Elevated plasma levels of Lp(a) [lipoprotein(a)] are a causal risk factor for coronary heart disease and stroke in European individuals, but the causal relevance of Lp(a) for different stroke types and in East Asian individuals with different Lp(a) genetic architecture is uncertain.

Fidelity of wound healing after myocardial infarction (MI) is an important determinant of subsequent adverse cardiac remodeling and failure. Macrophages derived from infiltrating Ly6Chi (lymphocyte antigen 6 complex, locus C) blood monocytes are a key component of this healing response; however, the importance of other macrophage populations is unclear.

Immune cells are closely associated with all processes of cardiac repair after myocardial infarction (MI), including the initiation, development, and resolution of inflammation. Spleen extramedullary hematopoiesis (EMH) serves as a crucial source of emergency mature blood cells that are generated through the self-renewal and differentiation of hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSPCs). However, how EMH responds to MI and the role of EMH in cardiac repair after MI remains unclear.

The ability of the American Heart Association Predicting Risk of Cardiovascular Disease Events (PREVENT) calculator to accurately assign 10-year atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk in older individuals, including those aged ≥80 years, is unknown. This study compares PREVENT with the 2013 Pooled Cohort Equation (PCE) calculator for predicting 10-year ASCVD risk in a large cohort of older adults.

Deep analgosedation (DAS) or general anesthesia (GA) is mandatory for pulsed-field ablation (PFA) of atrial fibrillation (AF). In contrast to DAS, GA (conventional or total intravenous anesthesia [TIVA]) requires airway management. To find the optimal sedation regimen, this study compared ketamine-remimazolam DAS and propofol-opioid TIVA to propofol-opioid DAS, focusing on sedation-related adverse events.

Intramural site of origin is a major cause of ablation failure of ventricular arrhythmias and the optimal strategy is unclear. This study investigated the efficacy of a stepwise ablation approach for intramural outflow tract (OT) premature ventricular complexes (PVCs) guided by mapping of the septal coronary venous system.

The PRAETORIAN trial investigated the efficacy and safety of the subcutaneous implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (S-ICD) compared with transvenous ICD (TV-ICD) and showed non-inferiority of the S-ICD with regard to the composite endpoint of device-related complications and inappropriate shocks (IAS) after 49.1 months. Complications associated with transvenous leads are expected to occur after longer follow-up. The PRAETORIAN-XL trial aims to investigate whether the S-ICD is superior to the TV-ICD with respect to device-related complications at 8-year follow-up.

Superficial femoral artery disease poses significant challenges in patients with peripheral artery disease due to its unique anatomic and physiological characteristics. While conservative measures remain the initial approach for chronic, stable symptoms, endovascular therapies have gained prominence due to their minimally invasive nature, expedited recovery times, and preservation of future treatment options when performed correctly. Options for endovascular interventions include balloon angioplasty (percutaneous transluminal angioplasty [standard], drug-coated balloon), stenting (bare metal, drug-eluting, covered stents), with or without adjunct therapy (atherectomy or intravascular lithotripsy). Randomized controlled trials have demonstrated superior outcomes with drug-coated balloon and drug-eluting stent over bare metal stent or percutaneous transluminal angioplasty alone, particularly in long, heavily calcified lesions. However, challenges such as in-stent restenosis, stent fracture, and in-stent thrombosis persist, driving ongoing innovation in device technology and drug formulations on devices. Emerging therapies such as bioresorbable scaffolds and percutaneous bypass devices offer promising alternatives. Further research is needed to refine treatment strategies, minimize risks, and optimize outcomes.

There is sparse high-quality safety and effectiveness data for pulsed field ablation (PFA) of persistent atrial fibrillation (PerAF), where lesions beyond pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) are often placed. Additionally, no large trials have used insertable cardiac monitors (ICMs) for continuous rhythm monitoring post-ablation in PerAF patients, or after PFA in any AF population. In ADVANTAGE AF-Phase 2, PerAF patients underwent PFA for PVI and posterior wall ablation (PWA), and in a sub-cohort, cavotricuspid isthmus (CTI) ablation for typical atrial flutter.