Heart Disease News and Research

Latest Heart Disease News and Research

Researchers to analyze role of air pollution in respiratory and cardiovascular diseases

A new mobile air research laboratory will help a team of researchers led by a Michigan State University professor better understand the damaging health effects of air pollution and why certain airborne particles - emitted from plants and vehicles - induce disease and illness.

8 Oct 2009

Obesity and diabetes-2 increase the risk of serious health problems and reduce quality of life

Over the last 10-20 years, the number of cases of obesity and diabetes-2 has risen dramatically. The WHO considers obesity-related illnesses to be one of the world's biggest health problems. Obesity and diabetes-2 do not just reduce the quality of life but also dramatically increase the risk of serious health problems, such as cardiovascular diseases.

8 Oct 2009

Workplace wellness programs: Good for health costs?

Some companies offer discounts to healthy employees, but patient advocates fear such wellness programs could be unfair.

8 Oct 2009

AGA Medical's patent on occlusion devices upheld

AGA Medical Holdings, Inc. today announced that a five-judge panel in the German Federal Patent Court in Munich has upheld the validity of an important AGA Medical patent. The court rejected a lawsuit brought by Occlutech GmbH that contended that AGA Medical's patent did not meet the standards of patentability under German law.

8 Oct 2009

Researchers succeed in engineering human tissue patches from stem cells

University of Washington (UW) researchers have succeeded in engineering human tissue patches free of some problems that have stymied stem-cell repair for damaged hearts.

8 Oct 2009

Alaska Dentist honored with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's Community Health Leader Award

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) today announced its selection of Amanda Gaynor Ashley, D.M.D., Ms.Edu., director of the Samuel Simmonds Memorial Hospital Dental Clinic in Barrow, Alaska, to receive a Community Health Leaders Award. She is one of 10 extraordinary Americans who will receive the RWJF honor for 2009 at a ceremony this evening at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, D.C.

8 Oct 2009

Hutchinson Center scientists awarded $16.7M to develop progenitor and stem cell tools

The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute has awarded a total of $16.7 million to Irwin Bernstein, M.D., and Beverly Torok-Storb, Ph.D., both members of the Clinical Research Division at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. The Hutchinson Center grants represent part of a $170 million effort involving 18 teams of research scientists dedicated to developing stem- and progenitor-cell tools and therapies.

8 Oct 2009

User's guide to refocus and reform American health care

Health Care Will Not Reform Itself: A User's Guide to Refocusing and Reforming American Health Care, is the latest installment from acclaimed author and health care industry power George C. Halvorson.

8 Oct 2009

Annual benefits open enrollment period for AvMed Health Plans begins

It's that time of year again. The annual benefits open enrollment period for the majority of AvMed Health Plans' large group clients, (50 or more eligible employees), began September 1 and will continue through mid-December 2009.

8 Oct 2009

Amended health bill could gain majority's favor, reveals survey

Survey results published this week in the journal Health Affairs show that while only 27 percent of adults currently support the U.S. Senate Finance Committee's proposed healthcare legislation, an amended bill could gain the majority's favor.

8 Oct 2009

Napo Pharmaceuticals hosts educational panel to address global health and environment

Napo Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Napo) recently hosted an educational panel to address the impact of the lack of access to clean water and enteric disease on global health, the environment, and human rights.

8 Oct 2009

Providing right environment is crucial for preschoolers

The Lucie and André Chagnon Foundation today launched a broad-reaching outreach campaign to make people aware that providing the right environment for children under the age of 5 is of the utmost importance in ensuring their success in school.

8 Oct 2009

Susquehanna Health acquires a Daxor blood volume analyzer

Daxor Corporation, a medical instrumentation and biotechnology company, today announced the receipt of a signed trial agreement from Susquehanna Health of Williamsport, Pennsylvania. This will provide Susquehanna Health with a Blood Volume Analyzer-100 (BVA-100), an instrument which enables semi-automated measurement of a patient's total blood volume, red blood cell volume and plasma volume.

8 Oct 2009

New study to assess the risk of heart disease in diabetics

In a new international partnership, Dr. Randy Nelson, a researcher at Arizona State University's Biodesign Institute, and Dr. Tai E-Shyong , associate professor at Singapore's National University Hospital, National University Health System (NUHS), have teamed up to assess the risk of heart disease in diabetics with greater accuracy.

8 Oct 2009

Pfizer-FRSQ Innovation Fund supports genetic study of inflammatory bowel disease and cancer

The first two research projects supported by the Pfizer-FRSQ Innovation Fund will investigate differences in the genetic code for inflammatory bowel disease and metastatic colorectal cancer. This research could lead to improved diagnosis and the development of individualized treatments for these diseases. These innovative projects are marshalling multidisciplinary teams of seasoned researchers from major Quebec research institutions.

8 Oct 2009

NHLBI awards $11 million to research on the biology of two fatal lung diseases

Researchers at National Jewish Health and four other research centers have been awarded an $11 million, two-year grant from the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute as part of the NIH Recovery Act that will allow a team of national scientists to delve deeply into the biology of two fatal lung diseases for which there are few therapeutic options.

8 Oct 2009

Hoana Medical to be showcased at the FiReGlobal : West Coast conference

FiReGlobal : West Coast is proud to announce that Hoana Medical, Inc. has been selected as a FiReStar company to be featured at the FiReGlobal : West Coast conference. FiReStar companies, both local and global, are pre-selected based on their potential to bring positive change to the world. These companies will be showcased throughout the conference, and at a FiReStar reception, during which local and global investors will be given the chance to meet company officers.

8 Oct 2009

Ethnicity plays a significant role in non-small cell lung cancer genetics: Study

Clinical research out of University Hospitals Case Medical Center has found that African Americans with a common form of lung cancer have a lower frequency of drug-sensitizing genetic mutations, which may impact response to new cancer-fighting drugs.

8 Oct 2009

White House honors PET researcher with National Science Award

Joanna Fowler, Ph.D., a major contributor to brain research and a pioneer in molecular imaging, is being recognized by the White House with the National Medal of Science-the highest award for lifetime achievement in science. Eight other researchers will join Fowler to receive the award at a White House ceremony on October 7.

8 Oct 2009

Antioxidants can contribute to early onset of Type 2 diabetes

An international team of scientists, led by Monash University researchers, has found that anti-oxidants commonly touted for their health-promoting benefits, could contribute to the early onset of Type 2 diabetes.

8 Oct 2009