Woman's Health: Ovarian follicles used to preserve fertility ♦ Shared genetics in humans, roundworms shed light on infertility ♦ Sex differences in Type 2 diabetes affect cardiovascular disease risk

Ovarian follicles used to preserve fertility A potential new approach to fertility preservation for young cancer patients has been discovered, which addresses concerns about beginning cancer treatment immediately and the possibility of reintroducing cancer cells during the fertility preservation process.

Shared genetics in humans, roundworms shed light on infertility Humans and worms are connected by a common ancestor that lived more than 700 million years ago and shared a gene that is required for sperm to function properly at fertilization, research confirms. This discovery could lead to more effective infertility treatments and better contraceptives.

Sex differences in Type 2 diabetes affect cardiovascular disease risk Women with Type 2 diabetes are twice as likely to have coronary heart disease compared to men, and may also need more frequent and intense physical activity to lower their risk of having a heart attack or stroke.

Study links Facebook connections, alcohol use in college-aged females Researchers have found links between certain patterns of connections among Facebook friends and drug and alcohol use among college-aged females.

Senior's Health: How fast you move can predict how healthy you'll be ♦ New app helps seniors live better ♦Team approach may reduce readmissions due to falls in seniors

Team approach may reduce readmissions due to falls in seniors

A comprehensive care program that involves a team of specialists from multiple medical disciplines for treating injuries sustained from falls in older adults could help reduce hospital readmissions, according to researchers. Under the program, the 30-day readmission rate for falls declined 10 percent from 2012-13 and remained unchanged in 2014. The 30-90 day readmission rate from 2012-13 also declined, before rising slightly in 2014.

Technology meets society: New app helps seniors live better

A new technological solution developed by researchers is aimed at enhancing the physical health, vitality and brain fitness of seniors residing in independent living communities.

How fast you move can predict how healthy you'll be

Instead of focusing on drawing out the length of life, researchers have created a tool that can be used for accurately predicting lifespan as well as assessing the current health state, and discovered the regulatory mechanism that extends “healthspan”, the time in which an organism is at its optimal health.

Walking faster or longer linked to significant cardiovascular benefits in older adults

Even among Americans in their mid-70's and older, being more active, including walking at a reasonable pace or distance, is linked to a lower risk of cardiovascular events,

Cardiovascular Research: Study suggests potential connection between low blood sugar and cardiovascular problems ♦ New path to treat stroke

Drug-device combination opens potential new path to treat stroke Scientists developing novel nanotherapeutics for clearing obstructed blood vessels have teamed up stroke researchers to develop a new, highly effective drug-device combination for treating life-threatening blood clots in patients with stroke

Taking cholesterol medication before aneurysm repair improves outcomes Rupture of an abdominal aortic aneurysm is one of the most dramatic medical emergencies a person can face. It usually strikes without warning, killing approximately 50 percent of those who experience it before they reach a hospital. Of those who do get to a health facility alive, only about 50 percent survive. Now, researchers have found that patients who took cholesterol-lowering medications before endovascular surgery experienced fewer complications and better outcomes

Endovascular intervention compared to standard treatment for stroke In a meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials for the treatment of acute ischemic stroke, an endovascular intervention (such as use of a very small catheter to remove a blood clot) compared to standard medical care (administration of a clot dissolving agent) was associated with improved functional outcomes and higher rates of functional independence at 90 days, but no significant difference in symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (bleeding in the brain) or all-cause mortality.

Study suggests potential connection between low blood sugar and cardiovascular problems Studies have shown an association between strict control of blood sugar and increased mortality. They have also suggested that a consequence of this control is low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), which may have adverse effects on the heart. researchers examined the effects of hypoglycemia on cardiovascular autonomic control. They found that in their experimental model of hypoglycemia, there was a clear change in the body's responses to cardiovascular stress

Cardiovascular research:Pollution and weather influence outcomes after heart attack ♦ Midday naps associated with reduced blood pressure ♦Coffee linked with increased cardiovascular risk

Pollution and weather influence outcomes after heart attack Pollution and weather influence outcomes after a heart attack, according to new research.

Coffee linked with increased cardiovascular risk in young adults with mild hypertension Coffee drinking is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular events (mainly heart attacks) in young adults (18-45) with mild hypertension.The 12-year study in more than 1,200 patients found that heavy coffee drinkers had a four-fold increased risk while moderate drinkers tripled their risk.

Midday naps associated with reduced blood pressure and fewer medications Midday naps are associated with reduced blood pressure levels and prescription of fewer antihypertensive medications.

