The American Heart Association (AHA) and the American College of Cardiology (ACC), in collaboration with multiple professional organizations, jointly released the "Guideline for the Prevention, Detection, Evaluation and Management of High Blood Pressure in Adults" in August 2025. Based on the latest evidence-based medical findings from February 2015 to January 2025, the guideline proposes an individualized treatment strategy grounded in total cardiovascular disease risk stratification, incorporates the novel PREVENT risk assessment model, lowers the medication initiation threshold and control targets for high-risk populations, and provides specific management recommendations for special populations. This article provides an interpretation of these updates and conducts a comparative analysis with the current status of hypertension prevention and treatment in China as well as Chinese guidelines, aiming to offer reference for hypertension control practices in China.

The American Heart Association (AHA) officially released the "2025 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics: A Report of US and Global Data From the American Heart Association" on January 27, 2025. This report systematically compiles the latest statistics on major cardiovascular diseases worldwide, while simultaneously integrating relevant outcome indicators, including quality of care, procedures, and economic costs, and updating the global prevalence patterns and evolving trends of diverse risk factors impacting cardiovascular health, providing essential guidance for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of cardiovascular diseases. Synthesizing insights from this pivotal report and other relevant studies, this article highlights key findings concerning the global prevalence and mortality of heart diseases, associated risk factors, and emerging diagnostic and therapeutic technologies.

Objective:To analyze the efficacy of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) combined with main splenic artery embolization in the treatment of patients with portal hypertension upper gastrointestinal bleeding complicated with extensive portal vein thrombosis (PVT).Methods:This study was a prospective, single-center, open-label, single-arm clinical trial. In the first phase, 81 patients with portal hypertension upper gastrointestinal bleeding who were admitted to Beijing Shijitan Hospital, Capital Medical University from January 2018 to December 2018 were consecutively enrolled, including 57 males and 24 females, with the age of (51.3±10.4) years. During TIPS surgery, the pressure of the portal vein before and after the balloon blocking the splenic artery was measured to clarify the contribution of the splenic artery to portal hypertension. In the second stage, from January 2019 to December 2022, 104 patients with portal hypertension upper gastrointestinal bleeding complicated with extensive PVT were re-enrolled, including 71 males and 33 females, with the age of (50.9±12.5) years. TIPS combined with main splenic artery embolization was performed, and portal vein pressure was measured before and after embolization. Follow up on the postoperative esophageal and gastric varices of the patients in the second stage.Results:The portal vein pressures before and after the first stage of balloon occlusion of the splenic artery were (35.2±8.4) mmHg (1 mmHg=0.133 kPa) and (24.2±6.3) mmHg, respectively. The pressure after occlusion was lower than that before occlusion, and the difference was statistically significant ( t=10.54, P<0.001). The portal vein pressures before and after the second stage embolization were (36.1±9.5) mmHg and (21.1±4.7) mmHg respectively. The pressure after embolization was lower than that before embolization, and the difference was statistically significant ( t=13.47, P<0.001). In the second stage, among the 104 patients, the proportion of those whose varicose veins disappeared or improved 6 months after the operation was 43.3%(45/104) and 51.0%(53/104), respectively. There were no patients with aggravation or rebleeding due to rupture. One year later, 8 patients (7.7%) had aggravated or ruptured esophageal and gastric varices with bleeding. Two years later, 12 patients (11.5%) had aggravated or bleeding. Conclusion:TIPS combined with main splenic artery embolization can effectively reduce the portal vein pressure in patients with portal hypertension upper gastrointestinal bleeding complicated with extensive PVT, improve the degree of esophageal and gastric varices, and reduce the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding.

