Articles tagged with Human Heart
Researchers at the University of Houston have developed a protocol to reprogram human heart cells into specialized cells that conduct electricity, enabling rhythmic heartbeat and repair diseased hearts. The discovery could lead to improved cardiac function and new pharmacological therapies for heart diseases.
Researchers found a longer PR interval and prolonged QT duration in genetically modified pig hearts after transplantation into humans, indicating signs of electrical disease. The study provides a foundation for future research to better understand xenotransplantation's effects on the heart's electrical system.
Researchers found that adult heart cells have fewer communication pathways called nuclear pores, which may protect against harmful signals but prevent regeneration. This discovery sheds light on why adult hearts do not regenerate like newborn mice and human hearts.
A recent study led by Dr. Luis Cuello and Alain J. Labro found that a known Shaker channel mutation differs structurally from its human counterparts, with implications for drug development and ion transport mechanisms. The research reveals a unique conformation of the W434F mutant that is distinct from wild-type channels.
A large Kaiser Permanente study found that most patients with a thoracic aortic aneurysm less than 5.5 cm are not at high risk of experiencing dissection or requiring surgery. The study's findings support the current consensus guidelines recommending surgery for patients with larger aneurysms.
Researchers discover that oxytocin stimulates stem cells to migrate and develop into cardiomyocytes in zebrafish and human cell cultures. This could lead to the regeneration of damaged hearts after a heart attack. The study found that oxytocin also activates EpiPCs, which can replenish lost cardiomyocytes.
Researchers have successfully visualized stable spiral waves in human ventricles using high-resolution optical mapping, providing new insights into the complex behavior of the heart during conditions like fibrillation. This breakthrough could lead to the development of new therapies for treating arrhythmias.
Researchers use human tissue models to study myocardial infarction, a leading cause of mortality worldwide. These models allow for early detection of discrepancies between animal and human responses, enabling faster and safer clinical trials.
A study by CNIC scientists has identified a key role for the MKK3/6–p38γ/δ signaling pathway in cardiac hypertrophy. Inhibition of p38α promotes an unexpected activation of the other branch of the pathway, consisting of the proteins MKK3, p38γ, and p38δ. This activation induces another key pathway in cardiac hypertrophy, the mTOR pathway.
Researchers at RCSI University have created a new lab-based model to test devices for heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. The model enables testing of the left atrium and ventricle, two independently controlled chambers that simulate blood flow during the resting phase.
University of Toronto researchers develop a lab-grown model of the human left heart ventricle made with living heart cells. The bioartificial tissue construct beats strongly enough to pump fluid inside a bioreactor and offers new possibilities for studying heart diseases and testing potential therapies. Future work aims to increase the...
Bioengineers from Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences create first biohybrid model of human ventricles with helically aligned beating cardiac cells, increasing blood pumping efficiency by up to 50%. The model was made possible using Focused Rotary Jet Spinning (FRJS), a new method of additive textile manu...
Researchers at the University of Houston have made a groundbreaking discovery in repairing and regenerating heart muscle cells in mice. The technology uses synthetic mRNA to deliver mutated transcription factors, which increases the replication of cardiomyocytes. This finding has the potential to become a powerful clinical strategy for...
Researchers discovered a new gene, ZBTB11, that drives heart muscle cell degeneration in arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy. The gene's activity induces damage to neighboring heart cells, a key process in the disease.
A new study published in Open Heart found that patients with asymptomatic severe aortic stenosis benefit from early valve replacement surgery to prevent irreversible heart muscle damage. The research showed that timing of surgery is crucial in reducing mortality and hospitalization rates.
A team of researchers has successfully treated damaged pig hearts with cardiac progenitor cells, demonstrating the formation of new cardiac tissue and improved cardiac function. The treatment could potentially be used to treat patients with serious heart failure, particularly older patients with coexisting conditions.
Researchers aim to improve pediatric heart transplant outcomes by identifying how certain drugs work and developing new medications to prevent damage to transplanted hearts. The studies will focus on a recently identified population of immune cells, MAIT cells, to adjust medication dosages and minimize side effects.
Researchers have engineered a tiny living heart chamber replica to study disease progression and test new treatments. The miniPUMP device mimics the real organ's mechanics, allowing for accurate tracking of how the heart grows in embryos and studying the impact of disease.
A Cleveland Clinic-led trial found that an experimental 'gene silencing' therapy significantly reduced blood levels of lipoprotein(a), a key driver of heart disease risk, by up to 96%-98%. The therapy targets the gene responsible for Lp(a) production and has shown strong efficacy with no major safety concerns reported.
