Cardiology News and Research

Latest Cardiology News and Research

Cardiac experts study a new procedure to treat leaky heart valves

Cardiac experts at Rush University Medical Center are studying a new, minimally invasive procedure to treat leaky heart valves. Instead of open heart surgery, patients will undergo a less complex catheter-based procedure to treat mitral regurgitation, a serious heart disorder where blood leaks backwards toward the lungs with each heart beat.

1 Oct 2009

Disease of the heart and arteries remains major cause of mortality and morbidity in the Western World

Researchers at the University of Hertfordshire are screening up to 400 students from various ethnic groups to gauge their predisposition to heart disease in later life.

1 Oct 2009

Health care should be made secure and affordable to all: Speaker Pelosi

Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Chairman John Dingell, and Congressman Martin Heinrich joined advocates on behalf of America's seniors for a press conference this afternoon in the Capitol to discuss the benefits of the health insurance reform legislation to senior citizens.

1 Oct 2009

Fetal exposure to H1N1 flu can increase risk of heart disease

People exposed to a H1NI strain of influenza A while in utero were significantly more likely to have cardiovascular disease later in life, reveals a new study to be published in Journal of Developmental Origins of Health and Disease on Oct. 1.

1 Oct 2009

Consumption of fish has no major role in protection against heart failure

The consumption of fish has no major role in the prevention of heart failure, according to results from a large prospective population study. The study, which was started in 1990 and involved all men and women over the age of 55 living in a suburb of Rotterdam, found no difference in the risk of developing heart failure between those who did eat fish and those who didn't.

1 Oct 2009

Amicus brief filed against tobacco companies' lawsuit challenging FDA tobacco regulation law

Today, eleven public health and consumer advocacy organizations filed a friend of the court (amicus) brief asking a federal court to reject a lawsuit by R.J. Reynolds, Lorillard and other tobacco companies that seeks to block key provisions of the new federal law regulating tobacco products. The immediate issue before the court is the industry's challenge of a provision that requires FDA approval before tobacco companies can make claims about "modified risk tobacco products."

1 Oct 2009

MSN launches new online service to help people manage healthcare decisions

Today, MSN released the beta of My Health Info, a new online service that helps people manage their health information on the Web. My Health Info is a unique service that offers people a variety of tools and widgets to upload, organize and monitor health information stored in their personal Microsoft HealthVault accounts.

1 Oct 2009

Annual campaign to help patients learn about, manage and prevent diabetes

Rite Aid has kicked off its annual campaign on diabetes management by supporting the American Diabetes Association, the leading diabetes voluntary health organization, and dLife, the leading online diabetes resource, in the fight to stop diabetes.

1 Oct 2009

Boston Scientific, Johnson & Johnson resolve patent disputes through settlement

Boston Scientific Corporation today announced the settlement of more than a dozen lawsuits involving Johnson & Johnson, including the Palmaz-NIR suit. All the disputes involved intellectual property in the interventional cardiology arena. In connection with the settlement, Boston Scientific will make a payment of $716 million to Johnson & Johnson. The settlement payment is within Boston Scientific's existing reserve for the Palmaz-NIR suit and will be made from existing cash on hand.

1 Oct 2009

Patients with serious mental illness need to be treated for physical and mental health

New research backs up the demand to integrate psychiatric care with primary care services for people with serious mental disorders in Ontario, according to a study published today. "Patients need their care providers to close that gap," says lead author Dr. Russell Callaghan of the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) in Toronto.

1 Oct 2009

New medical breakthrough by Bioheart for treatment of patients with heart disorders

Bioheart, Inc. offers yet another medical breakthrough with the next-level stem cell treatment for cardiac patients. The stem cells aid in limiting damage due to a cardiac event and promote angiogenesis or formation of new blood vessels.

1 Oct 2009

Walgreens celebrates American Pharmacists Month

Walgreens, the nation’s largest drugstore chain, celebrates its pharmacists and their commitment to community as part of October’s American Pharmacists Month. Pharmacy and serving the needs of patients are at the heart of the company. From initiating the usage of child-resistant prescription containers in 1968 to providing seasonal flu shots as part of a nationwide flu prevention effort, Walgreens and its pharmacists are dedicated to the communities and patients they serve.

1 Oct 2009

Peanuts can help control obesity in children

A landmark study published in Obesity shows that, 80% of high-risk adolescents decreased or maintained weight, while almost 65% of the control group gained at one year.

1 Oct 2009

Resverlogix RVX-208 exceeds expectations in Phase 1b/2a clinical trial

Resverlogix Corp. announced today that results from the Company's Phase 1b/2a clinical trial have met and exceeded expectations by successfully concluding the drug, RVX-208, is safe and tolerable. Most importantly RVX-208 has met its primary endpoint to increase the production of plasma ApoA-I, the key cardioprotective protein in high-density lipoprotein (HDL), often referred to as "good" cholesterol.

1 Oct 2009

Poll reveals that 43% of American adults undecided about getting the swine flu vaccine

According to a new Consumer Reports poll, 43 percent of American adults say they're on the fence about getting the swine flu vaccine and just 34 percent of those polled plan on getting the swine flu vaccine when it becomes available. Additionally, a mere 35 percent of parents say they'll definitely have their children vaccinated. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that all children over the age of 6 months get the vaccine.

1 Oct 2009

Cost-effective screening test for coronary artery disease

A simple, non-invasive test appears to be an effective screening tool for identifying patients with silent heart disease who are at risk for a heart attack or sudden death.

1 Oct 2009

Latest optical and laser technology in medicine displayed at FiO meeting

From scopes that help premature babies breathe to techniques for imaging live neurons and beating hearts as they develop, the latest optical and laser technology being deployed in medicine and the biosciences will be on display at the Optical Society's (OSA) Annual Meeting, Frontiers in Optics (FiO), which takes place Oct. 11-15 at the Fairmont San Jose Hotel and the Sainte Claire Hotel in San Jose, Calif.

1 Oct 2009

Respiragene test for lung cancer motivates smokers to quit smoking

Smokers who learn their personal risk of lung cancer through gene-based risk assessment are more likely to be motivated to quit their habit, according to Dr. W. Jeffrey Allard, clinical affairs director of Synergenz Bioscience Ltd.

1 Oct 2009

National Institutes of Health awards $16.8 million grant to Hutchinson Center/UW group

The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health has awarded a $16.8 million, seven-year grant to launch a bicoastal research partnership between Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center/University of Washington Cancer Consortium and Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.

30 Sep 2009

Houston Northwest Medical Center recognized as Cycle III Chest Pain Center with PCI

In its continuous pursuit of quality cardiac care, Houston Northwest Medical Center was proudly recognized as the first accredited chest pain center in Houston and one of a handful in Texas to be named a Cycle III Chest Pain Center with PCI (percutaneous coronary intervention).

30 Sep 2009