Atherosclerosis News and Research

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Atherosclerosis is the progressive buildup of plaque - the fatty deposits and other cells - in the inner walls of the arteries. The condition is a consequence of elevated cholesterol and for many it's a silent disease, with no visible signs or symptoms. The disease can begin in early adulthood and continues to progress for the rest of a person's life. Despite the serious nature of atherosclerosis, many people do not understand how it develops and progresses.

High-fat, high-cholesterol diet depletes ranks of artery-protecting immune cells

New research from scientists at the La Jolla Institute for Allergy and Immunology shows how a diet high in fat and cholesterol depletes the ranks of artery-protecting immune cells, turning them into promoters of inflammation, which exacerbate atherosclerotic plaque buildup that occurs in cardiovascular disease.

21 Mar 2018

Scientists uncover new answers to cell aging in children with rare, fatal disease

In a recent paper published in Cell Reports, Saint Louis University researchers have uncovered new answers about why cells rapidly age in children with a rare and fatal disease.

20 Mar 2018

Blockade of a protein increases surveillance activity of blood-patrolling monocytes, study shows

Researchers at the Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares Carlos III (CNIC), led by Dr. Alicia G. Arroyo, have identified a function of a protease that could be targeted for the treatment of some infections and even tumor metastasis.

2 Mar 2018

Machine learning can help accurately predict clinical outcomes in patients with heart problems

Several studies being presented at the American College of Cardiology's 67th Annual Scientific Session demonstrate how the computer science technique known as machine learning can be used to accurately predict clinical outcomes in patients with known or potential heart problems.

1 Mar 2018

Study suggests novel approach for protecting diabetes patients from vascular disease

Recent findings suggest a novel approach for protecting people with diabetes from their higher risk of advanced blood vessel disease, which sets the stage for early heart attacks and strokes.

27 Feb 2018

Younger women with SCAD may benefit most from conservative treatment

Patients who suffer from a type of heart attack that affects mainly younger women, called spontaneous coronary artery dissection or SCAD, may benefit most from conservative treatment, letting the body heal on its own.

22 Feb 2018

Psoriasis drug also effective at reducing aortic inflammation

Ustekinumab, sold under the name Stelara, is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, and Crohn's Disease. Researchers wanted to know if the benefits of the drug go beyond clearing the skin.

18 Feb 2018

Cholesterol and other lipids in the blood play role in many diseases

Lipids are fatty molecules that play important signaling and storage roles in the body, but having an excess of some lipids, like cholesterol, is a risk factor for many metabolic diseases.

8 Feb 2018

Novel genetic mutations may explain link between high HDL cholesterol and reduced heart disease risk

Researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine have uncovered genetic mutations that may explain why people with high levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, the "good cholesterol," have a reduced risk of coronary heart disease.

7 Feb 2018

Airway-branch variations linked to greater risk of COPD

The internal anatomy of our lungs is surprisingly variable, and some of those variations are associated with a greater risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a new study led by researchers at McGill University and the Columbia University Irving Medical Center has found.

6 Feb 2018

Vitamin D3 could prevent and repair cardiovascular damage, finds study

A new study by researchers at Ohio University found that Vitamin D3 could prevent and restore damage caused by several cardiovascular diseases.

31 Jan 2018

Scientists identify protein biomarkers to track patients with Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome

Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome (HGPS) is an extremely rare fatal genetic disorder which causes sufferers to age prematurely.

19 Jan 2018

Study provides more evidence for link between increased cancer risk and advanced gum disease

Data collected during a long-term health study provides additional evidence for a link between increased risk of cancer in individuals with advanced gum disease, according to a new collaborative study led by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center and Tufts University School of Medicine and Cancer Center.

19 Jan 2018

Scientists develop unique technique to map elasticity of cell components

Scientists at Université de Montréal have developed a unique technique to map, on a scale of milliseconds, the elasticity of the components inside a cell.

17 Jan 2018

Fast food triggers the immune system making it hyperactive

The immune system has been shown to react to fast foods containing excess salt and calories find researchers. This activation of the immune system to fast foods is similar to its reaction to bacterial infections they add.

16 Jan 2018

Research provides insights into mechanisms governing healthy longevity

Keio University Global Research Institute, Tokyo publishes the January 2018 issue of KGRI Research Frontiers that includes researcher video profiles of Keio University researchers and research highlights from high impact publications including 'Regenerative medicine needs collaboration in and out of science in order to face current and future challenges; ‘Does eating fish protect you from depression?’; ‘Insights into the molecular mechanisms leading to kidney dysfunction in diabetic patients’; and ‘Ageing to 100 and beyond: Insights from demographic, phenotypic and genetic studies.

12 Jan 2018

Obese adolescents show improvements in cardiovascular disease risk factors after bariatric surgery

Adolescents with severe obesity who had bariatric surgery showed significant improvements in cardiovascular disease risk factors, according to the most recent "Teen Longitudinal Assessment of Bariatric Surgery" (Teen-LABS) study, published online today by Pediatrics.

8 Jan 2018

Researchers develop novel organ-on-a-chip device that models atherosclerosis

When studying diseases or testing potential drug therapies, researchers usually turn to cultured cells on Petri dishes or experiments with lab animals, but recently, researchers have been developing a different approach: small, organ-on-a-chip devices that mimic the functions of human organs, serving as potentially cheaper and more effective tools.

2 Jan 2018

Study opens up new avenues for stopping calcific aortic valve disease

The diminutive size of our aortic valve -- just shy of a quarter -- belies its essential role in pushing oxygen-rich blood from the heart into the aorta, our body's largest vessel, and from there to all other organs. Yet for decades, researchers have focused less on damaged valves than on atherosclerosis, the gradual hardening of the blood vessels themselves.

26 Dec 2017

Immune system plays key role in development of atherosclerosis

The immune system plays an important role in the development of atherosclerosis, the underlying cause of cardiovascular diseases. Thomas van der Heijden has discovered that immunosuppressants may play a preventative role. PhD defense 19 December.

19 Dec 2017