Research found cancer increases risk of death and rehospitalization in patients with broken heart syndrome. Patients with cancer also experienced higher risks of adverse events after discharge, highlighting the need for strict monitoring.
Researchers at Stanford University School of Medicine discovered that people with cardiomyopathy have abnormally short telomeres in their heart muscle cells. This finding opens the door to new research and drug discovery, potentially allowing for the identification of individuals at risk for heart failure due to genetic defects.
Tafamidis improves survival and quality of life, reducing hospitalizations in patients with transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy. The therapy delays neurologic progression in a similar condition, and has been approved for this condition in the EU.
A phase three clinical trial has shown that tafamidis can reduce deaths by 30% and cardiovascular-related hospitalizations by 32%. The treatment also slows the decline in quality of life among patients with transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy. If approved, it would be the first medical therapy for this life-threatening disease.
Researchers at Temple University Health System have identified four BAG3 gene variants linked to poor outcomes in African American patients with dilated cardiomyopathy. The variants facilitate programmed cell death and reduce autophagy, leading to worsening heart failure.
A study led by Adam Wende found an underlying mechanism that reprograms the hearts of patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy, altering cellular remodeling and metabolism. The researchers identified epigenetic changes that encode a 'metabolic plasticity' in failing hearts, which may repair the ischemic and failing heart.
Researchers found that a protein called brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) may help protect failing hearts in children and young adults with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Preliminary studies suggest that supplementing BDNF signaling could be a new way to treat heart complications in this disease.
At least 1% of the US population has an identifiable genetic risk for cancer or heart disease that can be detected through genomic screening. Implementing routine genomic screening could lead to significant benefits, but more work is needed to develop functioning models.
A 60-year-old amateur weight-lifter developed non-ischaemic cardiomyopathy after taking high doses of testosterone and receiving illegal stem cell infusions. Doctors warn that AAS abuse can cause heart problems in people without usual risk factors, especially when taken at high doses.
Permanent His-bundle pacing bypasses iatrogenic left bundle-branch block caused by conventional RV pacing, maintaining or restoring ventricular synchrony. This technique is beneficial for patients with bradycardia or conduction system abnormalities.
Researchers have discovered a genetic link between alcohol consumption and heart failure, specifically in individuals with a faulty titin gene. The study found that even moderate amounts of alcohol intake can worsen the condition by reducing heart output in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy caused by the faulty gene.
Researchers have found a newly identified subset of a known genetic variant associated with an increased risk of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in individuals of South Asian descent. The study suggests that this genetic variant and its subset may be better markers for carriers of heart dysfunction in this population.
A study published in Cell Reports found that accumulating ceramides can lead to lipotoxic cardiomyopathy, a heart condition often associated with diabetes and obesity. Researchers discovered potential therapeutic targets to prevent or reverse the effects of this condition.
A European Society of Cardiology study found that four in ten cardiomyopathies in young people are genetic. Family screening is crucial to detect the disease in apparently healthy relatives and prevent early death. The study also highlights the need for earlier diagnosis and better diagnostic tests, including genetic testing.
A study using fruit flies has identified a mechanism behind a human heart condition that causes the heart to enlarge and fail. The mutation interferes with heart muscle relaxation, preventing it from fully filling with blood and pumping it out.
Researchers analyzed RNA from transplanted hearts to discover new risk factors for dilated cardiomyopathy and other heart conditions. The study identified 228 genes that are expressed differently in DCM patients and healthy subjects, including 60 new genes linked to the disease.
Scientists successfully corrected a disease-causing mutation in human embryos using CRISPR-Cas9, increasing the probability of inheriting a healthy gene from 50% to 72.4%. The technique also revealed an alternative DNA repair system in human embryos.
The INCA-Peru study developed an ultrafast CMR protocol, reducing scan time to 10 minutes and cost to $150, improving diagnosis and treatment outcomes in Peru. The test revealed new diagnoses in 20% of patients, changing clinical management in 33%.
A retrospective observational study found that men have a more severe form of chemotherapy-induced cardiomyopathy, with lower left and right ventricular ejection fractions and larger cardiac volumes compared to women. The study's results suggest that female sex hormones may be protective against this condition.
Washington State University researchers are studying mutations in three proteins that cause cardiomyopathy, a genetic heart condition affecting 1 in 500 people worldwide. The four-year project aims to improve diagnostics and develop new treatments for hereditary heart conditions.
