Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems

Review Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems

Epicardial adipose tissue in contemporary cardiology

Gianluca Iacobellis

Summary: There is growing interest in the role of epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) in cardiovascular disease. EAT has a protective effect on the myocardium through thermogenic function and can also be harmful by secreting inflammatory and fibrotic cytokines. EAT may also be involved in COVID-19-related cardiac syndrome. It is a modifiable risk factor that can be assessed using different imaging techniques.

NATURE REVIEWS CARDIOLOGY (2022)

Article Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems

Prevalence of statin intolerance: a meta-analysis

Ibadete Bytyci, Peter E. Penson, Dimitri P. Mikhailidis, Nathan D. Wong, Adrian Hernandez, Amirhossein Sahebkar, Paul D. Thompson, Mohsen Mazidi, Jacek Rysz, Daniel Pella, Zeljko Reiner, Peter P. Toth, Maciej Banach

Summary: This meta-analysis estimated the overall prevalence of statin intolerance (SI) and found that female gender, hypothyroidism, high statin dose, advanced age, antiarrhythmics, and obesity are the main risk factors for SI.

EUROPEAN HEART JOURNAL (2022)

Article Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems

TET2-Driven Clonal Hematopoiesis and Response to Canakinumab An Exploratory Analysis of the CANTOS Randomized Clinical Trial

Eric C. Svensson, Aviv Madar, Catarina D. Campbell, Yunsheng He, Marc Sultan, Margaret L. Healey, Huilei Xu, Katie D'Aco, Anita Fernandez, Clarisse Wache-Mainier, Peter Libby, Paul M. Ridker, Michael T. Beste, Craig T. Basson

Summary: This study investigated whether individuals with CHIP have a greater reduction in cardiovascular events in response to IL-1 beta neutralization therapy.

JAMA CARDIOLOGY (2022)

Editorial Material Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems

The Global Burden of Cardiovascular Diseases and Risk A Compass for Future Health

Muthiah Vaduganathan, George A. Mensah, Justine Varieur Turco, Valentin Fuster, Gregory A. Roth

JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF CARDIOLOGY (2022)

Article Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems

4-Year Outcomes After Left Atrial Appendage Closure Versus Nonwarfarin Oral Anticoagulation for Atrial Fibrillation

Pavel Osmancik, Dalibor Herman, Petr Neuzil, Pavel Hala, Milos Taborsky, Petr Kala, Martin Poloczek, Josef Stasek, Ludek Haman, Marian Branny, Jan Chovancik, Pavel Cervinka, Jiri Holy, Tomas Kovarnik, David Zemanek, Stepan Havranek, Vlastimil Vancura, Petr Peichl, Petr Tousek, Veronika Lekesova, Jiri Jarkovsky, Martina Novackova, Klara Benesova, Petr Widimsky, Vivek Y. Reddy

Summary: The long-term follow-up of the PRAGUE-17 trial demonstrates that left atrial appendage closure is noninferior to direct oral anticoagulants in preventing major cardiovascular, neurological, or bleeding events, and it significantly reduces nonprocedural bleeding.

JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF CARDIOLOGY (2022)

Review Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems

Therapeutic strategies targeting inflammation and immunity in atherosclerosis: how to proceed?

Suzanne E. Engelen, Alice J. B. Robinson, Yasemin-Xiomara Zurke, Claudia Monaco

Summary: This review provides an overview of the role of the immune system in atherosclerosis. By discussing findings from preclinical research and clinical trials, it reveals the potential and challenges of targeting inflammation and the immune system in the treatment of atherosclerosis.

NATURE REVIEWS CARDIOLOGY (2022)

Article Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems

SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination and Myocarditis in a Nordic Cohort Study of 23 Million Residents

Oystein Karlstad, Petteri Hovi, Anders Husby, Tommi Harkanen, Randi Marie Selmer, Nicklas Pihlstrom, Jorgen Vinslov Hansen, Hanna Nohynek, Nina Gunnes, Anders Sundstrom, Jan Wohlfahrt, Tuomo A. Nieminen, Maria Grunewald, Hanne Lovdal Gulseth, Anders Hviid, Rickard Ljung

Summary: Results of this large cohort study indicated that both first and second doses of mRNA vaccines were associated with an increased risk of myocarditis and pericarditis, especially in males aged 16 to 24. These findings are important for vaccine recipients and highlight the need to balance the risks and benefits of COVID-19 vaccination.

