Drug Therapy For PKU Reverses Heart Damage, Study Shows
- ScienceDaily, 14 May
A pricy drug used to treat a rare but well-known genetic disorder may hold wider promise as a treatment for millions of Americans with potentially lethal enlarged hearts, due mainly to high blood pressure, a study from Johns Hopkins shows. Original report
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Study Could Aid Development Of Improved Blood Pressure Drugs
- Medical News Today, 14 May
Findings from a new study could aid in the development of safer and more effective blood pressure drugs, according to Loyola University Health System researchers. Original report
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Abbott Laboratories' Xience stent outperforms rival, study says
- Medical News Today, 14 May
Abbott Laboratories' drug-coated Xience heart stent worked almost twice as well as the top-seller, Boston Scientific Corp.'s Taxus, scientists found. Original report |
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Thrombus Aspiration Before Stenting Benefits Patients Suffering Myocardial Infarction, Study Shows
- Medical News Today, 14 May
Medtronic, Inc. (NYSE: MDT) announced the presentation of new results from an independent study, which show that thrombus aspiration with Medtronic's Export Aspiration Catheter prior to stenting can significantly improve blood flow and survival rates in patients suffering acute myocardial infarction (AMI) compared to treatment with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) alone. Original report
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‘Hands-only’ CPR Significantly Boosts Survival Chances, AHA Says
- eFluxMedia, 1 April
Whether or not you’re trained in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), you still can help a person who suddenly collapses on the street, the American Heart Association said on Monday. Original report |
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MDs marvel at blood pressure drug combo
- The Star.com, 1 April
An international drug trial that could change the way high blood pressure is controlled has shown a combination of two common hypertension medications can bring the often-lethal condition under control, even in the most dangerous cases.
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Lotrel, A Single Pill Combination For Treating High Blood Pressure, Reduced Cardiovascular Events By 20% In High-Risk Patients
- MedicalNewsToday, 1 April
Interim results from the ACCOMPLISH (Avoiding Cardiovascular Events through COMbination Therapy in Patients LIving with Systolic Hypertension) trial demonstrate that high-risk, high blood pressure patients treated with Lotrel(R) (amlodipine besylate and benazepril HCl) had 20% fewer cardiovascular events than those taking a benazepril and hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) combination. This is the first cardiovascular outcomes trial in a hypertensive population where all patients were randomized to receive a single-pill combination treatment at the onset of the trial as opposed to a step care regimen.
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Landmark ONTARGET(TM) Trial Demonstrates Micardis(R) Is Equally Effective As Ramipril, With Fewer Discontinuations
-MedicalNewsToday, 1 April
The results of the landmark ONTARGET(TM) trial have demonstrated that MICARDIS(R) (telmisartan), a second-generation angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB), is equally effective as the current standard, ramipril, in reducing the risk of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, stroke and hospitalization for congestive heart failure in a broad cross-section of high-risk cardiovascular patients with normal blood pressure or controlled high blood pressure, and resulted in fewer discontinuations.(1) These cardiovascular events occurred in 1,423 patients (16.7 percent) receiving telmisartan versus 1,412 patients (16.5 percent) receiving ramipril.(1) The relative risk (ratio of the probability of the event occurring in the telmisartan group versus the ramipril group) was 1.01, with a 95 percent CI of 0.94 - 1.09.Original report |
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Poor heart care "risking lives"
- Nursing in Practice, 25 March
Lack of vital care for people who suffer from angina and heart failure is putting lives at risk, two leading heart charities have warned. A study by the British Heart Foundation (BHF) Scotland in conjunction with Chest, Heart and Stroke Scotland (CHSS), shows that just 3% of those with angina and less than 1% of heart failure sufferers are being offered cardiac rehabilitation.Original report |
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Study Finds Important Links Between Heart Failure and Complications During Non-Cardiac Surgery
- Newswise, 25 March
In the largest study of its kind in the U.S., researchers from Duke University have identified a possible “perfect storm” of factors pushing heart failure to the forefront of risks for complications after surgery in the elderly.
