Distinguishable DNA methylation defines a cardiac-specific epigenetic clock.

Background: The present study investigates whether epigenetic differences emerge in the heart of patients undergoing cardiac surgery for an aortic valvular replacement (AVR) or coronary artery bypass graft (CABG). An algorithm is also established to determine how the pathophysiological condition might influence the human biological cardiac age.

Results: Blood samples and cardiac auricles were collected from patients who underwent cardiac procedures: 94 AVR and 289 CABG.

Serum galectin-3 and aldosterone: potential biomarkers of cardiac complications in patients with COVID-19.

Background: Despite severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)-Coronavirus (CoV-2) primarily targeting the lungs, the heart represents another critical virus target. Thus, the identification of SARS-CoV-2 disease of 2019 (COVID-19)-associated biomarkers would be beneficial to stratify prognosis and the risk of developing cardiac complications. Aldosterone and galectin-3 promote fibrosis and inflammation and are considered a prognostic biomarker of lung and adverse cardiac remodeling.