A new study by Cornell University researchers found that taxes on soda reduce consumption among adolescent boys, but not girls. The study analyzed data from Mauritius and Maldives and found that the tax decreased the likelihood of boys consuming soda, but had no impact on their frequency or body mass index.
Dr. Valentin Fuster is receiving the inaugural 'Valentin Fuster Award for Innovation in Science' at the ACC's 71st Annual Scientific Session. The award honors his contributions to cardiovascular medicine and scientific research.
A gene map predicted the likelihood of high blood pressure leading to heart problems or stroke in people with Type 2 diabetes. The study identified a genetic risk score that correlated with increased cardiovascular event risk, highlighting the potential for personalized treatment strategies.
A large US survey found that adults gained weight during the COVID-19 pandemic due to changes in behavior such as increased snacking and alcohol intake. The analysis of more than 3.5 million adults also showed a 3% increase in obesity prevalence, with significant changes in exercise participation, sleep duration, and cigarette smoking.
The new guidelines recommend genetic testing for patients with inherited cardiac diseases and their relatives, particularly in conditions like long QT syndrome. Genetic counselling is also essential, as a diagnosis can have life-changing consequences, including impact on insurance and employment opportunities.
Dr. Edward Fry has been an ACC member for nearly 30 years and will lead transformational cardiovascular care to improve heart health and close access gaps. As the new president, he aims to work with members to drive innovation and knowledge in optimizing cardiovascular care and outcomes.
The study found a twofold regression of coronary atherosclerosis and stabilization of high-risk plaques in patients who received alirocumab, compared to those who received a placebo. Patients treated with alirocumab also needed significantly fewer repeat stenting procedures.
A large study found that small to moderate-sized leaks after left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) procedures significantly increased the risk of adverse events such as clotting and bleeding in AFib patients. Researchers suggest optimizing device placement techniques and using newer devices may help minimize leaks and reduce stroke risk.
A study found that omecamtiv mecarbil did not improve exercise capacity or daily physical activity in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction. The drug was well-tolerated, but its effectiveness in improving functional limitations was limited.
The study found that patiromer significantly lowers blood potassium levels in patients taking RAASi medications for heart failure. The results suggest that patiromer can be used to control excess potassium buildup in the blood, which is a common side effect of RAASi therapy.
A smartwatch app was found to accurately detect atrial fibrillation in nearly 94% of users who followed up with a clinician. The study also screened participants for obstructive sleep apnea and found that those flagged for possible sleep apnea were 1.5 times more likely to have AFib.
The University of Surrey has developed a method to capture CO2 directly from the air and use dynamic catalysis to create carbon-negative methanol, which could offset the cost of direct air capture. The project aims to produce a valuable chemical that can help scale up direct air capture technology.
A new study by Princeton University researchers reveals that macrophages, a type of immune cell, are crucial in the early immune response to SARS-CoV-2. The study used humanized mice with human lung tissue and blood stem cells to investigate the role of macrophages and identified specific genes associated with an effective antiviral re...
A recent study published in Advances in Space Research has identified the earliest record of a candidate aurora in an ancient Chinese text, dated to 977-957 BCE. The 'five-coloured light' mentioned in the Bamboo Annals is consistent with a large geomagnetic storm and provides valuable insights into space weather variability.
A new study found that exercising before developing cancer reduced tumor growth and cachexia symptoms in mice. Regular exercise improved cardiac structure and function, and helped slow tumor growth even after cancer was induced.
Researchers found that SLN360, an experimental siRNA therapy, significantly reduced blood levels of lipoprotein(a), a lesser-known driver of heart disease risk. Participants who received higher doses saw their lipoprotein(a) levels drop by up to 98% and remained lower even after five months.
The European Society of Cardiology publishes a consensus statement outlining preventive measures to ensure safe medical procedures for patients with implanted electronic cardiac devices. These steps include checking device reliance, testing for magnetic field responses, and reprogramming devices before MRI scans.
A preclinical study found that mice fed a high-fat diet and given the mineral supplement Aquamin did not develop liver cancer, unlike those without the supplement. The researchers observed a dramatic reduction in late-stage consequences of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) in animals receiving the supplement.
A global trial found that people with heart failure who received an annual flu shot had lower rates of pneumonia and hospitalization on a year-round basis. The study also revealed significant reductions in major cardiovascular events during peak flu season.
A new consensus document provides practical guidance on using digital devices to monitor heart rhythm and rate. Digital devices can detect asymptomatic arrhythmias that can be treated, such as atrial fibrillation, which increases stroke risk. Experts advise patients and doctors to use devices correctly and establish a management plan.