Adrian F. Hernandez, M.D., said that three concurrent trends in the next ten to twenty years point to a need for evaluation of outcomes after non-cardiac procedures among patients with heart failure: An elderly population increase of 50 percent, an increased number of surgical procedures in this population, and increasing prevalence of heart failure in the general population. Original report |
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Cardiac Survival Better in Hospitals Hosting Clinical Trials
- MedPageToday, 24 March
The in-hospital mortality rate for acute coronary syndrome was lower at facilities that participate in clinical trials than in those that don't, researchers here said. Original report |
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Suprane, Colazal Need New Warnings on Heart, Lung Risks, FDA Staff Says
- News Inferno, 24 March
Some Food & Drug Administration (FDA) advisors are pushing for new warnings on the labels of Suprane and Colazal because of potential risks these drugs may pose when used in children. An FDA safety panel is scheduled to meet tomorrow to discuss the safety of Suprane and Colazal, as well as other medications used in children. Original report |
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St. Mary's Medical Center Adds Nintendo Wii As a New Approach to Physical Therapy
- PR Inside, 19 March
St. Mary's Medical Center (SMMC) Acute Rehabilitation Unit adds Wii-habilitation--a physical therapy technique using the Nintendo Wii video gaming system to help patients meet rehabilitation goals. SMMC is one of the first Bay Area hospitals to take advantage of the Nintendo Wii's unusual game controls to
strengthen muscles and coordinate motions in physical and occupational rehabilitation therapies. Original report
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Resveratrol In Grape Skins Could Stop Diabetic Complications Such As Heart Disease, Retinopathy And Nephropathy
- Medical News Today, 19 March
Research carried out by scientists at the Peninsula Medical School in the South West of England has found that resveratrol, a compound present naturally in grape skin, can protect against the cellular damage to blood vessels caused by high production of glucose in diabetes, according to a paper published in the science journal Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism this week. Original report
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Safe At Any Age: Octogenarians Do As Well As Younger Patients With Interventional Radiology Arterial Proced
- Medical News Today, 19 March
Seniors over the age of 80 can safely undergo diagnostic angiography and arterial interventions such as vascular stenting and angioplasty and do just as well as younger patients. A study released during the Society of Interventional Radiology's 33rd Annual Scientific Meeting indicates that seniors (ages 85 - 93) tolerated these procedures well, avoided surgery and could be treated as outpatients irrespective of age. The outcomes of the treatments in the octogenarians were compared to those of 50- to 79-year-old patients who had an equivalent procedure during the same time period by the same doctor. The study included 64 octogenarians who had arterial angioplasty and/or stenting to treat peripheral arterial disease (PAD) caused by blocked arteries in the legs or to improve blood flow to the kidneys by opening blocked arteries that deliver blood to that organ. All were treated as outpatients and followed after discharge from the hospital. Original report
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FDA Links More Deaths to Medtronic Stent
- Forbes, 18 March
Patients treated with a Medtronic stent to prevent aneurysms appear more likely to die than those who undergo surgery, the Food and Drug Administration said Tuesday. Original report
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First human use of Medtronic bifurcation stent announced
- Health Tech News, 3 March
Seeking to address a challenge facing interventional cardiologists and hundreds of thousands of patients with coronary artery disease worldwide, Medtronic, Inc. has announced the first human use of its investigational bifurcation stent. The new stent employs an innovative Y-shaped design to match the anatomy of lesions that form at the junctions of coronary arteries. Original report
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Low-Fat Diets More Likely To Reduce Risk Of Heart Disease Than Low-Carb Diets
- Medical News Today, 3 March
Low-fat diets are more effective in preserving and promoting a healthy cardiovascular system than low-carbohydrate, Atkins'-like diets, according to a new study by researchers at the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee. Original report
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The Failure of Cardiovascular Medication
- American Chronicle, 3 March
GE Healthcare, a leading provider of healthcare information technology solutions, announced today a new addition to their growing portfolio of continuing education offerings. "New Cardiac Vital Sign: Assess and Manage Stroke Volume" is an interactive program for clinicians on monitoring and managing stroke volume, which is becoming recognized as the "new cardiac vital sign" for assessing patient status. Original report
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Potential Hypertension Diagnosis In At-Risk Adolescents Via Urine Protein
- Medical News Today, 2 March
A protein that is an early indicator of kidney dysfunction in adults may predict hypertension in black adolescents, Medical College of Georgia researchers have found. Original report
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Heart attack deaths 'rise at nights, weekends'
- The Telegraph, 20 February
Researchers in the US found people whose hearts stopped at night and at weekends were more likely to die than those who went into cardiac arrest during weekdays.
The higher death rate at nights and weekends could be the result of doctors being more tired, as well as shift changeovers and fewer staff working on wards. Original report
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Thousands Of Survivors Of Congenital Heart Defects Facing Specialist Shortage
- Medical News Today, 20 February
Born with a serious congenital heart defect that requires regular medical check ups, Vanessa Mukite wasn't prepared for the dilemma she faced when she entered adulthood. Like thousands of other adult congenital heart defect patients in the Chicago area, Vanessa had to deal with being handed off by her heart specialist. Original report
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GE Healthcare Works With Experts To Develop A Cardiac Vital Signs Educational Program For Clinicians
- Medical News Today, 20 February
GE Healthcare, a leading provider of healthcare information technology solutions, announced today a new addition to their growing portfolio of continuing education offerings. "New Cardiac Vital Sign: Assess and Manage Stroke Volume" is an interactive program for clinicians on monitoring and managing stroke volume, which is becoming recognized as the "new cardiac vital sign" for assessing patient status. Original report
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Hands-free CPR machine 'could triple heart attack survival'
- ABC News, 19 February
Doctors say a new device that automatically performs CPR on patients is the biggest breakthrough in resuscitation since the 1960s. Original report
