Feature Channels: Cardiovascular Health

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Obesity, which is associated with low-grade inflammation, is an important contributor in the development of diabetes and cardiovascular disease. While the role of several organs including adipose tissue have been implicated in this process, the cell types and factors driving this process have not been clear. Using a pre-clinical model of obesity, researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH) have discovered that a small, non-coding RNA molecule called miR-181b is an important determinant of obesity-induced changes in adipose tissue by controlling the function of the vessels in adipose tissue.

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Adults living with congenital heart disease may have a significantly higher risk of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) than people in the general population. Clinicians and caregivers may need to be aware of possible PTSD symptoms, such as anxiety and depression, in their patients.

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Bringing new hope to families of children who struggle with a common form of leukemia and thus must confront an elevated risk for long-term heart ailments caused by chemotherapy.

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Mass. General team generates stem-cell derived heart muscle in cell-free human cardiac matrix.

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The Valley Hospital in Ridgewood, NJ, is one of 15 U.S. sites currently enrolling patients in a research study to evaluate a potential new treatment alternative for patients with symptomatic persistent and long standing persistent atrial fibrillation (AFib).

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The generally accepted medical maxim that elevated HDL cholesterol is “good” has been overturned by a multi-center, international study, They show that a certain genetic cause of increased HDL-C may actually be “bad,” noting that a specific mutation in a gene which encodes a cell receptor protein that binds to HDL prevents the receptor from functioning. It causes an increased risk of heart disease even in the presence of elevated levels of “good” cholesterol.

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Springing forward with daylight saving time may increase your risk of having a heart attack if you have a history of heart disease.

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People newly diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) may often have other chronic health conditions as well, according to a study published in the March 9, 2016 online issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

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A 10-year follow-up study of more than 6,000 people who underwent heart CT scans suggests that a high coronary artery calcium score puts people at greater risk not only for heart and vascular disease but also for cancer, chronic kidney disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

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Published in the upcoming March 10, 2016 issue of the authoritative Journal of Clinical Oncology, this new study is likely to change the standard of cardiac care during treatment of many childhood cancer patients.

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Given the high stress levels, extended periods of screen time and regular social outings many Americans experience day-to-day in environments where high-calorie foods are readily available, it can be easy to fall into the habit of mindless eating – where we’re too distracted to pay attention to how much, what and why we’re eating. Research suggests that practicing mindfulness – or taking the time to bring awareness to present-moment experiences with an open attitude of curiosity and non-judgment – can be effective in allowing us to make more thoughtful food choices and recognize when we are hungry, satisfied or full. The latest research in this area led by Jennifer Daubenmier, PhD, Assistant Professor at the Osher Center for Integrative Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco, suggests that the impact of mindful eating could be even greater.

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BOSTON – While the protective connection between moderate alcohol consumption and heart health has been well-studied, new research from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) and the Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health suggests that the association is more complicated than is widely accepted. Researchers found that in the hour following even moderate consumption of alcohol, the risk of heart and stroke doubled.

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Patients with heart failure often have a buildup of scar tissue that leads to a gradual loss of heart function. In a new study, UNC researchers report significant progress toward a novel approach that could shrink the amount of heart scar tissue while replenishing the supply of healthy heart muscle.

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Working long hours—particularly 46 hours per week or more—may increase the long-term risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) events such as heart attack, reports a study in the March Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, official publication of the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM).

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When Michael Hess, M.D., started VCU Massey Cancer Center's Cardio-Oncology Program three years ago, it was the first in the state and one of only a handful in the country. Since then, the program has grown exponentially and is still the only one in Richmond dedicated to protecting the hearts of patients undergoing cancer treatment.

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A new study from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis has identified two genes that, when altered in specific ways, either promote or undermine cardiovascular health. The findings may help guide efforts to design new preventive drugs, similar to the way statins now are prescribed to lower “bad” cholesterol to reduce the risk of heart disease.

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Middle aged and older workers at higher risk for cardiovascular health in some jobs.

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Cardiac stem cells could be an effective treatment for a common but difficult-to-treat type of heart failure, a new study from the Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute shows. The study, embargoed until Feb. 29 at 2 p.m. ET, has led to clearance by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for an Investigational New Drug (IND) application to test the cells in patients.

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A popular smartphone app purported to accurately measure blood pressure simply by placing a cellphone on the chest with a finger over the built-in camera lens misses high blood pressure in eight out of 10 patients, potentially putting users’ health at risk, according to research from Johns Hopkins.

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An international team of researchers found minor dehydration might promote cardiac disease and arterial hardening in young, healthy men.