Heart Defect News and Research

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Usage of shunts to direct blood flow to lungs can help kids born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome

A trial on shunts used to direct blood flow to the lungs, led by researchers at the University of Michigan's C.S. Mott Children's Hospital, will lead to better outcomes for kids worldwide born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome, the most common severe heart birth defect.

27 May 2010

Largest clinical trial to compare surgical treatments for congenital heart disease

Pediatric researchers report that a recently introduced surgical procedure offers infants with severely underdeveloped hearts a better chance at surviving during their first year of life, in comparison to the standard surgery.

27 May 2010

Researchers discover genetic variant that raises risk of CHD

Although congenital heart disease represents the most common major birth defect, scientists have not previously identified the common variation in the genes that give rise to it. Now genetics and cardiology researchers, two of them brothers, have discovered a genetic variant on chromosome 5 that strongly raises the risk of congenital heart disease.

27 May 2010

New study may lead to better outcomes for kids born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome

27 May 2010

Folate supplementation thwarts heart birth defects induced by alcohol exposure in early pregnancy

A new animal study has found that high levels of the B-vitamin folate (folic acid) prevented heart birth defects induced by alcohol exposure in early pregnancy, a condition known as fetal alcohol syndrome.

25 May 2010

Research sheds light on early embryogenesis, genetic disease

Chromosome 22q11 deletion syndrome (also known as DiGeorge syndrome) is the most common human chromosome deletion syndrome, having an estimated incidence of at least one in 4,000 live births.

15 May 2010

Stereotaxis to be featured prominently in 31st HRS

Stereotaxis' safety and efficacy in the treatment of patients with complex arrhythmias such as atrial fibrillation, ventricular tachycardia, and congenital heart defects will be featured prominently in the scientific program of the 31st Annual Heart Rhythm Scientific Sessions in Denver, Colorado. Eight podium presentations and eight posters will underscore the broad clinical leadership that Stereotaxis has achieved in the treatment of patients with complex cardiac arrhythmias.

13 May 2010

New Melody Transcatheter Pulmonary valve helps congenital heart defect patients avoid multiple surgeries

Congenital heart defects are the most common type of major birth defect in the U.S., affecting about 25,000 babies each year. Now, a new valve being used at the University of Michigan's C.S. Mott Children's Hospital Congenital Heart Center can help patients delay or avoid multiple surgeries.

13 May 2010

Research sheds light on prenatal heart formation, chromosome 22q.11 deletion syndrome

Researchers studying the common genetic disorder chromosome 22q.11 deletion syndrome have identified key proteins that act together to regulate early embryonic development. One protein is essential to life; in animal studies, embryos without the protein do not survive past the first few days of gestation.

13 May 2010

AGA Medical first-quarter net sales increase 15.4% to $51.3 million

AGA Medical Holdings, Inc., a leading developer of interventional medical devices for the minimally invasive treatment of structural heart defects and vascular abnormalities, today reported financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2010.

6 May 2010

New study shows people with BAV more likely to have brain aneurysms

A new study shows that people with a common heart defect may also be more likely to have brain aneurysms. The study is published in the May 4, 2010, print issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

4 May 2010

Bacteria transmitted by fleas-and potentially ticks-can be passed to babies by mother: Researcher

A North Carolina State University researcher has discovered that bacteria transmitted by fleas-and potentially ticks-can be passed to human babies by the mother, causing chronic infections and raising the possibility of bacterially induced birth defects.

4 May 2010

Novel clinical research approaches for rapidly identifying and preventing congenital cardiovascular defects

Structural and functional congenital cardiovascular abnormalities present at birth are the leading source of all congenital defects encountered in live births. Nearly half a million children in the United States have structural heart problems ranging in severity from relatively simple issues, such as small holes between chambers of the heart, to very severe malformations, including complete absence of one or more chambers or valves.

