Heart Disease News and Research

Latest Heart Disease News and Research

AGA Medical commences enrollment in AMPLATZER Cardiac Plug clinical trial

AGA Medical Holdings, Inc. today announced first patient enrollment in the feasibility phase of the prospective, multicenter, randomized AMPLATZER® Cardiac Plug clinical trial. Dr. William Nicholson, an interventional cardiologist and structural heart specialist at York Hospital in Pennsylvania, enrolled the first patient.

16 Jun 2010

Dietary guideline on sodium puts Americans at risk

The Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (DGAC) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Department of Agriculture may increase health risks, including obesity, by ignoring sound science as they announce recommendations to reduce sodium consumption to 1,500 mg per day, says the Salt Institute.

16 Jun 2010

Management of cardiovascular risk associated with insulin resistance, diabetes, and the metabolic syndrome

Adi Mehta, MD stresses the growing severity of the metabolic syndrome in the May 2010 edition of Postgraduate Medicine. Metabolic syndrome often leads to cardiovascular disease (CVD) because of its key components: diabetes, dyslipidemia, and hypertension. With obesity maintaining its status as a huge problem worldwide, physicians must act as soon as possible when they recognize metabolic syndrome or any of its components.

16 Jun 2010

New perspectives in type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular risk, and treatment goals

An article published in the May 2010 issue of Postgraduate Medicine highlights the seriousness of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in patients with type 2 diabetes. Cardiovascular disease is the cause of death in > 65% of patients with diabetes, and when complicated by the presence of obesity, the lifetime risk of developing CVD increases to 90%. The inherent problem is that many of the antihyperglycemic medications used to combat high glycated hemoglobin are associated with weight gain and/or hypoglycemia, which negatively affect CVD.

16 Jun 2010

The utility of observational studies in clinical decision making: Lessons learned from statin trials

An article published in the May 2010 issue of Postgraduate Medicine explains the benefits observational studies have in assessing clinical practice and thereby aid in improved processes of clinical care.

16 Jun 2010

Relypsa commences enrollment for RLY5016 Phase 2 study in heart failure patients with chronic kidney disease

Relypsa, Inc., today announced the initiation of patient enrollment in a Phase 2, open-label titration clinical study of the company's lead drug candidate, RLY5016, in heart failure patients with chronic kidney disease. RLY5016 is a novel non-absorbed oral potassium binder intended to prevent and treat hyperkalemia, a serious condition characterized by elevated serum potassium levels.

16 Jun 2010

InfraReDx to demonstrate LipiScan coronary imaging system during CCC Symposium

InfraReDx, Inc., an innovative medical device company focused on developing novel diagnostic imaging technologies to accurately identify and characterize diseased tissues, today announced that its LipiScan Coronary Imaging System will be featured at the 13th Annual Live Symposium of Complex Coronary & Vascular Cases being held at The Mount Sinai Medical Center of New York, from June 16-19, 2010.

16 Jun 2010

Lantis Laser to merge with Perio-Imaging

Lantis Laser Inc., announced today that it has signed a Letter of Intent to merge with Perio-Imaging Inc., a private New York based company. The merger would be an all stock transaction and closing, among other conditions, would be subject to raising the required funding to complete the proposed merged company's product development program. The name of the new merged company will be announced upon closing.

16 Jun 2010

AssureImmune merges with BCU

AssureImmune LLC, the premier family stem cell bank in the United States, today announced their merger with Banco de Cordón Umbilical, the largest cord blood bank in Latin America. This merger expands the Companies' global reach providing family stem cell banking services to North, Central and South America.

16 Jun 2010

Life Technologies forms GIBCO Cell Therapy Systems

Life Technologies Corporation today announced the formation of GIBCO® Cell Therapy Systems (CTS™), which will offer the life science industry's widest array of products to support cell therapy applications, including regenerative medicine. Specifically designed to help cell therapy practitioners accelerate the transition from research to clinical applications, the product portfolio will include a broad and deep offering of Invitrogen devices and reagents.

16 Jun 2010

Nuon Therapeutics NU1618 phase 2a study in hyperuricemia meets primary endpoint

Nuon Therapeutics, Inc., a privately held, clinical stage biopharmaceutical company, announced that a phase 2a study of NU1618, the company's lead program, met its primary endpoint of reduction in serum uric acid (sUA) levels in patients with hyperuricemia.

16 Jun 2010

ESC, EACPR urges MEPs to vote in favour of traffic light system for food labelling

The European Society of Cardiology http://www.escardio.org/ and its branch, the European Association for Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation http://www.escardio.org/communities/EACPR/Pages/welcome.aspx, are joining forces with 12 other European Health and consumer communities to urge MEPs to vote in favour of a traffic light system for food labelling today.

16 Jun 2010

KCI's Prevena Incision Management System receives FDA clearance

Kinetic Concepts, Inc. announced today it has received 510(k) clearance from the Food and Drug Administration for the Prevena Incision Management System, a negative pressure wound therapy product designed for management of surgically closed incisions. KCI estimates more than three million procedures are performed each year worldwide that could benefit from treatment with the Prevena System, representing a potential global opportunity greater than $1 billion.

16 Jun 2010

European market for continuous glucose monitoring to reach $52M in 2016

The continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) market is in its development stage. The primary factor leading to the growth of the (CGM) market in Europe is the need for an easy-to-use and patient-friendly glucose-monitoring device. The traditional method of monitoring glucose was difficult and inconvenient for patients. The CGM method is not only hassle-free, but also gives a better diagnosis of diabetes.

16 Jun 2010

Transcatheter valve-in-valve implantation provides option for high-risk elderly patients

Doctors at the University Heart Center in Hamburg, Germany successfully used transcatheter valve-in-valve implantation in elderly patients with degenerated bioprostheses in aortic and mitral position. This minimally invasive procedure was used as an alternative treatment option for patients who were at high surgical risk.

16 Jun 2010

CSMG, CSHA awarded Elite status

Cedars-Sinai Medical Group and Cedars-Sinai Health Associates have been awarded Elite status, the highest possible designation for quality care recognized by the California Association of Physician Groups, a professional organization comprised of the state's leading managed care groups. Both organizations are ranked among the top 25 physician organizations in the state in 2010.

16 Jun 2010

Study examines survival rates of CF patients with MRSA

A team of researchers led by Elliott Dasenbrook, MD, MHS, Assistant Professor of Medicine and Pediatrics at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine and Associate Director of the Adult Cystic Fibrosis Program at University Hospitals Case Medical Center's Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital today published the findings from a major study about cystic fibrosis survival rates in the June 16 issue of JAMA.

16 Jun 2010

Interventions are needed to make people exercise after cardiac event

Researchers from the Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing at Case Western Reserve University found that one year after 248 individuals completed a 12-week cardiac rehabilitation program following a heart attack, bypass surgery or angioplasty, only 37% exercised three times a week to keep their hearts healthy.

16 Jun 2010

When doctors don't comment, parents tend to underestimate preschool children's weight: Study

Parents are more likely to underestimate their preschool children's weight when pediatricians do not tell them their children are overweight or gaining weight too fast, a study by the University of South Florida and Johns Hopkins University reports.

16 Jun 2010

BIOTRONIK announces 10th anniversary of world's first wireless, mobile patient monitoring technology

BIOTRONIK SE & Co KG, the pioneer in wireless remote monitoring technology for patients with cardiac devices, today announced the tenth anniversary of BIOTRONIK Home Monitoring®—the world's first wireless, mobile patient monitoring technology—to be celebrated during Cardiostim in Nice, France.

16 Jun 2010