Cardiovascular Research:Using nanoparticles to combat arteriosclerosis ♦ Using skin to save the hear ♦ Detecting when, why deadly blood clots form

Using nanoparticles to combat arteriosclerosis In industrialized countries, a high number of people suffer from arteriosclerosis -- with fatal consequences: Deposits in the arteries lead to strokes and heart attacks. Researchers have now developed a method for guiding replacement cells to diseased vascular segments using nanoparticles. They demonstrated in mice that the fresh cells actually exert their curative effect in these segments. However, much research remains to be done prior to use in humans.

Detecting when, why deadly blood clots form A better assay for testing blood's clotting tendency, also known as hemostasis, has been devised. Researchers say it could one day prove lifesaving in a variety of clinical situations in which a patient's health is jeopardized by abnormal blood coagulation and platelet function.

Using skin to save the heart Cell therapies for heart ailments involve transplanting over a billion heart cells to the patient's heart. Many of these cells fail to engraft, however, compromising the benefits. One reason for the poor engraftment is that normally the heart cell population is a mixture of cells with different maturation. Researchers have now identified an ideal maturation stage that enhances engraftment and may reduce the number of cells required for therapy.

Potential heart disorder cause, treatment identified A novel therapy tested scientists for treating a fatal heart disorder in dogs might ultimately help in diagnosing and treating heart disease in humans. The team also identified potential causes of inherited dilated cardiomyopathy or "weak heart."

Brain Research: Breakthrough for electrode implants in the brain ♦ Researchers learn how to grow old brain cells ♦ How the brain controls sleep

Researchers learn how to grow old brain cells A new technique allows scientists to study diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's using cells from human patients. Historically, animal models -- from fruit flies to mice -- have been the go-to technique to study the biological consequences of aging, especially in tissues that can't be easily sampled from living humans, like the brain. Over the past few years, researchers have increasingly turned to stem cells to study various diseases in humans.

Breakthrough for electrode implants in the brain For nearly nine years, researchers at Lund University have been working on developing implantable electrodes that can capture signals from single neurons in the brain over a long period of time - without causing brain tissue damage. They are now one big step closer to reaching this goal.

Blood clotting protein triggers immune attack on brain\ A single drop of blood in the brain is sufficient to activate an autoimmune response akin to multiple sclerosis, new research shows. This is the first demonstration that introduction of blood in the healthy brain is sufficient to cause peripheral immune cells to enter the brain, which then go on to cause brain damage.

How the brain controls sleep Neuroscientists have discovered a brain circuit that can trigger small regions of the brain to fall asleep or become less alert, while the rest of the brain remains awake. The researchers believe this may help the brain consolidate new memories by coordinating slow waves between different parts of the brain, allowing them to share information more easily.

Schizophrenia symptoms linked to features of brain's anatomy? Using advanced brain imaging, researchers have matched certain behavioral symptoms of schizophrenia to features of the brain's anatomy. The findings could be a step toward improving diagnosis and treatment of schizophrenia

Cardiovascular Research: Unsaturated fats, high-quality carbs lower risk of heart disease ♦ Predicting arrhythmias so as to prevent them ♦ Help physicians manage deep vein blood clots

Self-assembling material that grows, changes shape could lead to artificial arteries Researchers have developed a way of assembling organic molecules into complex tubular tissue-like structures without the use of moulds or techniques like 3-D printing.

Predicting arrhythmias so as to prevent them Researchers have discovered how to predict some cardiac arrhythmias several steps before they even occur. It's a finding that could lead to an improved cardiac device, with equipment designed to detect when arrhythmias are about to occur and then act to prevent them.

New guideline aims to help physicians manage deep vein blood clots in patients A new Canadian guideline aims to help physicians identify and manage blood clots, specifically iliofemoral deep vein thrombosis, in the groin and thigh.

Unsaturated fats, high-quality carbs lower risk of heart disease While eliminating saturated fats can improve heart health.It makes a difference which foods are used in their place. A study shows that replacing saturated fats with unsaturated fats and high-quality carbohydrates has the most impact on reducing the risk of heart disease. When saturated fats were replaced with highly processed foods, there was no benefit.

Cardiovascular Research:New imaging agent can locate hidden blood clots ♦ Extreme makeover of the heart ♦ Cure for sickle cell in adults validated

Microbiome implicated in sickle cell disease; antibiotics can counter its effects New research on sickle cell disease (SCD) has found that using antibiotics to deplete the body’s microbiome may prevent acute sickle cell crisis and could offer the first effective strategy for warding off the disease’s long-term complications, such as organ failure. The study could also lead to better treatment for other inflammatory blood-vessel disorders including septic shock.

Whole-body PET scan with new imaging agent can locate hidden blood clots A novel radiopharmaceutical probe has the potential of providing physicians with information that could save the lives of patients with ischemic stroke or pulmonary embolism -- conditions caused when important blood vessels are blocked by a clot that has traveled from another part of the body.

