RxPG News : Cardiology

Childhood and adolescent obesity negatively impacts vascular endothelial function

Sun, 11 May 2008 00:59:16 PST

Study findings presented at the May 2008 Pediatric Academic Societies and Asian Society for Pediatric Research Joint Meeting indicate that childhood and adolescent obesity negatively impacts vascular endothelial function, which relates to cardiac health.

Harmful blood glucose levels linked to defective gene

Thu, 01 May 2008 04:00:00 PST

A genetic mutation that can raise the amount of glucose in a person's blood to harmful levels is identified today in a study in the journal Science.

Genes for common heart condition and kidney problem identified

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 04:00:00 PST

A gene that can cause the heart to become enlarged, greatly increasing the risk of heart attacks and heart failure, is identified today in a new study.

How exercise changes structure and function of heart

Tue, 22 Apr 2008 04:00:00 PST

For the first time researchers are beginning to understand exactly how various forms of exercise impact the heart. Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) investigators, in collaboration with the Harvard University Health Services, have found that 90 days of vigorous athletic training produces significant changes in cardiac structure and function and that the type of change varies with the type of exercise performed. Their study appears in the April Journal of Applied Physiology.

Statins may help lower blood pressure

Mon, 14 Apr 2008 13:57:25 PST

The medications known as statins, typically prescribed to lower blood cholesterol levels, may also modestly reduce blood pressure, according to a report in the April 14 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

No threat to pacemakers from iPods: Study

Fri, 11 Apr 2008 14:24:41 PST

New York, March 30 - Here is relief for gizmo-lovers with a heart condition - no, 'electronic noise' from iPods does not cause cardiac pacemakers to trip, a new study says.

MDCT accurate in detecting stenosis in calcified coronary artery plaque

Fri, 11 Apr 2008 04:00:00 PST

Multidetector CT angiography can accurately predict the presence of obstructive disease (stenosis) in small and moderate-sized calcified coronary artery plaque (CAP), and is even fairly accurate in diagnosing large and heavily calcified CAP, according to a recent study conducted by researchers at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia, PA.

JAMA article looks at data-sharing in clinical trials for heart disease

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 04:00:00 PST

NEW YORK (April 9, 2008) -- How and when to share clinical trial data for heart studies -- including when to suspend a study -- is vitally important to physician-scientists and regulators as an increasing number of clinical trials evaluate new treatments. This issue is explored in the April 9 Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) in a commentary article authored by Dr. Jeffrey S. Borer of NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center and Drs. David J. Gordon and Nancy L. Geller -- both of the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI).

Blood pressure enzyme can have tumor-sensing role

Mon, 07 Apr 2008 04:00:00 PST

By increasing production of a blood pressure-regulating enzyme in mice, researchers have found they can enhance the mouse immune system's ability to sense tumor growth.

Surgeons announce advance in atrial fibrillation surgery

Mon, 07 Apr 2008 04:00:00 PST

Heart surgeons at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis report that by adding a simple 10-20 second step to an operative procedure they achieved a significant improvement in the outcome for the surgical treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF).

STRADIVARIUS study on anti-obesity medication rimonabant - mixed results

Tue, 01 Apr 2008 14:05:10 PST

The anti-obesity medication rimonabant showed mixed results in slowing progression of coronary artery disease in patients with abdominal obesity and pre-existing coronary disease, according to a new study in the April 2 issue of JAMA. The study is being released early online April 1 to coincide with its presentation at the annual conference of the American College of Cardiology

Ranolazine- potentially useful in cardiac arrhythmias

Mon, 31 Mar 2008 08:59:43 PST

A recently approved angina drug may also represent a powerful new treatment for a rare hereditary syndrome that places teens at risk for sudden cardiac death, according to research presented to today at the 57th Annual Scientific Sessions of the American College of Cardiology (ACC) in Chicago.

Spirit II explores long-term performance of XIENCE V stent

Mon, 31 Mar 2008 04:00:00 PST

CHICAGO, Ill. (March 31, 2008) � Early results of the SPIRIT II study showed that the XIENCE V stent was superior to the Taxus stent in six-month findings on angiography and trended better on one-year clinical outcomes. Now, a new analysis shows that after two years, the investigational everolimus-coated XIENCE V stent may continue to hold a clinical edge over its paclitaxel-coated competitor.

Scientists find a key culprit in stroke brain cell damage

Thu, 27 Mar 2008 04:00:00 PST

Researchers have identified a key player in the killing of brain cells after a stroke or a seizure. The protein asparagine endopeptidase (AEP) unleashes enzymes that break down brain cells' DNA, scientists at Emory University School of Medicine have found.

