March, 2025

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Calcium channel inhibition promotes cardiac regeneration, offering hope for heart failure treatment

Medical Xpress - Cardiology

Researchers report a discovery in cardiac regeneration that offers new hope for the treatment of ischemic heart failure. Published in npj Regenerative Medicine, the study reveals a novel approach to promoting cardiomyocyte proliferation. The researchers are from the Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery at Baylor College of Medicine, the QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute in Brisbane, Australia, and collaborating institutions.

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Cardiovascular Fitness: The Key to Longevity | Golden Age Health Summit 2025

Physiologically Speaking

This talk dives into the science of cardiovascular fitness, its profound impact on longevity, and how to train smarter without overcomplicating it. I delivered it at the Golden Age Health Summit on March 15, 2025, in Austin, TX. Key Takeaways: Why VO2 max is your longevity superpower How aerobic fitness declines with age—and what to do about it A simplified 3-zone training model: Easy (50-70% HR max), Moderate (70-85% HR max), and Hard (85-100% HR max) Practical tips to train effectively w

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Pharmacological preventions and treatments for pericardial complications after open heart surgeries

Heart BMJ

Background Pericardial complications following cardiac surgery are common and debilitating, significantly impacting patients’ survival. We performed this network meta-analysis to identify the most effective and safest preventions and treatments for pericardial complications following cardiac surgery. Methods We systematically searched PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE and Cochrane CENTRAL from inception to 22 January 2024.

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CareDx Launches Two Expanded Indications for AlloSure Testing Services

DAIC

tim.hodson Fri, 03/14/2025 - 11:42 March 11, 2025 CareDx, Inc. The Transplant Company recently announced that AlloSureis now commercially available for pediatric heart transplant patients of all ages and patients who have received a simultaneous pancreas-kidney (SPK) transplant. Both indications are approved by the New York State Clinical Laboratory Evaluation Program, demonstrating that AlloSure has met the most rigorous validation standards for laboratory developed tests (LDTs).

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Bridging Innovation & Patient Care: The Growing Role of AI

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

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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Prognostic implications of stress test-induced arrhythmias: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Open Heart

Background The significance of stress-test induced arrhythmias has been examined in prior studies, but there is no clear consensus regarding its significance. Objectives To determine the significance of stress test-induced arrhythmias. Methods Relevant studies examining arrhythmia in both exercise and pharmacological stress testing were searched for in PubMed, Embase and Cochrane databases from inception to 14 June 2023.

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Altshock-2: Early IABP Implantation Does Not Improve Outcomes For HF-CS

American College of Cardiology

Implantation of an intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) did not improve 60-day survival or bridge to heart replacement (HRT) therapies in patients with heart failure-cardiogenic shock (HF-CS) compared to standard care, according to a study presented during a Featured Clinical Research session at ACC.25 in Chicago and simultaneously published in JACC. The trial was stopped by the Data Safety and Monitoring Board at the prespecified interim analysis due to futility.

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Physiology Friday #262: Everything You Need to Know about Zone 2 Training

Physiologically Speaking

Greetings! Welcome to the Physiology Friday newsletter. Details about the sponsors of this newsletter including FSTFUEL electrolytes, Examine.com , and my book “VO2 Max Essentials ” can be found at the end of the post. You can find more products I’m affiliated with on my website. Physiologically Speaking is a reader-supported publication.

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Retinal vascular fingerprints predict incident stroke: findings from the UK Biobank cohort study

Heart BMJ

Objective To investigate the associations between a comprehensive set of retinal vascular parameters and incident stroke to unveil new associations and explore its predictive power for stroke risk. Methods Retinal vascular parameters were extracted from the UK Biobank fundus images using the Retina-based Microvascular Health Assessment System. We used Cox regression analysis, adjusted for traditional risk factors, to examine the associations, with false discovery rate adjustment for multiple com

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Insomnia and lack of sleep linked to high blood pressure in teens

Medical Xpress - Cardiology

Teenagers who do not get the recommended amount of sleep may be at an increased risk for high blood pressure, according to preliminary research presented at the American Heart Association's Epidemiology, Prevention, Lifestyle & Cardiometabolic Health Scientific Sessions 2025. The meeting is being held in New Orleans, March 69, 2025, and features the latest science on population-based health and wellness and implications for lifestyle.

