Protein changes in heart indicate Alzheimer's disease linked with heart failureNovember 16th, 2009 WASHINGTON - By observing changes in the chemical structure of a protein, researchers have established a link between Alzheimer's disease and chronic heart failure. The international team of biochemists and cardiologists, led by researchers at Johns Hopkins, have said that they have identified three changes in the chemical make-up of a key structural protein, called desmin, in heart muscle cells in dogs.
First US teen patient with implanted mechanical heart device dischargedNovember 12th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Texas Children's Hospital has become the first paediatric hospital in the US to discharge a child while on an intracorporeal ventricular assist device (VAD), a feat previously accomplished only at adult institutions. The patient, 16-year-old Francisco "Frank" De Santiago, who was implanted with a mechanical heart pump called the HeartMate II on May 19, 2009, was discharged on Oct.
Heart failure patients often sent home without drugs recommended by guidelines, study saysOctober 20th, 2009 Study: Heart failure drug guidelines often ignoredCHICAGO — Most hospitalized heart failure patients are sent home without widely recommended inexpensive pills, despite a program to get more doctors to follow treatment guidelines, a study suggests. Only one-third of 12,565 patients eligible for the drugs got them — even though they were treated at 201 hospitals that had voluntarily enrolled in the American Heart Association's Get with the Guidelines program.
Dialysis may affect mobility in frail elderly with end-stage renal diseaseOctober 15th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Researchers suggest that before offering the treatment, kidney specialists need to weigh which elderly patient suffering from end-stage renal disease (ESRD) would benefit the most from either dialysis or conservative therapies. Dialysis provides artificial replacement of lost kidney function, passing a patient's blood through a machine that filters out impurities normally captured in the organ.
Gene suppression keeps the heart youngOctober 14th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Scientists prevented age-related changes in the hearts of mice and preserved cardiac function by suppressing a form of the PI3K gene, according to a new study. The findings may have major implications for potential human cardiac patients.
Gene suppression could prevent heart from aging, preserve its functionOctober 13th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Suppressing a form of PI3K gene successfully prevented heart from aging and preserved its function in mice, a new study has found. The findings of the study could help physicians to one day prevent age-related heart failure in humans.
Gene transfer can help ailing heart heal itselfOctober 6th, 2009 WASHINGTON - In a major breakthrough, scientists jump-started a failing heart by transferring a gene, which could help the heart heal itself. The breakthrough also offers a tantalizing glimpse of a day when "closed heart surgery" via gene therapy is as commonly prescribed as today's cocktail of drugs.
'Fish plays no major role in preventing heart attacks'October 3rd, 2009 LONDON - Contrary to popular perception, eating fish has no major role in preventing heart failure, says a new study. The study, which got underway in 1990 and involved men and women aged over 55 living in a suburb of Rotterdam, found no difference in the risk of developing heart failure between those who ate fish and those who didn't.
Viagra compounds found to shrink abnormally large heartsSeptember 25th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Compounds related to Viagra, already in clinical trials to prevent heart failure, may also counter the disease in a different way, says a new study. The results hold promise for the design of a new drug class and for its potential use in combination with Viagra or beta blockers.
New heart pump needs no wiresSeptember 16th, 2009 SYDNEY - Heart pumps, hooked with wires to power themselves, end up seriously infecting nearly 40 percent of patients. Scientists have now developed the technology to power heart pump wirelessly thus saving thousands of lives, and eventually offering an alternative to heart transplants.
New therapy to prevent heart failureSeptember 2nd, 2009 LONDON - A new study has found that cardiac resynchronization device combined with the defibrillator (CRT-D) can significantly reduce death risk and heart failure in cardiac patients. The researchers found that patients who had a cardiac resynchronization had a 34 percent reduction in their risk of death or heart failure.
New therapy shows promise for heart failure patientsSeptember 1st, 2009 LONDON - A major international study has found that a therapy called cardiac resynchronization can significantly delay the progression of heart failure. In the study, researchers found that the treatment reduced the risk of serious heart failure events by 41 percent.
Abiomed says first patient implanted with heart replacement died after about 10 weeksSeptember 1st, 2009 Abiomed says first AbioCor heart patient has diedDANVERS, Mass. — Abiomed Inc.
Study: Combination heart device cut patients' chances of heart failure by 41 percentSeptember 1st, 2009 Combination heart device reduced heart failureBARCELONA, Spain — A two-in-one heart device to fix irregular beats and contraction patterns cut patients' chances of developing heart failure by 41 percent, new research says. While the device spared many patients from going to the hospital, it made no difference in saving lives, and some doctors say they won't rush to implant more patients with the pricey devices.
'Resynchronisation' cuts down risk of heart failuresSeptember 1st, 2009 WASHINGTON - A therapy called cardiac 'resynchronisation' reduced risk of heart failures by 41 percent, says an international study. "This shows, for the first time, that the onset of heart failure symptoms and hospitalisation for heart failure can be delayed with pacing therapy," said David Wilber, director of the Cardiovascular Institute at Loyola University (Chicago) Stritch School of Medicine.
