Vascular News and Research

RSS

Combined oral contraceptive use associated with threefold increase in stroke risk in young women

New research presented today at the European Stroke Organisation Conference (ESOC) 2025 revealed that the use of combined oral contraceptives (OCs) is associated with a threefold increase in the risk of cryptogenic ischaemic stroke (CIS) in young women.

20 May 2025

Air pollution fuels artery damage and accelerates heart disease, review finds

Researchers reviewed how air pollution, especially fine particulate matter (PM2.5), drives the development and worsening of atherosclerosis, a leading cause of heart attacks and strokes. Their findings highlight robust links between air pollution exposure, early artery changes, and underlying biological mechanisms fueling cardiovascular risk.

19 May 2025

Scientists discover how EBV-infected immune cells migrate and invade the brain

Many people are infected with the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), and most are unaware of it. However, EBV can sometimes cause cancer, and this pathogen also appears to play an important role in multiple sclerosis and other autoimmune diseases.

19 May 2025

Ciliary dynamics may play a role in the pathophysiology of bronchopulmonary dysplasia

Premature infants are at risk of bronchopulmonary dysplasia, or BPD, a type of lung injury associated with increased mortality.

19 May 2025

Microscopic structural changes in the aging heart may reduce risk of arrhythmias

Virginia Tech researchers at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC have discovered that microscopic structural changes in the aging heart may reduce the risk of irregular heartbeats.

19 May 2025

Red blood cells drive blood vessel damage in diabetes by exporting toxic vesicles

Red blood cell-derived extracellular vesicles in type 2 diabetes are actively taken up by the endothelium, transferring the enzyme arginase-1 and triggering oxidative stress. This mechanism helps explain vascular complications in diabetes and offers new targets for therapeutic intervention.

19 May 2025

EMA designates allopurinol as first orphan drug for the treatment of Marfan syndrome

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has designated allopurinol as the first orphan drug for the treatment of Marfan syndrome, a rare connective tissue disease which as no cure to date.

19 May 2025

Karger Publishers releases free-access eBook "Healthy Aging"

Designed for doctors and health enthusiasts, "Healthy Aging" contains surprising scientific discoveries and practical guidance on nutrition, healthy sleep, maintaining a social network and physical fitness to contribute to longevity.

From S. Karger AG 19 May 2025

World's first-in-human bladder transplant marks milestone in urologic surgery

Surgeons from Keck Medicine of USC and UCLA Health have performed the world's first-in-human bladder transplant.

18 May 2025

Lithuanian researchers develop breakthrough stroke monitoring system

Stroke is one of the leading causes of long-term disability worldwide. According to the World Health Organization, approximately 15 million people suffer a stroke each year.

16 May 2025

Palliative care for cardiovascular conditions may help relieve symptoms and improve quality of life

Palliative care may help relieve symptoms and improve quality of life for people with cardiovascular disease and ensure that treatment is aligned with the patient's personal beliefs and values throughout all stages of illness, whether they are hospitalized in a cardiac intensive care unit or receiving outpatient care, according to a new American Heart Association scientific statement published today in the Association's flagship, peer-reviewed journal Circulation.

15 May 2025

HIV uses circular RNAs to evade immunity and boost replication

In a groundbreaking discovery, researchers from Florida Atlantic University's Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine have identified a never-before-seen mechanism that enables the human immunodeficiency type 1 virus (HIV-1) to evade the body's natural defenses and use it to support its survival and replication.

13 May 2025

Chokeberry juice reduces blood vessel resistance in people with pre-diabetes

A German crossover trial found that drinking polyphenol-rich red berry juice improved peripheral resistance and helped preserve muscle mass in pre-diabetic adults. No significant changes were seen in glucose control or oxidative stress over the 14-day interventions.

12 May 2025

Woman with rare genetic disorder delivers healthy baby after complex pregnancy

When Jessica Johnson, 36, began to experience labored breathing and heart palpitations, she quickly made an appointment to see a cardiologist.

11 May 2025

New brain imaging method shows promise for early diagnosis of Parkinson's disease

An international team, led by researchers at the Champalimaud Foundation (CF), has shown – for the first time in a realistic way – that it may be possible to diagnose Parkinson's disease (PD) years before it becomes untreatable, by scanning people's brains with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).

8 May 2025

Study shows no connection between PM2.5 spikes and major cardiovascular events

A Danish cohort study investigated whether long-term exposure to repeated monthly peaks of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) raises the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events. Despite higher PM2.5 peak exposure among affected individuals, no significant association with cardiovascular risk was found.

7 May 2025

How urine caffeine levels may help detect diabetic eye damage early

Researchers found that higher urinary levels of caffeine and specific metabolites, especially in men, were significantly associated with diabetic retinopathy risk. The cross-sectional study used NHANES 2009–2014 data and highlights potential biomarkers for early detection in diabetic populations.

7 May 2025

Hidden heart and lung damage detected in patients with long COVID

Patients suffering from long COVID may exhibit persistent inflammation in the heart and lungs for up to a year following SARS-CoV-2 infection-even when standard medical tests return normal results-potentially placing them at elevated risk for future cardiac and pulmonary conditions.

6 May 2025

Natural compound fisetin protects blood vessels from hardening

A new research paper was published in Aging (Aging-US) Volume 17, Issue 4, on April 2, 2025, titled "Fisetin ameliorates vascular smooth muscle cell calcification via DUSP1-dependent p38 MAPK inhibition."

6 May 2025

Varicose veins increase your risk of dementia, study finds

A nationwide Korean study finds a surprising link between varicose veins and dementia, and suggests that treating the veins could help prevent vascular brain damage.

6 May 2025