Add BrightSurf on Google Email

Minimally invasive stents show some advantage over bypass in opening blocked leg arteries

A small study found that patients who received minimally invasive stents had a 31% risk of needing another procedure within 24 months, compared to 54% for those who received bypass surgery. The researchers hope to confirm these findings with further study and develop guidelines for determining when a stent is likely to be best.

SourceJohns Hopkins Medicine·JournalJournal of Vascular Surgery·DateAug 6, 2013

Living close to major road may impair kidney function

A study of over 1,100 adults who had a stroke found that those living closest to major roads had lower kidney function and increased cardiovascular death rates. Exposure to air pollution from traffic was linked to reduced renal function and an increased risk of cardiovascular events.

SourceBMJ Group·JournalJournal of Epidemiology and Community Health·DateMay 13, 2013

Growing new arteries, bypassing blocked ones

Researchers discovered that VEGF-driven artery formation requires the binding of VEGFR2 and NRP1. Mice lacking a part of NRP1 molecule had poorly constructed arteries and failed to repair blood vessel blockages. This study opens new therapeutic opportunities for cardiovascular and anti-cancer therapies.

SourceYale University·JournalDevelopmental Cell·DateApr 29, 2013

Stanford researchers develop new method to assess options for heart-disease surgery

A new method to predict which patients with heart disease benefit more from surgery versus angioplasty has been developed by Stanford researchers. The study, published in Annals of Internal Medicine, found that individual characteristics such as gender, age, and diabetes history significantly impact the effectiveness of these procedures.

SourceStanford Medicine·JournalAnnals of Internal Medicine·DateApr 22, 2013

Drug-coated stents prevent leg amputation

In a study presented at the Society of Interventional Radiology's Annual Scientific Meeting, researchers found that drug-coated stents can effectively treat critical limb ischemia by keeping clogged leg arteries open. The treatment resulted in a significant reduction in amputations and improved quality of life for patients.

SourceSociety of Interventional Radiology·JournalJournal of Vascular and Interventional Radiology·DateApr 14, 2013

Stenting blocked bowel arteries saves lives

Stenting of completely blocked mesenteric arteries can safely restore blood flow to the bowel and resolve patients' symptoms with few complications. This minimally invasive treatment is a game-changer for elderly patients and those with peripheral arterial disease, offering less risk and faster recovery time.

SourceSociety of Interventional Radiology·JournalJournal of Vascular and Interventional Radiology·DateApr 14, 2013

Clot-busting drug as effective as angioplasty

Researchers found that a clot-busting therapy can benefit some heart attack patients who cannot have immediate angioplasty, reducing all-cause mortality and cardiac rehospitalization. The STREAM trial included 1,915 patients from 15 countries and showed that drug therapy before transfer was at least as effective as angioplasty.

SourceAmerican College of Cardiology·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateMar 11, 2013

Mummies study reveals that hardening of the arteries may have been a global problem in the ancient world

A study of ancient mummies from diverse cultures reveals that hardening of the arteries was a widespread problem globally, contradicting previous assumptions about its occurrence in ancient Egypt and diet-related factors. The research found that nearly half of the examined mummies showed signs of probable or definite atherosclerosis.

SourceThe Lancet_DELETED·JournalThe Lancet·DateMar 10, 2013

A new drug reduces heart damage

A new anti-inflammatory drug, inclacumab, has shown promising results in reducing heart muscle damage during angioplasty. The study involved 530 patients with myocardial infarction and found that a single dose of the drug reduced troponin I levels by 24%, offering great promise for its potential use in treating heart attack patients.

Imaging acute ischemic stroke patients' brains did not lead to improved outcomes

A recent NIH-funded study found that using advanced imaging shortly after an acute ischemic stroke did not identify a subgroup of patients who could benefit from clot removal procedures. The study, MR RESCUE, tested an invasive clot removal strategy in patients with large clots blocking major brain arteries.

SourceNIH/National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateFeb 8, 2013

Clot-retrieval devices failed to improve stroke-related disability

A randomized controlled trial involving 656 patients found that intra-arterial device-based approach plus standard drug therapy did not improve functional independence after 90 days. Intra-arterial therapy was more effective at removing clots and re-establishing blood flow, but it did not lead to improved disability.

SourceNIH/National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateFeb 7, 2013

Cardiac bypass surgery superior to non-surgical procedure for adults with diabetes and heart disease

A recent study published in The New England Journal of Medicine found that cardiac bypass surgery is superior to percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for adults with diabetes and multi-vessel coronary heart disease. After five years, the CABG group had fewer adverse events and better survival rates than the PCI group.

SourceNIH/National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateNov 4, 2012