Heart Disease Weekly

Apoptosis - Myocardial apoptosis after hypothermic circulatory arrest is attenuated by cobalt chloride pretreatment

Cardiovascular Disease - Suspected coronary artery disease with unrecognized myocardial scar is linked to high cardiac risk

Cellular Cardiology - Intracellular calcium leak and arrhythmias are prevented by cardiac ryanodine receptor stabilization

Cellular Cardiology - Mechanism of superoxide production by NADH:ubiquinone oxidoreductase is described

Anal Cancer - Anal cancer responded to mitomycin-C, adriamycin, cisplatin and bleomycin-CCNU

Angiology - Abdominal aortic aneurysm repair is predominantly done using endovascular techniques

Angiology - Abdominal aortic surgery in children provides excellent quality of life

Angiology - Arterial compliance determinations in the elderly using three different methods are compared

Angiology - Arteriovenous access-related ischemia is treated using a new technique

Angiology - Cardiopulmonary support-associated distal limb ischemia may be prevented by novel cannula

Angiology - Endoluminal therapy is effective in supra-aortic vascular occlusive disease

Angiology - Endovascular versus open mesenteric revascularization studied for mesenteric ischemia

Angiology - High tumor necrosis factor-alpha in diabetes after MI linked to endothelial dysfunction

Angiology - Liver histopathology in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease related to carotid atherosclerosis

Angiology - Off-pump CABG surgery hematologic complications are reduced with half-dose aprotinin

Angiology - Off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery results in better outcomes

Angiology - Percutaneous coronary intervention-associated bleeding risk is correlated with increased age

Angiology - Pulmonary sequestration treated by thoracoscopy is feasible in experienced hands

Angiology - Symptomatic and asymptomatic carotid stenosis is considered in review

Angiology - Vena cava filter that is long-duration and temporary is safe and effective

Angioplasty - New catheter for angioplasty procedures receives European regulatory approval

Angioplasty - Peripheral artery disease patients show prolonged inflammatory response after angioplasty

Antibacterial Agents - Targeted mupirocin therapy is safe for infection prevention after cardiac surgery

Apoptosis - Lung cancer apoptosis linked to upregulation of death receptors 4 and 5

Atherosclerosis - Acute coronary syndrome risk is linked to number of yellow plaques in coronary artery

Atherosclerosis - Carotid and femoral atherosclerosis progression is predicted by oxidized phospholipids

Atherosclerosis - Carotid plaque destabilization and rupture are marked by pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A

Atherosclerosis - Carotid stenosis progression is predicted by myeloperoxidase in states of low HDL cholesterol

Atherosclerosis - Stenting of vertebral origin can be performed safely with low cerebral ischemic event rate

Bariatric Surgery - Surgery-induced weight loss lowered IL-18 and monocyte-chemoattractant-protein-1 in morbid obesity

Beta-Blockers - Some beta-blockers are effective reactive oxygen and/or reactive nitrogen species scavengers

Biliary Malignancy - Patients with biliary malignancy underwent reconstruction of the right hepatic artery

Biomedical Engineering - Polytetrafluoroethylene graft-associated neointimal hyperplasia is not prevented with perivascular dipyridamole

Biomedical Engineering - Stent coatings for 316 stainless steel are developed

Blood Vessel Tissue Engineering - Artificial blood vessel was fabricated

Breast Cancer - Breast cancer therapy with radiation to carotid arteries does not increase risk of stroke

Business Update - Alere launches pilot program with Arizona benefits company for members with diabetes

Business Update - Cardium adopts stockholder rights plan

Business Update - CoreValve reports new milestone in ReValving procedures

Business Update - Covalent Group signs contracts totaling $1.5 million for clinical studies on treating heart failure

Business Update - El Camino Hospital opens first center devoted to heart disease prevention for South Asians

Business Update - Humana announces healthcare coverage policy on heartbeat T-wave measuring system

Business Update - Medtronic marks milestone sale of 1 millionth steroid-eluting cardiac pacing lead

Business Update - Pacific Biometrics awarded major research contract as part of Phase IIIb cardiovascular program

Business Update - Signalife and founding inventor Budimir Drakulic extend contract for another 10 years

Business Update - SurModics' hydrophilic coating used on Cordis's third-generation drug-eluting stent

