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Royal Philips Electronics launches new iE33 xMATRIX cardiac ultrasound system

Royal Philips Electronics today announced the enhanced iE33 xMATRIX cardiac ultrasound system featuring a new ergonomic solution for more efficient adult echocardiograms, the X5-1 transducer. With this enhanced technology, Philips continues its tradition of simplified, patient-focused healthcare solutions by providing a more complete imaging solution.

From Philips Healthcare 30 Aug 2010

Closing ceremony of heart transplant recipient's 700 km bicycle tour across Canada

Media representatives are invited to join us for the closing ceremony of heart transplant recipient Sylvain Bédard's bicycle tour, to take place at the Montreal Heart Institute (MHI). Dr. Michel Pellerin, the cardiac surgeon who performed the operation, will present him with an official MHI shirt as well as a bouquet of flowers to mark his accomplishment: a tour across Canada, 700 kilometres of which were done on bicycle.

30 Aug 2010

Selective lowering of heart rate reduces risk of death and hospitalization: Study

The results of a major international study presented at the European Society of Cardiology Congress in Stockholm and published simultaneously in The Lancet show, for the first time, that selectively lowering heart rate with a novel medication, ivabradine, significantly reduces risk of death and hospitalization for patients with heart failure. This also resolves a longstanding debate about whether lowering heart rate itself can actually lower the risk of heart disease progression.

30 Aug 2010

Genetic variations in Y chromosome affect men's risk of coronary heart disease: Scientists

Scientists in the UK have shown that genetic variations in the Y chromosome affect a male's risk of coronary heart disease. It is well known that males have a higher incidence of coronary heart disease than females due, in part, to the Y chromosome they inherit from their fathers. To investigate the role of the Y chromosome further, a team from the University of Leicester carried out research to determine whether genetic variations in the Y-chromosome affect risk for males.

30 Aug 2010

MedCath to sell interest in Avera Heart Hospital of South Dakota to Avera McKennan

MedCath Corporation announced today it has entered into a definitive agreement to sell its subsidiary which is the indirect owner of a one-third ownership interest and management rights in Avera Heart Hospital of South Dakota to Avera McKennan. The transaction is expected to close in 45 to 90 days, subject to certain closing conditions.

30 Aug 2010

Low doses of n-3 fatty acids do not reduce overall rate of major cardiovascular events

Results from the Alpha Omega Trial, a multicentre, placebo-controlled trial in men and women following myocardial infarction (MI), suggest that low doses of n-3 fatty acids given in the form of enriched margarines do not reduce the overall rate of major cardiovascular events.

30 Aug 2010

RLY5016 potassium binder helps to regulate hyperkalemia in heart failure patients

Results from a recent phase 2b clinical trial may provide a new approach to managing excess potassium levels in patients with heart failure and heart failure with chronic kidney disease.

30 Aug 2010

SHIFT study finds Ivabradine reduces heart failure risk

Ivabradine, a selective If inhibitor already investigated for its effects in coronary artery disease and left ventricular dysfunction, significantly lowers the risk of heart failure, according to results of the SHIFT study (Systolic Heart failure treatment with the If inhibitor ivabradine Trial).

30 Aug 2010

Large clinical trial does not confirm benefits of erythropoieitin for first ST-elevation myocardial infarction

Results from the HEBE III study, a prospective, randomised, multicentre trial performed in seven centres in the Netherlands, suggest that the promising effects of erythropoieitin seen in previous smaller studies cannot be confirmed for the improvement of clinical outcome in patients with a first ST-elevation myocardial infarction.

30 Aug 2010

Registered nurses win landmark victories over issue of missed breaks

Washington State Nurses Association (WSNA), representing more than 16,000 registered nurses in Washington State, has won two landmark decisions for patient safety on the issue of missed breaks for registered nurses. Cases decided in Seattle and Spokane both affirm the employer's responsibility to provide uninterrupted rest breaks to nurses.