Depression and extremes of blood pressure predict highest rates of harmful vascular events Depressive symptoms and extremes of blood pressure predict the highest rates of harmful vascular events in patients with existing heart disease, diabetes or stroke.

New 'Tissue Velcro' could help repair damaged hearts Engineers have just made assembling functional heart tissue as easy as fastening your shoes. The team has created a biocompatible scaffold that allows sheets of beating heart cells to snap together just like Velcro.

Cardiovascular Research: CPR: It's not always a lifesaver, but it plays one on TV ♦ High protein foods boost cardiovascular health ♦ Cold weather linked to increased stroke risk

CPR: It's not always a lifesaver, but it plays one on TV If you think that performing CPR on a person whose heart has stopped is a surefire way to save their life, you may be watching too much TV. The truth is more depressing than fiction, according to a new study. While medical dramas Grey's Anatomy and House show cardiopulmonary resuscitation saving a patient's life nearly 70 percent of the time, the real immediate survival rate is nearly half that -- around 37 percent.

High protein foods boost cardiovascular health, as much as quitting smoking or getting exercise Eating foods rich in amino acids could be as good for your heart as stopping smoking or getting more exercise.

Treating left atrial appendage could dampen long standing persistent atrial fibrillation In patients with long-standing persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) despite standard treatment, additional electrical isolation of an area called the left atrial appendage (LAA) can improve freedom from AF without increasing complications, results of the BELIEF study show.

Cold weather linked to increased stroke risk in atrial fibrillation patients Cold weather is associated with increased risk of ischaemic stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation, according to new research. The study in nearly 290,000 patients suggests that cool climate may be an underrated issue for health that deserves more attention.

Refractory cardiac arrest patients brought to hospital with ongoing CPR can recover Refractory cardiac arrest patients brought to hospital with ongoing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) can survive with good brain function, according to research in nearly 4,000 patients

Cardiovascular Research: Cardiovascular benefits to testosterone replacement, ♦ Slowing down muscle loss in heart failure patients ♦ Hypertensive patients benefit from acupuncture treatments

Cardiovascular benefits to testosterone replacement, study of 83,000 veterans finds Men whose low testosterone was restored to normal through gels, patches, or injections had a lower risk of heart attack, stroke, or death from any cause, versus similar men who were not treated, a Veterans Affairs database study of more than 83,000 patients found.

Slowing down muscle loss in heart failure patients Whenever cardiac insufficiency or serious heart defects worsen, such deterioration is often associated with a loss of muscular mass and muscular strength. Scientists have now succeeded in identifying the mechanism that underlies this disease, also known as cardiac cachexia. On the basis of these latest findings it may now be possible to influence the processes that strengthen and accelerate protein degradation in the body with the help of certain medications

Updated screening policies could detect more abdominal aortic aneurysms Updating national screening policies could help detect more aortic aneurysms in older men and prevent deaths from this potentially life-threatening condition. Screening for abdominal aortic aneurysm in male smokers at age 65 and then all men at age 75 could save more lives with less resources than the current United Kingdom, United States and Europe screening programs.

Hypertensive patients benefit from acupuncture treatments Patients with hypertension treated with acupuncture experienced drops in their blood pressure that lasted up to a month and a half. This work is the first to scientifically confirm that this ancient Chinese practice is beneficial in treating mild to moderate hypertension, and it indicates that regular use could help people control their blood pressure and lessen their risk of stroke and heart disease.

Cardiovascular Research: PTSD increase risk of cardiovascular disease? ♦ Air pollution from wildfires may ignite heart hazards ♦ Body temperature may trigger cardiac death

New guidelines for statin eligibility improve prediction of cardiovascular risk The new guidelines for determining whether patients should begin taking statins to prevent cardiovascular disease issued in 2013 by the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association are more accurate and more efficient than an earlier set of guidelines in assigning treatment to adults at increased risk for cardiovascular events and identifying those whose low risk rules out the need to take statins.

Why does PTSD increase the risk of cardiovascular disease?  Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) leads to overactive nerve activity, dysfunctional immune response and activation of the hormone system that controls blood pressure. These changes can ultimately increase risk of cardiovascular disease.

Body temperature may trigger sudden cardiac death When studying the proteins that underlie electrical signaling in the heart, and subjecting those proteins to conditions that are similar to the stress of exercise, researchers have found that in some cases, temperature can cause changes that trigger arrhythmia

Air pollution from wildfires may ignite heart hazards Air pollution from wildfires may increase risk of cardiac arrests, and other sudden acute heart problems, researchers have found. Researchers noted that while breathing wildfire smoke was linked to respiratory problems such as asthma -- evidence of an association between wildfire smoke exposure and heart problems has been inconsistent.

