Articles tagged with Heart
A randomized trial found that cardiac resynchronization therapy did not improve peak oxygen uptake in patients with Class III heart failure and mechanical problems. The study's results suggest that CRT may only benefit a smaller subgroup of patients with narrower QRS complexes.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine found that heart transplant recipients who receive commonly used blood-vessel-opening drugs can achieve similar survival rates as those without high pressure. The study of 10,331 patients showed a reduced survival rate for those who did not respond to therapy. These findings bring new hope to hundr...
New research from Johns Hopkins Medicine reveals that advanced CT scans can accurately detect blockages in heart arteries, with a reliability rate of 90% matching those of invasive catheterization. The technology has the potential to improve early detection and treatment of coronary artery disease, saving lives and preventing heart att...
A definitive study reveals that placing automated external defibrillators in public spaces can save up to 522 lives annually in the US and Canada. The widespread deployment of battery-powered devices has been shown to more than double survival rates among victims of sudden cardiac death.
A recent study found that women with implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) had a higher risk of mortality and required more hospitalization compared to men. After adjusting for other factors, the gender gap disappeared, suggesting that women may be sicker by the time they receive ICDs.
Using CPR combined with bystander use of an automated external defibrillator (AED) significantly increases the chances of surviving out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. The study found that when bystanders provided CPR and attached an AED, survival increased to 36 percent – approximately four times that of CPR alone.
Darwin Labarthe, a renowned epidemiologist and educator, has been recognized by the American Heart Association for 40 years of mentoring young physicians and research fellows. He directed the training of over 885 participants during the annual seminar's 33-year existence.
A new gene, GPD1-L, has been identified as responsible for a rare form of cardiac arrest known as Brugada syndrome. The mutation impairs the heart's natural electrical ability to beat in a coordinated manner and maintain a stable rhythm.
A study of 27,000 women found that regular physical activity can significantly lower cardiovascular risk by 40% over 11 years. The research highlights the importance of exercise in reducing inflammation and blood pressure as key contributors to cardioprotection.
Researchers at Duke University Medical Center analyzed Medicare records of over 236,000 patients between 1999 and 2005, finding that men were two to three times more likely than women to receive implantable cardioverter-defibrillators. The study also revealed racial disparities in ICD use, with white men receiving the most devices.
Researchers at the University of Bristol identified a heart protection mechanism in mice that may be exploited to improve treatments for patients with coronary disease. The study found that hearts with coronary disease became more resistant to damage after mock surgery, suggesting a potential therapeutic strategy.
A Mayo Clinic review of patients' responses to droperidol found no proven cases of complications directly attributable to the drug's use. The study suggests that alternative medications may not be as effective in controlling nausea and vomiting, leading some anesthesiologists to resume low-dose use of droperidol.
A Brandeis study found that fewer than one in five patients receive cardiac rehabilitation services after a heart attack or coronary bypass surgery, despite its proven benefits. The use of cardiac rehab varies significantly by age, gender, and geography.
Researchers have developed a new non-invasive prenatal testing method that analyzes mother's blood to detect fetal mRNAs, which could be used for prenatal diagnosis of genetic diseases. In another study, mice exposed to particulate matter were found to have accelerated blood clotting and thrombosis, highlighting the need to target IL-6...
Researchers found that administering hydrogen sulfide directly into the heart during a simulated heart attack significantly reduces tissue and cell damage. The study showed a 72% reduction in severe heart-tissue death after restoring normal oxygen and blood flow.
A study found that inhaling diesel exhaust causes changes in the heart's electrical activity, reducing oxygen availability during exercise. Exposure to diesel exhaust also reduced the body's ability to release a 'guardian' protein, increasing the risk of blood clots.
Researchers are developing robotic instruments that can navigate the chambers of the heart through needle-sized incisions and deploy tools to remove blockages, repair faulty valves and close leaks while the heart is still beating.
Researchers developed a non-invasive imaging technique that detects fat buildup in the heart of pre-diabetic people. The study found that fat accumulation occurs before diabetes onset and is unrelated to blood sugar or liver fat, but correlated with stomach fat.
A new generation of implanted heart-assisting pump has shown excellent survival rates and significant improvements in patient quality of life. The device, called the HeartMate II, helped 75% of patients stay alive for at least six months or until a donor heart became available.
Researchers at U of M discovered that treating people with early cardiovascular abnormalities can slow progression and even reverse damage to the heart and blood vessels. The Rasmussen Disease Score helps doctors identify early signs, enabling targeted lifestyle counseling and drug treatment.