Researchers found significant and sustained improvements in left ventricular outflow tract gradients, health status, symptoms, and exercise capacity among patients taking mavacamten. The drug appears to be safe and well-tolerated long-term with no new adverse events reported.
A new study suggests that cardamonin, a compound from the cardamom spice, can kill triple-negative breast cancer cells and reduce PD-L1 expression. The findings hold promise for improving cancer therapy without severe side effects.
Vupanorsen, an experimental drug targeting non-HDL cholesterol, showed modest reductions in Non-HDL cholesterol by up to 28%, triglycerides by up to 57%, and angiopoietin-like 3 (ANGPTL3) levels by up to 95% in patients with high cholesterol.
A new study found that customized digital alerts via an electronic health record system significantly increased the number of guideline-directed medications prescribed for heart failure patients. The alerts improved medication use by over a quarter of patients, translating to one medication addition per every 14 alerts received.
A new clinical trial found that the drug mavacamten alleviates shortness of breath in patients with obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. The treatment also improves symptoms and heart failure biomarkers.
A Cleveland Clinic-led trial found that an experimental 'gene silencing' therapy significantly reduced blood levels of lipoprotein(a), a key driver of heart disease risk, by up to 96%-98%. The therapy targets the gene responsible for Lp(a) production and has shown strong efficacy with no major safety concerns reported.
A study presented at the American College of Cardiology's Annual Scientific Session found that personalized nutrition education in grocery stores significantly improved DASH diet adherence. Participants who received six one-on-one sessions with a dietitian showed an average increase of 4.7 points on their DASH scores.
A recent study suggests that eating nutrient-rich prunes every day may benefit bone health in postmenopausal women by reducing inflammatory factors. The research found significant reductions in inflammatory markers in prune-eating groups compared to a control group.
Researchers have synthesized a high-entropy alloy with 21 uniformly composed elements, improving solar steam generation performance. The alloy's unique structure enhances interband transitions and reduces thermal conductivity, leading to improved photothermal conversion efficiency.
The trial evaluated the use of mavacamten as an alternative to heart surgery or alcohol septal ablation for treating hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Findings showed significant reduction in left ventricular outflow tract pressure gradient and improvements in quality-of-life measures.
A team of researchers has developed a microbial consortium that enhances the synthesis of terpenoids, including vitamin K2, by combining Escherichia coli and Elizabethkingia meningoseptica. The co-culture strategy improves vitamin K2 biosynthesis and realizes material exchange between bacteria.
A UK team is developing personalized ‘theranostic’ dressings that speed up wound healing while providing diagnostic information. The dressings feature biomimetic macromolecules that replicate natural tissue structures, kickstarting the body’s healing processes.
Researchers found that patients treated with tranexamic acid had significantly less serious bleeding and needed fewer blood transfusions compared to those who received a placebo. No significant difference in adverse events such as heart attacks or blood clots was observed.
Researchers analyzed interviews with participants and found that the program's success was due to its community context, support network, and direct contact with pharmacists. The team plans to track barbershop patrons and explore how public health measures during COVID-19 impacted community-based health interventions.
A progressive exercise training program improves health markers in young female survivors of childhood trauma, reducing systolic blood pressure and endothelin-1 levels. Participants showed improved goal-planning and hope, suggesting a potential psychophysiological relationship between physical activity and cardiovascular risk factors.
Researchers found smokers have significantly lower A1AT levels, which may reduce cardiac tissue protection during a heart attack. No difference was detected in hypertensive and non-hypertensive individuals.
A study analyzing blood samples from premenopausal women with breast cancer found high levels of inflammatory markers and low antioxidant levels. These findings may reveal a new diagnostic tool for the disease, with implications for identifying early stages and improving treatment outcomes.
The SODIUM-HF trial found that reducing sodium intake for one year improved quality of life and slowed heart failure progression in patients. However, it did not significantly reduce major adverse events or hospitalizations. The study suggests that individualized recommendations may be beneficial for certain patients.
A team developed a high-sensitivity electrochemical aptasensor for picomolar thrombin detection, demonstrating excellent anti-interference and stability. The sensing platform shows great potential for analyzing other biological or environmental substances by rational design of target-binding aptamer.
A new study used a virtual population to simulate a clinical trial examining kidney damage in Black Americans. The model predicted kidney damage and showed that adding drug therapy and reducing salt intake could stop the damage, improving heart sizes as well.
