Cardiology News and Research

Latest Cardiology News and Research

PLC Systems' RenalGuard to be showcased at EuroPCR 2010

PLC Systems Inc., a company focused on innovative cardiac and vascular medical device-based technologies, today announced that it will demonstrate RenalGuard® at EuroPCR, the annual meeting of the European Association of Percutaneous Cardiovascular Interventions (EAPCI), May 25-28, 2010, in Paris, France. More than 11,000 clinicians and professionals are expected to attend this event.

21 May 2010

Dr. Reddy's Laboratories launches tacrolimus capsules in the US market

Dr. Reddy's Laboratories today announced that it has launched tacrolimus capsules, (0.5mg, 1mg, 5mg), a bioequivalent generic version of Prograf Capsules, in the US market on May 20, 2010. The United States Food & Drug Administration granted an approval of Dr. Reddy's ANDA for tacrolimus capsules on May 13, 2010.

21 May 2010

European researchers define research priorities in biogerontology

The quality of the medical care for geriatric patients is a major investment for society and must imperatively be a research priority in Europe. This is why 50 European researchers, met on May 17 - 19 in Brussels, to define the research priorities in the field of biogerontology for the next 10 to 15 years.

21 May 2010

New technique may improve treatments for heart disease

Spanish researchers have employed for the first time adult cells extracted from a human heart to turn stem cells from adipose tissue into cardiac myocytes. In other words, they achieved to "reprogram" adult stem cells, which might improve treatments for heart disease therapeutical.

21 May 2010

Patients with VAD implants develop varying severities of AVWS

The findings of a 12 patient study recently published in Thrombosis and Haemostasis by University Medical Center Freiburg documented that patients implanted with a ventricular assist device (VAD) experienced a rapid onset of acquired von Willebrand syndrome (AVWS), while patients implanted with the SynCardia temporary Total Artificial Heart did not.

21 May 2010

Washington State Department of Health shows smoking inside homes drops by 61% since 2000

New research released today by the Washington State Department of Health shows the number of people smoking inside homes in our state has declined by 61 percent since 2000. The drop is more than double the overall decline in adult smoking during the same period.

21 May 2010

Study explores genetic imbalances that give rise to childhood brain tumors

The most comprehensive analysis yet of the genetic imbalances at the heart of childhood brain tumors known as high-grade gliomas (HGGs) identified a cancer gene that is unusually active in some tumors and is now the focus of a St. Jude Children's Research Hospital clinical trial.

21 May 2010

Blood biomarker underscores role of inflammation in vascular disease

UC Davis researchers have discovered that a blood component linked with inflammation can predict coronary artery disease in African-Americans.

21 May 2010

Leading cardiologist uses new imaging system

LightLab Imaging, Inc. announced today that Good Morning America featured Dr. Marco Costa, a leading interventional cardiologist and Director of the Interventional Cardiovascular Center at University Hospitals, Case Western Reserve University, using the newest imaging technology available to hospitals in the United States – Optical Coherence Tomography.

21 May 2010

New research seeks customised treatment of cardiovascular diseases

The Centre for Cooperative Research in Biomaterials, CIC biomaGUNE, is involved in the research consortium of cvREMOD, which aims to move forward in the attainment of new diagnosis techniques for prevention and customised treatment of cardiovascular diseases in the upcoming four years.

21 May 2010

Routine cessation of clopidogrel in patients before colonoscopy polypectomy not necessary: Researchers

Researchers at the Syracuse Veterans Affairs Medical Center in New York examined postpolypectomy bleeding in patients undergoing colonoscopy on uninterrupted clopidogrel and found that the postpolypectomy bleeding rate is significantly higher in patients undergoing polypectomy while taking clopidogrel and concomitant aspirin/nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, but that the risk is small and the outcome is favorable.

21 May 2010

Vitamin D plays much wider role in people's life

Vitamin D is the sunshine vitamin - we make it when our skin is exposed to UV rays. In a perfect world everyone would eat fresh, organic foods, get outside, and enjoy a little sunshine all year round. But with today's busy lifestyles and concerns about skin cancer many people are vitamin D deficient and don't know it.

21 May 2010

Majority of patients satisfied with care, but doctors lack multicultural awareness

Most patients in the southeastern United States are satisfied with the care they get from their primary care doctor — though many doctors lack training for dealing with patients of different ethnic backgrounds and often fail to ask important questions that indicate multicultural awareness, according to results of two surveys presented at the American Heart Association's 11th Scientific Forum on Quality of Care and Outcomes Research in Cardiovascular Disease and Stroke.

21 May 2010

Volcano reports successful completion of cases with second generation OCT catheter and system

Volcano Corporation announced today the successful completion of Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) cases with Volcano's second generation OCT catheter and system. Pending IDE approval, Volcano plans to use this OCT system in the US and South America as part of VOILA, a U.S. regulatory trial during 2010. Commercial release of Volcano's OCT system is expected in Europe in early 2011 and in the U.S. in mid-2011.

21 May 2010

Americans divided over nation’s drug approval process

Nearly three-quarters of Americans are confident in our system for reviewing the effectiveness and safety of new medicines and medical devices, yet 41% say it takes too long to approve a drug and allow it to be sold to consumers.

21 May 2010

VIA-2291 can reduce inflammation in patients with atherosclerosis: Study

The results of a major clinical study carried out at the Montreal Heart Institute by Dr. Jean-Claude Tardif are now available in the journal Circulation Cardiovascular Imaging. Dr. Tardif is a cardiologist and director of the MHI Research Centre, as well as a professor in the faculty of medicine and holder of the atherosclerosis research chair at the Universit- de Montr-al.

21 May 2010

Experts to discuss impacts of air pollution on life expectancy, cardiovascular disease

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is sponsoring a seminar called "Breathe Cleaner, Live Longer: Understanding Air Pollution after 40 Years." The event is co-sponsored by the American Heart Association and the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Science and Technology.

21 May 2010

SLU Hospital announces increase in number of minimally-invasive spinal procedures performed

With the recent launch of the Neurosurgical Spine Program at Saint Louis University Hospital's Center for Cerebrovascular and Skull Base Surgery, the hospital has seen a dramatic increase in the number of minimally-invasive spinal procedures, including lumbar spinal fusion surgery. Designed to stop the motion at a painful vertebral segment, this procedure is traditionally performed via a large incision on the back, stripping vital muscles away from the spine. However, the emergence of minimally-invasive neurosurgical techniques is revolutionizing spinal surgery.

21 May 2010

Medtronic announces clinical data presentations on cardiovascular devices at EuroPCR

Medtronic, Inc., announced today the schedule of important clinical data presentations during EuroPCR, a major cardiology meeting taking place May 25-28 in Paris at the Palais de Congrès.

21 May 2010

Blood clot-related strokes decrease among whites for the first time: Study

The incidence of blood clot-related strokes fell among whites in the Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky area for the first time, according to long-term surveillance study representative of strokes in blacks and whites nationwide reported in Stroke: Journal of the American Heart Association.

21 May 2010