Catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (CPVT) and short QT syndrome (SQTS) are inherited arrhythmogenic disorders that can cause sudden death. Numerous genes have been reported to cause these conditions, but evidence supporting these gene–disease relationships varies considerably. To ensure appropriate utilization of genetic information for CPVT and SQTS patients, we applied an evidence-based

British Heart Foundation10.13039/501100000274FS/16/15/32047, TG/19/2/34831, and RG/F/21/110040National Institute for Health Research Oxford Biomedical Research Centre (Oxford, United Kingdom)

Professor Karen Sliwa, Director of the Cape Heart Institute (CHI) at the University of Cape Town (UCT), met with her long-time collaborator, Professor Ana Mocumbi, Vice-President of the Mozambican Institute for Health Education and Research (MIHER) on a recent visit to Mozambique (June 2021).

All correspondence relating to this paper should be sent to: cardiopulse@unicatt.it. Mark Nicholls reports on the controversy surrounding left main revascularization and the hope that the Gulf between cardiologists and cardiac surgeons on the topic can begin to close.

All correspondence relating to this paper should be sent to: cardiopulse@unicatt.it.

The first case of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the USA was reported on 19 January 2020. Over the ensuing months, the virus spread throughout the country and a national emergency was declared on 13 March 2020. There was a significant burden on healthcare services related to the pandemic, with a parallel decline in patients seeking healthcare services for non-coronavirus-related illnesses.

Intimal hyperplasia is a common feature of vascular remodeling disorders. Accumulation of synthetic smooth muscle cell (SMC)-like cells is the main underlying cause. Current therapeutic approaches including drug-eluting stents are not perfect due to the toxicity on endothelial cells and novel therapeutic strategies are needed. Our preliminary screening for dysregulated cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases

Inflammation orchestrates each stage of the life cycle of atherosclerotic plaques. Indeed, inflammatory mediators likely link many traditional and emerging risk factors with atherogenesis. Atheroma initiation involves endothelial activation with recruitment of leukocytes to the arterial intima, where they interact with lipoproteins or their derivatives that have accumulated in this layer. The prolonged

Calcification is an independent predictor of atherosclerosis-related cardiovascular events. Microcalcification is linked to inflamed, unstable lesions, in comparison to the fibrotic stable plaque phenotype generally associated with advanced calcification. This paradox relates to recognition that calcification presents in a wide spectrum of manifestations that differentially impact plaque’s fate. Macrophages

Research on the pathophysiology of right ventricular (RV) failure has, in spite of the associated high mortality and morbidity, lagged behind compared to the left ventricle (LV).

Recent preclinical and observational cohort studies have implicated imbalances in gut microbiota composition as a contributor to atrial fibrillation (AF). The gut microbiota is a complex and dynamic ecosystem containing trillions of microorganisms, which produces bioactive metabolites influencing host health and disease development. In addition to host-specific determinants, lifestyle-related factors

The field of cardiac cell therapy is under siege. Legacies of excessive hype, scientific misconduct and dead ends have fuelled the prevailing scepticism. However, promising clinical data, along with more trenchant mechanistic understanding, together provide glimmers of hope for the future of cell therapy for the heart.

Rationale: Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a permanent and localized dilatation of abdominal aorta with potentially fatal consequence of aortic rupture. No effective pharmacological approach has been identified to limit AAA progression and rupture. AAA is characterized by extensive aortic wall matrix degradation that contributes to arterial wall remodeling and eventual rupture, in which smooth muscle

Rationale: Nitric oxide (NO) produced by endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) protects against myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury (I/R). However, reperfusion of myocardium results in superoxide (O2•−) generation, which promotes eNOS glutathionylation that produces O2•− instead of NO. It is unclear whether glutathionylated eNOS (SG-eNOS) continues to produce O2•− indefinitely or undergoes a

Importance Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Most observational studies on the association between LDL-C and CVD have focused on LDL-C level at a single time point (usually in middle or older age), and few studies have characterized long-term exposures to LDL-C and their role in CVD risk. Objective To evaluate the associations of cumulative

Importance Enhanced ventricular interdependence is a highly sensitive and specific criterion for the diagnosis of constrictive pericarditis (CP), but simultaneous ventricular measurements can be challenging at cardiac catheterization. Ejection times (ETs) correlate with stroke volumes and can be easily measured from arterial pressure tracings. Objective To assess respirophasic changes in pulmonary

Constrictive pericarditis (CP) and restrictive cardiomyopathy (RCM) are serious disorders that share common pathophysiologic elements including biventricular diastolic dysfunction, elevated biatrial pressures, and reduced resting cardiac output. Yet, while these 2 disorders have similar clinical presentations, they are caused by very different pathologic processes, which have distinct implications

Importance The recognition of the pulmonary circulation is a complex evolution in medical history and draws on theories across eras and cultures. Observations This narrative review summarizes evidence suggesting that the recognition of pulmonary circulation is older than the time of Ibn Nafis. The theory of pulmonary circulation originated in ancient Persia (ad 224-637), was overshadowed by Greek theory

A woman in her mid-60s, who was in remission following successful combination chemotherapy for Burkitt lymphoma 8 years previously, presented with dyspnea, fatigue, general malaise, and presyncope. On examination, she was normotensive, afebrile, and clinically euvolemic. Laboratory testing showed a hemoglobin level of 12.1 g/dL (to convert to grams per liter, multiply by 10), white blood cell count

Decades of research have demonstrated that low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) is a causative factor in the development of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, and lipid-lowering therapy can dramatically reduce this risk. Yet exactly when to begin lipid-lowering therapy has not been well demarcated. Atherosclerotic lesions develop slowly over many years, if not decades. However, guidelines

This editorial refers to ‘Cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging in suspected cardiac tumour: a multicentre outcomes study’, by C. Shenoy et al., doi:10.1093/eurheartj/ehab635.

Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging is a key diagnostic tool for the evaluation of patients with suspected cardiac tumours. Patient management is guided by the CMR diagnosis, including no further testing if a mass is excluded or if only a pseudomass is found. However, there are no outcomes studies validating this approach.

This editorial refers to ‘Predictors of mortality in thrombotic thrombocytopenia after adenoviral COVID-19 vaccination: the FAPIC score’, by J. Hwang et al., doi:10.1093/eurheartj/ehab592 and ‘Immune complexes, innate immunity, and NETosis in ChAdOx1 vaccine-induced thrombocytopenia’, by S. Holm et al., doi:10.1093/eurheartj/ehab506.

This commentary refers to ‘Cardiac mortality in patients randomised to elective coronary revascularisation plus medical therapy or medical therapy alone: a systematic review and meta-analysis’, by E.P. Navarese et al., doi:10.1093/eurheartj/ehab246; ‘When a meta-analysis equals a single large-scale trial with meaningful follow-up’, by E.P. Navarese et al., doi:10.1093/eurheartj/ehab460; and the discussion

Abstract AimsThe clinical manifestation and outcomes of thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS) after adenoviral COVID-19 vaccine administration are largely unknown due to the rare nature of the disease. We aimed to analyse the clinical presentation, treatment modalities, outcomes, and prognostic factors of adenoviral TTS, as well as identify predictors for mortality. Methods and ResultsPubMed

This commentary refers to ‘Cardiac mortality in patients randomised to elective coronary revascularisation plus medical therapy or medical therapy alone: a systematic review and meta-analysis’, by E.P. Navarese et al., doi:10.1093/eurheartj/ehab246; ‘In the pool: dilution or drowning?’, by V. Dayan et al., doi:10.1093/eurheartj/ehab443; ‘When a meta-analysis equals a single large-scale trial with meaningful

Rationale: Fetal growth and survival depend critically on proper development and integrity of the vascular system. Fli1 (Friend leukemia integration 1), a member of the Ets family of transcription factors, plays critical roles in vascular morphogenesis and homeostasis at mid-gestation, the developmental stage at which expression of its upstream regulator, Etv2, ceases. However, molecular mechanisms

Background:Early detection of coronary atherosclerosis using coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA), in addition to coronary artery calcification (CAC) scoring, may help inform prevention strategies. We used CCTA to determine the prevalence, severity, and characteristics of coronary atherosclerosis and its association with CAC scores in a general population.Methods:We recruited 30 154 randomly

Background:Individuals with left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy and elevated cardiac biomarkers in middle age are at increased risk for the development of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. Prolonged exercise training reverses the LV stiffening associated with healthy but sedentary aging; however, whether it can also normalize LV myocardial stiffness in patients at high risk for heart failure

Background:Ischemia–reperfusion injury (IRI) is one of the major risk factors implicated in morbidity and mortality associated with cardiovascular disease. During cardiac ischemia, the buildup of acidic metabolites results in decreased intracellular and extracellular pH, which can reach as low as 6.0 to 6.5. The resulting tissue acidosis exacerbates ischemic injury and significantly affects cardiac

Background:Cardiovascular risk in diabetes remains elevated despite glucose-lowering therapies. We hypothesized that hyperglycemia induces trained immunity in macrophages, promoting persistent proatherogenic characteristics.Methods:Bone marrow–derived macrophages from control mice and mice with diabetes were grown in physiological glucose (5 mmol/L) and subjected to RNA sequencing (n=6), assay for

Coronary artery anomalies (CAAs) are a group of congenital conditions characterized by abnormal origin or course of any of the 3 main epicardial coronary arteries. Although CAAs have been identified as a common underlying condition in young athletes with sudden cardiac death, the widespread use of invasive and noninvasive coronary imaging has led to increased recognition of CAAs among adults. CAAS

Transcatheter mitral valve replacement (TMVR) is a new therapy for treating symptomatic mitral regurgitation (MR) and stenosis. The proposed benefit of TMVR is the predictable, complete elimination of MR, which is less certain with transcatheter repair technologies such as TEER (transcatheter edge-to-edge repair). The potential benefit of MR elimination with TMVR needs to be rigorously evaluated against

In the article by Redd et al, “Therapeutic Inhibition of Acid Sensing Ion Channel 1a Recovers Heart Function After Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury,” which published online on July 15, 2021, and appears in the September 21, 2021, issue of the journal (Circulation.2021;144:947–960. DOI: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.121.054360), a correction is needed. Di Xia, PhD was mistakenly omitted from the author list. The

In the article by Ren et al, “Letter by Ren et al Regarding Article, ‘Acute Heart Failure in Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children in the Context of Global SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic’” which appeared in the March 9, 2021, issue of the journal (Circulation.2021;143:e761–e762. DOI: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.120.051555), a correction is needed. The authors’ affiliation should be updated from “Department