Latest news with #JACC
Newsweek
5 days ago
- Health
- Newsweek
Marijuana Could Break Your Heart—Literally
Advocates for ideas and draws conclusions based on the interpretation of facts and data. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Love smoking weed? Prepare to get your heart broken—literally. A flood of recent studies have detailed the damage marijuana does to your mental health, bringing the risks a renewed level of media attention. Weed's linked to everything from psychosis to violent behavior to dementia. But 2025 has been dominated by another piece of bad news about marijuana: that it's just as bad for your cardiac health as it is for your mental health. Consider a meta-analysis from BMJ Heart which appeared just last month. The authors examined dozens of studies on marijuana users and found a two-fold—yes, you read that right—risk of cardiovascular death corresponding to weed use, as well as a 29 percent higher risk of major cardiac events. Many of America's policymakers and all its addiction profiteers keep insisting weed is safe, healthy, and natural. But the BMJ data are just the tip of the iceberg. A May study from the University of California San Francisco found that marijuana was associated with vascular dysfunction in chronic users—regardless of whether they were smoking it or using edibles. There's no cheat code, in other words, to get around the cardiac damage marijuana does. Gummies and candies won't save you. March saw a meta-analysis come out from the Journal of the American College of Cardiology (JACC) on 12 studies examining more than 75 million cases to investigate heart attack risk in weed users. The results? Users are 51 percent more likely than nonusers to have had a heart attack. The bad news hasn't just been hitting in 2025, of course. A 2024 American Heart Association study found that daily users had a 25 percent higher risk of heart attack and 42 percent higher risk of stroke compared to non-users and that more frequent use led to higher risk. Another JACC study, this one from 2023, showed users had a 34 percent greater risk of developing coronary artery disease. And on and on and on. LISBON, PORTUGAL - MAY 31: A participant shows marijuana buds in Jardim das Amoreiras before the start of a rally for the legalization and regulation of cannabis in Portugal on May 31, 2025, in Lisbon,... LISBON, PORTUGAL - MAY 31: A participant shows marijuana buds in Jardim das Amoreiras before the start of a rally for the legalization and regulation of cannabis in Portugal on May 31, 2025, in Lisbon, Portugal. More Horacio Villalobos/Corbis/Getty Images It's great that all this information is increasingly breaking through into the mainstream. The more people who are aware of it, the better the public health outcomes will be for every American. That goes double given that the U.S. is facing a crisis of marijuana use among both the young and the old (for whom cardiac worries should be paramount). But people who actually pay attention to the public-health dangers marijuana presents have been shouting about this from the rooftops for decades. A 2001 study published in the American Heart Association journal found that in the hour after marijuana use, the risk of a myocardial infarction jumps by almost 400 percent. Those data appeared almost a quarter-century ago. How did this aspect of weed's general public-health effect ever pass under the radar at all—especially since American culture has become laser-focused on wellness in the interim? How many lives have been lost, people injured, families sundered? The fact that weed's heart dangers have ever been anything less than a national story is a testament to how successful the marijuana industry, its advocates in the media, and the politicians it's coopted have been at reputation management. Luckily, the word now seems to be out. But we need to get louder. It's time for everyone to reckon with this reality. That means a renewed and urgent focus on prevention from our policymakers—and remember, prevention needs to target both young and old. It means energetic callouts from journalists whenever "weed equals wellness" claims start to bubble up. It means parents letting their kids know that yes, marijuana can be deadly. Everyone invested in promoting sane policy and saving public health needs to take this to heart. Dr. Kevin Sabet is the president and CEO of Smart Approaches to Marijuana. The views expressed in this article are the writer's own.
