Heart Failure News and Research

RSS

Heart failure (HF) is a condition in which a problem with the structure or function of the heart impairs its ability to supply sufficient blood flow to meet the body's needs. It should not be confused with cardiac arrest or myocardial infarction.

Weight gain beginning in childhood can lead to an enlarged heart

Weight gain beginning in childhood can lead to an enlarged heart by early adulthood, researchers reported in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association.

24 Nov 2004

Obesity could increase a person’s risk for atrial fibrillation

New research indicates that being obese could increase a person’s risk for atrial fibrillation, the most common irregular heart rhythm, by 50 percent, according to work published in the November 24 issue of JAMA.

24 Nov 2004

Highly obese women are 12 times more likely to have diabetes

Highly obese women are 12 times more likely to have diabetes or knee replacement surgery, and five times more likely to have high blood pressure than women who are at a normal weight, says a new study.

23 Nov 2004

Cells linked to asthma and eczema also help cure deadly illness in mice

Mast cells are immune cells known mostly for their unwanted effects: they cause the wheezing of asthma, the itching of eczema, the sneezing and runny nose of hay fever and, in extreme cases, the life-threatening shock of anaphylaxis.

20 Nov 2004

Troponin genes offer new insights to familial heart failure

Mutations in the troponin protein complex may be useful for predicting the course of heart failure due to dilated cardiomyopathy and also for guiding treatment and research, according to a new study in the Nov. 16, 2004 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

16 Nov 2004

Computer vignette effective at measuring quality of physician practice

A new measurement tool called the computerized clinical vignette can help clinicians and policymakers assess and improve the quality of physician practice while potentially reducing costs, according to a study led by a researcher at the San Francisco VA Medical Center (SFVAMC).

16 Nov 2004

Mast cells can provide protection from a potentially deadly condition known as sepsis

14 Nov 2004

Uncoupling proteins in the human heart

Results of a study in this week’s issue of THE LANCET suggest that respiratory uncoupling and reduced substrate availability might lead to energy deficiency in heart failure.

14 Nov 2004

Women with arrhythmias may also benefit from implantable cardioverter-defibrillators

A small study of patients with heart failure not caused by blocked arteries indicates that women, as well as men, may benefit from implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICD), reported researchers at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions 2004.

11 Nov 2004

Calcium channel blocker reduces adverse cardiovascular events

The calcium channel blocker amlodipine decreases the risk of cardiovascular events (such as heart attack or heart-disease related deaths) in patients with coronary artery disease and normal blood pressure, as does the ACE inhibitor enalapril, but to a lesser extent, according to a study in the November 10 issue of JAMA.

10 Nov 2004

Heart jacket effective treatment for heart failure

The concept is simple: to halt deterioration of the heart muscle, wrap it in a mesh-like net to prevent further enlargement in patients with heart failure. It's like a jacket for the heart.

10 Nov 2004

A new medication has dramatically reduced mortality among African-American patients suffering from heart disease

A new medication has dramatically reduced mortality among African-American patients suffering from heart disease, according to results of a study including UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas researchers.

9 Nov 2004

BiDil demonstrates significant improvement in survival rates in African American heart failure patients

"African Americans suffer disproportionately from heart failure and until A-HeFT have been underrepresented in heart failure trials," said Malcolm Taylor, M.D., Chair of the Association of Black Cardiologists Committee on Heart Failure. "A-HeFT represents a significant step forward in addressing these disparities."

9 Nov 2004

Scientists have developed a fast and safe method for collecting heart stem cells from small amounts of biopsied heart tissue

In human and animal studies, scientists at Johns Hopkins have developed a fast and safe method for collecting heart stem cells from remarkably small amounts of biopsied heart tissue (15 mg or less), and growing the cells in the lab to get more.

9 Nov 2004

ACE inhibitors not needed for many heart disease patients

Many heart disease patients who are already receiving state-of-the-art therapy do not benefit from additional treatment with angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, according to results of a new study funded by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI).

8 Nov 2004

Doctors must choose and manage implanted cardiac defibrillators patients carefully

Implanted devices that can shock a failing heart back into regular rhythm do an excellent job of keeping patients alive, two new University of Michigan studies find.

8 Nov 2004

Genetic testing can be used to distinguish between ischemic and nonischemic forms of heart failure

Researchers at Johns Hopkins have shown that genetic testing can be effectively used to distinguish between heart failure patients who suffer from ischemic or nonischemic forms of the disease.

8 Nov 2004

Diabetic or obese patients suffering advanced heart failure have higher levels of fat embedded in their hearts

Heart failure, progressive and potentially fatal weakening of the heart muscle, is associated with both obesity and diabetes, but the mechanisms by which damage occurs are not well-understood, said senior author Heinrich Taegtmeyer, M.D., Ph.D., professor of cardiology.

1 Nov 2004

Do cholesterol-reducing drugs decrease the risk of heart attacks and strokes in diabetics?

International researchers will, for the first time, present findings from the landmark 4D trial about whether a cholesterol-reducing drug decreases the risk of heart attacks and strokes with type 2 diabetics on dialysis at the American Society of Nephrology’s 37th Annual Meeting and Scientific Exposition in St. Louis, Missouri.

1 Nov 2004

FDA approves partial artificial heart

The U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a partial artificial heart intended to keep people alive in the hospital while they are awaiting a heart transplant.

18 Oct 2004

Heart Failure News and Research

Further Reading

Weight gain beginning in childhood can lead to an enlarged heart

Obesity could increase a person’s risk for atrial fibrillation

Highly obese women are 12 times more likely to have diabetes

Cells linked to asthma and eczema also help cure deadly illness in mice

Troponin genes offer new insights to familial heart failure

Computer vignette effective at measuring quality of physician practice

Mast cells can provide protection from a potentially deadly condition known as sepsis

Uncoupling proteins in the human heart

Women with arrhythmias may also benefit from implantable cardioverter-defibrillators

Calcium channel blocker reduces adverse cardiovascular events

Heart jacket effective treatment for heart failure

A new medication has dramatically reduced mortality among African-American patients suffering from heart disease

BiDil demonstrates significant improvement in survival rates in African American heart failure patients

Scientists have developed a fast and safe method for collecting heart stem cells from small amounts of biopsied heart tissue

ACE inhibitors not needed for many heart disease patients

Doctors must choose and manage implanted cardiac defibrillators patients carefully

Genetic testing can be used to distinguish between ischemic and nonischemic forms of heart failure

Diabetic or obese patients suffering advanced heart failure have higher levels of fat embedded in their hearts

Do cholesterol-reducing drugs decrease the risk of heart attacks and strokes in diabetics?

FDA approves partial artificial heart

How can microdialysis benefit drug development

Global and Local Efforts to Take Action Against Hepatitis

Addressing Important Cardiac Biology Questions with Shotgun Top-Down Proteomics

Latest News