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.

MICARDIS receives Health Canada approval to reduce the risk of non-fatal stroke

MICARDIS(R) (telmisartan) has received Health Canada approval to reduce the risk of non-fatal stroke or non-fatal myocardial infarction in patients 55 years or older at high risk of developing major cardiovascular events who cannot tolerate an angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor.

26 Nov 2009

Plasma albumin levels and cardiovascular disease risk factors influenced by common genetic components

Two indicators of liver function, glutamyl transferase (GGT) and albumin (ALB) have been implicated in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. It is known that the variation in the plasma level of these liver related proteins is genetically influenced.

25 Nov 2009

100th patient enrolled in Atrium Medical's iCAST Atrium Registry Ultrasound Study

Atrium Medical Corporation announced that the 100th patient was enrolled in the iCAST™ Atrium Registry Ultrasound Study (iCARUS). The iCARUS study is a prospective, multi-center clinical trial studying the safety and efficacy of the Atrium iCAST™ Balloon Expandable Covered Stent in patients with occlusive disease in the iliac artery.

23 Nov 2009

Review of study presented at American Heart Association Scientific Sessions

Adding the cholesterol drug niacin to a statin improved HDL ("good") cholesterol levels and significantly reduced carotid arterial plaque buildup measured with ultrasound within 8 months, with further improvement seen at the end of the study (14 months).

21 Nov 2009

NHLBI-supported research shares new strategies on hypertension, heart defect and air pollution

New education strategies for better controlling hypertension and research suggesting a possible link between short-term and long-term exposure to air pollution and increased risk of constricted blood vessels are among the research highlights from studies supported by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) at the American Heart Association's 2009 Scientific Sessions in Orlando held Nov. 14-18.

20 Nov 2009

Cardiovascular Systems commences patient enrollment in CALCIUM 360° clinical trial

Cardiovascular Systems, Inc., announces the first patient enrollment in its prospective, randomized CALCIUM 360° clinical trial, part of the company’s 360° Clinical Series. The CALCIUM 360° study will evaluate the treatment of peripheral arterial disease (PAD) behind and below the knee using CSI’s Diamondback 360® PAD System, a minimally invasive catheter for treating PAD anywhere in the leg.

19 Nov 2009

Updated clinical guidelines on Effient treatment for ACS patients

Effient® (prasugrel) tablets, a new antiplatelet medicine, was added as a treatment option in two clinical guideline updates: one for patients receiving percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and a second one for patients with ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), or severe heart attack.

19 Nov 2009

AFFiRiS to commence Phase II trial of its Alzheimer's vaccine candidate

AFFiRiS AG will focus its Alzheimer's vaccine program on one product candidate at an unexpectedly early stage of development: the vaccine candidate AD02 is planned to enter into Phase II clinical trial early in 2010. This decision by the company immediately follows the completion of two Phase I trials with the candidates AD01 and AD02. The company based its fast decision on the first interim analysis of the secondary endpoints at the six month time point.

19 Nov 2009

Dual niacin-statin therapy improves blood cholesterol levels but does not diminish plaque buildup

The routine prescription of extended-release niacin, a B vitamin (1,500 milligrams daily), in combination with traditional cholesterol-lowering therapy offers no extra benefit in correcting arterial narrowing and diminishing plaque buildup in seniors who already have coronary artery disease, a new vascular imaging study from Johns Hopkins experts shows.

19 Nov 2009

Key findings from AstraZeneca's phase II studies of ticagrelor

AstraZeneca today announced the results of the phase II studies, ONSET/OFFSET and RESPOND for ticagrelor (BRILINTA(TM)) at the annual American Heart Association (AHA) Scientific Sessions in Orlando, FL,with ONSET/OFFSET study results being simultaneously published in the medical journal Circulation.

18 Nov 2009

Findings of Merck's anacetrapib phase IIb study presented at the AHA sessions

In a phase IIb study in 589 patients with primary hypercholesterolemia or mixed hyperlipidemia treated with anacetrapib as monotherapy or co-administered with atorvastatin, there were persistent lipid effects in the higher dose arms in both the monotherapy and co-administration treatment groups eight weeks after stopping active therapy with anacetrapib.

18 Nov 2009

Cardiologists detect atherosclerosis in ancient Egyptian mummies

A cardiologist at Saint Luke's Mid America Heart Institute and his research colleagues from Cairo, Milwaukee, and Mission Viejo, Calif., have detected hardening of the arteries in 3,500-year-old Egyptian mummies, indicating that heart disease is not just a condition found in modern humans.

