January, 2024

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ECG Blog #411 — Is it Wenckebach?

Ken Grauer, MD

How would YOU interpret the tracing in Figure-1 — that was sent to me without additional information? QUESTIONS: What is the rhythm? Is there AV dissociation? If so — WHY? Clinically — HOW would you approach interpretation of this tracing in optimal time -efficient fashion? Figure-1: The initial ECG in today's case. KEY Clinical Point: If I was the medical provider charged with the care of the patient whose ECG is shown in Figure-1 — I would approach this tracing in the following sequential stag

Blog 173
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3 ways to drive awareness of women’s greatest health threat for American Heart Month

American Heart News - Heart News

DALLAS, Feb. 1, 2024 – From news desks to iconic buildings, scores of people and landmarks across the U.S. will once again “go red” on National Wear Red Day, Feb. 2, to raise awareness that cardiovascular disease is the No. 1 killer of women and support.

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Cardiovascular autonomic dysfunction in post-COVID-19 syndrome: a major health-care burden

Nature Reviews - Cardiology

Nature Reviews Cardiology, Published online: 02 January 2024; doi:10.1038/s41569-023-00962-3 Cardiovascular autonomic dysfunction (CVAD) is a malfunction of the autonomic control of circulatory homeostasis and is an important component of post-COVID-19 syndrome. In this Review, Fedorowski and colleagues define the major forms of CVAD (including postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome), and discuss the aetiology, diagnosis and management of post-COVID-19 syndrome-associated CVAD.

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Ibuprofen Fails Another Crack at Reducing Preemie Lung Issues and Deaths

Med Page Today

(MedPage Today) -- Ibuprofen again failed to improve short-term outcomes when used to close patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) in newborns, the placebo-controlled Baby-OSCAR trial showed. Administered parenterally a few days after infants were born.

Outcomes 139
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Bridging Innovation & Patient Care: The Growing Role of AI

Speaker: Simran Kaur, Co-founder & CEO at Tattva Health Inc.

AI is transforming clinical trials—accelerating drug discovery, optimizing patient recruitment, and improving data analysis. But its impact goes far beyond research. As AI-driven innovation reshapes the clinical trial process, it’s also influencing broader healthcare trends, from personalized medicine to patient outcomes. Join this new webinar featuring Simran Kaur for an insightful discussion on what all of this means for the future of healthcare!

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Analysis finds biomarkers that improve prediction accuracy of cardiovascular disease risk in people with type 2 diabetes

Medical Xpress - Cardiology

An international academic consortium has identified 13 biomarkers that significantly improve the ability to accurately predict cardiovascular disease risk in people with type 2 diabetes. The analysis, conducted by 23 experts from 11 countries, was led by The Johns Hopkins University in the United States, the Chinese University of Hong Kong in Hong Kong, and Lund University in Sweden.

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New evidence informs risk factors, diagnosis and care of patients with CVT stroke

American Heart News - Stroke News

DALLAS, January 29, 2024 — A new scientific statement from the American Heart Association emphasizes the need to increase patients’ and physicians’ awareness of cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) to improve the recognition of this condition and initiate.

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Targeted scientific research projects to demonstrate effectiveness of ‘food is medicine’ in health care

American Heart News - Heart News

DALLAS, Jan. 24, 2024 — In an effort to identify effective food is medicine approaches for incorporating healthy food into health care delivery, the American Heart Association, the world’s leading voluntary organization focused on heart and brain health.

Research 135
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Ultra-processed foods and cardiovascular disease

Nature Reviews - Cardiology

Nature Reviews Cardiology, Published online: 30 January 2024; doi:10.1038/s41569-024-00990-7 In this Comment, we critically examine the association between the increasing consumption of ultra-processed foods and their negative effect on cardiovascular health. We explore the historical evolution of food processing, the Nova food classification and the epidemiological evidence, and highlight the need for urgent public health interventions.

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Caution Raised for Post-TAVR Cardiac Surgeries

Med Page Today

(MedPage Today) -- SAN ANTONIO -- The early experience of patients needing cardiac surgery after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has surgeons raising the alarm about the excess risks of these challenging procedures, based on data.

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Drinking camel milk can lead to significant reduction in cholesterol levels among diabetics

Medical Xpress - Cardiology

A new study has hailed camel milk for its ability to lower heart disease risk among diabetics and help in the treatment of dyslipidemia.