$2.1 million NIH grant advances U-Iowa child health research

Wed, 12 Mar 2008 04:00:00 PST

The University of Iowa Department of Pediatrics has been awarded a five-year, $2.1 million grant from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), to continue a mentorship project that helps junior faculty members embark on research careers.

WHI follow-up study: Risks of long-term hormone therapy continue to outweigh benefits

Tue, 04 Mar 2008 05:00:00 PST

New results from the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) confirm that the health risks of long-term use of combination (estrogen plus progestin) hormone therapy in healthy, postmenopausal women persist even a few years after stopping the drugs and clearly outweigh the benefits. Researchers report that about three years after women stopped taking combination hormone therapy, many of the health effects of hormones such as increased risk of heart disease are diminished, but overall risks, including risks of stroke, blood clots, and cancer, remain high. The WHI is sponsored by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Clinical depression raises risk of death for heart attack patients years after attack

Mon, 03 Mar 2008 05:00:00 PST

March 3, 2008 -- Depressed heart attack patients have a higher risk for sudden death in the months following a heart attack. Now a team led by researchers from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis has found that the risk continues for many years.

oxidative stress may be the culprit underlying aging , and is associated with many diseases .

Sat, 16 Feb 2008 01:30:00 PST

ANN ARBOR, Mich.---Oxygen, although essential for human life, can turn into an aggressive chemical that is outright toxic to important molecules inside our cells. This oxidative stress is associated with many diseases, such as Alzheimer's, heart disease and cancer, and has been suggested to be the culprit underlying aging.

Intensive blood sugar treatment in trial of diabetes and cardiovascular disease changed

Wed, 06 Feb 2008 23:40:00 PST

The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) of the National Institutes of Health has stopped one treatment within a large, ongoing North American clinical trial of diabetes and cardiovascular disease 18 months early due to safety concerns after review of available data, although the study will continue.

Research shows a daily dose of beetroot juice can beat high blood pressure

Wed, 06 Feb 2008 05:40:00 PST

Researchers at Barts and The London School of Medicine have discovered that drinking just 500ml of beetroot juice a day can significantly reduce blood pressure. The study, published online today in the American Heart Association journal Hypertension, could have major implications for the treatment of cardiovascular disease.

Study finds good outcomes for older lung transplant patients

Tue, 05 Feb 2008 06:40:00 PST

In the world of organ donation, it has been common practice to exclude older patients from receiving transplants because of limited donor supply and lower survival rates.

Congenital heart defects increasing among IVF twins

Sun, 03 Feb 2008 13:30:00 PST

The prevalence of congenital heart disease (CHD) among in vitro fertilization (IVF) pregnancies was similar to that of the general population, but there is an increasing risk of CHD among twins resulting from IVF, according to research by Yale School of Medicine researchers.

CO exposure may cause permanent heart damage

Tue, 29 Jan 2008 12:54:00 PST

According to the findings of a new study, published in the January issue of Academic Emergency Medicine, CO also causes direct damage to the heart muscle, separate from the effects of oxygen deprivation, which reduces the heart’s pumping capacity and permanently impairs cardiac function.

Researcher transplants stem cells to try to save patients' legs

Mon, 21 Jan 2008 05:00:00 PST

CHICAGO -- A Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine researcher has launched the first U.S. trial in which a purified form of subjects' own adult stem cells was transplanted into their leg muscles with severely blocked arteries to try to grow new small blood vessels and restore circulation in their legs.

Aspirin 'resistant' patients at increased risk of cardiovascular event

Sun, 20 Jan 2008 09:41:11 PST

Being resistant to aspirin makes patients four times more likely to suffer a heart attack, stroke or even die from a pre-existing heart condition, according to a study published on bmj.com.

Weill Cornell team discovers how brain's own tPA helps regulate blood flow to neurons

Thu, 17 Jan 2008 05:00:00 PST

NEW YORK (Jan. 17, 2008) -- The human brain contains its own store of a powerful enzyme (and stroke drug) called tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), which appears to be a key regulator of blood flow to brain cells, a team at the Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City reports.

Chronic anxiety may cause heart attack

Thu, 10 Jan 2008 16:50:30 PST

New York, Jan 10 - Chronic anxiety may trigger heart attack, says a new study, suggesting highly anxious individuals to stay careful.

Transplant drug sirolimus shrinks tumors, improves lung function

Wed, 09 Jan 2008 05:00:00 PST

CINCINNATI - The drug sirolimus, normally used to help transplant patients fight organ rejection, may eventually be used as a less invasive treatment for a tumor called angiomyolipomata in patients with who would otherwise face surgery. The finding is reported by investigators from Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine in the Jan.10 edition of The New England Journal of Medicine.

