Objective: Carbohydrate antigen 125 (CA125), which is traditionally used in ovarian cancer diagnostics, is increasingly recognized as a marker of congestion and inflammation in heart failure (HF). This study compared the analytical performance of N-(4-aminobutyl)-N-ethylisoluminol (ABEI)-based CA125 and N-terminal pro-B type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) assays on the Maglumi® X6 analyzer with that of the Roche Cobas e602 system and explored the relationship of CA125 with biomarkers of adverse remodeling in HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). Methods: Imprecision testing and method comparison were performed on matched serum samples from 108 HFrEF patients. CA125 concentrations were evaluated in relation to the New York Heart Association (NYHA) class, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), galectin-3, and soluble suppression of tumorigenicity 2 (sST2) levels. Prognostic value was assessed by Kaplan-Meier survival analysis using the 35 U/mL threshold. Results: The ABEI based CA125 assay showed low imprecision [coefficient of variation (CV)≤4.5%] and strong agreement with the Cobas e602 assay (R=0.97, slope=1.06, P<0.001). CA125 levels increased progressively with NYHA class (P=0.02), correlated negatively with LVEF (R= 0.38, P<0.001) and positively with galectin-3 (R=0.21, P=0.03) and sST2 (R=0.57, P<0.001). Elevated CA125 levels (≥35 U/mL) were associated with significantly increased cardiovascular mortality (P<0.001). Conclusions: ABEI-based CA125 measurement provides an analytical performance comparable to that of Cobas e602. In HFrEF, CA125 is correlated with clinical severity, fibrosis/inflammation biomarkers, and prognosis. Its integration into multimarker strategies, particularly alongside NT-proBNP and sST2, may enhance risk stratification and therapeutic monitoring, including the response to sodium–glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitor therapy.

As an emerging branch of clinical medicine, microbiota medicine has attracted worldwide attention from clinicians, medical educators, patient communities, and industry. However, this developing field still lacks consensus on its fundamental principles as well as guidelines for clinical and educational practice. An expert panel was convened by the journal Microbiota Medicine Research at the 2025 CHINAGUT Conference to develop the principles and practice guidelines of microbiota medicine.

A recent study led by the Department of Medicine, School of Clinical Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine of the University of Hong Kong (HKUMed), in collaboration with the University of Hong Kong–Shenzhen Hospital, has demonstrated that combining an innovative coronary imaging technology known as the caFFR system, with diabetes drug SGLT2 inhibitors can significantly reduce the risks of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), heart failure and death among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and coronary artery disease. This dual‑pronged strategy provides a precise measurement of coronary blood flow while lowering glucose levels, offering an effective approach to treating exceptionally high-risk patients. The findings were published in the Diabetes and Metabolism Journal.

From blinking fireflies to cells in a beating heart, synchronization occurs across nature. Researchers found similar behavior emerges in a simple system of microscopic particles. Suspended in liquid, the particles naturally oscillated together as though they sensed one another’s motion. Using computational modeling, the team found the particles influence each other’s motion by stirring their shared medium.

A UC San Diego-led team found that gene therapy to restore a single heart protein shows promise for improving multiple forms of arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy, a deadly condition that targets young athletes.