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Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on rates of congenital heart disease procedures among children: prospective cohort analyses of 26 270 procedures in 17 860 children using CVD-COVID-UK consortium record linkage data

Open Heart

Background The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated major reallocation of healthcare services. Our aim was to assess the impact on paediatric congenital heart disease (CHD) procedures during different pandemic periods compared with the prepandemic period, to inform appropriate responses to future major health services disruptions. Methods and results We analysed 26 270 procedures from 17 860 children between 1 January 2018 and 31 March 2022 in England, linking them to primary/secondary care data.

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How Dr. Nicolas Zea’s Passion for Adventure Fuels His Work in the OR

CTVS

As one of our board certified vascular surgeons, Dr. Nicolas Zea performs a variety of complex procedures, and his dedication to patient care and service is exceptional. What you might not know about him is that he is also an avid adventurer, running ultra marathons and traveling far and wide to embark on trail run excursions and mountain climbing expeditions.

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Rethinking how we study the impact of heat on heart health

Science Daily - Heart Disease

A new study reveals that encapsulated heating methods, an often-used heat simulation method, significantly increase heart rates and cardiac strain compared to natural heat exposure like those experienced during hot weathers. Understanding how extreme heat impacts heart function is crucial for developing effective strategies to protect vulnerable groups, especially as global temperatures continue to rise.

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Physiology Friday #261: Combining High-intensity Training with Frequent Activity Breaks Maximizes Cardiovascular Benefits

Physiologically Speaking

Greetings! Welcome to the Physiology Friday newsletter. Details about the sponsors of this newsletter including FSTFUEL electrolytes, Examine.com , and my book “VO2 Max Essentials ” can be found at the end of the post. You can find more products I’m affiliated with on my website. Physiologically Speaking is a reader-supported publication.

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DAPA-TAVI: Dapagliflozin Safe and Effective in Older Adults With HF Undergoing TAVI

American College of Cardiology

The SGLT2 inhibitor dapagliflozin was superior to standard care alone in decreasing rates of all-cause mortality or worsening heart failure (HF) in older adults with aortic stenosis undergoing TAVI, resulting in a 28% relative risk reduction, according to results from the DAPA-TAVI study presented during a Late-Breaking Clinical Trial session during ACC.25 in Chicago and simultaneously published in the NEJM.

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Patent Foramen Ovale Closure in Patients With and Without Nickel Hypersensitivity: A Randomized Trial

Circulation: Cardiovascular Interventions

Circulation: Cardiovascular Interventions, Ahead of Print. Background:Nickel-containing devices, such as the Amplatzer PFO Occluder and Gore Cardioform Septal Occluder (GSO), are used for transcatheter patent foramen ovale (PFO) closure. However, the impact of nickel hypersensitivity on post-procedural outcomes remains poorly understood. This study aimed to evaluate the risk of adverse events, in patients with nickel hypersensitivity undergoing PFO closure.Methods:Our study was a prospective, do

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Recurrent polymorphic ventricular tachycardia without chest pain: an unusual presentation of focal coronary artery spasm

The British Journal of Cardiology

Coronary artery spasm (CAS), or Prinzmetal angina, is a recognised cause of myocardial ischaemia in non-obstructed coronary arteries which typically presents with anginal chest pain. This case report describes an atypical presentation of CAS in a 68-year-old white British male with cardiovascular risk factors. The patient presented with recurrent palpitations and pre-syncope, with no chest pain.

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Hereditary Transthyretin Cardiac Amyloidosis With the p.V142I Variant: Mechanistic Insights and Diagnostic Challenges

Circulation: Heart Failure

Circulation: Heart Failure, Ahead of Print. The most common form of hereditary transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis (hATTR-CA) in the United States and the United Kingdom is the p.V142I variant. About 3% to 4% of patients with African ancestry carry this genetic predisposition to develop signs and symptoms of hATTR-CA. Nevertheless, clinical manifestations of hATTR-CA appear only late in the fifth and sixth decades of life, despite its clear genetic background.