Scientists overcome obstacles to stem cell heart repair

Wed, 12 Dec 2007 05:00:00 PST

Scientists funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) at Imperial College London have overcome two significant obstacles on the road to harnessing stem cells to build patches for damaged hearts. Presenting the research at a UK Stem Cell Initiative conference today (13 December) in Coventry, research leader Professor Sian Harding will explain how her group have made significant progress in maturing beating heart cells (cardiomyocytes) derived from embryonic stem cells and in developing the physical scaffolding that would be needed to hold the patch in place in the heart in any future clinical application.

Exercise testing may help predict seriousness of mitral regurgitation

Tue, 11 Dec 2007 05:00:00 PST

NEW YORK (Dec. 11, 2007) -- In as many as one in five people over age 55, when the heart contracts to send blood around the body, some degree of backward leakage occurs across the mitral valve, a condition known as mitral regurgitation (MR). When sufficiently severe, MR causes buildup of blood in the lungs, leading to difficulty in breathing (dyspnea, or shortness of breath), a serious condition called congestive heart failure. MR also can cause heart rhythm irregularities (arrhythmias) such as atrial fibrillation, which can lead to strokes and other problems, and ventricular tachycardia, which can cause sudden death.

Implanting embryonic cardiac cells prevents arrhythmias

Wed, 05 Dec 2007 05:00:00 PST

When researchers at Cornell, the University of Bonn and the University of Pittsburgh transplanted living embryonic heart cells into cardiac tissue of mice that had suffered heart attacks, the mice became resistant to cardiac arrhythmias, thereby avoiding one of the most dangerous and fatal consequences of heart attacks.

Robotics lab helps stroke patients with recovery

Tue, 04 Dec 2007 05:00:00 PST

HOUSTON, Dec. 4, 2007 -- Robotics engineers at Rice University are teaming with doctors from Memorial Hermann|TIRR to develop a PC-based system for physical rehabilitation.

Women aren't men

Mon, 19 Nov 2007 05:00:00 PST

CHICAGO --- Women's bodies and medical needs are vastly different than men's way beyond their reproductive systems. Women wake sooner from anesthesia, have less familiar symptoms of cardiovascular disease and are more likely to suffer from depression and sleep problems-- just to name a few of the differences.

Screening for abdominal aortic aneurysms in women may save lives

Fri, 09 Nov 2007 05:00:00 PST

NEW YORK (Nov. 9, 2007) -- In 9 out of 10 cases, a burst abdominal aortic artery is quickly fatal for its most common victim: elderly males. A new study -- the largest yet performed -- now confirms that women over 65 with a history of smoking or heart disease are also at high risk for an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) -- supporting the notion that they should also receive ultrasound screening to help spot and correct the dangerous condition.

'Runner's high' may also strengthen hearts

Thu, 08 Nov 2007 05:00:00 PST

Endorphins and other morphine-like substances known as opioids, which are released during exercise, don't just make you feel good -- they may also protect you from heart attacks, according to University of Iowa researchers.

Researchers study potential health benefits of natural chemicals in muscadine grape seeds

Wed, 24 Oct 2007 04:00:00 PST

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. � Could some of the natural chemicals found in plants be powerful enough to improve cardiovascular health Researchers at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center are conducting the first-ever clinical study to evaluate the potential cardiovascular health effects of Nature�s Pearl Muscadine Grape Seed Supplement.

HORIZONS AMI trial data will help set guidelines

Wed, 24 Oct 2007 04:00:00 PST

WASHINGTON, DC � OCTOBER 24, 2007 � Late-breaking data presented at TCT 2007, the scientific symposium of the Cardiovascular Research Foundation (CRF), show that the use of the anticoagulant bivalirudin following angioplasty in heart attack patients reduces net adverse clinical events by 24 percent compared to the standard treatment, and significantly reduces major bleeding that occurs after angioplasty by 40 percent.

Role of a key enzyme in reducing heart disease identified

Wed, 24 Oct 2007 04:00:00 PST

Virginia Commonwealth University researchers have identified the role of a key enzyme called CEH in reducing heart disease, paving the way for new target therapies to reduce plaques in the arteries and perhaps in the future, help predict a patient�s susceptibility to heart disease.

