IJC Heart and Vasculature最新文献

{"title":"Prognostic significance of subsequent decline in LVEF in heart failure with improved ejection fraction − A report from the CHART-2 study −","authors":"Takuya Takigahira ,&nbsp;Kotaro Nochioka ,&nbsp;Satoshi Miyata ,&nbsp;Takashi Shiroto ,&nbsp;Takumi Inoue ,&nbsp;Kai Susukita ,&nbsp;Hideka Hayashi ,&nbsp;Hiroyuki Takahama ,&nbsp;Jun Takahashi ,&nbsp;Hiroaki Shimokawa ,&nbsp;Satoshi Yasuda","doi":"10.1016/j.ijcha.2026.101877","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijcha.2026.101877","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Some patients of heart failure with improved ejection fraction (HFimpEF) have subsequent decline in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) after improvement, and their prognosis is uncertain.</div></div><div><h3>Aims</h3><div>We aimed to examine the clinical characteristics and long-term prognosis of this sub-population of HFimpEF.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>We examined 399 consecutive patients with HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF, LVEF ≤ 40 %) with LVEF data at both baseline and follow-up in the CHART-2 Study. We classified them as follows; persistent HFrEF group (LVEF ≤ 40 % at 1-year and 2-year follow-up, n = 238), temporary HFimpEF group (≥10 % increase from baseline with LVEF &gt; 40 % at 1-year follow-up but LVEF ≤ 40 % at 2-year follow-up, n = 22), and persistent HFimpEF group (≥10 % increase from baseline with LVEF &gt; 40 % at 1-year follow-up, and LVEF &gt; 40 % at 2-year follow-up, n = 139).</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The temporary HFimpEF group (adjusted hazard ratio: 2.95; 95 % CI: 1.55–5.63) and the persistent HFrEF group (2.53; 1.75–3.67) were associated with increased risks for the composite of cardiovascular death and HF hospitalization. The risk factors for decline in LVEF included LVEF (adjusted odds ratio: 0.80; 95 %CI: 0.69–0.90), LV end-diastolic dimension (LVDd) (1.14; 1.05–1.25), B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels (1.04 per 10 pg/mL increase; 1.00–1.08), estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) levels (0.95; 0.92–0.99) and serum sodium levels (0.70; 0.50–0.91) at 1-year follow-up.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>These results indicate that patients with HFrecEF account for 23% of those with HFrEF and that 12% of them have subsequent decline in LVEF associated with similar worse prognosis as in those with persistent HFrEF.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":38026,"journal":{"name":"IJC Heart and Vasculature","volume":"62 ","pages":"Article 101877"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146022365","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The efficacy of carvedilol in improving cardiac function and survival in patients with anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity: a comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis","authors":"Sabahat Ul Ain Munir Abbasi ,&nbsp;Riya Bhagwan ,&nbsp;Aamna Rehman ,&nbsp;Neha Malik ,&nbsp;Sanya Ashraf Khaskheli ,&nbsp;Najaf Ahmed Rajpar ,&nbsp;Rayyan Nabi ,&nbsp;Ayesha Amir Basra ,&nbsp;Shehdev Meghwar ,&nbsp;Raheel Ahmed ,&nbsp;Kalpana Singh","doi":"10.1016/j.ijcha.2025.101862","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijcha.2025.101862","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Anthracyclines (ANT) are widely used in chemotherapy, but their dose-dependent Cardiotoxicity limits long-term use. Carvedilol, a non-selective beta-blocker, has shown potential as a Cardioprotective agent for patients receiving ANT, though its overall effectiveness remains unclear. This systematic review and <em>meta</em>-analysis aimed to assess the impact of carvedilol on cardiac function and survival in patients with anthracycline-induced Cardiotoxicity.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>We performed a comprehensive search of major electronic databases through March 2025 for studies comparing carvedilol with placebo or no treatment in human subjects with ANT-Induced Cardiotoxicity. Primary outcomes included left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD), left ventricular systolic and diastolic diameters (LVsD, LVdD), and mortality. Secondary outcomes included echocardiographic and Doppler parameters. Random-effects models were used to calculate standard mean differences (SMDs) and risk ratios (RR) using RevMan 5.4.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>A total of fourteen studies were included, thirteen in the <em>meta</em>-analysis and one in the systematic review only, comprising 1,245 participants (carvedilol: 679; control: 566). Carvedilol significantly preserved LVEF (SMD: 0.33, 95% CI: 0.09, 0.58) and reduced the risk of LVSD (RR: 0.26, 95% CI: 0.11, 0.62). It also decreased systolic (SMD: −0.39, 95% CI: −0.53, −0.26) as well as diastolic ventricular diameter (SMD: −0.19, 95% CI: −0.38, −0.00). However, no significant difference in short-term mortality was observed.