Arab Times
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Arab Times
Kuwait kicks off 17th Summer Cultural Festival at JACC
KUWAIT CITY, July 10: The National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters (NCCAL) officially launched the 17th Summer Cultural Festival on Wednesday with a concert at the Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Cultural Center (JACC), featuring acclaimed Kuwaiti singer Fadel Shaker. In his opening speech, NCCAL Secretary-General Dr. Mohammed Al-Jassar emphasized that the festival reflects the council's dedication to nurturing the mind, enriching the spirit, and embedding culture in everyday life. He described the annual event as a prominent fixture on Kuwait's cultural calendar, drawing large crowds and serving as a vibrant platform for artists, creators, and art enthusiasts. Dr. Al-Jassar highlighted the importance of culture as a shared responsibility, praising the fruitful collaboration with the private sector, which plays a vital role in enriching the intellectual and artistic scene. He noted that partnerships with various institutions and individuals have broadened the reach of cultural activities, bringing artistic experiences closer to the public and fostering a dynamic cultural community that honors Kuwait's heritage while embracing future possibilities. This year's festival spans seven weeks and features a diverse program celebrating Arab identity and Kuwait's artistic legacy. Activities include events tailored for children and families, as well as specialized workshops in literary and artistic disciplines. The festival utilizes all cultural venues, centers, and museums across the country to host its array of programs. Dr. Al-Jassar described the festival not merely as a seasonal cultural event but as a living testament to NCCAL's principle that 'culture is a field for all, a bridge between generations, and a window to human creativity.' He expressed gratitude to all contributors and the enthusiastic audience, who embody the festival's goals and message. The opening ceremony, hosted by media personality Hashem Asad, featured performances by Mohamed Fadel Shaker and Raneen Al-Shaar, accompanied by maestro Michael Ibrahim and his band. The National Council honored the participating artists in recognition of their contributions to the festival.
Medscape
01-07-2025
- Health
- Medscape
Ablation Still Best Option When Patient Has AF and Obesity
Demonstrating that the best solution is not always a multistage approach, a new trial shows catheter ablation is superior to a combination of antiarrhythmic drugs and lifestyle changes — weight loss, more exercise, and alcohol reduction — when treating atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients who also have obesity. The PRAGUE-25 trial, led by Pavel Osmancik, MD, PhD, with the Cardiocenter at Charles University in Prague, found catheter ablation was roughly twice as effective in an intention-to-treat analysis at controlling AF at the 1-year mark compared with a combination of antiarrhythmic drugs and lifestyle modification (73% vs 34.6%). A 'referral to [catheter ablation] in this population should not be delayed until the patient loses weight,' according to the researchers, who published their findings online on June 30 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology simultaneously with a presentation at theNew York Valves 2025 Conference. Obesity: A Strong Predictor of AF AF, the most common sustained heart arrhythmia, affects about 60 million people worldwide. Obesity is one of its strongest predictors. An increase in BMI of 5 has been linked with a 19%-29% higher incidence of the rhythm disorder. The PRAGUE trial was a randomized, noninferiority trial conducted in five centers in the Czech Republic. Patients that were included had symptomatic AF (paroxysmal, persistent, or long-standing persistent) and a BMI of 30 to 40. Patients were randomly assigned 1:1 either to receive catheter ablation (n = 100) or a combination of medication and lifestyle changes (n = 103) from May 2021 to November 2023. Baseline characteristics were balanced, according to the researchers. After randomization, all patients had a baseline cardiopulmonary exercise test, echocardiography, quality of life analysis, blood biochemistry testing, and a baseline 7-day electrocardiographic Holter recording. Patients in the catheter ablation group underwent ablation within 6 weeks of randomization. Lifestyle modification was started within 4 weeks after randomization and was managed by teams of dietary specialists and physiotherapists, rather than cardiologists. Patients in the combination therapy group lost significantly more weight at 12 months (about 6 kg, P < .001 compared to 0.35 kg in the other group), and that weight loss was maintained through the 24-month follow-up. The weight loss goal in this trial was 10%, an ambitious target in the period, especially given the physical limitations associated with AF. Ramesh Hariharan, MD, cardiac electrophysiologist at UTHealth Houston and Memorial Hermann Health, Houston, who was not part of the study, said much of this research was conducted before the widespread use of GLP-1 receptor agonists, and those medications may help current patients achieve greater weight loss faster. But even with greater weight loss, Hariharan said, the new findings reinforce the idea that no option alone is enough. Lifestyle