Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) offer great potential for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) such as myocardial infarction and heart failure. Studies have revealed that the efficacy of MSCs is mainly attributed to their capacity to secrete numerous trophic factors that promote angiogenesis, inhibit apoptosis, and modulate the immune response. There is growing evidence that MSC‐derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) containing a cargo of lipids, proteins, metabolites, and RNAs play a key role in this paracrine mechanism. In particular, encapsulated microRNAs have been identified as important positive regulators of angiogenesis in pathological settings of insufficient blood supply to the heart, thus opening a new path for the treatment of CVD. In the present review, we discuss the current knowledge related to the proangiogenic potential of MSCs and MSC‐derived EVs as well as methods to enhance their biological activities for improved cardiac tissue repair. Increasing our understanding of mechanisms supporting angiogenesis will help optimize future approaches to CVD intervention.

BackgroundRecent advances in machine learning have enabled development of the automated Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score (ASPECTS) prediction algorithms using non-contrast enhanced computed tomography (NCCT) scans. The applicability of automated ASPECTS in daily clinical practice is yet to be established. The objective of this meta-analysis was to directly compare the performance of automated and manual ASPECTS predictions in recognizing early stroke changes on NCCT.MethodsThe MEDLINE, Scopus, and Cochrane databases were searched. The last database search was performed on March 10, 2022. Studies reporting the diagnostic performance and validity of automated ASPECTS software compared with expert readers were included. The outcomes were the interobserver reliability of outputs between ASPECTS versus expert readings, experts versus reference standard, and ASPECTS versus reference standard by means of pooled Fisher’s Z transformation of the interclass correlation coefficients (ICCs).ResultsEleven studies were included in the meta-analysis, involving 1976 patients. The meta-analyses showed good interobserver reliability between experts (ICC 0.72 (95% CI 0.63 to 0.79); p<0.001), moderate reliability in the correlation between automated and expert readings (ICC 0.54 (95% CI 0.40 to 0.67); p<0.001), good reliability between the total expert readings and the reference standard (ICC 0.62 (95% CI 0.52 to 0.71); p<0.001), and good reliability between the automated predictions and the reference standard (ICC 0.72 (95% CI 0.61 to 0.80); p<0.001).ConclusionsArtificial intelligence-driven ASPECTS software has comparable or better performance than physicians in terms of recognizing early stroke changes on NCCT.

Vitamin D has known immunomodulatory activity and multiple indications exist supporting its potential use against SARS-CoV-2 infection in the setting of the current pandemic. The purpose of this systematic review is to examine the efficacy of vitamin D administered to adult patients following COVID-19 diagnosis in terms of length of hospital stay, intubation, ICU admission and mortality rates. Therefore, PubMed and Scopus databases were searched for original articles referring to the aforementioned parameters. Of the 1376 identified studies, eleven were finally included. Vitamin D supplements, and especially calcifediol, were shown to be useful in significantly reducing ICU admissions and/or mortality in four of the studies, but not in diminishing the duration of hospitalization of COVID-19 patients. Due to the large variation in vitamin D supplementation schemes no absolute conclusions can be drawn until larger randomized controlled trials are completed. However, calcifediol administered to COVID-19 patients upon diagnosis represents by far the most promising agent and should be the focus of upcoming research efforts.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is an inherited myocardial disease with the presence of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). The disease is characterized by high locus, allelic and phenotypic heterogeneity, even among members of the same family. The list of confirmed and potentially relevant genes implicating the disease is constantly increasing, with novel genes frequently reported. Heterozygous alterations in the five main sarcomeric genes (MYBPC3, MYH7, TNNT2, TNNI3, and MYL2) are estimated to account for more than half of confirmed cases. The genetic discoveries of recent years have shed more light on the molecular pathogenic mechanisms of HCM, contributing to substantial advances in the diagnosis of the disease. Genetic testing applying next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies and early diagnosis prior to the clinical manifestation of the disease among family members demonstrate an important improvement in the field.