Heart Disease News and Research

Latest Heart Disease News and Research

Stroke specialists offer guidance on questions about thrombolytic therapy use

One of the most challenging issues in stroke care involves the use of clot-busting drugs such as tPA. When given quickly enough and to the right patient, such drugs can minimize stroke damage by dissolving blood clots that cause most strokes. But these blood-thinning drugs also increase the risk of brain hemorrhages and other complications.

16 Feb 2013

Central College to study effects of triclosan on heart rate

How often does a heart beat? For a zebrafish, it depends on the water it's swimming in. Ellen Du Pre, professor of biology at Central College, is working with four students, as well as biology colleague Nicole Palenske, to study the effects of triclosan on heart rate. The tiny fish, which can be as small as an eyelash when newly hatched, is transparent, and the students can easily count the heart beats under a microscope.

16 Feb 2013

Hospitals may be unfairly punished for high readmission rates

When hospital patients have to be readmitted soon after discharge, hospitals look bad. A high readmission rate also can result in reduced Medicare reimbursements. But a study of spine surgery patients has found that the standard method used to calculate readmission rates is a misleading indicator of hospital quality.

16 Feb 2013

FDA approves Novartis’ Zortress to prevent organ rejection after liver transplantation in adults

Novartis announced today that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Zortress (everolimus) for the prophylaxis of organ rejection in adult patients receiving a liver transplant.

16 Feb 2013

Positive new data from Genzyme’s eliglustat tartrate Phase 3 studies on Gaucher disease type 1

Genzyme, a Sanofi company, today announced positive new data from the Phase 3 ENGAGE and ENCORE studies of eliglustat tartrate, its investigational oral therapy for Gaucher disease type 1.

15 Feb 2013

Research roundup: Conflict of interest in Medicaid drug purchasing; Examining Medigap policies; Electronic medical records and hospital quality

The authors of this study assert that the decisions about which drugs are selected for state Medicaid reimbursement programs "should be based on available evidence and free of conflicts of interests (COIs)."

15 Feb 2013

Manic symptoms similar for children and adolescents

The nature of mania symptoms appears to be similar in young people with bipolar disorder, irrespective of whether they occur in childhood or adolescence, say researchers.

15 Feb 2013

Substance use common in young mental health patients

Young people using mental healthcare services have a high frequency of alcohol, nicotine, and cannabis use, Australian study results show.

15 Feb 2013

First Edition: February 15, 2013

Today's headlines include news about how the health law's insurance exchanges are taking shape.

15 Feb 2013

VNI cures both acute and chronic forms of Chagas disease

Chagas disease, a deadly tropical infection caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi and transmitted by biting insects called "kissing bugs," has begun to spread around the world, including the U.S. Yet current treatment is toxic and limited to the acute stage.

15 Feb 2013

Study discovers new predictor for suicidal thinking

When people lose hope that they will ever get another good night's sleep, they become at high risk for suicide, researchers report.

15 Feb 2013

New insights into how cells stick to each other and to other bodily structures

Research carried out by scientists at the Georgia Institute of Technology and The University of Manchester has revealed new insights into how cells stick to each other and to other bodily structures, an essential function in the formation of tissue structures and organs. It's thought that abnormalities in their ability to do so play an important role in a broad range of disorders, including cardiovascular disease and cancer.

15 Feb 2013

U.S. Marshals seize tainted dietary supplements from Globe All Wellness

U.S. Marshals, acting on behalf of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, today seized tainted dietary supplements from Globe All Wellness, LLC (Globe All), in Hollywood, Fla. The products may be unsafe because they contain an undisclosed active pharmaceutical ingredient.

15 Feb 2013

People with resilient personality profile more likely to have greater energy levels

People with a more resilient personality profile are more likely to have greater energy levels. That's one of the conclusions from a four-year research project led by Antonio Terracciano, associate professor of geriatrics at the Florida State University College of Medicine. His findings are outlined in "Personality, Metabolic Rate and Aerobic Capacity," published in PLOS ONE, a peer-reviewed, open access journal.

15 Feb 2013

Marshfield Clinic’s Heart Health Mobile app wins HSS competition

Marshfield Clinic Research Foundation, a division of Marshfield Clinic, announced today that its first completed mobile app has won a national competition that challenged competitors to develop a program that will help improve heart health in the U.S.

15 Feb 2013

SANA releases new video on Benefits of Soyfoods for Active Adults

The Soyfoods Association of North America today announced that it has released a video on the Benefits of Soyfoods for Active Adults demonstrating how soyfoods can help you stay fit and healthy. Americans who are trying to lead healthier lives will find that soyfoods boost their energy, improve heart health, and provide antioxidants.

15 Feb 2013

ADAMTS7 enzyme plays a crucial role in coronary heart disease

Scientists investigating how certain genes affect an individual's risk of developing coronary heart disease have identified a new therapeutic target, according to research published today in The American Journal of Human Genetics.

15 Feb 2013

Political cartoon: 'Don't Go Breakin' My Heart?'

Kaiser Health News provides a fresh take on health policy developments with "Don't Go Breakin' My Heart?" by Gary Markstein.

14 Feb 2013

High diclofenac use questioned

Diclofenac remains one of the most widely recommended and regularly used non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs globally, despite its known association with increased cardiovascular risk, warn researchers who argue it should be removed from Essential Medicines Lists.

14 Feb 2013

Elemental diet may help adults with eosinophilic esophagitis

Results from a small study suggest that consumption of an elemental diet for 2–4 weeks results in a significant histologic improvement in adult patients with eosinophilic esophagitis.

14 Feb 2013