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Heart failure with reduced ejection fraction is a major cause of morbidity and mortality. Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) improves outcomes but faces challenges such as unsuccessful lead placement and suboptimal responses. The Wireless Stimulation Endocardially for CRT (WiSE-CRT) system, a novel leadless left ventricular (LV) pacing technology, uses ultrasonic energy to deliver electrical stimulation directly to the LV endocardium, potentially improving the response rates. A comprehensive literature search was performed across multiple databases from inception until August 2024. The outcomes of interest included the New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional score, LV ejection fraction (LVEF), LV end-diastolic volume (LVEDV), LV end-systolic volume (LVESV), and QRS duration. Statistical analysis involved pooling the mean differences (MDs) and their corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) from each study using the inverse-variance random-effects model in RevMan version 5.4.1 software. Seven studies, including 468 patients with heart failure treated with the WiSE-CRT system, were included. The pooled analysis showed significant improvements in NYHA functional score (MD: −0.44; 95% CI: −0.67 to −0.21; P = 0.0002; I 2 = 77%), LVEF (MD: 5.71; 95% CI: 4.54 to 6.87; P < 0.001), LVEDV (MD: −24.49; 95% CI: −33.24 to −15.73; P < 0.001), and LVESV (MD: −24.47; 95% CI: −32.80 to −16.14; P < 0.001). The QRS duration also decreased significantly (MD: −38.62; 95% CI: −46.76 to −30.49; P < 0.001; I 2 = 60%). The WiSE-CRT system significantly improved NYHA functional score, LVEF, QRS duration, LVEDV, and LVESV in patients with heart failure. This leadless pacing technology offers a promising alternative for ineligible candidates or for those who do not respond to conventional CRT.

BACKGROUND: Patients presenting with cervical artery dissection (CAD) are at risk for subsequent ischemic events. We aimed to identify characteristics that are associated with increased risk of ischemic stroke after initial presentation of CAD and to evaluate the differential impact of anticoagulant versus antiplatelet therapy in these high-risk individuals. METHODS: This was a preplanned secondary analysis of the STOP-CAD study (Antithrombotic Treatment for Stroke Prevention in Cervical Artery Dissection), a multicenter international retrospective observational study (63 sites from 16 countries in North America, South America, Europe, Asia, and Africa) that included patients with CAD predominantly between January 2015 and June 2022. The primary outcome was subsequent ischemic stroke by day 180 after diagnosis. Clinical and imaging variables were compared between those with versus without subsequent ischemic stroke. Significant factors associated with subsequent stroke risk were identified using stepwise Cox regression. Associations between subsequent ischemic stroke risk and antithrombotic therapy type (anticoagulation versus antiplatelets) among patients with identified risk factors were explored using adjusted Cox regression. RESULTS: In all, 4023 patients (mean age was 47.4 years; 44.5% were women) were included. By day 180, subsequent ischemic stroke occurred in 5.3% of the cohort. In adjusted Cox regression, factors associated with increased risk of subsequent ischemic stroke were prior history of ischemic stroke (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 7.31 [95% CI, 1.61–33.13]; P =0.010), presentation within 7 days from first symptoms (aHR, 3.04 [95% CI, 1.04–8.91]; P =0.043), infarct on baseline imaging (aHR, 9.85 [95% CI, 3.65–26.58]; P <0.001), and occlusive dissection (aHR, 2.34 [95% CI, 1.03–5.34]; P =0.043). Only patients with occlusive dissection demonstrated a reduced risk of subsequent ischemic stroke when treated with anticoagulation versus antiplatelets (aHR, 0.36 [95% CI, 0.16–0.80]; P =0.01). CONCLUSIONS: In this post hoc analysis of the STOP-CAD study, several factors associated with subsequent ischemic stroke were identified among patients with CAD. Furthermore, we identified a potential benefit of anticoagulation in patients with CAD with occlusive dissection. These findings require validation by meta-analyses of prior studies to formulate optimal treatment strategies for specific high-risk CAD subgroups.