Personalized care for aortic aneurysms, based on gene testing, has arrived Researchers have tested the genomes of more than 100 patients with thoracic aortic aneurysms, a potentially lethal condition, and provided genetically personalized care. Their work will also lead to the development of a 'dictionary' of genes specific to the disease.

Cancer Research: Turning fake pills into real treatments ♦ New agent developed for prostate cancer diagnosis ♦ Study could reduce unnecessary cancer screening

Cardio-oncology services may improve patient care if more widely available The impact of cancer treatments on cardiovascular health is an important consideration when treating cancer patients, but many hospital training programs have no formal training or services in cardio-oncology

Turning fake pills into real treatments A series of fascinating studies showed that many people respond positively to placebo pills -- even when they are told that the pills don't have any active ingredients. Researchers are now testing these "open-label" placebos for the first time among cancer survivors.

New agent developed for prostate cancer diagnosis, treatment An agent called PSMA-617 is capable of attaching specifically to prostate cancer cells. This agent can be labeled with various radioactive substances. When chemically bound to a weakly radioactive diagnostic radionuclide, it can detect prostate tumors and their metastases in PET scans. If labeled with a strongly radioactive therapeutic radionuclide, PSMA-617 can specifically destroy cancer cells.

Most women with early-stage breast cancer undergo imaging for metastatic cancer despite guidelines Most women -- about 86 percent -- with early-stage breast cancer will undergo imaging to determine if the cancer has metastasized, despite international guidelines that recommend against testing,

Study could reduce unnecessary cancer screening Contrary to expectations, a CT scan of the abdomen and pelvis does not improve cancer detection in people with unexplained blood clots in their legs and lungs. The results are expected to improve patient care and reduce screening costs around the world.

Nutritional Research: Eating a Mediterranean diet could cut womb cancer risk ♦ Increasing dietary fiber reduces risk of developing diabetes ♦ Memories influence choice of food

Memories influence choice of food The stronger our memory is of a certain food, the more likely we are to choose it -- even if it is the more unattractive option. Psychologists conducted a study on how memory influences our choices by offering various foods and using scans to track brain activity. The researchers were able to show that the influence of memory is mediated by increasing communication between the relevant brain areas.

Study questions beneficial effects of a Nordic diet on cardiovascular events Although individual components of a healthy so-called Nordic diet previously have been linked to beneficial effects on cardiovascular health, as well as to other health effects, there is no evidence of an association with cardiovascular events in a general population

Eating a Mediterranean diet could cut womb cancer risk Women who eat a Mediterranean diet could cut their risk of womb cancer by more than half (57 per cent), according to a new study.

Increasing dietary fiber reduces risk of developing diabetes Consuming greater quantities of dietary fiber reduces the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, Over 360 million people worldwide are estimated to be affected by diabetes, and this number is projected to increase to more than 550 million by 2030, with serious consequences for the health and economy of both developed and developing countries.

Cardiovascular Research: Treatment of type 2 diabetes may reduce heart disease, ♦ Bacterial cause behind fatal heart complications ♦ Metabolic syndrome face higher cardiovascular death

Many people in emergency department for chest pain don't need admitted Chest pain sends 7 million Americans to the ED each year. About half are admitted for further observation, testing or treatment. A new study finds a very low short-term risk for life-threatening cardiac events among patients with chest pain who have normal test results

Early detection, treatment of type 2 diabetes may reduce heart disease, mortality Screening to identify Type 2 diabetes followed by early treatment could result in substantial health benefits.

Bacterial cause behind fatal heart complications discovered A key cause of life threatening heart complications has been identified by researchers. The heart infections studied frequently follow severe infections with the bacteria responsible for pneumonia and meningitis.

Copd is independent risk factor for cardiovascular death, but not risk of stroke Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, is associated with increased risk of dying from a cardiovascular disease such as heart failure or a heart attack, as well as diseases not associated with the heart. However, COPD is not by itself associated with increased likelihood of having a stroke or a systemic embolism.

People with metabolic syndrome face higher cardiovascular death risk People who have metabolic syndrome are more likely to die from cardiovascular disease than people who do not have the condition, and having diabetes or high blood pressure worsens the risk.