Researchers from Georgia State University are investigating the role of mitochondrial dysfunction in developing diabetic cardiomyopathy, a leading cause of heart failure and death in diabetic patients. They aim to understand how increased FUNDC1 expression impairs mitochondrial function, leading to cardiac damage and dysfunction.
Researchers discovered that gene mutations in titin protein can impact heart function even in healthy individuals, potentially affecting up to 35 million people globally. The study sheds light on the paradox of how some people with genetic mutations appear unaffected.
Researchers identified a genetic variant in MYBPC3 that predisposes South Asians to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, an enlarged heart condition. Early screening of this variant can help reduce the incidence of sudden cardiac death in this population.
Active marijuana use was linked to an increased risk of developing stress cardiomyopathy, a sudden weakening of the heart muscle reducing its ability to pump. Marijuana users were more likely to experience cardiac arrest and require implanted defibrillators compared to non-users.
A study published in PLOS Neglected Diseases reveals that Chagas disease has a significant presence in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas, affecting up to 30% of those infected with Trypanosoma cruzi developing fatal cardiomyopathy. The research estimates 4,600 people are currently infected and 1,300 at risk for cardiac disease.
Researchers at Marshall University have discovered a peptide, pNaKtide, that can reduce oxidant stress and ameliorate experimental uremic cardiomyopathy. This finding has significant implications for treating patients with kidney disease, which affects millions of people worldwide.
Researchers used electron microscopy to capture the first three-dimensional image of a myosin filament in a Thai water bug. This discovery sheds light on how mutations in myosin can cause cardiomyopathy, a disease of the heart muscle. The study provides new insights into muscle contraction and relaxation.
Research presented at ESC Congress 2016 found that sudden cardiac death in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy occurs relatively rarely during sport activity, but more often at rest and sometimes during sleep. Better strategies aimed at detecting the disease are needed to prevent deaths.
A phase II-a randomized trial showed that intravenously administered mesenchymal stem cells resulted in improved health status and functional capacity in patients with chronic non-ischemic cardiomyopathy, but no significant cardiac structural or functional improvements were observed.
A new consensus paper defines and classifies atrial cardiomyopathies, which can lead to atrial fibrillation, strokes, and other complications. The guidelines also discuss the triggers of atrial fibrillation and provide advice on prevention and treatment options.
A new study reveals that the splicing regulator RBFOX2 plays a key role in diabetic cardiomyopathy, impairing normal gene expression patterns and leading to abnormal calcium signaling in the heart. This understanding may lead to the development of new tools for diagnosing, preventing or treating this form of heart damage.
Researchers have identified a new disease gene associated with severe pediatric cardiomyopathies, allowing for improved genetic counselling, predictive testing, and early treatment. The discovery also provides a potential drug development target for treating affected children and family members.
Researchers developed a predictive model that uses patient-specific stem cells and genetic data to forecast heart defect types in pediatric patients. The model was tested on human cardiomyocyte cells from patients with specific mutations, achieving accurate predictions of hypertrophic or dilated cardiomyopathy.
A Florida State University researcher is studying the regulation of calcium in heart cells to correct a calcium imbalance and develop new treatment strategies for cardiomyopathies. The goal is to identify components involved in disease development and open the door for more effective treatments inside the cell.
Researchers have discovered a gene signature that characterizes the transition from dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) to heart failure. The study found increased expression of fibrotic and inflammatory genes, as well as changes in heart muscle cell proliferation and metabolic profiles.
Researchers found that GSK3β inhibition improves cardiac function and reduces fibrosis and inflammation in murine models of arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy. The study suggests GSK3β inhibition has potential as a therapeutic strategy for treating ACM.
Researchers develop small molecule inhibitor to address hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a common cause of sudden death in young athletes. The treatment has shown promising results in mice bred with the mutation, preventing the disease from surfacing.
Researchers demonstrate MYK-461's ability to prevent and reverse hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) in genetically modified mouse models. The study supports a therapeutic hypothesis that reducing sarcomere power output can improve structural pathology, potentially treating HCM.
A new study reveals that the β-1 adrenergic receptor and RAGE work together to cause myocardial injury and progression to cardiomyopathy. Blocking RAGE signaling after β-adrenergic agonist-induced heart failure mitigates cell death and restores cardiac function.
Researchers analyzed 43 genes in 172 women with peripartum cardiomyopathy, finding that a genetic mutation in the TTN gene is a common cause. This discovery could inform future research and potentially improve care for affected women.
