Cardiac masses represent a rare but clinically significant diagnostic entity. Morphological assessment alone is often insufficient for definitive diagnosis. Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) provides comprehensive tissue characterization.

We present a case series illustrating the heterogeneous spectrum of cardiac masses encountered in both oncologic and non-oncologic patients. Clinical scenarios included intracardiac metastases, tumour-related thrombus, bland thrombi, and benign primary tumours, such as rhabdomyoma and myxoma. In all cases, CMR was pivotal for tissue characterization using multiparametric assessment.

This series highlights the limitations of morphology-based assessment and emphasizes the value of a structured multiparametric CMR approach. Key features, such as perfusion, enhancement pattern, tissue heterogeneity, and infiltrative behaviour, allow reliable differentiation between thrombi and neoplastic lesions. Beyond illustrating individual cases, this series proposes a structured multiparametric CMR algorithm applicable across diverse clinical scenarios, emphasizing its role in medical practice and diagnostic decision-making.

The optimal duration of dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) for high bleeding risk (HBR) patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) can vary based on individual clinical and lesion characteristics. As bifurcation lesions are associated with a greater risk of ischemic events, it is unknown whether HBR patients with bifurcation lesions can be safely treated with abbreviated DAPT.

We examined ischemic and bleeding outcomes in patients with and without bifurcation lesions who underwent PCI with the Resolute Onyx zotarolimus-eluting stent (Medtronic) from the Onyx ONE Clear study. HBR patients free of events through 1 month were prescribed 1 month of DAPT. Outcomes from 1 month to 2 years were analyzed among patients with HBR who underwent successful PCI for at least 1 bifurcation lesion followed by 1-month DAPT.

Of 1507 total HBR patients, 215 (14.3%) underwent PCI of a bifurcation lesion, with 86.6% treated with a provisional approach. Included patients had an average of 1.6 HBR criteria. Patients with bifurcation lesions treated had more stents implanted and longer total length of stents implanted. The composite of cardiac death or myocardial infarction was similar for patients with vs without bifurcation lesions (12.2% vs 11.6%, P = .92). There were no differences in any clinical or angiographic outcomes between groups, including BARC 3 to 5 bleeding events.

In the Onyx ONE Clear study, HBR patients with bifurcation lesions treated with the Resolute Onyx zotarolimus-eluting stent and 1-month DAPT had comparable ischemic event rates at 2 years compared with patients without bifurcation lesions, despite greater lesion and procedural complexity.

In 567 PH-COPD patients from the PVRI GoDeep Meta-Registry, ACE inhibitor use was associated with improved survival only in severe PH (PVR > 5 WU), supporting prospective trials targeting this high-risk subgroup.

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a chronic and devastating disease that currently lacks effective therapies, often ultimately requiring lung transplantation. Pulmonary vascular cells are subjected to various mechanical forces, which contribute to cardiovascular remodeling in PH. In recent years, Piezo ion channels have been instrumental in shaping the field of mechanobiology. However, a growing body of evidence underscores the critical role of Piezo channels in PH. As mechanosensitive channels, Piezo1 and Piezo2 directly transduce external mechanical stimuli into vascular cells and, as such, initiate intracellular biochemical cascades. Piezo ion channels contribute to the pathogenesis of pulmonary hypertension. In this review, we summarize the latest advances in Piezo channels research and focus on their role as key mechanotransducers in the progression of PH. Additionally, we explore the multifunctionality of Piezo channels in mechanobiology and propose new insights for preclinical animal studies and clinical trials. With a deeper understanding of Piezo-mediated activation and modulation mechanisms, Piezo channels are emerging as promising therapeutic targets for the future treatment of PH.

This study aimed to determine the prevalence of cardiac arrhythmias in COVID-19 patients undergoing Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy (CRRT) during the first 24 hours of ICU admission.

This cross-sectional study was conducted to assess the prevalence of cardiac arrhythmias among 78 COVID-19 patients undergoing CRRT hemoperfusion during the first 24 hours of hospitalization in the ICU of Kowsar Hospital, Semnan, in 2020. Data were collected using a checklist that included demographic characteristics, underlying diseases, and types of cardiac arrhythmias, extracted from patients' medical records in the hospital's medical records department. Data analysis was performed using SPSS software, version 26.

