Atherosclerosis News and Research

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Atherosclerosis is the progressive buildup of plaque - the fatty deposits and other cells - in the inner walls of the arteries. The condition is a consequence of elevated cholesterol and for many it's a silent disease, with no visible signs or symptoms. The disease can begin in early adulthood and continues to progress for the rest of a person's life. Despite the serious nature of atherosclerosis, many people do not understand how it develops and progresses.

Genetic mutation implicated in breast and ovarian cancers could also have a role in causing heart failure: Study

A genetic mutation implicated in breast and ovarian cancers could also have a role in causing heart failure, according to a new study reported at the 95th annual Clinical Congress of the American College of Surgeons.

15 Oct 2009

European Patent Office to grant two intellectual property patents to Athera Biotechnologies

Athera Biotechnologies AB, an atherosclerosis R&D company developing novel products for treatment and prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD), announced today that the European Patent Office intends to grant two key patents related to the Company's intellectual property on its two pharmaceutical candidates Annexin A5 and PC-mAb.

14 Oct 2009

VIA Pharmaceuticals receives determination letter from NASDAQ Stock Market

VIA Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a biotechnology company focused on the development of compounds for the treatment of cardiovascular and metabolic disease, today announced that on October 9, 2009, it received a determination letter from The NASDAQ Stock Market notifying the Company that the NASDAQ Hearing Panel (the "Panel") has granted the Company's request to remain listed on NASDAQ, subject to the Company demonstrating compliance with the NASDAQ Listing Rules (the "Listing Rules") on or before December 31, 2009 (the "Exception Period").

14 Oct 2009

Increase in adiponectin hormone levels protects against sepsis-related mortality

A hormone naturally found in the fat that surrounds the abdominal organs for the first time has been linked to death related to sepsis, surgeons reported at the 2009 Clinical Congress of the American College of Surgeons. A study exhibited at the conference showed that low levels of the hormone adiponectin placed animals at a profoundly high risk of death from a septic insult.

14 Oct 2009

Galapagos extends collaboration with Merck to develop new therapies for atherosclerosis

Galapagos NV announced today that it has expanded its global strategic alliance in metabolic diseases with an affiliate of Merck & Co., Inc to incorporate the development of new therapies for atherosclerosis.

14 Oct 2009

Neighborhood may be a modifiable risk factor for diabetes

Individuals living in neighborhoods conducive to physical activity and providing access to healthy foods may have a lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes in a five-year period, according to a report in the October 12 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

13 Oct 2009

Eric Boerwinkle receives $26 million federal stimulus grant to identify genetic factors influencing common diseases

Eric Boerwinkle, Ph.D., a professor at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, has received a $26 million federal stimulus grant to lead an effort to pinpoint genetic factors affecting the risk of heart, lung and blood diseases.

12 Oct 2009

New study to assess the risk of heart disease in diabetics

In a new international partnership, Dr. Randy Nelson, a researcher at Arizona State University's Biodesign Institute, and Dr. Tai E-Shyong , associate professor at Singapore's National University Hospital, National University Health System (NUHS), have teamed up to assess the risk of heart disease in diabetics with greater accuracy.

8 Oct 2009

FDA approves Daiichi Sankyo's sNDA for Welchol

Daiichi Sankyo, Inc. (DSI) announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the supplemental new drug application (sNDA) for Welchol® (colesevelam HCl) to be used as an adjunct to diet and exercise for the reduction of elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) in boys and postmenarchal girls, 10 to 17 years of age, with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (heFH) alone or in combination with a statin after failing an adequate trial of diet therapy.

7 Oct 2009

The Lewin Group issues recommendations to overcome barriers obstructing the lupus drug development

Today, The Lewin Group, a national health care consulting firm, issued recommendations on ways to overcome the barriers that have obstructed lupus drug development resulting in no new drug approval for this disease in more than 50 years - since the Eisenhower Administration.

From CSL Ltd 5 Oct 2009

Study finds an independent link between self-perceived psychological stress and stroke

Many patients urgently admitted to hospital with cerebral infarction state that they were under great stress over a prolonged period prior to suffering their stroke, is shown in a unique patient study conducted in cooperation between the Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg and Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Sweden.

3 Oct 2009

Arginetix raises funds for development programs

Arginetix, Inc. today announced it has closed a $10.75 million Series A financing. The company is developing small molecule inhibitors of the enzyme arginase for the treatment of endothelial dysfunction, including pulmonary arterial hypertension, atherosclerosis and asthma.

2 Oct 2009

Effect of healthcare reform on treating cardiovascular disease patients

The Ninth Annual Controversies and Advances in Treatment of Cardiovascular Disease continuing medical education conference will feature several discussions and presentations on how healthcare reform could affect cardiovascular disease patients' diagnosis, treatment and outcome.

1 Oct 2009

Study links stress and stroke

1 Oct 2009

Resverlogix RVX-208 exceeds expectations in Phase 1b/2a clinical trial

Resverlogix Corp. announced today that results from the Company's Phase 1b/2a clinical trial have met and exceeded expectations by successfully concluding the drug, RVX-208, is safe and tolerable. Most importantly RVX-208 has met its primary endpoint to increase the production of plasma ApoA-I, the key cardioprotective protein in high-density lipoprotein (HDL), often referred to as "good" cholesterol.

1 Oct 2009

Cost-effective screening test for coronary artery disease

A simple, non-invasive test appears to be an effective screening tool for identifying patients with silent heart disease who are at risk for a heart attack or sudden death.

1 Oct 2009

Latest optical and laser technology in medicine displayed at FiO meeting

From scopes that help premature babies breathe to techniques for imaging live neurons and beating hearts as they develop, the latest optical and laser technology being deployed in medicine and the biosciences will be on display at the Optical Society's (OSA) Annual Meeting, Frontiers in Optics (FiO), which takes place Oct. 11-15 at the Fairmont San Jose Hotel and the Sainte Claire Hotel in San Jose, Calif.

1 Oct 2009

Former professional players have fewer risks of heart attacks

Former professional football players with large bodies don't appear to have the same risk factors for heart disease as their non-athletic counterparts, UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers have found in studying a group of National Football League (NFL) alumni.

30 Sep 2009

Misregulation of SPAK protein may contribute to B-cell lymphoma development

A group led by Dr. Michael Teitell at UCLA has demonstrated that misregulation of the protein SPAK may contribute to B-cell lymphoma development. Their report can be found in the October 2009 issue of the American Journal of Pathology.

28 Sep 2009

PROSPECT clinical trial results announced

Abbott today announced primary results from its groundbreaking PROSPECT (Providing Regional Observations to Study Predictors of Events in the Coronary Tree) clinical trial.

25 Sep 2009