Urinary peptides in heart failure: a link to molecular pathophysiology.

Aims: Heart failure (HF) is a major public health concern worldwide. The diversity of HF makes it challenging to decipher the underlying complex pathological processes using single biomarkers. We examined the association between urinary peptides and HF with reduced (HFrEF), mid-range (HFmrEF) and preserved (HFpEF) ejection fraction, defined based on the European Society of Cardiology guidelines, and the links between these peptide biomarkers and molecular pathophysiology.

Outcomes of patients with decreased arterial oxyhaemoglobin saturation on pulmonary arterial hypertension drugs.

Background: Drugs approved for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) improve long-term outcomes. These drugs have pulmonary vasodilator properties which may potentially cause a decrease in arterial oxyhaemoglobin saturation ( ) in some patients. The present retrospective study of the French Pulmonary Hypertension Registry aimed to describe the clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients showing a ≥3% decrease in while treated with PAH drugs.

Sodium-glucose co-transporter inhibitors in insulin-treated diabetes: a meta-analysis.

Background: Patients with insulin-treated type 2 diabetes (T2D) have a high risk of major adverse cardiovascular events. Sodium-glucose cotransporter inhibitors (SGLTi) improve outcomes without hypoglycaemic risk.

Aims: To study the effect of SGLTi in patients with T2D with and without background insulin treatment in outcome-driven RCTs.

Blood pressure monitoring in kidney transplantation: a systematic review on hypertension and target organ damage.

Background: Sparse studies show that ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) is superior to office BP (oBP) measurements to predict target organ damage and cardiovascular (CV) events in kidney transplant recipients (KTRs). We performed a systematic review aimed at determining the potential associations between BP recordings by different methods and renal and CV outcomes in this population.

Methods: Major medical databases were searched for studies enrolling adult KTRs undergoing 24h ABPM compared to office or home BP measurements.

Interplay of Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonists and Empagliflozin in Heart Failure: EMPEROR-Reduced.

Background: Mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRAs) and sodium glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors favorably influence the clinical course of patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction.

Objectives: This study sought to study the mutual influence of empagliflozin and MRAs in EMPEROR-Reduced (Empagliflozin Outcome Trial in Patients With Chronic Heart Failure With Reduced Ejection Fraction).

Methods: Secondary analysis that compared the effects of empagliflozin versus placebo in 3,730 patients with heart failure and a reduced ejection fraction, of whom 71% used MRAs at randomization.

Empagliflozin in Patients With Heart Failure, Reduced Ejection Fraction, and Volume Overload: EMPEROR-Reduced Trial.

Background: Investigators have hypothesized that sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors exert diuretic effects that contribute to their ability to reduce serious heart failure events, and this action is particularly important in patients with fluid retention.

Objectives: This study sought to evaluate the effects of the SGLT2 inhibitor empagliflozin on symptoms, health status, and major heart failure outcomes in patients with and without recent volume overload.

Methods: This double-blind randomized trial compared the effects of empagliflozin and placebo in 3,730 patients with heart failure and a reduced ejection fraction, with or without diabetes.

Risk stratification with echocardiographic biomarkers in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction: the media echo score.

Aims: Echocardiographic predictors of outcomes in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) have not been systematically or independently validated. We aimed at identifying echocardiographic predictors of cardiovascular events in a large cohort of patients with HFpEF and to validate these in an independent large cohort.

Methods And Results: We assessed the association between echocardiographic parameters and cardiovascular outcomes in 515 patients with heart failure with preserved left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (>50%) in the MEtabolic Road to DIAstolic Heart Failure (MEDIA) multicentre study.

Clinical profile and midterm prognosis of left ventricular thrombus in heart failure.

Aims: We documented the midterm prognosis of left ventricular thrombus (LVT) in heart failure (HF) patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and ischaemic cardiomyopathy (ICM). We aimed to characterize patients with LVT in the context of HF with reduced (≤40%) left ventricular ejection fraction and evaluate their risk for death and/or embolic events, overall, and specifically in patients with ischaemic or non-ischaemic aetiology. We also intended to identify risk factors for LVT in patients with DCM.

Serum potassium and outcomes in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction: a post-hoc analysis of the PARAGON-HF trial.

Aims: The relationship between serum potassium concentration and outcomes in patients with heart failure and preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is not well-established. The aim of this study was to explore the association between serum potassium and clinical outcomes in the PARAGON-HF trial in which 4822 patients with HFpEF were randomised to treatment with sacubitril/valsartan or valsartan.

Methods And Results: The relationship between serum potassium concentrations and the primary study composite outcome of total (first and recurrent) heart failure hospitalisations and cardiovascular death was analysed.

Head-to-head comparison of clustering methods for heterogeneous data: a simulation-driven benchmark.

The choice of the most appropriate unsupervised machine-learning method for "heterogeneous" or "mixed" data, i.e. with both continuous and categorical variables, can be challenging.

Circulating multimarker approach to identify patients with preclinical left ventricular remodelling and/or diastolic dysfunction.

