectrum in PARAGON-HF.

Aims: To evaluate clinical outcomes, echocardiographic features, and the efficacy and safety of sacubitril/valsartan compared to valsartan across age groups in the PARAGON-HF trial.

Methods And Results: A total of 4796 participants ≥50 years of age with chronic heart failure (HF) and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≥45% were divided into three age groups: <65 years (n = 825), 65-74 years (n = 1772), and ≥75 years (n = 2199). Echocardiograms of 1097 patients were analysed in a standardized fashion at a core imaging laboratory.

Upgrading Right Ventricular Pacing to Cardiac Resynchronization in HFrEF Patients Improves Symptoms and Functional Outcomes.

Background: In the BUDAPEST (Biventricular Upgrade on left ventricular reverse remodeling and clinical outcomes in patients with left ventricular Dysfunction and intermittent or permanent APical/SepTal right ventricular pacing)-CRT Upgrade randomized trial, the authors have demonstrated improved mortality and morbidity after cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) upgrade in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) with high right ventricular (RV) pacing burden.

Objectives: This substudy sought to examine the impact of CRT upgrade on symptoms, functional outcome, and exercise capacity.

Methods: In the BUDAPEST-CRT Upgrade trial, 360 HFrEF patients with pacemaker or implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) and ≥20% RV pacing burden were randomly assigned (3:2) to cardiac resynchronization therapy with defibrillator (CRT-D) upgrade (n = 215) or ICD (n = 145).

Prognostic and therapeutic implications of low aortic valve calcium score in patients with low gradient aortic stenosis.

Introduction: Low gradient (LG) aortic stenosis (AS) poses a diagnostic challenge. Aortic valve calcium score (AVCS) assessment has emerged as a complementary diagnostic method when echocardiography provides discordant results. However, the diagnostic and prognostic value of AVCS in LGAS has not been thoroughly studied.

Electrocardiogram Features of Left Ventricular Excessive Trabeculation with Preserved Cardiac Function in Light of Cardiac Magnetic Resonance and Genetics.

: Although left ventricular excessive trabeculation (LVET) can cause heart failure, arrhythmia and thromboembolism, limited literature is available on the ECG characteristics of primary LVET with preserved left ventricular function (EF). We aimed to compare the ECG characteristics and cardiac MR (CMR) parameters of LVET individuals with preserved left ventricular EF to a control (C) group, to identify sex-specific differences, and to compare the genetic subgroups of LVET with each other and with a C population. : In our study, we selected 69 LVET individuals (EF > 50%) without any comorbidities and compared them to 69 sex- and age-matched control subjects (42% females in both groups, = 1.

Positive cardiovascular health: longitudinal investigation of sustained health behavior in a cross-lagged model.

Objective: Our study focuses on the role of psychological states in the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and explores the potential of positive psychological factors in reducing CVD risk. While existing research has predominantly examined negative mental states and risk behavior, this longitudinal study takes a novel approach by investigating positive psychological wellbeing and its impact on sustained health behavior.

Method: The research involved participants ( = 502) with medium to high cardiovascular risk who underwent a comprehensive risk assessment in 2012, followed by written risk communication.

Factors predicting mortality in the cardiac ICU during the early phase of targeted temperature management in the treatment of post-cardiac arrest syndrome - The RAPID score.

Introduction: Survival rates after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) remain low, and early prognostication is challenging. While numerous intensive care unit scoring systems exist, their utility in the early hours following hospital admission, specifically in the targeted temperature management (TTM) population, is questionable. Our aim was to create a score system that may accurately estimate outcome within the first 12 h after admission in patients receiving TTM.

The effect of excessive trabeculation on cardiac rotation-A multimodal imaging study.

Background: Cardiac rotational parameters in primary symptomatic left ventricular noncompaction (LVNC) with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) are not well understood. We aimed to analyze cardiac rotation measured with cardiac magnetic resonance feature-tracking (CMR-FT) and speckle-tracking echocardiography (Echo-ST) in LVNC morphology subjects with preserved LVEF and different genotypes and healthy controls.

Methods: Our retrospective study included 54 LVNC subjects with preserved LVEF and 54 control individuals.

Atrial Fibrillation and Semaglutide Effects in Obesity-Related Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction: STEP-HFpEF Program.

Background: Obesity is a key factor in the development and progression of both heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) and atrial fibrillation (AF). In the STEP-HFpEF Program (comprising the STEP-HFpEF [Research Study to Investigate How Well Semaglutide Works in People Living With Heart Failure and Obesity] and STEP-HFpEF DM [Research Study to Look at How Well Semaglutide Works in People Living With Heart Failure, Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes] trials), once-weekly semaglutide 2.4 mg improved HF-related symptoms, physical limitations, and exercise function and reduced body weight in patients with obesity-related HFpEF.

Effect of Aficamten on Cardiac Structure and Function in Obstructive Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: SEQUOIA-HCM CMR Substudy.

Background: Obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (oHCM) is characterized by left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy, LV outflow tract obstruction, and left atrial dilation, which can be associated with progressive heart failure, atrial fibrillation, and stroke. Aficamten is a next-in-class cardiac myosin inhibitor that reduces outflow tract obstruction by modulating cardiac contractility, with the potential to reverse pathological remodeling and, in turn, reduce cardiovascular events.

Objectives: This study sought to investigate the effect of aficamten on cardiac remodeling compared with placebo using cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) and its association with key clinical endpoints in the SEQUOIA-HCM (Safety, Efficacy, and Quantitative Understanding of Obstruction Impact of Aficamten in HCM) CMR substudy.