Feature Channels: Cardiovascular Health

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Researchers at the Peter Munk Cardiac Centre, with expertise running large clinical trials, and at Mayo Clinic, are leading the Tailored Antiplatelet Therapy to Lessen Outcomes after Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (TAILOR-PCI) study. This study has received $7 million in additional funding from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

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Sedentary behavior — even among physically active people — may be associated with an increased risk of heart disease, diabetes and more.

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Though mortality from heart disease is decreasing, some groups are at increased risk for developing heart disease, including African Americans in the southeastern U.S. Nearly 44 percent of all African American men, and 48 percent of African American women have some form of cardiovascular disease, including heart disease or stroke.

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Commonly touted as “good cholesterol” for helping to reduce risk of stroke and heart attack, both high and low levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol may increase a person’s risk of premature death, according to new research at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and Veterans Affairs St. Louis Health Care System. Conversely, intermediate HDL cholesterol levels may increase longevity, according to the research.

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A Cornell study recently published online in the peer-reviewed journal Molecular Nutrition and Food Research reports new results that raise questions about whether circulating TMAO causes heart disease or whether it is simply a biomarker, or a sign, of developing disease.

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On top of offering sound advice, NYU Lutheran also provides pregnant women with important clinical information about their pregnancies — using the most advanced ultrasound technology to assess how their baby is developing inside the womb.

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Mayo Clinic has launched a new type of blood test that will be used to predict adverse cardiovascular events in patients with progressing coronary artery disease (CAD). The test measures blood concentrations of plasma ceramides, a class of lipids that are highly linked to cardiovascular disease processes.

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Previous research has shown that sitting for an extended period of time at a computer or during a long airline flight reduces blood flow to the legs, which may contribute to the development of cardiovascular disease. Now, researchers from the University of Missouri have found that fidgeting while sitting can protect the arteries in legs and potentially help prevent arterial disease.

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Researchers at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center have successfully tested a prototype conducted electrical weapon (CEW) capable of recording a subject’s heart rate and rhythm while still delivering incapacitating electrical charges.

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Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death in the U.S. With one in every four deaths occurring each year, the five-year survival rate after a heart attack is worse than most cancers. A big part of the problem is the inability of the human heart to effectively repair itself after injury. A team of University of Houston researchers is trying to change that.

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Researchers have uncovered how genes identified from genome-wide association studies (GWAS) affect high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), a biomarker of cardiovascular disease, after comparing several animal models with human patient data. A large team from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Copenhagen, Bristol-Myers Squibb and several others institutions detail their findings in a paper published today in Cell Metabolism.

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Patients with sickle cell anemia (SCA) develop heart complications and nearly a quarter die a sudden death. Now, researchers have linked malfunctioning molecular pathways to specific heart anomalies in SCA that result from progressive fibrosis and result in sudden death. A study published online this week by PNAS (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences) reports the findings open a path to earlier non-invasive diagnosis and development of new targeted therapies to help SCA patients live longer with better quality of life.

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Among patients with severe aortic stenosis (narrowing of the aortic valve) undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation, the use of a cerebral protection device (a filter that captures debris [tissue and plaque] dislodged during the procedure) reduced the number and volume of brain lesions, according to a study appearing in the August 9 issue of JAMA.

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A professor-researcher in cardiology from the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston will present “Sir William Osler and Modern Genetic-Based Precision Medicine” for the 2016 Leonard Leight Lecture at the University of Louisville.

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The new testing method is a significant improvement for patients because it utilizes a simple blood sample, eliminating the need for a much more invasive lung biopsy that was previously required to test for the genetic mutation.

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Though the health systems in Brazil, Colombia, El Salvador, Jamaica, Mexico and Panama have considerable strengths, citizens still reported gaps in the way primary care is organized, financed and delivered in those countries. Those who had better experiences were less likely to say that their health system needed major reforms.

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Scientists have shown that people who exercise for even a few hours each week can enlarge their hearts. This is a normal and beneficial response to exercise, but until now has only been recognised in athletes. The researchers say that doctors should now consider an individual’s activity level before diagnosing common heart conditions.

