Heart Disease News and Research

Latest Heart Disease News and Research

Researchers derive vessel-forming stem cells from amniotic fluid

Researchers at Rice University and Texas Children's Hospital have turned stem cells from amniotic fluid into cells that form blood vessels. Their success offers hope that such stem cells may be used to grow tissue patches to repair infant hearts.

7 Feb 2012

Tips to combat milder winter doldrums

Shorter days and colder weather can lead to a loss of energy for many people. Summoning the motivation to perform daily tasks can be a challenge. Some people even suffer episodes of clinical depression triggered by the change in seasons, a condition called "seasonal affective disorder."

7 Feb 2012

CRT2012 conference to discuss PCI procedures using CorPath 200 System

Corindus Vascular Robotics, a leading developer of precision vascular robotics, today announced that Giora Weisz, M.D., Director of Clinical Cardiovascular Research at the Center for Interventional Vascular Therapy at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center and Associate Professor of medicine at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, N.Y. will present his personal experience using the CorPath 200 System as part of the CorPath PRECISE Trial during a scientific presentation "Cath Lab of the Future: Robotics" at the Cardiovascular Research Technologies' annual meeting, CRT2012.

7 Feb 2012

Researchers discover how SHP-2 genetic defect may result in heart malformation

UNC researchers have discovered how the genetic defect underlying one of the most common congenital heart diseases keeps the critical organ from developing properly. According to the new research, mutations in a gene called SHP-2 distort the shape of cardiac muscle cells so they are unable to form a fully functioning heart.

7 Feb 2012

Preliminary results from Remedy Pharmaceuticals' RP-1127 Phase 2 trial on stroke

Each year, over 700,000 people in the United States suffer a stroke. For most, medical science can do very little. Some will die; a number will suffer debilitating aftereffects. Now, preliminary results of a Phase 2 clinical trial using Remedy Pharmaceuticals' new drug, RP-1127, presented at the 2012 International Stroke Conference in New Orleans on February 2, offer hope to many of these patients.

6 Feb 2012

Viewpoints: Komen's retreat; Romney's selected support of Medicare cuts; Heritage refuses blame for individual mandate

A group like Komen only has the quality service it provides and goodwill garnered over the years to encourage donations and support. Its trademark pink is not as bold as before. For the moment, it seems drab and faded.

6 Feb 2012

Even minimal regular alcohol could harm health say experts

Television adverts are introduced to carry home the message that drinking just a little over the daily recommended alcohol limit can lead to serious health problems. Current medical advice states that men should drink a maximum of four units a day, with women advised to consume no more than three.

6 Feb 2012

Diabetic mothers and risk of birth defects in baby: Study

Anew study published in Diabetologica reveals that pregnant women with diabetes are almost four times more likely to have a baby with a birth defect.

6 Feb 2012

Coronary patients with low levels of anti-PC at greater risk of complications

Coronary patients with low levels of an immune system antibody called anti-PC, which neutralises parts of the "bad" cholesterol, run a greater risk of suffering complications following an acute cardiac episode and thus of premature death.

6 Feb 2012

Orexigen reaches SPA agreement for Contrave outcomes trial with FDA

Orexigen Therapeutics, Inc. today announced that it has reached agreement with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on a Special Protocol Assessment for the Contrave outcomes trial.

6 Feb 2012

Positive clinical results from randomized trial of InspireMD's MGuard in STEMI patients

InspireMD, Inc., a medical device company focusing on the development and commercialization of its proprietary stent platform technology for use in patients with Acute Myocardial Infarctions, announced positive clinical results from an investigator-sponsored controlled randomized trial conducted in Chile.

6 Feb 2012

MindChild seeks FDA pre-market clearance for MERIDIAN non-invasive fetal heart monitor

MindChild Medical, Inc. today announced that it has successfully completed filing of a Pre-Marketing Notification Application (510(k)) with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its MERIDIAN non-invasive fetal heart monitor.

6 Feb 2012

Takeda launches EDARBYCLOR in the U.S. for treatment of hypertension

Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Takeda Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc., announced EDARBYCLOR (azilsartan medoxomil and chlorthalidone) is now available by prescription in U.S. pharmacies for the treatment of hypertension to lower blood pressure in adults.

6 Feb 2012

U-M develops new system to reduce incidence of retained surgical instruments

It may sound like something from a TV medical drama, but the incidence of surgeons leaving something behind in the body is very real at hospitals across the country. For decades, surgical teams have relied on counting -- and recounting -- the sponges, needles, blades, retractors, and other items used during operations.

6 Feb 2012

Research roundup: Safety-net hospitals stack up well against others

This study compares ER performance at safety-net hospitals (those with a disproportionate share of Medicaid and uninsured patients) to non-safety net hospitals to see if proposed pay-for-performance measures could have a negative impact.

6 Feb 2012

Scientists identify genetic variant that increases risk of ischemic stroke

A genetic variant that increases the risk of a common type of stroke has been identified by scientists in a study published online in Nature Genetics today. This is one of the few genetic variants to date to be associated with risk of stroke and the discovery opens up new possibilities for treatment.

6 Feb 2012

Scientists discover extremely long-lived proteins in aging rats

One of the big mysteries in biology is why cells age. Now scientists at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies report that they have discovered a weakness in a component of brain cells that may explain how the aging process occurs in the brain.

4 Feb 2012

Aspirin plus clopidogrel unlikely to prevent recurrent strokes and may increase risk of death, bleeding

The anti-blood clot regimen that adds the drug clopidogrel (Plavix) to aspirin treatment is unlikely to prevent recurrent strokes and may increase the risk of bleeding and death in patients with subcortical stroke according to late-breaking research presented at the American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference 2012.

4 Feb 2012

Aspirin and warfarin similar in preventing deaths and strokes in heart failure patients

In the largest and longest head-to-head comparison of two anti-clotting medications, warfarin and aspirin were similar in preventing deaths and strokes in heart failure patients with normal heart rhythm, according to late-breaking research presented at the American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference 2012.

4 Feb 2012

Study to evaluate vitaminD3, omega3 and home exercise in preventing age-related chronic diseases

In Europe, the number of seniors aged 70 and over will increase by 40% in the next 20 years, while those aged 80 and over will more than double. Health authorities and the medical community expect a corresponding increase in the number of people suffering costly and debilitating age-related chronic diseases such as osteoporosis, arthritis, heart and lung diseases and dementia.

3 Feb 2012