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Mitochondrial quality control in cardiomyocytes: safeguarding the heart against disease and ageing

Nature Reviews - Cardiology

Nature Reviews Cardiology, Published online: 20 March 2025; doi:10.1038/s41569-025-01142-1 In this Review, Ravindran and Gustafsson describe the mechanisms involved in regulating mitochondrial quality control in cardiomyocytes, discuss how these pathways are altered in cardiovascular disease and ageing, and highlight the therapeutic potential of targeting mitochondrial quality control pathways in cardiovascular disease.

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New Study to Examine Hypercortisolism in Resistant Hypertension

DAIC

tim.hodson Tue, 03/11/2025 - 11:19 Mar. 10, 2025-- Corcept Therapeutics Inc., a commercial-stage company engaged in the discovery and development of medications to treat severe endocrinologic, oncologic, metabolic and neurologic disorders by modulating the effects of the hormone cortisol, recently announced the initiation of Momentum, a clinical trial examining the prevalence of endogenous hypercortisolism (Cushings syndrome) in patients with resistant hypertension.

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HOST-BR: Optimal DAPT Duration in Patients With High and Low Bleeding Risk?

American College of Cardiology

After stent implantation, a three-month regimen of dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) was more effective than a one-month regimen at reducing adverse events without increasing bleeding risk in patients with a high bleeding risk (HBR), according to a Late-Breaking Clinical Trial presented at ACC.25 in Chicago. Furthermore, in patients with a low bleeding risk (LBR), a three-month regimen was found to be superior to 12 months for reducing bleeding risk and comparable in reducing adverse events.

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The effect of enhanced external counterpulsation on anxiety and depression in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation: a randomized controlled trial

Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine

ObjectiveThis study aimed to investigate the effects of Enhanced External Counterpulsation (EECP) on anxiety and depression in patients with Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation (PAF).MethodsA cohort of 100 patients diagnosed with PAF at the Fuzhou First Hospital between January 2023 and June 2024 were enrolled in this study. Patients were randomly assigned to either the control group (n=50) or the EECP group (n=50) in this randomized controlled trial.

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Cells 'speed date' to find their neighbors when forming tissues

Science Daily - Heart Disease

In developing hearts, cells shuffle around, bumping into each other to find their place, and the stakes are high: pairing with the wrong cell could mean the difference between a beating heart and one that falters. A study demonstrates how heart cells go about this 'matchmaking' process. The researchers model the intricate movements of these cells and predict how genetic variations could disrupt the heart development process in fruit flies.

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Ezetimibe Plus Statins Equals Better Outcomes

CardiacWire

New results from a vast Mayo Clinic meta-analysis suggest that combining ezetimibe with statins to lower LDL-C could have significant mortality and MACE benefits over statin monotherapy. Statins are one of the most prescribed drugs in the U.S., with over 25% of all adults 40 and up taking them. However, not everyone with high cholesterol benefits from statins, leading many drug developers to focus on novel ways to lower LDL-C levels.

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The brain–heart axis: integrative cooperation of neural, mechanical and biochemical pathways

Nature Reviews - Cardiology

Nature Reviews Cardiology, Published online: 03 March 2025; doi:10.1038/s41569-025-01140-3 The brainheart axis comprises the anatomical and functional interaction between the neural and cardiovascular systems that regulate physiological, cognitive and emotional states in both health and disease. In this Review, Valenza and colleagues explore the three primary pathways of the brainheart axis neural, mechanical and biochemical discussing the regulatory mechanisms generated by each individual pat

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Pulse pressure and aortic valve peak velocity and incident heart failure after myocardial infarction: a cohort study

Heart BMJ

Background Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction is a recognised outcome in patients with myocardial infarction, although heart failure with reduced ejection fraction is more common. Identifying early indicators specific to heart failure with preserved ejection fraction in patients with myocardial infarction could support targeted preventive strategies.

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SMART-CHOICE 3: Clopidogrel Shows Benefit Over Aspirin Monotherapy Following PCI

American College of Cardiology

Clopidogrel monotherapy was found to be more effective than aspirin monotherapy in lowering risk of major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events among patients at high risk of recurrent ischemic events who completed a standard duration of dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) following PCI, according to new research presented during a Late-Breaking Clinical Trial session at ACC.25 in Chicago and simultaneously published in The Lancet.

