The relationship between nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and frailty: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background And Aim: Frailty is frequently observed in end-stage liver disease of various etiologies, but its role in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) remains incompletely understood. We aimed to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the association and prevalence of frailty in NAFLD.

Methods: A systematic review of PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Scopus was performed.

Low birth weight associations with cardiac structure and function in adults after arterial switch for transposition of the great arteries.

Background And Aims: The objective of this study was to assess the associations of birth weight with cardiac structure and function in adults with dextro-transposition of the great arteries (D-TGA) who underwent the arterial switch operation (ASO).

Methods And Results: Thirty-nine ASO patients (age 24.4 ± 3.

Integrative proteomic analyses across common cardiac diseases yield mechanistic insights and enhanced prediction.

Cardiac diseases represent common highly morbid conditions for which molecular mechanisms remain incompletely understood. Here we report the analysis of 1,459 protein measurements in 44,313 UK Biobank participants to characterize the circulating proteome associated with incident coronary artery disease, heart failure, atrial fibrillation and aortic stenosis. Multivariable-adjusted Cox regression identified 820 protein-disease associations-including 441 proteins-at Bonferroni-adjusted P < 8.

Multi-Organ Phenotypes of Offspring Born Following Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy: A Systematic Review.

Background: Hypertensive pregnancies are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular and neurological diseases in the offspring during later life. However, less is known about the potential impact on multi-organ phenotypes in offspring before disease symptoms occur. The objective of this systematic review was to determine the associations of fetal exposure to maternal hypertensive pregnancy with multi-organ phenotypes across developmental stages.

Glucose-lowering drugs and liver-related outcomes among individuals with type 2 diabetes: A systematic review of longitudinal population-based studies.

Aims: While randomized controlled trials data on the long-term effect of glucose-lowering drugs (GLDs) on liver-related outcomes are lacking, population-based studies have evaluated the associations of GLDs with liver-related outcomes in individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2D). we aimed to conduct a systematic review of population-based studies evaluating the effects of GLDs on liver-related outcomes in people with T2D.

Methods: PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase databases were systematically searched for population-based studies testing the associations of GLDs with liver-related outcomes in individuals with T2D and no liver disease other than non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) from inception to 23 February 2024.

Long-term longitudinal analysis of 4,187 participants reveals insights into determinants of clonal hematopoiesis.

Clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential (CHIP) is linked to diverse aging-related diseases, including hematologic malignancy and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). While CHIP is common among older adults, the underlying factors driving its development are largely unknown. To address this, we performed whole-exome sequencing on 8,374 blood DNA samples collected from 4,187 Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study (ARIC) participants over a median follow-up of 21 years.

Proteome- and Transcriptome-Wide Genetic Analysis Identifies Biological Pathways and Candidate Drug Targets for Preeclampsia.

Background: Preeclampsia is a leading cause of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality. However, the current understanding of its underlying biological pathways remains limited.

Methods: In this study, we performed a cross-platform proteome- and transcriptome-wide genetic analysis aimed at evaluating the causal relevance of >2000 circulating proteins with preeclampsia, supported by data on the expression of over 15 000 genes across 36 tissues leveraging large-scale preeclampsia genetic association data from women of European ancestry.

Long-term outcome after the Ross procedure in 173 adults with up to 25 years of follow-up.

Objectives: The potential risk of autograft dilatation and homograft stenosis after the Ross procedure mandates lifelong follow-up. This retrospective cohort study aimed to determine long-term outcome of the Ross procedure, investigating autograft and homograft failure patterns leading to reintervention.

Methods: All adults who underwent the Ross procedure between 1991 and 2018 at the University Hospitals Leuven were included, with follow-up data collected retrospectively.

Check of APpropriaTeness of Antimicrobial therapy In Nursing homes (CAPTAIN):a point prevalence study in Belgium.

Objectives: The overall prevalence of antimicrobial therapy (AMT) in nursing homes is well described. However, less is known about the appropriateness of AMT in nursing home residents. Therefore, the Check of APpropriaTeness of antimicrobial therapy in nursing homes (CAPTAIN) study aimed to assess both prevalence and appropriateness of AMT in Belgian nursing homes.

Neoaortic Regurgitation Detected by Echocardiography After Arterial Switch Operation: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Neoaortic root dilatation (NeoARD) and neoaortic regurgitation (NeoAR) are common sequelae following the arterial switch operation (ASO) for transposition of the great arteries.

Objectives: The authors aimed to estimate the cumulative incidence of NeoAR, assess whether larger neoaortic root dimensions were associated with NeoAR, and evaluate factors associated with the development of NeoAR during long-term follow-up.

Methods: Electronic databases were systematically searched for articles that assessed NeoAR and NeoARD after ASO, published before November 2022.