Blood tests reveal early signs of cardiovascular disease risk in obese African-American teens Obese African-American teens, particularly girls, may have immune system changes that can lead to high blood pressure, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease in adulthood. Taking steps to control weight early in life may reduce inflammation and its negative effects on the cardiovascular system. Blood tests are a possible new preventive tactic to identify teens who are at high risk of developing cardiovascular disease

Extreme makeover of the heart: Matrix therapy is first FDA-approved procedure of its kind A cardiovascular team has successfully performed a first-in-the-world heart procedure on a 72-year-old attorney after suffering a large heart attack. In the emerging heart procedure cardiac matrix is directly injected into a damaged heart

Cure for sickle cell in adults validated Physicians have cured 12 adult patients of sickle cell disease using a unique procedure for stem cell transplantation from healthy, tissue-matched siblings. The new technique eliminates the need for chemotherapy to prepare the patient to receive the transplanted cells and offers the prospect of cure for tens of thousands of adults suffering from sickle cell disease.

Cardiovascular Research: Blood vessels can actually get better with age ♦ Inflammatory link discovered between arthritis, heart valve disease ♦ Lower risk treatment for blood clots

Lower risk treatment for blood clots 'empowers' patients, improves care Emergency department researchers at the Indiana University School of Medicine found positive results and cost savings from treating patients with potentially fatal blood clots with rivaroxaban versus heparin and warfarin.

Inflammatory link discovered between arthritis, heart valve disease Researchers have used models to identify a potential link between excess production of inflammatory proteins that cause rheumatoid arthritis and the development of heart valve disease. The research team discovered that a critical inflammatory protein involved in rheumatoid arthritis could also lead to inflammation and disease of the heart valves, including aneurysms. The research could lead to improved treatments for rheumatoid arthritis, and suggests investigating existing medicines that dampen inflammation to treat heart valve diseases, such as rheumatic heart disease

Blood vessels can actually get better with age Oxidative stress has been linked to cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases including diabetes, hypertension and age-related cancers. However, researchers recently found that aging actually offered significant protection against oxidative stress. These findings suggest that aging may trigger an adaptive response to counteract the effects of oxidative stress on blood vessels.

The earlier the better: bystanders save lives with CPR for cardiac arrest Sudden cardiac arrest kills an estimated 200,000 people a year in the United States, but many of those lives could be saved if ordinary bystanders simply performed CPR, a new study shows. The early application of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) by an average person nearby, combined with defibrillation by firefighters or police before the arrival of emergency medical services (EMS), was the one intervention that substantially increased survival from cardiac arrest, according to new findings.

Cancer Research:Abdominal blood clots may indicate undiagnosed cancer ♦ Discovery may lead to targeted melanoma therapies ♦ Tests to gauge genetic risks for prostate cancer now are feasible

Abdominal blood clots may indicate undiagnosed cancer  A blood clot in an abdominal vein may be an indicator of undiagnosed cancer. The study also suggests that these clots predict poorer survival in patients with liver and pancreatic cancer.

Discovery may lead to targeted melanoma therapies Melanoma patients with high levels of a protein that controls the expression of pro-growth genes are less likely to survive. The research team found that the protein, called H2A.Z.2, promotes the abnormal growth seen in melanoma cells as they develop into difficult-to-treat tumors. H2A.Z.2 is part of the chromosome structure that packages genes, and has the ability to switch them on off.

New biomarkers might help personalize metastatic colorectal cancer treatment Metastatic colorectal cancer patients tend to live longer when they respond to the first line of chemotherapy their doctors recommend. To better predict how patients will respond to chemotherapy drugs before they begin treatment, researchers conducted a proof-of-principle study with a small group of metastatic colorectal cancer patients. The results revealed two genes that could help physicians make more informed treatment decisions for patients with this disease

Tests to gauge genetic risks for prostate cancer now are feasible Men with an elevated, genetically inherited risk for prostate cancer could be routinely identified with a simple blood or urine test potentially paving the way to better or earlier diagnosis. The study included 7,783 men with prostate cancer and 38,595 without the disease.

Discovery promises new treatments to thwart colon cancer Scientists have discovered how an immune system protein, called AIM2 (Absent in Melanoma 2), plays a role in determining the aggressiveness of colon cancer. They found that AIM2 deficiency causes uncontrolled proliferation of intestinal cells. Surprisingly, they also discovered that AIM2 influences the microbiota -- the population of gut bacteria -- apparently fostering the proliferation of 'good' bacteria that can protect against colon cancer

Cardiovascular Research: Deciphering causes of sudden death ♦ Better function after stroke if clots removed ♦ Cognitive problems are common after cardiac arrest

Cognitive problems are common after cardiac arrest  Half of all patients who survive a cardiac arrest experience problems memory and attention. Surprisingly, however, a control group had largely the same level of problems. This suggests that it is not only the cardiac arrest and the consequent lack of oxygen to the brain that is the cause of the patients’ difficulties.