The trial evaluated the use of mavacamten as an alternative to heart surgery or alcohol septal ablation for treating hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Findings showed significant reduction in left ventricular outflow tract pressure gradient and improvements in quality-of-life measures.
A multidisciplinary research team from the University of Pittsburgh seeks to improve vascular graft integration by developing fully biodegradable tissue-engineered vascular grafts. The goal is to keep compliance-matched as it degrades and remodels, reducing long-term graft failure rates.
A molecule of RNA called CARMN has been found to play a crucial role in maintaining healthy smooth muscle cells in the blood vessel wall, which can help prevent atherosclerosis and angioplasty-induced restenosis. Restoring healthy CARMN levels may lead to new approaches for treating heart disease.
Recent clinical trials showed promising results with cardiosphere-derived cells, improving heart parameters in patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Researchers investigate using cell-derived products like exosomes to boost endogenous repair pathways, while aiming to reverse cardiomyocytes' proliferation limitations.
A randomized trial comparing plug-based and suture-based vascular closure techniques after TAVR found that the plug-based technique had a shorter time to hemostasis but higher access-site complications. The study, CHOICE-CLOSURE, reported similar mortality rates between both groups.
Scientists at Lewis Katz School of Medicine discovered that reintroducing the protein LIN28 into adult heart stem cells improves their chances of survival. This breakthrough could lead to new treatments for heart disease using stem cell therapy.
Atrial fibrillation screening in 75- and 76-year-olds may significantly reduce the risk of stroke, severe bleeding, and death. The study, published in The Lancet, found that at least 2,300 cases of stroke or death could be avoided per year with national screening.
A new study found that 44% of micro-arteries from patients had abnormal myogenic tone, associated with excessive caldesmon presence and poor cell alignment. This abnormality affects blood supply within the heart and other organs, impacting quality of life and life expectancy.
Researchers have successfully grown sesame-seed-sized heart models using human pluripotent stem cells, which spontaneously self-organize into a hollow chamber without experimental scaffolds. The cardioids' wall-like tissue contracts rhythmically to squeeze liquid around the inside cavity, mimicking natural development.
A team of scientists from Loyola University Chicago's Stritch School of Medicine have discovered a critical component for renewing the heart's molecular motor, which breaks down in heart failure. Restoring BAG3 levels could strengthen the heart as a potential treatment for heart failure.
A team of researchers has created the first full-size 3D bioprinted human heart model using their FRESH technique, mimicking the elasticity of cardiac tissue. The model can be manipulated like real tissue, enabling surgeons to practice and improve their skills before actual surgery.
Researchers have created the first atlas of human heart cells, detailing nearly half a million cells and their functions. The database provides a new basis for studying heart disease, which is the leading cause of death worldwide.
Scientists have documented all cell types and genes in healthy human hearts, paving the way for targeted treatments. This single-cell atlas will help understand heart disease and develop new therapies by correcting genetic mutations.
Researchers analyzed almost half a million individual cells to build the most extensive cell atlas of the human heart, revealing diverse cell types and intricate networks. The study promises to enable better understanding of heart disease and guide development of highly individualized treatments.
Scientists created a comprehensive atlas of healthy human heart cells, revealing unique cell types and communication networks. The map will aid in understanding cardiovascular disease and developing personalized therapies.
A collaborative study by Masonic Medical Research Institute and leading institutions reveals a comprehensive map of the human heart's cellular diversity. The findings provide valuable knowledge gaps about heart composition and function, shedding light on genetic risk factors for cardiac health.
Adenovirus, a common cold virus, can disrupt the heart's electrical system, leading to arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death. Researchers used induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes to confirm the virus's impact on the heart's ability to communicate with its neighbors.
Researchers Vera Tiesler and Guilhem Olivier examine the techniques and devices used in human heart extractions, shedding light on the relationship between ritual violence and cosmological interpretations. Their study reveals three distinct extraction methods and provides a framework for analyzing sacrificial rituals in other ancient s...
Researchers have developed an atomic magnetometer that can map the electrical conductivity of the human heart with high resolution. This technology has the potential to diagnose diseases such as atrial fibrillation without invasive procedures.
A study found that spaceflight affects human heart cells' gene expression, but these changes largely revert to normal upon return to Earth. The researchers used induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes and observed significant changes in gene expression related to mitochondrial function.
