Atherosclerosis News and Research

RSS

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.

Plaques in blood vessels may break by overproducing protein-digesting enzymes

University of Washington (UW) researchers have gathered evidence that dangerous plaques in blood vessels can rupture by overproducing protein-digesting enzymes. Plaques are fat-laden rough spots in the otherwise smooth walls of arteries. When a plaque ruptures, blood accumulates inside of it, a process known as plaque hemorrhage. The plaque enlarges and artery-blocking clots can form. If the flow of oxygen-rich blood is restricted, a heart attack, stroke, or damage to other organs can occur.

30 Mar 2010

People with diabetes who undergo cancer surgery have greater risk of death: Study

People with diabetes who undergo cancer surgery are more likely to die in the month following their operations than those who have cancer but not diabetes, an analysis by Johns Hopkins researchers suggests.

29 Mar 2010

Pravastatin benefits elderly carriers of KIF6 gene variant with prior vascular disease

Celera Corporation today announced the publication of data reporting that elderly (over age 70) carriers of the KIF6 gene variant with prior vascular disease received significant benefit from pravastatin (Pravachol®) therapy. Previous research has shown that a variant of the KIF6 gene, a member of the molecular motor protein kinesin family, is associated with up to a 55% increased risk of primary and recurrent coronary heart disease (CHD) events in the placebo arms of the clinical trials, and that this increased risk is virtually eliminated with statin therapy.

26 Mar 2010

Animal study shows chymase inhibitors could advance treatments for high BP and heart failure

Millions of patients with high blood pressure and heart failure take a class of drugs known as ACE (angiotensin-converting enzyme) inhibitors. These drugs prevent the body from processing angiotensin II, a hormone that constricts blood vessels.

26 Mar 2010

Itamar Medical's EndoPAT systems in use around the world to diagnose cardiovascular disease

At the 2010 ACC conference held in Atlanta, GA, six new studies based on the PAT™ (Peripheral Arterial Tone) signal focused on assessing cardiovascular risk by measuring and improving endothelial health. Of those, two studies from Japan focused on assessing cardiovascular risk in both high and low risk patient populations.

23 Mar 2010

Cancer radiotherapy can increase risk of cardiovascular disease later in life

For an as yet unknown reason, cancer radiotherapy can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease later in life, a problem that is growing as more and more people survive their cancer diagnosis. New research from Karolinska Institutet now suggests that sustained inflammation induced by post-radiotherapy changes in the gene expression in the arteries could be the cause.

22 Mar 2010

TRITON-TIMI 38 study evaluates response rates in patients with common genetic variant in ABCB1 gene

A new analysis of the TRITON-TIMI 38 study evaluated response rates in patients with a common genetic variant in the ABCB1 gene. Patients enrolled in the TRITON-TIMI 38 study were treated with dual antiplatelet therapy with either Plavix® (clopidogrel) plus aspirin or Effient® (prasugrel) plus aspirin and managed with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) following an acute coronary syndrome (ACS) event.

17 Mar 2010

New clinical guidelines: Early diagnosis and treatment of TAD can save lives

When actor John Ritter died suddenly in 2003 from a tear in his thoracic aorta-the large artery that carries blood from the heart to the rest of the body-that tragedy brought attention to a rare but deadly condition that takes the lives of an estimated 10,000 Americans each year.

17 Mar 2010

Itamar, Roche sign agreement to use EndoPAT device in phase II study for patients with PAD

Itamar announced today that it signed an agreement with Roche for use of Itamar’s EndoPAT device in a clinical phase II study for patients with Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) at 80 worldwide medical centers.

16 Mar 2010

Study suggests HuR gene plays a critical role in inducing cells' inflammatory response

To understand the role of inflammation in cardiovascular and other diseases, it is essential to identify and characterize genes that induce an inflammatory response in the body -- and the genes that regulate them.

16 Mar 2010

Vitamin D supplements might do more harm than good for African-American patients

Vitamin D is quickly becoming the "go-to" remedy for treating a wide range of illnesses, from osteoporosis to atherosclerosis. However, new evidence from a Wake Forest University School of Medicine study suggests that supplementing vitamin D in those with low levels may have different effects based on patient race and, in black individuals, the supplement could actually do harm.

16 Mar 2010

Tips for reducing LDL cholesterol

Cardiovascular disease is the No.1 killer in North America. And high cholesterol is one of the primary risk factors of coronary heart disease and stroke. According to the Heart and Stroke Foundation, almost 40% of Canadian adults are classified as having high blood cholesterol levels.