Game-changer for stroke treatment: Better function after stroke if clots removed Patients with severe strokes had far better outcomes when they were treated using not only a drug to dissolve the blood clot causing the stroke, but also with a procedure to grab, dislodge and remove the clot, according to an international study.

Should they stay or should they go? Study finds no harm from hospital policies that let families observe CPR  When a hospital patient’s heart stops, the drama starts, as doctors and nurses work furiously at resuscitation. Some hospitals allow family members to watch, while the majority do not. Now, a study has shown for the first time on a national scale that patients do just as well after a cardiac arrest either way

Applied physics helps decipher causes of sudden death  Sudden cardiac death accounts for approximately 10% of natural deaths, most of which are due to ventricular fibrillation. Each year it causes 300,000 deaths in the United States. Researchers have demonstrated for the first time that the transition to calcium alternans, an arrhythmia associated with increased risk of sudden death, has common features with the magnetic ordering of metals. This new finding improves our understanding of the physical causes of sudden death and will advance the design of drugs to prevent it.

Cardiovascular Research:Artificial blood vessel lets researchers better assess clot removal device ♦ Determine heart attack in patients within one hour ♦ Stroke from poor air quality ♦

Some atrial fibrillation patients receive unnecessary blood thinners About a quarter of all atrial fibrillation patients at the lowest risk for stroke receive unnecessary blood thinners from cardiology specialists, and they must be made aware of the resulting potential health risks.

New strategy can help determine heart attack in patients within one hour A new strategy to rule-out and rule-in heart attacks in emergency departments will help physicians treat patients faster. Acute myocardial infarction is a common cause of death and disability around the world. Early diagnosis is critical for survival

Stroke from poor air quality Air pollution and smog have health consequences ranging from respiratory problems to death. Fine particulate matter has become the focus in recent years, because it increases the probability of dying from respiratory or cardiovascular disease. In addition, the risk of stroke is increased.

Artificial blood vessel lets researchers better assess clot removal devices An in vitro, live-cell artificial vessel has been created that can be used to study both the application and effects of devices used to extract life-threatening blood clots in the brain. The artificial vessel could have significant implications for future development of endovascular technologies,

New lab technique reveals structure and function of proteins critical in DNA repairBy combining two highly innovative experimental techniques, scientists have for the first time simultaneously observed the structure and the correlated function of specific proteins critical in the repair of DNA, providing definitive answers to some highly debated questions, and opening up new avenues of inquiry and exciting new possibilities for biological engineering.

Heart Health News: Women active have lower risk of heart disease-- high-fat diet helps minimize heart attack damage--Stress linked to worse recovery after heart attack

Women active a few times weekly have lower risk of heart disease, stroke and blood clots Middle-aged women physically active a few times per week have lower risks of heart disease, stroke and blood clots than inactive women. More frequent physical activity does not appear to lower the risks further, research shows. Continue Reading

In the short run, a high-fat diet may help minimize heart attack damage A high-fat diet, eaten one day to two weeks days before a heart attack, reduced heart attack damage in mice by about 50 percent, according to a new study. The finding could provide insight into the "obesity paradox," by which obesity appears to provide protection to heart attack patients. Continue Reading

Even mild heart failure can lead to sudden death Sudden cardiac arrest is a possible cause of death in patients with non-ischemic cardiac muscle weakness, i.e. a type of heart failure caused by genetics or for which no cause is known. Now, researchers have successfully demonstrated the advantages of an implanted defibrillator as a means of prevention Continue reading

Stress linked to worse recovery in women after heart attack Young and middle-aged women experience more stress than their male counterparts, which could contribute to worse recovery from acute myocardial infarction, according to new findings by researchers. Continue Reading

10/26/ 2013 Daily Health News: Catholics Exposed to Hepatitis, Faster Tests for Sepsis and Lyme disease, Urine Test Detects Blood Clots

North Dakota Catholics warned of possible hepatitis exposure from bishop during communion

Hundreds of people may have been exposed to hepatitis A during ...the communion wafer and wine, "Catholic mass will continue," he said. Continue Reading

New Blood Test 'Detects Sepsis in Hours'

A rapid blood test to diagnose blood poisoning, or sepsis, at the hospital bedside could potentially save thousands of lives..Continue Reading

Nanotechnology Urine Test Could Detect Deadly Blood Clots

Blood clots, often unexposed until they break away and result in a stroke or heart attack, can form for a number of reasons in anyone. But now, researchers from MIT have developed a simple urine test that uses nano particles to detect thrombin, a major blood-clotting element.Continue Reading

Lyme Disease Tests Draw Scrutiny

The announcement spread quickly through the Web to Lyme disease patients across the United States. A small private lab had made an exciting breakthrough, the email said, developing a surefire way to identify the debilitating disease in people. To throngs of sick people in New England, where Lyme disease has become a major health concern, the note offered hope that finally, they would have proof that their chronic health problems were caused by Lyme disease. Continue Reading