A new study from Intermountain Health reveals that genetic screening can effectively identify individuals with familial hypercholesteremia (FH), a condition affecting about 1 in 250 people. By targeting these patients with treatment, researchers aim to prevent heart attacks, strokes, and death.
A new landmark study identifies 14 evolutionary traps that human societies are at risk of getting stuck in, including global climate tipping points, misaligned AI, and chemical pollution. To avoid these dead ends, the researchers emphasize the need for collective human agency and design settings where it can flourish.
The Genes & Health study has enrolled its 10th participant in a gene-editing clinical trial for heart disease, specifically familial hypercholesterolemia. This milestone marks an important step towards improving health outcomes for people of Pakistani and Bangladeshi descent.
Patients with heart failure treated with dapagliflozin experienced frequent initial estimated glomerular filtration rate declines, but without increased cardiovascular or kidney event risks. The study suggests that sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors can be safely continued in patients experiencing eGFR decline.
A new therapeutic, lepodisiran, has shown promising results in reducing lipoprotein(a) levels to undetectable levels for nearly one year. The study found that the medication is safe and effective in lowering Lp(a) levels by more than 94%.
A four-year blood-pressure intervention significantly reduced the risk of developing dementia among adults with high blood pressure, compared to those who received usual care. The study found that lowering systolic blood pressure to less than 130 mm Hg and diastolic blood pressure to less than 80 mm Hg reduced dementia risk.
The ORBITA-2 trial found that stenting improves symptoms compared to a placebo procedure, providing evidence-based treatment for stable chest pain. The study suggests updating guidelines for stable coronary artery disease and offers patients and medical teams two treatment strategies with similar benefits.
A new study suggests that hormonal birth control used by adolescents may influence the development of their brain, leading to altered risk assessment. The researchers found increased myelination and decreased immune cells in the brains of treated rats, while also exhibiting signs of impulsivity in behavior tests.
A single infusion of CRISPR-based gene-editing therapy significantly reduced LDL cholesterol levels in people with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia, a condition that increases heart attack risk. The treatment has shown potential as a long-term or permanent option for high LDL-C control.
A phase 1 trial shows that a single dose of lepodisiran can reduce blood levels of lipoprotein(a) by up to 96%, a key driver of heart disease risk. The therapy, which blocks the production of lipoprotein(a), is well-tolerated and has long-lasting effects.
A study supported by NIH found that ineffective ventilation technique during CPR results in significantly worse patient survival rates. Those who received higher number of effective ventilations had three times greater survival rate and better clinical outcomes.
A group of renowned experts has cast doubt on claims that Homo naledi deliberately buried their dead and produced rock art in Rising Star Cave, South Africa. The team suggests that natural agents and post-depositional processes may be responsible for the accumulation of bodies and the alleged engravings.
A phase 4 clinical trial found that apixaban, an anti-clotting medication, reduced the rate of stroke and blood clots in adults with implanted heart devices experiencing short bouts of asymptomatic, irregular heart rhythms. The study suggests that these individuals may benefit from receiving an anticoagulant.
A study found that pregnant women with high blood pressure who received tight blood pressure control immediately after pregnancy had lower blood pressure levels and improved cardiac function compared to those with usual care. This could lead to a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, including heart attacks and strokes.
A new anti-clotting medication, abelacimab, has significantly reduced bleeding among people with atrial fibrillation who are at risk of stroke. The AZALEA-TIMI 71 trial found that abelacimab substantially reduced bleeding compared to the current standard of care use of direct-acting oral anticoagulants.
Researchers propose two novel unsupervised spectral feature selection algorithms to detect informative features in high-dimensional data with small samples. The algorithms use advanced clustering and ranking techniques to guarantee representative and independent features, leading to reliable and trustworthy medical diagnostic systems.
A new study from Intermountain Health reveals that air pollution from wildfires and winter inversions poses different risks of heart attack and severe chest pain. Short-term increases in fine particulate matter were associated with increased risk of heart attack during the winter inversion season, but not summer wildfire season.
A single dose of zilebesiran safely and effectively lowered systolic blood pressure in people with mild-to-moderate high blood pressure for up to six months. The study found significant reductions in daytime and nighttime systolic blood pressure, as well as low rates of adverse events.
A new study found that genetic screening can identify patients with an inherited risk of cardiomyopathy, allowing for closer monitoring and improved treatment. The study suggests that widespread genetic testing can lead to better outcomes for these patients, including reduced deaths.
A new study found that wildfires and drought have led to a 10% reduction in the value of private timberland in three Pacific states over the past two decades. Climate change is attributed as the primary cause of this damage, with large wildfires causing an additional 8.7% loss.
A global study found that apixaban reduced the risk of stroke and blood clotting by 37% in patients with device-detected atrial fibrillation, also known as sub-clinical atrial fibrillation (SCAF). The medication also reduced fatal or disabling stroke by 49%.
A randomized controlled trial suggests that a more liberal approach to red blood cell transfusions for heart attack patients with anemia may benefit outcomes without significant risk. The study found no statistically significant difference between two transfusion strategies, but results suggest a possible benefit of liberal transfusions.
A new study suggests that a PCSK9 inhibitor given every 1-3 months may effectively lower bad cholesterol levels in people with non-genetic hypercholesterolemia. The medication, recaticimab, showed similar effectiveness and safety as other PCSK9 inhibitors when administered less frequently.
Researchers found that abelacimab, a Factor XI inhibitor, reduced bleeding compared to rivaroxaban in patients with atrial fibrillation. The study showed significant reduction in hospitalization due to bleeding and almost eliminated gastrointestinal bleeding.
Lepodisiran, a short interfering RNA, targets hepatic synthesis of apolipoprotein(a), reducing serum lipoprotein(a) concentrations. Phase 1 study results support further investigation of lepodisiran's efficacy in treating elevated lipoprotein(a) levels.
Researchers found that people with overweight or obesity who took semaglutide for over 3 years had a 20% lower risk of heart attack, stroke, or death from cardiovascular disease. The study showed significant weight loss and improved cardiovascular outcomes in adults without diabetes.
Dr. Gailen Marshall was installed as president of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI), succeeding Dr. James Tracy who was elected as president-elect. Dr. Marshall is a renowned allergist and immunologist with extensive experience in clinical practice, research, and academia.