Periodontitis Treatment Effective for Atherosclerosis

A UK randomized, single-blind, controlled trial of 135 otherwise healthy participants with periodontitis showed that intensive periodontal treatment (IPT) improved vascular outcomes beyond endothelial function. Participants were randomized to IPT (scaling, root planning, and corrective surgery if needed) or control periodontal treatment (CPT: supra-gingival scaling and polishing) and followed for […]

Updated US Guidelines for High Blood Pressure

The updated US guidelines for high blood pressure (HBP) emphasize that HBP is the most common and modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular diseases—including coronary artery disease, heart failure, atrial fibrillation, stroke, dementia, chronic kidney disease, and all-cause mortality—with a treatment goal of <130/80 mm Hg for most adults, while allowing […]

Remote Ischemic Conditioning Beneficial for Ischemic Stroke Treated by Endovascular Thrombectomy

A Chinese multicenter, participant-blinded, randomized controlled trial found that remote ischemic conditioning (RIC)—a neuroprotective therapy involving twice-daily cuff inflation to 200 mmHg (four cycles of 5 minutes of ischemia followed by 5 minutes of reperfusion) for 7 days—significantly improved recovery in patients with acute ischemic stroke undergoing endovascular thrombectomy. Among […]

Refined Carbohydrate Intake Linked to MASLD

A prospective cohort study involving 12,134 Chinese adults examined the link between intake of refined carbohydrates, staple foods, and the risk of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). Over a median follow-up of 4.32 years, 4,447 new MASLD cases were identified. Higher total refined carbohydrate intake was associated with increased […]

Minimally Processed Diets Beat Ultraprocessed Diets on Weight and Cardiometabolic Health Markers

A randomized controlled crossover trial in England examined the impact of ultraprocessed food (UPF) consumption on weight loss within the framework of national dietary guidelines. Fifty-five adults (BMI 25–40, with habitual UPF intake ≥50% of daily calories) were assigned two 8-week ad libitum diets based on the UK Eatwell Guide: […]

Two Strategies to Improve Stroke Outcome

Two recent trials from China evaluated strategies to improve outcomes in patients with acute ischemic stroke treated within 4.5 hours of symptom onset. In the first open-label trial, 550 patients with large-vessel occlusion were randomized to receive either intravenous tenecteplase followed by endovascular thrombectomy or thrombectomy alone. Functional independence at […]

CVD Risk Factor’s Lifetime Effect Estimates

A global analysis of over 2 million individuals from 133 cohorts across 39 countries found that five classic risk factors—high blood pressure, hyperlipidemia, underweight/overweight or obesity, diabetes, and smoking—account for about half of the global cardiovascular disease (CVD) burden. Researchers estimated lifetime risks and outcomes up to age 90 based […]

Exercise Based Cardiac Rehabilitation Benefits AF Patients

A contemporary review with meta-analysis demonstrated that exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation (ExCR) appears beneficial and safe for patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). The study analyzed data from 20 randomized clinical trials involving 2,039 participants with a mean follow-up of 11 months. ExCR did not significantly affect all-cause mortality (8.3% vs 6.0%; […]

Efficacy and Safety of Dapagliflozin/Spironolactone Combination in Heart Failure

A recent randomized crossover trial evaluated the efficacy and safety of combining dapagliflozin with spironolactone versus using dapagliflozin alone in patients with heart failure with mildly reduced or preserved ejection fraction. Involving 108 participants (median age 76, 57% women), estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) 72 mL/min/1.73 m2，the 12-week study found […]

Increasing Sit-to-Stand Transitions Lower BP

A recent US clinical trial explored two strategies for reducing sedentary behavior and their effects on health in overweight or obese postmenopausal women. Over a 3-month period, 407 participants were randomly assigned to one of three groups: a control group focused on general healthy living, a group aiming to reduce […]