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6 days ago | 
nature.com | Irene Fernández-Ruiz
Inhibition of mechanotransduction selectively in cardiac fibroblasts, especially when combined with inhibition of transforming growth factor-β (TGFβ) signalling, triggers a reversal of fibroblast activation and suppresses fibrosis in diseased hearts, according to findings published in Nature.
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1 month ago | 
nature.com | Irene Fernández-Ruiz
In patients with symptomatic paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF), pulsed field ablation (PFA) is non-inferior to cryoballoon ablation for preventing the recurrence of atrial tachyarrhythmia, according to findings from the SINGLE SHOT CHAMPION trial presented at EHRA 2025. “PFA is a non-thermal ablation method that has markedly changed the field of AF ablation and, in many places, is already the preferred technology,” says Tobias Reichlin, first author of the study.
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1 month ago | 
nature.com | Irene Fernández-Ruiz
Stroke remains an important complication of transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). Stroke can be caused by embolic material reaching the brain. Therefore, cerebral embolic protection (CEP) devices, which are designed to capture debris during TAVI, could potentially be effective for reducing the incidence of stroke.
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2 months ago | 
nature.com | Irene Fernández-Ruiz
High circulating levels of ceramides, particularly long-chain ceramides, are an independent risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, but the mechanisms by which circulating ceramides might drive atherosclerosis development and progression are not well understood.
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Jan 28, 2025 | 
nature.com | Irene Fernández-Ruiz
Obesity increases the risk of metabolic syndromes, including diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular diseases, and one of the major drivers of this risk is chronic low-grade inflammation in visceral adipose tissue (VAT). A study now shows how obesity can disrupt a particular subset of metabolically protective regulatory T (Treg) cells in VAT.
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Nov 14, 2024 | 
nature.com | Irene Fernández-Ruiz
After myocardial infarction (MI), monocytes are actively recruited to the brain to augment sleep power and abundance, which in turn helps to limit cardiac inflammation and promotes recovery, according to a study in humans and mice published in Nature. “Our data demonstrate a critical bidirectional relationship between sleep and cardiovascular disease,” says lead investigator Cameron McAlpine.
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Sep 18, 2024 | 
nature.com | Irene Fernández-Ruiz
The non-steroidal mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist (MRA) finerenone reduces the rate of total worsening heart failure events and death from cardiovascular causes in patients with heart failure with mildly reduced ejection fraction (HFmrEF) or with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) compared with placebo. These findings from the FINEARTS-HF trials were presented by Scott Solomon at the ESC Congress 2024.
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Sep 18, 2024 | 
nature.com | Irene Fernández-Ruiz
In patients with heart failure (HF) and secondary mitral valve regurgitation, transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (TEER) is non-inferior to surgical mitral valve repair or replacement with respect to a composite of death, hospitalization for HF, reintervention, implantation of an assist device or stroke at 1 year after the procedure, according to findings from the MATTERHORN trial presented at the ESC Congress 2024.
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Aug 7, 2024 | 
nature.com | Irene Fernández-Ruiz
Acute ischaemic stroke induces persistent innate immune memory through epigenetic changes in myeloid progenitors in the bone marrow, and this innate immune training contributes to cardiac remodelling and dysfunction in the long term. These findings, published in Cell, provide insights into the mechanisms underlying the observed high long-term risk of secondary complications after a stroke.
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Jul 29, 2024 | 
nature.com | Irene Fernández-Ruiz
Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) has limited pharmacological treatment options. Targeting the microtubule network remodelling that occurs in HFpEF might be a potential new therapeutic strategy, according to a study published in Science Translational Medicine.
