Research points to way to improve heart treatment

Contact: Becky Soglin
becky-soglin@uiowa.edu
319-356-7127
University of Iowa
Current drugs used to treat heart failure and arrhythmias (irregular heartbeat) have limited effectiveness and have side effects. New basic science findings from a University of Iowa study suggest a way that treatments could potentially be refined so that they work better and target only key heart-related mechanisms.

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New heart valve replacement technologies offer hope for high-risk patients

Contact: Kim Barnhardt
kim.barnhardt@cmaj.ca
613-520-7116
Canadian Medical Association Journal
A significant number of people with heart disease will benefit from less invasive transcatheter heart valve replacements in future, finds a review of updated practices in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal) (pre-embargo link only) http://www.cmaj.ca/embargo/cmaj080064.pdf

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New method to grow arteries could lead to ‘biological bypass’ for heart disease

Contact: Karen N. Peart
karen.peart@yale.edu
203-432-1326
Yale University
A new method of growing arteries could lead to a “biological bypass”or a non-invasive way to treat coronary artery disease, Yale School of Medicine researchers report with their colleagues in the April issue of Journal of Clinical Investigation.

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Using own skin cells to repair hearts on horizon

Contact: Lisa Merkl
lkmerkl@uh.edu
713-743-8192
University of Houston Read more

Preventing or reversing inflammation after heart attack, stroke may require 2-pronged approach

Contact: Angela Hopp
ahopp@asbmb.org
301-634-7389
American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Read more

Exploiting the body’s own ability to fight a heart attack

Contact: Tom Rickey
tom_rickey@urmc.rochester.edu
585-275-7954
University of Rochester Medical Center
Scientists trying to find a way to better help patients protect themselves against harm from a heart attack are taking their cues from cardiac patients.

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Bone marrow cell transplants to benefit those with heart disease

Contact: David Eve
celltransplantation@gmail.com
Cell Transplantation Center of Excellence for Aging and Brain Repair
Tampa, Fla. (February 24, 2010) Two studies published in the latest issue of Cell Transplantation (18:12) may lead to new treatments for the treatment of heart diseases. The first study, carried out by a team of Brazilian researchers, found that cell transplantation of bone marrow mononuclear cells (BMMCs) directly into the heart benefited patients suffering from refractory angina. A separate study carried out by researchers in the Peoples’ Republic of China found that apelin, a newly described inotropic peptide, improves heart function following transplantation of BMMCs.

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Tiny molecules may tell big story about cardiovascular disease risk

Contact: Debbe Geiger
Debbe.Geiger@duke.edu
919-660-9461
Duke University Medical Center
DURHAM, NC Tiny bits of molecular “trash” found in circulating blood appear to be good predictors of cardiovascular disease and untimely death, say researchers at Duke University Medical Center.

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Scientists identify critical enzyme in healthy heart function

Contact: Nick Miller
nicholas.miller@cchmc.org
513-803-6035
Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center
CINCINNATI Scientists are reporting the first-ever data to show that the enzyme calcineurin is critical in controlling normal development and function of heart cells, and that loss of the protein leads to heart problems and death in genetically modified mice.

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Shifting cellular energy metabolism may help treat cardiovascular disease

Contact: Sue McGreevey
smcgreevey@partners.org
617-724-2764
Massachusetts General Hospital Read more

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