A multitask Transformer-VAE framework for robust PPG denoising and atrial fibrillation screening

BMC Med Imaging. 2026 May 16. doi: 10.1186/s12880-026-02399-9. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTBACKGROUND: Photoplethysmography (PPG) is a noninvasive biosignal widely used for atrial fibrillation (AF) screening via wearable devices. However, reliable PPG-based detection remains challenging because mo

Prognostic value of pretest probability of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction in patients with coronary artery disease: an insight from the CLIDAS-PCI database

Cardiovasc Interv Ther. 2026 May 16. doi: 10.1007/s12928-026-01286-y. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTCoronary artery disease (CAD) is a major risk factor for the development of heart failure (HF) with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) and is associated with increased mortality. However, an optimal

Right Ventricular Dysfunction in Patients with Symptomatic Atrial Fibrillation: Prevalence and Functional Implications

Heart Rhythm. 2026 May 15:S1547-5271(26)02387-8. doi: 10.1016/j.hrthm.2026.05.020. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTBACKGROUND: Assessment of left ventricular (LV) function is an essential component of guideline-recommended management of atrial fibrillation (AF). However, the role and implications of r

DURABILITY OF PULMONARY VEIN ISOLATION: DOES THE PULSED FIELD ABLATION SYSTEM MATTER?

Heart Rhythm. 2026 May 15:S1547-5271(26)02385-4. doi: 10.1016/j.hrthm.2026.05.018. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTBACKGROUND: Durable pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) is considered the "Achilles' heel" of atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation. While pulsed field ablation (PFA) is increasingly utilized due

The SIMPLE Registry: SIMplified Approach for Percutaneous LAA Exclusion

Heart Rhythm. 2026 May 15:S1547-5271(26)02383-0. doi: 10.1016/j.hrthm.2026.04.065. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTBACKGROUND: Percutaneous epicardial left atrial appendage (LAA) ligation requires a series of steps and ancillary tools and is thus perceived as complex.OBJECTIVE: In this report, we eval

Utility of Risk Scores for Predicting Stroke and Intracranial Bleeding Across Levels of Kidney Function in Two Large Community-Based Cohorts of Older Adults With Atrial Fibrillation

Am J Kidney Dis. 2026 May 15:S0272-6386(26)00919-4. doi: 10.1053/j.ajkd.2026.03.038. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTRATIONALE & OBJECTIVE: The performance of clinical risk prediction scores for ischemic stroke and bleeding are not well established in those with CKD and atrial fibrillation (AF). We ai

Safety and Efficacy of a Novel Radiofrequency Wire-Based Transseptal Puncture System

Pacing Clin Electrophysiol. 2026 May 16. doi: 10.1111/pace.70293. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTBACKGROUND: Transseptal puncture (TSP) is a key component of cardiac ablation and structural interventional procedures. Procedural efficacy and safety of the VersaCross TSP platform, a novel blunt radiofr

Early Risk Stratification for Mechanical Ventilation in Acute Ischemic Stroke: Development and Validation of a Simplified Clinical Score

J Intensive Care Med. 2026 May 16:8850666261452639. doi: 10.1177/08850666261452639. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTBackground and PurposeMechanical ventilation (MV) occurs in a substantial subset of acute ischemic stroke (AIS) hospitalizations and is associated with worse outcomes, including prolonge

Pre-clinical Impact of Higher Irrigation Flow Rates during Pulsed Field Ablation with a Variable Loop Circular Catheter

No abstractEuropace. 2026 May 16:euag120. doi: 10.1093/europace/euag120. Online ahead of print.NO ABSTRACTPMID:42141907 | DOI:10.1093/europace/euag120

Prediabetes as a Phenotype, Not an Independent Risk Factor, of Atrial Fibrillation

No abstractEur J Prev Cardiol. 2026 May 16:zwag265. doi: 10.1093/eurjpc/zwag265. Online ahead of print.NO ABSTRACTPMID:42141831 | DOI:10.1093/eurjpc/zwag265

Evaluation of the diagnostic value of dual-time-point, multi-parameter 99mTc-PYP imaging in diagnosing Transthyretin Cardiac Amyloidosis

Int J Cardiovasc Imaging. 2026 May 16. doi: 10.1007/s10554-026-03727-4. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTObjective To assess the clinical value of dual-time-point planar imaging and SPECT/CT tomographic imaging of 99mTc-PYP in diagnosing transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis (ATTR-CA), and to compare the d

Characterising Multimorbidity in Adults With Heart Failure: A Latent Class Analysis

Heart Lung Circ. 2026 May 15:S1443-9506(26)00360-4. doi: 10.1016/j.hlc.2026.05.001. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTINTRODUCTION/PURPOSE: Multimorbidity (MM) is highly prevalent in patients with heart failure (HF) and associated with worse outcomes; however, our understanding of the heterogeneity of M

