Heart Disease News and Research

Latest Heart Disease News and Research

New Interactive Workbook to help P.A.D. patients live better with their disease

September is Peripheral Arterial Disease Awareness Month, a time to communicate the seriousness of the disease as well as share new tools to help patients with the disease live better. P.A.D. - or clogged arteries of the legs - affects approximately 9 million Americans and can lead to heart attack, stroke, amputation and death.

21 Sep 2010

Study suggests thigh-length surgical stockings can reduce deep vein thrombosis

Treating hospital patients with thigh-length surgical stockings, rather than knee-high socks, can reduce life threatening blood clots, a new study suggests. Researchers found that knee-high stockings, which are similar to flight socks, do little in stroke patients to prevent deep vein thrombosis (DVT), a life threatening form of blood clot that can travel up into the heart and lungs,

21 Sep 2010

Global action needed to address 'most significant health crisis of the 21st century'

A landmark report on the Global Economic Impact of Dementia finds that Alzheimer's disease and other dementias are exacting a massive toll on the global economy, with the problem set to accelerate in coming years. The World Alzheimer Report 2010 - issued on World Alzheimer's Day by Alzheimer's Disease International (ADI) - provides the most current and comprehensive global picture of the economic and social costs of the illness.

21 Sep 2010

U.N. MDG summit begins; UNAIDS data shows 22 African countries see drop in new HIV infections

"Ten years after world leaders set the most ambitious goals ever to tackle global poverty, they are meeting again to try to spur action to meet the targets by the 2015 deadline - which the U.N. says will be difficult, if not impossible, in some cases," the Associated Press reports. More than 140 world leaders are scheduled to participate in the three-day U.N. Summit on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which kicks off Monday.

21 Sep 2010

VDF presents 2010 awards at seventh annual meeting

The Vascular Disease Foundation (VDF) presented its annual awards at the organization's seventh annual meeting in Alexandria, VA. The awards honor the work of citizens, health care providers, organizations, researchers and companies that have enhanced the understanding and/or treatment of peripheral vascular diseases.

21 Sep 2010

FDA recommends dabigatran etexilate to prevent stroke in AF patients

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Cardiovascular and Renal Drugs Advisory Committee today voted 9 to 0 in favour of recommending dabigatran etexilate for stroke prevention in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF).

21 Sep 2010

Discovery could lead to new treatment methods for toxoplasmosis

The parasite responsible for toxoplasmosis requires a stress response system that helps it survive the move to infect new cells, Indiana University School of Medicine scientists have reported, a discovery that could lead to new treatments to control the disease.

21 Sep 2010

AB5000 VADs can restore normal hemodynamics in AMI cardiogenic shock patients: Report

Results from the U.S. registry of Abiomed, Inc. AB5000 patients were recently published in the September 2010 issue of The Annals of Thoracic Surgery. The paper, "Use of the AB5000TM Ventricular Assist Device in Cardiogenic Shock After Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI)," concludes that the "results from this nationwide registry suggest that VADs can restore normal hemodynamics and support recovery of native cardiac function in the majority of survivors when conventional therapies fail."

21 Sep 2010

Pollution increases risk for sudden cardiac arrest

The fine particles of pollution that hang in the air can increase the risk for sudden cardiac arrest, according to a new study conducted by a team from Long Island Jewish (LIJ) Medical Center and The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research.

21 Sep 2010

Public health at risk as Vitamin D evidence mounts

A group of prevention-focused healthcare organizations has expressed deep concern over recently-proposed restrictions to OHIP coverage of Vitamin D testing in the province. The proposed new legislation will delist OHIP insured Vitamin D testing for most Ontarians. Exceptions will be made for those with osteoporosis, malabsorption syndromes, and individuals taking medications that interfere with vitamin D absorption or metabolism.

21 Sep 2010

Flu shots, heart attacks and flu prevention guidelines

According to a new British study yearly flu shots may protect against heart attacks, and the earlier in the season a shot is given the greater the protection. Niroshan Siriwardena, a professor of primary and pre-hospital health care at the University of Lincoln said, “The risk of getting a heart attack was reduced by 19 percent for those who had a vaccination in the past year.”

21 Sep 2010

Intravenous aspirin safe, effective option for severe headache or migraine

A new study shows that aspirin, given intravenously (IV), may be a safe and effective option for people hospitalized for severe headache or migraine, undergoing medication withdrawal. The research will be published in the September 21, 2010, issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

21 Sep 2010

FDA Advisory Committee recommends approval of dabigatran etexilate for stroke prevention in AFib patients

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Cardiovascular and Renal Drugs Advisory Committee today voted 9 to 0 in favor of approving dabigatran etexilate for stroke prevention in patients with atrial fibrillation (AFib). An estimated 2.3 million Americans have AFib and the prevalence is expected to increase 2.5 fold to 5.6 million by 2050, reflecting the growing population of elderly individuals.

21 Sep 2010

FDA approves Medtronic's Integrity Coronary Stent System

Delivering another innovation for interventional cardiology, Medtronic, Inc.,announced today the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of the Integrity Coronary Stent System. The new platform for Medtronic's coronary stents, including the Integrity bare-metal stent, is based on an advance in biomedical engineering called continuous sinusoid technology that enables the exploration of other breakthrough device concepts such as a polymer free drug filled stent.

21 Sep 2010

Corindus announces clinical results of CorPath 200 System

Corindus Vascular Robotics announced the results of the first clinical study of the CorPath 200 System and invites attendees of the Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics (TCT) 2010 conference (September 21-25 in Washington, DC) to experience firsthand the CorPath 200 System.

21 Sep 2010

NQF endorses 8 outcome measures for pulmonary, cardiovascular conditions and care provided in ICU

To improve healthcare quality and give patients and providers more information about the results of care, the National Quality Forum (NQF) has endorsed eight outcome measures for pulmonary and cardiovascular conditions and care provided in the intensive care unit (ICU). This is the first in a set of patient outcome measures NQF is reviewing.

20 Sep 2010

Genzyme announces Japanese approval of Synvisc viscosupplement for OA knee pain relief

Genzyme Corporation announced today that Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare has approved Synvisc® (hylan G-F 20; 3 x 2 mL), indicated for the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee. Reimbursement has been obtained and publicized by Japan's Central Social Insurance Medical Council.

20 Sep 2010

Dominion validates clinical urine drug monitoring assay to detect metabolites of 'herbal incense' product compounds

Dominion Diagnostics has recently developed and validated one of the first clinical urine drug monitoring assays to detect the metabolites of JWH-018 and JWH-073, two compounds typically found in synthetic cannabinoids, also referred to as "herbal incense" products.

20 Sep 2010

Seven abstracts on Lantheus' PET imaging candidates to be presented at ASNC2010

Lantheus Medical Imaging, Inc., a worldwide leader in diagnostic medical imaging, today announced that seven abstracts related to two of the company's cardiac Positron Emission Tomography (PET) imaging candidates will be presented at ASNC2010, the 15th Annual Scientific Session of the American Society of Nuclear Cardiology, being held September 23-26, 2010 in Philadelphia.

20 Sep 2010

Abbott to commercialize Celera's CE-marked KIF6 genotyping assay outside U.S.

Celera Corporation and Abbott today announced that they have signed an exclusive distribution agreement to market Celera's CE-marked KIF6 diagnostic test for use on Abbott's CE-marked m2000™ instrument system. The KIF6 genotyping assay detects a genetic marker that may be used in conjunction with clinical evaluation and patient assessment for the identification of individuals at risk for coronary heart disease (CHD), and in patients for whom statin treatment is being considered.

20 Sep 2010