2 carotid artery stenting studies show results comparable to AHA guidelines

Tue, 23 Oct 2007 04:00:00 PST

Washington D.C., October 23, 2007 - Two carotid stenting trials examining patient outcomes demonstrated results that are comparable to guidelines established by the American Heart Association (AHA) for patients treated with carotid artery surgery. The results of these studies were presented today at the Cardiovascular Research Foundation's 19th annual Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics (TCT) scientific symposium by William A. Gray, M.D., FACC, associate professor of clinical medicine at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons and director of Endovascular Services at the Center for Interventional Vascular Therapy at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center in New York. Dr. Gray is the director of Endovascular Services at the Cardiovascular Research Foundation.

High numbers of men and women are overweight, obese and have abdominal fat, worldwide

Mon, 22 Oct 2007 04:00:00 PST

DALLAS, Oct. 23 - A new global study revealed that 40 percent of men and 30 percent of women are overweight, while 24 percent of men and 27 percent of women are obese, researchers reported in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association.

Study explains how exercise lowers cardiovascular risk

Mon, 22 Oct 2007 04:00:00 PST

DALLAS, Oct. 23 �� It��s well known that physical activity can improve cardiovascular health. But it��s the impact exercise has on specific known risk factors that accounts for about 60 percent of that improvement, researchers reported in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association.

Healthy diet and lifestyle behaviors associated with decreased risk of heart attack in women

Mon, 22 Oct 2007 04:00:00 PST

Women who eat a healthy diet, drink moderate amounts of alcohol, are physically active, maintain a healthy weight and do not smoke have a significantly reduced risk of heart attack, according to a report in the October 22 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

New study: pine bark extract boosts nitric oxide production

Wed, 17 Oct 2007 04:00:00 PST

A study to be published in the October edition of Hypertension Research reveals Pycnogenol, (pic-noj-en-all), an antioxidant plant extract from the bark of the French maritime pine tree, helps individuals by enhancing healthy nitric oxide (NO) production which leads to an increase in blood flow and oxygen supply to muscles.

Obese children show early signs of heart disease

Wed, 17 Oct 2007 04:00:00 PST

Children who are obese or who are at risk for obesity show early signs of heart disease similar to obese adults with heart disease, a study by researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis has found.

The Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust and Flinn Foundation launch

Wed, 17 Oct 2007 04:00:00 PST

PHOENIX, Oct. 17, 2007 � Two Arizona-based philanthropic organizations have committed $45 million to fund an innovative initiative to develop personalized molecular diagnostics. The ability to diagnose and treat disease based on every person�s unique physiological makeup is critical to enabling physicians to improve health outcomes while at the same time reducing medical costs.

Severely mentally ill at high risk for cardiovascular disease

Tue, 16 Oct 2007 04:00:00 PST

St. Louis, Oct. 15, 2007 � A psychiatrist at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis writes in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) that although mortality from cardiovascular disease has declined in the United States over the past several decades, patients with severe psychiatric illness are not enjoying the benefits of that progress.

Horizons AMI trial data to be presented at TCT 2007

Mon, 15 Oct 2007 04:00:00 PST

WASHINGTON, DC � OCTOBER 15, 2007 -- The Cardiovascular Research Foundation (CRF) will release results of its landmark research study, HORIZONS AMI (Harmonizing Outcomes with Revascularization and Stents in Acute Myocardial Infarction) at the nineteenth annual Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics (TCT) scientific symposium in Washington, D.C. The study is designed to examine the safety and effectiveness of stents and anticoagulants in heart attack patients undergoing angioplasty.

Chemistry turns killer gas into potential cure

Mon, 15 Oct 2007 04:00:00 PST

Despite its deadly reputation, the gas carbon monoxide (CO) could actually save lives and boost health in future as a result of leading-edge UK research.

Stanford analysis shows little difference in risk rates for angioplasty, bypass procedures

Mon, 15 Oct 2007 04:00:00 PST

STANFORD, Calif. - Patients with heart disease who undergo coronary angioplasty have an equivalent risk of death and heart attack as patients who undergo coronary bypass surgery, according to Stanford University School of Medicine researchers. The analysis is the largest comparison of bypass surgery and angioplasty, two of the most common major medical procedures performed in North America.

Study reveals a key to blood vessel growth and possible drug target

Sun, 14 Oct 2007 04:00:00 PST

Researchers have identified a molecular pathway that plays a critical role in the growth of blood vessels. The finding not only offers an important insight into the development of the vascular system during embryonic development but suggests a potential target for inhibiting the blood vessels that fuel cancers, diabetic eye complications and atherosclerosis, the researchers say.