changes and medicines need to accompany ablation, not replace it, he said, 'otherwise we're going to end up doing [ablations] more frequently.' What's more, technology has improved in the last year with nonthermal pulsed field ablation, which offers 'far fewer collateral damage complications' and results in a 45-minute procedure 'compared to a 2- to 4-hour procedure before. It has made ablation a lot easier.' Gregory M. Marcus, MD, MAS, associate chief of cardiology for research at UCSF Health, San Francisco, said the evidence 'is already definitive that catheter ablation is superior to antiarrhythmic drugs, and there is evidence that successful lifestyle change can reduce the burden of atrial fibrillation.' But this trial is the first to show a head-to-head comparison of ablation with a combination of antiarrhythmic drugs and lifestyle changes. Marcus said he is not convinced the findings exclude the possibility some in this patient population may still be able to treat their AF without ablation. 'For an obese, very sedentary person who drinks too much alcohol, those are, at least theoretically, the prime candidates for lifestyle modification as a way to effectively treat their Afib,' he said. One important lesson, Marcus said, is that this adds to the growing evidence that when considering the population at large with AF, 'on average, catheter ablation is pretty definitively the most effective way to reduce the chance of atrial fibrillation recurrence.' But some of the most interesting results were in the group who underwent lifestyle modification, he said. In addition to weight loss and improved exercise capacity, they experienced a statistically significant decrease in hemoglobin A1c concentrations of 1.4 mmol/L compared with an increase of 2.5 mmol/L in patients who received catheter ablation. 'Those are things that will prolong life and will also improve quality of life,' he said. 'Whether we're going to do an ablation or not,' Marcus added, 'we should always counsel our atrial fibrillation patients about healthy lifestyle management. There are other things to life besides atrial fibrillation.' The study authors and Hariharan reported no relevant financial disclosures. Marcus is a consultant and was a co-founder of the startup InCarda Therapeutics, which is investigating a novel therapy for the treatment of acute AF.
Yahoo
27-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Foldax Announces Positive One-Year Data on TRIA Mitral Valve
Clinical Trial Results Presented at New York Valves and Concurrently Published in Journal of the American College of Cardiology (JACC) SALT LAKE CITY, June 27, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Foldax® Inc., a leader in the development of innovative polymer heart valves, today announced compelling one-year results from the India Clinical Trial of the TRIA™ Mitral Valve, showing a good safety profile, sustained hemodynamic performance, and statistically significant improvement in patient quality of life. These are the first one-year outcomes ever presented for a multicenter clinical study of a polymer heart valve worldwide. Results were presented today at New York Valves 2025, the annual conference organized by the Cardiovascular Research Foundation (CRF), and concurrently published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology (JACC). Key one-year results from the trial showed: No valve-related mortality or reinterventions >50% reduction in mean gradient (9.7 mmHg to 4.5 mmHg) and >90% increase in effective orifice area (0.9 cm² to 1.5 cm²), the highest reported in similar surgical mitral valve studies 24-point improvement in KCCQ score (57.5 to 81.9) and 65% increase in Six-Minute Walk Test distance (298.1 m to 494.8 m), indicating significant improvement in quality of life The prospective, multicenter trial enrolled 67 patients aged 19 to 67 across eight sites in India, with an average age of 42. Notably, 64% were women, and of these, nearly half were of childbearing age, a significantly larger percentage than typically seen in clinical studies. Seventy-three percent of patients had rheumatic heart disease. "It is exciting to see the positive clinical outcomes associated with this novel polymer valve," said Isaac George, M.D., Surgical Director of the Heart Valve Center at Columbia University. "This new type of valve sets out to reimagine how a device can address clinical needs that are underserved by current valve solutions." "I am proud to be the principal investigator in India for this groundbreaking trial and represent the highly esteemed clinical investigators who participated in the study," said Kaushal Pandey, M.D., Principal Investigator of the TRIA Mitral Valve India Clinical Trial and Cardiac Surgeon at P.D. Hinduja Hospital in Mumbai. "The TRIA Mitral Valve provides hope for Indian patients—including younger patients and many women of childbearing age—for whom current valve options often fall short." Foldax's vision for its novel polymer heart valves is to address the limitations of tissue and mechanical options by making its valves durable, with the future goal of avoiding a requirement for lifelong anticoagulation. TRIA valves incorporate a proprietary polymer—LifePolymer™ —formulated to be calcium-resistant, biostable and biocompatible. The novel polymer material enables TRIA valves to be robotically produced, which is designed to increase manufacturing efficiency