JAMA CARDIOLOGY (2022)

Article Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems

The Impact of Sex and Gender on Stroke

Kathryn M. Rexrode, Tracy E. Madsen, Amy Y. X. Yu, Cheryl Carcel, Judith H. Lichtman, Eliza C. Miller

Summary: Women bear a disproportionate burden of stroke mortality and disability. Both biological sex and sociocultural gender contribute to differences in stroke risk factors, assessment, treatment, and outcomes. This review outlines the current knowledge of the impact of sex and gender on stroke, while also identifying research gaps and areas for future inquiry.

CIRCULATION RESEARCH (2022)

Review Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems

Genomic frontiers in congenital heart disease

Sarah U. Morton, Daniel Quiat, Jonathan G. Seidman, Christine E. Seidman

Summary: Next-generation sequencing has provided new insights into the causes and mechanisms of congenital heart disease (CHD) by identifying damaging gene variants and shared pathways in organogenesis. Developmental single-cell transcriptomic data demonstrate the expression of CHD-associated genes in specific cell lineages, while genetic variants may disrupt multicellular interactions crucial for cardiogenesis.

NATURE REVIEWS CARDIOLOGY (2022)

Article Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems

Non-linear Mendelian randomization analyses support a role for vitamin D deficiency in cardiovascular disease risk

Ang Zhou, Joseph B. Selvanayagam, Elina Hypponen

Summary: The study found a non-linear association between genetically predicted serum 25(OH)D concentration and CVD risk, with CVD risk initially decreasing steeply with increasing concentrations and leveling off at around 50 nmol/L. Correction of serum 25(OH)D level below 50 nmol/L was predicted to result in a 4.4% reduction in CVD incidence.

EUROPEAN HEART JOURNAL (2022)

Article Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems

Third dose of the BNT162b2 vaccine in heart transplant recipients: Immunogenicity and clinical experience

Yael Peled, Eilon Ram, Jacob Lavee, Amit Segev, Shlomi Matezki, Anat Wieder-Finesod, Rebecca Halperin, Michal Mandelboim, Victoria Indenbaum, Itzchak Levy, Leonid Sternik, Ehud Raanani, Arnon Afek, Yitshak Kreiss, Yaniv Lustig, Galia Rahav

Summary: This study investigated the safety and immunogenicity of a third dose of the Pfizer BNT162b2 vaccine in heart transplant patients. The results showed that the third dose had a low rate of adverse events and elicited a strong immune response.

JOURNAL OF HEART AND LUNG TRANSPLANTATION (2022)

Editorial Material Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems

Combination lipid-lowering therapy as first-line strategy in very high-risk patients

Kausik K. Ray, Laurens F. Reeskamp, Ulrich Laufs, Maciej Banach, Francois Mach, Lale S. Tokgozoglu, Derek L. Connolly, Anja J. Gerrits, Erik S. G. Stroes, Luis Masana, John J. P. Kastelein

EUROPEAN HEART JOURNAL (2022)

Review Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems

Inflammation, Aging, and Cardiovascular Disease JACC Review Topic of the Week

Luca Liberale, Lina Badimon, Fabrizio Montecucco, Thomas F. Luscher, Peter Libby, Giovanni G. Camici

Summary: Aging and inflammation both play key roles in cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, recognizing the concept of inflamm-aging can lead to new therapeutic targets and options for the growing aging population. This review discusses recent scientific advances in understanding the pathways of inflamm-aging and its potential implications in clinical practice.

JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF CARDIOLOGY (2022)

Review Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems

Antiplatelet therapy after percutaneous coronary intervention

Dominick J. Angiolillo, Mattia Galli, Jean-Philippe Collet, Adnan Kastrati, Michelle L. O'Donoghue

Summary: Antiplatelet therapy is crucial for reducing thrombotic complications and ischemic events in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI), but it is also associated with increased risk of bleeding. Advances in stent technologies and understanding of bleeding risks have led to the development of personalized antiplatelet treatment regimens. Recent research and guidelines have provided several options for antiplatelet therapy after PCI.

