Feature Channels: Heart Disease

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More than 375,000 American each year experience a heart attack, during which blood flow to a part of the heart is impeded by blocked arteries. Physicians often treat patients with stents, which prop open the arteries to allow blood to flow again. They use two approaches to place stents: transradial, or entry of the catheter which delivers the stent through the wrist, or transfemoral, in which the catheter is placed through the groin. In a comparison of bleeding complications and mortality between the two approaches, researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania found that those at risk for more bleeding were often treated with a riskier procedure – the transfemoral approach – a demonstration of the so-called risk-treatment paradox. The findings, from the largest study of its kind, are detailed in this week’s Journal of the American College of Cardiology: Cardiovascular Interventions.

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Long-Term Analysis Shows Cost-Effectiveness of WATCHMAN Left Atrial Appendage Closure Device over Warfarin, NOACs, in Reducing Stroke Risk in Non-Valvular Atrial Fibrillation Patients

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Ingesting a drink rich in cocoa flavanols improved blood vessel function and reduced diastolic blood pressure in patients with kidney failure.

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Top Cardiologist Dr. Valentin Fuster on a Mission to Promote a Full “Circle of Health” Around the Globe

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Feeling sad can alter levels of stress-related opioids in the brain and increase levels of inflammatory proteins in the blood that are linked to increased risk of comorbid diseases including heart disease, stroke and metabolic syndrome, according to a study by researchers at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth).

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Learning how hagfish survive without oxygen could offer valuable insights for cardiovascular research, according to a new study co-led by a University of Guelph professor. It is the first known study to examine how the isolated hagfish heart functions for extended time periods with little or no oxygen. The results give insight into human cardiovascular health and strategies to protect tissue integrity after cardiac events.

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The presence or absence of the CAP2 gene causes sudden cardiac death in mice. In particular, the absence of the gene interrupts the animal’s ability to send electrical signals to the heart to tell it to contract, a condition called cardiac conduction disease. Since humans have the same CAP2 gene, what we learn from the mice could advance our understanding of heart disease.

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A new study assessing the antioxidant effects of pomegranate extract on cardiovascular risk factors and muscle function showed reductions in blood pressure and some atheroprotective benefits, but no effects on inflammation, oxidative strength, or muscle strength. The limited gains with pomegranate supplementation are detailed in an article published in Journal of Medicinal Food, a peer-reviewed journal from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers. The article is available to download for free on the Journal of Medicinal Food website until Jan. 14, 2016.

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Researchers have found a number of genetic mutations that explain why many children with congenital heart disease also have other significant health challenges, including neurodevelopmental disorders and other congenital problems. The study was published in the December 3rd online edition of Science.

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Some of the same gene mutations that cause heart defects in children also lead to neurodevelopmental delays, including learning disabilities. New research may later enable clinicians to identify and treat infant heart patients at higher risk for neurodevelopmental problems.

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Children with allergic disease, particularly asthma and hay fever, have about twice the rate of high blood pressure and high cholesterol, setting them on a course for heart disease at a surprisingly early age, reports a new Northwestern Medicine study.

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Researchers from the University of Toronto have found that a specific cell type plays a key role in maintaining healthy arteries after inflammation. It’s a discovery that could provide treatment options for cardiovascular disease — one of the leading causes of death in Canada.

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It’s called optogenetics and it refers to the use of light to regulate cells. In this case, NIBIB-funded researchers engineered fruit flies that carry light-sensitive proteins in their hearts. When hit by a blue laser, the proteins open channels that cause a flow of ions or charged particles that cause the heart to beat.

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Babies born with heart problems have a number of genetic changes in common, even when there is no family history of heart disease, scientists have found.

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Dr. Packer is the principal investigator of a trial published in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) Dec. 3 issue, showing new evidence about a major breakthrough in the medication management and treatment of heart failure patients. The updated study information and analysis builds upon the team’s earlier research about Angiotensin Receptor Neprilysin inhibitor (ARNi) category of drugs.

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People who have a higher sense of purpose in life are at lower risk of death and cardiovascular disease, reports a pooled data analysis in Psychosomatic Medicine: Journal of Biobehavioral Medicine, the official journal of the American Psychosomatic Society. The journal is published by Wolters Kluwer.

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A new study from the University of Michigan finds adults with cerebral palsy are more likely to have secondary chronic health conditions, such as diabetes and high blood pressure, than adults without cerebral palsy.

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The Cardiovascular Research Foundation (CRF) is pleased to announce that Michael O’Riordan joins the organization today as Senior Editorial Journalist for TCTMD, the leading online resource for cutting-edge news and information in interventional cardiovascular medicine.

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The first full outcomes report from the STS/ACC TVT Registry provides an overview of trends and analyzes outcomes of patients having TAVR procedures. The report also describes the future of the TVT Registry.

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The Cardiovascular Research Foundation (CRF) has joined #GivingTuesday, a global day of giving that harnesses the collective power of individuals, communities and organizations to encourage philanthropy and to celebrate generosity worldwide. This year 100% of the donations to CRF made on Giving Tuesday will go directly to the CRF Fellows Fund, which was established to mentor the next generation of cardiovascular researchers and provide financial support for the rapid advancement of breakthrough treatments needed in the fight against heart disease, the #1 killer of men and women worldwide.

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For 17 consecutive years Mount Sinai awarded highest "two-star" rating by New York State Department of Health for percutaneous coronary interventions.

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In one of the first studies of its kind, Tufts researchers show that even among Americans in their mid-70’s and older, being more active, including walking at a reasonable pace or distance, is linked to a lower risk of cardiovascular events.