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Warfarin prescribed to prevent strokes in atrial fibrillation may not adequately control blood clotting over the long-term, even when patients have been historically stable on the drug, according to a study from the Duke Clinical Research Institute.

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Eliminating racial disparities in the outcomes of programs to control blood pressure can be accomplished with a few one-on-one coaching sessions delivered by health professionals —but not if the program requires people to get to a clinic, according to results of a new Johns Hopkins Medicine study. The finding, described in the current issue of the Ethnicity & Disease journal, adds to mounting evidence that health and wellness programs work best when medical practitioners go out to people in their communities.

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The National Science Foundation (NSF) has provided $299,954 in funding to the research team led by Penn State's Hui Yang for research focused on improving health care delivery to patients who have had cardiac surgery.

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Women who have polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)—a common cause of female infertility—may be able to improve their metabolic and cardiovascular health by consuming soy isoflavones, according to a new study published in the Endocrine Society’s Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.

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Using cardiac CT scans, researchers found an association between higher inflammatory biomarkers and a significantly higher prevalence of coronary artery disease in men infected with HIV

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Patients who suffer heart attacks, or flare-ups of congestive heart failure, can be cared for in a variety of hospital locations. But a new study suggests that they’ll fare worse in hospitals that rely heavily on their intensive care units to care for patients like them.

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Hidden dental root tip infections are very common: as many as one in four Finns suffers from at least one. Such infections are usually detected by chance from X-rays.

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In an attempt to correct defects in the energy generation that contribute to poor pump function among heart failure patients, researchers examined whether the diabetes drug liraglutide, could improve the condition of patients with advanced heart failure. Despite improvements in blood sugar control, the therapy did not improve the clinical stability or pumping action of the heart in patients with advanced heart failure. A team of researchers led by Kenneth B. Margulies, MD, a professor of Medicine and research director for Heart Failure and Transplantation, and Thomas Cappola, MD, ScM, chief of the division of Cardiovascular Medicine in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, detailed findings from the Functional Impact of GLP-1 for Heart Failure Treatment (FIGHT) study in a paper published today in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). Data from this study was initially presented at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions 2015 in

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The high levels of caffeine in energy drinks may lead to cardiac complications, suggests a case report in the July/August Journal of Addiction Medicine, the official journal of the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM). The journal is published by Wolters Kluwer.

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Ranked No. 1 in San Diego, UC San Diego Health and its hospitals have been recognized among the best in the nation by U.S. News & World Report for 2016-17.

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Patients suffering from deadly heart attacks can be spared more extensive heart damage when emergency responders and hospitals work together to standardize their treatment processes, according to a study published August 1 in Circulation, a journal of the American Heart Association (AHA).

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Marilyn Cotter recently needed a stress test following a bout of chest tightness. Unable to withstand exercise because of foot problems, Cotter, a 68-year-old grandmother from Delhi Township, wasn’t a candidate for a normal stress test that uses a treadmill. Instead, her physicians at University of Cincinnati Medical Center used a space-age option: an anti-gravity treadmill.

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Researchers at The University of Nottingham have been involved in one of the largest international studies of congenital heart disease, which has discovered gene mutations linked to three new rare congenital heart disorders (CHD).

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ROCHESTER, Minn. — Which antiplatelet medication is best after a coronary stent? The Tailored Antiplatelet Therapy to Lessen Outcomes After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (TAILOR-PCI) Study examines whether prescribing heart medication based on a patient’s CYP2C19 genotype will help prevent heart attack, stroke, unstable angina, and cardiovascular death in patients who undergo percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), commonly called angioplasty.

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Study Suggests Exposure to Deep Space Radiation Likely the Cause

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A new study by researchers at Emory's Rollins School of Public Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that lifestyle modification programs modeled on diabetes prevention programs (DPP) trials not only achieved weight reduction, but also additional metabolic benefits -specifically, reductions in blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels. The researchers compiled data from 44 published studies with nearly 9,000 adults participating in DPP conducted in US communities, clinics, and through online media.

