Cardiology News and Research

Latest Cardiology News and Research

First complete sample-to-result, point-of-care DNA testing system for personalized medicine

Spartan Bioscience Inc., a privately held molecular diagnostics company that develops, manufactures, and markets DNA testing systems for on-demand applications, today announced the availability of the Spartan RX, the first complete sample-to-result, point-of-care DNA testing system for personalized medicine. The non-invasive and easy-to-use system provides automated results in one hour, enabling physicians to tailor treatments based on a patient's genotype faster than ever before.

11 Aug 2010

Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute implants two Heartware ventricular assist devices

The Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute of Northwestern Memorial Hospital recently implanted a patient with two of the smallest experimental ventricular assist devices (VADs) currently available for study in humans. VADs are designed to assist either the right (RVAD) or left (LVAD) ventricle, or both (BiVAD) at once. This is the first time that two Heartware VADs have been implanted in the left and right ventricles anywhere in North America—a "game changer" in the realm of heart assist devices according to Patrick M. McCarthy, MD, chief of the hospital's division of cardiac surgery and director of the hospital's Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute.

11 Aug 2010

Motion tracking technology provides interactive feedback while patients exercise

Exercise is an important part of recovering from an injury, illness or surgery, but many older adults lack the knowledge and guidance needed to properly perform exercises. University of Missouri researchers from the Sinclair School of Nursing and the College of Engineering have developed technology to track motions while people exercise. The technology provides feedback to patients as they recover from injuries or illnesses in order to reduce the chances of future injuries and re-hospitalization.

11 Aug 2010

Cord Blood America to begin sale of DNA Predisposition testing services

Cord Blood America, Inc., the umbilical cord blood stem cell preservation company focused on bringing the life saving potential of stem cells, a biological insurance policy, to families nationwide and internationally, today announced that within 90 days it will begin selling DNA Predisposition testing services in conjunction with The DNA Shop, LLC,Henderson, Nevada.

11 Aug 2010

Insuring your health: Health law expands Medicare coverage of preventive care

In her latest Kaiser Health News consumer column, Michelle Andrews writes: "Preventive health care is important at any age, but never more so than as we get older.

11 Aug 2010

Acute aortic dissection program reduces diagnosis time in AAD patients

Using a standardized protocol within a regional health network, a multidisciplinary acute aortic dissection (AAD) program resulted in a 43 percent reduction in time to diagnosis for all AAD patients over the course of five years, based on study results published in the July edition of Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes, an American Heart Association journal.

11 Aug 2010

Enriched breakfast re-energizes children's morning rituals and boosts learning potential

As the lazy days of summer vacation begin to come to a close, it's time to start thinking about re-formulating and re-energizing morning rituals that can help boost your child's learning potential.

11 Aug 2010

Spinal muscular atrophy may lead to cardiac dysfunction: Study

Along with skeletal muscles, it may be important to monitor heart function in patients with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). These are the findings from a study conducted by Nationwide Children's Hospital and published online ahead of print in Human Molecular Genetics. This is the first study to report cardiac dysfunction in mouse models of SMA.

11 Aug 2010

Acoustic cardiography improves diagnostic accuracy in acute heart failure

It allows them to hear the S3, an abnormal third sound in the heart's rhythm strongly associated with cardiac disease and heart failure. However, the low-frequency, low-pitch sound is notoriously very difficult to hear with a stethoscope alone.It allows them to hear the S3, an abnormal third sound in the heart's rhythm strongly associated with cardiac disease and heart failure. However, the low-frequency, low-pitch sound is notoriously very difficult to hear with a stethoscope alone.

11 Aug 2010

Study shows physicians reluctant to use finasteride for prostate cancer

Despite the dramatic results of the Prostate Cancer Prevention Trial (PCPT), which showed a significant reduction in prostate cancer among those taking finasteride, physicians have not increased its use, according to a study published in the September issue of Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research.

11 Aug 2010

Progestins have tumor-stage specific effects that determine promotion, suppression: Study

Progestins are used in hormone replacement therapies to counteract the negative effects of estrogen on the uterus and reduce the risk of uterine cancer. However, evidence in recent studies and clinical trials has demonstrated that progestins increase the risk of breast cancer. Now, University of Missouri researchers have compared four types of progestins used in hormone replacement therapies and found significantly different outcomes on the progression of breast cancer in an animal model depending on the type of progestins used.

11 Aug 2010

Cardiovascular Systems fourth-quarter revenue increases 15% to $18.0 million

Cardiovascular Systems, Inc., a medical device company developing and commercializing innovative interventional treatment systems for vascular disease, today reported financial results for its fiscal fourth quarter and year ended June 30, 2010.

11 Aug 2010

Telephone monitoring can save heart failure patients: Study

Chronic heart failure needs constant care and regular monitoring. Now research says remote monitoring, either over the phone or using wireless technology, helps people with heart failure live longer and stay out of hospital.

10 Aug 2010

Atrium awarded 3-year national contract from Premier for surgical mesh products

Atrium Medical Corporation, pioneering advancements in biological, mechanical and therapeutic solutions for soft tissue reinforcement, is proud to announce that the company was awarded a three-year national contract from Premier Purchasing Partners L.P., the group purchasing organization of Premier, Inc. (Charlotte, NC).

10 Aug 2010

Theragenics reports consolidated revenue of $20.8M for second-quarter 2010

Theragenics Corporation, a medical device company serving the surgical products and prostate cancer treatment markets, today announced consolidated financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2010.

10 Aug 2010

First Edition: August 10, 2010

In today's news, the House is back in town... though just for a day. Lawmakers will consider a state aid package that includes $16 billion in federal Medicaid assistance.

10 Aug 2010

Analytics helps solve critical cardiovascular service line problems

Do you know if your labs are providing the appropriate evidence-based care? Can you uncover root causes beneath changes in volume and outcome patterns? Can you track whether your heart program is slowing or growing, profitable or not? LUMEDX healthcare analytics can help.

10 Aug 2010

Amarin provides progress update on MARINE and ANCHOR trials for treating elevated triglyceride levels

Amarin Corporation plc, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company with a focus on cardiovascular disease, today reports a financial update as of June 30, 2010. In addition, the Company provides a progress update of its MARINE and ANCHOR trials, the two on-going Phase 3 clinical trials of its lead product candidate AMR101 for treating elevated triglyceride levels.

10 Aug 2010

Vanguard adds Arizona Heart Hospital to Abrazo Health Care system

Vanguard Health Systems announced today it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire substantially all of the assets of the Arizona Heart Hospital from a venture that includes MedCath and local physicians.

10 Aug 2010

Three-year efficacy data on STELARA for psoriasis presented at American Academy of Dermatology meeting

New study findings showed that a majority of patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis who had a previous response to STELARA® (ustekinumab) sustained a clinical response for up to three years with continued treatment regardless of their body weight. Investigators also presented findings from an integrated safety analysis that included data from one Phase 2 and three Phase 3 trials in which treatment with STELARA demonstrated a favorable benefit-risk profile for up to three years of treatment, consistent with previous analyses.

10 Aug 2010