A phase 3 study found that mavacamten significantly improved symptoms, quality of life, and key heart markers in patients with obstructive HCM. Only 17.9% of those on mavacamten were still eligible for surgical intervention after 16 weeks, compared to 76.8% on placebo.
Researchers found that a blueberry phenolic extract improved vascularization and cell migration in live wounds, leading to a 12% increase in wound closure. The study suggests wild blueberries have the potential to enhance wound healing, particularly for patients with chronic wounds.
Researchers create a quantum anomalous Hall insulator by stacking a ferromagnetic material between two 2D topological insulators, enabling room-temperature lossless transport. The new architecture could lead to ultra-low energy future electronics or topological photovoltaics.
A six-week study found that high-resistance inspiratory muscle strength training improved exercise tolerance by 12% in adults aged 50 and older. The treatment involved inhaling through a handheld device adding resistance to the breath for five minutes daily.
A study of 806 patients with heart failure found that reducing sodium intake improved symptoms such as swelling, fatigue, and coughing. However, it had no effect on rates of death, hospitalization, or emergency department visits. The researchers recommend a lower sodium intake limit for heart failure patients.
Researchers found a 20% reduction in severe preeclampsia, preterm birth, abruption, and fetal or newborn death among women treated with antihypertensives. The benefits remained after controlling for other factors.
Scientists have developed an efficient electrocatalytic material that can selectively convert nitrate into nitrogen gas, reducing total nitrogen levels in water. The material, featuring a cubic Cu2O film with (111) orientation, shows high selectivity and efficiency towards N2 production.
Researchers successfully integrated manipulation of magnetic skyrmions using electrical currents, enabling operations such as writing, erasing and addressing a single skyrmion at room temperature. The achievement demonstrates the potential of skyrmion-based racetrack memories with low power consumption.
Scientists successfully couple polyenes into polyacetylene on a Cu(110) surface, revealing three distinct types of linkages. By modulating surface coverage, they can suppress unwanted bond formations, paving the way for controlled uniform products in on-surface chemistry.
A crowdsourcing campaign has compiled data on the drivers of tropical forest loss between 2008 and 2019, resulting in a high-resolution dataset. The analysis found that agriculture expansion, road construction, and wood extraction are major contributors to deforestation.
A new study finds that California wildfires increase both revenues and expenditures in municipalities, resulting in a budget shortfall over many years. The unique state constitution limits property assessments, but still leads to higher taxes and a boom in housing reassessments after fires.
Researchers discover that common herbicides can kill the Toxoplasma gondii parasite without harming human cells. The compounds work by inhibiting heme biosynthesis, a promising approach for treating toxoplasmosis.
Ira Mellman, PhD, is being honored with the 2022 AACR-CRI Lloyd J. Old Award in Cancer Immunology for his seminal work on dendritic cell function and its impact on atezolizumab and neoepitope vaccines. His research has made a major impact on cancer immunology and has the potential to stimulate new directions.
The RFF Solar Geoengineering Research Project has awarded $10,000 grants to eight teams to investigate the social science implications of solar geoengineering. The projects will explore the risks, benefits, and uncertainties of this emerging technology.
A new study supports the idea that humans inherited our love of alcohol from primate ancestors, who consumed fermented fruit with high alcohol content. Monkeys eat and digest alcohol-rich fruits, using it as a source of calories, shedding light on human affinity for booze.
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine have discovered a new type of cell in the human lung with regenerative properties. The cells, called respiratory airway secretory cells (RASCs), line tiny airway branches and can regenerate other cells essential for alveoli functioning.
A Japanese study suggests a negative relationship between marriage and wealth among Japanese women, with their personal wealth declining after marriage. In contrast, marriage has a positive impact on the personal assets of women in Western countries.
A new study provides strong evidence that periodic volcanic activity in the Karoo province triggered multiple Jurassic extinctions. The research reveals that volcanism occurred over a longer period than previously thought, with three distinct stages of activity, and had a significant impact on the environment.
A new study found that infant monkeys conceived while their mothers were exposed to wildfire smoke showed increased inflammation, memory deficits, and a more passive temperament compared to those conceived later. The effects suggest that some component of wildfire smoke can act as a teratogen, affecting fetal development.
Cancer stem cells (CSCs) play a key role in malignant cancer progression, but the mechanism of their plasticity remains unknown. Researchers have identified DKK1 as a pivotal molecule that autonomously diminishes CSC population and promotes metastatic colonization.