EUROINTERVENTION (2022)

Article Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems

Comparative effects of guided vs. potent P2Y(12) inhibitor therapy in acute coronary syndrome: a network meta-analysis of 61 898 patients from 15 randomized trials

Mattia Galli, Stefano Benenati, Francesco Franchi, Fabiana Rollini, Davide Capodanno, Giuseppe Biondi-Zoccai, Giovanni Maria Vescovo, Larisa H. Cavallari, Behnood Bikdeli, Jurrien ten Berg, Roxana Mehran, Charles Michael Gibson, Filippo Crea, Naveen L. Pereira, Dirk Sibbing, Dominick J. Angiolillo

Summary: This study evaluates the safety and efficacy of guided vs. routine selection of potent P2Y(12) inhibitors in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). The findings suggest that a guided selection of P2Y(12) inhibiting therapy provides a more favorable balance between safety and efficacy compared to routine selection.

EUROPEAN HEART JOURNAL (2022)

Review Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems

The role of cardiac rehabilitation in improving cardiovascular outcomes

Rod S. Taylor, Hasnain M. Dalal, Sinead T. J. McDonagh

Summary: Cardiac rehabilitation is crucial for improving the functional capacity, wellbeing, and quality of life of patients with heart disease. Global access to cardiac rehabilitation remains poor, and future research should focus on extending its applications in various indications.

NATURE REVIEWS CARDIOLOGY (2022)

Review Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems

Coronary flow reserve and cardiovascular outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Mihir A. Kelshiker, Henry Seligman, James P. Howard, Haseeb Rahman, Michael Foley, Alexandra N. Nowbar, Christopher A. Rajkumar, Matthew J. Shun-Shin, Yousif Ahmad, Sayan Sen, Rasha Al-Lamee, Ricardo Petraco

Summary: This meta-analysis aims to quantify the association between reduced coronary flow and all-cause mortality and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). The results show that abnormal coronary flow reserve (CFR) is associated with higher incidence of all-cause mortality and MACE. Each 0.1 unit reduction in CFR is associated with a proportional increase in mortality and MACE.

EUROPEAN HEART JOURNAL (2022)

Review Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems

Biomarkers for the diagnosis and management of heart failure

Vincenzo Castiglione, Alberto Aimo, Giuseppe Vergaro, Luigi Saccaro, Claudio Passino, Michele Emdin

Summary: Heart failure is a significant global health issue, and NPs are effective biomarkers for HF, with high-sensitivity troponins and soluble suppression of tumorigenesis-2 showing promise for risk stratification.

HEART FAILURE REVIEWS (2022)

Article Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems

Gut microbiota dysbiosis promotes age-related atrial fibrillation by lipopolysaccharide and glucose-induced activation of NLRP3-inflammasome

Yun Zhang, Song Zhang, Bolin Li, Yingchun Luo, Yongtai Gong, Xuexin Jin, Jiawei Zhang, Yun Zhou, Xiaozhen Zhuo, Zixi Wang, Xinbo Zhao, Xuejie Han, Yunlong Gao, Hui Yu, Desen Liang, Shiqi Zhao, Danghui Sun, Dingyu Wang, Wei Xu, Guangjin Qu, Wanlan Bo, Dan Li, Yue Wu, Yue Li

Summary: By using a faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) rat model, it was demonstrated that the high AF susceptibility of aged rats could be transmitted to a young host. Inhibition of inflammasome by a potent and selective inhibitor of the NLRP3 inflammasome resulted in a lower atrial fibrosis and AF susceptibility. Clinical studies showed that serum LPS and glucose levels were progressively increased in elderly patients compared to young individuals, with similar results confirmed in clinical AF patients.

CARDIOVASCULAR RESEARCH (2022)

Article Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems

Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter 2 Inhibitors and Risk of Hyperkalemia in People With Type 2 Diabetes: A Meta-Analysis of Individual Participant Data From Randomized, Controlled Trials

Brendon L. Neuen, Megumi Oshima, Rajiv Agarwal, Clare Arnott, David Z. Cherney, Robert Edwards, Anna Maria Langkilde, Kenneth W. Mahaffey, Darren K. McGuire, Bruce Neal, Vlado Perkovic, Annpey Pong, Marc S. Sabatine, Itamar Raz, Tadashi Toyama, Christoph Wanner, David C. Wheeler, Stephen D. Wiviott, Bernard Zinman, Hiddo J. L. Heerspink

Summary: SGLT2 inhibitors reduce the risk of serious hyperkalemia in people with type 2 diabetes at high cardiovascular risk or with chronic kidney disease without increasing the risk of hypokalemia.

CIRCULATION (2022)