Heart Failure News and Research

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Heart failure (HF) is a condition in which a problem with the structure or function of the heart impairs its ability to supply sufficient blood flow to meet the body's needs. It should not be confused with cardiac arrest or myocardial infarction.

Blood-based gene expression test more effective in ruling out obstructive CAD

A blood-based gene expression test was found to be more effective for ruling out obstructive coronary artery disease in stable symptomatic patients than myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI), a common test that uses a radioactive agent to evaluate the blood flow and function of the heart.

16 Nov 2011

Study: Pneumonia the most common serious infection post-heart surgery

Pneumonia - not a deep incision surgical site infection - is the most common serious infection after heart surgery, according to new research presented at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2011.

16 Nov 2011

Xarelto (rivaroxaban) shows success as blood thinner in acute coronary syndrome

A new anti-blood clotting drug – Xarelto (rivaroxaban) has shown clinical success. It may help people with “acute coronary syndrome” lower their risk of death, subsequent heart attack or stroke, a new study finds. Acute coronary syndrome is term that includes people with angina or prior history of heart attack.

15 Nov 2011

Stem cell therapy remedies heart failure: Study

Heart failure may be sure cured using stem cell therapy claim researchers. In a breakthrough study 16 heart failure patients given stem cells taken from their own bodies showed dramatic and lasting improvement.

15 Nov 2011

Stem cell therapy within 2 or 3 weeks does not improve heart function after attack

A research network led by a Mayo Clinic physician found that stem cells obtained from bone marrow delivered two to three weeks after a person has a heart attack did not improve heart function.

15 Nov 2011

Eliminating drug co-pays improves medication adherence in heart attack patients

The use of specific medications following a heart attack has been shown to reduce cardiovascular events and mortality, however; while highly effective, the rate of adherence to these medications is poor. Researchers from Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH) evaluated whether eliminating co-payments for these medications would increase adherence and improve outcomes in patients who have had a heart attack.

15 Nov 2011

Risk of heart failure appears to be higher among low-income seniors

The risk of heart failure appears to be higher among low-income seniors — even those with a college education — according to research from the University of Alabama at Birmingham presented during the 2011 American Heart Association Scientific Sessions.

15 Nov 2011

New non-invasive measurement may predict people at risk of heart failure

A new study from researchers at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and collaborators at various institutions, presented at the 2011 American Heart Association Scientific Sessions, shows that a novel, non-invasive measurement of arterial wave reflections may be able to predict who is most at risk for heart failure.

15 Nov 2011

Mesoblast reports positive Revascor Phase 2 heart failure trial results

Regenerative medicine company Mesoblast Limited today announced positive Phase 2 heart failure trial results of its allogeneic, or off-the-shelf, adult stem cell product Revascor after all patients had completed a minimum follow-up of 12 months, and a mean follow-up of 22 months.

15 Nov 2011

Fetal stem cells play an important role in inducing maternal cardiac repair

Researchers from Mount Sinai School of Medicine have discovered the therapeutic benefit of fetal stem cells in helping the maternal heart recover after heart attack or other injury.

14 Nov 2011

Bone-marrow derived cells do not improve heart function after attack

NIH-funded trial shows that therapy with bone-marrow derived cells does not improve heart function after six months; future clinical benefits still possible.

14 Nov 2011

Cortex third quarter net loss increases to $1,175,000

Cortex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. reported a net loss of approximately $1,175,000, or $0.01 per share, for the quarter ended September 30, 2011, compared with a net loss of approximately $528,000, or $0.01 per share, for the corresponding prior year quarter.

14 Nov 2011

Data shows cost-effectiveness of ZOLL LifeVest Wearable Defibrillator

ZOLL Medical Corporation, a manufacturer of medical devices and related software solutions, announced today that data showing the cost-effectiveness of the LifeVest Wearable Defibrillator was presented in two scientific presentations and posters at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2011 in Orlando over the weekend.

14 Nov 2011

BioVentrix announces completion of enrollment in PliCath HF human clinical trial

BioVentrix, developer of the PliCath HF System, today announced the achievement of a significant milestone - completion of enrollment in its pilot human clinical trial. PliCath HF is a novel device which enables Epicardial Catheter-based Ventricular Restoration (ECVR).

14 Nov 2011

Nile Therapeutics third quarter net loss decreases to $1.1 million

Nile Therapeutics, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company that develops novel therapeutics for heart failure patients, today announced its third quarter financial results for 2011.

14 Nov 2011

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is consistent with survival to normal life expectancy

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is consistent with survival to normal life expectancy, including particularly advanced age into the tenth decade of life, with demise ultimately largely unrelated to this disease, according to a study being presented Nov. 13 at the American Heart Association (AHA) scientific sessions in Orlando, Fla.

14 Nov 2011

Feraheme as safe and effective as iron sucrose in patients with anemia, CKD

AMAG Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced positive new data from the FIRST head-to-head trial comparing Feraheme (ferumoxytol) Injection for intravenous (IV) use to iron sucrose in patients with iron deficiency anemia and chronic kidney disease.

14 Nov 2011

UCLA School of Nursing faculty members to present at AHA 2011

A failing heart's effect on the short-term memory. The impact of telephone interventions on behaviors in Latinos. Depression and heart disease. Risk factors contributing to premature coronary atherosclerosis in premenopausal women. These are just a few of the research findings that will be presented by faculty members of the UCLA School of Nursing at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions, being held November 12 - 16 in Orlando, FL.

14 Nov 2011

Professional tooth scaling associated with fewer heart attacks, strokes

Professional tooth scaling was associated with fewer heart attacks and strokes in a study from Taiwan presented at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2011.

14 Nov 2011

Low levels of vitamin C associated with worse outcomes for heart failure patients

Low levels of vitamin C were associated with higher levels of high sensitivity C-Reactive protein (hsCRP) and shorter intervals without major cardiac issues or death for heart failure patients, in research presented at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2011.

14 Nov 2011