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Carvedilol appears to protect cardiac function in patients undergoing ANT therapy, though it does not significantly impact mortality. Further research is needed to determine optimal dosing, timing, and long-term survival benefits.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":38026,"journal":{"name":"IJC Heart and Vasculature","volume":"62 ","pages":"Article 101862"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145924276","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Comparison of efficacy and safety between TIcagrelor and clopidogrel in Chinese patients with acute coronary syndrome (COSTIC study)","authors":"Man Huang ,&nbsp;Yang Sun ,&nbsp;Ke Li ,&nbsp;Ting Yu ,&nbsp;Hu Zhao ,&nbsp;Min Tao ,&nbsp;Xiuli Song ,&nbsp;Linlin Wang ,&nbsp;Xin Xu ,&nbsp;Yanghui Chen ,&nbsp;Guanglin Cui ,&nbsp;Hu Ding ,&nbsp;Jiangtao Yan ,&nbsp;Jiangang Jiang ,&nbsp;Hesong Zeng ,&nbsp;Yan Wang ,&nbsp;Xiaoqing Shen ,&nbsp;Hong Wang ,&nbsp;Dao Wen Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.ijcha.2026.101868","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijcha.2026.101868","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Ticagrelor is recommended as the preferred antiplatelet agent for patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS), which is controversial in East Asians, Chinese patients in particular. This study aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of ticagrelor vs. clopidogrel in Chinese ACS patients following coronary stenting.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Between August 2014 and October 2020, COSTIC recruited 9,040 patients prescribed with ticagrelor or clopidogrel. Applying propensity score matching, ticagrelor was compared with clopidogrel for 1-year risks of the primary efficacy endpoint (a composite of cardiovascular (CV) death, myocardial infarction and stroke) and bleeding endpoint.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The risk of the primary efficacy endpoint was comparable between the two groups but numerically higher after clopidogrel at 6 months (HR, 1.33 [95 % CI, 0.98–1.80]; <em>P</em> = 0.07). Clopidogrel was associated with high incidences of CV death (HR, 1.49 [95 % CI, 1.04–2.15]; <em>P</em> = 0.03 at 6 months; HR, 1.42 [95 % CI, 1.04–1.93]; <em>P</em> = 0.02 at 12 months) and all-cause death (HR, 1.43 [95 % CI, 1.02–1.99]; <em>P</em> = 0.04 at 6 months). BARC type 3 or 5 bleeding (OR, 0.60 [95 % CI, 0.40–0.88]; <em>P</em> = 0.008 at 6 months; OR, 0.71 [95 % CI, 0.52–0.96]; <em>P</em> = 0.03 at 12 months) and BARC type 2 bleeding risks (OR, 0.47 [95 % CI, 0.34–0.66] at 1 month, OR, 0.41 [95 % CI, 0.32–0.52] at 6 months, OR, 0.43 [95 % CI, 0.35–0.53] at 12 months, <em>P</em> &lt; 0.001 at 1, 6 and 12 months) were higher with ticagrelor, as compared to clopidogrel. In terms of the net clinical benefit events, clopidogrel was comparable to ticagrelor in the total cohort.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Among Chinese ACS patients with successful PCI, ticagrelor did not significantly reduce the risk of major ischemic events; instead, it was associated with a significant elevation bleeding risk.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":38026,"journal":{"name":"IJC Heart and Vasculature","volume":"62 ","pages":"Article 101868"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145924278","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Anteroposterior versus anterolateral pacer pad position in patients with symptomatic bradycardia","authors":"Andreas Goldschmied ,&nbsp;Manuel Sigle ,&nbsp;Ioannis Toskas ,&nbsp;Mirac Senel ,&nbsp;Livia Dingemann ,&nbsp;Malte Kranert ,&nbsp;Tobias Harm ,&nbsp;Meinrad Gawaz ,&nbsp;Michal Droppa ,&nbsp;Andreas Brendlin ,&nbsp;Karin Anne Lydia Mueller","doi":"10.1016/j.ijcha.2025.101857","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijcha.2025.101857","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>Transcutaneous cardiac pacing (TCP) is an important emergency treatment option in patients with symptomatic bradycardia. With the help of a portable pulse generator an electrical current is delivered through the patient́s thorax in order to induce ventricular contractions. Data on patients in sinus rhythm suggests favorable pacing thresholds when using an anteroposterior (AP) compared to an anterolateral (AL) pacer pad positioning. However, evidence in bradycardic patients is lacking.