The Inflation Reduction Act: How Will Medicare Negotiating Drug Prices Impact Patients with Heart Disease?
This article explores the potential impact that the IRA will have on the treatment of cardiovascular disease.Recent FindingsCardiovascular disease medications are likely to be selected for price negotiations under the IRA, leading to savings for patients and for Medicare. Recent work suggests that the IRA ’s reforms to the Medicare Part D drug benefit will meaningfully reduce out-of-pocket costs for important cardiovascular medications.SummaryThe IRA is expected to impact cardiovascular disease treatments via price negotiations and through the broader access to medications afforded by improvements to Part D coverage desi...
Source: Current Cardiology Reports - April 25, 2023 Category: Cardiology Source Type: research
Three-Dimensional Echocardiography Derived Printing: A Review of Workflow, Current, and Future Applications
AbstractPurpose of ReviewWhile most of the work pertaining to 3D printing in cardiology has been based on 3D CT and MRI datasets, due to the recent advents in 3D printing and 3D echocardiography, 3D printing from echocardiography has now become feasible. In this review, we discuss the workflow, applications, limitations, and potential future directions of 3D echocardiography-based 3D printing.Recent Findings3D printing using 3D echocardiographic datasets has been successfully deployed in the field of cardiovascular medicine in the twenty-first century. It was shown to provide a significant additive value particularly with ...
Source: Current Cardiology Reports - April 22, 2023 Category: Cardiology Source Type: research
Soluble Guanylate Cyclase Activators and Stimulators in Patients with Heart Failure
AbstractPurpose of ReviewThis review sought to summarize the current emerging soluble guanylate cyclase activators and stimulators in patients with heart failure, both heart failure with reduced and preserved ejection fraction, to provide a reference for soluble guanylate cyclase activators and stimulators discovery.Recent FindingsHeart failure is a common disease with considerable morbidity, hospitalization, and mortality Soluble guanylate cyclase is a key enzyme in the nitric oxide signaling pathway and has attracted rapidly growing interest as a therapeutic target in heart failure. Currently, several soluble guanylate c...
Source: Current Cardiology Reports - April 20, 2023 Category: Cardiology Source Type: research
The Role of Large Animal Models in Cardiac Regeneration Research Using Human Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Cardiomyocytes
AbstractPurpose of ReviewHeart failure leads to high mortality. The failing myocardium cannot often be rescued as heart regeneration is mostly compromised by disease progress. Stem cell therapy is a strategy under development to replace the impaired myocardium for recovery after heart injury.Recent FindingsMany studies have provided evidence of the beneficial effects of pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocyte (CM) implantation into diseased rodent hearts, but there are still many challenges and limitations to replicating the same effects in large animal models for preclinical validation.SummaryIn this review, we summar...
Source: Current Cardiology Reports - April 19, 2023 Category: Cardiology Source Type: research
Phosphodiesterase Type 5 Inhibitors and Oral Nitrates in Male Patients with Ischemic Heart Disease
AbstractPurpose of ReviewThis review sought to define the mechanism of the drug-drug interaction between phosphodiesterase-type-5 (PDE-5) inhibitors and organic nitrates as well as the clinical impact and recommended management across different clinical scenarios.Recent FindingsThis drug-drug interaction results in hemodynamically significant hypotension during episodic PDE-5 use and acute nitrate administration mainly during cardiovascular emergencies with multiple studies describing the expected impact. Chronic co-administration of long-acting nitrates and PDE-5 inhibitors has been observed in practice in a small percent...
Source: Current Cardiology Reports - April 19, 2023 Category: Cardiology Source Type: research
Fibroblast and Immune Cell Cross-Talk in Cardiac Fibrosis
AbstractPurpose of ReviewThe intricate interplay between inflammatory and reparative responses in the context of heart injury is central to the pathogenesis of heart failure. Recent clinical studies have shown the therapeutic benefits of anti-inflammatory strategies in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the cross-talk between immune cells and fibroblasts in the diseased heart.Recent FindingsThe role of inflammatory cells in fibroblast activation after cardiac injury is well-documented, but recent single-cell transcriptomics studies have identified putative pro-inflamm...
Source: Current Cardiology Reports - April 19, 2023 Category: Cardiology Source Type: research
Congestion and Use of Diuretics in Heart Failure and Cardiomyopathies: a Practical Guide
AbstractPurpose of ReviewHeart failure is a highly prevalent condition caused by many different aetiologies and characterised by cardiac dysfunction and congestion. Once developed, congestion leads to signs (peripheral oedema) and symptoms (breathlessness on exertion), adverse cardiac remodelling, and an increased risk of hospitalisation and premature death. This review summarises strategies that could enable early identification and a more objective management of congestion in patients with heart failure.Recent FindingsFor patients with suspected or diagnosed heart failure, combining an echocardiogram with assessment of g...
