Heart Disease News and Research

Latest Heart Disease News and Research

Results from study of Rituxan in rheumatoid arthritis show promise

Genentech, Inc., Biogen Idec and Roche have announced that the New England Journal of Medicine published the results of a Phase IIa study showing that two doses of Rituxan® (Rituximab), administered two weeks apart, improved symptoms in patients with moderate-to-severe rheumatoid arthritis (RA) for up to 48 weeks when combined with methotrexate (MTX), compared to MTX alone.

16 Jun 2004

Artichokes and beans full of antioxidants

Artichokes and beans may not be at the top of your list of favorite foods, but when it comes to antioxidants, these veggies earn a coveted place.

16 Jun 2004

The American Medical Association has moved forward in its fight against obesity

The American Medical Association (AMA) moved forward in its fight against obesity, adopting several new policies to help combat the nation's growing problem with obesity and unhealthy eating. The policies address a number of issues, including the role of racial and ethnic disparities in obesity.

16 Jun 2004

Heart attack patients are discharged without evidenced-based, guideline recommended, life-prolonging therapies

Heart attack care is more likely to match recommended guidelines when health care providers use standardized forms and other reminders, and institutional systems reinforce goals for treatment and patient lifestyles, according to a new study in the June 16, 2004 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

16 Jun 2004

Lower rates of sudden death among women may be related to gender differences in heart arrhythmias

Lower rates of sudden death among women may be related to gender differences in heart arrhythmias, rather than to other heart disease factors or treatments, hypertension, diabetes or other measured variables, according to a new study in the June 16, 2004 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

16 Jun 2004

NICE guides new treatments for prostate cancer, drugs misuse, osteoporosis and heart failure

New treatments for prostate cancer, drugs misuse, osteoporosis and heart failure are being referred to the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE), Lord Warner announced today.

16 Jun 2004

Joint initiative to tackle cancer, diabetes, heart disease and stroke

Three of the nation’s leading not-for-profit health agencies today announced a joint initiative to empower Americans to help lower their risk of cancer, diabetes, heart disease and stroke by following a single set of recommendations.

16 Jun 2004

Art gives insight into medical research

Paintings that give insights into medical research through a scientist's eyes can be seen at the Oxford University Museum of Natural History's latest exhibition – Medical Research Revealed by Dr Lizzie Burns.

15 Jun 2004

Atrial fibrillation may be hereditary

Having a parent with atrial fibrillation (AF) strongly increased an offspring’s risk of developing this heart rhythm disorder, according to a study of participants in the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute’s (NHLBI) Framingham Heart Study.

15 Jun 2004

Asian Indian men more at risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease

Asian Indian men are at an increased risk for type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, whether overweight or not, because their bodies metabolize fat like people who are obese, according to researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas.

15 Jun 2004

High resolution imaging greatly aids physicians treating irregular heart beats

The findings of a new study published in the Journal of Cardiovascular Electrophysiology demonstrate that the use of high resolution imaging can greatly aid physicians who are treating patients suffering from a particular type of irregular heart beat.

15 Jun 2004

Link between adult leg length and coronary heart disease in women

Researchers at Bristol University have found a link between adult leg length – an indicator of diet and living conditions during childhood – and coronary heart disease in women.

15 Jun 2004

Common illnesses are associated with an increased risk of suicide in elderly people

Many common illnesses are independently associated with an increased risk of suicide in elderly people, according to an article in the June 14 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

15 Jun 2004

Education improves health situation in Puerto Rico

The health situation of people in Puerto Rico is improving markedly as a result of better promotion and education efforts, according to Dr. Johnny V. Rullán, secretary of health of Puerto Rico.

15 Jun 2004

New report outlines New Yorkers health problems

New York City residents are living longer than ever, but our city still faces significant health problems. In a new report, the leading causes of preventable illness and death in New York City are outlined.

15 Jun 2004

Researchers have recreated the ability of mammalian cells to self-organize

For the first time, UCLA researchers have recreated the ability of mammalian cells to self-organize, forming evenly spaced patterns in a test tube. Published in the June 22, 2004 issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the findings may help improve methods for regenerating tissue, controlling birth defects and developing new treatments for specific diseases.

14 Jun 2004

Retirees taking COX-2 anti-inflammatory drugs on a long-term basis also take aspirin therapy

Findings reported in a study published today in the Archives of Internal Medicine found that over half of patients within a predominantly retiree population taking COX-2 anti-inflammatory drugs on a long-term basis were also taking aspirin therapy for its cardio-protective benefit.

14 Jun 2004

Possible therapeutic approach to lowering LDL cholesterol and homocysteine levels

Canadian scientists report that mice genetically altered so as to lack either of the two different pathways through which humans, mice, and other animals provide lipids for high density and low density lipoproteins (HDL and LDL) did not appear to suffer any ill effects. But animals from both groups had markedly lower levels of cholesterol in their blood stream.

14 Jun 2004

People in Washington are living longer but not necessarily better

People in Washington are living longer but not necessarily better, although there are simple steps that people can take now to improve their long term health and independence.

11 Jun 2004

Cholesterol isn’t all bad

Cholesterol gets lots of bad press, and for good reason. An estimated 24 million women and 18 million men have total cholesterol levels of 240 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) or higher increasing their risk of heart attack and stroke.

11 Jun 2004