Investigating the effects of a randomized, double-blinded aerobic, resistance, and cognitive training clinical trial on neurocognitive function in older adults with cardiovascular risk factors: the ACTIONcardioRisk protocol.

Background: Lifestyle factors like exercise and cognitive stimulation might help improve cognitive performance in older adults. However, studies investigating this, reported mixed results. Most of the data supporting the benefit of exercise comes from cross-sectional studies, cohort studies, or short intervention studies of 3-6 months with poorly designed control groups.

Disentangling the effects of sex and gender on ɛ4-related neurocognitive impairment.

Introduction: The apolipoprotein E () ɛ4 allele is a well-established risk factor for neurocognitive impairment (NCI), with varying impacts between men and women. This study investigates the distinct roles of sex and gender in modifying ɛ4-related NCI.

Methods: Biological sex was inferred from sex chromosomes, and a femininity score (FS) was used as a proxy for gender.

Effect of probiotic supplementation on glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes: A randomized controlled trial.

Background: Type 2 diabetes presents significant public health challenges. The gut microbiome has emerged as a potential factor influencing glucose metabolism.

Methods: We performed a randomized, double-blind, single-center trial involving patients with type 2 diabetes and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) concentration of 7 % or greater.

Long-term trials of colchicine for secondary prevention of vascular events: a meta-analysis.

Background And Aims: Colchicine has emerged as a safe and inexpensive anti-inflammatory medication to target the residual risk of cardiovascular events in the secondary prevention of coronary artery disease. Two recently published randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating colchicine in the post-stroke and post-myocardial infarction (MI) populations warrant a re-evaluation of colchicine. New evidence was synthesized in a systematic review and meta-analysis to determine the long-term efficacy and safety of colchicine for the secondary prevention of vascular disease.

Foundation models for generalizable electrocardiogram interpretation: comparison of supervised and self-supervised electrocardiogram foundation models.

Background: The 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) remains a cornerstone of cardiac diagnostics, yet existing artificial intelligence (AI) solutions for automated interpretation often lack generalizability, remain closed-source, and are primarily trained using supervised learning, limiting their adaptability across diverse clinical settings. To address these challenges, we developed and compared two open-source foundational ECG models: DeepECG-SSL, a self-supervised learning model, and DeepECG-SL, a supervised learning model.

Methods: Both models were trained on over 1 million ECGs using a standardized preprocessing pipeline and automated free-text extraction from ECG reports to predict 77 cardiac conditions.

Genome-wide association study meta-analysis provides insights into the etiology of heart failure and its subtypes.

Heart failure (HF) is a major contributor to global morbidity and mortality. While distinct clinical subtypes, defined by etiology and left ventricular ejection fraction, are well recognized, their genetic determinants remain inadequately understood. In this study, we report a genome-wide association study of HF and its subtypes in a sample of 1.

Accountability for Reasonableness as a Framework for the Promotion of Fair and Equitable Research.

Despite increased efforts to ensure diversity in genomic research, the exclusion of minority groups from data analyses and publications remains a critical issue. This paper addresses the ethical implications of these exclusions and proposes accountability for reasonableness (A4R) as a framework to promote fairness and equity in research. Originally conceived by Norman Daniels and James Sabin to guide resource allocation in the context of health policy, A4R emphasizes publicity, relevance of reasons, enforcement, and revision as essential for legitimacy and trust in the decision-making process.

A Study Of the effect of Sex on drug dosing, concentrations, and pharmacogenomics in the Montreal Heart Institute Hospital Cohort (SOS-PGx): methodology and research progress.

Background: Women are underrepresented in drug development trials and there is no sex-tailored drug regimen for most medications. It has been repeatedly shown that women have more adverse drug reactions than men for several medications. These differences could be explained by higher dose-adjusted drug concentrations in women.

Prediction of incident atrial fibrillation using deep learning, clinical models, and polygenic scores.

Background And Aims: Deep learning applied to electrocardiograms (ECG-AI) is an emerging approach for predicting atrial fibrillation or flutter (AF). This study introduces an ECG-AI model developed and tested at a tertiary cardiac centre, comparing its performance with clinical models and AF polygenic score (PGS).

Methods: Electrocardiograms in sinus rhythm from the Montreal Heart Institute were analysed, excluding those from patients with pre-existing AF.