AbstractDespite the pivotal role of communication skills in genetic counseling, communication strategies employed by genetic counselors in their current practice remain largely unexplored. The field of genetic counseling could benefit from updated simulated genetic counseling sessions conducted by genetic counselors illustrating a diversity of skills. This paper outlines the development and evaluation of updated simulations used to develop an online training course to identify genetic counseling skills and to assess how commonly these skills are used. Practicing genetic counselors in the United States were recruited to counsel trained standardized patients across six pretest and posttest simulated sessions in cancer, prenatal, and cardiology genetics settings. Sessions were coded using the novel Genetic Counseling Skills Checklist to identify which communication and counseling skills were utilized. Standardized patients were asked to provide session quality ratings and written feedback, which were analyzed using descriptive statistics and content analysis, respectively. Results from 64 recorded sessions involving 20 counselors from a variety of training programs, racial and ethnic backgrounds, states of residence, and with varying years of clinical experience revealed utilization of a broad array of skills across specialty types and clinical indications. The total number of unique skills used varied widely from 12 to 49, with an average of 35.8 out of 56 possible skills checked per session. Differences in skill usage were observed between pretest and posttest sessions. Standardized patient comments were predominantly positive with a focus on information delivery and empathetic responses. Perceptions of areas of improvement were giving less information, having clearer delivery, and expressing more empathy. This work led to the creation of a training course showcasing various skills used by practicing genetic counselors, which summarizes commonly used skills and other promising but less frequently utilized ones.

The National Cancer Database (NCDB) is a large data set of cancer patients treated in the United States. In recent decades, many papers have utilized this database to study disparities in cancer care and outcomes. In this review, we present the strengths and limitations of using the NCDB to study cancer disparities, which should be taken into account by researchers who use the NCDB in this setting.

Background: The safety and cost of concomitant atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation and left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) procedure remain unknown. Objective: The study sought to determine real-world outcomes of AF patients who underwent LAAO with ablation. Methods: The National Inpatient Sample and International Classification of Diseases–Tenth Revision codes were used to identify patients who underwent LAAO with and without AF ablation during the years 2016-2022. The outcomes assessed included procedural complications and resource utilization. Results: LAAO with AF ablation was associated with a higher rate of overall complications (odds ratio [OR] 1.54, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.37-1.74), major complications (OR 1.38, 95% CI 1.18-1.60), non-home discharge (OR 1.55, 95% CI 1.23-1.96), prolonged length of stay >1 day (OR 3.21, 95% CI 2.92-3.52), and increased hospitalization costs as defined by median cost >$25,926 (OR 19.42, 95% CI 16.21-23.25) when compared to LAAO alone after adjustment for potential confounding variables. Patients who underwent LAAO with ablation were also more likely to receive pacemaker implantation (3.6 % vs 0.2%, P < 0.001) and experience acute kidney injury (3.9% vs 2.1%, P < 0.001) and non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (3.7% vs 1.5%, P < 0.001). Conclusion: In a large, contemporary, real-world study of LAAO procedures in the United States, concomitant AF ablation was associated with a higher rate of overall and major complications and an increased resource utilization.

Music is one nonpharmacological intervention to reduce anxiety and stress for mechanically ventilated patients. Efficient delivery of a music listening intervention can be enhanced through digital tools such as a mobile application (app) loaded onto an electronic tablet device. The objective of this study is to describe the iterative development and deployment of a novel app (Soundese) to deliver, record, and retrieve data associated with a two-arm randomized, blinded clinical trial testing music listening intervention compared to control silence condition on delirium severity among critically ill intensive care unit (ICU) older adult patients receiving mechanical ventilatory support. The Soundese mobile app was developed to deliver either experimental music listening intervention or a silence control listening condition to a sample of older adults receiving mechanical ventilatory support in the ICU and retrieve all protocol data. The Soundese app was developed using the Swift software language and is compatible with all iOS devices. The Soundese app consists of two components: (1) a mobile app that delivers the assigned, blinded listening intervention from an iPad through headphones to each subject and automatically logs each listening session, its duration, the randomization arm, and uploads these data to a server, and (2) an analysis app that generates a spreadsheet with summarized data of the respective listening session, music details, and reports for further analyses. A Dropbox application programmer interface enabled the secure storage of files on a designated Dropbox account. After initial field testing and iterative development changes based on research staff feedback, the Soundese app delivers the assigned experimental listening condition or silence control condition when deployed remotely in the field. The app’s mobile nature allows for immediate and automatic data capture, which is summarized for statistical analysis. There is no need for any manual recording of any intervention data by busy ICU staff, including listening time or music selections. The Soundese mobile app efficiently delivers the research protocol with fidelity and collects the necessary data for an ICU-based clinical trial. The app may be useful in other clinical trials testing music listening interventions in various settings or for deploying other audio-based interventions.

