Blood Levels of Angiotensinogen and Hypertension in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA).

Background: Angiotensinogen is the proximal precursor of the angiotensin peptide hormones of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS). Clinical trials are ongoing targeting angiotensinogen for the treatment of hypertension and heart failure. The epidemiology of angiotensinogen is not well defined, particularly its relationship to ethnicity, sex, and blood pressure (BP)/hypertension.

Angiotensinogen: More Than its Downstream Products: Evidence From Population Studies and Novel Therapeutics.

The renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) is a well-defined pathway playing a key role in maintaining circulatory homeostasis. Abnormal activation of RAAS contributes to development of cardiovascular disease, including heart failure, cardiac hypertrophy, hypertension, and atherosclerosis. Although several key RAAS enzymes and peptide hormones have been thoroughly investigated, the role of angiotensinogen-the precursor substrate of the RAAS pathway-remains less understood.

Apixaban: Alternative Anticoagulation for HeartMate 3 Ventricular Assist Device.

Patients with left ventricular assist devices currently require long-term anticoagulation with warfarin. Warfarin requires frequent blood tests and is associated with adverse events when not in the therapeutic range. Apixaban is a possible alternative that is potentially better for compliance and requires no additional testing.

Cardiac Lymphoma Presenting with Recurrent STEMI.

The incidence of primary cardiac tumors is exceedingly rare, whereas secondary cardiac tumors are more common in the global population. Cardiac involvement is seen in approximately 18% of patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma at the time of autopsy. Clinical manifestations of cardiac involvement are subtle and often go unrecognized until advanced stages of the disease.

Transcatheter edge-to-edge mitral valve repair for annuloplasty ring dehiscence: The peri-ring approach.

Recurrent severe primary mitral regurgitation from annuloplasty ring dehiscence is very rare and is associated with adverse outcomes. We present a case where transcatheter edge-to-edge mitral repair with MitraClip was used in high surgical risk patient using a peri-ring approach due to unfavorable anatomy for a conventional intra-ring approach.