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Transcatheter heart valve replacement recipient celebrates 102nd birthday

When Doris Snyder celebrated her 102nd birthday on August 10, she was that much closer to the expected birth of her first great-granddaughter who's due to arrive early September. She is very excited about the milestone, which might not have been possible were it not for a cutting-edge, experimental procedure that replaced one of Doris' heart valves weeks earlier when she was 101. The valve had been rendered useless by aortic valve stenosis—hardening from calcium deposits that restrict the flow of blood from the heart.

27 Aug 2010

FDA approves Novartis' Tekamlo for treatment of high blood pressure

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Tekamlo™ (aliskiren and amlodipine) tablets, a single-pill for the treatment of high blood pressure combining the only approved direct renin inhibitor, Tekturna® (aliskiren), with the widely used calcium channel blocker amlodipine. Tekamlo is approved as initial therapy for patients who are likely to need multiple drugs to achieve their blood pressure goals, and as replacement therapy for patients whose blood pressure is not adequately controlled with either aliskiren or amlodipine alone.

27 Aug 2010

Most home care clients rely on informal care from spouse or child

One in six people providing informal care to seniors experiences distress, according to a new study released today by the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI), and those caring for seniors with moderate to severe cognitive impairment, such as those with Alzheimer's or other dementia, are most at risk.

27 Aug 2010

APF offers actionable solutions to improve access to pain care

The American Pain Foundation (APF), the nation's largest consumer advocacy organization for people in pain, released today a position statement imploring the medical community, regulators and concerned stakeholders to reaffirm their ethical commitment to the 76.5 million Americans—or one in four people—who struggle with pain, work collaboratively to improve access to pain care and dismantle the barriers preventing timely, appropriate and effective pain care for millions.

27 Aug 2010

World's tallest man undergoes Gamma Knife surgery

Much of Sultan Kosen's eight feet, two-inch stature rose up in an 17-year period starting at age 10, when the benign tumor in his brain's pituitary gland highjacked the organ, causing it to secrete massive amounts of growth hormone, making Mr. Kosen's body grow fast and grow without ceasing. He will need to wait several months to find out if his Gamma Knife® surgery last Thursday at the University of Virginia (UVA, Charlottesville, Va.) has inactivated the tumor and he has reached his final height, but his physicians are optimistic.

27 Aug 2010

Expansion of rapid response systems throughout the Veterans Affairs network can reduce morbidity

Implementing a rapid response team to aid in managing "potentially unstable" patients has led to a sharp reduction in the rate of cardiac arrests at a U.S. Veterans Affairs (VA) hospital, reports a study in the September issue of Anesthesia & Analgesia, official journal of the International Anesthesia Research Society (IARS).

27 Aug 2010

Viking Systems to present Next Generation 3DHD technology at 5th ISHAC

Viking Systems, Inc. announced today that it will present its Next Generation 3DHD technology at the 5th International Symposium on Hybrid Approach to Congenital Heart Disease (ISHAC) from August 31 - September 2, 2010 in Columbus, Ohio.

27 Aug 2010

Athera Biotechnologies, Electra-Box Diagnostica sign distribution agreement for 'CVDefine' kit

Athera Biotechnologies and Electra-Box Diagnostica, announced today that they have signed an agreement for distribution of "CVDefine" kit. CVDefine measures a new biomarker in blood, a specific anti-body, that has been linked to increased risk for cardiovascular disease. Athera Biotechnologies is part of the Karolinska Development portfolio.

27 Aug 2010

Second-hand smoke triggers complex inflammatory response

Second-hand smoke is associated with a number of diseases and conditions, including cancer, heart disease, and emphysema. It is an irritant to lung tissue and blood vessels, but the processes through which the body reacts to second-hand smoke comprise a mystery scientists are only beginning to unravel. Researchers at the University of Colorado-Denver are currently studying how second-hand smoke affects the lungs of rats, and so far it appears that second-hand smoke triggers a complex inflammatory response.

27 Aug 2010

New York State permits Genelex Corporation's DNA Drug Sensitivity Tests

The New York State Department of Health has licensed Genelex Corporation's DNA Drug Sensitivity Tests for use by doctors in the state. The issued Clinical Laboratory Permit is for DNA testing of three enzymes, the cytochrome P450s, that process more than 50 percent of the most commonly prescribed medicines.

27 Aug 2010

Researchers identify molecule to slow down dysfunctional immune response in hemorrhagic shock

Researchers have isolated a molecule, small enough to be used as a drug, that can shut down a dysfunctional immune response that causes deadly hemorrhagic shock, results in delayed death of heart attack patients, promotes rejection of transplanted organs and destroys joints in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, according to a paper published in Molecular Immunology.

