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.

Ranbaxy receives approval to manufacture Pravastatin Sodium tablets in U.S.

Ranbaxy Pharmaceuticals has announced that RLL has received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to manufacture and market Pravastatin Sodium Tablets (Pravastatin), 10 mg, 20 mg, 40 mg and 80 mg, with 180-day market exclusivity in the U.S. healthcare system for the 80 mg strength.

27 Apr 2007

Impaired intestinal metabolic function plays a critical role in the development of cardiovascular disease

Nutritional scientists at the University of Alberta are the first to establish a connection between high insulin levels and dysfunction of intestinal lipid metabolism in an animal model.

25 Apr 2007

Migraine associated with increased risk of subsequent major cardiovascular disease in men

Men with migraine headaches may be at an increased risk for major cardiovascular disease and especially heart attacks, according to a report in the April 23 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

24 Apr 2007

Dental X-rays of carotid artery not enough to estimate stroke risk

Detection of calcified tissue in the carotid artery by dental x-rays is not enough evidence to estimate a patient's stroke risk was the conclusion of a systematic literature review published in this month's Journal of the American Dental Association (JADA).

21 Apr 2007

Risk and outcome similar for bypass surgery, drug-eluting stents

Drug-eluting stent therapy and bypass surgery for coronary artery disease have about the same risk for a major cardiac event within 30 days after the procedures, researchers reported at the American Heart Association's 8th Annual Conference on Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology.

20 Apr 2007

Cardiologist John Gordon Harold receives "Passion of the Heart" award

Patients know cardiologist John G. Harold, M.D., as an excellent, caring physician.

20 Apr 2007

Researcher looks at health benefits of plant-based phytochemicals

Nutrition: It's not just the four basic food groups any more. Researcher Dr. Susanne Mertens-Talcott of Texas A&M University is looking into how plant-based phytochemicals, including antioxidants and herbal supplements, can be useful in the promotion of health and prevention of chronic diseases.

19 Apr 2007

Link between psoriasis and diabetes and atherosclerosis

Psoriasis is a chronic skin condition characterized by thick, red, scaly plaques that itch and sometimes bleed, causing considerable discomfort and emotional stress for patients.

19 Apr 2007

Flu can actually trigger heart attacks

Doctors need to take concerted action to ensure that people who are at risk of heart disease receive the influenza vaccine every autumn, according to the authors of a new report published in the European Heart Journal.

19 Apr 2007

Osprey Pharmaceuticals issued 3 U.S. patents

Osprey Pharmaceuticals Limited has announced that it has been granted three patents by the U.S. Patent Office.

17 Apr 2007

Coronary artery risk development in young adults

Having above optimal levels of risk factors for heart disease between the ages of 18 and 30 can mean a two to three times greater risk of later developing coronary calcium, a strong predictor of heart disease, according to results of a new study from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) of the National Institutes of Health.

17 Apr 2007

New research fails to verify gene variations as risk factors for acute coronary syndromes

New research has failed to confirm findings from smaller studies that 85 gene variations are associated with an increased risk for acute coronary syndromes (ACS), which includes heart attack and a type of angina, according to a study in the April 11 issue of JAMA.

11 Apr 2007

New imaging technology with use of novel contrast agent may predict heart attack in waiting

A new imaging technology may hold the key to not only stopping heart attacks in their tracks but also preventing them for ever occurring.

10 Apr 2007

Heart study observes 20th year in Forsyth County

Because of the 4,035 Forsyth County residents who participated in a long-running study of heart disease risk factors, researchers at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center and colleagues have made major findings such as how being overweight is associated with becoming disabled and that passive smoking increases the risk of hardening of the arteries.

9 Apr 2007

Alteon expands agreement with Biorap Technologies

Alteon has announced that it has entered into an expanded licensing agreement with BioRap Technologies, the commercialization arm of the Rappaport Family Institute for Research, Technion University, Israel, for all diagnostic devices or products for predictive purposes in vascular or cardiac diseases, including diagnostic assays for the measurement of the haptoglobin protein (Hp).

7 Apr 2007

People without health insurance more likely to forego routine physical exams

The lack of health insurance prompts people to forego routine physical exams and have a reduced awareness of cardiovascular risk factors and is associated with increased rates of stroke and death, researchers have concluded.

4 Apr 2007

H63D genetic defect linked to increased risk of stroke

One of the most common genetic defects passed on through families significantly increases a person's chance of having a stroke, according to a study published in the March 27, 2007, issue of Neurology?, the scientific journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

2 Apr 2007

$Drug that mimics HDL does not reduce risk of death for heart attack patients with refractory shock$

Drug that mimics HDL does not reduce risk of death for heart attack patients with refractory shock

Patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS), such as heart attack and recent-onset chest pain, remain at considerable risk of experiencing further serious cardiovascular problems despite improvements in care.

2 Apr 2007

Effect of Torcetrapib on the progression of coronary atherosclerosis

Investigators report that torcetrapib, a drug that substantially raises high-density lipoprotein cholesterol or HDL (the "good" cholesterol), did not slow the progression of plaque buildup in the coronary arteries as measured using an ultrasound probe (IVUS).

2 Apr 2007