Patients can't recall their medications to tell doctors

Thu, 11 Oct 2007 04:00:00 PST

CHICAGO --- Doctors rely on patients to accurately tell them what prescription medications � and what dosages -- they are taking in out-patient visits. (A patient's chart may not always be available or complete.) That information is essential for physicians to monitor whether a drug is working, and whether it may have adverse interactions with any new medications prescribed.

Breast cancer awareness calls for cardiovascular awareness

Thu, 11 Oct 2007 04:00:00 PST

Women who overcome breast cancer have every reason to celebrate. But a heart filled with joy may also be a heart damaged by life-saving cancer therapies, a growing body of research shows.

Taking the stress out of choosing the right stress test

Thu, 11 Oct 2007 04:00:00 PST

Stress tests are good front-line tests indicators of heart disease, but just how good depends on ordering the right one, researchers say.

Severe heart defect likely caused by genetic factors

Wed, 10 Oct 2007 04:00:00 PST

CINCINNATI - Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS), a severe cardiovascular malformation that is difficult to treat and often lethal, is caused primarily by genetic factors, according to a new study by researchers at Cincinnati Children�s Hospital Medical Center. The study � to be published in the Oct. 16 edition of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology � is the first to show the high heritability and likely genetic underpinnings of HLHS and recommend a direction for future research into its cause, development and possible therapeutic strategies.

Stress contributes to range of chronic diseases, Carnegie Mellon psychologist says

Tue, 09 Oct 2007 04:00:00 PST

PITTSBURGH -- In a review of the scientific literature on the relationship between stress and disease, Carnegie Mellon University psychologist Sheldon Cohen has found that stress is a contributing factor in human disease, and in particular depression, cardiovascular disease and HIV/AIDS. Cohen�s findings will be published in the Oct. 10 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). The article was co-authored by Denise Janicki-Deverts of Carnegie Mellon and Gregory E. Miller of the University of British Columbia.

Chronic job strain doubles the risk of a second heart attack

Tue, 09 Oct 2007 04:00:00 PST

Quebec City, October 9, 2007�People who experience chronic job strain after a first heart attack double their risk of suffering from a second one, reports a research team from Universit� Laval�s Faculty of Medicine in the October 10 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Corazonas Foods and Brandeis University partner to create cholesterol-reducing snacks

Mon, 08 Oct 2007 04:00:00 PST

Waltham, MA -- Corazonas Foods, Inc., creators of great-tasting, heart-healthy snack foods, has announced an exclusive licensing agreement with Brandeis University to utilize its technology in creating several new categories of heart-healthy snacks. Brandeis�s innovative technology allows high levels of plant sterols to be incorporated into snack foods while retaining the product�s outstanding flavor. The partnership�s first venture, Corazonas Heart-Healthy Tortilla Chips, are currently the first and only snack chips clinically proven to reduce low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, a.k.a. �bad cholesterol,� by up to 15 percent. The chips have been a huge hit since debuting in early 2006, further demonstrating the overwhelming consumer demand for healthful snack alternatives without sacrificing great taste.

Negative aspects of close relationships may be associated with heart disease risk

Mon, 08 Oct 2007 04:00:00 PST

Individuals whose close relationships have negative aspects, such as conflict and adverse exchanges, appear to have an increased risk of heart disease than those with more positive close relationships, according to a report in the Oct. 8 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

Study to consider social risk in guiding prevention of heart disease

Mon, 08 Oct 2007 04:00:00 PST

A University of Rochester Medical Center researcher has been awarded a National Institutes of Health grant to study whether accounting for social risk factors, in addition to traditional predictors, can be useful in assessing patients� risk and ultimately preventing coronary heart disease.

Banked blood loses ability to deliver oxygen to tissues

Mon, 08 Oct 2007 04:00:00 PST

DURHAM, N.C. �Almost immediately after it is donated, human blood begins to lose a key gas that opens up blood vessels to facilitate the transfer of oxygen from red blood cells to oxygen-starved tissues.

UF researchers test stem cell therapy for heart patients

Thu, 04 Oct 2007 04:00:00 PST

GAINESVILLE, Fla. � University of Florida doctors on Wednesday (Oct. 3) treated their first patient enrolled in a new study designed to test whether injecting stem cells into the heart helps restore blood flow to the organ by prompting new blood vessels to grow.

Left main coronary artery disease can double or treble heart risk in siblings

Wed, 03 Oct 2007 04:00:00 PST

German researchers have found that heart disease of the left main coronary artery is often an inherited condition that clusters in families. Moreover, they discovered that initially healthy siblings of a person with the condition were 2.5 times more likely to go on to develop some form of heart disease than were siblings of a patient with heart disease that did not relate to the left main coronary artery.

