Heart

Study Finds Plasmin—Delivered Through A Bubble—More Effective Than Tpa In Busting Clots
05/15/2013 - 15:50

A new study from the University of Cincinnati (UC) College of Medicine has found that, when delivered via ultrasound, the natural enzyme plasmin is more effective at dissolving stroke-causing clots than the standard of care, recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA).

 

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Body fat hardens arteries after middle age
05/15/2013 - 09:47

Having too much body fat makes arteries become stiff after middle age, a new study has revealed. In young people, blood vessels appear to be able to compensate for the effects of obesity. But after middle age, this adaptability is lost, and arteries become progressively stiffer as body fat rises – potentially increasing the risk of dying from cardiovascular disease.

 

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Spontaneous Mutations Play a Key Role in Congenital Heart Disease
05/14/2013 - 09:00

Every year, thousands of babies are born with severely malformed hearts, disorders known collectively as congenital heart disease. Many of these defects can be repaired though surgery, but researchers don’t understand what causes them or how to prevent them. New research shows that about 10 percent of these defects are caused by genetic mutations that are absent in the parents of affected children.

 

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Study finds survival from cardiac arrest highest in the operating room or post-anesthesia care unit
05/01/2013 - 10:04

A University of Michigan study from the “Online First” edition of Anesthesiology found cardiac arrest was associated with improved survival when it occurred in the operating room (O.R.) or post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) compared to other hospital locations. The findings offer evidence that the presence of anesthesia providers in these locations may improve outcomes for certain patients.

 

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Quit Smoking? Vitamin E May Give Extra Boost to Heart Health
04/25/2013 - 12:52

Taking a specific form of a vitamin E supplement can accelerate the health benefits that occur when people quit smoking, new research suggests.

 

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Researchers identify gene that regenerates heart tissue – critical finding for heart failure prevention
04/17/2013 - 12:45

Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have identified a specific gene that regulates the heart’s ability to regenerate after injuries. The function of the gene, called Meis1, in the heart was not known previously. The findings of the UTSW investigation are available online in Nature.

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