Articles tagged with Cardiac Function
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.
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 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.
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.
Researchers at Thomas Jefferson University found that GRK2 protein levels are elevated in patients with failing hearts compared to those with normal heart function. The study suggests that GRK2 could be a biomarker for heart failure and potentially predict patient response to treatment.
A study of children and young adults treated with doxorubicin for bone tumors found progressive worsening of heart damage, with nearly half showing diastolic dysfunction. Regular echocardiography is recommended to monitor heart function and prevent further deterioration.
Researchers detected subtle changes in left ventricle walls using MRI tagging, showing an association between atherosclerosis and reduced heart pumping function. The study found early signs of atherosclerosis in carotid arteries related to fine changes in heart contraction.
Having any degree of impaired heart function may be an independent risk factor for ischemic stroke. Mild LVD is present in 3-6% of the general population and increases stroke risk more than three-fold in men and almost five-fold in women.
A recent study found that stem cell mobilization therapy does not improve left ventricular recovery in patients with acute myocardial infarction. Despite significant mobilization of bone marrow stem cells, treatment did not alter infarct size or risk of restenosis or major adverse cardiac events.
Researchers found that a soy-based diet caused significant growth in the hearts of male mice, whereas female mice showed no such effect. The study suggests that phytoestrogens may play a role in exacerbating heart disease, particularly in males.
The PREAMI study found that perindopril significantly reduces the risk of death, hospitalization for heart failure, and cardiac remodelling in elderly patients after acute myocardial infarction. Perindopril reduced these outcomes by 59% and cardiac remodelling by 64%, with consistent benefits across predefined subgroups.
A recent MRI study has mapped 'silent' heart changes that remodel the heart, linking specific regional changes to early signs of trouble in the left ventricle. The study found that pumping function deteriorates as hearts increasingly change shape or remodel.
Researchers at Duke University Medical Center have made a breakthrough in understanding the role of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI(3)K) in heart failure. They found that preventing PI(3)K's activation could block the loss of heart receptors, potentially improving heart function in patients with heart failure.
A new study using CRT-D devices found a strong correlation between changes in heart rate variability and mortality one year later. Patients with limited heart rate variability are at higher risk of suffering a heart attack, making the device's data an important tool for identifying high-risk patients.
A minimally invasive procedure involving stem cells has shown improvement in heart function for patients with severe heart failure and no coronary blockages. All 15 patients who received stem cell injections experienced some degree of improvement, while the control group saw little change.
Researchers found that seven percent of patients implanted with VADs were successfully weaned off the devices without needing a heart transplant. The study showed that VAD support can facilitate dramatic recovery in patients with acute inflammatory cardiomyopathy or post-partum cardiomyopathy.
Researchers at Duke University Medical Center have discovered two genetic regions linked to heart function and survival in patients with heart failure. The study found that genetic variations on chromosomes 13, 18, 2, and 4 affect cardiac function and survival, providing potential targets for new therapies.
Researchers studied 99 adults with mild hypertension, finding reduced heart function during exercise and at rest if they delivered less oxygen per beat. This study suggests oxygen pulse during exercise could be a useful screening tool for identifying heart issues in these individuals.
A study found that disrupting PI3Kgamma preserves beta-adrenergic receptors on heart cells, leading to improved heart function and longer survival in mice. The loss of beta-adrenergic receptors contributes to heart failure, but this intervention may provide a new therapeutic approach.
A team of researchers, led by Josef Penninger, found that the PTEN and PI3K alpha and gamma proteins work together to regulate heart size. They also discovered that when these proteins are shut down, large hearts can pump more efficiently than normal-sized hearts.
Researchers found that genes, rather than blood pressure or age, significantly impact heart function and the risk of developing diastolic heart failure. The study suggests that an individual's genetic makeup may be programmed from birth, determining their future heart health.
Researchers at the University of Toronto found that balancing ACE 1 and 2 genes leads to healthy hearts in mice models. The study sheds light on the complex relationship between ACE 1 by-products and cardiovascular disease.
Researchers at Jefferson Medical College and University of Barcelona found that moderate drinking from one to four drinks a day improved heart function in men with alcohol-related heart failure. The study suggests a threshold drinking level for alcohol-related heart damage, below which there is no harm.
Researchers from Massachusetts General Hospital report that delivering extra copies of the SERCA2a gene to the heart muscle via gene therapy techniques alleviates diastolic dysfunction in aging rats. This study provides a potential target for therapies to prevent progression to heart failure.
Adding beta-blocker metoprolol to standard treatment for heart failure increases survival by about 35 percent, according to a large international study. The study, called Metoprolol CR/XL Randomized Intervention Trial in Heart Failure (Merit-HF), was conducted in the US and 13 other countries.
A new study found that ACE inhibitors increase patient survival by about 30 percent overall, especially in patients with impaired heart function. The analysis supports the use of ACE inhibitors in almost all patients with impaired heart function when discharged from hospital following a heart attack.