Heart Disease News and Research

Latest Heart Disease News and Research

Findings could lead to new therapeutic strategies for obesity

Peptides that target blood vessels in fat and cause them to go into programmed cell death (termed apoptosis) could become a model for future weight-loss therapies, say University of Cincinnati (UC) researchers.

2 Feb 2010

Cardiac arrest sudden death: The seven warning signs

As Americans look to keep their fitness resolutions and increase their physical activity, Dr. Bing Liem, cardiologist and electrophysiologist at El Camino Hospital in Mountain View, Calif., is hoping to raise awareness of a critical but rare heart condition: congenital malformations of the heart or vascular system, which is to blame for the majority of sudden cardiac deaths in athletes under the age of 40.

2 Feb 2010

Simple genetic test can help in detecting heart abnormalities

Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a genetic disease that causes the heart muscle to become abnormally large. It often goes undetected and, as a result, HCM has the dubious distinction of being the leading cause of sudden death in children, young adults and athletes.

2 Feb 2010

ADT can worsen heart risk factors and may increase the risk of heart attack

Androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT), commonly used to treat prostate cancer, can worsen heart risk factors and may increase the risk of heart attack and/or cardiac death, although the relationship between ADT and heart attack or cardiac death has not been definitively established, according to a science advisory published in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association and CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians.

2 Feb 2010

Smoking cessation increases cardiac health later in life

Smoking affects your cardiac health both before and after a major event like a heart attack. But how much? And does cutting back instead of quitting have a positive effect as well?

2 Feb 2010

Boston Scientific to pay J&J $1.725 billion for settling three patent disputes

Boston Scientific Corporation today announced the settlement of three patent disputes with Johnson & Johnson (J&J). The disputes date back to 2003 and cover Boston Scientific's Jang patent and J&J's Palmaz and Gray patents, all of which involve intellectual property in the cardiovascular arena. Boston Scientific will make a $1.725 billion payment to J&J in connection with the settlement.

2 Feb 2010

BRI partners with French Government to create therapeutic antibodies for treatment of major diseases

"We are delighted to be working with such esteemed institutions in order to generate cutting-edge therapeutic antibodies," said Matthew Baker, chief scientific officer and co-founder of Antitope. "This agreement combines our partners' expertise in novel therapeutic strategies with Antitope's expertise in engineering humanized antibodies to create therapeutic antibodies that may have a significant impact on the treatment of these major diseases."

2 Feb 2010

Response Biomedical continues global market expansion, signs Guangzhou Wondfo Biotech in China

Response Biomedical Corporation announced that the Company has signed a second partner, Guangzhou Wondfo Biotech Co., Ltd. (Wondfo) in China to sell the Company’s diagnostic products, expanding its strategic presence in this important global market.

2 Feb 2010

FDA approves neurostimulation treatment for heart failure

The FDA recently approved the first study of neurostimulation as a treatment for heart failure, a chronic disease that affects nearly six million Americans and is the leading cause of hospitalization in America.

2 Feb 2010

American Diabetes Association announces 2010 schedule for free community health events

In an age of soaring health care costs and staggering diabetes prevalence, the American Diabetes Association announced today its 2010 schedule for free community health events throughout the country -- the American Diabetes Association EXPO.

2 Feb 2010

Congressional leader stresses the importance of annual dilated eye exam for diabetes patients

In recognition of Black History Month, House Majority Whip James E. Clyburn is urging African Americans with diabetes to get an annual diabetic eye exam during February.

1 Feb 2010

Survey finds Americans hesitant to seek mental health for confidentiality reasons

A survey from the American Psychiatric Association has found that workers' fears about losing their status at work and about confidentiality are the reasons American workers hesitate to seek treatment for mental health issues, HealthDay/BusinessWeek reports.

1 Feb 2010

Study shows nutritional deficiency, stunted growth and obesity are common among Cameroonian teenagers

There are major differences in how well nourished Cameroonian teenagers are. Differences between city/countryside, boys/girls, and among individuals with high and low socio-economic status are described by Léonie Nzefa Dapi in the dissertation she is defending at Umeå University in Sweden.

1 Feb 2010

Health insurer supports women’s campaign against heart disease

Beginning Sunday, Jan. 31 and continuing until Friday, Feb. 5, the spire atop Fifth Avenue Place will be illuminated red as the health insurer supports the American Heart Association's "Go Red for Women" campaign. The campaign brings awareness to heart disease, the number one killer of women.

1 Feb 2010

Whole grain intake prevents diabetes, heart diseases, and excess weight gain

Three daily servings of whole grains are recommended for prevention of type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, and excess weight gain. Yet few adolescents or young adults follow these guidelines, according to national survey data. In a study published in the February 2010 issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association, researchers from the School of Public Health, University of Minnesota report that young people are consuming less than 1 serving of whole grains per day. The study took an in-depth look at influencers, modifiable factors, and interventions that are critical for successfully addressing this gap.

1 Feb 2010

Ipsen reports consolidated group sales of €1,032.8M for 2009

Ipsen reported today its sales for the fourth quarter and full year 2009.

1 Feb 2010

Epigenetics may help determine CT radiation risk to patients' offsprings

There remains a lack of consensus amongst the medical and scientific communities about any cancer risk from low level radiation, particularly low-dose radiation delivered from computed tomography (CT) scans. However, the study of epigenetics may play a role in determining whether or not future trends of diseases can in fact be linked to utilization of CT, according to an article in the February issue of the Journal of the American College of Radiology (JACR).

1 Feb 2010

Study assesses gray matter concentration deficits in multiple brain areas of people with OSA

A study in the Feb. 1 issue of the journal SLEEP found gray matter concentration deficits in multiple brain areas of people with severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The study suggests that the memory impairment, cardiovascular disturbances, executive dysfunctions, and dysregulation of autonomic and respiratory control frequently observed in OSA patients may be related to morphological changes in brain structure.

1 Feb 2010

New mental health coverage rules promise to end some discrimination

Reuters: Employer-provided group health plans must offer the same level of coverage for mental illness and drug abuse treatment as for other ailments, according to federal regulations issued on Friday.

31 Jan 2010

Award for best organ donation feature film: Transplant community to vote

In a lead-up to the second Donate Life Film Festival June 11-12, the nation's organ donation and transplant community will vote for the best organ donation feature film of all time. The four nominated films are Seven Pounds, Return to Me, John Q and Blood Work.

30 Jan 2010