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First-ever combined heart pump and pig kidney transplant gives new hope to patient with terminal illness

A combined mechanical heart pump and gene-edited pig kidney transplant has given new hope to a patient with heart and kidney failure. The surgery was performed in two stages, first implanting the heart pump and later transplanting the gene-edited pig kidney. This innovative approach has shown promise for patients who would otherwise no...

Women’s heart disease is underdiagnosed, but new machine learning models can help solve this problem

Researchers built more accurate cardiovascular risk models using machine learning, finding that women are underdiagnosed due to sex-neutral criteria. The study used the UK Biobank dataset and found that electrocardiogram (EKG) tests were most effective in improving detection of cardiovascular disease in both men and women.

SourceFrontiers·JournalFrontiers in Physiology·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateApr 23, 2024

Revascularization enhances quality of life for patients with chronic limb threatening ischemia

Researchers found that revascularization treatment significantly improves the quality of life for patients with chronic limb-threatening ischemia, a severe form of peripheral artery disease. The study revealed diminished quality of life among these patients, but revascularization restored sufficient blood flow and improved wellbeing.

SourceBrigham and Women's Hospital·JournalCirculation·TypeObservational study·DateApr 10, 2024

A pulse of innovation: AI at the service of heart research

Researchers at Columbia University developed BeatProfiler, an AI-based software that automates the analysis of heart cell function from video data, significantly speeding up the process and reducing errors. The tool can accurately analyze cardiomyocyte function, outperforming existing tools by being faster and more reliable.

SourceColumbia University School of Engineering and Applied Science·JournalIEEE Open Journal of Engineering in Medicine and Biology·DateApr 8, 2024

Lower income US adults were left behind as the rest of the United States experienced large declines in heart attack and stroke risk over three decades

A new study reveals that cardiovascular benefits were only experienced by higher-income populations, while lower-income groups saw stagnant or worsening health risks. The study suggests that improving access to healthcare and social determinants of health is crucial for addressing these inequalities.

SourceGeorge Washington University·JournalCirculation Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes·DateApr 3, 2024

Life expectancy increased as world addressed major killers including diarrhea, lower respiratory infections, and stroke

The study found that reductions in deaths from chronic respiratory diseases, stroke, lower respiratory infections, and cancer led to the largest net gain in life expectancy between 1990 and 2021. The super-region of Southeast Asia, East Asia, and Oceania had the largest net gain, while South Asia had the second-largest increase primari...

New imaging method illuminates oxygen's journey in the brain

A new bioluminescence imaging technique allows researchers to observe oxygen movement in the brains of mice in real-time, providing insights into diseases such as Alzheimer's and strokes. The method reveals that small areas of the brain, called 'hypoxic pockets,' can be denied oxygen for brief periods, increasing risk for these diseases.

Clear shift in arterial diseases in diabetes

Studies at the University of Gothenburg found a clear shift in arterial disease risks in diabetes, with decreases in central organ diseases like heart attack and stroke, but increases in peripheral vessel complications. Closer monitoring of long-term blood sugar levels can reduce peripheral arterial disease risk by 30-50%.

SourceUniversity of Gothenburg·JournalThe Lancet Regional Health - Europe·TypeObservational study·DateMar 28, 2024

Genetic testing of patients with atrial fibrillation can alert clinicians to potential development of life-threatening conditions

A recent White Paper published in the Canadian Journal of Cardiology analyzes the current understanding of genetics in atrial fibrillation and recommends screening for genetic heart disease in early onset AF cases. This may lead to identification of life-threatening ventricular cardiomyopathy and channelopathy syndromes, highlighting t...

SourceElsevier·JournalCanadian Journal of Cardiology·TypeLiterature review·DateMar 28, 2024

Miscarriages linked to health risks in later pregnancies

Researchers found a link between miscarriage and increased risks of developing gestational diabetes (44% higher) and pre-eclampsia (37% higher), but not with abortion. The study analyzed over 4 million pregnancies and suggests new ways to mitigate risks or prevent these conditions from progressing.

SourceCurtin University·JournalEClinicalMedicine·TypeMeta-analysis·DateMar 27, 2024

An avocado a day may improve overall diet quality, researchers report

A team led by Kristina Petersen and Penny Kris-Etherton found that eating avocados daily significantly increased participants' adherence to dietary guidelines. The study suggested that using avocados as a substitute for refined grains and sodium may play a role in achieving improved diet quality.