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>We conducted a prospective crossover clinical study which included 16 patients with symptomatic bradycardia. Patients received consecutive TCP in an AP and AL position under sedoanalgesia. TCP was carried out in an AP and an AL pacer pad position if patients were hemodynamically stable (systolic blood pressure &gt; 90 mmHg). Minimal required current and other variables were noted for both pacer pad positions and Wilcoxon Signed Rank tests were used to compare differences.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>We did not overserve a significant difference in minimal required pacing current between the AP and AL pacer pad position (median threshold AP = 125 mA [±48], median threshold AL = 140 mA [±78], p = 0.53). However, a linear mixed-effects model revealed higher pacing thresholds in patients on beta blockers (B = 72.1, p &lt; 0.001, 95 % CI = 36.6–107.7) and with lower myocardial mass (B = -0.41, p &lt; 0.001, 95 % CI = −0.59- −0.23).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>We observed no significant difference in pacing thresholds between an AP and AL pacer pad position in patients with symptomatic bradycardia. These results do not align with prior work investigating a monitor with pulsed current delivery.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":38026,"journal":{"name":"IJC Heart and Vasculature","volume":"62 ","pages":"Article 101857"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145924394","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Clinical outcomes of SGLT2 inhibitor use in Thai patients with heart failure: a five-year retrospective cohort study","authors":"Thananan Chanchanayothin ,&nbsp;Chuttikan Klomwong ,&nbsp;Tanawit Saisri ,&nbsp;Suphasin Panudom ,&nbsp;Sakchai Chaiyamahapurk ,&nbsp;Nonthikorn Theerasuwipakorn ,&nbsp;Noppachai Siranart ,&nbsp;Patavee Pajareya ,&nbsp;Nattakorn Songsirisuk ,&nbsp;Chalinee Pravarnpat ,&nbsp;Akenarong Pipatputthapong ,&nbsp;Pongpun Jittham ,&nbsp;Paisit Kosum","doi":"10.1016/j.ijcha.2026.101873","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijcha.2026.101873","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction &amp; Objectives</h3><div>Heart failure is one of the major public health concerns and a leading cause of hospitalization and mortality worldwide, including in Thailand. Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) have demonstrated significant cardiovascular benefits in clinical trials. This study aimed to evaluate the real-world effectiveness of SGLT2i in reducing all-cause mortality and heart failure hospitalization among patients with heart failure at Naresuan University Hospital.</div></div><div><h3>Materials &amp; Methods</h3><div>This retrospective cohort study included patients newly diagnosed with heart failure at Naresuan University Hospital between January 1, 2019, and December 31, 2023. Patients were divided into those who received SGLT2i and those who did not. The primary outcome was a composite of all-cause mortality and hospitalization for worsening heart failure. Rate ratios were calculated using multilevel mixed-effects Poisson regression, adjusting for baseline characteristics.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>A total of 1,378 patients were included (1,080 SGLT2i visits; 5,243 non-SGLT2i visits). The proportion of patients with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF ≤ 40%) was higher in the SGLT2i group than the non-SGLT2i group (39.9% vs. 29.4%, p &lt; 0.001). The SGLT2i group also had a higher prevalence of coronary artery disease, myopathy, and chronic kidney disease. Rate of composite outcome (death or heart failure hospitalization) was lower in the SGLT2i group (rate 10.93 per 100 vs. 17.58 per 100). The incidence of the composite outcome was significantly lower in the SGLT2i group compared to the non-SGLT2i group (rate ratio 0.60, 95% CI: 0.42–0.87; p = 0.006). The all-cause mortality rate in the SGLT2i group was markedly lower (rate ratio 0.02, 95% CI: 0.00–0.18; p = 0.001), while heart failure hospitalization showed a favorable trend without reaching statistical significance.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>SGLT2i were associated with a significantly lower risk of death and heart failure hospitalization in this real-world cohort of Thai heart failure patients. These findings reinforce the clinical benefits of SGLT2i and support their broader implementation in heart failure management in Thailand.