MSGene: a multistate model using genetic risk and the electronic health record applied to lifetime risk of coronary artery disease.

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the leading cause of death among adults worldwide. Accurate risk stratification can support optimal lifetime prevention. Current methods lack the ability to incorporate new information throughout the life course or to combine innate genetic risk factors with acquired lifetime risk.

Human genetics implicate thromboembolism in the pathogenesis of long COVID in individuals of European ancestry.

SARS-CoV-2 infection can result in long COVID, characterized by post-acute symptoms from multiple organs. Current hypotheses on mechanisms underlying long COVID include persistent inflammation and thromboembolism; however, compelling evidence from humans is limited and causal associations remain unclear. Here, we tested the association of thromboembolism-related genetic variants with long COVID in the Long COVID Host Genetics Initiative ( =3,018; =994,582).

Atrial Fibrillation and Clonal Hematopoiesis in TET2 and ASXL1.

Importance: Clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential (CHIP) may contribute to the risk of atrial fibrillation (AF) through its association with inflammation and cardiac remodeling.

Objective: To determine whether CHIP was associated with AF, inflammatory and cardiac biomarkers, and cardiac structural changes.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This was a population-based, prospective cohort study in participants of the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study and UK Biobank (UKB) cohort.

Noninvasive Techniques for Tracking Biological Aging of the Cardiovascular System: JACC Family Series.

Population aging is one of the most important demographic transformations of our time. Increasing the "health span"-the proportion of life spent in good health-is a global priority. Biological aging comprises molecular and cellular modifications over many years, which culminate in gradual physiological decline across multiple organ systems and predispose to age-related illnesses.

Aortic Valve Embryology, Mechanobiology, and Second Messenger Pathways: Implications for Clinical Practice.

During the Renaissance, Leonardo Da Vinci was the first person to successfully detail the anatomy of the aortic root and its adjacent structures. Ever since, novel insights into morphology, function, and their interplay have accumulated, resulting in advanced knowledge on the complex functional characteristics of the aortic valve (AV) and root. This has shifted our vision from the AV as being a static structure towards that of a dynamic interconnected apparatus within the aortic root as a functional unit, exhibiting a complex interplay with adjacent structures via both humoral and mechanical stimuli.

Decongestion (instead of ultrafiltration?).

Purpose Of Review: To summarize the contemporary evidence on decongestion strategies in patients with acute heart failure (AHF).

Recent Findings: While loop diuretic therapy has remained the backbone of decongestive treatment in AHF, multiple randomized clinical trials suggest that early combination with other diuretic classes or molecules with diuretic properties should be considered. Mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists and sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitors are disease-modifying drugs in heart failure that favourably influence prognosis early on, advocating their start as soon as possible in the absence of any compelling contraindications.

Genetically proxied low-density lipoprotein cholesterol lowering via PCSK9-inhibitor drug targets and risk of congenital malformations.

Aims: Current guidelines advise against the use of lipid-lowering drugs during pregnancy. This is based only on previous observational evidence demonstrating an association between statin use and congenital malformations, which is increasingly controversial. In the absence of clinical trial data, we aimed to use drug-target Mendelian randomization to model the potential impact of fetal LDL-lowering, overall and through PCSK9 drug targets, on congenital malformations.

Clonal Hematopoiesis and Incident Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction.

Importance: Clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential (CHIP), the age-related clonal expansion of hematopoietic stem cells with leukemogenic acquired genetic variants, is associated with incident heart failure (HF).

Objective: To evaluate the associations of CHIP and key gene-specific CHIP subtypes with incident HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) and reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF).

Design, Setting, And Participants: This population-based cohort study included participants from 2 racially diverse prospective cohort studies with uniform HF subtype adjudication: the Jackson Heart Study (JHS) and Women's Health Initiative (WHI).

Jak2 V617F clonal hematopoiesis promotes arterial thrombosis via platelet activation and cross talk.

JAK2 V617F (JAK2VF) clonal hematopoiesis (CH) has been associated with atherothrombotic cardiovascular disease (CVD). We assessed the impact of Jak2VF CH on arterial thrombosis and explored the underlying mechanisms. A meta-analysis of 3 large cohort studies confirmed the association of JAK2VF with CVD and with platelet counts and adjusted mean platelet volume (MPV).

Cumulative Diastolic Blood Pressure Burden in Normal Systolic Blood Pressure and Cardiovascular Disease.

Background: The clinical significance of isolated diastolic hypertension defined by the 2017 American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association blood pressure (BP) guidelines remains inconsistent. We examined whether long-term diastolic burden predicts the first major adverse cardiovascular event in participants with sustained and untreated normal systolic BP.

Methods: The Mass General Brigham Biobank is a New England health care-based cohort recruited between 2010 and 2021.