Articles tagged with Cardiac Function
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A murine model has been developed to study the mechanisms of reverse cardiac remodeling, a process where the heart returns to its normal structure and function after injury. The model shows that normalization of left ventricle structure and function is accompanied by improved cardiac myocyte function and reduced expression of genes ass...
A daily dose of vitamin D3 improves heart function in people with chronic heart failure, improving ejection fraction from 26% to 34%. The study, known as VINDICATE, involved over 160 patients and found that taking vitamin D3 regularly may lessen the need for an implantable cardioverter defibrillator.
A comprehensive analysis of 526 NBA players reveals larger left ventricular cavity sizes, but not necessarily indicative of increased risk. Most athletes have normal left ventricular ejection fractions, with African American athletes showing increased wall thickness and mass compared to white athletes.
The study provides information that can be incorporated into clinical assessments for the prevention of cardiac emergencies in basketball players. The analysis reveals that left ventricular cavity sizes in NBA players are larger than in normal adults, but proportional to body size.
Researchers developed simulations of the human heart using computational modeling, aiming to create personalized treatment strategies for patients with reduced cardiac function. The project uses virtual personalized heart models to predict CRT feasibility and optimize pacemaker setup.
Researchers found that therapeutic hypothermia increased survival rates by 2.8 times and neurologic recovery by 3.5 times in comatose cardiac arrest patients. Therapeutic hypothermia may benefit comatose cardiac arrest patients with non-shockable heart rhythms, increasing their chances of survival and better brain function.
A new study reveals that high-intensity intermittent exercise training improves heart structure and benefits diabetes control in patients with type 2 diabetes. The study showed significant improvements in cardiac structure and function, particularly in the left ventricle, and a modest improvement in diabetes control.
A leadless cardiac pacemaker demonstrated good safety and reliable function in a six-month study. The device effectively captured heart rhythms and had a low rate of serious adverse device effects, suggesting it can be used as an alternative to conventional transvenous pacemakers.
A Johns Hopkins-led study of 1,200 people with implanted defibrillators shows that within a few years, one-quarter experienced substantial improvements in heart function, reducing the risk of arrhythmia and device shocks. Improved heart function was primarily attributed to concurrent use of heart failure medications and pacemakers.
A Duke University Medical Center study found that older heart patients with reduced function may benefit from defibrillators, which can lower the risk of death by one-third. However, the devices are underutilized due to factors such as advanced age, transitions in care, and mandatory waiting periods.
A team of researchers found that the contractile function of fruit flies' hearts is improved when overexpressing vinculin, a protein that accumulates at higher levels in aging rats and humans. This improvement leads to longer lifespans in genetically modified flies.
Research in elderly people found that moderate drinking may lead to subtle changes in the heart's structure and function. Women appear more susceptible to cardiotoxic effects of alcohol than men.
A study by Helmholtz Munich researchers found that exposure to ultrafine particles can induce immediate changes in heart rate variability in individuals with impaired glucose metabolism or diabetes. The research suggests potential health risks and demands for threshold limit values for environmental standards.
A new clinical trial has shown that using available heart failure drugs can slow the progressive decline in heart function in boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. The combination of eplerenone and either an ACE inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blocker significantly reduces left ventricular function decline.
The ANTHEM-HF study shows significant improvement in left ventricular ejection fraction and 6-minute walk test distance with both left and right vagus nerve stimulation. However, the improvement was significantly less with left-sided VNS compared to right-sided VNS.
The study found that hRAMP1-over-expressing MSCs inhibit neointimal proliferation and improve infarcted heart function in rabbit models. This approach may be useful for treating damaged vessels and the infracted heart.
A late-breaking clinical trial shows spironolactone reduces risk of repeated heart failure hospitalizations, but not overall mortality or cardiac arrest. The study enrolled 3,445 participants and followed them for nearly 3.5 years.
A Dartmouth researcher found that oxygen can keep dying heart cells alive by providing spikes of oxygen. This discovery could lead to new treatments for congestive heart failure, which is often caused by cell death due to lack of oxygen. The research suggests that controlled breathing exercises may also have health benefits.
Scientists at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital discovered that protein MCL1 is essential for normal cardiac function, complicating cancer drug development efforts. The study suggests that targeting MCL1 expression in target cells may be beneficial for treating heart muscle damage following heart attacks or other insults.
A study of HIV-infected children and adolescents found that highly active antiretroviral therapies do not impair heart function. Instead, the therapies appear to be cardioprotective, reducing the risk of heart failure in these patients.