Cancer Therapy - Advanced cancer patients did not experience survival benefit after low-molecular-weight heparin

Cancer Therapy - Refractory solid tumors did not respond to Anvirzel administered at phase I dosage level

Cardiac Arrest - Survival from prehospital cardiac arrest critically depends upon response time

Cardiac Medical Devices - Medtronic receives approval in Japan for cardiac resynchronization device with defibrillator

Cardiac Medical Devices - MIV Therapeutics updates data supporting company's biocompatible stent technology

Cardiac Transplantation - Acute and chronic cardiac allograft rejection was prevented by pioglitazone

Cardiac Transplantation - Induction therapy post-heart transplantation with basiliximab is safer than muromonab

Cardiac Transplantation - Long-term heart preservation may be better with UW rather than Celsior solution

Cardiology - Aortic valve replacement results in impairment of aortic distensibility

Cardiology - Asphyxia model shows cardiopulmonary resuscitation with transesophageal pacing is effective

Cardiology - Atrial fibrillation recurrence after cardioversion is not predicted by supraventricular ectopy

Cardiology - Boston Biomedical scientists discover promising therapeutic target for heart disease

Cardiology - Brain natriuretic peptide helps regulate cardiac ATPase expression

Cardiology - Cardiac output estimation with a new Doppler device agrees with thermodilution technique

Cardiology - Connexin gene somatic mutations detected in atrial fibrillation

Cardiology - CPR outcome is indicated by postcountershock pulseless electrical activity characteristics

Cardiology - Elevated serum phytoestrogen levels are associated with more favorable lipoprotein profile

Cardiology - Endothelial function is improved in women consuming soya isoflavone-enhanced diet

Cardiology - Fractional flow reserve training tool launched for cardiology procedures

Cardiology - Implantable cardioverter-defibrillator cost effectiveness per life-year saved is assessed

Cardiology - Milrinone-vasopressin may be better for maintaining hemodynamics during coronary artery bypass graft

Cardiology - Myogen announces extension of drug discovery collaboration for heart muscle disease treatment

Cardiology - Patients with implantable cardioverter defibrillators are found to suffer depression and anxiety

Cardiology - Rest-to-exercise changes in LV dyssynchrony correlate with stroke volume, mitral regurgitation

Cardiology - Tako-tsubo cardiomyopathy prognosis is good despite dramatic presentation

Cardiology - Transesophageal-guided cardioversion with anticoagulation is effective for atrial fibrillation

Cardiology - Transvenous lead systems implanted in children have similar incidences of venous occlusion

Cardiology - Tricuspid valve replacement bileaflet mechanical valves should be implanted vertically

Cardiology - Triple valve surgery short- and long-term results have improved since 1990

Cardiology - Vascular function may not be improved by chronic consumption of red wine

Cardiomyocytes - Contractility, calcium handling are impaired by 70-kDA heat shock protein gene deletion in mice

Cardiopulmonary Disease - Plastic bronchitis is cured surgically with thoracic duct ligation

Cardiovascular Disease - Cardiac surgery is associated with altered responses to postural change and exercise

Cardiovascular Disease - Coronary artery calcified plaque is strongly linked to clinical coronary heart disease

Cardiovascular Disease - Coronary artery disease extent is associated with elevated C-reactive protein levels

Cardiovascular Disease - Edge-to-edge valve repair is effective adjuvant technique for residual tricuspid regurgitation

Cardiovascular Disease - Extended endovascular arch repair with transposition of supra-aortic branches is described

Cardiovascular Disease - Factors affecting delayed growth hormone deficiency were studied in adults

Cardiovascular Disease - Most adverse angiographic events during PCI predict adverse outcome within 6 months

Cardiovascular Disease - Retinal arteriolar and venular caliber is associated with cardiovascular risk factors

Cardiovascular Disease - Suspected Marfan syndrome should be managed in same manner as confirmed Marfan syndrome patients

Cardiovascular Disease - Valvular aortic stenosis, disease severity, and timing of intervention are reviewed

Cardiovascular Disease - Ventricular premature complexes during exercise study recovery phase predict myocardial ischemia

Cardiovascular Research - 17 beta-estradiol seems not to enhance or hinder LV dysfunction just after myocardial infarction

Cardiovascular Research - Antiplatelet therapy as adjunct to carotid stenting is reviewed