Hearth Health: Hot flashes at younger age signal greater cardiovascular risk ♦ Energy drinks raise resting blood pressure ♦ Risk of death from acute coronary syndrome + more

Hot flashes at younger age may signal greater cardiovascular risk  Women who experience hot flashes earlier in life appear to have poorer endothelial function -- the earliest sign of cardiovascular disease -- than women who have hot flashes later in life or not at all, Continue Reading

Women don't get to hospital fast enough during heart attack  Women suffering a heart attack wait much longer than men to call emergency medical services and face significantly longer delays getting to a hospital equipped to care for them, putting women at greater risk for adverse outcomes.Continue Reading

Have a sense of purpose in life? It may protect your heart  Having a high sense of purpose in life may lower your risk of heart disease and stroke, according to a new study.Continue Reading

Physicians, patients overestimate risk of death from acute coronary syndrome Both physicians and patients overestimate the risk of heart attack or death for possible acute coronary syndrome (ACS) as well as the potential benefit of hospital admission for possible ACS, a survey of patient and physician communication and risk assessment shows.Continue Reading

Energy drinks raise resting blood pressure, with effect most dramatic in those not used to caffeine  Healthy young adults who don’t consume caffeine regularly experienced greater rise in resting blood pressure after consumption of a commercially available energy drink — compared to a placebo drink — thus raising the concern that energy drinks may increase the risk of cardiac events Continue Reading

Genetic Marker for Stroke and Cardiovascular Disease Discovered.

Scientists studying the genomes of nearly 5,000 people have pinpointed a genetic variant tied to an increased risk for stroke, and have also uncovered new details about an important metabolic pathway that plays a major role in several common diseases. Together, their findings may provide new clues to underlying genetic and biochemical influences in the development of stroke and cardiovascular disease, and may also help lead to new treatment strategies.

“Our findings have the potential to identify new targets in the prevention and treatment of stroke, cardiovascular disease and many other common diseases,” said Stephen R. Williams, Ph.D., a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Virginia Cardiovascular Research Center and the University of Virginia Center for Public Health Genomics, Charlottesville.

Stroke is the fourth leading cause of death and a major cause of adult disability in this country, yet its underlying genetics have been difficult to understand. Numerous genetic and environmental factors can contribute to a person having a stroke. “Our goals were to break down the risk factors for stroke,” Dr. Williams said.

The researchers focused on one particular biochemical pathway called the folate one-carbon metabolism (FOCM) pathway. They knew that abnormally high blood levels of the amino acid homocysteine are associated with an increased risk of common diseases such as stroke, cardiovascular disease and dementia. Homocysteine is a breakdown product of methionine, which is part of the FOCM pathway. The same pathway can affect many important cellular processes, including the methylation of proteins, DNA and RNA. DNA methylation is a mechanism that cells use to control which genes are turned on and off, and when.

But clinical trials of homocysteine-lowering therapies have not prevented disease, and the genetics underlying high homocysteine levels – and methionine metabolism gone awry – are not well defined.

Dr. Williams and his colleagues conducted genome-wide association studies of participants from two large long-term projects: the Vitamin Intervention for Stroke Prevention (VISP), a trial looking at ways to prevent a second ischemic stroke, and the Framingham Heart Study (FHS), which has followed the cardiovascular health and disease in a general population for decades. They also measured methionine metabolism – the ability to convert methionine to homocysteine – in both groups. In all, they studied 2,100 VISP participants and 2,710 FHS subjects.

In a genome-wide association study, researchers scan the genome to identify specific genomic variants associated with a disease. In this case, the scientists were trying to identify variants associated with a trait – the ability to metabolize methionine into homocysteine.

Investigators identified variants in five genes in the FOCM pathway that were associated with differences in a person’s ability to convert methionine to homocysteine. They found that among the five genes, one – the ALDH1L1 gene – was also strongly associated with stroke in the Framingham study. When the gene is not working properly, it has been associated with a breakdown in a normal cellular process called programmed cell death, and cancer cell survival.

They also made important discoveries about the methionine-homocysteine process. “GNMT produces a protein that converts methionine to homocysteine. Of the five genes that we identified, it was the one most significantly associated with this process,” Dr. Williams said. “The analyses suggest that differences in GNMT are the major drivers behind the differences in methionine metabolism in humans.”

“It’s striking that the genes are in the same pathway, so we know that the genomic variants affecting that pathway contribute to the variability in disease and risk that we’re seeing,” he said. “We may have found how genetic information controls the regulation of GNMT.”

