Research on the heart and how it stays healthy. Covers light exposure, tissue maintenance, trauma-related cardiovascular risk, and circadian effects.
A team of UTSA researchers has developed an innovative inhibitor that blocks the effects of cytochrome P450 8B1, a key enzyme linked to cholesterol absorption and obesity. The treatment shows promise in reducing glucose levels without affecting body weight, offering potential relief from obesity-associated metabolic disorders.
A study found that resistance exercise improved sleep duration and efficiency, while aerobic exercise had limited effects. The findings suggest that incorporating resistance training into one's routine may help promote better sleep and improve overall cardiovascular health.
Researchers studied adherence to three healthy eating patterns (Alternative Mediterranean Diet, Healthy Eating Index, and Plant-based Diet Index) in 10,766 Hispanic/Latino adults. Higher scores in any of these diets were associated with lower cardiovascular risk, suggesting that people have more choices for healthy diets.
Researchers tested the magnetic field output of various portable electronic devices and found that strong magnets can disrupt the operation of implanted pacemakers or ICDs. The recommended safety distance varies between 0.8 cm for some devices, highlighting the need for awareness among cardiac patients.
Researchers have discovered that bioprosthetic heart valve patients develop an immune response against foreign sugars in the valves, leading to calcification and deterioration. By genetically engineering these sugars out of the valves, durability can be increased, offering a potential solution for patients.
A new collection of scientific articles reviews the past decade of research on women's cardiovascular health, identifying key differences between men and women. The studies highlight critical gaps in current knowledge and emphasize the need for a more tailored approach to diagnosing and treating heart disease and stroke risk in women.
Researchers found that bilobalide, an active ingredient in Ginkgo biloba extract, protects the heart from ischemic injuries by preserving ATP generation and enhancing metabolic flux. The study suggests that bilobalide may provide a new herbal therapy for treating myocardial ischemia.
Research suggests stress plays a bidirectional role in AFib, both increasing episodes and contributing to mental health issues. Stress reduction strategies, such as mindfulness-based stress reduction and anxiolytic therapy, may improve AFib symptoms and quality of life.
A large study found a significant link between salt-containing paracetamol and an increased risk of heart attacks, stroke, and death. Patients with high blood pressure who took sodium-containing paracetamol had a higher risk of cardiovascular disease and death compared to those taking non-sodium-containing paracetamol.
Researchers at University of Missouri found a long-term association between adolescent psychological well-being and adult cardiovascular disease risk. People who are more optimistic in their youth can lower their chances for heart disease as adults.
A new study published in Circulation finds that vaping has a significant and long-term cardiovascular effect on adolescent males, reducing heart function over time. In contrast, female mice exposed to e-cigarette aerosol showed no significant changes in heart function or levels of the enzyme CYP2A5, which breaks down nicotine.
Researchers analyzed the gut microbiome of 1,241 middle-aged individuals and found that about half of the bacterial species were modified by drug treatment, while 75% of disturbances occurred in early stages of overweight and type 2 diabetes. The study suggests that an imbalanced gut microbiome may play a role in heart disease development
A recent review of e-cigarette research highlights the significant health risks associated with vaping, including lung inflammation and injury. The study found that e-cigarettes can cause negative effects in multiple organs, from the brain to the bladder, and may even increase the risk of lung cancer.
Researchers found circulating antiphospholipid antibodies and autoantibodies in COVID-19 patients, which may explain mechanisms associated with severe blood clotting. IgG levels were also linked to disease severity, and removing it from samples led to reduced 'blood vessel stickiness',
Researchers developed a novel method of measuring aortic growth, called vascular deformation mapping, which outperforms standard manual rating methods. The technique uses high-resolution CT imaging to calculate three-dimensional changes in the aortic wall, achieving an accuracy of less than 1 millimeter.
A new study found that statin intolerance is over-estimated, affecting only 6-10% of patients worldwide. Researchers identified risk factors for statin intolerance, including age, sex, ethnicity, and medical conditions.
Only 1.9% of Chinese children and adolescents exhibit ideal cardiovascular health status, with socioeconomic factors impacting behavior. Researchers recommend strategies like household smoking control and physical activity promotion to improve cardiovascular health in young generations.
A new study has identified the critical genes most likely to cause coronary heart disease and trigger heart attacks. The research provides a prioritized list of 162 genes, which will enable more accurate genetic testing and targeted therapies for patients at risk of coronary heart disease.
Scientists found a protective gene that counters a deleterious mutation causing atrial septal defects, allowing some people with the mutation to thrive. The discovery provides valuable clinical information for families affected by congenital heart disease.