The mean (± SD) age of the patients was 54.68 ± 1.61 years. The proportions of males and females were 41% and 59%, respectively. The overall prevalence of cardiac arrhythmia was 21.8%, with bradycardia being the most common type (7.7%). The prevalence rates of heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, and hyperlipidemia were 48.7%, 39.7%, 28.2%, and 26.9%, respectively. Additionally, 20.5% of patients had a history of cardiovascular disease. No statistically significant associations were found between cardiac arrhythmia and age, gender, or underlying conditions such as heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, and hyperlipidemia (P>0.05). However, the prevalence of supraventricular arrhythmia (100%) and ventricular arrhythmia (66.7%) was significantly higher among patients with a history of cardiovascular disease (P<0.001).

Our study demonstrated a substantial prevalence of cardiac arrhythmia in COVID-19 patients undergoing CRRT within the first 24 hours of ICU admission. The findings emphasize the importance of recognizing this vulnerable period for arrhythmia development and highlight the need for proactive measures to mitigate risks in this high-risk population.

Hypertension is the primary modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Our study aimed to assess the prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension in southwest Iran.

This population-based cross-sectional study was conducted in the enrollment phase of Hoveyzeh cohort study in 10,009 adults aged 35-70 in southwest Iran between 2016 and 2018. Information on demographic characteristics socioeconomic status, Hypertension, comorbidities, family history of Hypertension was collected. Logistic regression was employed to identify the factors associated with hypertension, as well as awareness, treatment, and control.

The overall prevalence of hypertension was 26.4% (95% confidence interval [CI]:25.5, 27.3). Among the population, 86.04% (95%CI: 84.7, 87.3) were aware of their condition, 81.18% (95%CI: 79.5, 82.8) were receiving treatment, and blood pressure was controlled in 70.15% (95%CI: 68, 72.2) of the treated hypertensive patients. In the adjusted model, older participants, those with low physical activity, individuals with a family history of hypertension, and patients with a history of diabetes or comorbidities of diabetes and dyslipidemia exhibited higher odds of having hypertension, as well as increased awareness. Additionally, being overweight or obese, married, and illiterate were associated with hypertension. Based on gender, women are more aware of their hypertension, receive more treatment, and have better control than men.

The prevalence of hypertension is relatively high; therefore, health promotion strategies, including lifestyle modifications to reduce overweight and obesity and to increase physical activity, are recommended.

Janus kinases (JAKs) are a family of intracellular, non-receptor tyrosine kinases that play a crucial role in the JAK signaling pathway involved in the inflammatory process. Over the years, this pathway has garnered significant interest among researchers, leading to the development of various therapeutic agents aimed at blocking the pathway, thereby contributing to remarkable progress in the management of inflammatory diseases across multiple medical specialties. Although the use of JAK inhibitors in ophthalmology is still limited, evidence is gradually emerging on their role in managing uveitis and scleritis. One such agent is tofacitinib, a small-molecule pan-JAK inhibitor. Its therapeutic profile differs from that of biologics due to its partial and reversible inhibition of cytokines. Additionally, owing to its smaller molecular size, the drug is available in an oral formulation. In recent years, there has been a growing interest in JAK inhibitors, particularly tofacitinib, as a potential therapeutic option for refractory uveitis and scleritis in both adult and pediatric populations. Tofacitinib, either as monotherapy or in combination, has shown effectiveness in managing various uveitis cases that were unresponsive to conventional immunosuppressive therapies. It has also been explored in treatment-resistant scleritis. However, concerns persist regarding the potential adverse effects of tofacitinib, including cardiovascular events, thromboembolism, malignancies, and infections. This review aims to provide a comprehensive update on the role of tofacitinib in ocular inflammation, with particular emphasis on its clinical efficacy, safety profile, and the emerging literature surrounding its risks and side effects.