The group determined that the five genes accounted for 6 percent of the difference in individuals’ ability to process methionine into homocysteine among those in the VISP trial. The genes also accounted for 13 percent of the difference in those participants in the FHS, a remarkable result given the complex nature of methionine metabolism and its impact on cerebrovascular risk. In many complex diseases, genomic variants often account for less than 5 percent of such differences.

“This is a great example of the kinds of successful research efforts coming out of the GARNET program,” said program director Ebony Madden, Ph.D. “GARNET scientists aim to identify variants that affect treatment response by doing association studies in randomized trials. These results show that variants in genes are associated with the differences in homocysteine levels in individuals.”

The association of the ALDH1L1 gene variant with stroke is just one example of how the findings may potentially lead to new prevention efforts, and help develop new targets for treating stroke and heart disease, Dr. Williams said.

“As genome sequencing becomes more widespread, clinicians may be able to determine if a person’s risk for abnormally high levels of homocysteine is elevated,” he said. “Changes could be made to an individual’s diet because of a greater risk for stroke and cardiovascular disease.”

The investigators plan to study the other four genes in the pathway to try to better understand their potential roles in stroke and cardiovascular disease risk.

Youth Born With HIV May Have Higher Heart Disease Risk

Researchers advise reducing risk through diet, exercise, not smoking

Nearly half of adolescents who have had HIV since birth may be at increased risk for cardiovascular disease — including diet, exercise, not smoking — later in life, according to a National Institutes of Health network study.

The findings are the latest results from the Pediatric HIV/AIDS Cohort Study (PHACS), a multi-site, long-term follow-up study of children and youth who have had HIV since birth.

The results are based on clinical assessments of 165 teens age 15 or older with HIV, who were born to mothers with HIV and who have been treated with anti-HIV medications since birth.

The researchers estimated each study participant’s overall cardiovascular risk using a score based on measures of cholesterol levels, blood sugar level, smoking, blood pressure, and weight. The combined score has been shown to predict the presence of buildup and thickening in the major arteries to the heart and abdomen, known to increase the risk for conditions such as heart attack and stroke.

According to the study authors, previous studies have found that the severity of HIV infection and a history of taking specific HIV drugs are linked to cardiovascular disease in adults. The current study is the first to evaluate overall risk for cardiovascular disease in teens with HIV infection since birth.

“Our results show that a large proportion of teens who have had HIV their whole lives appear to be at significant risk for cardiovascular disease later in life,” said co-author George Siberry, M.D., “These results indicate that individuals who have had HIV since birth should be monitored carefully by their healthcare providers for signs of cardiovascular disease.”

To calculate a participant’s cardiovascular disease risk, the researchers used a scoring system called the Pathobiological Determinants of Atherosclerosis in Youth, or PDAY. The PDAY score is calculated on the basis of a person’s cholesterol levels, blood sugar levels, weight, and other factors known to influence risk of cardiovascular disease. The score estimates the likelihood that a person has a build-up of artery clogging plaque in the coronary arteries or in the abdominal aorta (the main artery in the abdomen). Researchers consider a PDAY score of 1 to indicate an 18 percent or 24 percent greater chance of plaque buildup in the coronary arteries or abdominal aorta respectively, compared to a score of zero, thought to indicate the chances for cardiovascular disease among those of the same age and sex with no known risk factors.

Of participants in this study of adolescents with HIV infection since birth, 48 percent had a score of 1 or higher for the coronary artery measure. For the abdominal aorta measure, 24 percent scored 1 or above. The researchers also evaluated changes in PDAY scores over a four-year time period and did not observe any major trends.

The study authors noted that PDAY scores of 1 or higher were primarily attributable to high cholesterol levels. Other risk factors, such as smoking and high blood pressure, that are more common in older adults, were uncommon in these young participants. Participants who were treated with the HIV drug class known as protease inhibitors were more likely to have higher PDAY scores. Teens with a history of AIDS were also more likely to have higher PDAY scores. This study only looked at HIV-specific factors influencing cardiovascular risk in this group. It did not look at other factors such as diet, physical activity, or genetics. The study authors called for more research to understand all the potential factors that could influence cardiovascular risk in this group.

“It’s too soon to recommend changing treatment regimens on the basis of our findings,” Dr. Patel said. “Until we can learn more, we can best serve adolescents who have HIV by monitoring their risk factors for heart disease carefully and urging them to adopt other measures that have been found to reduce the risk of heart disease in the general population: exercising, maintaining a healthy diet, and not smoking.

Information on nutrition and healthy eating is available from the NIH’s National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, at http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/obesity/wecan/tools-resources/nutrition.htm.