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Diabetes is a significant health problem worldwide, and its association with cardiovascular disease (CVD) was reported in several studies. Hyperglycemia and insulin resistance seen in diabetes and prediabetes lead to an increase in reactive oxygen species, which triggers intracellular molecular signaling. The resulting prothrombotic state and increase in inflammatory mediators expedite atherosclerotic changes and the development of macrovascular complications. Individuals with diabetes or prediabetes have a higher risk of developing myocardial infarction, stroke, and peripheral artery disease. However, no significant difference in cardiovascular morbidity has been observed with tight glycemic control despite a reduction in some CVD outcomes, and the risk of adverse outcomes such as hypoglycemia was increased. Recently, some GLP-1 receptor agonists and SGLT-2 inhibitors have been shown to reduce cardiovascular events and mortality. In this review we give an overview of the risk and pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease among diabetic and prediabetic patients, as well as the implication of recent changes in diabetes management.

Background and Methods: Red cell distribution width (RDW) has emerged as a prognostic marker in patients with cardiovascular diseases. We investigated mortality in patients with diabetes included in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, in relation to baseline RDW. RDW was divided into 4 quartiles (Q1: ≤12.4%, Q2: 12.5%-12.9%, Q3: 13.0%-13.7%, and Q4: >13.7%)., Results: A total of 3,061 patients were included: mean age 61 ± 14 years, 50% male, 39% White. Mean RDW was 13.2% ± 1.4%. Compared with first quartile (Q1) of RDW, patients in Q4 were more likely to be older, female, and African-American, have had history of stroke, myocardial infarction, and heart failure, and have chronic kidney disease. After a median follow-up of 6 years, 628 patient died (29% of cardiovascular disease). Compared with Q1, patients in Q4 were at increased risk for all-cause mortality (HR 3.44 [2.74-4.32], P < .001) and cardiovascular mortality (HR 3.34 [2.16-5.17], P < .001). After adjusting for 17 covariates, RDW in Q4 remained significantly associated with all-cause mortality (HR 2.39 [1.30-4.38], P = 0.005) and cardiovascular mortality (HR 1.99 [1.17-3.37], P = 0.011)., Conclusion: RDW is a powerful and an independent marker for prediction of all-cause mortality and cardiovascular mortality in patients with diabetes.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) remain the leading cause of morbidity and mortality around the globe. To address this public health burden, innovative therapeutic agents are being developed to specifically target molecular and genetic markers. Various therapeutic modalities have been implemented, including vaccines, monoclonal or bispecific antibodies, and gene-based therapies. Such drugs precisely target the underlying disease pathophysiology, aiming at notable molecules such as lipid metabolism regulators, proinflammatory cytokines, and growth factors. This review focuses on the latest advancements in different targeted therapies. It provides an insightful overview of the current landscape of targeted cardiovascular therapies, highlighting promising strategies with potential to transform the treatment of CVDs into an era of precision medicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An editorial is presented which expresses the views on the efficiency of using KardiaMobile 6L in cardiac electrophysiology clinics, emphasizing its potential to streamline ECG collection and improve clinic time utilization. Topics include the comparison of room utilization times between KardiaMobile 6L and traditional 12-lead ECGs, the advantages of KardiaMobile 6L in terms of portability and ease of use, and the limitations of the study, including its non-randomized design.

The article discusses whether there is a need for a novel algorithm for accessory pathways localization. Topics include the usefulness of electrocardiogram in the localization of accessory pathways, premature ventricular contractions site of origin, and pacing sites; algorithms that are being used by clinicians; and description of most of the accessory pathways' localization algorithms.

