Cardiology News and Research

Latest Cardiology News and Research

VIVUS submits a NDA to the FDA for obesity drug Qnexa

VIVUS, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company developing innovative, next-generation medical therapies to address unmet needs in obesity, diabetes and sexual health, announced today that a New Drug Application (NDA) has been submitted to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) seeking approval of Qnexa, its investigational drug for the treatment of obesity, including weight loss and maintenance of weight loss, in patients who are obese or overweight with co-morbidities such as hypertension, type 2 diabetes, dyslipidemia or central adiposity.

30 Dec 2009

VIA Pharmaceuticals receives NASDAQ delisting notice

VIA Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a biotechnology company focused on the development of compounds for the treatment of cardiovascular and metabolic disease, today announced that on December 29, 2009, it received a written notice from the listing qualifications staff of the NASDAQ Stock Market ("NASDAQ") informing the Company that trading of the Company's common stock would be suspended prior to the open of business on January 4, 2010 and that NASDAQ would initiate procedures to delist the Company's common stock.

29 Dec 2009

Pre-market approval by FDA of cardiovascular devices often based on studies that lack adequate strength

Pre-market approval by the FDA of cardiovascular devices is often based on studies that lack adequate strength or may have been prone to bias, according to a study in the December 23/30 issue of JAMA. The researchers found that of nearly 80 high-risk devices, the majority received approval based on data from a single study.

29 Dec 2009

Emerging Healthcare Solutions to execute option agreement with ThromboVision

Emerging Healthcare Solutions, Inc. is pleased to announce the execution of an exclusive option agreement with ThromboVision, Inc. ThromboVision, a Houston-based healthcare diagnostics company committed to enabling people to lead longer and healthier lives, has developed and patented T-Guide®, a new cutting-edge diagnostic test to assist medical professionals with the treatment of heart disease.

29 Dec 2009

"America's Wellness Challenge" campaign to motivate people to change their health habits

The "Life...supplemented" consumer wellness initiative today announced America's Wellness Challenge -- three promotions spanning the next five months -- created to incentivize Americans to get serious about their health goals in 2010.

29 Dec 2009

Health gurus say recommit each Monday to resolve the smoking habit

On January 1st millions of Americans will resolve to quit smoking -- again. Yet many will resume their addiction by Groundhog's Day. Now authorities at Johns Hopkins and the American Cancer Society say it doesn't have to be that way. If a quitter falls off the wagon, the pros agree, just quit again the following Monday. And recommit to stay quit each Monday thereafter.

29 Dec 2009

Kidney transplantation saves life

For more than 20 years Delores Evans battled diabetes, high blood pressure and, finally, kidney failure. By 2008 she needed a new kidney to stay alive, but she never could have imagined the circumstances that brought it about.

29 Dec 2009

Study suggests genetic variations predispose African-Americans to diabetes

For years, scientists have tried to determine the basis for discrepancies between race and the predisposition for development of diseases such as type II diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Could factors such as differences in lifestyle or access to health care play a role, or is there something else in play?

29 Dec 2009

The Medical College of Wisconsin licenses novel molecular imaging technology to GE Healthcare

A novel molecular imaging technology aimed at rapid diagnosis of cell death in organs such as the brain and heart has been licensed by The Medical College of Wisconsin to GE Healthcare. Under the license GE will further evaluate and develop the technology and will have an option to commercialize the technology. The technology, using imaging probes with a radiopharmaceutical compound, was invented by Ming Zhao, Ph.D., assistant professor of biophysics.

29 Dec 2009

BHS implements Greenway Medical Technologies' fully-integrated EHR solution

Greenway Medical Technologies, Inc. today announced the deployment of its fully-integrated electronic health record (EHR), practice management and interoperability solution, PrimeSuite®, into Palm Beach County, Florida's Bethesda Healthcare System (BHS) and its flagship hospital, Bethesda Memorial Hospital. BHS operates the 401-bed hospital as well as specialty practices that include family practice, internal medicine, cardiovascular surgery, neurology and orthopedics.

29 Dec 2009

Childhood ETS may lead to emphysema

Children regularly exposed to tobacco smoke at home were more likely to develop early emphysema in adulthood. This finding by researchers at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health suggests that the lungs may not recover completely from the effects of early-life exposures to tobacco smoke (ETS). The study is published in the December 2009 American Journal of Epidemiology.

29 Dec 2009

Research suggests common mechanism is associated with different human diseases

Inherited mutations in voltage-gated sodium channels (Navs) are associated with many different human diseases, including genetic forms of epilepsy and chronic pain. Theodore Cummins and colleagues, at Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, have now determined the functional consequence of three such mutations.

29 Dec 2009

Cholesterol expert offers simple resolutions and advice for staying heart healthy in New Year

Family physician and cholesterol expert Michael Cobble, M.D., has some simple resolutions and fun advice for staying heart healthy in the new year. Cobble is a board-certified clinical lipidologist (NLA), certified hypertension specialist (ASH), medical director of the private practice Canyons Medical Center in Sandy, Utah, and Chief Medical Officer at Atherotech, Inc., developer of the VAP Cholesterol Test.

29 Dec 2009

Nutrient-rich foods for weight loss

For the majority of Americans who are unhappy with their weight at any given moment, the New Year brings mixed emotions: the renewed resolution to shed pounds and the challenge of learning how to eat right to reach those goals.

29 Dec 2009

Genesys Health System to pay $669,413 over Medicare false claim allegations

Genesys Health System has agreed to pay the United States $669,413 to settle a lawsuit alleging that the health care provider violated the False Claims Act by submitting false claims to Medicare, the Justice Department announced today.

28 Dec 2009

Cambridge Heart completes $1.8 million Series D preferred stock financing

Cambridge Heart, Inc., today announced that it has completed a private placement of Series D convertible preferred stock, raising proceeds of approximately $1.8 million.

28 Dec 2009

AMICAS enters into definitive merger agreement to be acquired by an affiliate of Thoma Bravo

AMICAS, Inc., a leader in image and information management solutions, today announced that on December 24, 2009, it entered into a definitive merger agreement to be acquired by an affiliate of Thoma Bravo, LLC, in a transaction valued at approximately $217 million.

28 Dec 2009

Discovery of beta cell defending enzyme raises hope for new treatments against diabetes

Cells in your body are constantly churning out poisonous forms of oxygen (oxidants) and mopping them up with a countervailing force of proteins and chemicals (anti-oxidants).

28 Dec 2009

PhRMA applauds Senate for passing health care reform

"We applaud the Senate for taking an important and historic step toward expanding high-quality, affordable health care coverage and services to tens of millions of Americans, many of whom are struggling today financially. While considerable work remains to be done in reconciling differences between the Senate and House bills, we remain convinced that comprehensive health care reform, if done in a smart way, will benefit patients, our economy and the future of our nation.

27 Dec 2009

UNICEF chief to step down after term ends in 2010

UNICEF Executive Director Ann Veneman will not seek a second term as head of the agency after her term expires in a few months, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon announced "with great regret" on Wednesday, Xinhua reports. In a statement, Ban said that Veneman "fulfilled her mandate with immense dedication, and I have been impressed by her extraordinary energy and determination to improve children's health, education and well-being around the world" (12/23).

27 Dec 2009