TGen and Barrow researchers identified rare genetic changes associated with stress-triggered heart disease, a condition previously referred to as 'broken heart syndrome.' The study's findings may help guide care and treatment before and after patients experience a life-threatening stressor.
The European Cardiomyopathy Registry Pilot study found that nearly 60% of patients with arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy received implantable cardioverter-defibrillators, a common yet underutilized treatment strategy. Genetic testing was also widely used, with over half of tests yielding positive results.
Researchers have identified the molecular basis for a heart condition called dilated cardiomyopathy and found a potential treatment that partially restores function to diseased cells. The study used induced pluripotent stem cells to model the disease, revealing how a key signaling pathway develops in healthy vs. diseased cells.
Early RA patients exhibit cardiomyopathy, reduced vascular function, and increased cardiovascular mortality. Cardiac MRI revealed aortic stiffness, left ventricular volumes, and geometry changes indicative of cardiac abnormalities.
A new study reveals that environmental stress significantly increases the development of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in individuals with gene mutations, putting them at greater risk of developing the disease. The findings suggest that stressors like high blood pressure, diabetes, and alcohol use may trigger the onset of symptoms in car...
A study found that decreased blood levels of Klotho increase the risk of heart disease in mice with chronic kidney disease, suggesting potential treatment strategy to protect kidney disease patients' heart health. If confirmed in humans, increasing Klotho levels may help protect the hearts of patients with chronic kidney disease.
Recent research has shown that children with dilated cardiomyopathy are living longer without heart transplants, with a survival rate of 15% without transplantation. The study found that the more recent era (2000-09) had better survival rates and was associated with factors other than transplantation availability.
Researchers developed a novel ultrasound technology to screen for heart conditions, enabling earlier diagnosis and more effective treatment. The technology helps identify blood flow patterns in the heart, which is crucial for diagnosing hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and non-ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy.
The new guidelines provide a risk calculator to estimate five-year risk of sudden cardiac death in HCM patients. The guidelines also recommend genetic testing, specialized tests, and multidisciplinary team referrals to improve diagnosis and management.
The European Society of Cardiology has launched newregistries for cardiac oncology and ACS, aiming to monitor treatment practices and outcomes. The registries will provide robust data on cardiovascular disease burden and treatment in Europe.
A US study found clusters of 'broken heart' syndrome in Vermont and Missouri after major natural disasters, suggesting stress as a trigger. Researchers call for greater awareness among emergency responders to improve diagnosis and treatment of the condition.
Researchers at the University of Missouri have successfully treated laboratory mice with a genetic heart defect using a new compound. The study found that the compound reduced the thickness of the mice's heart muscles and improved their cardiac functioning, offering potential hope for treating hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
Researchers at Northwestern University discovered that doxorubicin accumulates in cardiomyocyte mitochondria, promoting ROS production and iron accumulation. Limiting mitochondrial iron transport with specific proteins or dexrazoxane may mitigate doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity.
A new classification system called MOGE(S) has been developed to classify cardiomyopathies, a group of diseases affecting the heart muscle. The system uses a descriptive nomenclature with letters to explain individual patients' cardiomyopathy types and genetic mutations.
A study found that transendocardial stem cell injection with autologous mesenchymal stem cells and bone marrow mononuclear cells is safe for patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy. The treatment also showed promise in improving quality of life and walking distance.
Researchers at UTMB have discovered that PKC activation leads to alternative splicing events in the heart, causing developmental shift and preventing correct functioning. This finding could help lead to prevention and treatment of heart failure in diabetics.
A long-term study found that infants and children with congestive heart failure and genetic disorders have the lowest transplant-free survival rates. Children diagnosed after one year old with unknown cause have the best outcome, a 97% rate of transplant-free survival.
Children with inherited metabolic diseases, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, or multiple risk factors have worse prognosis. Younger age, lower weight, congestive heart failure, and abnormal left ventricle structure are significant risk factors for death or transplantation.
Researchers at the University of Liege discovered a molecule, miR-146a, that can serve as a biomarker for peripartum cardiomyopathy. Elevated serum miR-146a levels were found in pregnant women who developed PPCM, suggesting its potential use to predict disease risk.
New study finds MR images taken during systole phase show more accurate detection of myocardial scars in ischemic cardiomyopathy patients. Systolic images revealed scars not visible on diastolic images, particularly in the left ventricle area prone to ischemic damage.