Diabetes 132
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Why Nighttime Light Exposure is So Harmful for Cardiovascular Health

Physiologically Speaking

Our body’s physiological processes oscillate on a 24-hour cycle known as the circadian rhythm. Circadian rhythms in blood pressure and heart rate, among other functions, are crucial for cardiovascular health and preventing cardiovascular disease. Recent evidence indicates that nighttime light exposure impacts melatonin release, the autonomic nervous system, and cortisol — with potentially harmful effects on cardiovascular health.

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'Smart glove' can boost hand mobility of stroke patients

Science Daily - Stroke

This month, a group of stroke survivors in British Columbia will test a new technology designed to aid their recovery, and ultimately restore use of their limbs and hands. Participants will wear a new groundbreaking 'smart glove' capable of tracking their hand and finger movements during rehabilitation exercises.

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Childhood stress linked to higher risk of high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes in adults

American Heart News - Heart News

Research Highlights: Consistently high scores of perceived stress during adolescence through adulthood may contribute to worse cardiometabolic health including obesity in young adults. Researchers suggest the adoption of healthy coping strategies.

Obesity 133
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Atherosclerotic plaque stabilization and regression: a review of clinical evidence

Nature Reviews - Cardiology

Nature Reviews Cardiology, Published online: 04 January 2024; doi:10.1038/s41569-023-00979-8 In this Review, Sarraju and Nissen summarize the clinical trial evidence for coronary atherosclerotic plaque stabilization and regression with plasma LDL-cholesterol-lowering therapy and other treatments. Invasive and non-invasive imaging modalities used to assess plaque burden and composition are discussed.

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Some 'Choosing Wisely' Recs Protect Older Folks From Low-Value Care

Med Page Today

(MedPage Today) -- Getting clinicians to commit to the Choosing Wisely recommendations somewhat reduced low-value care for older adults in common scenarios, a cluster randomized trial found. After primary care clinicians committed in writing to.

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Researchers identify circulating proteins linked to preeclampsia and other hypertensive disorders of pregnancy

Medical Xpress - Cardiology

Preeclampsia and other hypertensive disorders of pregnancy—which are characterized by high blood pressure with or without organ dysfunction during the second half of pregnancy—carry considerable short- and long-term risks for both the mother and child. Treatment options (other than expedited delivery) remain limited.

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Artificial Intelligence Closes Care Gaps in Diabetic Eye Exams

HCPLive

Autonomous AI increases diabetic eye exam completion rates in a diverse population of youth with diabetes.

Diabetes 130
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Single-cell transcriptomics and chromatin accessibility profiling elucidate the kidney-protective mechanism of mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists

Journal of Clinical Investigation - Cardiology

Mineralocorticoid excess commonly leads to hypertension (HTN) and kidney disease. In our study, we used single-cell expression and chromatin accessibility tools to characterize the mineralocorticoid target genes and cell types. We demonstrated that mineralocorticoid effects were established through open chromatin and target gene expression, primarily in principal and connecting tubule cells and, to a lesser extent, in segments of the distal convoluted tubule cells.

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Snow shoveling, cold temperatures combine for perfect storm of heart health hazards

American Heart News - Heart News

DALLAS, Jan. 11, 2024 — Weather forecasters may call it ‘white fluffy stuff,’ however, snow can be a bigger danger than many people may realize. According to the American Heart Association, celebrating its Centennial birthday as the world’s leading.

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RNA-binding proteins in cardiovascular biology and disease: the beat goes on

Nature Reviews - Cardiology

Nature Reviews Cardiology, Published online: 02 January 2024; doi:10.1038/s41569-023-00958-z In this Review, the authors discuss the latest insights on RNA-binding proteins and RNA biology and appraise them in the context of cardiovascular research, summarizing the progress in our understanding of the involvement of RNA-binding proteins in cardiac biology and disease.

Research 137
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How Cardiac Arrest Became a Household Topic After Damar Hamlin's Collapse

Med Page Today

(MedPage Today) -- In January, we reported on Damar Hamlin's collapse during a televised football game. In this report, we follow up on the resulting public interest on sudden cardiac arrest that made Hamlin the most searched person of 2023. During.

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“Did that go okay?” How to tell if your message is landing

Heart Sisters

"We all want the words we use publicly to be heard, understood and maybe even remembered."~ Carrie Fox :3 ways my public speaking skills evolved after my heart attack.