Researchers found that restricting blood flow in the arm before coronary artery bypass graft surgery reduced troponin T levels by 43%. This technique, known as remote ischaemic preconditioning, may help protect the heart from injury during surgery. The study's implications for clinical practice are considered immense.
A recent study found that cardiac CTAs post-CABG reveal clinically significant non-cardiac findings in 34 patients, including pulmonary embolism and lung cancer. The study highlights the importance of physician interpreters trained to read entire CT scans beyond coronary vessels.
A new study finds that moderate long-term exercise in male and female mice induces a sex-dependent cardiac adaptation, with females exhibiting greater physiological changes. This research may help improve treatment strategies for women and men with heart disease.
Researchers are developing a new system to analyze beating heart stem cells, which could lead to more detailed information on their electrical activity and potentially facilitate their use in regenerating damaged hearts. The team aims to engineer a novel system for real-time analysis of cardiomyocytes during early development.
A recent study published in the European Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing reveals that women who have suffered heart attacks experience higher rates of lingering depressive symptoms compared to their male counterparts. Women scored lower in physical and social functioning after one year, with 14.3% experiencing worsening depression.
The use of implantable cardioverter defibrillators is increasing in Canada but remains lower than in the US. In adults who survived a cardiac arrest, the rate increased from 5.4% to 26.7% between 1995 and 2003. The devices are considered safe and effective for people at risk of life-threatening rhythm disturbances.
Researchers discovered a genetic link between primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) and heterotaxy, an abnormal position of the heart and lungs. This connection suggests that PCD may cause respiratory complications in children with congenital heart disease, leading to improved diagnosis and treatment.
A recent study suggests that aprotinin can reduce bleeding during heart surgery without increasing the risk of complications. The study found no increase in heart attack risk among patients receiving aprotinin, while the risk of stroke was 35% lower.
A 47-year-old man with congestive heart failure underwent the historic surgery at UPMC, where a beating heart supported by the OCS was successfully transplanted. The patient is doing well after discharge on April 30.
For patients who need non-cardiac surgery a short time after an interventional heart procedure, bare metal stents provide a safer choice. Drug-eluting stents can lead to life-threatening cardiac complications in these patients, according to a study by Thomas Jefferson University Hospital.
A study by the American Heart Association found that patients who used an online education program were more aware of treatment options and asked their doctors about care. The program provided personalized information in lay language, leading to improved patient knowledge and behavior.
Scientists have found an enzyme called Pak 1 that acts on the heart's pacemaker to slow the rapid beating of the heart's 'fight-or-flight' reaction to adrenaline. This discovery opens up new avenues for diagnosis, drug design and treatment of common heart diseases.
Researchers developed the largest registry of US patients with Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, aiding physicians in diagnosis and management. Most patients who survived the first 48 hours had a steady recovery, with normal heart function found in 29 out of 30 patients.
A lab study found that prenatal nicotine exposure can lead to cardiac vascular dysfunction beyond the formative years, and into adulthood. Female offspring are more likely to be impacted than males, with decreased coronary flow and increased heart susceptibility to ischemia and reperfusion injury.
Researchers at Duke University Medical Center found that patients with specific gene variants were less likely to experience cognitive decline after heart surgery. These variants were involved in the inflammatory system and may provide a biological basis for the protective effect observed.
A study by Penn State researchers found that incorporating macadamia nuts into a heart-healthy diet can reduce total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglyceride levels. The Healthy Heart diet with macadamia nuts was compared to a standard American diet in a controlled feeding study.
Reducing time interval for transported organs has been shown to increase survivorship and improve outcomes in heart transplant patients. The Organ Care System (OCS) uses warm blood perfusion technology to maintain organs in a living state during transport, allowing for evaluation of organ function and reducing cold ischemic time.
The International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation (ISHLT) is evaluating a new mathematical modeling system for lung allocation in the US, focusing on its effectiveness and comparing it to systems used in Europe. The system aims to give every patient an equal chance at transplant based on various factors.
Most dental patients with heart disease no longer need antibiotics before dental procedures to prevent infective endocarditis. New guidelines recommend antibiotics only for patients at greatest risk, including those with artificial heart valves or congenital heart conditions.
A new counter-flow heart pump being developed by Queensland University of Technology has the potential to support both chambers of the heart simultaneously, reducing mortality rates. Clinical studies have shown that permanent left heart pumps can reduce mortality risk by up to 47%.