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A discovery about how the body deals with the cholesterol contained within its dying cells has suggested an exciting new approach to control people’s cholesterol levels – and thus their risk of developing heart disease.

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Her findings over the last year suggest that the introduction of male sex chromosomes in biological females could raise the risk of aneurysm. She says this work may have a broader impact, specifically surrounding issues of gender identity.

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Monday mornings could be harmful to your health. Even routine sleep changes such as waking up early for work during the week may raise the risk of developing metabolic problems such as diabetes and heart disease, according to a new study published in the Endocrine Society’s Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.

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The increasing use of testosterone replacement therapy to treat reduced testosterone level in older men has been accompanied by growing concerns over its long-term safety. Two studies examining the health risks of receiving testosterone will be presented at Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolic Diseases: Physiology and Gender conference, supporting opposite conclusions regarding risks.

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Researchers from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health have found a link between higher levels of a specific kind of air pollution in major urban areas and an increase in cardiovascular-related hospitalizations such as for heart attacks in people 65 and older.

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Donald Rabren came in to have open-heart surgery until a surgeon discovered great risk in continuing and elected to close him up and do a different procedure three days later.

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Newborns with a congenital heart defect often need advanced medical care to survive, leaving them vulnerable to cognitive delays. Various factors contribute to these delays. But what role does proper growth and feeding mode at the beginning of life play? A research team – led Penn Nursing – found that newborns (up to three months) with poor growth and CHD, who required device-assisted feeding, were at an increased risk for neurodevelopmental delays at six and twelve months.

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Linking digital activity trackers to smartphones and periodically pinging users with personalized texts that urge them to walk more can significantly increase physical activity levels and spark healthy behavior changes, according to findings of a pilot study conducted at Johns Hopkins.

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Chest pain in female-pattern heart disease is linked with abnormal heart blood flow, demonstrated with a drug commonly used to alleviate chest pain patients with coronary artery disease, which was found to be ineffective in patients with moderate female-pattern heart disease, but may offer some relief for sicker patients, a new Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute study shows. The study’s results were presented today as a late-breaking trial at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions in Orlando.

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Treating patients 50 and older with high blood pressure to a systolic blood pressure of less than 120 mm Hg reduced rates of cardiovascular events, including heart attack, heart failure and stroke, by 25 percent.

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Heart patients who had undergone an angioplasty procedure that opened only some blocked arteries tended to have a resolution of their chest pain, making it unnecessary to add another medication to treat the symptom, according to a study led by the Duke Clinical Research Institute.

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Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD), which afflicts more than 26 million Americans, is a condition in which individuals experience a slow loss of kidney function over time. At the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions 2015, researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania today presented findings from their analysis of the Chronic Renal Insufficiency Cohort (CRIC) study to evaluate risk markers for adverse cardiac events in patients with CKD.

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Cardiovascular disease risk in women increases after menopause and is associated with the drop in estrogen levels. Menopausal hormone therapy could slow the progression, but oral formulations also increase the risk of blood clots. A new study reports that whether a woman will obtain cardiovascular benefits from certain types of hormone therapy may depend on her genes.

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Mount Sinai Releases New Findings at the AHA Scientific Sessions 2015

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New research shows that drinking one 16-ounce energy drink can increase blood pressure and stress hormone responses significantly. This raises the concern that these response changes could increase the risk of cardiovascular events.

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A group of researchers led by Mayo Clinic has discovered that disclosing genetic risk for coronary heart disease (CHD) results in lower low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL), also known as bad cholesterol.

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Heart failure patients with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) — where the heart becomes stiff and cannot relax or fill properly — did not have increased exercise tolerance after taking isosorbide mononitrate, compared to a placebo.

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A lack of vitamin D can result in weak bones. Recent studies also show that vitamin D deficiency is linked to more serious health risks such as coronary artery disease, heart attacks, and strokes.

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A new study of generally healthy men who used testosterone replacement therapy to normalize testosterone levels has found that taking supplemental testosterone does not increase their risk of experiencing a heart attack or stroke.

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Jackson T. Wright Jr., MD, PhD, and researchers from University Hospitals Case Medical Center presented new results from the Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial (SPRINT) showing that in patients at high risk for cardiovascular events, targeting a systolic blood pressure of less than 120 mm Hg resulted in lower rates of fatal and non-fatal major events or death compared to targeting systolic blood pressure to the usually recommended target of less than 140 mm Hg.

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People with heart problems often have diabetes, which puts them at greater risk for heart attacks, heart failure and stroke. Now, a new study has found that ensuring heart attack patients are promptly diagnosed and treated for diabetes makes a significant difference in improving their cardiac outcomes.

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People with heart disease face an increased risk of a serious heart attack during poor air quality days, according to a major new study presented today (Sunday, Nov. 8) at the American Heart Association Scientific Session in Orlando.

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Rheumatoid arthritis patients are twice as likely as the average person to develop heart disease, but a new study shows that efforts to prevent heart problems and diagnose and treat heart disease early may be paying off. Despite the heightened danger, deaths from cardiovascular disease among people with rheumatoid arthritis are declining, the research found. The study was among Mayo Clinic research being presented at the American College of Rheumatology’s annual meeting in San Francisco.

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Anikinra may offer hope for rheumatology patients with the heart condition

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The presence of tophi – crystal deposits of uric acid found on the surface of the joints or in the skin and cartilage – in people with gout can increase their risk of developing cardiovascular disease, according to research presented this week at the American College of Rheumatology Annual Meeting in San Francisco.

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Valve-in-valve treatments are becoming more necessary as patients get older and outlive their original replacement heart valves.