ICDs underused in women, minorities with heart failure

Tue, 02 Oct 2007 04:00:00 PST

DURHAM, NC � Many Americans hospitalized for heart failure are coming up short when it comes to getting the therapy they need � especially women and minorities, say researchers at Duke University Medical Center.

Major gender gap in use of life-saving heart device

Tue, 02 Oct 2007 04:00:00 PST

DURHAM, NC � Women who might have benefited from the use of an implantable heart monitor following a cardiac arrest were far less likely than men to have one prescribed, according to experts at the Duke University Medical Center.

Treating obstructive sleep apnea, preventing heart attacks and strokes

Fri, 28 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST

Researchers in Brazil have found that treating patients who suffer from obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) dramatically reduces early indications of atherosclerosis in just months, linking OSA directly to the hardening or narrowing of the arteries. Until now, no study has demonstrated such a direct relationship between the two.

Possible safer target for anti-clotting drugs found

Wed, 26 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST

Researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine have identified a new molecular target in blood clot formation, which seems to reduce clotting without excessive bleeding, the common side-effect of anti-clotting agents.

Rehabilitation significantly underused after heart attack and bypass surgery

Tue, 25 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST

Waltham, MA � Despite strong evidence that cardiac rehabilitation reduces disability and prolongs life, fewer than one in five people receive rehabilitation services after a heart attack or coronary bypass surgery, according to a Brandeis study in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association.

Cardiologists and heart surgeons meet for 'Controversies and Advances' conference

Tue, 25 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST

LOS ANGELES (September 25, 2007) � Stem cell therapy for cardiac regeneration and the controversial issue of medicine and the media will be the focus of the keynote addresses at the seventh annual �Controversies and Advances in the Treatment of Cardiovascular Disease� conference. Conducted by Cedars-Sinai Medical Center at the Beverly Hills Hotel on Oct. 4 and 5, the conference is co-sponsored by the California Chapter of the American College of Cardiology, the California Chapter of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons, and Promedica International CME.

Researchers say lack of sleep doubles risk of death... but so can too much sleep

Mon, 24 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST

Researchers from the University of Warwick, and University College London, have found that lack of sleep can more than double the risk of death from cardiovascular disease. However they have also found that point comes when too much sleep can also more than double the risk of death.

New study suggests cause of debilitating skin condition

Mon, 24 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. � New findings from researchers at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center and colleagues suggest why some people with kidney failure can develop a rare tightening and swelling of the skin and other organs, including the lungs and heart.

Vitamin E trials 'fatally flawed'

Fri, 21 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST

CORVALLIS, Ore. � Generations of studies on vitamin E may be largely meaningless, scientists say, because new research has demonstrated that the levels of this micronutrient necessary to reduce oxidative stress are far higher than those that have been commonly used in clinical trials.

UCSD study reveals the regulatory mechanism of key enzyme

Thu, 20 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST

Research conducted at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) School of Medicine has shed new light on the structure and function of one of the key proteins in all mammalian cells, protein kinase A (PKA), an enzyme which plays an essential role in memory formation, communication between nerve cells, and cardiac function.

Pathway to cell death redefined in landmark study

Thu, 20 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST

PITTSBURGH, Sept. 20 -- A new study led by investigators from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine demonstrates that the process of necrosis, long thought to be a chaotic, irreversible pathway to cell death, may actually be triggered as part of a regulated response to stress by a powerful protein, SRP-6, that can potentially halt necrosis in its path. Further, the research team realized that this protein might be harnessed to direct some cells -- those in cancerous tumors, for instance -- to die, while saving others, such as degenerating neural cells responsible for Alzheimer�s and Parkinson�s diseases. The work appears on the Sept. 21 cover of the journal Cell.

SNM seeks novel approaches to molecular imaging to showcase at annual meeting

Thu, 20 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST

RESTON, Va. -- Attention scientific researchers: SNM invites you to present your molecular imaging studies -- especially those involving non-radioactive molecular imaging techniques and agents -- at the society�s 55th Annual Meeting June 14�18, 2008, in New Orleans, La. SNM, the world�s largest society for molecular imaging and nuclear medicine professionals, will showcase these studies in a new scientific investigation track called �Novel Approaches to Molecular Imaging.�

Murder mystery solved

Thu, 20 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST

CHICAGO --- It was a murder mystery playing out in major cities across the country and perplexing scientists. Thousands of people were dying from strokes and heart attacks within 24 hours of a spike in microscopic pollution -- tiny particles that spew from the exhaust of diesel trucks, buses and coal-burning factories.