Risk factors for atrial fibrillation in Ibadan, Nigeria: A case-controlled study

J Natl Med Assoc. 2026 May 15:S0027-9684(26)00063-5. doi: 10.1016/j.jnma.2026.03.013. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTBACKGROUND: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common arrhythmia that is a potent independent risk factor for stroke. The incidence of AF increases with age, and most affected people have u

Bidirectional association between breast cancer and cardiovascular disease: Longitudinal analysis of UK Biobank data

Atherosclerosis. 2026 May;416:120662. doi: 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2026.120662. Epub 2026 May 14.ABSTRACTBACKGROUND AND AIMS: Breast cancer (BC) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) are leading causes of death in women. However, their bidirectional relationship and key risk factors remain unclear.METH

Improvement in cardiovascular function after atrial fibrillation ablation in heart failure: association with ECG and echocardiographic variables

No abstractEuropace. 2026 May 16:euag086. doi: 10.1093/europace/euag086. Online ahead of print.NO ABSTRACTPMID:42140624 | DOI:10.1093/europace/euag086

P-wave Morphology of Bachmann's Bundle Pacing Based on Electroanatomical Mapping and Intracardiac Echocardiography

Heart Rhythm. 2026 May 14:S1547-5271(26)02366-0. doi: 10.1016/j.hrthm.2026.05.012. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTBACKGROUND: Optimal criteria for Bachmann bundle (BB) pacing have not been established with direct anatomical visualization of BB engagement.OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to further charact

Principles Guiding PFA Cardiac Catheter and Sheath Management from Preclinical Assessment of Microbubble Formation and Air Intrusion Models

Heart Rhythm. 2026 May 14:S1547-5271(26)02371-4. doi: 10.1016/j.hrthm.2026.05.016. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTBACKGROUND: Pulsed field ablation (PFA) may create gaseous microemboli, large tip catheters being a potential risk factor for further air intrusion. However, scant characterization exists

Intracardiac Echocardiography from the Left Heart Chambers to Guide Electrophysiology Procedures

Heart Rhythm. 2026 May 14:S1547-5271(26)02370-2. doi: 10.1016/j.hrthm.2026.05.017. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTIntracardiac echocardiography (ICE) has evolved into an integral imaging modality in contemporary electrophysiology, providing real-time visualization that enhances both the safety and ef

MAUDE Registry Analysis of Pericardial Effusions Following Watchman and Amulet Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion

JACC Adv. 2026 May 15;5(6):102789. doi: 10.1016/j.jacadv.2026.102789. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTBACKGROUND: Percutaneous left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) devices are an important therapeutic alternative to oral anticoagulation for stroke prevention in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibri

The A-HARDEST-CAMP score: A 12-parameter tool for predicting prolonged hospitalization in acute heart failure

Heart Lung. 2026 May 15;79:102838. doi: 10.1016/j.hrtlng.2026.102838. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTBACKGROUND: Prolonged hospitalization in patients admitted with acute decompensated heart failure (HF) is associated with worse clinical outcomes, higher readmission risk, and increased healthcare cos

Comment on "Optimal antithrombotic therapy for post-ischemic stroke patients with atrial fibrillation and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease: A frequentist network meta-analysis"

No abstractJ Neurol Sci. 2026 May 5;487:125978. doi: 10.1016/j.jns.2026.125978. Online ahead of print.NO ABSTRACTPMID:42139984 | DOI:10.1016/j.jns.2026.125978

Iron deficiency and risk of heart failure and cardiovascular events in CKD: Insights from the ASCEND-ND trial

Eur J Heart Fail. 2026 May 15:xuag171. doi: 10.1093/ejhf/xuag171. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTBACKGROUND AND AIMS: Iron deficiency occurs commonly in chronic kidney disease (CKD), but its association with heart failure and other cardiovascular outcomes, independent of anemia, is not well defined.M

Multi class photoplethysmography-based deep model for cardiovascular disease classification

PLoS One. 2026 May 15;21(5):e0347840. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0347840. eCollection 2026.ABSTRACTBACKGROUND: cardiovascular disease is the leading global cause of mortality. Photoplethysmography (PPG), widely embedded in consumer wearables, offers a scalable diagnostic modality. However, prior appr

Patient checklist: Improving attendance at imaging appointments post left atrial appendage occlusion implant

Nurs Manage. 2026 May 15. doi: 10.1097/nmg.0000000000000370. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTBACKGROUND: Nonattendance at required postprocedural imaging appointments following left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) device implantation poses a significant clinical concern, as timely follow-up is neces