Research on heart failure and its treatment. Covers light exposure, heart-in-a-dish models, microRNA therapy, and surgical interventions.
The ATMOSPHERE trial found aliskiren alone or in combination with enalapril had no significant benefit on mortality and hospitalization rates in patients with heart failure. However, adding aliskiren increased the risk of symptoms like low blood pressure and elevated potassium levels.
A new device that monitors lung fluid accumulation reduces heart failure-related hospitalizations by over half and death rates by 39% compared to standard care. Patients who used the Edema Guard Monitor took medication earlier, preventing pulmonary congestion from reaching advanced stages.
Researchers from the University of Pennsylvania found that heart transplants can be performed in adult patients with prior corrective surgery for congenital heart disease with excellent outcomes. The study, which included 17 consecutive patients, showed a 100% survival rate at both 30 days and one year.
A new meta-analysis reveals a clear correlation between higher BMI, waist circumference, and the risk of heart failure. Overweight individuals had a 35% increased risk of heart failure compared to normal weight individuals.
In a rat model of volume-overload-induced heart failure, LOX inhibition partially restored systolic and diastolic function while reducing cardiac fibrosis and interstitial myocardial collagen. LOX over-activation promotes progressive cardiac fibrosis and heart failure progression.
The Phase 2 clinical trial results indicate that AC6 gene transfer safely increased left ventricular peak -dP/dt and left ventricular ejection fraction in non-ischemic heart failure patients. Symptoms of heart failure were also reduced in participants treated with RT-100.
A study published in JAMA Cardiology found that intracoronary gene transfer increased left ventricular function beyond standard heart failure therapy. The treatment, which involves introducing a specific protein into heart cells, showed significant benefits in patients with nonischemic heart failure.
A study led by Dr. Roger J. Hajjar and Dr. Woo Jin Park found that CCN5 protein can reverse established cardiac fibrosis in heart failure models. The researchers used trichrome staining to show the reversal of cardiac fibrosis, demonstrating potential for new anti-cardiac fibrosis therapies.
A large-scale study examining the relationship between incretin-based drugs and hospitalization for heart failure found no increased risk. The study, conducted by the Canadian Network for Observational Drug Effect Studies (CNODES), analyzed health records of over 1.4 million patients in Canada, the US, and the UK.
Scientists at Gladstone Institutes discover a new type of cell that can organically develop into heart cells and replicate. The induced expandable cardiovascular progenitor cells (ieCPCs) significantly improved heart function in mice after a heart attack, offering a promising potential treatment for heart failure.
A new study has made significant progress toward a novel approach to convert scar tissue into healthy heart muscle, which could improve the quality of life for people with heart failure. By removing a barrier to conversion, researchers were able to significantly increase the yield of muscle-like cells.
Temple researchers have uncovered a new mechanism by which aldosterone triggers heart damage, involving GRK2 and GRK5 signaling molecules. The study found that inhibiting these kinases could provide a potential therapeutic solution for heart failure.
Researchers at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center have made a breakthrough in treating heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, a difficult-to-treat condition affecting millions. Cardiosphere-derived cells (CDCs) infused into laboratory rats reversed the condition, improving heart function and filling capacity.
Researchers found that failing cardiac tissue had increased levels of acetylated mitochondrial proteins, promoting metabolic defects in heart failure. In a mouse model, they detected elevated protein acetylation at the earliest stages of heart failure, supporting the role of hyperacetylation in disease progression.
Researchers found a significant reduction in emergency department visits and hospitalizations for heart failure exacerbation after bariatric surgery. Patients who underwent the procedure experienced a 40% decrease in these events, suggesting substantial weight loss can help prevent heart-failure-related adverse events.
Research suggests that moderate alcohol consumption may be beneficial for cardiovascular health, with studies showing a lower risk of heart failure and acute myocardial infarction among frequent drinkers. However, high levels of alcohol consumption were associated with increased risks of other diseases and social problems.
The European Society of Cardiology has launched the first European advice on emergency care for patients with acute heart failure. The guidance highlights that mortality from acute heart failure is even higher than from a heart attack, and that care lags 30 years behind standard treatment pathways for heart attacks.
A Yale University study found VA hospitals to have slightly lower mortality rates among older men with specific conditions, but higher readmission rates compared to non-VA hospitals. The differences were small, indicating that the VA healthcare system is doing comparatively well for these vulnerable patient groups
Research from the University of Leicester found high levels of trimethylamine N-oxide in acute heart failure patients, a metabolite produced by gut bacteria breaking down L-carnitine from red meat. The study suggests a possible link between red meat consumption and increased risk of heart disease.