Aims: Biomarkers reflecting myocardial fibrosis and inflammation have been individually associated with left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) and diastolic dysfunction (DD). However, the added value of a fibrosis-inflammation multimarker approach in a populational setting is yet to be studied. We evaluated the value of a multimarker approach to detect LVH and DD in a large population-based cohort.

Impact of Geographic Region on the COMMANDER-HF Trial.

Objectives: This study sought to compare patient characteristics, outcomes, and treatment effects among regions in the COMMANDER-HF trial.

Background: Globalization of cardiovascular trials increases generalizability. However, regional differences may also introduce heterogeneity in results.

Management of Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System blockade in patients admitted to hospital with confirmed coronavirus disease (COVID-19) infection (The McGill RAAS-COVID- 19): A structured summary of a study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Objectives: The aim of the RAAS-COVID-19 randomized control trial is to evaluate whether an upfront strategy of temporary discontinuation of renin angiotensin aldosterone system (RAAS) inhibition versus continuation of RAAS inhibition among patients admitted with established COVID-19 infection has an impact on short term clinical and biomarker outcomes. We hypothesize that continuation of RAAS inhibition will be superior to temporary discontinuation with regards to the primary endpoint of a global rank sum score. The global rank sum score has been successfully used in previous cardiovascular clinical trials.

Soluble Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2, Cardiac Biomarkers, Structure, and Function, and Cardiovascular Events (from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study).

Membrane-bound angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 is important in regulation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, but the association of cleaved soluble ACE2 (sACE2) with cardiovascular disease (CVD) is unclear. We evaluated the association of sACE2 with cardiac biomarkers, structure, and function and cardiovascular events in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study. sACE2 was measured in a subset of 497 participants (mean age 78±5.

Intravenous Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonist Use in Acutely Decompensated Heart Failure with Diuretic Resistance.

Intravenous mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRAs) have been used in some centers for decades to reduce the risk of hypokalemia and boost diuresis in acutely decompensated heart failure (ADHF). We report the well-tolerated use of intravenous MRAs as a rescue procedure in 3 patients admitted for ADHF with important diuretic resistance. Undertaking trials evaluating the effect of this therapeutic strategy in ADHF could represent a promising avenue.

An Evidence-Based Narrative Review of the Emergency Department Management of Acute Hyperkalemia.

Background: The normal range for potassium is within narrow limits. Hyperkalemia is an electrolyte disorder that frequently affects patients in the emergency department (ED), and can result in significant morbidity and mortality if not identified and treated rapidly.

Objective: This article provides an evidence-based narrative review of the management of hyperkalemia, with focused updates for the emergency clinician.

Estimated plasma volume status in heart failure: clinical implications and future directions.

Congestion is one of the main predictors of poor outcome in patients with heart failure (HF). Assessing and monitoring congestion is essential for optimizing HF therapy. Among the various available methods, serial measurements of estimated plasma volume (ePVS) using routine blood count and/or body weight (e.

Disparities Between International Guidelines (AHA/ESC/ESVS/ESVM/SVS) Concerning Lower Extremity Arterial Disease: Consensus of the French Society of Vascular Medicine (SFMV) and the French Society for Vascular and Endovascular Surgery (SCVE).

Several international guidelines concerning lower extremity arterial disease (LEAD) have been published recently, in particular, by the American Heart Association the European Society of Cardiology/European Society for Vascular Surgery, the European Society for Vascular Medicine and the Society for Vascular Surgery. These guidelines differ in some respects and certain issues are not addressed. The objective of this consensus driven by the French Societies of vascular Medicine and surgery was to analyze the disparities between the different guidelines, as well as certain issues not covered, and develop proposals with regard to these points.

A case-control study indicates that coagulation imbalance is associated with arteriosclerosis and markers of endothelial dysfunction in kidney failure.

Endothelial dysfunction, one of many causes of arterial changes in end-stage kidney disease (kidney failure), is a likely link between early vascular aging and the risk of thrombosis or bleeding in this condition. To evaluate this, we compared links between arterial stiffness and endothelial/coagulation factors in 55 patients receiving hemodialysis therapy and 57 age-/sex-matched control individuals. Arterial stiffness was assessed from carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity, and coagulation status from the endogenous thrombin generating potential.

The Future of Meat: Health Impact Assessment with Randomized Evidence.

Massive animal farming for meat production poses major problems in terms of resource use, environmental impact, and biodiversity. Furthermore, excessive meat consumption has been associated with multiple deleterious health consequences. However, more and better-designed randomized trials are needed to increase the level of evidence on the health impacts of meat.

Prediction of heart failure outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: Validation of the Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction Risk Score for Heart Failure in Diabetes (TRS-HF ) in patients in the ACCORD trial.

Aim: To investigate the ability of the Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction Risk Score for Heart Failure in Diabetes (TRS-HF ) to stratify patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and high cardiovascular risk for heart failure (HF) hospitalization.

Materials And Methods: We used data from the control group of the Action to Control Cardiovascular Risk in Diabetes Study Group (ACCORD) trial (n = 5123; mean follow-up 4.8 years).