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The relationship between blood glucose and clinical outcomes after extracorporeal circulation: a retrospective cohort study

Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine

BackgroundPostoperative blood glucose levels significantly impact outcomes in cardiac surgery patients undergoing extracorporeal circulation (ECC) auxiliary to open heart surgery. While hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia are known risk factors for adverse outcomes, the optimal glycemic range for patients undergoing ECC remains unclear. This research examined the relationship between blood glucose levels and 90-day mortality in this high-risk group.MethodsThe data for this research were obtained from

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Hypoxia in myocardial infarction and natriuretic peptides

Open Heart

Background Mechanical stress on the heart is commonly considered the sole stimulus explaining the synthesis and release of circulating natriuretic peptides and their derivatives. While one of the most critical paradigms in cardiology is that mechanical load increases oxygen consumption, clinical studies on these peptides have neglected the relationship between mechanical stress and oxygen metabolism.

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CABG Better than PCI for T2D Patients

CardiacWire

One of the biggest risk factors for patients who need coronary revascularization is diabetes, and a new study in JAMA suggests CABG could be a better option than FFR-guided PCI when it comes to long term outcomes for these patients. The debate has been heating up over the last few years on PCI vs. CABG for improving heart bloodflow, but few studies have looked at the benefits for patients with T2D.

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Cardiovascular Toxicity in Patients Treated for Childhood Cancer: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association

Circulation

Circulation, Ahead of Print. The field of cardio-oncology has expanded over the past 2 decades to address the ever-increasing issues related to cardiovascular disease in patients with cancer and survivors. There is increasing recognition that nearly all cancer treatments pose some short- or long-term risk for development of cardiovascular disease and that pediatric patients with cancer may be especially vulnerable to cardiovascular disease because of young age at treatment and expected long life

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Instructors' Collection ECGs: Complete AV Block

ECG Guru

This is an interesting case for your students who want to delve into dysrhythmias with an eye on detail. It is also a good teaching case for discussing treatment options when the diagnosis may be uncertain or controversial. I will start the discussion by admitting that I am not an expert of electrophysiology or complex dysrhythmias. My approach has always been more clinical - how is this rhythm affecting the patient and what are the chances it will deteriorate?

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FLAVOUR II: Novel AI-Powered Imaging Technique Noninferior to IVUS in PCI

American College of Cardiology

PCI guided by a novel, artificial-intelligence-powered (AI) method of angiographic fractional flow reserve (FFR) assessment known as AngioFFR, which calculates FFR from a single-view angiogram of the coronary arteries, was noninferior to IVUS for outcomes in patients with significant stenosis, according to new research presented during a Late-Breaking Clinical Trial session at ACC.25 in Chicago and simultaneously published in the The Lancet.

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Pharmacists delivering hypertension care services: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine

BackgroundCommunity-based models of care with the involvement of pharmacists and other nonphysician healthcare professionals can help improve blood pressure (BP) control. We aimed to synthesize the evidence of effectiveness of pharmacist interventions on BP among patients with hypertension.MethodsWe performed systematic searches to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing the effect of pharmacist interventions on BP among outpatients (latest search, March 2024).

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Heart failure in low-income and middle-income countries

Heart BMJ

Heart failure (HF) is a complex syndrome which leads to significant morbidity and mortality, poor quality of life and extremely high costs to healthcare systems worldwide. Although progress in the management of HF in high-income countries is leading to an overall reduction in the incidence and mortality of HF, there is a starkly different scenario in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

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Amvuttra Arrives for ATTR-CM with a High Asking Price

CardiacWire

Its not surprising that Alnylams Amvuttra (vutrisiran) received FDA approval for ATTR-CM last week, but what shocked many was Alnylams choice to price the drug at nearly half a million dollars per year in a segment where its incumbent competitors cost half as much. Amvuttra is now the third FDA-approved therapy for ATTR-CM, following Pfizers Vyndaqel and BridgeBios Attruby/Beyonttra.

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Navigating Biologic Treatment Selection in Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis

HCPLive

Panelists discuss how selecting among the numerous approved biologic therapies for psoriasis requires a personalized approach that weighs factors such as efficacy data, safety profiles, comorbidities, insurance coverage, and administration preferences, with patient preferences playing a crucial role in the decision-making process, as involving patients in treatment selection enhances medication adherence and satisfaction and ultimately improves long-term outcomes.