Neuroprotector Hopeful in Stroke; Late-Pandemic STEMIs; Exercise vs Risky Carotids?

In the CLEAR Outcomes trial, bempedoic acid (Nexletol) reduced cardiac events to a similar extent as statins, according to a secondary analysis presented at ENDO 2023.

The TLR4 antagonist ApTOLL showed promise as a neuroprotectant for stroke patients within 6 hours of onset and immediately before endovascular treatment. (JAMA Neurology)

Daily supplementation with Panax notoginseng saponins may also help functional outcomes after ischemic stroke, a Chinese trial found. (JAMA Network Open)

Philips announced study findings indicating cost savings are possible with a direct-to-angio suite stroke pathway.

Later in the pandemic, COVID-19-positive ST-segment elevation MI patients no longer presented with excess cardiac arrest, increased thrombus burden, bigger infarcts, and worse outcomes. (Journal of the American College of Cardiology)

Can exercise provoke strokes in people with moderately or worse carotid stenosis? Computational modeling would suggest yes. (Physics of Fluids)

FDA approved the SurVeil drug-coated balloon for percutaneous treatment of lesions in the femoral and popliteal arteries, Surmodics announced.

Small trial finds that in patients with stable coronary artery disease undergoing angioplasty, pretreatment with a loading dose of ticagrelor (Brilinta) instead of prasugrel (Effient) improves coronary microcirculatory parameters and reduces troponin levels. (Heart)

Among cancer patients with immune checkpoint inhibitor-associated myocarditis, those with certain temporal elevations of cardiac troponin T are prone to suffering major adverse cardiovascular events within the year. (Circulation)

Chronic kidney disease-associated cardiovascular risk can be lowered with finerenone (Kerendia), according to a pooled analysis from the FIDELITY program. (JAMA Cardiology)

A case of severe polycythemia associated with SGLT2 inhibitor-induced erythrocytosis in a person with heart failure. (Circulation: Heart Failure)

For the detection of cardiac allograft vasculopathy in heart transplant recipients, myocardial flow assessment on cadmium-zinc-telluride single-photon emission CT compared favorably against positron emission tomography scans. (Circulation: Cardiovascular Imaging)

Scientists uncovered how the glycocalyx barrier around cells plays a role in coagulopathy in trauma victims receiving a blood infusion. A perfume ingredient may stop glycocalyx-related clotting issues. (Science Advances)

A Denver plastic surgeon was found guilty of attempted reckless manslaughter after denying help for hours when a young female patient went into cardiac arrest and died. (NBC News)