Use Of Multiple Genetic Markers Not Associated With Improved Ability To Predict Risk Of Cardiovascular Disease In Women
Creation of a genetic risk score comprised of multiple genetic markers associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) was not associated with significant improvement in CVD risk prediction in a study that included more than 19, 000 women, according to a study in the February 17 issue of JAMA. "Risk prediction is a central part of cardiovascular disease prevention and refining prediction strategies remains important for targeting treatment recommendations. One area of potential improvement has been the discovery of genetic markers for cardiovascular disease as well as intermediate phenotypes [physical manifestations] such as cholesterol and blood pressure. Recent efforts using genome-wide association studies have greatly expanded the discovery of genetic markers associated with cardiovascular disease, " the authors write.
Use Of Statins Increases The Risk Of Developing Type 2 Diabetes But Reduces Coronary Events
An article published Online First and in an upcoming edition of The Lancet reports that new research based on a meta-analysis of thirteen statin trials has shown that use of statins increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by 9 percent. Still, the absolute risk is low, especially when compared with the beneficial effect that statins have on reducing coronary events. The article is the work of Professor Naveed Satar and Dr David Preiss, Glasgow Cardiovascular Research Centre, University of Glasgow, UK, and colleagues. Trials of statin therapy on the risk of development of diabetes in patients given statins have had inconsistent findings. To eliminate this doubt, the authors did a meta-analysis of published and unpublished data in order to find out whether any relation exists between statin use and development of diabetes.
Novel Screening Technique Identifies New Effects Of Approved Drugs For Cardiovascular Disease
Drugs that target the way cells convert nutrients into energy could offer new approaches to treating a range of conditions including heart attack and stroke. Using a new way to screen for potential drugs, a team led by Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) researchers has identified several FDA-approved agents, including an over-the-counter anti-nausea drug, that can shift cellular energy metabolism processes in animals. Their findings, being published online in Nature Biotechnology, may open the door to new therapeutic strategies for several serious health problems. "Shifts in cells' energy production pathways take place naturally during development and in response to demanding activities - like sprinting versus long-distance running.
St. Jude Medical Announces IRASE AF Clinical Trial To Evaluate Cardiac Ablation Catheter System For Treatment Of Atrial Fibrillation
St. Jude Medical, Inc. (NYSE:STJ) announced it has received an Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to begin enrollment in the IRASE AF (IRrigated Ablation System Evaluation for AF) trial, a multicenter, randomized, single-blind study evaluating the safety and efficacy of the company's Duo 12 port open irrigated catheter ablation system for treatment of Atrial Fibrillation (AF). AF is the most common cardiac arrhythmia (abnormal heartbeat), affecting an estimated 3.3 million Americans and millions more worldwide. The IRASE AF trial is the industry's first and the largest head-to-head IDE trial studying irrigated ablation catheters, which use radiofrequency (RF) energy in a non-invasive procedure to destroy abnormal heart tissue.
Compound Shows Promise Against Intractable Heart Failure
A chemical compound found normally in the blood has shown promise in treating and preventing an intractable form of heart failure in a mouse model of the disease, report researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine. The study is published in the February issue of Circulation. More than five and half million Americans have heart failure, according to the American Heart Association, and 670, 000 new cases are diagnosed each year. In heart failure the heart is unable to pump effectively and cannot meet the body's need for blood and oxygen. It is really two diseases, each with about half of all patients, says Dr. Samuel Dudley, professor of medicine and physiology at UIC and chair of the section of cardiology.
Researchers Find Air Pollution Linked To Progression Of Atherosclerosis
Researchers at the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California (USC), in collaboration with international partners in Spain and Switzerland and colleagues in California, have found that exposure to air pollution accelerates the thickening of artery walls that leads to cardiovascular disease. The study, published this week in the journal PloS ONE, is the first to link outdoor air quality and progression of atherosclerosis in humans. Researchers found that artery wall thickening among people living within 100 meters (328 feet) of a Los Angeles highway progressed twice as quickly as those who lived farther away. "The fact that we can detect progression of atherosclerosis in relation to ambient air pollution above and beyond other well-established risk factors indicates that environmental factors may play a larger role in the risk for cardiovascular disease than previously suspected, " says study co-author Howard N.
Heart-Assist Device Helped Ready 16-Year-Old For Successful Surgery
The wait is over for 16-year-old Francesco "Frank" De Santiago. On January 29, De Santiago received a donor heart in a nine-hour transplant operation at Texas Children's Heart Center De Santiago made news last October as the first child ever discharged from a pediatric hospital with an implanted mechanical heart pump, or ventricular assist device (VAD). Until then, pediatric patients with VADs remained in the hospital, often in ICU, while awaiting a donor heart. "Frank's surgery went extremely well; he was a much better candidate for a heart transplant now than eight months ago when his heart was failing, " said Dr. David L.D. Morales, pediatric cardiovascular surgeon at Texas Children's Heart Center who implanted Frank's device last May and performed his recent heart transplant.
Is Your Kitchen Heart Friendly?
Lurking in your kitchen may be a killer. According to Saint Louis University cardiologist Melda Dolan, M.D., the fast, convenient and processed foods that fill American's freezers and pantries are bad news for your heart and waistline, as well as your taste buds. This February, in honor of American Heart Month, Dolan is encouraging the SLU community to give their kitchen a heart-healthy makeover. "Maintaining a heart healthy diet is easier than you might think, but it does require a life-style change, " Dolan said. "Once you learn how to shop for and cook with fresh ingredients, you'll see that it's easy to do." According to Dolan, one's diet plays a major role in the development of heart disease the No.
Low Levels Of Natural Antibody Linked To Stroke Risk
New research from Sweden reveals that a person's chance of having a stroke is linked to low levels of a natural antibody in the immune system: the researchers hope to develop a vaccine that stimulates the immune system to boost levels of the antibody and thus increase the body's own defences against arteriosclerosis and stroke. The finding is the result of a study led by Professor Johan FrostegГ rd at the Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, Sweden, and you can read a report about it online in the 11 February issue of Stroke, a journal of the American Heart Association. Arteriosclerosis is when plaque accumulate on the walls of blood vessels. It eventually bursts, causing a blood clot (thrombosis).
American Heart Association Comment On Hospitalization Of President Bill Clinton
Volunteers and staff of the American Heart Association extend their thoughts and well wishes to former President Bill Clinton upon the reports that he has undergone a procedure to insert stents to widen narrowed coronary arteries. President Clinton, who underwent quadruple coronary bypass surgery in 2004, partnered with the Association through his Foundation to jointly form the Alliance for a Healthier Generation to reduce the prevalence of childhood obesity in the United States. "While we don't know the exact particulars of President Clinton's situation, we do know that stents work and work well for chest pain, especially in abrupt or emergency settings, " said Clyde Yancy, president of the American Heart Association and medical director at the Baylor Heart and Vascular Institute in Dallas, Texas.