Researchers discover how heart arrhythmia occurs – Researchers have discovered the fundamental biology of calcium waves in relation to heart arrhythmias. The findings published this month in the January 19 edition of Nature Medicine outlines the discovery of this fundamental physiological process that researchers hope will one day help design molecularly tailored medications that correct the pathophysiology.
Findings Not Supportive of Women-Specific Chest Pain Symptoms in Heart Attack Diagnosis – Using chest pain characteristics (CPCs) specific to women in the early diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction (AMI, heart attack) in the emergency department does not seem to be supported by the findings of a study published by JAMA.
Disrupting an antioxidant pathway prevents heart disease caused by reductive stress – Researchers have found that deficiency of an antioxidant response protein called nuclear erythroid-2 like factor-2 (Nrf2) delays or prevents hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a type of a heart failure in which the heart muscle grows abnormally thick.
Former President Mandela is critical in hospital — Nelson Mandela’s condition worsened to “critical” – The condition of former President Nelson Mandela, who is still in hospital in Pretoria, has become critical. President Jacob Zuma, accompanied by ANC Deputy President, Mr Cyril Ramaphosa, visited the former President this evening, 23 June in hospital. They were briefed by the medical team who informed them that the former President’s condition had become critical over the past 24 hours.
Heart disease risk after breast cancer radiotherapy smaller than previously thought – Researchers have for the first time calculated by how much radiotherapy for breast cancer increases the risk of heart disease and the findings can now be used by doctors to help treat patients more appropriately.
Anti-aging drug breakthrough — potential to prevent age-related diseases and extend lifespans – Drugs that combat ageing may be available within five years, following landmark work led by an Australian researcher. The study finally proves that a single anti-ageing enzyme in the body can be targeted, with the potential to prevent age-related diseases and extend lifespans.
Decline in Incidence of Heart Attacks Appears Associated with Smoke-Free Workplace Laws – A new study has found the strongest evidence yet that smoke-free workplace laws that reduce secondhand smoke inhalation can lead to reductions in heart attacks. Exposure to secondhand smoke (SHS) is associated with coronary heart disease (CHD) in nonsmokers, and research suggests that the cardiovascular effects of SHS are nearly as large as those with active smoking.
Pacemaker could help more heart failure patients – A new study from Karolinska Institutet demonstrates that a change in the ECG wave called the QRS prolongation is associated with a higher rate of heart-failure mortality. According to the team that carried out the study suggests that more heart failure cases could be helped by pacemakers.
Statins appear associated with reduced risk of recurrent cardiovascular events in men, women – Cholesterol-lowering statin drugs appear to be associated with reduced risk of recurrent cardiovascular events in men and women, but do not appear to be associated with reduced all-cause mortality or stroke in women. Statins have been used to lower cholesterol levels for the last 20 years.
McMaster study debunks belief insulin puts people with diabetes at risk of heart disease — International study involves more than 12,500 people in 40 countries over 6 years – Researchers at McMaster University have discovered that long-term insulin use does not harm people with diabetes or pre-diabetes or put them at risk of heart attacks, strokes or cancer. This is contrary to concerns that long-term use of insulin may cause heart disease, says Dr. Hertzel Gerstein, principal investigator of the study.