Objective To investigate the effect of a modified chest drainage management protocol on rapid recovery in patients undergoing thoracoscopic lung resection.Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on clinical data of 218 patients who underwent segmentectomy,lobectomy,or combined lobectomy surgeries between July 2022 and December 2023 in our department.One medical group utilized the traditional chest drainage management protocol(control group,109 cases),while the other medical group employed the modified chest drainage management protocol(modified group,109 cases).The control group had a large chest tube(20-24F)placed at the mid-axillary line of the 7th intercostal space leading to the apex of the pleural cavity(removed when drainage volume＜300 ml/24 h and air leak＜20 ml/min).In contrast,the modified group had a large tube placed from the anterior axillary line between the 3rd and 4th intercostal spaces leading to the apex of the pleural cavity(removed when air leak＜20 ml/min),and a small tube(7F)placed at the posterior axillary line between the 7th and 8th intercostal spaces near the diaphragm surface(removed when drainage volume＜300 ml/24 h).Comparisons were made between the two groups regarding duration of large tube placement and total duration tube placement,total drainage volume,postoperative hospital stay,and postoperative complications.The pain scores,number of cases with moderate to severe pain(pain score ≥4),analgesic pump drug usage,and functional activity score(FAS)were recorded on the 1st and 2nd day after surgery.Results The duration of large tube placement was shorter in the modified group than in the control group[(2.1±1.6)dvs.(2.7±1.8)d,t=-2.715,P=0.007].and the total duration of tube placement was longer in the modified group than in the control group[(3.3±2.0)dvs.(2.7±1.8)d,t=2.308,P=0.022].without increasing postoperative hospital stay[(4.2±2.2)dvs.(4.1±2.1)d,t=0.247,P=0.805].On the postoperative day 2,the modified group showed lower pain scores during activity than the control group[(2.1±1.1)points vs.(2.6±1.3)points,t=-2.885,P=0.004].fewer cases with moderate to severe pain(5 cases vs.14 cases,x2=4.670,P=0.031),and less analgesic pump drug usage[(17.9±16.2)ml vs.(27.4±29.4)ml,t=-2.951,P=0.004].No significant differences were observed in other indicators between the two groups(P＞0.05).Additionally,the proportion of patients with FAS grade A(no activity limitation due to pain)was higher in the modified group than in the control group on the postoperative day 2[61.5％(67/109)vs.46.8％(51/109),Z=-2.170,P=0.030].There were no significant differences in postoperative complications and incision healing rates between the two groups(P＞0.05).Conclusion The modified chest drainage management protocol not only ensures adequate drainage but also reduces the degree of pain and improves activity status,aligning with the principles of enhanced recovery after surgery(ERAS).

Objective:To investigate the effects of ascites grading and the application of non-selective beta-blockers (NSBBs) on the 1-year prognosis of acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF).Methods:1 386 ascitic cases with ACLF were graded and followed up for one year. The 1-year prognostic effect of ascites grade and NSBBs was analyzed on ACLF by the Kaplan Meier Log-rank test, Cox stepwise regression, and multivariate regression.The t-test, Mann-Whitney U, or Kruskal-Wallis test were used for intergroup comparison of measurement data. The χ2 test was used for intergroup comparison of numerical data. Results:The incidence rate of ascites at admission was 77.56% in 1 386 ACLF cases. The Log-rank (Mantel-Cox) of the 1-year survival curve test for 1 386 ACLF patients with ascites grade was 21.384, P<0.01. Multivariate regression and Cox stepwise regression analysis showed that ascites grade, age, gastrointestinal bleeding, pulmonary infection, acute kidney injury, prothrombin activity (PTA), urea, MELD-Na score, and the use of NSBBs were closely related to the 1-year prognosis of ACLF. The log rank (Mantel-Cox) of NSBBs treatment in the grade 2/3 ascites group was 6.113, P=0.013, and the difference was statistically significant, suggesting that NSBBs treatment can help improve the 1-year survival rate in ACLF patients with grade 2 and 3 ascites. Conclusions:Ascites grading and the use of NSBBs affect the prognostic factor of ACLF at one year. NSBBs may be beneficial for the long-term prognosis of ACLF, and treatment can be continued in patients who have already received NSBBs prior to the onset of ACLF.

Cardiovascular disease and cancer are the two leading chronic conditions contributing to global mortality. With the rising incidence of cancer, the prevalence of cancer therapy-related cardiovascular complications has also increased, driving the development of the emerging field of cardio-oncology. The advancement of precision medicine offers new opportunities for the individualized and targeted management of cardiovascular toxicities associated with cancer treatment. Artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to overcome traditional limitations in medical data integration, dynamic monitoring, and interdisciplinary collaboration, thereby accelerating the application of precision medicine in cardio-oncology. By enabling personalized treatment and reducing cardiovascular complications in cancer patients, AI serves as a critical tool in this domain. This article provides an in-depth interpretation of the 鈥淎rtificial intelligence to enhance precision medicine in cardio-oncology: a scientific statement from the American Heart Association鈥?aiming to inform the integration of AI into precision medicine in China. The goal is to promote its application in the management of cardiovascular diseases related to cancer therapy and to achieve precision management in this context.