Cardiovascular Research - CABG surgery outcome can be predicted by preoperative severity of angina

Cardiovascular Research - Cardiac resuscitation using extracorporeal lung and heart assist may require systemic heparin dose

Cardiovascular Research - Cerebral endothelial nitric oxide synthase expression is reduced after very low flow bypass

Cardiovascular Research - Diastolic heart failure in hypertensive rats is linked to NADPH oxidase-mediated ROS production

Cardiovascular Research - Gene mutation causes chaotic electrical activation of the heart muscle and atrial fibrillation

Cardiovascular Research - Hypotension-induced vasopressin release is enhanced in hindlimb unloaded rats

Cardiovascular Research - Insufficient oxygen supply to the heart is ruled out as the critical variable in hypothermia survival

Cardiovascular Research - Leman Cardiovascular acquires Hancock Jaffe Laboratories

Cardiovascular Research - Mild hypothermia early during prolonged CPR enables intact survival in dog model

Cardiovascular Research - Periodontal bacteria may be linked to heart disease

Cardiovascular Research - Uric acid is a risk factor for myocardial infarction and stroke

Cell Biology - Endothelin-1 is regulated by angiopoietin-1

Cellular Cardiology - Endotoxin-induced cardiac dysfunction is prevented by polyethylene glycol-superoxide dismutase

Cellular Cardiology - Vascular smooth muscle cell motility is controlled by sphingosine-1-phosphate-activated Ca channel

Cerebrovascular Disease - Prothrombotic risk factors may have a role in ischemic stroke and migraine in children

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease - Cardiopulmonary stress is lower in COPD patients with resistance training

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease - Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease financial burden is heavy on state Medicaid programs

Clinical Trials - CAD patients with critical limb ischemia or intermittent claudication have similar postop outcomes

Clinical Trials - In-stent restenosis treatment with sirolimus-eluting stents yields superior outcomes

Clinical Trials - PAION postpones start of Phase I study with anticoagulant Solulin to Q4 2006

Clinical Trials - Statin use is associated with reduced stroke risk, but not severity or mortality

Collaborations - AstraZeneca, Abbott to codevelop a fixed-dose combination of Crestor, TriCor

Collaborations - WellPoint, Society of Thoracic Surgeons collaborate to share medical performance information

Critical Care Medicine - Coronary artery bypass graft surgery patients can have PAC insertion delayed until clinical need

Critical Care Medicine - Gene expression altered in pulmonary tissue in endotoxemic rats

Critical Care Medicine - Mechanical ventilation weaning with an automated ventilator is comparable

Critical Care Medicine - OPCAB surgery patients who are low risk are sufficiently monitored by CVP

Critical Care Medicine - Orotracheal intubation with a laryngeal mask airway does not improve hemodynamics

Critical Care Medicine - Orotracheal intubation with a videolaryngoscope and fiberoptic bronchoscope are compared

Diabetes & Angiology - Sirolimus-eluting stent implants effectively inhibit neointimal hyperplasia in diabetes

Diabetes Complications - Hyperglycemia stimulates coagulation but hyperinsulinemia impairs fibrinolysis

Diabetes Pathogenesis - Adiponectin suppresses high-glucose-induced reactive oxygen species

Diabetes Screening - Diabetes screening may not be cost-effective

Diabetes Therapy - Simvastatin reduced triglycerides but had no effect on palmitate in type 2 diabetes

Diabetes Therapy - Voglibose reduces oxidative stress markers and soluble adhesion molecules in obese diabetics

Diabetic Nephropathy - Microalbuminuria and low kidney function found in diabetics without prior nephropathy

Diagnostics - Coronary artery disease is weakly predicted by proton NMR analysis of plasma

Diagnostics - Fontan connection energy loss is primarily due to wall shear stress

Diet & Nutrition -  Lactobacillus-fermented milk decreases cholesterol levels

Diet & Nutrition - Baroreflex sensitivity improves after cashew nut-rich diet regardless of obesity change

Diet & Nutrition - Lipoprotein reductions reduce macrophage content in atherosclerotic lesions

Drug Delivery - Nasogastric administration of amiodarone results in poor absorption

Drug Development - Europharma gains Vectomega distribution rights in North America