24 Apr 2010

Researchers take major step to predict adverse drug reactions using genetic information

In a new study, researchers at Mount Sinai School of Medicine have taken a major step toward the ability to predict adverse drug reactions, using genetic, cellular, and clinical information to learn why some medicines cause heart arrhythmias in patients. Published in the April 20 issue of the journal Science Signaling, the new framework described in the study could potentially be applied to the study of medications that treat other diseases and disorders such as epilepsy and autism.

23 Apr 2010

Magnetically guided nanoparticles for delivering DNA, cells and drugs

Scientists and engineers have used uniform magnetic fields to drive iron-bearing nanoparticles to metal stents in injured blood vessels, where the particles deliver a drug payload that successfully prevents blockages in those vessels. In this animal study, the novel technique achieved better results at a lower dose than conventional non-magnetic stent therapy.

20 Apr 2010

Open-heart surgery brings life back to 7-year-old boy

A 7-year-old boy who was brought to the United States to have his congenital heart defect repaired had successful open-heart surgery Thursday at the Children's Center at Sutter Medical Center, Sacramento by pediatric cardiothoracic surgeon Teimour Nasirov, M.D., and assisted by Mohan Reddy, M.D., an internationally renowned pediatric heart surgeon from Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford.

17 Apr 2010

UNC Charlotte researcher improves lives of families and children affected by birth defects

Birth defects remain a leading cause of death in the first year of life. According to the March of Dimes, every 3 to 4 minutes a baby is born with a birth defect in the United States. About 1 in every 33 infants is affected by birth defects.

8 Apr 2010

Dian Donnai receives March of Dimes/Colonel Harland Sanders Award for achievement in genetic sciences

A pioneering professor and investigator at the forefront of genetic services in the United Kingdom and who helped define rare genetic diseases is the 2010 recipient of the March of Dimes/Colonel Harland Sanders Award for lifetime achievement in the field of genetic sciences.

27 Mar 2010

Committee recommends inclusion of genetic diseases in newborn screening program

The experts who make recommendations for genetic disease screening in newborns face a challenging task: To make conclusions based on the most authoritative available evidence, while considering gaps in the research on such rare conditions, as well as their human impact. An overview of the steps followed by the expert panels tasked with making these recommendations is presented in a special section of the current issue of Genetics in Medicine, the official peer-reviewed journal of The American College of Medical Genetics.

25 Mar 2010

Protein deficiency in Down syndrome patients could contribute to cognitive impairment and congenital heart defects

Conventional wisdom among scientists for years has suggested that because individuals with Down syndrome have an extra chromosome, the disorder most likely results from the presence of too many genes or proteins contained in that additional structure.

24 Mar 2010

Heart Defect News and Research

Usage of shunts to direct blood flow to lungs can help kids born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome

Largest clinical trial to compare surgical treatments for congenital heart disease

Researchers discover genetic variant that raises risk of CHD

New study may lead to better outcomes for kids born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome

Folate supplementation thwarts heart birth defects induced by alcohol exposure in early pregnancy

Research sheds light on early embryogenesis, genetic disease

Stereotaxis to be featured prominently in 31st HRS

New Melody Transcatheter Pulmonary valve helps congenital heart defect patients avoid multiple surgeries

Research sheds light on prenatal heart formation, chromosome 22q.11 deletion syndrome

AGA Medical first-quarter net sales increase 15.4% to $51.3 million

New study shows people with BAV more likely to have brain aneurysms

Bacteria transmitted by fleas-and potentially ticks-can be passed to babies by mother: Researcher

Novel clinical research approaches for rapidly identifying and preventing congenital cardiovascular defects

Researchers take major step to predict adverse drug reactions using genetic information

Magnetically guided nanoparticles for delivering DNA, cells and drugs

Open-heart surgery brings life back to 7-year-old boy

UNC Charlotte researcher improves lives of families and children affected by birth defects

Dian Donnai receives March of Dimes/Colonel Harland Sanders Award for achievement in genetic sciences

Committee recommends inclusion of genetic diseases in newborn screening program

Protein deficiency in Down syndrome patients could contribute to cognitive impairment and congenital heart defects

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