The European Society of Cardiology (ESC) released the "2024 ESC guidelines for the management of elevated blood pressure and hypertension" on August 30, 2024. This guideline updates the 2018 "Guidelines for the management of arterial hypertension." One notable update is the introduction of the concept of "elevated blood pressure" (120-139/70-89 mm Hg). Additionally, a new systolic blood pressure target range of 120-129 mm Hg has been proposed for most patients receiving antihypertensive treatment. The guideline also includes numerous additions or revisions in areas such as non-pharmacological interventions and device-based treatments for hypertension. This article interprets the guideline's recommendations on definition and classification of elevated blood pressure and hypertension, and cardiovascular disease risk assessment, diagnosing hypertension and investigating underlying causes, preventing and treating elevated blood pressure and hypertension. We provide a comparison interpretation with the 2018 "Guidelines for the management of arterial hypertension" and the "2017 ACC/AHA guideline on the prevention, detection, evaluation, and management of high blood pressure in adults."

Proprotein convertase subtilisin/KEXIN type 9(PCSK9)is the ninth member of the pro pro-tein convertase family and released into the blood-stream.It reduces the availability of low-density li-poprotein receptors and leads to the accumulation of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in plasma,thereby promoting the development of atheroscle-rotic plaques and thrombotic events.In addition to its classical pathway,recent studies have demon-strated multiple non-classical pathways by which PCSK9 influences the development of atherosclero-sis-related diseases,including participation in in-flammatory responses,regulation of autophagy and cell apoptosis,promotion of platelet activation and thrombus formation,etc.This article provides an overview of the latest progress in the molecular mechanism by which PCSK9 affects atherosclerotic diseases through non-lipid-dependent pathways.

Proprotein convertase subtilisin/KEXIN type 9(PCSK9)is the ninth member of the pro pro-tein convertase family and released into the blood-stream.It reduces the availability of low-density li-poprotein receptors and leads to the accumulation of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in plasma,thereby promoting the development of atheroscle-rotic plaques and thrombotic events.In addition to its classical pathway,recent studies have demon-strated multiple non-classical pathways by which PCSK9 influences the development of atherosclero-sis-related diseases,including participation in in-flammatory responses,regulation of autophagy and cell apoptosis,promotion of platelet activation and thrombus formation,etc.This article provides an overview of the latest progress in the molecular mechanism by which PCSK9 affects atherosclerotic diseases through non-lipid-dependent pathways.

Objective:To analyze the efficacy of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) combined with main splenic artery embolization in the treatment of patients with portal hypertension upper gastrointestinal bleeding complicated with extensive portal vein thrombosis (PVT).Methods:This study was a prospective, single-center, open-label, single-arm clinical trial. In the first phase, 81 patients with portal hypertension upper gastrointestinal bleeding who were admitted to Beijing Shijitan Hospital, Capital Medical University from January 2018 to December 2018 were consecutively enrolled, including 57 males and 24 females, with the age of (51.3±10.4) years. During TIPS surgery, the pressure of the portal vein before and after the balloon blocking the splenic artery was measured to clarify the contribution of the splenic artery to portal hypertension. In the second stage, from January 2019 to December 2022, 104 patients with portal hypertension upper gastrointestinal bleeding complicated with extensive PVT were re-enrolled, including 71 males and 33 females, with the age of (50.9±12.5) years. TIPS combined with main splenic artery embolization was performed, and portal vein pressure was measured before and after embolization. Follow up on the postoperative esophageal and gastric varices of the patients in the second stage.Results:The portal vein pressures before and after the first stage of balloon occlusion of the splenic artery were (35.2±8.4) mmHg (1 mmHg=0.133 kPa) and (24.2±6.3) mmHg, respectively. The pressure after occlusion was lower than that before occlusion, and the difference was statistically significant ( t=10.54, P<0.001). The portal vein pressures before and after the second stage embolization were (36.1±9.5) mmHg and (21.1±4.7) mmHg respectively. The pressure after embolization was lower than that before embolization, and the difference was statistically significant ( t=13.47, P<0.001). In the second stage, among the 104 patients, the proportion of those whose varicose veins disappeared or improved 6 months after the operation was 43.3%(45/104) and 51.0%(53/104), respectively. There were no patients with aggravation or rebleeding due to rupture. One year later, 8 patients (7.7%) had aggravated or ruptured esophageal and gastric varices with bleeding. Two years later, 12 patients (11.5%) had aggravated or bleeding. Conclusion:TIPS combined with main splenic artery embolization can effectively reduce the portal vein pressure in patients with portal hypertension upper gastrointestinal bleeding complicated with extensive PVT, improve the degree of esophageal and gastric varices, and reduce the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding.