Feature Channels: Heart Disease

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In a study that included elderly men and women without preexisting cardiovascular disease, major and minor electrocardiographic abnormalities were associated with an increased risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) events and improved the prediction of CHD events such as heart attack, beyond traditional cardiovascular risk factors, according to a study in the April 11 issue of JAMA.

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Although observational studies have suggested that losartan, a drug used primarily for the treatment of hypertension, may be associated with an increased risk of death among patients with heart failure compared with other medications in the same class of drugs, an analysis that included nearly 6,500 patients found that overall, use of losartan was not associated with increased all-cause death or cardiovascular death compared with use of the ARB candesartan, according to a study in the April 11 issue of JAMA.

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In work published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation researchers question the wisdom of blocking the DP1 receptor in patients prone to cardiovascular disease, especially those taking niacin.

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A new study found that for advanced heart failure patients with diabetes, having higher blood glucose levels may actually help improve survival rates.

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Heart cells starved of nutrients are less likely to be damaged during periods of decreased blood flow and sudden influxes of blood, known as ischemia and reperfusion, and are also less likely to get out of synch with their cellular neighbors, the damaging phenomenon called arrhythmia.

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In the largest multicenter clinical trial of children undergoing early-stage surgery for single-ventricle heart defects, differences in intraoperative management did not significantly affect neurodevelopmental outcomes at 14 months of age.

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Greater lifetime exposure to the stress of traumatic events was linked to higher levels of inflammation in a study of almost 1,000 patients with cardiovascular disease led by researchers at the San Francisco VA Medical Center and the University of California, San Francisco.

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Daily intake of vitamin D-fortified doogh (Persian yogurt drink) improved inflammatory markers in type 2 diabetics and extra calcium conferred additional anti-inflammatory benefits, according to a recent study accepted for publication in The Endocrine Society’s Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism (JCEM).

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Low-carb, high-fat diets led to more damaging, more deadly heart attacks and impaired recovery of heart function in study.

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Early data suggest ETC-1002, a drug that regulates lipid and carbohydrate metabolism, had a significant impact on cholesterol levels and improved factors believed to contribute to cardio-metabolic diseases, say researchers from the Methodist DeBakey Heart & Vascular Center, the Baylor College of Medicine, and Esperion Therapeutics, Inc.

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A research network led by a Mayo Clinic physician found that stem cells derived from heart failure patients’ own bone marrow and injected into their hearts improved the function of the left ventricle, the heart’s pumping chamber. Researchers also found that certain types of the stem cells were associated with the largest improvement and warrant further study.

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With transcatheter aortic valve replacement, a patient undergoes a 60 to 90-minute procedure, compared with four to six hours for open-heart surgery.

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The Cardiochip, a gene array designed by a scientist at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, helped an international research consortium discover that anti-inflammatory drugs may offer a novel treatment to prevent heart disease.

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A small clinical trial led by researchers at UC San Diego School of Medicine and VA San Diego Healthcare System (VASDHS) found that patients with advanced heart failure and type 2 diabetes showed improved mitochondrial structure after three months of treatment with epicatechin-enriched cocoa. Epicatechin is a flavonoid found in dark chocolate.

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UT Southwestern Medical Center cardiologists have uncovered how a specific protein’s previously unsuspected role contributes to the deterioration of heart muscle in patients with diabetes. Investigators in the mouse study also have found a way to reverse the damage caused by this protein.

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A nutrient found in the dark meat of poultry may provide protection against coronary heart disease (CHD) in women with high cholesterol, according to a study by researchers at NYU Langone Medical Center.

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A meta-analysis of eight previously published clinical trials suggests that initial stent implantation for patients with stable coronary artery disease is not associated with improved outcomes compared with initial medical therapy for prevention of death, nonfatal heart attacks, unplanned revascularization or angina, according to a study published in the Feb. 27 Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

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In a Perspective piece published online this week in the journal Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality Outcomes, two University of Pennsylvania researchers outline the tremendous potential associated with greater utilization of AEDs in public places and a method to find the devices and help more people use them during emergencies.

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Cigarette smoke has long been considered the main risk factor for heart disease. But new research, to be presented at the 56th Annual Meeting of the Biophysical Society, shows that nicotine itself can contribute to the disease process.

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During Heart Disease Awareness Month, experts at the U-M Cardiovascular Center are available to discuss new strategies for improving patient care and the quality of patients’ lives. While cutting-edge techniques are transforming treatment of heart disease, there are ways to prevent getting heart disease in the first place.

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Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the U.S. However, calcium scoring can give you the winning edge. Michael Pressel, MD from the Heart Center at Sinai Hospital of Baltimore explains.

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Being proactive about heart health can help men lower their risk and avoid a heart event.

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Heart disease kills more women, young and old, than cancer. Yet for most, it’s avoidable with a healthier lifestyle.

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The walls of the aorta, the largest blood vessel carrying blood from the heart, exhibits a response to electric fields known to exist in inorganic and synthetic materials. The discovery could have implications for treating human heart disease.

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Based on an innovative yet simple “Eat 5, Move 10, Sleep 8” program, Mayo Clinic Healthy Heart For Life! provides the latest, clinically proven information on heart disease prevention and a step-by-step quick-start plan that breaks through the clutter and helps people understand exactly where to focus.

