Continuing the Momentum of Cardiovascular Medicine—Highlights from the Second Issue

We here present the second issue of Cardiovascular Medicine since its relaunch, with a breadth of contributions that is testament to the growing engagement of our community [1].

A particularly noteworthy contribution in this issue is the validation study by Lee et al., which evaluated an artificial intelligence-based quantitative coronary angiography (AI-QCA) software, originally trained on a Korean dataset, in a European cohort of 556 lesions from 252 patients [2]. The system demonstrated a high lesion detection rate and strong agreement with expert manual QCA across all key vessel measurements. This external validation is an important step towards establishing the trustworthiness and clinical generalisability of AI-based tools for real-time coronary assessment during percutaneous coronary intervention.

Beyond imaging, the present issue makes a substantial contribution to the rapidly growing field of cardio-oncology. Dunsmore et al. report that, while anthracyclines and trastuzumab remain the strongest predictors of cancer therapy-related cardiac dysfunction (CTRCD) in a cohort of 2460 patients followed through a dedicated cardio-oncology clinic, traditional cardiovascular risk factors such as hypertension and diabetes carry additional weight among patients with haematologic malignancies, a finding with practical implications for personalising surveillance strategies [3]. Complementing this work, Nho et al. present a comprehensive pharmacovigilance analysis of bortezomib using the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System, identifying cardiac failure and atrial arrhythmias as the most clinically significant post-marketing safety signals in patients with multiple myeloma and systemic amyloidosis.

Furthermore, atrial fibrillation (AF) is addressed from two distinct clinical perspectives. Arslan and Baysal demonstrate that AF at presentation in patients with acute coronary syndrome is independently associated with hemodynamic instability, elevated inflammatory markers, and higher ischemic burden, highlighting its value as a marker for early risk stratification rather than a mere incidental finding [4]. In the critical care setting, Gregório et al. show that early rhythm-control strategies for new-onset AF in ICU patients are associated with lower rates of both in-hospital and post-discharge recurrence, supporting a proactive management approach in this complex population [5].

Moving from rhythm disturbances to acute diagnostic challenges, two case reports illustrate how bedside diagnostic vigilance can redirect clinical management and prevent unnecessary interventions. Cacciapuoti et al. present a case of transient ST-segment elevation caused by severe intestinal distension mimicking acute coronary occlusion which was resolved entirely by nasogastric decompression, underscoring the importance of integrating clinical context, biomarkers, and rapid echocardiography before activating the catheterisation laboratory [6]. Similarly, Erdogan et al. describe OCT-guided drug-coated balloon angioplasty for a spontaneously recanalized coronary thrombus, a lesion type that may be underrecognized on angiography alone, with favourable vessel-healing on follow-up imaging [7].

Moreover, two contributions broaden the scope of the issue with regard to the interface of cardiovascular medicine with other specialties. Birtolo et al. report that influenza-related myocarditis and/or pericarditis, while uncommon (occurring in approximately 2% of H1N1-infected patients in their series), carries a generally favourable short-term prognosis with appropriate antiviral and corticosteroid treatment [8]. In a distinct but complementary vein, Patel et al. describe a rare case of reversible prolonged sinus arrest following severe traumatic brain injury, resolving with treatment of elevated intracranial pressure, a compelling illustration of the neurocardiac axis in clinical practice [9].

Rounding out the issue, Coughlin et al. provide new U.S. prevalence estimates of cardiovascular–kidney–metabolic (CKM) syndrome derived from nationally representative survey data, revealing a striking burden concentrated in older cohorts and socioeconomically disadvantaged groups [10]. Finally, a report on the 2023 Senning Lecture offers an inspiring perspective on the evolution of cardiovascular surgery and the training of the next generation of surgeons, a contribution fully aligned with the educational mission of Cardiovascular Medicine [11].

We are equally pleased to announce a new affiliation with the Swiss Society of Cardiac Surgery (SGHC/SSCC), the second society collaboration for Cardiovascular Medicine, following our previously announced partnership with the Swiss Society of Perfusion (SSoP) [12]. It is a great pleasure to welcome this distinguished society as a partner of Cardiovascular Medicine [13]. This collaboration reflects our deep commitment to cardiovascular surgery as a cornerstone of the interdisciplinary Heart Team, and we very much look forward to working together to promote high-quality research and education in this field.

On behalf of the Editorial Board, I extend my sincere gratitude to all authors, reviewers, and readers who continue to support and shape this journal. Together, we will continue to build on our strong foundation and shape a dynamic and promising future for Cardiovascular Medicine!