Breaking news on Cardiology
Adding Darapladib To Statins To Treat Coronary Heart Disease published
Fri, 09 May 2008 03:00:00 PDT
Despite widespread use of cholesterol-lowering drugs, a significant number of cardiac patients continue to suffer heart attacks and stroke. Researchers theorize that high levels of an enzyme found in coronary plaques may be to blame, by making plaques more likely to rupture and block blood flow. The drug darapladib may offer a way to fight that risk, according to new research led by the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine.
CardioTech Receives Approval For A Second Graft Size For CardioPass Clinical Trial published
Fri, 09 May 2008 02:00:00 PDT
CardioTech International, Inc. (AMEX: CTE), a developer and manufacturer of advanced medical devices and materials for the treatment of a broad range of disease states, announced that it has received the necessary Ministry of Health approval to add a 4mm graft for the clinical trial of CardioPass™ , the Company's proprietary synthetic coronary bypass graft. Until now, the trial was only approved for a 5mm graft.
St. Jude Medical Announces FDA Clearance And CE Mark Approval Of Strada Carotid Guiding Sheath published
Fri, 09 May 2008 02:00:00 PDT
St. Jude Medical, Inc. (NYSE:STJ) announced U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clearance and European CE Mark approval of the Strada™ Carotid Guiding Sheath, a flexible tube through which physicians can deliver balloon catheters, stents and other tools to open blockages in the carotid arteries. The Strada Carotid Guiding Sheath is designed specifically to provide easier and faster access to challenging carotid anatomy.
Do We Still Need Rescue Breaths? UK published
Fri, 09 May 2008 01:00:00 PDT
As new research suggests that chest compressions alone can save the life of a casualty in cardiac arrest, the British Red Cross advises following existing procedures, which include giving rescue breaths. The research, published by the American Heart Association, states that providing chest compressions without rescue breaths (mouth-to-mouth resuscitation) can be enough to save a life.
Volcano Corp Announces First Human Use Of The Volcano Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) Imaging Catheter published
Fri, 09 May 2008 01:00:00 PDT
Volcano Corporation (NASDAQ: VOLC), a leading manufacturer and developer of intravascular ultrasound (IVUS), functional measurement (FM) and Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) products designed to enhance the diagnosis and treatment of coronary and peripheral vascular disease, announced the first human procedure using the Volcano OCT Imaging catheter. The procedure was performed by Dr. Patrick Serruys at the Thoraxcenter, in Rotterdam, Netherlands.
Transporting Your Apolipoproteins Testing To The Next Level published
Fri, 09 May 2008 01:00:00 PDT
Randox produces high quality apolipoprotein tests for the diagnosis, monitoring and research of cardiovascular disease and related conditions. Apolipoproteins are essential components of lipoproteins, for example HDL and LDL, responsible for transporting cholesterol and triglycerides around the body. Six apolipoprotein tests are available from Randox: Apo A-I, Apo A-II, Apo B, Apo C-II, Apo C-III and Apo E.
Boston Scientific Announces FDA Approval Of New Family Of Advanced Pacemakers published
Fri, 09 May 2008 00:00:00 PDT
Boston Scientific Corporation (NYSE: BSX) announced U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of its ALTRUA(TM) family of pacemakers. ALTRUA is Boston Scientific's most advanced pacemaker and delivers enhanced therapies while maintaining its small size and battery longevity.
Carotid Bruit Linked To Cardiovascular Problems published
Fri, 09 May 2008 00:00:00 PDT
People who have a carotid bruit are at a significantly greater risk ofcardiovascular death and heart attack, according to an articlepublished in The Lancet. A carotid bruitis a sound that blood makes when it passes over an obstruction in thecarotid artery, the main passageway for supplying blood to the head andneck. A bruit is usually detected with a stethoscope and is anindicator of arterial blockage.