The Influence of Illness Perception and Coping on Anxiety in Adults With Congenital Heart Disease.

Background: Up to one-half of adults with congenital heart disease (CHD) experience psychological distress, including anxiety.

Objectives: This paper sought to: 1) assess the contribution of illness perception in explaining anxiety symptoms beyond sociodemographic and medical variables in adults with CHD; and 2) investigate the potential mediating effect of coping style.

Methods: CHD adult patients were recruited at Montreal Heart Institute between June 2019 and April 2021 for this cross-sectional study.

The Relationship Between Perceived Parenting Practices and Anxiety in Adults With Congenital Heart Disease.

Background: Patients with congenital heart disease (CHD) and their parents face challenges throughout their lives that can lead to anxiety lasting into adulthood. We aim to assess the association between perceived parenting practices and anxiety beyond paediatric medical-surgical histories in adults with CHD.

Methods: A cross-sectional study of adults with CHD was conducted at the Montreal Heart Institute (MHI).

Childhood Maltreatment and Leukocyte Telomere Length: Cardiac Vagal Activity Influences the Relation in Older Adults.

Objective: Childhood maltreatment is associated with shorter leukocyte telomere length (LTL). However, the influence of cardiac vagal control on this relation is unknown. We examined whether cardiac vagal control at rest and in response to stress moderates or cross-sectionally mediates the relationship between childhood maltreatment and LTL.

A dataset of proteomic changes during human heat stress and heat acclimation.

Hotter climates have important impacts on human health and performance. Yet, the cellular and molecular responses involved in human heat stress and acclimation remain understudied. This dataset includes physiological measurements and the plasma concentration of 2,938 proteins collected from 10 healthy adults, before and during passive heat stress that was performed both prior to and after a 7-day heat acclimation protocol.

Impact of amiodarone use on metoprolol concentrations, α-OH-metoprolol concentrations, metoprolol dosing and heart rate: A cross-sectional study.

Small studies suggest that amiodarone is a weak inhibitor of cytochrome P450 (CYP) 2D6. Inhibition of CYP2D6 leads to increases in concentrations of drugs metabolized by the enzyme, such as metoprolol. Considering that both metoprolol and amiodarone have β-adrenergic blocking properties and that the modest interaction between the two drugs would result in increased metoprolol concentrations, this could lead to a higher risk of bradycardia and atrioventricular block.

Pharmacogenomic markers of metoprolol and α-OH-metoprolol concentrations: a genome-wide association study.

Few genome-wide association studies (GWASs) have been conducted to identify predictors of drug concentrations. The authors therefore sought to discover the pharmacogenomic markers involved in metoprolol pharmacokinetics. The authors performed a GWAS of a cross-sectional study of 993 patients from the Montreal Heart Institute Biobank taking metoprolol.

Somatic Mosaic Chromosomal Alterations and Death of Cardiovascular Disease Causes among Cancer Survivors.

Background: Cancer survivors are at an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) compared with the general population. We sought to evaluate the impact of mosaic chromosomal alterations (mCA) on death of CVD causes, coronary artery disease (CAD) causes, and of any cause in patients with a cancer diagnosis.

Methods: The study was a prospective cohort analysis of 48,919 UK Biobank participants with a cancer diagnosis.

Childhood maltreatment and leukocyte telomere length in men and women with chronic illness: an evaluation of moderating and mediating influences.

Background: Childhood maltreatment can result in lifelong psychological and physical sequelae, including coronary artery disease (CAD). Mechanisms leading to increased risk of illness may involve emotional dysregulation and shortened leukocyte telomere length (LTL).

Methods: To evaluate whether (1) childhood maltreatment is associated with shorter LTL among older adults with CAD or other chronic illnesses; (2) sex and/or CAD status influence these results; and (3) symptoms of anxiety, depression, and stress moderate or mediate the association between childhood maltreatment and LTL, men and women ( = 1247; aged 65 ± 7.

Females present higher dose-adjusted drug concentrations of metoprolol and allopurinol/oxypurinol than males.

Females present a higher risk of adverse drug reactions. Sex-related differences in drug concentrations may contribute to these observations but they remain understudied given the underrepresentation of females in clinical trials. The aim of this study was to investigate whether anthropometric and socioeconomic factors and comorbidities could explain sex-related differences in concentrations and dosing for metoprolol and oxypurinol, the active metabolite of allopurinol.