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MINNEAPOLIS – An updated recommendation from the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) states that catheter-based closure should not be routinely recommended for people who have had a stroke and also have a heart defect called a patent foramen ovale (PFO), a channel between the top two chambers in the heart. The practice advisory, which updates a previous AAN guideline, is published in the July 27, 2016, online issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

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A number of states – including Massachusetts and New York – mandate public reporting of mortality outcomes following certain cardiac procedures. While such reporting was originally intended to increase transparency and improve quality of care, a new study led by researchers at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) and the University of Washington has shown that public reporting may in fact disincentivize physicians from offering potentially lifesaving treatment to patients who are at the greatest risk of mortality and poor outcomes. However, reforms to public reporting policies can mitigate these undesired effects, the authors report in a paper published online today in JAMA Cardiology.

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The short-term risk of developing cardiovascular disease following a first pregnancy is higher for women experiencing placental syndromes and a preterm birth or an infant born smaller than the usual size, a University of South Florida study reports. The USF researchers also found a five-fold increase in health care costs for women with placental syndromes who developed cardiovascular disease as soon as three to five years following delivery, compared to those who did not.

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Earvin “Magic” Johnson will be a special keynote speaker at TCT 2016 (Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics), the annual scientific symposium of the Cardiovascular Research Foundation (CRF). TCT is the world’s premier educational meeting specializing in interventional cardiovascular medicine, attracting nearly 12,000 attendees from all over the world.

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The Society of Thoracic Surgeons urges CMS to utilize the Society's resources for meaningful Medicare payment reform that would result in better patient care.

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A new risk model developed by Michigan hospitals could help patients avoid a common post-surgical complication.

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University of Washington researchers have developed the first simulator for duplex ultrasound scanning, a type of ultrasound used to assess the health of blood vessels.

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Click here to go directly to the Cardiovascular Health News Source

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UAB Medicine is the first in Alabama to advance cardiology services by offering a first-of-its-kind heart stent that gradually dissolves in the body.

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On July 11, Peter Cancro, founder and CEO of Jersey Mike’s Subs, chaired Jersey Shore University Medical Center Foundation’s 33rd annual Sports Classic Golf Tournament at the Deal Golf and Country Club and Hollywood Golf Club in Deal, NJ. The sold-out event hosted 260 golfers, and raised a record-breaking $340,000 in support of cardiovascular programs and other areas of greatest need at Jersey Shore, part of the Hackensack Meridian Health family. Bob Mullen, chief executive office of Structure Tone and J. Scott Ferguson, vice president of Carrickmore, served as co-chairs.

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Leading scientists from over 20 countries will present their latest findings on 22q, a syndrome caused by a small deletion on the 22nd chromosome, at the 10th Biennial International 22q11.2 Conference beginning today in Sirmione, Italy. Newborn screening, recent studies of non-invasive prenatal testing, best practice management and prevention methods across the lifespan of a patient with 22q, will be discussed during the two-day meeting.

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Asher Kimchi, M.D., Founder and Chairman of the International Academy of Cardiology, today announced the selection of Eugene Braunwald, M.D., Distinguished Hersey Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, and founding Chairman of the TIMI Study Group at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA, to deliver the tenth H.J.C. Swan Memorial Lecture at the Opening Ceremony of the International Academy of Cardiology, Annual Scientific Sessions 2016, 21st World Congress on Heart Disease, to be held in Boston, MA, USA, from Saturday, July 30 through Monday, August 1, 2016.

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Researchers investigating a novel device to repair the mitral valve report 100 percent procedural success in a first-in-humans, safety and performance study. The device, deployed while the heart is beating, avoids open-heart surgery, automates a key part of the valve repair process, simplifies the procedure and reduces operating room time.

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Ten risk factors that can be modified are responsible for nine of 10 strokes worldwide, but the ranking of those factors vary regionally, says a study of 26,000 people worldwide led by researchers of McMaster University, and published by The Lancet.

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PinnacleHealth team that participated in a three-year clinical trial designed to evaluate potential benefits of a first-of-its-kind drug eluting ABSORB Bioresorbable Vascular Scaffold (BVS), today announced it deployed the device for the first time after FDA approval for commercial use.

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A clinical trial exploring a new minimally invasive treatment option for some patients with severe aortic stenosis recently launched at Baylor Jack and Jane Hamilton Heart and Vascular Hospital† . The investigational treatment option is for patients who might have been previously deemed unable to have transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) due to the large size of their diseased valves.