SourcePenn State·JournalCurrent Developments in Nutrition·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateMar 22, 2024

UMass Amherst engineers create bioelectronic mesh capable of growing with cardiac tissues for comprehensive heart monitoring

A team of UMass Amherst engineers has developed a tissue-like bioelectronic mesh system that can simultaneously measure the electrical signal and physical movement of cells in lab-grown human cardiac tissue. This breakthrough device allows researchers to observe how the heart's mechanical and electrical functions change during developm...

SourceUniversity of Massachusetts Amherst·JournalNature Communications·DateMar 21, 2024

Low social status increases risk of health problems from alcohol problems

A new study published in PLOS Medicine found that individuals with lower income or education levels are more likely to develop medical conditions related to alcohol abuse. The research suggests that these groups may benefit from additional screening by clinicians to evaluate their alcohol consumption and identify related conditions.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Medicine·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateMar 19, 2024

Researchers led by NTU Singapore and the University of Toulouse discover how our body's immune response to bacterial infections could be ‘hurting’ us

Researchers from NTU Singapore and the University of Toulouse discovered a link between ionophores, cellular ion balance, and inflammation. The study found that cells trigger an immune response when potassium ions fall below a certain level, releasing pro-inflammatory molecules.

SourceNanyang Technological University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 19, 2024

Heart disease risk factors of modern lifestyles threaten extremely poor people living in low- and middle-income countries

A new study reveals that adults living in extreme poverty in LMICs have high rates of hypertension, diabetes, smoking, obesity, and dyslipidemia, yet are often untreated for these conditions. The findings challenge the common assumption that poverty protection against cardiovascular disease risk factors.

SourceUniversity of Birmingham·JournalNature Human Behaviour·DateMar 13, 2024

Lighting the way to noninvasive blood glucose monitoring using portable devices

A novel approach estimates metabolic activity and infers blood glucose levels from near-infrared measurements in commercial smartphones and smartwatches. The phase delay between oxyhemoglobin and deoxyhemoglobin signals closely relates to oxygen consumption during cardiac cycles, serving as a gauge for metabolism.

SourceSPIE--International Society for Optics and Photonics·JournalJournal of Biomedical Optics·DateMar 8, 2024

Think smoking cannabis won’t damage your heart? Think again

A study by UC San Francisco researchers found that daily cannabis users had a 25% increased risk of heart attack and a 42% increased risk of stroke compared to non-users. The study also found significant cardiovascular risks associated with cannabis use, including coronary heart disease and the combination of heart attack and stroke.

SourceUniversity of California - San Francisco·JournalJournal of the American Heart Association·DateFeb 28, 2024

Smoking cannabis associated with increased risk of heart attack, stroke

A large observational study found that frequent cannabis smoking is associated with a significant increased risk of heart attack and stroke. Daily use was linked to a 25% increased likelihood of heart attack and a 42% increased likelihood of stroke, while less frequent use also showed an increased risk of cardiovascular events.

SourceNIH/National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute·JournalJournal of the American Heart Association·DateFeb 28, 2024

Vest can detect earlier signs of heart muscle disease

A new vest can map electric impulses of the heart in fine detail, detecting abnormalities from a potentially fatal heart disease much earlier. The study found that the vest identified electrical changes among 1 in 4 individuals with a gene mutation for whom no signs of disease were detected via standard tests.

SourceUniversity College London·JournalJournal of the American College of Cardiology·TypeObservational study·DateFeb 28, 2024

Long-term survivors of childhood cancer at higher risk of death following heart issues; threshold for treating risk factors should be lower

Long-term childhood cancer survivors face a significantly higher risk of death from heart-related events compared to the general public. Dyslipidemia and hypertension are key risk factors that should be treated earlier, with statins potentially providing increased protection.

SourceVirginia Commonwealth University·JournalJournal of the American College of Cardiology·DateFeb 27, 2024

Journal of Pharmaceutical Analysis articles provide novel insights into previously unknown disease mechanisms

Researchers decode underlying mechanisms of DCM, hippocampal neurotoxicity, and dysbiosis mediated AD progression using mass spectrometry imaging. The studies found metabolic changes in DCM rat hearts and regulation of CYPs in the hippocampus, providing new perspectives on treatment strategies.

SourceCactus Communications·JournalJournal of Pharmaceutical Analysis·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 26, 2024