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Fatigue relief drug's heart hope
- BBC News, 12 February
A Columbia University team are developing a drug which relieves fatigue after strenuous exercise. The drug works by plugging calcium leaks inside muscle cells after vigorous exercise. The Columbia team had previously identified the same leak in the muscles of animals with heart failure. Original report
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Heart Attacks Decreased After Public Smoking Ban In Italy
- Science Daily, 12 February
The number of acute coronary events such as heart attack in adults dropped significantly after a smoking ban in public places in Italy, researchers reported in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association. Original report
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Heparin In Baxter Multiple Dose Vials In FDA Alert
- Medical News Today, 12 February
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has advised doctors and patients to stop using Baxter's Multiple-dose vial heparin and switch to another supplier until they have found out why the product appears to be causing severe allergic reactions and low blood pressure in hundreds of patients who have been given high "bolus" doses of the blood thinning drug. Deaths have also occurred, said the agency. Original report
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Autopsies forecast surge in U.S. heart disease
- Reuters, 11 February
Autopsies of adults who died young of unnatural causes show many already had clogged arteries, U.S. and Canadian researchers said on Monday in a study that suggests heart disease may be on the upswing. Original report
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Deciphering Unexpected Deaths in a Diabetes Study
- U.S. News, 7 February
On Monday, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute at the National Institutes of Health shut down part of a $300 million study called ACCORD that had been following more than 10,000 very high-risk diabetic patients at 77 medical centers for as long as seven years. An unexpectedly large number of deaths had occurred among patients who were being aggressively treated to bring their blood sugar level below currently recommended standards. There were 257 deaths, about 25 percent higher than the 203 deaths in patients who got the usual care. Original report
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Half Of Patients Undergoing Cerebrovascular Stent Placement Respond Poorly To Clopidogrel
- Medical News Today, 6 February
A study by researchers at Rush University Medical Center, published in the February issue of the American Journal of Neuroradiology, finds that half of patients undergoing cerebrovascular stent placement did not respond well to clopidogrel. Clopidogrel (Plavix) and aspirin are medications routinely prescribed for 1-3 months following cerebrovascular stent placement to combat the risk of blood clots (stent-thrombosis) and reclosure of the artery (re-stenosis). Original report
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First two patients receive Endeavor Stent after FDA approval on Friday
- Winston-Salem Journal, 6 February
The Forsyth Medical Center and the Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center are the first to be treated with an Endeavor stent, which was approved for commercial use Friday by the Food and Drug Administration. Original report
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Study Identifies Key Factor that Links Metabolic Syndrome
- Wall Street Journal, 6 February
Patients treated for heart attack or angina and given the anticlotting drug Plavix had a sharply increased rate of death or heart attack within 90 days after being taken off the drug, researchers found. Original report
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Study Identifies Key Factor that Links Metabolic Syndrome
- Wall Street Journal, 6 February
Patients treated for heart attack or angina and given the anticlotting drug Plavix had a sharply increased rate of death or heart attack within 90 days after being taken off the drug, researchers found. Original report
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Diehard Sports Fans Face Heart Risk
- New York Times, 31 January
A German study has shown that the incidence of cardiac emergencies more than tripled on days when the German team played during the 2006 World Cup soccer championships. Incidences fluctuated depending on whether the match being played was a knock-out match or whether Germany actually won the match Original report
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Bush's new budget calls for cuts in Medicare and Medicaid
- New York Times, 31 January
The budget to be revealed on Monday will see large cuts in the growth of Medicare and will seek savings in Medicare, according to administration officials and budget documents. Original report
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FDA say Injectafer may pose 'serious concerns'
- Bloombergs, 30 January
Daiichi Sankyo Co.'s drug Injectafer, which the company proposed selling for iron deficiency anemia, may pose `serious safety concerns,' U.S. regulators said. The intravenous drug was linked in studies to more deaths, heart failure and lower blood phosphate than comparable treatments, FDA staff wrote in a document posted today on the agency's Web site. Original report
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Exercise really can make you younger, study shows
- The Times, 29 January
A team from King’s College London have examined telomere length in twin sets. The results have shown the difference in telomere length between the most active subjects and the inactive subjects corresponds to around nine years of ageing. Original report
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Deaths from heart disease in the USA fall below the AHA prevention goal for 2010
- USA Today, 23 January
The National Center for Health Statistics just released show that heart disease deaths in the USA have fallen below the AHA's prevention goal for 2010. During the 6 year period, 1999 to 2005, deaths from heart disease dropped by 25.8%, surpassing the target of 25% set by the AHA.
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Diabetes study favours weight loss surgery over conventional treatment
- New York Times, 23 January
An Australian study has shown that weight-loss surgery works much better than standard medical therapy as a treatment for Type 2 diabetes in obese people. 60 subjects took part in the Australian study, with 73% of surgical patients having remission compared to 13% of patients being treated with conventional treatment.
Original report
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£372 million plan to reverse the tide of obesity in the UK
- The Times, 23 January
The Government has revealed new plans to tackle Englands increasing obesity epidemic. The £372 million strategy aims to reduce the proportion of overweight and obese children in 2020 to levels observed in 2000.
Original report
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Full recovery after 40 minutes of being clinically dead. How?
- The Guardian, 22 January
A man was found floating, face down, off the Cape Town coast. Once recovered from the water he was found to be not breathing and without a pulse. CPR was administered for a period of 40-60 minutes. The 35-year-old man went on to make a full recovery.
Original report
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