and maximize product quality and precision. "These results validate our strategy of taking heart valve therapy to a new level by bringing innovation to a platform of products that will help patients globally," said Ken Charhut, CEO of Foldax. The Journal of the American College of Cardiology (JACC) publication can be viewed at: *The TRIA Mitral Valve is approved for use in India by CDSCO. The TRIA Mitral Valve is for investigational use only and is not available for commercial sale in the U.S. About Foldax Headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, Foldax is reinventing every aspect of the heart valve—from material to design to manufacturing—to develop surgical and transcatheter valves with the potential to last a lifetime, addressing limitations of tissue and mechanical valves. Foldax investors include Angel Physicians Fund, Biostar Capital, Caltech, Glenview Capital, Kairos Ventures, Memorial Care Innovation Fund and Sayan Bioventures. For more information on the TRIA Mitral Valve and Foldax's commitment to revolutionizing heart valve care, visit View source version on Contacts MEDIA CONTACT: Michelle McAdam, Chronic Communications, (310) 902-1274
Business Wire
25-06-2025
- Health
- Business Wire
Cardiosense Announces Publication of SEISMIC-HF I Study Results in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology: Heart Failure
CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Cardiosense, a medical AI company transforming the management of cardiovascular disease, today announced the publication of results from its SEISMIC-HF I study in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology: Heart Failure (JACC: Heart Failure). The study demonstrates the ability of Cardiosense's novel machine learning (ML) algorithm to noninvasively estimate pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP) in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). The prospective, multi-center SEISMIC-HF I study enabled the development and evaluation of Cardiosense's ML algorithm in 310 patients with HFrEF undergoing right heart catheterization (RHC). The study population enrolled a diverse set of participants with demographics and clinical characteristics reflective of the broader population with HFrEF to ensure ML models generalize across all patients. Patients enrolled in the study wore the CardioTag device–a multi-modal sensor that captures seismocardiogram (SCG), electrocardiogram (ECG), and photoplethysmogram (PPG) signals–on their sternum during the RHC procedure used to provide gold standard assessment of an individual's PCWP. Key findings from the 15-site study show that the device: Estimated absolute PCWP values with accuracy on par with implantable hemodynamic sensors, suggesting that Cardiosense's noninvasive, AI-enabled technology has the potential to increase access to hemodynamic-guided care. Demonstrated a consistent performance across sex, race, ethnicity, and body mass index. Additional analysis available in the full manuscript, titled 'Noninvasive Pulmonary Capillary Wedge Pressure Estimation in Heart Failure Patients With the Use of Wearable Sensing and AI,' available now in JACC: Heart F ailure. "Heart failure management remains one of our most significant clinical challenges and most promising opportunities to directly impact patient outcomes," said Liviu Klein, MD, MS, Section Chief of Advanced Heart Failure, Mechanical Circulatory Support, Pulmonary Hypertension, and Heart Transplant at UCSF, lead author on the study and lead clinical advisor for Cardiosense. "We know that hemodynamic-guided care reduces hospital readmissions and mortality, yet routine cardiac pressure measurements remain inaccessible due to cost and risk. SEISMIC-HF I is a critical advancement toward the quest for noninvasive technology delivering on the promise of fast, safe, and accessible pressure-guided heart failure management.' Initial results from Cardiosense's SEISMIC-HF I study were presented as Late-Breaking Science at the American Heart Association's 2024 Scientific Sessions. 'This analysis marks a real milestone in our journey to revolutionize heart failure management with our proprietary AI technology that leverages noninvasive sensor data to deliver critical information on cardiac function,' said Omer Inan, PhD, Cardiosense Co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer. 'The results are a culmination of more than a decade of research and a testament to the cross-disciplinary collaboration from our team of medical and clinical experts, data scientists, and engineers.' For the latest news and information, follow Cardiosense on X and LinkedIn, or visit: About Cardiosense Cardiosense is a leading medical AI company redefining how we detect, monitor, and manage cardiac disease. Built on over a decade of clinical and scientific research, the company is developing novel wearable sensors and machine learning algorithms that translate raw physiological signals into clinically actionable parameters to detect early signs of cardiac disease, guide personalized therapy, and improve patient outcomes. The CardioTag device is an investigational device limited by federal law to investigational use. The CardioTag device is not available for commercial distribution. PCWP Analysis Software is an investigational device limited by federal law to investigational use. PCWP Analysis Software is not available for commercial distribution.