A recent study led by the University of Hong Kong found that all 17 languages analysed convey information at similar rates, with an average rate of 39 bits per second. This challenges traditional notions of language efficiency and suggests that all human beings share universal cognitive capacities in their language abilities.
A study analyzing humans, chimpanzees, and gorillas reveals the human heart adapts to endurance activities by becoming larger, longer, and more elastic. However, there is a trade-off between these adaptations, making it harder for individuals with one type of adaptation to cope with the other.
The study reveals that humans developed longer ventricles and larger chamber sizes due to endurance exercise, contrasting with great apes' shorter intense bursts of resistance. This suggests a trade-off between pressure and volume in the human heart's evolution.
A study found that human hearts have evolved to handle sustained endurance activity, while sedentary lifestyles lead to more 'ape-like' hearts and increased hypertension. Researchers compared heart function in apes and four groups of humans with varying activity levels.
A team of researchers from Carnegie Mellon University has developed a new technique to 3D bioprint tissue scaffolds out of collagen, allowing them to overcome challenges associated with existing methods and achieve unprecedented resolution and fidelity. The technique, known as Freeform Reversible Embedding of Suspended Hydrogels (FRESH...
A team of researchers has discovered unknown mini-proteins in the human heart, which were previously unknown. The proteins are used for energy production and could hold promise for treating heart disease.
Researchers used an experimental therapy to block fibronectin protein, reducing scarred muscle tissue and saving mouse models from heart failure. The treatment restored function in damaged heart cells and reduced fibrosis.
Researchers at Columbia University created adult-like cardiac model using induced pluripotent stem cells with electric and mechanical stimulation. The resulting tissue mimics the human heart's behavior after just four weeks of culture.
Columbia University engineers develop a novel approach to growing mature human heart muscle from blood-derived stem cells, achieving critical hallmarks of adult human heart function in just four weeks. The technique involves applying physical conditioning and electromechanical stimulation to drive rapid maturation of the tissue.
Biomedical engineers at Duke University have successfully grown a fully functional artificial human heart muscle large enough to patch over damaged tissue. The breakthrough enables therapies to replace lost muscle after a heart attack, which currently leaves patients with scar tissue that cannot transmit electrical signals or contract.
A team of researchers has created the first atlas of the healthy human heart's protein composition, which will aid in identifying differences between healthy and diseased hearts. The study found that despite functional differences between the right and left halves of the heart, they share similar protein compositions.
Researchers at ETH Zurich developed a soft artificial heart made from silicone that mimics the human heart's form and function. The device lasts only 3,000 beats but paves the way for future improvements in artificial hearts.
Researchers found olfactory receptors in human heart muscle that react to fatty acids, reducing heart rate and contraction force. A blocker for the receptor has been developed to mitigate negative effects on diabetic patients and those with increased heart rates.
Researchers at the University of Bonn and Johns Hopkins University have developed a new method to stop life-threatening cardiac arrhythmia using light stimuli. The technique shows promise as an alternative to painful electric defibrillation, with potential for implantable optical defibrillators in the future.
A team of University of Houston researchers has identified novel regulators of heart formation, including microRNAs, which can convert human fibroblasts into heart muscles. These findings hold promise for treating human heart attack and subsequent heart failure within the next five to 10 years.
A team of researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital has successfully regenerated functional heart muscle in decellularized human hearts using stem-cell derived cells. The study involved the use of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) reprogrammed from skin cells, which were then differentiated into cardiac muscle cells and reseed...
A new study from Karolinska Institutet shows that the mouse heart generates a substantial number of muscle cells early in life, as does the human heart. After the neonatal period, the generation of new heart muscle cells stops and the heart growth mainly occurs by size increase of muscle cells.
Duke researchers discovered a gene called Raf that acts as a switch to turn on Yorkie, making fly hearts grow bigger. The study sheds light on the genetic circuitry of signals governing growth and may help understand how human hearts respond to disease.
Researchers analyzed 50 years of hit songs to identify key themes for advertisers, finding emotional content resonates with mass audiences. The study identified 12 key themes, including loss, desire, and aspiration, which can be used to craft successful advertisements.
Researchers have created an engineered cardiac tissue model using human embryonic stem cells, which exhibits significant similarities to human heart muscle. The model displays spontaneous contractile activity and responds to electrical stimulation, providing a promising platform for developing reliable models of the human heart.
Researchers have made a significant discovery in adult heart repair by identifying the Hippo pathway as a key regulator of cardiomyocyte proliferation. This breakthrough has the potential to improve heart function after a heart attack and reduce the severity of heart disease.