Heart Disease News and Research

Latest Heart Disease News and Research

AHA recommends Omega-3 EPA/DHA intake for individuals with elevated triglyceride levels

The American Heart Association recently issued its first ever statement on triglyceride management that includes recommendations for Omega-3 EPA/DHA intake.

3 May 2011

Belly fat predicts heart-disease risk better than BMI: Study

According to the latest study the fat around the belly is the chief culprit in the link between obesity and cardiovascular disease. This study raises the possibility that people can be overweight without significantly raising their heart risk, so long as they carry the extra fat in places other than their belly. In fact, a few extra pounds may even lower the risk of death from heart disease, researchers found.

3 May 2011

U.Va, Coulter Foundation partner for translational research in biomedical engineering

The University of Virginia and the Wallace H. Coulter Foundation have teamed to create a $20 million endowment to foster research collaboration between biomedical engineers and clinicians, with the goal of developing new technologies to improve patient care and human health.

3 May 2011

Coronary artery disease patients with high BMI may face higher risk of death

One of the largest studies of its kind has found that people with coronary artery disease who have even a modest beer belly or muffin top are at higher risk for death than people whose fat collects elsewhere. The effect was observed even in patients with a normal Body Mass Index.

3 May 2011

Doctors should consider catheterization for diagnosing children with heart defects: AHA

Doctors should consider using catheterization as a treatment tool in addition to its established role in diagnosing children with heart defects, according to a new American Heart Association scientific statement.

3 May 2011

Esperion reports positive results from ETC-1002 Phase 1 study in dyslipidemia

Esperion Therapeutics, a privately held biotechnology company working to discover, develop and commercialize treatments for cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, today announced the results from a Phase 1 study and four preclinical studies for ETC-1002 at the Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology 2011 Scientific Sessions in Chicago.

3 May 2011

Statins can help reduce lung damage in severe abdominal sepsis

Statins may be best known for their ability to reduce cholesterol, but a research report appearing in the May 2011 issue of the Journal of Leukocyte Biology shows that these same drugs could also play a crucial role in the reduction of lung damage resulting from severe abdominal sepsis and infection.

3 May 2011

First cryoablation procedure using new mapping catheter performed at Baylor Heart and Vascular Hospital

Baylor Jack and Jane Hamilton Heart and Vascular Hospital today announced the first patient procedure in the U.S. using the Achieve Mapping Catheter, an intra-cardiac electrophysiology diagnostic catheter that can be used to assess pulmonary vein isolation when treating paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.

3 May 2011

Cyberonics initiates first implant of AspireSR product in epilepsy patients

Cyberonics, Inc., a global leader in epilepsy management, today announced the first implant of its AspireSR™ seizure response product on April 27, 2011.

3 May 2011

New non-invasive device can measure brain's precise temperature

Doctors have long sought a way to directly measure the brain's temperature without inserting a probe through the skull. Now researchers have developed a way to get the brain's precise temperature with a device the diameter of a poker-chip that rests on a patient's head, according to findings presented May 1 at the annual meeting of the Pediatric Academic Societies in Denver.

3 May 2011

Oragenics announces availability of oral care probiotics for children and adults

Florida-based biopharmaceutical company Oragenics, Inc. has announced that its oral care probiotics for children and adults will be available in Australia and New Zealand through an exclusive agreement with Australian Pharmaceutical Industries, owner of the Priceline pharmacy retail chain, and one of the leading service providers to the pharmacy industry.

3 May 2011

FDA approves Achieve Mapping Catheter for use in first patient procedure

Medtronic, Inc. today announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval for use, and the first patient procedure using the Achieve™ Mapping Catheter, an intra-cardiac electrophysiology diagnostic catheter that can be used to assess pulmonary vein isolation when treating paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.

3 May 2011

IASIS Healthcare acquires St. Joseph Medical Center

IASIS Healthcare LLC today announced the completion of its acquisition of a 79% ownership interest in St. Joseph Medical Center a 792 licensed bed facility in downtown Houston, Texas.

3 May 2011

AstraZeneca receives FDA approval for NEXIUM I.V. to treat GERD with erosive esophagitis

AstraZeneca announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the use of NEXIUM I.V. for Injection for children ages greater than 1 month old for the short-term treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease with erosive esophagitis when oral therapy is not possible or appropriate.

3 May 2011

New antioxidant may prevent liver damage in chronic alcoholics

An antioxidant may prevent damage to the liver caused by excessive alcohol, according to new research from the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

3 May 2011

Poor sleep may contribute to high insulin resistance in diabetic people

In the largest study of it kind to establish a link between sleep and diabetes, researchers found that people with diabetes who sleep poorly have higher insulin resistance, and a harder time controlling the disease.

3 May 2011

Animal studies reveal new route to treating heart disease

Scientists at Johns Hopkins have shown in laboratory experiments in mice that blocking the action of a signaling protein deep inside the heart’s muscle cells blunts the most serious ill effects of high blood pressure on the heart. These include heart muscle enlargement, scar tissue formation and loss of blood vessel growth.

2 May 2011