With the increasing prevalence of cardiovascular diseases, it has become common for patients to be on different classes of anticoagulant medications. The blood-thinning characteristic of these drugs makes them essential for the management of long-term comorbidities, but it also raises the possibility of hemorrhagic complications during and after ophthalmic surgery. Although there is some agreement regarding the preoperative use of anticoagulant drugs in cataract surgery, little is known about the continuation or discontinuation of these drugs before surgeries for glaucoma. Regarding the use of anticoagulants before glaucoma surgery, surgeons' practices differ greatly. Anticoagulation therapy must be understood in the context of glaucoma surgery and laser treatment, as the evidence currently available is inconclusive regarding the benefits of continuing/withholding anticoagulation or using bridging therapy. Modifying anticoagulation therapy for glaucoma surgery must be done carefully and after consulting primary care physicians, internists, cardiologists, and neurologists due to the potential serious adverse effects of stopping the treatment.

Protecting hippocampal structures, such as the cornu ammonis 3 and dentate gyrus (CA3/DG), that are tied to mnemonic discrimination could be a promising approach to mitigate the age-related decline in episodic memory. This study examines the potential benefits of cognitive and physical engagement, specifically language learning and moderate aerobic exercise, for maintaining hippocampal subfield integrity and memory performance. In a randomized controlled trial involving 142 healthy older adults (aged 63-78 years), we investigated the effects of a 6-month regime comprising language learning, aerobic exercise, and their combination. Participants were assigned to one of four groups: an active control, language-only, exercise-only, or combined language and exercise group. CA3/DG volume remained stable in the language-only and combined groups, while the non-language groups showed a significantly greater decrease in volume, suggesting that foreign language learning may protect against normal aging-related CA3/DG volume loss. Comparatively, the exercise-only and combined groups showed significant improvements in mnemonic discrimination performance, while the non-exercise groups did not, indicating that aerobic exercise can improve this aspect of memory in older adults. Notably, the combined group was the only group to exhibit both preserved CA3/DG volume and improved mnemonic discrimination. No evidence for a boosting effect of the combined intervention on either outcome was observed. This suggests that, while the effects of language learning and aerobic exercise may be independent at the level of measured outcomes, they provide complementary benefits when combined. Finally, the initial volume of the subiculum was found to predict changes in mnemonic discrimination performance across all groups, indicating that this region may play a potential role in episodic memory changes over time. Contrary to our expectations, changes in hippocampal subfields were not directly associated with changes in mnemonic discrimination. In conclusion, this study highlights the potentially separate roles of foreign language learning and aerobic exercise in enhancing aspects of episodic memory in older adults; future research may address whether their combination may yield broader functional benefits than either intervention alone.

Impella is increasingly used as mechanical circulatory support (MCS) during high-risk percutaneous coronary interventions (HR-PCI). Registry-based data provide insights into the efficacy and safety of Impella-assisted HR-PCI.

We aimed to evaluate 1-year outcomes of Impella-assisted HR-PCI compared to HR-PCI without MCS.

One hundred and thirty-eight patients undergoing Impella-assisted PCI, included in the IMPELLA-PL registry, were propensity score-matched with controls from the retrospective CardioSilesia registry who underwent HR-PCI without MCS. Study endpoints included 1-year post-discharge all-cause mortality, myocardial infarction (MI), stroke, rehospitalization for heart failure (HF), and repeat coronary revascularization.

Clinical and angiographic characteristics were comparable in both groups, with higher rates of dyslipidemia (78.3% vs. 37.7%, p < 0.001), chronic kidney disease (39.9% vs. 16.7%, p < 0.001), and peripheral artery disease (34.1% vs. 8.0%, p < 0.001) in the IMPELLA-PL cohort. Intravascular ultrasound was more frequently used in the Impella-supported patients (44.2% vs. 25.4%, p = 0.002), while staged revascularization was more common among controls (30.4% vs. 15.9%, p = 0.007). At 1 year, rates of post-discharge all-cause mortality, stroke, and repeat coronary revascularization were similar in both groups. MI was less frequent in the IMPELLA-PL cohort (1.4% vs. 10.9%, p = 0.003), alongside a trend toward lower incidence of rehospitalizations for HF (9.4% vs. 18.1%, p = 0.055).

Despite an unfavorable cardiovascular risk profile, patients who underwent Impella-assisted HR-PCI had similar 1-year post-discharge survival, with a lower rate of MI, compared to propensity score-matched controls who underwent HR-PCI without MCS. Impella may improve HR-PCI outcomes in selected patients, but further randomized controlled trials are required to confirm this finding.