Lipid-Rich Plaques That May Benefit From Preventive PCI

Preventive PCI was associated with a substantially lower risk of major cardiac events in patients with near-infrared spectroscopy–defined lipid-rich plaques (LRPs), but not in those without LRPs, suggesting that plaque composition may be more informative than plaque size alone in selecting lesions for preventive treatment. In this post hoc analysis […]

Heart-Healthy Eating: Focus on the Overall Dietary Pattern

A healthy, balanced dietary pattern—not an emphasis on individual nutrients or foods—is central to preventing and managing cardiovascular and cardiometabolic disease, according to a new American College of Cardiology Scientific Statement. The statement reviews evidence on macronutrients, micronutrients, dietary patterns, ultra-processed foods, and emerging nutrition-based interventions, emphasizing that heart-healthy eating […]

Frequency of Isometric Exercise for Sustained Blood Pressure Reduction

Isometric exercise training (IET) performed just 1–2 times per week can partially preserve the blood pressure (BP)-lowering benefits achieved after an initial 4-week program, although exercising 3 times per week provides the strongest and most sustained effects. In this UK randomized study of 100 adults with normal to high-normal BP, […]

Combined Low-Energy Diet and Exercise Induces Remission in Early-Onset T2D

A randomized trial found that a combined low-energy diet (800–900 kcal/day) and structured exercise program induced type 2 diabetes remission in 54% of adults with early-onset type 2 diabetes (≤45 years), compared with only 4% receiving usual care at 24 weeks. The open-label trial included 96 adults aged 18–45 years […]

Heart Failure in the United States: Rising Burden and Unmet Needs

Heart failure (HF) affects nearly 1 in 4 Americans over their lifetime, and its growing prevalence, rising mortality, widening disparities, and persistent undertreatment have made it an increasingly urgent public health crisis. About one-third of U.S. adults without symptomatic HF are already at risk (Stage A), while another 24–34% have […]

Alcohol Consumption Increases Liver Cancer Risk in Chronic Hepatitis B

Alcohol consumption was independently associated with a substantially higher risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) among patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB), regardless of cirrhosis status. In this study of 1,010 CHB patients followed for a total of 3,684 person-years, 129 (12.77%) developed HCC. Compared with patients without HCC, those who […]

Sugar Intake During Antibiotic Treatment May Worsen Gut Microbiome Disruption

Consuming sweets and simple sugars during antibiotic treatment was associated with greater gut microbiome disruption, including reduced microbial diversity and expansion of the pathobiont Enterococcus. In this study, researchers precisely tracked 9,419 meals consumed by 173 patients undergoing haematopoietic cell transplantation and analyzed longitudinal microbiome changes in 158 patients with […]

Cancer-Associated Coagulopathy–Related Stroke

A systematic review of 82 studies found that stroke related to cancer-associated coagulopathy (CAC) is a distinct, often underrecognized condition characterized by early occurrence, frequent recurrence, characteristic imaging findings, and high mortality. CAC-related stroke occurs predominantly within six months of cancer diagnosis and is strongly associated with advanced or metastatic […]

Ultra-Processed Foods Linked to the Risk of Chronic Diseases

Higher consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) was associated with increased risks of multiple chronic diseases and all-cause mortality, according to a systematic review and meta-analysis of 51 prospective cohort studies involving 8,819,894 adults. Compared with lower consumption, higher UPF intake was associated with greater risks of cardiovascular events (HR 1.24), […]

Effects of Sacubitril/Valsartan Compared With ARBs or CCBs

A meta-analysis of 15 randomized controlled trials involving 4,824 patients with high blood pressure found that sacubitril/valsartan significantly improved multiple ambulatory blood pressure measures compared with angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) or calcium channel blockers (CCBs), with a favorable safety profile. Compared with ARBs or CCBs, sacubitril/valsartan reduced 24-hour systolic and […]