Evidence of Carotid Atherosclerosis Vulnerability Regression in Real Life From Magnetic Resonance Imaging: Results of the MAGNETIC Prospective Study.

Background Atherosclerosis vulnerability regression has been evidenced mostly in randomized clinical trials with intensive lipid-lowering therapy. We aimed to demonstrate vulnerability regression in real life, with a comprehensive quantitative method, in patients with asymptomatic mild to moderate carotid atherosclerosis on a secondary prevention program. Methods and Results We conducted a single-center prospective observational study (MAGNETIC [Magnetic Resonance Imaging as a Gold Standard for Noninvasive Evaluation of Atherosclerotic Involvement of Carotid Arteries]): 260 patients enrolled at a cardiac rehabilitation center were followed for 3 years with serial magnetic resonance imaging.

Outcomes of Patients With Catecholaminergic Polymorphic Ventricular Tachycardia Treated With β-Blockers.

Importance: Patients with catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (CPVT) may experience life-threatening arrhythmic events (LTAEs) despite β-blocker treatment. Further complicating management, the role of implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) in CPVT is debated.

Objective: To investigate the long-term outcomes of patients with RYR2 CPVT treated with β-blockers only and the cost to benefit ratio of ICD.

Identification of a SCN5A founder mutation causing sudden death, Brugada syndrome, and conduction blocks in Southern Italy.

Background: The genetic architecture of Brugada syndrome (BrS) is emerging as an increasingly complex area of investigation. The identification of genetically homogeneous populations can provide mechanistic insights and improve genotype-phenotype correlation.

Objective: To characterize and define the clinical implications of a novel BrS founder mutation.

CardioVAI: An automatic implementation of ACMG-AMP variant interpretation guidelines in the diagnosis of cardiovascular diseases.

Variant interpretation for the diagnosis of genetic diseases is a complex process. The American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics, with the Association for Molecular Pathology, have proposed a set of evidence-based guidelines to support variant pathogenicity assessment and reporting in Mendelian diseases. Cardiovascular disorders are a field of application of these guidelines, but practical implementation is challenging due to the genetic disease heterogeneity and the complexity of information sources that need to be integrated.

Interplay Between Genetic Substrate, QTc Duration, and Arrhythmia Risk in Patients With Long QT Syndrome.

Background: Long QT syndrome (LQTS) is a common inheritable arrhythmogenic disorder, often secondary to mutations in the KCNQ1, KCNH2, and SCN5A genes. The disease is characterized by a prolonged ventricular repolarization (QTc interval) that confers susceptibility to life-threatening arrhythmic events (LAEs).

Objectives: This study sought to create an evidence-based risk stratification scheme to personalize the quantification of the arrhythmic risk in patients with LQTS.

Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy: Clinical Course and Predictors of Arrhythmic Risk.

Background: Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) is a leading cause of sudden cardiac death, but its progression over time and predictors of arrhythmias are still being defined.

Objectives: This study sought to describe the clinical course of ARVC and occurrence of life-threatening arrhythmic events (LAE) and cardiovascular mortality; identify risk factors associated with increased LAE risk; and define the response to therapy.

Methods: We determined the clinical course of 301 consecutive patients with ARVC using the Kaplan-Meier method adjusted to avoid the bias of delayed entry.

Coronary artery disease and depression: possible role of brain-derived neurotrophic factor and serotonin transporter gene polymorphisms.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) and depression are two of the most common human health problems. Patients with depression have an increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease and mortality after experiencing a cardiac event. Both diseases are complex disorders that are influenced by genetic and environmental factors.