18 Nov 2009

CRESTOR reduces major cardiovascular events in women by 46%

A new analysis of the JUPITER trial, released today at the American Heart Association meeting in Orlando, Florida, demonstrates that CRESTOR (rosuvastatin calcium) 20mg reduced first major cardiovascular events by 46%.

18 Nov 2009

Genzyme and Isis Pharmaceuticals announce phase 3 study data of mipomersen

Genzyme Corp. and Isis Pharmaceuticals Inc. announced that data from the phase 3 study of mipomersen in patients with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (hoFH) were presented today at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions.

17 Nov 2009

Aterovax presents results of its sPLA2 activity test in the PEACE trial

Aterovax SA, a company developing innovative products for atherosclerosis, today announced data demonstrating that its blood test for secretory phospholipase A2 (sPLA2) activity significantly improves cardiovascular risk prediction in patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD) over a 5 year period, independent of established risk markers, including C-reactive protein.

17 Nov 2009

Upsher-Smith Laboratories publishes results of SLIM Study

Results of the SLIM Study ("Slo-Niacin® and Atorvastatin Treatment of Lipoproteins and Inflammatory Markers in Combined Hyperlipidemia") were recently published in the Journal of Clinical Lipidology.

17 Nov 2009

ThromboGenics and BioInvent International present phase I results of novel anti-cancer monoclonal antibody

ThromboGenics NV and BioInvent International AB today announced positive results from a Phase I trial of their novel anti-cancer monoclonal antibody TB-403 in patients with advanced solid tumours. The results were presented at the AACR-NCI-EORTC International Conference on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics in Boston, U.S. TB-403 was well tolerated with no reported dose limiting toxicity. These positive data support progression of TB-403 and further development.

17 Nov 2009

Antioxidant found in vegetables can protect cells from damage caused by infection and injury

Scientists at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine discovered that a dietary antioxidant found in such vegetables as broccoli and cauliflower protects cells from damage caused by chemicals generated during the body's inflammatory response to infection and injury. The finding has implications for such inflammation-based disorders as cystic fibrosis (CF), diabetes, heart disease, and neurodegeneration.

17 Nov 2009

Statin therapy should still be used first to reach blood cholesterol levels before considering niacin

Heart experts at Johns Hopkins are calling premature the early halt of a study by researchers at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and Washington Hospital Center on the benefits of combining extended-release niacin, a B vitamin, with cholesterol-lowering statin medications to prevent blood vessel narrowing. Cardiovascular atherosclerosis, as it is also known, is believed responsible for one in three deaths in the United States each year.

17 Nov 2009

Merck to market and develop cardiovascular medicines for a range of cardiovascular disorders

Following the completion of its merger with Schering-Plough, Merck today confirms and underscores its commitment to marketing and developing cardiovascular medicines for a range of cardiovascular disorders.

16 Nov 2009

Atherosclerosis News and Research

Further Reading

MICARDIS receives Health Canada approval to reduce the risk of non-fatal stroke

Plasma albumin levels and cardiovascular disease risk factors influenced by common genetic components

100th patient enrolled in Atrium Medical's iCAST Atrium Registry Ultrasound Study

Review of study presented at American Heart Association Scientific Sessions

NHLBI-supported research shares new strategies on hypertension, heart defect and air pollution

Cardiovascular Systems commences patient enrollment in CALCIUM 360° clinical trial

Updated clinical guidelines on Effient treatment for ACS patients

AFFiRiS to commence Phase II trial of its Alzheimer's vaccine candidate

Dual niacin-statin therapy improves blood cholesterol levels but does not diminish plaque buildup

Key findings from AstraZeneca's phase II studies of ticagrelor

Findings of Merck's anacetrapib phase IIb study presented at the AHA sessions

Cardiologists detect atherosclerosis in ancient Egyptian mummies

CRESTOR reduces major cardiovascular events in women by 46%

Genzyme and Isis Pharmaceuticals announce phase 3 study data of mipomersen

Aterovax presents results of its sPLA2 activity test in the PEACE trial

Upsher-Smith Laboratories publishes results of SLIM Study

ThromboGenics and BioInvent International present phase I results of novel anti-cancer monoclonal antibody

Antioxidant found in vegetables can protect cells from damage caused by infection and injury

Statin therapy should still be used first to reach blood cholesterol levels before considering niacin

Merck to market and develop cardiovascular medicines for a range of cardiovascular disorders

Designing fluidic architecture for scalable diagnostic platforms

Evaluating new approaches for rare disease genomics

Expanding access to NMR with the Fourier 80 Duo

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