Diastolic Dysfunction News and Research

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Diastolic dysfunction refers to an abnormality in the heart's (''i.e.'', left ventricle's) filling during diastole. Diastole is that phase of the cardiac cycle when the heart (i.e. ventricle) is not contracting but is actually relaxed and filling with blood that is being returned to it, either from the body (into right ventricle) or from the lungs (into left ventricle).

UCSD researchers develop novel ultrasound technology to diagnose two heart conditions

Engineers at the University of California, San Diego have determined for the first time the impact of a ring-shaped vortex on transporting blood flow in normal and abnormal ventricles within the human heart. They worked with cardiologists at the Non-Invasive Cardiology Laboratory at Gregorio Marañon Hospital, in Madrid, Spain.

29 Oct 2014

Pre-capillary pulmonary hypertension common in severe heart failure

Pulmonary hypertension is common in patients with heart failure and is likely to include a pre-capillary component, research suggests.

6 Feb 2014

Detectable blood viral load increases prevalence of heart disease

HIV causes structural heart disease according to research presented at EuroEcho-Imaging 2013 by Dr Nieves Montoro from Madrid, Spain. The findings support the introduction of cardiovascular screening in all HIV patients, particularly those with a positive blood viral load.

11 Dec 2013

Study says screening heart with natriuretic peptide may reduce risk of dysfunction, heart failure

Among patients at risk of heart failure, collaborative care based on screening for certain levels of brain-type natriuretic peptide reduced the combined rates of left ventricular systolic dysfunction, diastolic dysfunction, and heart failure as well as emergency cardiovascular hospitalizations, according to a study in the July 3 issue of JAMA.

3 Jul 2013

NIH-funded study uncovers novel way that grapes exert beneficial effects in the heart

A study appearing in the Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry- demonstrates that grapes are able to reduce heart failure associated with chronic high blood pressure (hypertension) by increasing the activity of several genes responsible for antioxidant defense in the heart tissue.

3 May 2013

Benefits of diastolic function improvement in heart failure questioned

The importance of left ventricular diastolic function improvement in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction has been questioned, after researchers found that treatment with spironolactone resulted in some functional improvements but failed to impact on patients’ exercise capacity.

5 Mar 2013

Long-term treatment with spironolactone improves left ventricular diastolic function in HF patients

Among patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, long-term treatment with the medication spironolactone improved left ventricular diastolic function but did not affect maximal exercise capacity, patient symptoms, or quality of life, according to a study appearing in the February 27 issue of JAMA.

28 Feb 2013

Elevated ST2 biomarker levels strongly indicate heart failure and mortality in HIV patients

Critical Diagnostics, makers of the Presage ST2 Assay, announced today that during a presentation at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions in Los Angeles, the results of a study demonstrated that elevated levels of the biomarker ST2 in HIV patients was strongly indicative of the development of heart failure and mortality.

9 Nov 2012

Spironolactone should be considered as a treatment option in hypertensive patients with DHF

Mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists should be considered as a treatment option in hypertensive patients with diastolic heart failure, said Professor Burkert Pieske presenting results today of the Aldosterone Receptor Blockade in Diastolic Heart Failure (Aldo-DHF) study at ESC Congress 2012.

27 Aug 2012

Electronic cigarettes far less harmful and may be beneficial to health

Smoking is the most preventable risk factor for cardiac and lung disease and is expected to cause 1 billion deaths during the 21st century. Electronic cigarettes have been marketed in recent years as a safer habit for smokers, with several millions of people already using them worldwide.

26 Aug 2012

Cardiovascular risks for excessive endurance training highlighted

Ironman triathlons, ultramarathons, and even marathons are potentially associated with a risk for adverse cardiovascular effects.

19 Jun 2012

Majority of African-American patients with hypertension suffer from hidden heart disease

A Wayne State University School of Medicine study has found that an overwhelming majority of African-American patients with hypertension also suffered hidden heart disease caused by high blood pressure even though they displayed no symptoms.

11 Jun 2012

Regular and moderate exercise most beneficial for cardiovascular health

Micah True, legendary ultra-marathoner, died suddenly while on a routine 12-mile training run March 27, 2012. The mythic Caballo Blanco in the best-selling book, Born to Run, True would run as far as 100 miles in a day. On autopsy his heart was enlarged and scarred; he died of a lethal arrhythmia (irregularity of the heart rhythm). Although speculative, the pathologic changes in the heart of this 58 year-old veteran extreme endurance athlete may have been manifestations of "Phidippides cardiomyopathy," a condition caused by chronic excessive endurance exercise.

4 Jun 2012

Omega-3 supplements do not improve diastolic function in older adults

Over the past three decades, researchers have firmly established that the omega-3 fatty acids in fish oil, including eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), have healthy effects on the heart. Omega-3 fatty acids seem to help both in preventing cardiovascular disease as well as in preventing future heart attacks, strokes, and other adverse events in people who have established cardiovascular disease.

25 Apr 2012

Epsilon Imaging introduces EchoInsight for cardiology community

Epsilon Imaging, Inc., an advanced visualization and analysis technologies provider for cardiology, today announced the debut of EchoInsight, a suite of applications for practical strain imaging and streamlined workflow in the clinical environment.

26 Mar 2012

EAE, ASE to issue echocardiography guidelines for early detection of cardio toxicity

"Considering that the early detection of cardio toxicity is a critical issue for patients undergoing chemotherapy, the ASE and the EAE have come together to write guidelines which will highlight the technical advantages of echocardiography in identifying cardio toxicity early," explained Prof Juan Carlos Plana, Co-Director of the Cardio-oncology Center, Cleveland Clinic, from the ASE. "

21 Oct 2011

Heart failure risk rises in people with diastolic dysfunction: Study

New research suggests that a common form of heart trouble called diastolic dysfunction appears to worsen over time and may lead to an increased risk of heart failure. In people with diastolic dysfunction, which often comes with advancing age, the heart's left ventricle fills with blood in an abnormal way and is accompanied by elevated filling pressures.

24 Aug 2011

Ivabradine effective in reducing risk of cardiac fibrosis, diastolic heart failure

The findings of a Montreal Heart Institute (MHI) study published in the scientific journal Cardiology suggest that ivabradine, a heart rate reduction medication, is also effective in reducing the risk of diastolic heart failure and cardiac fibrosis.

29 Jul 2011

Heart function may be affected in people with Type 2 diabetes as early as adolescence

Heart function may be affected in people with Type 2 diabetes as early as adolescence, according to a new study that will be presented Sunday at The Endocrine Society's 93rd Annual Meeting in Boston.

8 Jun 2011

Poorly educated people more likely to be admitted in hospital with chronic heart failure

Results from a large European study suggest that poorly educated people are more likely to be admitted to hospital with chronic heart failure than the better educated, even after differences in lifestyle have been taken into account. The study is published online today (Thursday 9 December) in the European Heart Journal.

9 Dec 2010