OBJECTIVE To investigate which history of cardiovascular disease [coronary heart disease (CHD), stroke, or peripheral arterial disease] in a first-degree family member predicts cardiovascular mortality. METHODS We studied a prospective cohort (the Lipid Research Clinics Prevalence Study) from ten primary care centers across North America. The primary outcome was cardiovascular mortality, assessed using Cox survival models. RESULTS There were 8,646 participants (mean age: 47.4 ± 12.1 years, 46% women, 52% of participants with hyperlipidemia) who were followed up for a mean duration of 19.4 ± 4.9 years. There were 1,851 deaths (21%), including 852 cardiovascular deaths. A paternal, maternal or sibling history of premature CHD (before 60 years) was present in 26% of participants, of stroke in 27% of participants, and of peripheral arterial disease in 24% of participants. After adjusting for risk factors (age, sex, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, body mass index, smoking, fasting glucose, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglycerides), only a paternal history of premature or any CHD, a maternal history of diabetes mellitus or premature or any CHD, and a sibling history of premature CHD, hypertension, or hyperlipidemia were individually predictive of cardiovascular mortality. After adjusting for risk factors and the mentioned familial factors, only paternal and maternal histories of CHD, especially before 60 years, remained predictive of cardiovascular mortality, with a somewhat higher association for a maternal history [adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) = 1.99, 95% CI: 1.36-2.92, P < 0.001 for maternal history of premature CHD; aHR = 1.52, 95% CI: 1.10-2.10, P = 0.011 for paternal history of premature CHD]. Family history of stroke or peripheral arterial disease did not predict cardiovascular mortality. Parental history of premature CHD predicted cardiovascular mortality independently of baseline age (< 60 years and = 60 years), hypertension, or hyperlipidemia and carried more important prognostic value in men rather than women. CONCLUSIONS In this study, a parental history of CHD, especially before 60 years, best predicted cardiovascular mortality. This finding could help more accurately identify high-risk patients who would benefit from preventive strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the safety and length of hospital stay associated with intravenous sotalol initiation for arrhythmia management. It reports that intravenous sotalol, a medication used to treat arrhythmias, can cause QT interval prolongation and other adverse effects. It mentions that a protocol for intravenous loading of sotalol was developed to reduce hospitalization time and costs but hasn't been widely implemented or compared to the traditional oral loading protocol.

The article focuses on the complications of pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), specifically vagal nerve injury (VNI) and gastric motility disorders. It reports the investigation of the incidence of VNI and it association with preexisting esophageal vulnerability, as well as the use of electrophysiologic measurements to assess gastric motility before and after the PVI procedure.

The article presents the discussion on atrial fibrillation (AF) being one of the most frequently occurring arrhythmias. Topics include risk factors such as aging, hypertension, cardiac and pulmonary diseases, alcohol consumption, smoking, obesity, and obstructive sleep apnea playing an important role in the development of AF; and esophageal temperature surveillance, using reduced temperatures, real time visualization of the esophagus.

An editorial is presented regarding Catheter ablation of atrial tachycardias after mitral valve surgery. It mentions Atrial tachycardias (AT) have significant morbidity and are difficult to control with medical management alone; and Structural heart diseases are known to be associated with cardiac arrhythmias.

The article offers information on Idiopathic ventricular arrhythmias (VAs) which are defined as premature ventricular complexes or ventricular tachycardias that occur in the absence of structural heart disease. It mentions arrhythmias typically originate from the right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT), specifically from the superior septal aspect, but can also originate from the left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) and the coronary cusps.

The article suggests that novel variants in trans-2,3-enoyl-CoA reductase-like (TECRL) cause catecholaminergic polymoprhic ventricular tachycardia (CPVT). Topics discussed include cardiac arrhythmias, pathogenic changes in TECRL, and CPVT due to RyR2 mutation and genotype negative-CPVT. Also mentioned are causes of inherited arrhythmogenic diseases including long QT syndrome, short QT syndrome, and J-wave syndrome.

The article discusses multiple studies on the thinning of the left ventricular apex. A study used multidetector spiral computed tomography (MDCT) to measure the parameters of the left ventricular apical thin-point (LVATP). Another studies examined the use of computed tomography (CT) to assess the LVATP and compared the performance of CTs and echocardiograms.

The author reflects on the effects of taurine and caffeine on ventricular arrhythmias by citing a study that assessed the relationship between taurine and caffeine in energy drinks and cardiac arrhythmias in animal heart models. In the study, 25 rabbit hearts were excised to analyze endpoints like ventricular repolarization, effective refractory period (ERP), and ventricular vulnerability. Also mentioned are the concerns of over excessive consumption of energy drinks due to the issue.

The authors convey their thoughts on the potential role for high-density electro-anatomic mapping in the risk stratification of Brugada syndrome patients. Topics mentioned include the clinical significance of looking at the abnormal endocardial substrate, clinical evaluation and coronary angiography to rule out structural heart disease and coronary artery disease, and abnormal unipolar and bipolar signals in inducible patients.