30 Aug 2010

Study finds bone marrow stem cell therapy improves efficacy in chronic heart failure

Bone marrow stem cell therapy improves ventricular performance, quality of life and survival in patients with chronic heart failure, according to results from the STAR-heart study.

30 Aug 2010

New research contradicts previous reports on blood-thinner clopidogrel

New findings by McMaster University researchers contradict earlier reports that people with a certain genetic make-up don't benefit from the blood-thinner clopidogrel, also known as Plavix.

30 Aug 2010

New campaign to create awareness on atrial fibrillation related strokes

Mission 1 Million Getting to the Heart of Stroke launches today announcing a worldwide effort to help prevent as many as 1 million atrial fibrillation (AF) related strokes through increased awareness and understanding.

30 Aug 2010

ATOLL study favors enoxaparin over UFH for primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

The international ATOLL study sponsored by the Assistance Publique - Hopitaux de Paris showed that enoxaparin reduced the composite of death, complication of myocardial infraction, procedure failure or major bleeding by 17% in comparison with standard heparin death, recurrent acute coronary syndrome or urgent revascularisation. The results of the ATOLL study were presented at the hotline session of the annual European Cardiology Congress (ESC 2010) in Stockholm, Sweden.

30 Aug 2010

Jefferson scientists receive grant to study genetics of platelet gene expression

Scientists at Jefferson Medical College have received a four-year, $3 million National Institutes of Health grant funded by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute to study variations of platelet function, specifically, the genetics of platelet gene expression. The study aims to find data that can be translated into novel therapeutic strategies and develop better predictors of cardiovascular disease.

30 Aug 2010

Study finds BMI, thrombogenic factor increases cardiovascular risk

Although having a high body mass index (BMI) is a known risk factor for cardiovascular disease, researchers are only beginning to understand how BMI affects the physiological processes involved in the development of the disease. Now, a study of a subset of women in the Kronos Early Estrogen Prevention Study (KEEPS), suggests that as BMI increases, so do platelet reactivity and thrombogenic microvesicles and activated protein C in the blood-all of which contribute to the formation of atherothrombosis and associated cardiovascular events.

30 Aug 2010

Exmovere to release vital sign monitoring infant sleepwear

Exmovere Holdings, Inc., a biomedical engineering company, today announced plans to release vital sign monitoring infant sleepwear. Exmovere is in the advanced stages of taking to market a washable, conductive fabric-based biosensor pajama called "Exmobaby." Exmobaby is the first-ever baby garment developed for remote monitoring of heart rate, emotional state and behavior.

27 Aug 2010

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

Heart News and Research

Royal Philips Electronics launches new iE33 xMATRIX cardiac ultrasound system

Closing ceremony of heart transplant recipient's 700 km bicycle tour across Canada

Selective lowering of heart rate reduces risk of death and hospitalization: Study

Genetic variations in Y chromosome affect men's risk of coronary heart disease: Scientists

MedCath to sell interest in Avera Heart Hospital of South Dakota to Avera McKennan

Low doses of n-3 fatty acids do not reduce overall rate of major cardiovascular events

RLY5016 potassium binder helps to regulate hyperkalemia in heart failure patients

SHIFT study finds Ivabradine reduces heart failure risk

Large clinical trial does not confirm benefits of erythropoieitin for first ST-elevation myocardial infarction

Registered nurses win landmark victories over issue of missed breaks

Study finds bone marrow stem cell therapy improves efficacy in chronic heart failure

New research contradicts previous reports on blood-thinner clopidogrel

New campaign to create awareness on atrial fibrillation related strokes

ATOLL study favors enoxaparin over UFH for primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

Jefferson scientists receive grant to study genetics of platelet gene expression

Study finds BMI, thrombogenic factor increases cardiovascular risk

Exmovere to release vital sign monitoring infant sleepwear

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

Bringing real-time analytics to downstream bioprocess monitoring

Designing fluidic architecture for scalable diagnostic platforms

Evaluating new approaches for rare disease genomics

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