Cardiovascular Disease News and Research

Latest Cardiovascular Disease News and Research

Little-used measure of good cholesterol can predict heart attack and stroke risk

For decades, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol has been dubbed "good cholesterol" because of its role in moving fats and other cholesterol molecules out of artery walls.

22 Jun 2020

Simulation model reveals how sugary drink tax designs could impact health gains, costs

A simulation model of different designs of taxes on sugary drinks, which are linked to obesity, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes, suggests that all tax designs would generate substantial health gains as well as lower health costs in the U.S., according to new research published today in the American Heart Association's flagship journal Circulation.

22 Jun 2020

The underlying cause of ethnic differences in COVID-19 remains unexplained

Higher rates of severe COVID-19 infections in Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) populations are not explained by socioeconomic or behavioral factors, cardiovascular disease risk, or by vitamin D status, according to new research led by Queen Mary University of London.

21 Jun 2020

Blood types and COVID-19 risk confirmed

Blood type may play a pivotal role in driving disease severity among coronavirus disease (COVID-19) patients. Genetic analysis of COVID-19 patients has shown that people with blood type O seemed to be protected against severe disease. In contrast, those with blood type A may experience complications tied to the viral infection.

18 Jun 2020

Crystal structure of SARS-CoV-2 protease-inhibitor in complex with a Chinese herb Shikonin

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus has been spreading rampantly over the whole world, infecting millions of people (over 8.45 million at last count), with over 452,000 deaths, as of June 19, 2020. It causes a broad spectrum of disease manifestations, from asymptomatic disease to severe or even fatal respiratory symptoms.

18 Jun 2020

COVID-19 and blood group in aortic valve replacement

The COVID-19 pandemic has been found to cause disproportionate harm in patients with cardiovascular disease, especially among the elderly population, among other risk factors. However, a new study published on the preprint server medRxiv* in June 2020 is the first to report its clinical features in patients with aortic stenosis who have had a transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR).

18 Jun 2020

Scientists develop peptides that restore balance in gut bacteria and reverse atherosclerosis

Now, a team of scientists at Scripps Research has developed new molecules that can restore the balance in gut bacteria in the intestines and as a result, lowers cholesterol levels and reverses the narrowing of the arteries, also known as atherosclerosis.

18 Jun 2020

Researchers launch Canada's first post-operative virtual care study

A team of researchers and health care providers at Hamilton Health Sciences and McMaster University have launched Canada's first study to remotely manage patients after surgery.

17 Jun 2020

Low potassium levels in COVID-19 disease

Now a new study by an Italian team of researchers published in June 2020 on the preprint server medRxiv reports that potassium levels are often low in COVID-19 disease, mostly due to the urinary loss of potassium.

17 Jun 2020

ACE2 and pattern recognition receptor genes increase with age

A recent study by researchers in California and published on the preprint server bioRxiv* in June 2020 shows that advancing age is associated with increased expression of pattern recognition receptor (PRR) genes and ACE2 receptors, possibly accounting in part for the increased severity of the disease in older adults.

17 Jun 2020

'Microbial dark matter' can affect cholesterol levels in humans

In the darkest parts of the world where light fails to block out the unfathomable bounty of the stars, look up. There are still fewer specks illuminating the universe than there are bacteria in the world, hidden from sight, a whole universe inside just one human gut.

17 Jun 2020

22 nonprofit organizations funded to support the needs of families in response to COVID-19

Voices for Healthy Kids, an initiative of the American Heart Association -- the world's leading voluntary organization dedicated to a world of longer, healthier lives -- announced that 22 nonprofit organizations have been awarded COVID-19 Rapid Response Grants to support the needs of families in response to the pandemic.

16 Jun 2020

Study shows lean beef does not adversely affect diabetes and heart health

Results from a new study show that risk factors for cardiovascular disease and diabetes were similar when participants consumed a healthy US-style eating pattern with and without an additional 5.3 ounces of lean beef.

16 Jun 2020

Cascade Chemistry selected to help speed clinical testing of promising investigational drug for COVID-19

Cascade Chemistry, a leading contract research and manufacturing organization serving the pharmaceutical, materials, and chemical industries, today announced that it has been selected to produce the active pharmaceutical ingredient for clinical trial supplies of RBT-9, an investigational therapy entering a Phase 2 trial for the treatment of COVID-19 patients who are at high risk of deteriorating health due to age or comorbid conditions such as kidney or cardiovascular disease.

16 Jun 2020

Genetic marker may predispose African Americans to cardiac complications from COVID-19

Nearly one out of every 10 African Americans has a genetic variant that puts them inherently at an increased risk for ventricular arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death.

15 Jun 2020

Common cholesterol-lowering drug linked to improvement in gut microbiota

There is a clear link between improved gut microbiota and one of our most common cholesterol-lowering drug groups: statins.

15 Jun 2020

Vitamin K may offer protective health benefits as we age, study suggests

A new, multi-ethnic study found older adults with low vitamin K levels were more likely to die within 13 years compared to those whose vitamin K levels were adequate.

15 Jun 2020

Study finds link between high levels of dietary AGEs and breast cancer risk

Hollings Cancer Center researchers at the Medical University of South Carolina and colleagues assessed the connection between dietary advanced glycation end products and breast cancer risk in a study first published online March 2020 in Cancer Prevention Research.

12 Jun 2020

Does COVID-19 injure the placenta of pregnant women?

News-Medical speaks to Dr. Jeffery Goldstein about whether COVID-19 is damaging the placentas of pregnant women and what women can do to protect themselves.

12 Jun 2020

Race-related differences in genetic determinants of COVID-19 severity

Researchers at the University of Iowa have identified differences in gene expression levels between African Americans and European Americans that may explain the disproportionately higher rates of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases and related deaths among African Americans.

11 Jun 2020