An editorial is presented on the brugada syndrome masked by complete left bundle branch block. Topics icnlude the brugada syndrome masked by complete left bundle branch block, the brugada syndrome is a genetic disorder that affects the electrical activity of the heart, and the characterized by ST‐segment elevations in the right precordial leads and right bundle branch morphology on electrocardiogram.

An editorial is presented on the long‐term evaluation of a novel extravascular implantable cardioverter defibrillator. Topics include the implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) and cardiac resynchronization therapy have been the mainstay of care for patients at risk of sudden cardiac death for decades, and the efficacy of transvenous ICD devices by the considerable morbidity and mortality associated with transvenous lead complications are lead failure, infection, and venous obstruction.

An editorial is presented on electrogram‐guided endomyocardial biopsy yield in patients with suspected cardiac sarcoidosis. Topics include the sarcoidosis is a multisystem disease that is characterized by T‐cell mediated formation of noncaseating granulomas in affected organs, the disease commonly might involve hilar lymphadenopathy, lungs, liver, heart, and other organs, and the extent of the disease and the organs affected where spontaneous remission occurs in around two‐thirds of patient.

An editorial is presented on the Impact of pre‐ablation weight loss on the success of catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation. The article discusses that the prevalence of obese individuals has risen three‐fold since 1960, with one in every three persons being obese; and the effect of weight changes on the progression on atrial fibrillation is well‐established but the effect of pre‐ablation weight loss on the recurrence of atrial fibrillation is not well‐studied.

The author discusses a study on the degree of recovery of the left ventricular systolic function after suppression/elimination of the underlying arrhythmia and evaluated factors influencing this response such as baseline patient and arrhythmia characteristics. Topics include patient characteristics studied and importance of suspecting arrhythmia-induced cardiomyopathy (AIC) in patients having cardiomyopathy with a persistent arrhythmia and in initiating aggressive arrhythmia treatment.

An editorial is presented regarding Risk factors for recurrent ventricular arrhythmias in patients with idiopathic ventricular fibrillation. It mentions Despite the novel diagnostic tools and the deeper understanding of pathologies and genetic associations, there remains a subset of patients for whom a trigger is not identifiable.

An editorial is presented regarding Transseptal puncture for atrial fibrillation ablation under electroanatomic guidance. It mentions deleterious effects of radiation exposure and of the radiation protection clothing themselves are the primary drivers of this approach; and Radiation exposure is known to increase the risk of cancer and cataracts for all operators, and namely those who are subjected to accumulating doses of radiation over time.

An editorial is presented regarding Long QT syndrome (LQTS) is characterized by prolongation of the QT interval on the electrocardiogram (ECG). It mentions LQTS is associated with the development of torsades de pointes (TdP), a well‐defined polymorphic ventricular tachycardia and the development of sudden cardiac death.

The article discusses research being done on atrial fibrillation. It references the study "Probability of sinus rhythm conversion and maintenance in cardiac synchronization therapy patients with atrial fibrillation during 5-year follow-up," by T. Ziegelhoeffer, S. Pecha, R. Rahmani, et al, which was published within the issue.

The article discusses research being done on paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. It references the study "Prolongation of QT interval after pulmonary vein isolation for PAF," by A. Chikata, T. Kato, K. Usada, et al, which was published within the issue. The study also shows the possible effect of gender on QT prolongation.

An editorial is presented on the article focuses on cardiac sodium channel mutation has associated with epinephrine‐induced marked QT‐prolongation. Topics include the hereditary long QT syndrome (LQTS) being an important cause of polymorphous ventricular tachycardia and sudden cardiac death in otherwise young and healthy individuals, and the condition has caused by delayed ventricular repolarization and manifests as an abnormally prolonged QT interval on the electrocardiogram (ECG).

An editorial is presented on evaluation of a novel vacuum suction‐based retractor while protecting the esophagus during catheter ablation. Topics discussed include standard of care for the management of symptomatic atrial fibrillation (AFib) refractory to pharmacological therapy; and outer extrusion is inserted via a trochanter or a bougie into the esophagus and is the only portion of the retractor that comes in contact with the surrounding tissues.

An editorial is presented on the focal impulse and rotor modulation (FIRM)-guided ablation for recurrent atrial fibrillation with pulmonary vein reconnection. Topics include the pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) being the most commonly has performed ablation strategy for atrial fibrillation (AFib), mapping technology have increased our understanding in the mechanisms responsible for the recurrence of AFib and the linear lesions suggest that current tools used for PVI do not create durable lesions.