A new Northwestern Medicine study reveals that more than half of young women in the US have at least one risk factor for poor heart health before pregnancy. Optimizing heart health before and during pregnancy can prevent complications, deliver a healthy baby, and even reduce the risk of heart disease years later.
According to new research published in the American Heart Association's Circulation journal, only about 40% of women in the US had good heart health before getting pregnant. Poor pre-pregnancy health is linked to poor outcomes for babies at birth and can also lead to poor heart health later in life.
Patients with severe coronary artery calcium have a significantly increased risk of major adverse cardiovascular events during thoracic radiation therapy for non-small cell lung cancer. The study found that patients with severe coronary artery calcium had a 21.4 times increased risk compared to those with no coronary artery calcium.
The ACC Cardiovascular Summit Virtual aims to equip healthcare leaders with essential leadership skills through three days of live content and on-demand learning. Participants will learn innovative approaches to patient care, clinician experience, and leadership strategies for collaboration, teamwork, and workforce well-being.
The annual conference will cover important themes such as decision-making in coronary revascularization, specific treatment of complex lesion subsets, and the use of adjunctive tools. CTO Plus 2022 will feature 12 live case transmissions performed by world-class faculty members.
Researchers found that 30% of fetuses who later developed ASD had heart, kidney, and head anomalies detected during routine prenatal ultrasounds. These anomalies were more common in girls and linked to the severity of ASD. The study suggests that doctors can use these signs to evaluate the probability of a child being born with ASD.
Researchers discovered two simple physical maneuvers to effectively reduce blood pressure drops and alleviate symptoms of IOH in young women. Lower body muscle preactivation (thighs) and tensing improved cardiac output and stroke volume, respectively, leading to a reduction in symptoms upon standing.
A pilot study at UT Southwestern Medical Center found that left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) spurred regeneration in dormant parts of failing hearts. The study's results showed evidence of regeneration in areas considered dead, suggesting a promising avenue for developing regenerative heart therapies.
Biomedical engineers at Duke University have developed a gene therapy that helps heart muscle cells electrically activate in live mice. The approach features engineered bacterial genes that code for sodium ion channels, which could lead to therapies to treat electrical heart diseases and disorders.
Women with GAD exhibit abnormal interoception, perceiving intense heartbeats and lower neural activity in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex. The study suggests a causal link between cardiovascular sensitivity and frontal cortex insensitivity, contributing to anxiety symptoms.
Researchers have discovered a new method to predict heart attacks by analyzing the gene expression of foamy macrophages, revealing a person's cardiovascular health. The study found that foamy cells can be both beneficial and detrimental depending on their behavior in individuals with certain conditions.
Scientists at UC Riverside and UCLA have engineered nanoparticles to serve as 'molecular traps' that bind to SARS-CoV-2, preventing it from attacking macrophages and inducing inflammation. The findings suggest potential therapeutic strategies for treating COVID-19-associated diseases.
A new study published in Clinical Nutrition found that drinking less than the UK's recommended 14 units of alcohol per week increases the risk of cardiovascular events. Moderate alcohol consumption is associated with a 23% increased risk of suffering a cardiovascular event for every additional 1.5 pints of beer consumed.
Hospitalizations for hypertensive crises more than doubled between 2002 and 2014, despite reports of overall progress in blood pressure control. The study found that women had similar hospital mortality rates to men, but with a higher risk of dying during a hypertensive crisis.
A new combined 3D modelling technique can accurately predict abnormal heart rhythms in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy approximately 80% of the time. The approach also identifies cardiac diffuse fibrosis as a risk factor for these abnormalities, potentially guiding patient care.
Middle-aged men with high levels of anxiety and worry are at greater biological risk for developing heart disease and type 2 diabetes as they age. The study found that cardiometabolic disease risk increased with age, regardless of anxiety levels, but anxious individuals were more likely to develop the condition over time.
Scientists identified 46 metabolites linked to coronary heart disease among Black Americans, which were also found in a multi-ethnic population. These biomarkers may serve as better markers of disease for the general population than traditional risk factors.
Researchers from King's College London discovered how obesity affects the heart's shape and structure in children, leading to potential future cardiovascular risks. The study used data from over 2,600 children aged 10, showing significant changes at a BMI of 19.
The Cardiovascular Research Foundation (CRF) will host THT 2022 from February 1-2, 2022. The conference features new and emerging treatments for heart failure, including transcatheter approaches and innovative monitoring strategies.
A new study by the University of California - San Francisco found an association between increased drinking and hospital visits for atrial fibrillation in a large population. The study linked acute alcohol consumption with a higher risk of new-onset AF in previously undiagnosed individuals.
