Background Studies suggest that hypoperfusion from heart failure (HF) may contribute to cognitive decline. However, the relationship between the HF subtypes and cognition remains poorly described in real‐world populations. Methods We conducted a cross‐sectional study of patients aged ≥18 years seen at the Mayo Clinic in 2022 who underwent echocardiogram and cognitive assessment within 1 year. HF was classified per the 2022 American Heart Association as no HF, HF with preserved ejection fraction (EF), HF with mildly reduced EF, and HF with reduced EF. Cognitive impairment was categorized using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment score as normal (≥26), mild (18–25), and moderate to severe (<18). Linear regression assessed EF–Montreal Cognitive Assessment correlation and logistic regression the association between HF subtypes and cognitive dysfunction, adjusting for age, sex, race, and vascular risk factors. Results A total of 1592 patients met inclusion criteria (mean age, 75.7±13.8 years; 48.5% women). Lower EF was associated with worse cognitive performance (postadjustment β=0.033, P =0.013). Patients with HF with reduced EF and patients with HF with preserved EF had significantly lower Montreal Cognitive Assessment scores than those without HF (17.6±6.2 and 18.9±5.8 versus 19.9±6.0, P <0.001). The prevalence of moderate to severe cognitive impairment was highest in HF with reduced EF (43.3%), followed by HF with preserved EF (34.4%), no heart failure (28.6%), and HF with mildly reduced EF (23.4%) (adjusted trend P =0.032). Conclusions HF, independent of ejection fraction alone, is associated with cognitive impairment. Further studies should confirm these findings and evaluate the impact of interventions targeting EF and HF subtypes on cognitive outcomes.
Pharmacologically Induced Hypertension after Acute Ischemic Stroke: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
The effect of induced hypertension (iHTN) on functional outcomes in noncardioembolic acute ischemic stroke (AIS) with early neurological deterioration remains unclear. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis evaluating the safety and efficacy of iHTN vs medical management. A literature search of PubMed/MEDLINE, Web of Science, Ovid Embase, and Scopus from inception through November 6th, 2025. The protocol was registered in PROSPERO (CRD420261282211). Studies evaluating iHTN within 72 h of AIS onset and reporting 90-day functional independence (modified Rankin Scale [mRS] 0-2) were included. Safety outcome was hemorrhagic transformation. Pooled risk ratios (RRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using random-effects model based on Restricted Maximum-Likelihood (REML) methods. Three studies were included, comprising 366 patients (iHTN, n = 180; control, n = 186). Mean age was 65.8 ± 11.8 years, 60.9% were men, and the mean initial NIHSS was 5.4 ± 3.5. Target systolic blood pressure (SBP) was a 15-25% increase from baseline SBP using phenylephrine. Functional independence at 90-days occurred more often in the iHTN group than in controls (68.8% vs 50.5%; RR = 1.37; 95% CI, 1.09-1.73; P = 0.007). Hemorrhagic transformation was uncommon and did not differ significantly between groups (3.3% vs 0.5%; RR = 2.08; 95% CI, 0.05-88.07; P = 0.70). In our study, phenylephrine-induced hypertension was associated with greater 90-day functional independence in selected AIS subtypes,without a significant increase in hemorrhagic transformation. However, the limited studies, predominance of retrospective designs, exclusively Asian cohorts, and heterogeneity in treatment protocols and populations warrant cautious interpretation and underscore the need for larger multicenter RCTs.
TPS649 Background: While advancements in early-stage breast cancer (ESBC) treatment have improved survival, disease recurrence and therapeutic resistance remain significant challenges. Current biomarkers guide initial treatment, yet novel diagnostics are required to improve risk stratification and recurrence prediction. Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) offers a non-invasive method for detecting minimal residual disease (MRD), potentially enabling the identification of molecular relapse before radiographic progression. However, deeper validation of ctDNA kinetics across the treatment continuum is needed to inform precision oncology strategies in ESBC. Additionally, the logistical complexity of tissue-dependent assays presents a barrier to scalability. In order to address these gaps, the purpose of the GEMINI-BREAST study is to evaluate a methylation-based, tissue-free ctDNA assay (Tempus xM) and integrate this with comprehensive clinical and multi-omic data to determine prognostic utility for invasive disease-free survival (iDFS) and long term outcomes in patients with ESBC. Methods: GEMINI-BREAST (NCT07211178) is a prospective, non-interventional, multi-center study enrolling up to 900 participants with ESBC treated with curative intent. Eligible patients enroll into one of three analytical cohorts (n ~ 300 each): Cohort 1 enrolls pre-neoadjuvant therapy (high-risk HR+/HER2- [Stage II-III], HER2+ [Stage II-III], or TNBC [Stage I-III]); Cohort 2 enrolls post-surgery/pre-adjuvant therapy (same subtypes, no evidence of disease); and Cohort 3 enrolls long-term survivors (high-risk HR+/HER2- [Stage II-III], ≥ 5 years since diagnosis). Longitudinal blood samples for ctDNA analysis and archival tissue for NGS are collected at standard-of-care intervals, including, as applicable: pre-neoadjuvant, neoadjuvant on-treatment (weeks 3, 6, 12) and post-treatment, post-surgical/pre-adjuvant, adjuvant on-treatment (every 3 months), end of definitive therapy, surveillance for up to 5 years (every 3-6 months for Cohorts 1/2; every 6-12 months for Cohort 3), and at progression/recurrence. The primary objective is to evaluate the association between ctDNA dynamics (Cohort 1) or MRD status (Cohort 2/3) and iDFS, with secondary endpoints assessing overall survival, lead time to recurrence, and the predictive value of ctDNA clearance for pathological complete response. Recruitment is currently ongoing at U.S. sites. Clinical trial information: NCT07211178 .