Researchers found that troponin I's phosphorylation levels are altered in patients with heart failure, leading to muscle dysfunction. The discovery paves the way for new diagnostic tools and therapies for heart failure, a condition affecting over 6 million adults in the US.
Researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine have found that cardiac stem cells from newborns have a three-fold ability to restore heart function compared to adult-derived cells. This discovery may lead to new treatment options for congenital heart syndrome and improve heart function in children by up to 15 percent.
Researchers found that spinal cord stimulation improves left ventricular contractile function in pigs with ischemic heart failure. Continuous spinal cord stimulation was associated with significant reduction of serum norepinephrine and brain natriuretic peptide compared to medical therapy alone.
A new UCLA study published in Basic Research in Cardiology found that heart attacks in late pregnancy result in worse heart function and more damaged heart tissue than in non-pregnant females. The research suggests that the heart may be particularly vulnerable to injury during this critical period, but partially recovers after giving b...
A natural compound found in fruits, nuts and red wine has shown improved physical performance and endurance in lab models. Researchers plan to test resveratrol on diabetics with heart failure to improve heart function and exercise capabilities.
Researchers investigated omega-3 supplements' effects on cardiac diastolic function, finding no improvement in older adults. The study suggests that omega-3's benefits may fall on other aspects of cardiovascular function.
A Stanford study reveals that an invasive heart test is being dramatically overused, particularly among patients who recently underwent similar tests. The study found that the procedure, left ventriculography, was performed as an add-on during coronary angiograms at a rate of 81.8% in some cases, despite less-invasive methods available.
Kessler Foundation partners with Ekso Bionics to test the wearable, robotic battery-powered exoskeleton's potential in rehabilitation research. Scientists will study its impact on circulation, bone density, and overall health.
Patients who underwent mitral valve repair along with bypass surgery had improved exercise capacity and reduced heart size compared to those who received bypass surgery alone. Blood markers associated with heart failure also showed improvement for dual-procedure patients.
Research by Penn State found that breathing cold air during exercise causes uneven oxygen distribution throughout the heart, particularly in those with coronary artery disease. Healthy individuals can redistribute blood flow, but those with heart problems may not be able to compensate, making activities like shoveling snow dangerous.
A low-calorie diet has been shown to improve heart function and eliminate insulin dependence in obese patients with type 2 diabetes. After four months of caloric restriction, pericardial fat decreased and E/A ratio improved, with effects persisting long-term despite weight regain.
A study found that diastolic dysfunction prevalence increased by 39.2% in 4 years, with worsening function associated with heart failure risk. Age was a key predictor of developing diastolic dysfunction and heart failure.
Researchers studied physicians and scientists trekking to Mt. Everest Base Camp, finding extensive but reversible changes in heart function after exposure to low oxygen levels. The findings suggest that heart problems experienced by seriously ill patients may be reversible once oxygen levels are returned to normal.
A study by University of Iowa researchers found that structural defects in heart muscle cells occur before functional decline, suggesting a potential window for intervention. The team used imaging techniques to visualize changes in T-tubule networks, which were accompanied by reduced junctophilin-2 levels and compromised integrity.
Researchers developed a new mathematical model to predict ventricular function during the cardiac cycle, offering a simpler alternative to existing models. The model, comprising five parameters, may improve treatment options for patients with heart disease and integrate into multi-scale models of working hearts.
Researchers found that mice lacking MTOR in their heart muscle cells developed a fatal heart condition, highlighting the potential adverse effects of MTOR inhibitors on heart health. Deletion of 4E-BP1 improved heart function and survival, suggesting a new therapeutic strategy for improving heart function in patients with heart failure.
Researchers have found that bone marrow cell transplants can improve heart function and relieve symptoms of refractory angina. Apelin, a newly described peptide, was also shown to increase significantly in patients who received the transplants, leading to improved cardiac function.
Researchers at the University of Michigan have shown that small mechanical forces can control gene expression by reducing DNA looping, a common mechanism for gene regulation. The study provides new insights into how cells regulate themselves and could lead to new understandings of diseases such as cancer and cardiac disease.
A new study from Columbia University Medical Center researchers found that even mild cases of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) can limit the heart's ability to pump effectively. The study, which involved over 2,800 adults, suggests a link between lung function and heart function.