16 Mar 2010

New cerebral protection device prevents stroke during treatment to clear blocked carotid arteries

An important interventional radiology advancement-the use of a new cerebral protection device in combination with FDA-approved carotid stents in high-surgical-risk patients-provides a minimally invasive, safe and effective way to prevent stroke from occurring during treatment to clear blocked carotid arteries, according to research released at the Society of Interventional Radiology's 35th Annual Scientific Meeting in Tampa, Fla.

16 Mar 2010

Arthritis drug could be useful for treating patients with type 2 diabetes

Clinical studies of a generic drug called salsalate, widely prescribed for arthritis, now provide early promising results that it may be useful for the treatment of patients with type 2 diabetes as well.

16 Mar 2010

CT scan of heart's epicardial fat provides better prognosis compared to standard diagnostic techniques

Imaging epicardial adipose tissue, or the layer of fat around the heart, can provide extra information compared with standard diagnostic techniques such as coronary artery calcium scoring, according to research by cardiologists at Emory University School of Medicine.

16 Mar 2010

Genzyme, Isis Pharmaceuticals: Phase 3 study of mipomersen in hoFH patients meets primary endpoint

Genzyme Corp. and Isis Pharmaceuticals Inc. today announced that data from a phase 3 study of mipomersen in patients with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (hoFH) were published in The Lancet. This study met its primary endpoint, resulting in an average LDL-C reduction of greater than 100 mg/dL in this very high-risk patient population.

16 Mar 2010

High ABI may indicate risk for future heart attacks

The prevalence of abnormal ankle-brachial index (ABI) test results among individuals tested for peripheral arterial disease (PAD)—and who are not considered at high risk of a coronary heart event by Framingham-based risk factors—is high and provides another way to identify those who may be at risk for future heart attacks, say researchers at the Society of Interventional Radiology's 35th Annual Scientific Meeting in Tampa, Fla.

15 Mar 2010

Supplementing vitamin D in people with low levels may have different effects based on patient race

15 Mar 2010

XOMA 052 reduces adverse consequences that lead to development of congestive heart failure

XOMA Ltd., a leader in the discovery and development of antibody therapeutics, announced results demonstrating that a murine equivalent of XOMA 052, its novel, high-affinity antibody to interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta), significantly reduced adverse consequences that usually lead to the development of congestive heart failure in a mouse model of acute myocardial infarction (heart attack).

15 Mar 2010

ACCORD Lipid trial: New research into atherogenic dyslipidemia in type 2 diabetes

Cardiovascular risk can be reduced by an additional 31 percent in type 2 diabetes patients with atherogenic dyslipidemia, the common combination of elevated triglycerides (TG, 204 mg/dL or 2.3 mmol/L or higher) and low levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C, 34 mg/dL or 0.88 mmol/L or lower).

15 Mar 2010

Atherosclerosis News and Research

Further Reading

Plaques in blood vessels may break by overproducing protein-digesting enzymes

People with diabetes who undergo cancer surgery have greater risk of death: Study

Pravastatin benefits elderly carriers of KIF6 gene variant with prior vascular disease

Animal study shows chymase inhibitors could advance treatments for high BP and heart failure

Itamar Medical's EndoPAT systems in use around the world to diagnose cardiovascular disease

Cancer radiotherapy can increase risk of cardiovascular disease later in life

TRITON-TIMI 38 study evaluates response rates in patients with common genetic variant in ABCB1 gene

New clinical guidelines: Early diagnosis and treatment of TAD can save lives

Itamar, Roche sign agreement to use EndoPAT device in phase II study for patients with PAD

Study suggests HuR gene plays a critical role in inducing cells' inflammatory response

Vitamin D supplements might do more harm than good for African-American patients

Tips for reducing LDL cholesterol

New cerebral protection device prevents stroke during treatment to clear blocked carotid arteries

Arthritis drug could be useful for treating patients with type 2 diabetes

CT scan of heart's epicardial fat provides better prognosis compared to standard diagnostic techniques

Genzyme, Isis Pharmaceuticals: Phase 3 study of mipomersen in hoFH patients meets primary endpoint

High ABI may indicate risk for future heart attacks

Supplementing vitamin D in people with low levels may have different effects based on patient race

XOMA 052 reduces adverse consequences that lead to development of congestive heart failure

ACCORD Lipid trial: New research into atherogenic dyslipidemia in type 2 diabetes

Achieving and maintaining ISO 27001 and BS 10012 certifications

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

Examining how pain could play a direct protective role in the gut

Latest News