New research shows ACTOS is associated with a 38 percent lower risk of heart attack

Wed, 19 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST

Amsterdam, The Netherlands, Sept. 19, 2007 -- New research, including two studies presented this week at the 43rd Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD), further support the cardiovascular safety of ACTOS (pioglitazone HCI) and its benefits regarding improved blood glucose and blood lipid levels for patients with type 2 diabetes. The unique outcomes, including some clinical practice results, reinforce the consistency of pioglitazone data and underscore that ACTOS has different effects from the other thiazolidinedione rosiglitazone due to differences in molecular structure.

NIH selects Weill Cornell Medical College to lead new NYC translational research collaboration

Wed, 19 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST

NEW YORK (Sept. 18, 2007) -- Weill Cornell Medical College has been selected by the National Center for Research Resources (NCRR), of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), to establish and lead a new Clinical and Translational Science Center (CTSC), creating an ambitious and innovative network for biomedical collaboration on New York's Upper East Side. The Center's goal is to facilitate new collaborative research studies that quickly and effectively result in new patient treatments and preventive interventions.

New research seeks to enhance quality and security of wireless telemedicine

Mon, 17 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST

A team of researchers led by Fei Hu, assistant professor of computer engineering at Rochester Institute of Technology, is working to advance the integration of radio frequency identification technology, also known as RFID, into cardiac sensor networks, a new wireless technology for telemedicine delivery. The team will also work to enhance the security of the systems used in the process, thereby reducing the possibility of identity theft and cyber-terrorism. The effort is being supported by a $400,000 grant from the National Science Foundation�s Cyber Trust Program. Hu, the principal investigator, will collaborate with Yang Xiao, professor of computer science at the University of Alabama.

Both aerobic and resistance exercise improved blood sugar control in people with diabetes

Mon, 17 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST

In a new randomized controlled trial, both aerobic and resistance exercise improved glycemic/blood sugar control in people with type 2 diabetes. The greatest improvements came from combined aerobic and resistance training.

A new kind of rat model

Thu, 13 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST

Two neuroscientists at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM) are working with local company PhysioGenix to investigate a novel animal model the company has developed for researching diseases like depression, anxiety, schizophrenia and ADHD.

Rosiglitazone associated with increased risk of heart attack

Wed, 12 Sep 2007 10:59:53 PST

An analysis of four studies involving more than 14,000 patients found that long-term use of the diabetes drug rosiglitazone (Avandia®) increased the risk of heart attack by 42 percent and doubled the risk of heart failure, according to a new report from researchers at Wake Forest University School of Medicine and colleagues. There was no effect on death from cardiovascular causes.

A step toward tissue-engineered heart structures for children

Wed, 12 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST

Infants and children receiving artificial heart-valve replacements face several repeat operations as they grow, since the since the replacements become too small and must be traded for bigger ones. Researchers at Children�s Hospital Boston have now developed a solution: living, growing valves created in the lab from a patient�s own cells.

UCI receives $5M from Edwards Lifesciences

Wed, 12 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST

Irvine, Calif., September 12, 2007 - UC Irvine�s Henry Samueli School of Engineering has received a $5 million gift from Edwards Lifesciences Corporation to establish a center focused on researching and developing the next generation of cardiovascular devices.

Diesel exhaust may increase risk in patients with heart disease

Wed, 12 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST

Air pollution could be putting patients with heart disease at risk by affecting blood vessels and clotting, researchers warn.

Nicotine may accelerate atherosclerosis, may be as dangerous as tar

Wed, 12 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST

NEW YORK (Sept. 10, 2007) -- It's well known that smoking cigarettes increases risk for a host of serious health problems from cancer to heart disease. Now a new study from Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City looks at how they do their dirty work by contributing to atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries. The evidence points to nicotine, the addictive chemical in cigarettes.

Preventing or reducing enlarged heart decreases risk of heart failure

Wed, 12 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST

NEW YORK (Sept. 10, 2007) -- For high-blood-pressure patients, preventing or reducing enlarged heart (left ventricular hypertrophy or LVH) reduces risk of heart failure. The study is published in the Sept. 4 Annals of Internal Medicine and led by physician-scientists at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center in New York City.

Long-term use of diabetes drug increases heart attack risk by more than 40 percent

Tue, 11 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. � An analysis of four studies involving more than 14,000 patients found that long-term use of the diabetes drug rosiglitazone (Avandia�) increased the risk of heart attack by 42 percent and doubled the risk of heart failure, according to a new report from researchers at Wake Forest University School of Medicine and colleagues. There was no effect on death from cardiovascular causes.