Researchers found strong links between mild COPD and diminished heart function in healthy adults, with the strongest association seen in current smokers and those with emphysema. The study's findings suggest that treating lung disease may improve heart function, but further research is needed.
A two-year study found that moderate weight loss improved four key measures of heart health in obese patients, including decreased heart muscle thickness and improved pumping functions. After weight regain, some cardiovascular benefits were retained.
Researchers at Boston University School of Medicine discovered a link between fat accumulation around the heart and aorta, as well as within the liver, and decreased cardiac pumping function. Measuring body mass index (BMI) does not accurately predict the amount of unwanted fat in these areas.
The PreSCD II registry found that patients protected by an implantable cardioverter defibrillator after a heart attack showed a non-significant lower mortality rate. In those with severely reduced heart function, mortality was reduced by 47% in patients with ICD implantation one month or more after MI.
Concomitant kidney dysfunction and worsening renal function in heart failure patients are associated with a poor prognosis. New treatments target improving renal function and preventing its deterioration during hospitalizations for acute heart failure.
A team of researchers has found that transplanting sheets of clonally expanded heart cells improves heart function after a heart attack in mice. The cells secreted a molecule that induced the migration of endothelial cells and prevented oxidative stress, leading to improved heart function.
A new study found that anemia in chronic heart failure patients is associated with a significantly increased risk of death and poorer left ventricular function. Researchers analyzed data from 97,699 patients and concluded that optimal treatment of anemia may reduce mortality rates and improve patient outcomes.
A team of scientists has identified Llysyl oxidase as an enzyme involved in fibrous tissue accumulation and cardiac deterioration in patients with chronic heart disease. This discovery opens new possibilities for treating patients with heart disease by inhibiting the enzyme.
A study published in JAMA Network found that abnormal diastolic function in the left ventricle is strongly associated with reduced maximum exercise capacity. Factors such as age, female sex, and body mass index also play a role in determining exercise capacity.
Researchers have identified a key molecule involved in controlling excessive scar tissue formation after a heart attack. Stopping the scarring improved heart function in mice, offering hope for people with poor heart function due to heart attacks.
Researchers have identified a connection between fruit fly genetics and human heart disease, revealing that certain genes play a role in both embryonic and adult heart function. The study found TBX20 mutations in humans with structural congenital heart abnormalities and heart muscle dysfunction, suggesting its potential involvement in ...
A new study suggests that low-dose CT coronary angiography can measure cardiac function effectively, offering a lower radiation dose alternative to traditional exams. The technique has the potential to replace high-radiation exams for patients with mobility or other issues.
Researchers from Pitt and the University of Chicago discovered a previously unknown role of two enzymes in regulating heart muscle contractions. By controlling these enzymes, they found that heart muscle fibers become more sensitive to calcium, strengthening contraction without increasing energy consumption.
Researchers have described the mechanisms by which capon gene variants cause heart rhythm disturbances. The study found that capon interacts with a signaling molecule in heart muscle to influence signaling pathways and modify cell-to-cell interactions, leading to abnormalities in the QT interval of EKGs.
Researchers found that each year as people age, the time it takes for their heart muscles to squeeze and relax grows longer. The actual amount of blood pumped out by the heart fell by 8 milliliters per year. This decline occurred despite an increase in another standard measure of heart function.
A study by Jason Dyck at the University of Alberta found that a protein responsible for transporting fat into heart cells may be a key to preventing age-related decline in heart function. Genetically modified mice with this protein deficiency showed no accumulated fat in their hearts and outperformed normal aged mice on a treadmill test.
Researchers produced human cardiomyocytes from hESCs using a sequential, directed differentiation protocol that did not rely on serum or feeder cells. Echocardiography showed attenuation of left-ventricular end-diastolic and end-systolic diameters in animals receiving cardiomyocytes compared to control groups.
Implanted pumps improved heart function in many patients awaiting a heart transplant, allowing them to leave the hospital without a pump and without a new heart. The devices also showed progressive improvement in exercise capacity and reduced signs of heart damage.
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.
A new study suggests that pre-dive intake of antioxidants Vitamin C and E can reduce alterations in cardiovascular function. This intervention showed a positive effect on vascular endothelial function, while other cardiac changes were unaffected.
Researchers developed a simple, noninvasive test to measure right ventricular function and predict survival of adults with pulmonary hypertension. The test, TAPSE, assesses echocardiographic abnormalities in the tricuspid valve and showed that patients with advanced right ventricular dysfunction had dramatically reduced survival rates.