A meta-analysis found that breastfeeding significantly lowers a mother's risk of developing cardiovascular disease, including heart attacks and strokes. The review analyzed health data from nearly 1.2 million women across eight studies conducted in different countries.
The International Cardiac Rehabilitation Registry (ICRR) is designed to assess the quality of cardiac rehab programs worldwide, improving patient outcomes. The registry enables programs in low- and middle-income countries to benchmark their services against international standards.
A study found that consuming more than 7 grams of olive oil per day is associated with lower risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer, neurodegenerative, and respiratory disease mortality. Replacing margarine, butter, mayonnaise, and dairy fat with olive oil was also linked to improved health outcomes.
Cleveland Clinic researchers have identified the gut microbial gene cluster responsible for converting carnitine into TMAO, which promotes heart disease and stroke. The study found that dietary modifications may help reduce diet- and TMAO-associated cardiovascular disease risk by targeting the gbu gene cluster.
Researchers from Göttingen University and Hannover Medical School have detected changes in heart muscle tissue of people who died from Covid-19. The study used innovative X-ray imaging to visualize the affected tissue in three dimensions, revealing a network of chaotic vessel formations.
A recent study published by Queen Mary University of London has found that certain risk factors for heart disease are linked to changes in the structure and appearance of the heart. The research analyzed images from over 30,000 people's heart MRI scans using a new imaging toolkit called radiomics.
A new Northwestern University study has derived and validated the first set of risk prediction models for lifetime risk of heart failure. The models can identify individuals at greatest risk, especially among young adults, allowing physicians to start prevention measures sooner.
An extensive study of over 400,000 individuals found no association between total alcohol consumption and ventricular arrhythmias, contradicting the traditional Holiday Heart Syndrome. Higher spirit intake was linked to an increased risk of ventricular arrhythmias, but not SCDs.
A recent study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology found that fetal MRI can detect at least one other abnormality in almost 57% of fetuses with heart defects. Additionally, approximately a quarter of all fetuses had structural brain abnormalities, regardless of the severity of the heart defect.
A 31-year-old man underwent a heart transplant after recovering from COVID-19, illustrating that the procedure can be successful in patients with severe infections. The patient had been diagnosed with familial inherited cardiomyopathy and had deteriorated rapidly despite treatment.
A study in mice suggests that transplanted brown fat can reduce type 2 diabetes risk factors after a heart attack by dampening gene activation linked to negative effects. The transplantation method could help researchers understand the mechanisms behind this protective effect and potentially lead to therapeutic applications.
A new study from the University of Georgia found that overweight youth are developing signs of artery stiffness, a significant risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Researchers measured visceral fat levels and arterial stiffness in over 600 children, adolescents, and young adults, revealing higher levels of visceral fat and arterial ...
A case report highlights the limitations of remote monitoring in detecting premature battery depletion in recalled pacemakers, leading to urgent device replacement. The cases emphasize the importance of closer monitoring and prophylactic generator changes in patients with high-risk devices.
Researchers have discovered that NOR-1 protein can provide broad protection against heart damage following cancer treatment. Administering the protein directly may reduce heart risk, at least in laboratory tests.
The new guideline recommends a patient-centric approach to managing patients with coronary artery disease, incorporating clinical indications and multidisciplinary team decision-making. The guideline aims to improve quality of care and reduce disparities in treatment, particularly among women and underrepresented racial or ethnic groups.
A large-scale trial found that high-dose intravenous iron therapy reduces heart attacks in patients with kidney failure undergoing dialysis. The study analyzed 2141 patients and reported a significant reduction in type 1 heart attacks, which are often caused by blood clots or blockages.
A new study from the University of South Australia found that vitamin D deficiency is associated with a higher risk of heart disease and higher blood pressure. Increasing vitamin D levels in deficient individuals may prevent up to 4.4% of all CVD cases, according to the research.
Researchers found that increased physical activity reduced mortality risk in all groups, but health benefits plateaued in healthy individuals and those with cardiovascular risk factors. In contrast, cardiovascular disease patients showed no further benefit beyond a certain volume of physical activity.
A team of researchers used deep learning to analyze cardiac images and identified genetic variations linked to aortic size. The findings may lead to the development of a polygenic score to identify individuals at high risk of aneurysm, as well as new drug targets for aortic enlargement.
A new American Heart Association scientific statement highlights how major life events, such as starting school or entering retirement, can negatively impact physical activity levels and heart health. The statement emphasizes the need for proactive measures to address this issue and provides guidance for healthcare professionals to pro...
A new meta-analysis published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology suggests that Sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors can improve outcomes for heart failure patients with preserved ejection fraction. The medication has been shown to reduce the risk of death from heart-related causes and hospitalization by 22%.