New technique may help cancer victims regrow their breastsNovember 12th, 2009 MELBOURNE - Aussie scientists have developed a surgical technique that may allow women to regrow their breasts after undergoing mastectomies. The experimental stem cell breast-growing technique, called Neopec, will allow breast cancer victims to re-grow breasts within six months - eliminating the need for implants or cosmetic surgery.
Angioplasty in kidney blood vessels has surprising risks, no benefit, British researchers findNovember 11th, 2009 more imagesStudy: Kidney angioplasty brings risks, no benefit
If you're among the hundreds of thousands of Americans with clogged kidney arteries, you might want to consider trying medicines before rushing into angioplasty to open them up. The pricey procedure is no more effective and carries surprisingly big risks, a study found.
Boston Scientific begins marketing next-generation stent in European UnionNovember 2nd, 2009 New Boston Scientific stent approved in EuropeNATICK, Mass. — Medical device maker Boston Scientific said Monday it received European marketing approval for its latest drug-coated stent technology, which prevents blocked arteries.
Faulty 'wiring' in the brain turns schizophrenia onOctober 27th, 2009 WASHINGTON - A new study, conducted by researchers at the Institute of Psychiatry (IoP), King's College London, suggests that abnormalities in the white matter of the brain appear to influence the development of schizophrenia. The white matter of the brain consists of nerve fibres that connect parts of the brain and help regulate behaviour.
Boston Scientific returns to profit in 3rd quarter as heart-pacing device sales stand groundOctober 19th, 2009 Boston Scientific returns to profit in 3rd qtrNATICK, Mass — Medical device maker Boston Scientific Corp. returned to a profit in the third quarter, reporting Monday that sales of its heart-shocking implants held up in spite of hospital cutbacks squeezing its competitors.
Gene transfer could help jump-start ailing heartOctober 6th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Gene therapy could act as a tool to improve an ailing heart's ability to contract properly and prevent heart failure, according to scientists from the Universities of Michigan and Minnesota. The study has paved the way for a day when "closed heart surgery" via gene therapy is as commonly prescribed as today's cocktail of drugs.
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.
Drug-eluting stents safer than bare-metal ones for heart patientsSeptember 26th, 2009 WASHINGTON - A new study has shown that the use of a drug-eluting stent (paclitaxel) is safer and more effective than a bare-metal stent in heart attack patients. It also showed that administration of the anticoagulant medication bivalirudin enhanced safety and efficacy compared to the use of heparin + GPIIb/IIIa inhibitors.
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.
Here's what causes arteries to clog upSeptember 25th, 2009 WASHINGTON - British scientists have identified an enzyme that plays a crucial role in clogging up of arteries. They have discovered that an enzyme called matrix metalloproteinase-8 that raises blood pressure and causes abnormal build-up of cells in the arteries - both of which increase the risk of heart disease.
Abbott touts safety of Xience stent in diabetics, eyes Boston Scientific market shareSeptember 23rd, 2009 Abbott highlights stent results in diabeticsWASHINGTON — Abbott Laboratories says results of a large study place its artery-opening Xience stent on equal footing with competitor Boston Scientific in diabetics, a difficult-to-treat group of patients. The company announced Wednesday there was no difference in safety complications after one year between diabetic patients with a Xience drug-coated stent, versus Boston Scientific's Taxus Express stent.
FDA approves J&J's Cypher stent for use in smaller blood vesselsSeptember 21st, 2009 FDA approves smaller version of J&J stentBRIDGEWATER, N.J. — Medical product conglomerate Johnson & Johnson said Monday the Food and Drug Administration approved a smaller version of its drug-coated stent, Cypher.
Insomnia may lead to cardiac problemsSeptember 6th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Individuals who suffer from insomnia have heightened nighttime blood pressure, which can lead to cardiac problems, a new study has found. The research, published in the journal Sleep, measured the 24-hour blood pressure of insomniacs compared to sound sleepers.
Fatty apron over stomach, intestines may help grow patches of cells for heart repairAugust 30th, 2009 LONDON - A team of researchers in Israel have successfully grown patches of cells for heart repair by conducting experiments on rats. Smadar Cohen, a tissue engineer at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in Beersheba, has revealed that the study has basically shown that a fatty apron of tissue called the omentum, which sits over the stomach and intestines, may be the perfect spot to grow patches of cells for heart repair.
Cancel that angioplasty, take a bike ride: Experts say exercise works better than surgeryAugust 30th, 2009 Exercise beats angioplasty for some heart patientsBARCELONA, Spain — Working up a sweat may be even better than angioplasty for some heart patients, experts say. Studies have shown heart patients benefit from exercise, and some have even shown it works better than surgical procedures.
