Welcome to Cardiology Today – Recorded February 11, 2026. This episode summarizes 5 key cardiology studies on topics like Blood pressure reduction and E. X. C. E. L. trial. Key takeaway: Macrophage circHIPK2 Directs Post-MI Fibrosis.

Article Links:

Article 1: Spontaneous Myocardial Infarction After Left Main Revascularization: The EXCEL Trial. (Circulation)

Article 2: Computed tomography-guided vs conventional catheter ablation for ventricular tachycardia: the InEurHeart trial. (European heart journal)

Article 3: Quadruple vs triple therapy for resistant hypertension: the QUADRO trial. (European heart journal)

Article 4: Macrophage-specific circular RNA circHIPK2, inflammation, and fibrosis after myocardial infarction. (European heart journal)

Article 5: Wine consumption, Mediterranean diet, and cardiovascular risk in two Spanish cohorts. (European heart journal)

Full episode page: https://podcast.explainheart.com/podcast/macrophage-circhipk2-directs-post-mi-fibrosis-02-11-26/

Journal: Circulation

PubMed Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41664927

Summary: From the E. X. C. E. L. trial, this study established a systematic adjudication of spontaneous myocardial infarctions following left main coronary artery revascularization. It directly compared myocardial infarction events between patients receiving percutaneous coronary intervention and those undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery for left main coronary artery disease. The research determined the relative rates, etiology, and long-term prognostic implications of these spontaneous myocardial infarctions. This work provided definitive data on a critical adverse event after revascularization procedures.

Journal: European heart journal

PubMed Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41667137

Summary: The InEurHeart trial systematically compared computed tomography-guided ventricular tachycardia ablation with conventional ablation. This multicenter randomized controlled study involved 113 patients with prior myocardial infarction and clinically significant ventricular tachycardia. The trial established a direct comparison of the therapeutic effectiveness and safety profiles of these two ablation techniques. It provided foundational data for refining ablation strategies for complex ventricular tachycardia, especially in high-risk post-myocardial infarction patients.

Journal: European heart journal

PubMed Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41667119

Summary: The Q. U. A. D. R. O. trial investigated the effectiveness of a quadruple single-pill combination versus triple antihypertensive therapy for resistant hypertension. This multicenter, phase three, randomized controlled study systematically compared blood pressure reduction outcomes between these two therapeutic approaches. The trial established the comparative efficacy of adding a fourth antihypertensive agent to triple therapy for patients with uncontrolled blood pressure. This provides crucial evidence for guiding treatment decisions in individuals with resistant hypertension to reduce cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.

Journal: European heart journal

PubMed Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41667113

Summary: This study identified circular R. N. A. circH. I. P. K. two as significantly upregulated in inflammatory cardiac macrophages after myocardial infarction. Researchers found that its expression directly correlated with post-myocardial infarction inflammation dynamics. The data demonstrated that circH. I. P. K. two functions as a key molecular switch for macrophage polarization. These findings reveal a novel mechanism linking specific R. N. A. regulation to cardiac remodeling, inflammation, and fibrosis following myocardial infarction.

Journal: European heart journal

PubMed Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41667089

Summary: This study rigorously assessed the association between Mediterranean diet adherence, with or without wine consumption, and major cardiovascular disease or all-cause mortality. The research utilized data from the PREDIMED trial, encompassing 7447 high-risk participants. Adherence to the Mediterranean diet was quantified using a validated questionnaire, including a specific measure for wine consumption up to seven glasses per week. This provides crucial evidence to clarify the independent and combined effects of wine within the Mediterranean diet on cardiovascular outcomes and overall survival.

Today’s date is February 11, 2026. Welcome to Cardiology Today. Here are the latest research findings.

Article number one. Spontaneous Myocardial Infarction After Left Main Revascularization: The EXCEL Trial. From the E. X. C. E. L. trial, this study established a systematic adjudication of spontaneous myocardial infarctions following left main coronary artery revascularization. It directly compared myocardial infarction events between patients receiving percutaneous coronary intervention and those undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery for left main coronary artery disease. The research determined the relative rates, etiology, and long-term prognostic implications of these spontaneous myocardial infarctions. This work provided definitive data on a critical adverse event after revascularization procedures.

Article number two. Computed tomography-guided vs conventional catheter ablation for ventricular tachycardia: the InEurHeart trial. The InEurHeart trial systematically compared computed tomography-guided ventricular tachycardia ablation with conventional ablation. This multicenter randomized controlled study involved 113 patients with prior myocardial infarction and clinically significant ventricular tachycardia. The trial established a direct comparison of the therapeutic effectiveness and safety profiles of these two ablation techniques. It provided foundational data for refining ablation strategies for complex ventricular tachycardia, especially in high-risk post-myocardial infarction patients.

Article number three. Quadruple vs triple therapy for resistant hypertension: the QUADRO trial. The Q. U. A. D. R. O. trial investigated the effectiveness of a quadruple single-pill combination versus triple antihypertensive therapy for resistant hypertension. This multicenter, phase three, randomized controlled study systematically compared blood pressure reduction outcomes between these two therapeutic approaches. The trial established the comparative efficacy of adding a fourth antihypertensive agent to triple therapy for patients with uncontrolled blood pressure. This provides crucial evidence for guiding treatment decisions in individuals with resistant hypertension to reduce cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.

Article number four. Macrophage-specific circular RNA circHIPK2, inflammation, and fibrosis after myocardial infarction. This study identified circular R. N. A. circH. I. P. K. two as significantly upregulated in inflammatory cardiac macrophages after myocardial infarction. Researchers found that its expression directly correlated with post-myocardial infarction inflammation dynamics. The data demonstrated that circH. I. P. K. two functions as a key molecular switch for macrophage polarization. These findings reveal a novel mechanism linking specific R. N. A. regulation to cardiac remodeling, inflammation, and fibrosis following myocardial infarction.

Article number five. Wine consumption, Mediterranean diet, and cardiovascular risk in two Spanish cohorts. This study rigorously assessed the association between Mediterranean diet adherence, with or without wine consumption, and major cardiovascular disease or all-cause mortality. The research utilized data from the PREDIMED trial, encompassing 7447 high-risk participants. Adherence to the Mediterranean diet was quantified using a validated questionnaire, including a specific measure for wine consumption up to seven glasses per week. This provides crucial evidence to clarify the independent and combined effects of wine within the Mediterranean diet on cardiovascular outcomes and overall survival.

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Blood pressure reduction, E. X. C. E. L. trial, Catheter ablation, Cardiac remodeling, Inflammation, Q. U. A. D. R. O. trial, PREDIMED trial, Spontaneous myocardial infarction, Mediterranean diet, All-cause mortality, Macrophage polarization, Percutaneous coronary intervention, Wine consumption, Quadruple therapy, Single-pill combination, Computed tomography guided ablation, Circular R. N. A. circH. I. P. K. two, Ventricular tachycardia, Left main coronary artery disease, Coronary artery bypass graft, Myocardial infarction, InEurHeart trial, Resistant hypertension, Cardiovascular disease.

Concise summaries of cardiovascular research for professionals.

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