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Dedicated women’s heart centers can improve accurate diagnoses and outcomes

A prospective study in the Canadian Journal of Cardiology found that dedicated women's heart centers can significantly improve clinical and psychological outcomes for women with myocardial ischemia. The study, which followed 154 patients, showed a significant decrease in chest pain frequency and improved quality of life after attending...

SourceElsevier·JournalCanadian Journal of Cardiology·TypeObservational study·DateSep 7, 2022

Cardiac arrest survival rate rising

The study found that the probability of surviving cardiac arrest outside hospital has more than doubled in 30 years, from approximately 5% to 11%. The improvement is attributed to increased CPR training and better healthcare resources. However, ambulance delays and an increase in difficult-to-treat cases are hindering further progress.

SourceUniversity of Gothenburg·JournalEuropean Heart Journal·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateAug 26, 2022

Women’s Preventive Services Initiative issues guidelines for preventing obesity in midlife women

The Women's Preventive Services Initiative issues guidelines for preventing obesity in midlife women, recommending counseling on healthy eating and physical activity. The guideline aims to mitigate concerns about weight stigma by normalizing counseling among all midlife women, regardless of BMI status.

SourceAmerican College of Physicians·JournalAnnals of Internal Medicine·TypeSystematic review·DateAug 1, 2022

Natural selection may be making society more unequal

A new study published in Behavior Genetics found that natural selection favors characteristics associated with lower earnings and poorer education, such as having more children. The research, led by UEA, analyzed data from over 300,000 people in the UK and suggests that this may be contributing to increasing income inequality.

SourceUniversity of East Anglia·JournalBehavior Genetics·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJul 7, 2022

Nordic walking improves functional capacity in people with heart disease

A novel study published in the Canadian Journal of Cardiology demonstrates that Nordic walking provides greater long-term improvements in functional capacity compared to high-intensity interval training and moderate-to-vigorous intensity continuous training. Nordic walking engages core, upper, and lower body muscles, resulting in a sig...

SourceElsevier·JournalCanadian Journal of Cardiology·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateJun 15, 2022

Long-term study finds cigarette smoking doubled risk of developing heart failure

A long-term study found that cigarette smoking significantly increases the risk of developing both reduced ejection fraction and preserved ejection fraction heart failure. Former smokers retained a higher risk of heart failure for decades after quitting, with the risk decreasing only after 30 years without smoking.

SourceJohns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health·JournalJournal of the American College of Cardiology·DateJun 7, 2022

More coronary disease among COPD patients

A new study from Norway found that COPD patients have a higher degree of coronary artery calcification and narrower coronary arteries. The researchers discovered an increased risk of coronary disease in COPD patients, independent of disease severity, emphasizing the importance of early detection.

SourceThe University of Bergen·JournalPLOS ONE·DateMay 9, 2022

Dixon GRE technique outperforms clinical standard for unenhanced coronary MRA

A prospective study found that the 3-T Dixon gradient-recalled echo (GRE) sequence performed better than the current standard of 1.5-T SSFP for unenhanced coronary MRA, particularly in distal and branch segments. The technique demonstrated higher image quality, visible segments, sensitivity, and specificity for significant stenoses.

SourceAmerican Roentgen Ray Society·JournalAmerican Journal of Roentgenology·TypeObservational study·DateMar 28, 2022

An obesity treatment for women only?

Researchers at the University of Virginia Health System have identified a potential way to treat obesity and type 2 diabetes in women by targeting a specific gene called KLF14. Increasing KLF14 abundance in fat cells may help alleviate metabolic abnormalities, including slower metabolic rates and less efficient triglyceride management.

Activated protein C can protect against age-related cardiac ischemia and reperfusion injury, preclinical study finds

A new study from USF Health reveals that activated protein C may help improve aging patients' tolerance to reperfusion injury, a potentially adverse effect of treatment for ischemic heart disease. The researchers suggest that drugs derived from APC may limit ischemia and reperfusion-induced heart damage.

SourceUniversity of South Florida (USF Health)·JournalCirculation Research·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 31, 2022

New study: 14 units a week still harmful to health

A new study published in Clinical Nutrition found that drinking less than the UK's recommended 14 units of alcohol per week increases the risk of cardiovascular events. Moderate alcohol consumption is associated with a 23% increased risk of suffering a cardiovascular event for every additional 1.5 pints of beer consumed.