Children who learn heart healthy eating habits lower heart disease risk

Tue, 11 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST

A new study in a mid-August edition of Circulation: Journal of the America Heart Association confirms that when young children learn about heart healthy eating habits, it can strongly influence their heart disease risk later in life.

Being overweight may independently increase risk for heart disease events

Mon, 10 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST

Being moderately overweight or obese appears to increase the risk for developing coronary heart disease events independent of traditional cardiovascular risk factors, according to a meta-analysis of previously published studies in the September 10 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

New therapy could preserve vessel function after heart attack

Mon, 10 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST

COLUMBUS , Ohio � Scientists have identified the process that causes blood vessels to constrict during and after a heart attack. They've also demonstrated that delivering a vital molecule that is depleted during this process directly to those blood vessels can reverse damage and help restore blood flow.

Nuclear medicine approach can be first choice for excluding pulmonary embolism in young women

Fri, 07 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST

RESTON, Va.�Young women at risk of having a pulmonary embolism�a potential life-threatening blockage in a lung artery�should first undergo a ventilation/perfusion lung scan (V/Q scan) rather than a CT (computed tomography) angiogram, conclude authors in a paper published in the September Journal of Nuclear Medicine.

Minimally invasive heart surgery research wins NIH award

Thu, 06 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST

Efforts to make open-heart surgery a minimally invasive procedure have earned a five-year, $5 million National Institutes of Health Bioengineering Research Partnership award. Professor Pierre Dupont of Boston University�s College of Engineering, cardiac surgeon Pedro del Nido, M.D., at Children�s Hospital Boston/Harvard Medical School, and microdevice manufacturer Microfabrica Inc. (Van Nuys, CA) will collaborate to develop instruments and procedures that promise to bring the precision of conventional open-heart surgery to minimally invasive instruments and tools, allowing complex surgical repairs to be made while the heart is still beating.

Clopidogrel does not increase postoperative bleeding risk in patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome

Wed, 05 Sep 2007 08:39:45 PST

Aspirin combined with clopidogrel is the treatment of choice for acute coronary syndromes. Although the maintenance of aspirin until surgery does not affect postoperative bleeding after coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery, the latter may be dramatically increased when clopidogrel is continued over a period of 5 days preoperatively.

British Cardiovascular Society's Report comments on the future of Coronary Angiography

Wed, 05 Sep 2007 06:39:49 PST

A report from the British Cardiovascular Society Working Group throws light on the future of coronary angiography - a technique which is at present, the most popular test among the physicians in the diagnosis and management of the ischemic heart disease.

Research says doctor's gender may hinder early diagnosis of heart disease in women

Wed, 05 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST

There is a serious disparity in the early detection of coronary heart disease (CHD) between men and women. Twice as many women as men aged 45-64 have undetected or �silent� myocardial infarctions, suggesting a general diagnosis problem. New research by Warwick Medical School shows that a doctor�s gender may hinder early hinder early diagnosis of heart disease in women.

Environmental stress probed in cardiovascular disease, diabetes

Wed, 05 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST

How environmental stress contributes to cardiovascular disease and type II diabetes is under study at the Medical College of Georgia.

Treating depression may improve recovery of heart rate variability following coronary syndromes

Mon, 03 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST

Patients with depression appear to have an impaired ability to recover their heart rate variability following acute coronary syndromes such as heart attack, a factor that could increase their risk of coronary death, according to a report in the September issue of Archives of General Psychiatry, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. However, patients who are treated with antidepressants or whose mood lifts may experience more of an improvement in heart rate variability than those who are untreated or remain depressed.

Cutting salt does not reduce processed food safety say scientists

Mon, 03 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST

Low salt foods are just as safe or safer than high salt level products in spite of expectations that cutting salt levels in food would increase the risk of spoilage by bacteria, say scientists today (Tuesday 4 September 2007) at the Society for General Microbiology��s 161st Meeting at the University of Edinburgh, UK, which runs from 3-6 September 2007.

ACC/AHA Release Revised Guidelines for the Management of Unstable Angina and NSTEMI

Fri, 31 Aug 2007 17:35:19 PST

The American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association have jointly released revised Guidelines for the Management of Patients with Unstable Angina (UA)/Non-ST- Elevation Myocardial Infarction (NSTEMI).

Small animal imaging facility is big boon to research

Thu, 30 Aug 2007 04:00:00 PST

When powerful magnets line up the body�s protons before radiofrequency waves can grab their attention away, it�s called spin physics.