A new study has discovered a type of noncoding RNA called Chast that drives heart failure in mice and may promote cardiac hypertrophy. The researchers found that targeting this lncRNA with an antisense oligonucleotide could prevent and treat cardiac hypertrophy, improving heart function.
A daily dose of beetroot juice significantly improved exercise endurance by 24% after one week, while also reducing resting systolic blood pressure by 5-10mmHg. The study found that the juice's inorganic nitrate content has beneficial effects on vascular health and oxygen metabolism.
A recent study published in JAMA Internal Medicine found that remote telemonitoring did not significantly reduce all-cause 180-day hospital readmissions among heart failure patients. Despite this, the intervention group reported improved quality of life at 180-days compared to usual care patients.
Researchers have uncovered the molecular mechanism that regulates how the heart pumps blood, with titin protein identified as key player. The study's findings could lead to new medications more effectively treating heart failure.
Researchers from Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute found that failing hearts switch to ketone metabolism as an alternative fuel source. This discovery may lead to new therapeutic targets to prevent or slow progression of heart failure.
A recent study published in the American Journal of Cardiology found that early diagnosis and treatment of sleep apnea may reduce six-month readmissions for patients hospitalized with heart failure. Researchers discovered a significant reduction in hospital visits among patients who used positive airway pressure therapy regularly.
Researchers at Osaka University have developed a therapeutic method using periostin1-specific neutralizing antibodies to inhibit the onset of cardiac failure in the chronic phase, improving patients' quality of life and reducing medical costs. The study's findings suggest that periostin1 is the primary cause of cardiac failure after AMI.
An irregular heartbeat is a stronger risk factor for stroke, heart disease, and death in women than in men. The cause is unclear, but the results support more aggressive treatment of risk factors in women.
New research finds that women with heart failure live longer and experience lower mortality rates when equipped with implanted defibrillators. The study used data from the Get With the Guidelines-Heart Failure registry to compare survival in patients with and without ICDs.
A study found that calorie restriction or aerobic exercise training improved ability to exercise without shortness of breath in obese older patients with a common type of heart failure. The combination of exercise and diet resulted in the largest increase in exercise capacity.
Scientists found that brief exposure to 'asynchrony' using a pacemaker can reverse cellular damage, fix damaged motor proteins in the heart muscle, and boost the heart's response to hormones like adrenaline. The therapy uses alternating electrical shocks to push the heart into normal synchronization for part of each day.
A study found that people scoring well on the Life's Simple 7 checklist for a healthy heart have lower risk of developing heart failure. The measures include managing blood pressure, cholesterol, and sugar levels, as well as getting physically active, eating better, losing weight, and quitting smoking.
Temple researcher Arthur M. Feldman warns that the newly approved heart drug Entresto may increase patients' risk of Alzheimer's disease and macular degeneration. The drug was approved for heart failure via the FDA's fast-track program, but its cognitive risks have not been fully tested.
The new Cardiovascular Innovations and Applications (CVIA) journal has published its first issue, featuring a special focus on heart failure. Key findings include strategies to reduce heart failure readmission rates and the use of noninvasive hemodynamic monitoring for improved management.
A new study from Brigham and Women's Hospital found that sacubitril-valsartan can extend life expectancy by one to two years for heart failure patients with reduced ejection fraction. The therapy, currently used as standard care, was shown to improve overall survival by 16% and reduce hospitalization rates.
Researchers at Stanford University School of Medicine have identified a gene that appears to reduce the risk of heart failure and improve treatment outcomes. The gene codes for a protein involved in regulating sleep, appetite, and blood pressure, which may play a protective role in the heart.
Research published in Circulation found adults with congenital heart defects to be at substantially higher risk of experiencing a stroke, especially before age 55. Ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes were the most prevalent types.
New research from the American Heart Association found that heart failure patients who face lack of social support and practical barriers such as transportation are less likely to benefit from supervised aerobic physical activity. In contrast, those with higher perceived social support and fewer barriers exercised more, on average.
Researchers from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine analyzed CRIC data to find that larger left atrium size is associated with an increased risk of heart failure among CKD patients. This finding provides valuable insights into identifying high-risk patients who require closer monitoring and targeted interventions.
The expanded coverage includes patients on optimal medical therapy and those with less than 35% ejection fraction. Newly eligible patients have lower hospital readmissions compared to those previously eligible for cardiac rehabilitation.
