Jardiance’s Win in HFpEF; ECGs in Prone Position; Progress on ‘Universal’ Stem Cells

Treatment with empagliflozin (Jardiance) led to reductions in cardiovascular events for people with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), EMPEROR-Preserved investigators announced. Detailed results will be presented at the European Society of Cardiology meeting in August.

A prone-position ECG has its pitfalls but may still be useful for diagnosing cardiac abnormalities in people who require prone ventilation. (JACC: Clinical Electrophysiology)

Among the cath lab practices now considered outdated: holding oral anticoagulants before catheterization and premedication for people with shellfish allergies, the American Heart Association said. (Circulation)

An argument for sex-specific guidelines for cardiovascular disease was published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

Eating fried, fatty, and sugary foods in the Southern diet was associated with greater risk of sudden cardiac death in the REGARDS cohort. (Journal of the American Heart Association)

In the TWILIGHT trial, older age did not change the safety and efficacy of ticagrelor monotherapy following 3 months of dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) after percutaneous coronary intervention. (JACC: Cardiovascular Interventions)

Abbott’s newer, slimmer Xience Skypoint stent received FDA approval in the U.S. and CE Mark approval in Europe. The entire Xience line of drug-eluting stents is also now approved for 1-month DAPT labeling.

Expert consensus was issued regarding how to help adolescents with congenital heart disease transition to adult care. (European Heart Journal)

Lebanon, amid a worsening economic crisis, is severely lacking in medications such as antihypertensives and blood thinners. (Arab News)

Cardiac surgery was no better performed in the morning than in the afternoon, various analyses showed. (Lancet Regional Health – Europe)

Catheter ablation may be beneficial after all for some atrial fibrillation patients — namely those classified as racial minorities in North America. (Journal of the American College of Cardiology)

Cardiovascular and cancer risks associated with poor sleep appeared to be mostly offset by more exercise, U.K. Biobank data suggested. (British Journal of Sports Medicine)

Is vascular inflammation the key to a GLP-1 receptor agonist’s cardiovascular protection in type 2 diabetes? (Circulation: Cardiovascular Imaging)

People with secondary mitral regurgitation seldomly underwent valve surgeries or transcatheter valve repair in Austria, but increasing demand for treatment has been noted in recent years. (The BMJ)

Aspirin may work as a prophylactic therapy for pregnant women at risk of preeclampsia by slowing down the metabolic clock of gestation. (Hypertension)

Engineered “universal” stem cells could evade immune rejection when transplanted as a therapy for cardiovascular and pulmonary disease in mice, University of California San Francisco researchers reported.

Scientists found that stem cells grew faster as cardiac cells in space. (CNN)