News &amp; Updates

Use of systemic sirolimus therapy (SST) provides a survival benefit in infants and children with moderate-to-severe pulmonary vein stenosis (PVS) that persists even after adjusting the analysis for survival bias, a study has found.

Sirolimus improves survival in paediatric pulmonary vein stenosis

BP increases with age, but medication helps

09 Jun 2021 by

A positive association exists between blood pressure (BP) and age, with nearly threefold variation across subgroups, indicating differences in biology, behaviour, or exposures, reports a study. However, use of antihypertensive medication strongly attenuates this association and weakens the variation.

BP increases with age, but medication helps

Moderate aortic stenosis ups death risk in HFrEF patients

Moderate aortic stenosis (AS) has been linked to a significantly higher risk of mortality in patients with heart failure (HF) with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF; HFrEF), reveals a study. Aortic valve replacement (AVR), especially transcatheter AVR during follow-up, appears to improve survival in patients with HFrEF and moderate AS.

Moderate aortic stenosis ups death risk in HFrEF patients

HbA1c identifies people at risk of subclinical atherosclerosis

Routine use of glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) helps pinpoint asymptomatic individuals who are at greater risk of subclinical atherosclerosis (SA) on top of traditional cardiovascular risk factors (CVRFs), according to a study.

HbA1c identifies people at risk of subclinical atherosclerosis

Congestion modifies association between loop diuretic prescription, outcomes in heart failure

Admission congestion with worse, neutral, and better outcomes in patients with no, mild-to-moderate, and severe congestion, respectively, modifies the association between a discharge loop diuretic prescription and long-term clinical outcomes in hospitalized patients with heart failure, reveals a study.

Congestion modifies association between loop diuretic prescription, outcomes in heart failure

Smoking during pregnancy puts babies at risk of congenital heart disease

Infants born to mothers who smoked while pregnant are at heightened risk of developing congenital heart disease (CHD), a study suggests.

Smoking during pregnancy puts babies at risk of congenital heart disease

BPA effective for residual pulmonary hypertension, but carries higher burden of complications

Balloon pulmonary angioplasty (BPA) seems to be an effective intervention against residual pulmonary hypertension after pulmonary endarterectomy, but comes with a high risk of haemoptysis, a recent study has found.

BPA effective for residual pulmonary hypertension, but carries higher burden of complications

Cumulative marijuana use not linked to subclinical atherosclerosis

07 Jun 2021 by

There appears to be no link between the average population level of marijuana use and subclinical atherosclerosis in a middle-aged population in the US, according to a recent study. However, tobacco smoking remains strongly associated with increased carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT).

Cumulative marijuana use not linked to subclinical atherosclerosis

Animal protein tied to higher circulating trimethylamine N-oxide

An increased circulating trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) is consistently associated with animal protein consumption, whereas TMAO associations with fish, shellfish, eggs, and red meat intakes vary among populations, according to a study. TMAO is a diet-derived, gut microbial-host cometabolite that has been linked to cardiometabolic diseases.

Animal protein tied to higher circulating trimethylamine N-oxide

Renal denervation: An adjunct for treating drug-resistant hypertension?

07 Jun 2021 by

Ultrasound renal denervation (RDN) offers a blood-pressure (BP) lowering benefit for individuals with triple drug-resistant hypertension compared with a sham procedure, according to the RADIANCE-HTN TRIO trial presented at ACC.21.

Renal denervation: An adjunct for treating drug-resistant hypertension?