Naturally Occurring Protein May Be Effective In Limiting Hart Attack Injury And Restoring Function published
Fri, 09 May 2008 00:00:00 PDT
Medical College of Wisconsin researchers in Milwaukee have shown for the first time that thrombopoietin (TPO), a naturally occurring protein being developed as a pharmaceutical to increase platelet count in cancer patients during chemotherapy, can also protect the heart against injury during a heart attack.The study, led by John E.
Vaptans Could Treat Many Conditions, Including Hemorrhage, Water Retention, Painful Periods, And Psychotic Disorders published
Thu, 08 May 2008 16:00:00 PDT
Scientists have developed a new class of drugs called the vaptans thatcould treat a large variety of conditions, including but not limited topainful menstrual periods, brain hemorrhage, certain psychoticdisorders, and glaucoma. This was reported by Professor GuyDecaux, Erasmus University Hospital, Brussels, Belgium, and colleaguesin a New Drug Class paper released on May 9, 2008 in TheLancet.
Medtronic Initiates Voluntary Field Actions For Selected Heparin-Coated Products Used During Cardiopulmonary Bypass published
Thu, 08 May 2008 05:00:00 PDT
Medtronic, Inc. (NYSE: MDT) announced that it is initiating a voluntary and precautionary recall of selected products featuring the Carmeda BioActive surface. The affected devices are disposable products used during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) for heart surgeries. Affected products include blood oxygenators, reservoirs, pumps, cannulae, and tubing packs. This action is being taken subsequent to the U.S.
Aortic Aneurysm -- Often An Unexpected Diagnosis published
Thu, 08 May 2008 00:00:00 PDT
An aortic aneurysm can be a surprising, serious and unsettling diagnosis.Aortic aneurysms are frequently discovered at a routine exam -- through a CT scan or ultrasound of the abdomen, or an X-ray of the chest that's done for another purpose. Often, there are no symptoms, but aortic aneurysms can burst or tear without warning and cause life-threatening bleeding.The May issue of Mayo Clinic Health Letter provides an overview of this medical condition.
Misinformation Linking Natural Fats To Obesity And Heart Disease Exposed By Author In New Book published
Wed, 07 May 2008 05:00:00 PDT
As heart disease and obesity continue to plague the US, many people believe that the recent proliferation of high-fat diets is the major culprit. As a consequence, many people aim to significantly reduce the amount of saturated fats they consume with the hope that they will be slimmer, healthier, and happier. However, many leading researchers in the medical field have found that this is simply not the case.
Advantage Medical Devices Receives FDA Clearance For VantageCath(TM) published
Wed, 07 May 2008 04:00:00 PDT
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has cleared for marketing a new safety engineered short-term peripheral Intra-Venous (IV) Catheter. The product, VantageCath™, is designed to significantly reduce exposure to bloodborne pathogens during the placement of the catheter and also provide the clinician with desirable feature sets.
Clinical Advantage Of Switching To Angiomax From Heparin In Acute Coronary Syndrome Patients Undergoing Early Invasive Treatment published
Wed, 07 May 2008 04:00:00 PDT
The Medicines Company (NASDAQ: MDCO) announced that the Journal of the American College of Cardiology published a new subgroup analysis from the ACUITY (Acute Catheterization and Urgent Intervention Triage strategY) trial demonstrating that switching to Angiomax® (bivalirudin) after
NIMS' Acceleration Platform To Be Investigated As A New Treatment Of Cardiovascular Disease published
Wed, 07 May 2008 02:00:00 PDT
Marvin A Sackner, M.D., Chief Executive Officer and Chairman, Board of Directors, Non-Invasive Monitoring Systems, Inc. [NIMS] (OTCBB:NIMU) announced that Professor Masatoshi Fujita and associates, Shiga University of Medical Sciences, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kitano Hospital, Japan have been awarded a three year grant-in-aid from April 2008 to March 2011 for a study dealing with NIMS' flagship product, Exer-Rest®, as a new treatment for cardiovascular disease.
