Heart News and Research

RSS

New cardiac imaging technique reduces radiation exposure compared to standard helical scan

In a new study published in the March issue of Radiology, researchers from Columbia University and the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute have determined that an imaging exam of the heart using the latest generation of CT technology exposes patients to as much as 91 percent less radiation than standard helical CT scanning.

23 Feb 2010

Committee calls for strategies to curb hypertension

Public health officials and health care providers need to step up their efforts to reduce Americans' increasing rates of high blood pressure and better treat those with the condition, which triggers more than one-third of heart attacks and almost half of heart failures in the United States each year, says a new report from the Institute of Medicine.

23 Feb 2010

Black women are more prone to peripartum cardiomyopathy around childbirth time

A study examining the incidence of peripartum cardiomyopathy in women who gave birth at a Medical College of Georgia's teaching hospital between July 2003 and July 2008, showed that while 55 percent of the women were white, 93 percent of those who developed cardiomyopathy were black, said Dr. Mindy B. Gentry, an MCG cardiologist.

23 Feb 2010

Acute stroke care and clinical outcomes improve substantially with stroke program

Acute stroke care and clinical outcomes have improved significantly at hospitals participating in the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association's Get With The Guidelines-Stroke program, according to a large study in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes, a journal of the American Heart Association.

23 Feb 2010

Heartware completes patient enrollment for ADVANCE clinical trial

HeartWare International, Inc., a leading innovator of less invasive, miniaturized circulatory support technologies revolutionizing the treatment of advanced heart failure, today announced the conclusion of patient enrollment under its "ADVANCE" clinical trial.

23 Feb 2010

Gene study provides new clues to fight infections

Investigators at The Methodist Hospital Research Institute in Houston examined for the first time the long-term response to strep throat on a genome-wide level, shedding light on how group A streptococcus interacts with the patient's immune system and attempts to circumvent it.

23 Feb 2010

Study shows hospitals costs vary widely and are not associated with quality of care

The costs that hospitals incur in treating patients vary widely and do not appear to be strongly associated either with the quality of care patients receive or their risk of dying within 30 days, according to a report in the February 22 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

23 Feb 2010

Senate, FDA reports increasing concerns about controversial diabetes drug

"Hundreds of people taking Avandia, a controversial diabetes medicine, needlessly suffer heart attacks and heart failure each month, according to confidential government reports that recommend the drug be removed from the market ... ," The New York Times reports. "The internal F.D.A. reports are part of a fierce debate within the agency over what to do about Avandia, manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline."

23 Feb 2010

Insurers rebut criticisms of profits, rates

As the Obama Administration seizes on a proposed 39-percent rate hike by a California insurer earlier this month to rally new support for a health overhaul, that insurer's top executive is preparing to go before Congress, The Associated Press/Los Angeles Times reports.

22 Feb 2010

PanGenex provides information in response to inquiries about STC

PanGenex Corporation, a global nutraceutical and dietary supplement manufacturer and marketer, today provided information in response to inquiries about Soft Tissue Calcification ("STC") and the Company's products.

22 Feb 2010

Hess to be honored with Target Hunger Harvesting Hope Humanitarian Award for addressing social issues

Target Hunger, a nonprofit agency working to alleviate hunger and its root causes in the heart of Houston’s inner city, will honor Hess Corporation with the Target Hunger Harvesting Hope Humanitarian Award for their work in the community to address social issues.

22 Feb 2010

ResMed launches S9 sleep apnoea therapy platform in Europe

ResMed, a leading developer, manufacturer, and distributor of sleep and respiratory medical equipment, today introduced its new cutting-edge sleep apnoea therapy platform called the S9 Series in Europe. The S9 Series combines a sleek design with superior functionality and more comfort. Combined climate control and humidification delivers unsurpassed comfort to the patient by controlling both the temperature and humidity that the patient breathes.

