Triglyceride- glucose (TyG) index, a marker of insulin resistance, has been shown to be associated with the incidence of cardiometabolic diseases including hypertension. However, the prognostic role of TyG index is unknown. Hence, we aim to determine the association of TyG index with major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in hypertensive patients. Systematic searching was conducted on 3 databases up till November 2024. We included studies with hypertensive patients despite their comorbidities. Outcome measured is MACE and its individual components. Random effect model meta-analysis is done to pool the results with similar reference point. Twenty observational studies with a total of 451,455 patients of 40 – 70 years old are included. Meta-analysis result shows that higher TyG index is associated with a statistically significant increased risk of MACE (HR 1.90, CI: 1.41 – 2.57, I² 88 %), myocardial infarction (HR 1.55, CI: 1.27 – 1.88, I² 0 %), stroke (HR 1.84, CI: 1.41 – 2.39, I² 62 %), all- cause mortality (HR 1.86, CI: 1.70 – 2.03, I² 0 %) and cardiovascular mortality (HR 1.08, CI: 1.04 – 1.11, I² 0 %). Subgroups of older and younger population, male and female gender, diabetic and non- diabetic population, and higher BMI patients retains the statistically significant risk of MACE (p < 0.05). U- shaped phenomena of TyG index is also demonstrated with the risk of all- cause mortality. TyG index is a reliable prognostic marker of MACE in hypertensive patients and can be utilized in population despite their age, diabetic status, and gender.

Introduction The primary concern for women who have experienced peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is the safety of a subsequent pregnancy (SSP). To maximie decision-making, facilitate effective patient counselling, and ultimately improve maternal and fetal outcomes as a whole, it is critical to comprehend the outcomes of SSP in women who have previously experienced PPCM. This study aimed to evaluate the outcomes of SSP in women with PPCM. Methods Three databases (PubMed, Scopus, and ScienceDirect) were used to identify relevant studies prior to 17 October 2023. A total of 662 studies were reviewed. Following the abstract and full-text screenings, 18 observational studies were included, out of which 2 were deemed suitable for inclusion in this meta-analysis. The quality assessment was conducted using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Results This study has a total of 487 SSPs. Although recovered left ventricular (LV) function before entering SSP has the potential to be a beneficial prognostic factor, recovered LV function still has a substantial risk of relapse. The mortality rate of PPCM in an SSP ranged from 0% to 55.5%. Persistent LV dysfunction was significantly associated with an increased mortality rate (OR 13.17; 95% CI 1.54 to 112.28; p=0.02) and lower LV ejection fraction (MD −12.88; 95% CI −21.67 to −4.09; p=0.004). Diastolic and right ventricular functions remained unchanged before SSP and at follow-up. The majority of the SSP was observed alongside hypertension, while pre-eclampsia emerged as the predominant hypertensive complication in most studies. Conclusion SSP increases the risk of relapse and mortality in women with a previous history of PPCM. Persistent LV dysfunction prior to the SSP has a higher mortality risk compared with recovered LV function. SSP was also associated with the worsening of LV echocardiography parameters.

Background: Growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15), an emerging biomarker associated with chronic inflammation and oxidative stress, shows potential diagnostic and prognostic significance for heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). This study aimed to assess the diagnostic and prognostic value of GDF-15 in HFpEF. Methods: Three databases (PubMed, Scopus, and ScienceDirect) were used to search for relevant literature published before August 6, 2024. Quality assessment was conducted using the Newcastle-Ottawa scale and its adaptation for cross-sectional studies. Statistical analysis was performed using RStudio version 4.4.1. All meta-analyses employed a random-effects model. Sensitivity analysis was conducted using the leave-one-out technique to evaluate the influence of individual studies on pooled estimates. This study protocol was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42024569609). Results: A total of 5,696 HFpEF patients were identified from 28,193 individuals across 12 observational studies. GDF-15 levels were consistently elevated in HFpEF patients, with a pooled mean difference (MD) of 647.60 pg/mL (95% CI [148.43–1,146.77]; p = 0.01). Sensitivity analysis confirmed the robustness of this finding, with a slightly higher MD observed when studies involving HFpEF patients with atrial fibrillation were excluded. Qualitative analysis suggested that the overall diagnostic performance of GDF-15 in HFpEF is slightly superior to conventional biomarkers. GDF-15 showed a pooled area under the curve (AUC) of 0.82 (95% CI [0.72–0.91]), indicating good diagnostic accuracy. Additionally, GDF-15 was associated with increased risk of all-cause mortality and heart failure hospitalisation, with pooled hazard ratios (HR) of 1.46 (95% CI [1.30–1.62]; p < 0.01) and 1.76 (95% CI [1.30–2.38]; p < 0.01), respectively. Conclusion: GDF-15 demonstrates significant diagnostic and prognostic potential for HFpEF. Elevated GDF-15 levels are associated with increased risk of all-cause mortality and heart failure hospitalisation.