A recent study found that alcohol abuse is associated with a 70% increased risk of developing congestive heart failure among adults, particularly those under 60 years old and without high blood pressure. The study analyzed over 858,000 patients from California healthcare databases between 2005-2009.
A study found that isosorbide mononitrate, a common medication for heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), did not improve exercise tolerance or daily activity levels in patients. The drug actually decreased daily activity by 18 minutes per day at the highest dose.
A new class of type 2 diabetes drugs, SGLT2 inhibitors, have been shown to significantly reduce hospitalizations and deaths from heart failure. The EMPA-REG trial found that patients treated with the drug experienced significant reductions in blood sugar, blood pressure, weight loss, and major hospitalizations for heart failure.
A study found low rates of laboratory monitoring for patients with heart failure following MRA initiation, with only 7% receiving appropriate testing. Key factors associated with increased monitoring included atrial fibrillation and chronic kidney disease.
Vericiguat did not significantly reduce natriuretic peptide levels in patients with worsening chronic heart failure, but was well-tolerated. Further clinical trials are needed to determine its potential role for this patient population.
The FIGHT study found that liraglutide, a type-2 diabetes drug, did not improve the clinical stability or pumping action of the heart in patients with advanced heart failure. Researchers discovered no significant favorable effects of liraglutide on heart function or quality of life among participants.
A large study has linked consumption of at least two daily glasses of sweetened drinks to a heightened risk of heart failure in men. The researchers analyzed data from over 42,000 men in Sweden and found that those who drank two or more glasses per day were 23% more likely to develop heart failure compared to non-consumers.
A systematic review of heart failure drug effectiveness found only six studies provided usable data due to difficulties accessing author contact information. The researchers argue that improved data sharing mechanisms are needed to prevent selective reporting and research fraud.
A BMJ study reveals barriers to accessing heart failure drug trial data, highlighting the risks of not doing so. Researchers urge funders and institutions to make data sharing a mandatory requirement to prevent erroneous clinical decisions.
A new animal study published in the American Journal of Physiology found that a low dose of thyroid hormone improved cardiac tissue and function in female rats with high blood pressure. The treatment safely restored normal thyroid hormone levels and prevented scar tissue accumulation, leading to overall improvement in heart function.
A team of researchers at the University of Virginia Health System is exploring the link between glucose metabolism and heart function. They aim to identify a therapeutic window where intervention can prevent cardiac dysfunction and subsequent heart failure.
Research finds that higher levels of physical activity lower heart failure risk in the general population. Current U.S. guidelines may not be enough to reduce the risk, suggesting stronger recommendations are necessary.
A cognitive behavior therapy intervention was effective in reducing depression in heart failure patients, but failed to improve self-care and physical functioning. The study suggests that CBT may be a superior treatment option for depression in this population.
Researchers found that concentrated beet juice increases muscle power in patients with heart failure by up to 13% within two hours, benefiting activities of daily living. The study suggests dietary nitrates may be a valuable strategy for improving quality of life in this population.
Researchers find PCMH costs per physician FTE were $7,691 in Utah and $9,658 in Colorado. Family physicians with high HIV experience are more likely to adhere to antiretroviral therapy protocols. Adequate compensation is critical for practices to sustain medical home services.
A Phase 3 clinical trial has been launched to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a novel RNAi investigational agent for treating patients with transthyretin-mediated familial amyloidotic cardiomyopathy (FAC). The first US patient, Leon Silas, 76, was enrolled in the study after being diagnosed with congestive heart failure in 2011.
A new analysis of the TECOS study adds heart failure data to confirm sitagliptin's cardiovascular safety. The findings provide reassurance to patients and prescribers about the drug's risk profile.
The ELIXA trial demonstrated that lixisenatide, a GLP-1 receptor agonist, did not increase or decrease the rate of cardiovascular events compared to placebo. The study found a modest benefit in weight gain, but also identified patients with heart failure as being at high risk of all-cause death.
The ALBATROSS study found that mineralocortoid receptor antagonists do not provide a benefit to heart attack patients without heart failure. However, in a subgroup of STEMI patients, MRA treatment may have a potential mortality benefit.
A small left ventricle with thick walls is the strongest predictor of morphologic remodelling, a first step towards heart failure. This unexpected finding could change risk stratification among patients with stable coronary artery disease.
A recent study by Allina Health found that inpatient palliative care visits improved quality of life and symptom burden for heart failure patients. The research identified key actions taken by PC providers to create positive outcomes among study patients.