27 Aug 2010

Disulfiram drug effective in treating cocaine addiction: Research

Doctors have used the drug disulfiram to help patients stay sober for several decades. It interferes with the body's ability to metabolize alcohol, giving a fierce hangover to someone who consumes even a small amount of alcohol.More recently, disulfiram was shown to be effective in treating cocaine addiction as well, even though alcohol and cocaine affect the nervous system in different ways.

27 Aug 2010

Bioheart reports promising result for congestive heart failure treatment with stem cell therapy

Bioheart, Inc., announces that the treatments and 3 month follow up with stem cell therapy on the first two congestive heart failure patients has been performed successfully at Hospital Angeles Tijuana through its Center of Excellence, Regenerative Medicine Institute of Tijuana, Mexico.

27 Aug 2010

Spoonful of black rice bran contains more health promoting anthocyanin antioxidants than blueberries

Health conscious consumers who hesitate at the price of fresh blueberries and blackberries, fruits renowned for high levels of healthful antioxidants, now have an economical alternative, scientists reported here today at the 240th National Meeting of the American Chemical Society. It is black rice, one variety of which got the moniker "Forbidden Rice" in ancient China because nobles commandeered every grain for themselves and forbade the common people from eating it.

27 Aug 2010

Battery of tests for quick assessment of cognitive abilities in Down syndrome patients

Neuroscientists in the Down Syndrome Research Group at the University of Arizona have created a battery of tests that quickly aid in the assessment of the cognitive abilities of persons with Down syndrome.

27 Aug 2010

New vibration technology to reduce stubborn stomach fat

For millions of dieters it seems impossible to lose belly fat no matter however carefully they watch what they eat or how many sit-ups they do. Some people give up and blame it on genetics, metabolism or body type and simply accept it as a fact of life. For whatever the reason, many Americans discover that stubborn fat around the stomach and love handles will not melt away despite their best efforts. Now a fitness research company says there is an effective way to win the battle of the bulge without special diets, drinks or difficult exercises.

27 Aug 2010

National Kickoff Classic partners with Close the Gap campaign to raise heart disease risk factor awareness

Boston Scientific today announced that its Close the Gap campaign is partnering with the Kirk Herbstreit National Kickoff Classic to raise awareness of heart disease risk factors for women and minorities.

26 Aug 2010

Amneal Pharmaceuticals receives FDA approval for Spironolactone HCl tablets

Amneal Pharmaceuticals, LLC is pleased to announce that it has received U.S. FDA approval to manufacture Spironolactone HCl tablets in 25 mg, 50 mg and 100 mg strengths effective July 2, 2010.

26 Aug 2010

Medtronic Ablation Frontiers Cardiac Ablation System receives Health Canada approval

Medtronic, Inc. today announced it received Health Canada approval for the Medtronic Ablation Frontiers Cardiac Ablation System, a novel radiofrequency ablation technology for the treatment of atrial fibrillation. AF is the most common heart arrhythmia that affects more than 250,000 Canadians and seven million people worldwide.

26 Aug 2010

Dose-defining Phase IIa trial of CXL-1020 initiated for treating patients with ADHF

Cardioxyl Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company developing therapeutic agents for the treatment of cardiovascular disease, today announced that it has initiated a dose-defining Phase IIa trial of its lead drug candidate, CXL-1020, for the treatment of patients with acute decompensated heart failure.

26 Aug 2010

Heart News and Research

Transcatheter heart valve replacement recipient celebrates 102nd birthday

FDA approves Novartis' Tekamlo for treatment of high blood pressure

Most home care clients rely on informal care from spouse or child

APF offers actionable solutions to improve access to pain care

World's tallest man undergoes Gamma Knife surgery

Expansion of rapid response systems throughout the Veterans Affairs network can reduce morbidity

Viking Systems to present Next Generation 3DHD technology at 5th ISHAC

Athera Biotechnologies, Electra-Box Diagnostica sign distribution agreement for 'CVDefine' kit

Second-hand smoke triggers complex inflammatory response

New York State permits Genelex Corporation's DNA Drug Sensitivity Tests

Researchers identify molecule to slow down dysfunctional immune response in hemorrhagic shock

Disulfiram drug effective in treating cocaine addiction: Research

Bioheart reports promising result for congestive heart failure treatment with stem cell therapy

Spoonful of black rice bran contains more health promoting anthocyanin antioxidants than blueberries

Battery of tests for quick assessment of cognitive abilities in Down syndrome patients

New vibration technology to reduce stubborn stomach fat

National Kickoff Classic partners with Close the Gap campaign to raise heart disease risk factor awareness

Amneal Pharmaceuticals receives FDA approval for Spironolactone HCl tablets

Medtronic Ablation Frontiers Cardiac Ablation System receives Health Canada approval

Dose-defining Phase IIa trial of CXL-1020 initiated for treating patients with ADHF

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