Drug Development - Insights into inflammatory response reveal new drug targets

Drug Development - PreMD reports positive results for Prevu LT Skin Sterol Test

Drug Development - Pressure-overload hypertrophy is blunted by suppression of class I and II histone deacetylases

Drug Development - U.S. FDA issues Approvable Letter to Cellegy Pharmaceuticals for Cellegesic

Emergency Medicine - CPR with load-distributing band chest compression device improves survival

Emergency Medicine - Traumatic brain injury patients should be transported directly to Level I or II trauma centers

Endocrinology - Arterial stiffness is increased in subclinical hypothyroidism

Epidemiology - Thinking beyond risk factors may allow their neutralization through effective action

Finance - Biophan announces Senate approval of $400,000 for cardiac assist device

Generic Drugs - U.S. FDA grants tentative approval for Teva to market generic Lotrel capsules for hypertension

Genetics & Genomics - Bicuspid aortic valve and NKX2-5 mutation link was not demonstrated

Genetics & Genomics - X-linked fetal cardiomyopathy caused by TAZ gene mutation is reported at 18 weeks' gestation

Geriatrics - Mortality risk is predicted by interleukin-6 and carotid plaque number in old and very old men

HIV/AIDS & Heart Disease - HIV/AIDS patients have modifiable risk factors for developing coronary heart disease

Healthcare Costs - Dexmedetomidine use with standard sedation after cardiac surgery shows favorable outcomes

Heart Disease - Blood glucose levels in acute coronary syndrome are an indicator of risk stratification

Heart Disease - Cardiovascular injury in patients with Cushing syndrome may be linked to protein blockade

Heart Disease - Controlling body weight in youth may be key in preventing high C-reactive protein

Heart Failure - Better prognosis for women with heart failure may not be related to baseline characteristics

Heart Failure - Heart failure exercise capacity, sympathetic nerve activity are improved with biventricular pacing

Hematology - Antiplatelet therapy in secondary prevention for cerebrovascular disease patients is reviewed

Hematology - Hyperhomocysteinemia is presented in a review of its multiple roles

Hematology - Pathophysiological consequences of homocysteine excess are considered in review

Hematology - Peripheral artery disease patients improve lipid control with pharmacist-based management

Hematology - Thrombolysis is considered in a review of past, present, and future therapeutic contexts

Hepatitis C Virus - Chronic hepatitis C cryoglobulinemia is associated with steatosis and fibrosis

Hepatocellular Carcinoma - Hepatocellular carcinoma patient survival prolonged with pulmonary resection of metastases

Hepatology - Angiotensinogen gene expression stimulated in kidney proximal tubular cells

Hepatology - Cirrhotic cardiomyopathy is presented in review of clinical features, pathogenesis, and treatment

Hospital Quality - Delmarva Foundation encourages use of enhanced hospital performance evaluation guide

Hyperglycemia - Acarbose improves endothelial dysfunction in type 2 diabetes model

Hypertension - BMI can be an intermediate variable linking depression and hypertension symptoms

Hypertension - Hypertension and aortic valve stenosis causal link is supported by experimental model

Hypertension - Non-peptide antihypertensive analogues were synthesized and evaluated

Hypertension - Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors-gamma agonist action shows BP-lowering effects

Imaging - 2-D speckle and tissue velocity-based strain were compared, validated with harmonic-phase MRI

Imaging - Beta-blocker protocol for cardiac CT can be implemented for administration by radiologists

Imaging - Cardiac motility assessments by MDCT and cine MRI are comparable for normofrequent patients

Imaging - Orifice area of mitral regurgitation measured by Doppler echo may be promising method

Imaging - Post-revascularization recovery was predicted by DISA SPECT and PET equally well

Imaging - Reversible defects induced by adenosine SPECT imaging are not masked by a cup of coffee

Imaging - Right atrial pressure in paralyzed, mechanically ventilated patients is not predicted by E/Ea ratio

Information Technology - Acute illness outcomes are predicted by stochastic model

Ischemia - Severe acute global cerebral hypoperfusion occurs in hanging trauma

Lipid Research - Adiponectin in umbilical cord blood is inversely related to LDL-cholesterol but not ethnicity

Market Analysis - Report addresses hypertension therapy market

Medical Devices - U.S. FDA approves Abiomed's new integrated off-pump cannula

Medical Devices - U.S. FDA issues statement on Boston Scientific/Guidant Pacemakers and Defibrillators