A new study found that ibuprofen significantly raises the risk of heart attacks in high-risk cardiovascular patients taking aspirin for osteoarthritis. The Mount Sinai researchers' findings underscore the importance of considering NSAID interactions with aspirin in these patients.
Researchers at Gladstone Institute of Cardiovascular Disease identified a critical genetic factor, microRNA miR-1-2, that regulates heart form and function. The study found that deletion of this microRNA causes defects in heart growth, function, and electrical conduction, potentially leading to new treatments for cardiovascular diseases.
Researchers at Boston Children's Hospital reviewed fetal cases of prenatal cardiac interventions, finding success rates of 79% and improvements in heart rate recovery after birth. Additionally, studies showed that most children with heart transplants regain sufficient heart function for exercise over time, with improved peak heart rate...
Researchers studied the outcomes of treating ST- elevation myocardial infarction with PCI alone or with distal protection, finding similar major adverse cardiac events and electrocardiographic results. However, post-procedure blood flow was improved in patients treated with distal protection.
A new study presents the first US controlled clinical trial using muscle stem cells to treat congestive heart failure. The procedure involves injecting autologous skeletal myoblasts into scarred tissue via a minimally invasive catheter, showing improved quality of life and potential cardiac function.
A community-based study found that intensive dietary therapy and early dosing with a medication blocking harmful hormonal effects in the heart can improve cardiovascular health and survival rates after a heart attack. The Mediterranean diet was equally beneficial as a low-fat, low-cholesterol diet.
A study at Temple University found that listening repeatedly to heart sounds on an iPod improved the stethoscope skills of general internists, increasing correct identification rates to 80%. This technique relies on intensive repetition and is essential for recognizing abnormal heart sounds and identifying dangerous conditions.
A study published in The Lancet found that chest-compression-only resuscitation boosts survival rates for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. The study analyzed 4,068 cases of witnessed collapse and found a 19.4% favorable neurological survival rate when bystanders administered chest compressions without mouth-to-mouth ventilations.
Increased expression of an accessory subunit of L-type calcium channels is linked to altered channel behavior in human heart failure. Researchers have identified a causal role for this protein overexpression in the development of cardiac dysfunction.
Research from the Framingham Heart Study found that people with long-lived parents are more likely to avoid high blood pressure, cholesterol, and other cardiovascular risk factors in middle age. Long-lived parents also conferred a lower risk of cardiovascular disease over time.
A new study reveals that specialty heart hospitals are associated with a significant rise in heart procedures, such as bypass surgery and angioplasties. The study found that the opening of a new specialty cardiac hospital is linked to a regional increase in these procedures, particularly among patients without heart attacks.
A new study by Dr. Vivian Ho found that Certificate of Need regulations have minor benefits for open heart surgery but no benefits for angioplasty. The regulations may inadvertently increase the number of procedures performed to meet minimum volume quotas.
A Mayo Clinic study has identified a genetic mutation associated with an inherited predisposition to atrial fibrillation, a type of irregular heartbeat. The discovery may lead to improved identification and treatment of younger patients affected by this condition.
A new study published in PLoS Biology found that cells change size and shape to form the heart's chambers, with blood flow and cardiac contractility influencing cell shape. The researchers propose a balance of internal and external forces necessary for optimal chamber curvature, potentially underlying some types of heart disease.
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine discovered that an enzyme important in fetal heart-cell development regulates cardiac hypertrophy, a key step in congestive heart failure. The study found that inhibiting this enzyme can prevent the onset of cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure.
Researchers at University College London have discovered the structure and function of a crucial gene regulating blood pressure. The study reveals that loss of activity in this gene leads to reduced nitric oxide production, a key player in cardiovascular health.
A Mayo Clinic research study found that over one-third of young people who died suddenly and inexplicably had genetic heart defects. The defects were caused by mutations that impair the heart's rhythm center, leading to conditions such as Long QT syndrome and catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia.
A blood test for NT-proBNP accurately predicts the risk of heart attack, heart failure, stroke, and death in patients with known cardiovascular disease. Higher levels of NT-proBNP are associated with a greater risk of cardiovascular events or death.
A new study found congenital heart disease prevalence increased by 85% in adults and 22% in children between 1985 and 2000. Most heart defects cause blood to flow through the heart in an abnormal way or obstruct blood flow, leading to a major public health problem.
Scientists found that persons with high multimarker scores had a risk of death four times as great and a risk of major cardiovascular events almost two times as great as those with low scores. The study used 3209 participants for 10 years, measuring 10 novel biomarkers in addition to established risk factors.