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A new study in today’s New England Journal of Medicine reports that while an individual’s risk of heart disease may be low in the next five or 10 years, the lifetime risk could still be very high, findings that could have implications for both clinical practice and public health policy.

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People who suffer from sleep disturbances are at major risk for obesity, diabetes, and coronary artery disease, according to new research from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.

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Doctors at the Peter Munk Cardiac Centre today performed a minimally invasive surgical procedure to treat high blood pressure, called renal denervation, for the first time in Canada. The procedure can significantly reduce high blood pressure in patients who cannot effectively treat their hypertension through drugs. These patients, numbering approximately 250,000 Canadians, have to endure an especially high risk of heart attacks and stroke, which continues to kill thousands of Canadians every year.

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The risk for heart-related death is increasing in young adults ages 35 to 54, and the numbers are even more alarming for younger women. It is the number-one cause of death for both men and women in the United States, yet every year since 1984 more women have died of cardiovascular health problems than men, according to the American Heart Association.

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Patients with coronary artery disease -- blockages of the vessels that feed the heart -- can be treated in a number of ways. With their doctor, they decide on the best course of action: surgery, stent placement or medication. Sometimes, a combination of these is the best approach.

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With a commitment to medical innovations and minimally invasive treatments, physicians at Montefiore Einstein Center for Heart & Vascular Care are recognized as leaders in cardiovascular care. From prevention to treatment of cardiac conditions, experts are available to comment on all aspects of cardiac health.

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A person’s risk of suffering a heart attack increases by approximately 21 times in the first 24 hours after losing a loved one, according to a study lead by researchers at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.

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A new study by NYU Langone Medical Center researchers identified a new culprit that leads to atherosclerosis, the accumulation of fat and cholesterol that hardens into plaque and narrows arteries. The research explains why cholesterol-laden, coronary artery disease-causing cells called macrophages, accumulate in artery plaques.

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In a study that enrolled nearly 30,000 apparently healthy men and women, those who had an increase in their resting heart rate over a 10-year period had an increased risk of death from all causes and from ischemic heart disease, according to a study in the December 21 issue of JAMA.

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In a new study, NYU Langone Medical Center researchers have discovered how cholesterol-lowering drugs called statins promote the breakdown of plaque in the arteries.

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Highlights: 1) Two similar blood pressure–lowering drugs could have different effects on dialysis patients’ heart health. 2) Angiotensin receptor blockers are more effective at fighting inflammation while angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors are better at preventing blood vessel damage. Both properties could help prevent heart disease. 3) About 20% of kidney disease patients die within one year after they start dialysis and more than half die after five years—mostly from heart disease.

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By changing the behavior of certain cells within human blood vessels, Cornell University researchers have discovered important clues as to the underlying causes of atherosclerosis – a discovery researchers hope can lead to more targeted drug therapies for the prevention of the disease.

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A team of Johns Hopkins researchers has uncovered further evidence of the benefits of a balanced diet that replaces white bread and pasta carbohydrates with unsaturated fat from avocados, olive oil and nuts — foods typical of the so-called “Mediterranean diet.”

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High physical work demands are linked to an increased risk of death from ischemic heart disease (IHD)—but only for men who aren't physically fit, reports a study in the November Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, official publication of the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM).

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Coronary calcium in heart arteries provides important clues about risk, even among younger and elderly patients and those without traditional risk factors, according to new studies.

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If your doctor says you have a negative stress test, or that your cholesterol or blood pressure are normal, how assured can you be that you’re not likely to have a heart attack in the next seven to 10 years? Assessing traditional risk factors, such as age, high blood pressure, cholesterol, smoking and family history can estimate a person’s risk, but the picture is not always clear-cut. Some newer tests can be offered to provide reassurance or guidance about the need for medications or further testing.

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Researchers from Mount Sinai School of Medicine have discovered the therapeutic benefit of fetal stem cells in helping the maternal heart recover after heart attack or other injury. The research marks a significant advancement in cardiac regenerative medicine.

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Mayo Clinic researchers have amassed additional evidence that secondhand smoke kills and smoke-free workplace laws save lives. The study will be presented to the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions on Monday in Orlando.

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The risk of heart failure appears to be higher among low-income seniors — even those with a college education — according to research from the University of Alabama at Birmingham presented during the 2011 American Heart Association Scientific Sessions.

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A research network led by a Mayo Clinic physician found that stem cells obtained from bone marrow delivered two to three weeks after a person has a heart attack did not improve heart function. This is the first study to systematically examine the timing and method of stem cell delivery and provides vital information for the field of cell therapy.

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The cost of treating men for heart disease topped $47 billion in 2008, leading a list of the 10 most expensive conditions for men age 18 and older.

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Identification of three fatty acids involved in the extreme growth of Burmese pythons’ hearts following large meals could prove beneficial in treating diseased human hearts, according to research co-authored by a University of Alabama scientist and publishing in the Oct. 28 issue of Science.

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A simple blood test could someday quantify a smoker’s lung toxicity and danger of heart disease, researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have found.

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Researchers at NYU Langone Medical Center today announce findings published in the October 20 issue of Nature that show for the first time the inhibition of both microRNA-33a and microRNA-33b (miR-33a/b) with chemically modified anti-miR oligonucleotides markedly suppress triglyceride levels and cause a sustained increase in high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) “good” cholesterol.

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A new study from researchers at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania suggests that cardiovascular disease may be an unfortunate consequence of mammalian evolution.