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":38026,"journal":{"name":"IJC Heart and Vasculature","volume":"62 ","pages":"Article 101873"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146022482","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The role of membranous septum length as a predictor for post-TAVR pacemaker implantation in patients with pre-existing RBBB","authors":"Ayman Jubran ,&nbsp;Raumil V Patel ,&nbsp;Denis Qeska ,&nbsp;Ragavie Manoragavan ,&nbsp;Issac Yang ,&nbsp;Anastasia Oikonomou ,&nbsp;Harindra C Wijeysundera","doi":"10.1016/j.ijcha.2025.101855","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijcha.2025.101855","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":38026,"journal":{"name":"IJC Heart and Vasculature","volume":"62 ","pages":"Article 101855"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145924279","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Association of elevated cyclic GMP levels with hemodynamic changes in HFrEF patients treated with sacubitril/valsartan and vericiguat: a pilot study","authors":"Takumi Inoue ,&nbsp;Hiroyuki Takahama ,&nbsp;Hideaki Suzuki ,&nbsp;Marina Arai ,&nbsp;Nobuhiro Kikuchi ,&nbsp;Taijyu Satoh ,&nbsp;Nobuhiro Yaoita ,&nbsp;Saori Yamamoto ,&nbsp;Kotaro Nochioka ,&nbsp;Makoto Nakano ,&nbsp;Shunsuke Tatebe ,&nbsp;Jun Takahashi ,&nbsp;Naoto Minamino ,&nbsp;Satoshi Yasuda","doi":"10.1016/j.ijcha.2025.101863","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijcha.2025.101863","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Patients with heart failure (HF) often present with a relative deficiency of cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) despite elevated B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels. Sacubitril/valsartan and vericiguat target the cGMP pathway, but the relative contribution of cardiac versus systemic cGMP production remains uncertain. This study evaluated the association between cGMP changes and hemodynamic changes in patients with HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) receiving these agents.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Fourteen symptomatic HFrEF patients (median age 65.0 [IQR: 56.0–72.3]years, EF 25.5 [24.0–33.3]%) and 20 control patients without HF (66.0 years, EF 66.5 %) were enrolled. Of the HFrEF patients, five received sacubitril/valsartan alone and nine received vericiguat (newly initiated or added to sacubitril/valsartan). All HFrEF patients underwent right heart catheterization before the treatment and two months after treatment. Blood samples were collected from the coronary sinus, arteries, and veins.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>HFrEF patients showed higher coronary sinus cGMP levels compared with controls (15.8 ± 1.7 vs. 10.9 ± 1.2 nM, p &lt; 0.05) but a markedly lower cGMP/BNP ratio (0.09 ± 0.02 vs. 1.71 ± 0.63, p &lt; 0.05), suggesting a relative cGMP deficiency. After the therapy, the cGMP/BNP ratio significantly increased (0.278, p &lt; 0.05). The change in coronary sinus cGMP correlated with improvement in cardiac index (r = 0.57, p = 0.039). cGMP levels rose consistently across all sampling sites, indicating a systemic augmentation of the cGMP pathway.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Elevation of cGMP levels were associated with hemodynamic improvement in HFrEF patients treated with sacubitril/valsartan and vericiguat. These findings highlight the therapeutic relevance of cGMP pathway augmentation and provide mechanistic insights aligned with the known clinical effects of these agents in HFrEF.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":38026,"journal":{"name":"IJC Heart and Vasculature","volume":"62 ","pages":"Article 101863"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145924323","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Circulating angiogenic progenitor cell apoptosis in Post-COVID-19 syndrome","authors":"Julia M. Kröpfl ,&nbsp;Christoph Hauser ,&nbsp;Luca Beugger ,&nbsp;Henner Hanssen ,&nbsp;Fabian Schwendinger ,&nbsp;Arno Schmidt-Trucksäss","doi":"10.1016/j.ijcha.2025.101866","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijcha.2025.101866","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Cellular endothelial dysfunction in patients recovering from Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) remains poorly understood. This study examined circulating angiogenic progenitor cells (CAC) and mature endothelial cells (CEC) in individuals with persistent symptoms following hospitalization for COVID-19 (PH-PCS) at ≥ 18-months post-infection.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>We compared PH-PCS (n = 14) to matched controls without symptomatic COVID-19 (n = 7). Examinations included macro- and microvascular structure and function and the analysis of CAC and CEC using flow cytometry.