Cordis Corporation Launches New Peripheral Angioplasty Balloon Catheters published
Wed, 07 May 2008 02:00:00 PDT
Cordis Corporation (NYSE:JNJ) announced the U.S. launch of the SLEEK™ and SAVVY® Long PTA Balloon Dilatation Catheters, its most advanced percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) balloon catheters. Todd M. Pope, Worldwide President, Cordis Corporation said, "These products incorporate our most advanced balloon technology and underscore our commitment to providing physicians with a full range of treatment options for patients with peripheral vascular disease.
Delay In Reaching Hospital Can Be Deadly For Heart Attack Patients published
Wed, 07 May 2008 00:00:00 PDT
If heart attack symptoms such as chest or neck pain or shortness of breath persist for five minutes, call 911 or seek emergency medical care, recommends the American Heart Association.A new study led by researchers from Mayo Clinic and reported in the May issue of Mayo Clinic Women's HealthSource emphasizes the importance of that advice.
Women And Heart Attack: Study Finds Failure To Recognize & Treat published
Wed, 07 May 2008 00:00:00 PDT
The gender gap is alive and well in heart disease, a new international study finds, with women differing from men on everything from symptoms to treatment in both heart attack and severe chest pain.One of the most striking findings was that women were twice as likely as men to have "normal" or "mild" results on an exam of their heart's blood vessels, with no single blockage taking up more than 50 percent of any one blood vessel.
Common Drug Eases Leg Cramping, Enables Farther Walking published
Wed, 07 May 2008 00:00:00 PDT
People with leg cramps caused by narrowing blood vessels often stop walking because of the pain. In fact, some say they have "shop window disease," because they pretend to gaze into store windows during the embarrassing pauses. But those who take naftidrofuryl a drug that relaxes blood vessels don't have to pause nearly as often, according to a new review by Belgian researchers.
Vascular Insights Receives FDA Clearance For Infusion Catheter published
Wed, 07 May 2008 00:00:00 PDT
Vascular Insights LLC announced that it has received 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to market its ClariVein(TM) infusion catheter for infusion of physician-specified agents in the peripheral vasculature. ClariVein(TM) is a percutaneous, 2 2/3 Fr (0.035") catheter, containing a rotating wire driven by a motor, that enhances fluid dispersion in the treatment area. "We are delighted with this development," said John P.
CMS Announces Decision On Medicare Coverage Of Artificial Hearts, Long-Term Acute Care Hospital Reimbursements published
Tue, 06 May 2008 12:00:00 PDT
CMS recently announced a decision on Medicare coverage of artificial hearts and a final rule on reimbursements for long-term acute care hospitals. Summaries appear below.Artificial hearts: CMS last week announced that Medicare will cover artificial hearts, as well as the implantation of the devices, for beneficiaries who participate in studies approved by
Loss Of Protective Heart Failure Protein Causes High Blood Pressure published
Tue, 06 May 2008 05:00:00 PDT
Scientists at the Center for Translational Medicine at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia have found that a protein that appears to have protective and perhaps healing effects for failing hearts also plays a similar role in high blood pressure. They found lower-than-normal levels of the protein S100A1 in cells that line blood vessel walls in animals with high blood pressure.When the researchers, led by Patrick Most, M.D.
Philadelphia Initiative Seeks To Reduce Diabetes, Cardiovascular Disease Among Blacks published
Tue, 06 May 2008 05:00:00 PDT
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Monday examined the Healthy Black Family Project, a University of Pittsburgh Center for Minority Health initiative that provides physical activities for blacks in an effort to reduce hypertension and diabetes rates among the group.
News From The Canadian Medical Association Journal published
Tue, 06 May 2008 04:00:00 PDT
1. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors confirmed as treatment for depressionIn treating depression, a 6 to 9 month course of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors following initial recovery after a first episode of depression is confirmed by this study. This systematic review, based on six classic long-term randomized controlled trials, supports current clinical practice guidelines.
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