SourceAnglia Ruskin University·JournalClinical Nutrition·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJan 28, 2022

CVIA journal publishes new issue

A new issue of the CVIA journal has been published, featuring research on the clinical significance of angiographically detectable neovascularity in patients with cardiac myxoma. Studies found that ADN was present in 42.4% of patients and was associated with higher levels of eosinophils and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol.

SourceCompuscript Ltd·JournalCardiovascular Innovations and Applications·TypeObservational study·DateJan 6, 2022

American College of Cardiology, American Heart Association issue coronary artery revascularization guideline

The new guideline recommends a patient-centric approach to managing patients with coronary artery disease, incorporating clinical indications and multidisciplinary team decision-making. The guideline aims to improve quality of care and reduce disparities in treatment, particularly among women and underrepresented racial or ethnic groups.

SourceAmerican College of Cardiology·JournalJournal of the American College of Cardiology·DateDec 9, 2021

Not all patients with type 2 diabetes receive appropriate care to prevent cardiovascular diseases

A new study from the University of Eastern Finland found that patients with type 2 diabetes often do not receive adequate cholesterol-lowering treatment, despite guidelines recommending statin prescriptions for elevated LDL-C levels. Women tend to have higher average LDL-C levels and receive less statin treatment than men.

SourceUniversity of Eastern Finland·JournalScientific Reports·DateNov 22, 2021

Mount Sinai cardiologist develops new risk score to help predict possible contrast-associated kidney injury after percutaneous coronary intervention

A new risk score developed by Mount Sinai researchers can help predict possible contrast-associated acute kidney injury among patients undergoing PCI. The 'Mehran-2 CA-AKI Risk Score' enhances management of high-risk patients before, during, and after the procedure.

SourceThe Mount Sinai Hospital / Mount Sinai School of Medicine·JournalThe Lancet·TypeObservational study·DateNov 15, 2021

Study finds that PCI guided by FFR did not meet noninferiority for one-year outcomes compared to bypass surgery

A new study published in The New England Journal of Medicine found that percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) guided by fractional flow reserve (FFR) did not meet noninferiority for one-year outcomes compared to bypass surgery. However, FFR-guided PCI performed favorably in patients with low SYNTAX scores and less complex disease.

SourceCardiovascular Research Foundation·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateNov 8, 2021

Increased risk of heart disease may be linked to your stress hormone sensitivity

Research suggests that people sensitive to stress hormones are at greater risk of developing cardiovascular disease, with markers indicating increased risk of stroke and heart attack. A novel proteomic signature may help identify these individuals and inform stress management strategies.

SourceEuropean Society for Paediatric Endocrinology·JournalHormone Research in Paediatrics·TypeObservational study·DateSep 25, 2021

Mathematical model reveals possible role of drug-eluting stents in artery re-closure

Researchers develop novel models to investigate the impact of drug-eluting stents on arterial tissue permeability and blood flow. The study identifies key factors contributing to restenosis near stent edges, highlighting potential avenues for design improvements.

SourceSociety for Industrial and Applied Mathematics·JournalSIAM Journal on Applied Mathematics·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateSep 1, 2021

1-month dual antiplatelet therapy post-stent implant benefits high bleeding risk patients

The MASTER DAPT trial found that one month of dual antiplatelet therapy preserves ischemic benefits and reduces bleeding risk in high bleeding risk patients. Abbreviated DAPT was noninferior to standard DAPT in terms of net adverse clinical events, but superior in reducing major or clinically relevant nonmajor bleeding.

SourceEuropean Society of Cardiology·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateAug 30, 2021

New research lifts the lid on cardiac microvascular dysfunction and could help many patients with unexplained heart disease

A new study found that 44% of micro-arteries from patients had abnormal myogenic tone, associated with excessive caldesmon presence and poor cell alignment. This abnormality affects blood supply within the heart and other organs, impacting quality of life and life expectancy.

SourceUniversity of Bristol·JournalCardiovascular Research·TypeObservational study·DateAug 9, 2021

Cell-type-specific insight into the function of risk factors in coronary artery disease

The study used single cell technology to map epigenetic changes in different cells involved in coronary artery disease, revealing that genetic risk variants are particularly enriched in endothelial and smooth muscle cells. This research provides a new understanding of the role of these cells in transmitting susceptibility to the disease.

SourceUniversity of Eastern Finland·JournalCirculation Research·DateJul 8, 2021