From ResMed Corp 22 Feb 2010

New gene locus influencing risk for atrial fibrillation identified

Atrial fibrillation is a cardiac arrhythmia - a chronic irregularity of heartbeat - which affects an estimated 1 million people in Germany. Although the condition is not acutely life-threatening, it does increase the risk of developing more serious illnesses, such as cardiac insufficiency, stroke and dementia. In the third of a series of genomewide asssociation studies, an international team of researchers, led by LMU physician PD Dr. Stefan K--b, now reports the identification of a new gene locus that has a significant influence on risk for atrial fibrillation.

22 Feb 2010

Researchers identify common gene variant associated with atrial fibrillation

An international research team has identified a common gene variant associated with a form of the irregular heartbeat called atrial fibrillation. In their report in the journal Nature Genetics, being published online, the investigators describe finding that variations affecting a protein that may help control the heart's electrical activity appear to increase the risk of what is called lone atrial fibrillation (AF), a type seen in younger individuals with no other form of heart disease.

22 Feb 2010

U.S. government's decision helped stem-cell researchers concentrate on science, but limitations remain

The United States government's decision last year to lift restrictions on federally-funded stem cell research has helped the nation's stem-cell researchers concentrate on science, but limitations remain - even under the new policy, according to George Daley, a Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator at Children's Hospital Boston.

22 Feb 2010

Tony Blair participates in the work of Muslim-Christian alliance in Africa led by NIFAA

This afternoon Tony Blair participated in the work of the largest Muslim-Christian alliance in Africa led by the Nigerian Inter-Faith Action Association (NIFAA), with funding support from the Nigerian government, the World Bank, the Center for Interfaith Action on Global Poverty (CIFA), and other international funders.

22 Feb 2010

As health insurance premiums rise sharply, lawmakers and consumers face tough choices

Steep increases in individual health insurance premiums are sparking reactions across the country.

21 Feb 2010

Study reveals underrepresentation of women in cardiovascular clinical trials

Women are substantially underrepresented in clinical trials used to formulate women's guidelines and are affected more than men by low social support after a heart attack, according to two studies in the women-themed issue of Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes, a journal of the American Heart Association.

20 Feb 2010

El Tejano Magazine article: Medical innovation and research help many Americans live longer, healthier

An article that recently appeared in El Tejano Magazine highlighted the fact that many Americans are living longer, healthier and more productive lives because of medical innovation and research.

20 Feb 2010

Early treatment and prevention of gum disease can positively impact many medical conditions

The eyes may be the window to the soul, but research is demonstrating that the mouth is the gateway to good health. In fact, a dental exam can reveal early symptoms of more than 100 diseases, as well as identify gum disease, which can have a negative effect on the body’s overall health.

20 Feb 2010

Heart News and Research

New cardiac imaging technique reduces radiation exposure compared to standard helical scan

Committee calls for strategies to curb hypertension

Black women are more prone to peripartum cardiomyopathy around childbirth time

Acute stroke care and clinical outcomes improve substantially with stroke program

Heartware completes patient enrollment for ADVANCE clinical trial

Gene study provides new clues to fight infections

Study shows hospitals costs vary widely and are not associated with quality of care

Senate, FDA reports increasing concerns about controversial diabetes drug

Insurers rebut criticisms of profits, rates

PanGenex provides information in response to inquiries about STC

Hess to be honored with Target Hunger Harvesting Hope Humanitarian Award for addressing social issues

ResMed launches S9 sleep apnoea therapy platform in Europe

New gene locus influencing risk for atrial fibrillation identified

Researchers identify common gene variant associated with atrial fibrillation

U.S. government's decision helped stem-cell researchers concentrate on science, but limitations remain

Tony Blair participates in the work of Muslim-Christian alliance in Africa led by NIFAA

As health insurance premiums rise sharply, lawmakers and consumers face tough choices

Study reveals underrepresentation of women in cardiovascular clinical trials

El Tejano Magazine article: Medical innovation and research help many Americans live longer, healthier

Early treatment and prevention of gum disease can positively impact many medical conditions

Discover how SciY empowers scientists

Why use light scattering to analyze proteins and viral vectors?

Changing the landscape of R&D to build clinical success from the ground up

Latest News