Human sparganosis, a parasitic infection prevalent in Asia, can progress to cerebral sparganosis, a severe condition with significant neurological symptoms. Diagnosis and treatment are challenging due to its clinical similarity to other infections, highlighting the need for improved detection and management strategies. The aim of this study was to observe research trends, key contributors, gaps in the existing knowledge, diagnosis challenges, effective treatment options, and prevention strategies, providing recommendations for future research directions and clinical practice improvements on cerebral sparganosis. A bibliometric analysis was conducted by extracting 139 documents from the Scopus database in June 2024. The retrieved data were analyzed using the R package's Bibliometrix (Biblioshiny) and VOSviewer. Spanning 97 different sources, the research exhibited an annual growth rate of 2.5%. Annual scientific production revealed fluctuating research activity with peaks in 2010 and 2011 and notable citation peaks in 1996 and 2005, indicating pivotal studies that significantly influenced subsequent research. Early studies focused on diagnosis and specific parasites, while recent studies (2010–2024) have increasingly addressed clinical outcomes, treatment strategies, and advanced diagnostic techniques. Trends revealed a shift towards clinical and diagnostic advancements, with recent emphasis on diagnostic imaging, immunoassays, and the relationship between cerebral sparganosis and brain tumors. In conclusion, the studies on cerebral sparganosis underscore the potential for enhancing clinical practice by improving diagnostic accuracy, informing treatment decisions, and implementing targeted screening efforts based on epidemiology and risk factors. Recommendation to further study needs to notify the cerebral sparganosis in high-risk countries with similar socioeconomic and cultural characteristics to endemic regions, including Indonesia.

Catheter ablation has been the go-to treatment for ventricular arrhythmia, with traditional fluoroscopy-guided and non-zero fluoroscopy (NZF) catheter ablation posing high radiation risk for operators and patients. Zero-fluoroscopy technique offers elimination of radiation risk; however, its efficacy and safety in ventricular arrhythmia patients are not well explored. The aim of this study was to systematically evaluate the effectiveness, safety, and feasibility of zero-fluoroscopy ablation on ventricular arrhythmia patients. This study only included relevant studies comparing zero-fluoroscopy and NZF in ventricular arrhythmia ablation that were identified from Scopus, PubMed, and ScienceDirect (up to June 20, 2024). The quality of the study was assessed using the ROBINS-I tool, and the meta-analysis was conducted using a random-effect model. Out of 383 studies found, nine cohort studies were included with 1.408 patients. There was no significant difference in the acute procedural success rate of the zero-fluoroscopy and NZF (relative risk: 1.01; 95%CI: 0.95–1.07; p=0.69), with a similar recurrence rate (p=0.88; for four studies; n=374), and comparable procedural time (mean difference: -19.22 minutes; 95%CI: -41.16–2.72; p=0.09). Adverse events such as pericardial effusion, pseudoaneurysm, and hematoma were similar between zero-fluoroscopy and NZF. Overall, zero-fluoroscopy catheter ablation has demonstrated non-inferiority as a treatment option for ventricular arrhythmia ablation. As zero-fluoroscopy eliminates radiation risk without compromising procedural efficacy, zero-fluoroscopy has the potential to become a widely adopted approach for catheter ablation in ventricular arrhythmia.

Beyond its efficacy on atrial fibrillation, pulsed field ablation (PFA) presents potential advantages in ventricular arrhythmia. This study sought to investigate the feasibility of PFA for ventricular tachycardia (VT) and premature ventricular complexes (PVC). A systematic search (Scopus, PubMed, and Science Direct) with citation searching was performed on 9 January 2026. Studies evaluating the feasibility of PFA in VT and PVC were included. This study included seven studies (74 patients with VT and 86 with PVC). Pooled acute procedural success rate in VT was 0.92 (95% CI: 0.86-0.99) and in the PVC was 0.93 (95% CI: 0.86-1.00). During follow-up, VT recurrence rates ranged from 20% to 54%. PVC ablation demonstrated a significant burden reduction (MD: 86.54%; 95% CI: 59.21-113.86; p = 0.005) with long-term success rates ranging from 50% to 85%. Safety evaluation demonstrated satisfactory outcomes, with major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) during follow-up occurring in four patients with high-risk comorbidity. Major adverse events (AEs) occurred in 11 patients and were preventable; minor AEs consisted solely of vascular access site AEs. PFA was feasible for VT and PVC ablation. Larger long-term studies and standardized protocol were urgently necessary to ensure efficacy with minimal AEs. www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero identifier is CRD420251272352.