Importance Excess body fat plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). HU6 is a novel, controlled metabolic accelerator that enhances mitochondrial uncoupling resulting in increased metabolism and fat-specific weight loss. Objective To assess efficacy and safety of HU6 in reducing body weight, improving peak volume of oxygen consumption (VO 2 ) and body composition among patients with obesity-related HFpEF. Design, Setting, and Participants The Exploratory Phase 2A, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Dose Escalation Study of Safety, Tolerability, Pharmacodynamics, and Pharmacokinetics of HU6 for Subjects With Obese HFpEF (HuMAIN-HFpEF) trial was a multicenter, dose-escalation randomized clinical trial among patients with chronic stable HFpEF and obesity. Data were analyzed from July to October 2024. Intervention HU6 treatment for 19 weeks, starting at 150 mg per day and potentially up titrated to 450 mg per day based on safety and tolerability vs placebo. Main Outcomes and Measures The primary end point was change in body weight. Results Of 66 participants randomized (mean [SD] age, 64.5 [12] years; 38 female [58%]; mean [SD] weight, 110.9 [22.4] kg), 56 completed the trial. HU6 (vs placebo) significantly decreased weight (between-group difference, −2.86 kg; 95% CI, −4.68 to −1.04 kg; P = .003), total fat mass (between-group difference, −2.96 kg; 95% CI, −4.50 to −1.42 kg; P &amp;lt; .001), and percentage visceral fat (between-group difference,−1.3%; 95% CI, −2.1 to −0.5%; P = .003), with no significant loss of muscle mass. There were no statistically significant changes in peak VO 2 , 6-minute walk distance, Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire score, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein level, N-terminal pro–brain natriuretic peptide level, or diastolic function. Serious adverse events were noted in 5 participants (4 in the HU6 group; 1 in the placebo group), including 1 death, all judged unrelated to treatment. Conclusions and Relevance Among patients with obesity-related HFpEF, treatment with HU6 for 19 weeks led to modest but statistically significant weight loss without significant changes in peak VO 2 . Larger trials of longer duration are warranted to determine whether longer-term administration of HU6 can improve exercise function, quality of life, and cardiovascular outcomes in this increasingly common disorder. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05284617

The 2024 Annual Congress of the International Liver Transplantation Society (ILTS) was from May 1–4 in Houston, Texas, USA, under the theme “Liver Disease and Transplantation: Breaking Barriers and Exploring New Frontiers.” In addition to a robust scientific program, the congress also hosted a hands-on cadaveric robotic liver surgery course, a machine perfusion workshop, and a transesophageal echocardiography course. In this report, the ILTS Vanguard and Basic Sciences Committees present a summary of the congress proceedings.

Kidney transplantation remains the gold standard for managing end-stage kidney disease, providing superior survival and quality-of-life outcomes compared to dialysis. Despite the ongoing gap between organ availability and demand, it is inevitable that kidney transplantation will continue to grow. This is owed to broader organ sharing, increased comfort of transplant programs with marginal kidney utilization, and the expansion of paired exchange among living donor kidneys. The evolution of kidney transplantation could not have been possible without the availability of effective immunosuppressive regimens that prevent rejection and maintain graft function. Mycophenolic acid and calcineurin inhibitors continue to serve as the foundation of modern maintenance immunosuppression. While these agents have markedly reduced acute rejection rates, their long-term efficacy in graft survival remains suboptimal. Alternative immunosuppressive therapies, including belatacept and mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitors, have demonstrated potential benefits. However, concerns regarding an increased risk of rejection have limited their widespread adoption as primary treatment options. In addition to ongoing efforts to refine steroid- and calcineurin inhibitor-sparing strategies, the identification of practical and quantifiable biomarkers for predicting long-term graft survival remains a critical objective. This review evaluates contemporary immunosuppressive protocols, highlights existing challenges, and explores future directions for optimizing long-term transplant outcomes.