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Estimates indicated somewhat lower apoptotic CAC concentrations (mean difference[md] [95 %CI] = 0.050 cells/µl [0.003, 0.137], p = 0.084) and proportions (% total CAC, 7.7 percentage points (pp) [0.3, 12.9], p = 0.066) in patients compared to controls, though estimates were imprecise. Similar results were observed for apoptotic CEC concentrations (1.202 cells/µl [0.040, 7.518], p = 0.066) and proportions (% total CEC, 2.7 pp [0.2, 23.8], p = 0.048). Live CAC (−7.6 pp [-12.7, −1.1], p = 0.084) and live CEC proportions (−4.9 pp [–23.7, −0.3], p = 0.042) were somewhat enhanced in PH-PCS. Brachial-arterial flow-mediated dilation (baFMD) and retinal vessel imaging parameters showed little evidence for differences between groups, except for maximal arteriolar constriction, where estimates suggested on average higher values in PH-PCS (md [95 %CI] = 1.64 [0.050, 3.63], p = 0.084), but estimates were uncertain. Pooling PH-PCS and controls, correlations were observed between reduced baFMD and both elevated total CEC concentrations (ρ = -0.56, p = 0.038) and decreased apoptotic CAC proportions (ρ = 0.56, p = 0.042).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>This study suggests the possibility of unbalanced CAC and CEC apoptosis in PH-PCS, but with uncertain magnitude. The findings might inform hypothesis generation for future studies on (cellular) endothelial function in PH-PCS.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":38026,"journal":{"name":"IJC Heart and Vasculature","volume":"62 ","pages":"Article 101866"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145924277","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Syndecan-1, endocan and non-culprit coronary plaque composition following non-ST elevation myocardial infarction","authors":"Naomi E. Wattchow ,&nbsp;Thalia Salagaras ,&nbsp;Mau T. Nguyen ,&nbsp;Lauren Y.J. Sandeman ,&nbsp;Gemma A. Figtree ,&nbsp;Giuseppe Di Giovanni ,&nbsp;Dennis T.L. Wong ,&nbsp;Stephen J. Nicholls ,&nbsp;Christina A. Bursill ,&nbsp;Peter J. Psaltis","doi":"10.1016/j.ijcha.2025.101865","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijcha.2025.101865","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Syndecan-1 and endocan are biomarkers of endothelial damage, which associate with worse outcomes after myocardial infarction (MI). As it is unclear how this is mediated, we investigated how they associate with the composition of residual, non-culprit coronary atherosclerotic plaques following acute MI.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>This <em>post hoc</em> analysis of the COCOMO-ACS trial used serum samples from forty-five patients with non-ST elevation MI who underwent blood collection and optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging of non-culprit, lipid-rich coronary plaques at baseline and after a median of 17.8 months. Serum syndecan-1 and endocan concentrations at both time-points were measured by ELISA. Relationships between these biomarkers and OCT parameters of rupture-prone plaque were examined.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Serum levels of syndecan-1 (median 161.0 ng/mL at baseline vs 93.5 ng/mL at follow-up, P &lt; 0.0001) and endocan (225.7 pg/mL vs 191.2 pg/mL, P = 0.003) both decreased from time of MI to follow-up, with strong correlation between their changes (R² = 0.64, P &lt; 0.0001). Only syndecan-1 showed a weak negative correlation with minimum fibrous cap thickness at baseline (R² = 0.10, P = 0.03) and a weak positive correlation with maximum lipid arc at follow-up (R² = 0.14, P = 0.01). While syndecan-1 and endocan showed no relationship with plasma lipid concentrations, there were weak associations between follow-up syndecan-1 and interleukin-1-beta (R² = 0.21, P = 0.001), and follow-up endocan and interleukin-6 (R² = 0.15, P = 0.008).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Although serum syndecan-1 and endocan levels decreased in peripheral blood over time post-MI on guideline-directed therapy, this study identified only modest relationships between syndecan-1 (and not endocan) and OCT compositional characteristics of lipid-rich, rupture-prone plaque.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":38026,"journal":{"name":"IJC Heart and Vasculature","volume":"62 ","pages":"Article 101865"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145924324","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Cardiac conduction abnormalities in myotonic dystrophy type I: The ongoing value of the ECG","authors":"Mohammad Abumayyaleh,&nbsp;Tobias Schupp,&nbsp;Michael Behnes,&nbsp;Ibrahim Akin","doi":"10.1016/j.ijcha.2025.101860","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijcha.2025.101860","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":38026,"journal":{"name":"IJC Heart and Vasculature","volume":"62 ","pages":"Article 101860"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145977012","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}