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Plasma metabolite profile of legume consumption and future risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease

Cardiovascular Diabetology

Legume consumption has been linked to a reduced risk of type 2 diabetes (T2D) and cardiovascular disease (CVD), while the potential association between plasma metabolites associated with legume consumption and.

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Literature Review: Fever and ST segment elevation after syncope

ECG Weekly Workout

HPI: A young woman presents to the ED after a syncopal episode. She hit her chest after falling and has reproducible chest wall tenderness on exam. She is also noted to be febrile at triage, with reported malaise, vomiting, and unilateral back ache. The following ECG is obtained on arrival before the patient is hospitalized for pyelonephritis, chest pain, and syncope: Case ECG Before watching this week’s video.

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Three researchers awarded $1 million each to study new heart disease treatments, causes

American Heart News - Heart News

DALLAS, Jan. 9, 2024 — A physician-scientist from Massachusetts researching whether chemicals naturally occurring in foods could help treat heart disease, a genetics expert from Pennsylvania exploring the molecular mechanisms of lipid metabolism and.

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Harnessing skin cancer genes to heal hearts

Medical Xpress - Cardiology

Biomedical engineers at Duke University have demonstrated that one of the most dangerous mutations found in skin cancers might moonlight as a pathway to mending a broken heart.

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Subclasses of Steatotic Liver Disease Can Help Determine Prognosis

Med Page Today

(MedPage Today) -- The new nomenclature for classifying steatotic liver disease (SLD) can help clinicians determine distinct prognoses, with the integration of alcohol intake as an aid in risk stratification, according to an analysis of a prospective.

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Cold weather = worse angina symptoms!

Heart Sisters

If you live with heart disease, it’s important to know the surprising effects of COLD TEMPERATURES on your heart health.

Angina 125
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Physicians Who Take Vacation Time, Avoid Working on Vacation Less Likely to Suffer Burnout

HCPLive

A survey of more than 3000 US physicians is shedding light on the impact of taking vacation time and avoiding physician-related work on vacation can have on burnout and achieving professional fulfillment.

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UH Harrington Heart and Vascular Institute First in World to Implant Penditure Clip Using Minimally Invasive Approach

DAIC

milla1cf Mon, 01/08/2024 - 14:35 January 8, 2024 — University Hospitals (UH) Harrington Heart & Vascular Institute recently became the first center in the world to implant Medtronic’s Penditure Left Atrial Appendage (LAA) Exclusion System through a minimally invasive approach during a mitral valve repair procedure. This was also the first time this device and approach were used simultaneously in a human.

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Childhood relationships, experiences may have good and bad effects on adult heart health

American Heart News - Heart News

Research Highlights: Positive, warm relationships between caregiver and child were associated with higher odds of attaining ideal heart health at multiple points across a 20-year span of adulthood. Meanwhile, experiencing childhood adversity such as.

Research 127
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Physiology Friday #200: Higher Aerobic Fitness is Tied to Slower Biological Aging

Physiologically Speaking

Greetings! Welcome to the Physiology Friday newsletter. This newsletter is brought to you by Examine.com — the best place on the internet for health and nutrition information — and my eBook, “VO2 Max Essentials.” Details can be found at the end of the post! Physiologically Speaking is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

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One Class of Antidiabetic Linked With Lower Kidney Stone Risk

Med Page Today

(MedPage Today) -- One class of glucose-lowering agent may help lower the risk of kidney stones in adults with type 2 diabetes, a cohort study suggested. Adults who newly started on an SGLT2 inhibitor had a 31% lower risk of nephrolithiasis compared.

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A beating biorobotic heart aims to better simulate valves

Science Daily - Heart Disease

Combining a biological heart and a silicone robotic pump, researchers created a biorobotic heart that beats like a real one, with a focus on a valve on the left side of the heart. The heart valve simulator can mimic the structure, function, and motion of a healthy or diseased heart, allowing surgeons and researchers to demonstrate various interventions while collecting real-time data.

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E-Cigarettes As Effective as Varenicline, More Effective Than Nicotine Gum in Helping to Quit Smoking

HCPLive

This new research may require additional follow up studies on potential harms, as 63% of those in this study’s electronic cigarette arm continue to use the product at 6 months.

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Top 103 hospitals for cardiology, per Healthgrades

Becker's Hospital Review - Cardiology

Discover the top 103 hospitals nationwide for exceptional cardiology care, recognized by Healthgrades' "America's Best Hospitals" awards.

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