Mucorales Endocarditis: A Case Series and Review of the Literature.

Mucorales endocarditis is an extremely rare and devastating disease, with few cases reported in the literature. The infection is predominantly found in immunocompromised patients, although a few cases involving immunocompetent individuals have been reported. We reviewed all cases of mucor endocarditis reported to date with a focus on demographics, clinical presentations, and the range of predisposing conditions, including immunosuppressive states, recent surgery, and cardiac device implantation.

Polypill Strategies for Cardiovascular Prevention in Older Adults: Evidence, Opportunities, and Implementation Challenges.

Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of morbidity and mortality among older adults, who often face unique challenges in preventive care due to multimorbidity, frailty, and polypharmacy. The polypill, a fixed-dose combination of multiple cardiovascular medications, has emerged as a promising strategy to improve adherence, simplify treatment, and reduce the burden of major cardiovascular events. This review aims to synthesize current evidence supporting polypill use in both primary and secondary prevention, with a particular focus on older populations.

Artificial Intelligence Tools for Preconception Cardiomyopathy Screening Among Women of Reproductive Age.

Purpose: Identifying cardiovascular disease before conception and in early pregnancy can better inform obstetric cardiovascular care. Our main objective was to evaluate the diagnostic performance of artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled digital tools for detecting left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD) among women of reproductive age.

Methods: In a pilot cross-sectional study, we enrolled an initial cohort of 100 consecutive women aged 18-49 years who had a primary care physician and a scheduled echocardiography at Mayo Clinic Florida (Jacksonville) (cohort 1).

Obesity and Hypertension: Etiology and the Effects of Diet, Bariatric Surgery, and Antiobesity Drugs.

Obesity-related hypertension (HTN) is a growing global health concern, being a significant contributor to cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The article reviews the complex pathophysiological mechanisms involved in the link between obesity and HTN, including neurohormonal activation, inflammation, insulin resistance, and endothelial dysfunction. The role of adipokines, specifically leptin and adiponectin, in blood pressure regulation is highlighted, along with the impact of advanced glycation end-products on vascular function.

The Effect of Lithium Treatment on the Cardiovascular System.

Lithium is regarded as the gold standard treatment for bipolar disorders. Its use has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration since the 1970s. Lithium levels are easily altered by interactions with other medications or pathophysiologic processes.