Background and Introduction: Cardiac imaging is crucial for diagnosing heart disorders. Methods like X-rays, ultrasounds, CT scans, and MRIs provide detailed anatomical and functional heart images. AI can enhance these imaging techniques with its advanced learning capabilities. Method: In this scoping review, following PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses) Guidelines, we searched PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar using related keywords on 16 April 2024. From 3679 articles, we first screened titles and abstracts based on the initial inclusion criteria and then screened the full texts. The authors made the final selections collaboratively. Result: The PRISMA chart shows that 3516 articles were initially selected for evaluation after removing duplicates. Upon reviewing titles, abstracts, and quality, 24 articles were deemed eligible for the review. The findings indicate that AI enhances image quality, speeds up imaging processes, and reduces radiation exposure with sensitivity and specificity comparable to or exceeding those of qualified radiologists or cardiologists. Further research is needed to assess AI’s applicability in various types of cardiac imaging, especially in rural hospitals where access to medical doctors is limited. Conclusions: AI improves image quality, reduces human errors and radiation exposure, and can predict cardiac events with acceptable sensitivity and specificity.

Novel cancer therapies have revolutionized the management of various cancers. An immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) is one of these antitumor medications. ICIs, which are immune therapies, enhance the immune system's capacity to fight cancer cells. Based on the receptors that they inhibit, such as PD-1, PD-L1, and CTLA-4, ICIs are subdivided. Although this class of drugs is extremely beneficial for cancer patients, their adverse effects can be fatal. Multiple organs, such as the cardiovascular system, may be impacted by immune-related adverse effects (irAEs). These cardiotoxic irAEs can occur at a rate of up to 1% and can be fatal. Myocarditis is the most prevalent of all cardiotoxicities. The purpose of this systematic review is to assess the seriousness of myocarditis, the most prevalent cardiotoxicity of ICIs, and the importance of screening. We chose studies based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 criteria. Therefore, from 2018 to 2023, we gathered articles from databases such as PubMed, ScienceDirect, Web of Science, the Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar. Of the 665 studies identified based on various screening methods and quality assessment tools, 13 were selected for inclusion in the study. This study shows that although the risk of myocarditis in ICI therapy is low and the majority of cases are asymptomatic or mild, some cases can be deadly and disastrous, and physicians should be aware that if myocarditis is suspected based on clinical symptoms, troponin, electrocardiogram, and echocardiogram, treatment should be initiated accordingly.

Water pipe smoking, commonly referred to as hookah or shisha, is a centuries-old practice that has gained global popularity in recent decades, particularly among young adults. This resurgence is fueled by its cultural appeal, social nature, and the perception of it being a safer alternative to cigarette smoking. However, mounting evidence suggests that waterpipe smoking has significant cardiovascular consequences, including the development of ventricular dysfunction, a precursor to heart failure. Heart failure (HF), a complex clinical syndrome characterized by the heart’s inability to pump blood adequately, affects approximately 64 million people worldwide, with regional variations in prevalence and etiology. In high-income countries, the prevalence ranges from 1-2% of the adult population, increasing to over 10% in individuals above 70 years, while in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), the prevalence is often underreported due to limited healthcare access. Emerging evidence links water pipe smoking to ventricular dysfunction through mechanisms such as oxidative stress, systemic inflammation, and direct myocardial toxicity. Comparative studies highlight that a single water pipe session delivers greater quantities of carbon monoxide and nicotine than a cigarette, intensifying cardiovascular strain. These substances induce myocardial hypoxia, lipid peroxidation, and cytokine-mediated inflammation, impairing ventricular function. Given the growing prevalence of water pipe smoking, especially among younger populations, this practice constitutes an underrecognized but significant public health risk. Addressing the cardiovascular implications of water pipe smoking requires targeted research and global efforts to enhance awareness, implement preventive strategies, and inform healthcare policies.

The impact of dose variation of Sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors in reducing blood pressure (BP) in patients with diabetes and hypertension remains unclear. A systematic search up to December 29, 2024 identified randomized trials reporting SGLT2 inhibitor effects on 24-h, daytime, nighttime, and office BP, along with hypoglycemia, urinary tract infections, and volume depletion. Continuous outcomes were synthesized as mean differences and safety outcomes as odds ratios within a Bayesian random-effects network meta-analysis. Dose–response patterns were examined using Bayesian meta-regression (ΔDIC), and treatment rankings were derived using SUCRA. Nine RCTs involving 9093 participants were included. SGLT2 inhibitors produced modest reductions across 24-h, daytime, nighttime, and office BP, with the largest numerical effect for empagliflozin 25 mg (SBP –5.93 mm Hg), but no credibly significant differences among agents in head-to-head comparisons. Safety outcomes showed no credibly significant excess risk for hypoglycemia, UTI, or volume depletion, with overall event rates low. Bayesian meta-regression yielded ΔDIC values near zero, indicating no detectable dose–response pattern for either blood pressure or safety outcomes. SGLT2 inhibitors produced modest and consistent reductions in BP, with no evidence of dose-dependence or meaningful differences among agents. Safety events were not credibly increased. These findings support their use as adjunctive therapy in patients with diabetes and hypertension.

Open access peer-reviewed chapter