Source: Current Cardiology Reports - April 19, 2023 Category: Cardiology Source Type: research
Contemporary Diagnosis and Management of Patients with MINOCA
This article offers a comprehensive review of MINOCA, delving deep into its unique clinical profile, invasive and noninvasive diagnostic strategies for evaluating MINOCA in light of the lack of widespread availabilit y for comprehensive testing, and current evidence surrounding targeted therapies for patients with MINOCA.Recent FindingsMINOCA is not uncommon and requires comprehensive assessment using various imaging modalities to evaluate it further.SummaryMINOCA is a heterogenous working diagnosis that requires thoughtful approach to diagnose the underlying disease responsible for MINOCA further. (Source: Current Cardiology Reports)
Source: Current Cardiology Reports - April 17, 2023 Category: Cardiology Source Type: research
Mechanisms of Sarcomere Protein Mutation-Induced Cardiomyopathies
AbstractPurpose of ReviewThe pace of identifying cardiomyopathy-associated mutations and advances in our understanding of sarcomere function that underlies many cardiomyopathies has been remarkable. Here, we aim to synthesize how these advances have led to the promising new treatments that are being developed to treat cardiomyopathies.Recent FindingsThe genomics era has identified and validated many genetic causes of hypertrophic and dilated cardiomyopathies. Recent advances in our mechanistic understanding of sarcomere pathophysiology include high-resolution molecular models of sarcomere components and the identification ...
Source: Current Cardiology Reports - April 15, 2023 Category: Cardiology Source Type: research
Correlation Between Cardiovascular Protection and Influenza Vaccination
AbstractPurpose of ReviewInfluenza is the cause of millions of deaths yearly in the USA and globally. It presents a significant health burden in millions of people and is associated with chronic disease exacerbations including acute cardiovascular events such as myocardial infarction and stroke. We reviewed recent studies and a meta-analysis to assess the part that influenza vaccination plays in cardiovascular system protection.Recent FindingsA sizable study measured the effect of influenza vaccination on cardiovascular health and mortality. This retrospective observational study used the 2012 –2015 US National Inpatient...
Source: Current Cardiology Reports - April 14, 2023 Category: Cardiology Source Type: research
Hyperlipidemia and Cardiovascular Disease in People with Type 1 Diabetes: Review of Current Guidelines and Evidence
AbstractPurpose of ReviewIn this review, we discuss the prevalence of cardiovascular disease in people with type 1 diabetes. We outline key risk factors associated with increased cardiovascular event rates and discuss the prevalence and mechanisms underlying hyperlipidemia in people with type 1 diabetes. Finally, we summarize the evidence to support early and more aggressive lipid-lowering therapy in people with type 1 diabetes and review current guideline recommendations.Recent FindingsComprehensive treatment of hyperglycemia, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia reduces adverse cardiovascular outcomes in people with type 2 d...
Source: Current Cardiology Reports - April 13, 2023 Category: Cardiology Source Type: research
InterLINCing Chromatin Organization and Mechanobiology in Laminopathies
AbstractPurpose of reviewIn this review, we explore the chromatin-related consequences of laminopathy-linked mutations through the lens of mechanotransduction.Recent findingsMultiple studies have highlighted the role of the nuclear lamina in maintaining the integrity of the nucleus. The lamina also has a critical role in 3D genome organization. Mutations in lamina proteins associated with various laminopathies result in the loss of organization of DNA at the nuclear periphery. However, it remains unclear if or how these two aspects of lamin function are connected. Recent data suggests that unlinking the cytoskeleton from t...
Source: Current Cardiology Reports - April 13, 2023 Category: Cardiology Source Type: research
Prediction of Sudden Cardiac Death: Looking Beyond Ejection Fraction
AbstractPurpose of ReviewSudden cardiac death (SCD) is a major public health burden accounting for 15 –20% of global mortality. Contemporary guidelines for SCD prevention are centered around the presence of low left ventricular ejection fraction, although the majority of SCD accrues in those not meeting contemporary criteria for SCD prevention. The goal of this review is to elaborate on the contem porary landscape of SCD prediction tools and further highlight gaps and opportunities in SCD prediction and prevention.Recent FindingsThere have been considerable advancements in both non-invasive and invasive measures for SCD ...
Source: Current Cardiology Reports - April 10, 2023 Category: Cardiology Source Type: research
Long-Term Outcomes of Revascularization Compared to Deferral in Stable Coronary Artery Disease: a Review
AbstractPurpose of ReviewThe aim of this study is assessing the long-term outcomes of revascularization compared to deferral in stable coronary artery disease with available literature.Recent FindingsThe overall safety of stable coronary artery disease using IFR has been well established. There have been very few studies that have examined the safety of deferral of revascularization vs revascularization.SummaryAs seen in listed literature, there appears to be no difference between revascularization compared to deferral in stable coronary artery disease. (Source: Current Cardiology Reports)
Source: Current Cardiology Reports - April 10, 2023 Category: Cardiology Source Type: research
Exploring the Inner Workings of Direct Cardiac Reprogramming
AbstractPurpose of ReviewFollowing cardiac injury, the heart has limited ability to regenerate leading to decreased efficiency and function. Cardiac reprogramming offers a promising treatment to ameliorate the damage caused by ischemia through conversion of cardiac fibroblasts to induced cardiomyocytes (iCMs). Here, we aim to highlight the recent advancements of the last 5 years by discussing the various aspects of cardiac reprogramming including characterization of the cardiac fibroblast, the endogenous environment of the heart, the molecular mechanisms during reprogramming, the epigenetic landscape, and the mechanics o...
Source: Current Cardiology Reports - April 3, 2023 Category: Cardiology Source Type: research
