Research on the causes and treatment of heart disease. Covers light exposure and heart health, sex differences, heart-in-a-dish models, and cardiac risk.
Using PET scans to track glucose metabolism, researchers can identify malignant tumors and detect early metabolic changes in neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and Huntington's. Serial scans also assess disease progression and therapeutic interventions.
Studies have consistently shown that long-term cigarette smoke exposure increases cardiovascular risk factors among non-smokers. Research by the American Heart Association reveals a significant association between passive smoking and higher rates of heart disease and stroke.
Regular cigar smokers face almost double the risk of dying from all forms of cancer combined and certain circulatory conditions, including hypertensive heart disease and cardiomyopathy. Cigar smoke contains toxins such as carbon monoxide, benzene, and nicotine, which can lead to these health risks.
Researchers identified 20 modifiable risk factors contributing to mortality in older adults, including smoking, exercise, and chronic disease severity. Improved disease and health factors could lead to longer lifespan for those over 65.
Scientists at Max Planck Institute have developed a non-invasive method to supply diseased hearts with vessel growth promoting factors, using microscopic beads that slowly release growth factor over 7 days. The treatment is suitable for small vessels but not large stenosing coronary vessels.
A study of 80,082 female nurses over 14 years found increased folate and vitamin B-6 intake to be predictive of reduced coronary heart disease risk. The researchers suggest that lower blood homocysteine levels may account for the protection offered by these vitamins.
Researchers found a unique link between brain lesions, depression, and heart disease in elderly patients. Vascular depression, caused by narrowing of small blood vessels, is responsible for 30-40% of all depression in people over 65.
Researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder have created transgenic mice with gene mutations for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a genetic disease that thickens the heart muscle and obstructs blood flow. The study may lead to new therapeutic agents to improve heart function in humans.
A study found that individuals with high cholesterol in middle adulthood continue to have a high risk of heart disease despite declining cholesterol levels over time. Men who experienced the largest decreases in cholesterol still had high initial levels, suggesting that early detection and management are crucial.
Researchers found that men with the highest amounts of iron stored in their bodies had almost three-times the number of heart attacks than men with less iron. The American Heart Association states additional research is needed to prove iron's role in heart disease before screening can be recommended.
Researchers found that frequent vigorous exercise reduces heart attack risk, with the greatest benefit seen in men who exercised five or more times a week. The study of over 22,000 physicians suggests that shorter exercise periods may also be beneficial for heart health.
A nationwide study found that 62% of patients with high cholesterol did not reach recommended targets, with African-Americans facing even greater challenges. Patients who followed doctors' advice on diet and exercise were more likely to reach target levels.
A study found that physical exertion, even mowing the lawn, can rupture blood clots in vulnerable plaque of sedentary men with coronary heart disease and hypercholesterolemia. This increases the risk of sudden coronary death, especially for those with high total cholesterol levels.
A new study by the American Heart Association reveals that men who experience high levels of anger are at increased risk of having a stroke. The research, which followed 2,110 middle-aged men for seven years, found that those who struggled to manage their anger were more likely to suffer from a stroke.
Researchers from the University of Pittsburgh analyzed blood samples and found no difference in homocysteine levels between men who suffered heart attacks and those who did not. The study suggests that homocysteine may be more closely linked to atherosclerosis or inflammation rather than promoting processes leading to heart disease.
The Western Journal of Medicine publishes a special issue on successful aging, featuring expert opinions on minimizing age-related decline, delaying onset of conditions that limit function, and maintaining mental alertness. The journal aims to provide patients with advice, skills, and treatments that promote healthy aging.
Researchers have identified a gene responsible for late infantile Batten disease, a devastating genetic disorder that affects about 300 children in the US. The CLN2 gene codes for an enzyme that degrades proteins and its discovery may lead to effective treatment and new insights into the aging process.
Research data suggest limited benefits from screening programs, with significant costs incurred for low yields. The authors recommend improving the process by focusing on diseases prevalent in the country of origin, assessing disease prevalence, and providing education and counseling to migrants.
A recent study found that African-American men are four times more likely to develop end-stage renal disease than white men, with high blood pressure and lower income contributing to the increased risk. The study analyzed data from over 332,000 men aged 35-57 and found that interventions addressing ethnic disparities in blood pressure ...
The American Heart Association President states that the age-adjusted death rate from CHD has slowed, with an average annual decline of 2.6 percent, compared to 3 percent in the 1980s. The organization attributes this slowdown to increased prevalence of CHD and risk factors such as obesity, physical inactivity, and smoking.
A landmark study reveals that high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and smoking equally affect the progression of atherosclerosis in women and men, as well as blacks and whites. The findings confirm that adopting healthful habits early is crucial for preventing heart disease.
Researchers have created a mouse model that mimics Familial Combined Hyperlipidemia (FCHL), a disorder causing high cholesterol and triglycerides, leading to premature heart disease. The study suggests APOC3 genetic variations underlie the disease, offering new hope for drug development.
Researchers found that people with only occasionally elevated blood pressure already had blood vessel abnormalities before the onset of sustained high blood pressure. The study suggests that vascular changes may lead to hypertension, rather than vice versa, in people.
Researchers at Duke University Medical Center have found that exercise treadmill tests and myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) are equally effective in detecting heart disease and predicting outcomes in women. This discovery will enable physicians to screen and treat their female patients more accurately.
A Johns Hopkins study uses an atomic force microscope to probe living heart cells, revealing that actin plays a crucial role in maintaining cell elasticity. The findings suggest that measuring heart cells' elasticity may improve understanding of healthy and diseased cells, leading to better diagnosis and treatment of heart disease.