Medical Research News

RSS

BP variability a long-term challenge

Blood pressure variability over the long term predicts mortality among patients receiving treatment for hypertension, a study shows.

2 Sep 2013

Researchers identify origin of human TB

Tuberculosis remains one of deadliest infectious diseases of humans, killing 50% of individuals when left untreated. Even today, TB causes 1-2 million deaths every year mainly in developing countries. Multidrug-resistance is a growing threat in the fight against the disease.

2 Sep 2013

TAVI is safe therapeutic option than redo cardiac surgery

Use of bioprosthetic heart valves has dramatically increased (from 18% in 1991 to 59% in 2003), mainly in older patients with comorbidities. This is due to the increased risk of bleeding complications associated with lifelong use of anticoagulation for mechanical prostheses.

2 Sep 2013

ddPCR technology can be used to reproducibly quantify microRNA in plasma

A study published online in Nature Methods today demonstrated that Droplet Digital PCR (ddPCR-) technology can be used to precisely and reproducibly quantify microRNA (miRNA) in plasma and serum across different days, paving the way for further development of miRNA and other nucleic acids as circulating biomarkers.

2 Sep 2013

DE-MRI before ablation can stage atrial fibrosis and help predict success treatment

In patients with atrial fibrillation, delayed enhancement magnetic resonance imaging (DE-MRI) performed before ablative treatment can stage the degree of damaged heart tissue (atrial fibrosis) and help predict whether treatment will be successful or not, according to results of Delayed Enhancement - MRI determinant of successful Catheter Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation (DECAAF) trial.

2 Sep 2013

Low temperature triggers acute myocardial infarction

Professor Claeys said: "Air pollution and temperature changes are the most frequently reported environmental triggers for acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Epidemiologic studies have focused mainly on one environmental condition, but most environmental triggers are related to each other and may attenuate or reinforce the triggering effect of a single environmental factor."

2 Sep 2013

Researchers develop new model to predict treatment success more accurately

The HI virus is feared, not least, because of its great adaptability. If the virus mutates at precisely the point targeted by a drug, it is able to neutralise the attack and the treatment fails. To minimise these viral defence mechanisms, doctors treat patients with modern combination therapies involving the simultaneous administration of several drugs. This approach forces the virus to run through a series of mutations before it becomes immune to the drugs.

2 Sep 2013

Leisure-time physical activity might reduce risk of SCD among men with low CRF

Dr Laukkanen said: "Sudden cardiac death (SCD) accounts for approximately 50% of deaths from coronary heart disease. SCD typically occurs shortly after the onset of symptoms, leaving little time for effective medical interventions, and most cases occur outside hospital with few or no early warning signs. Finding ways to identify individuals at elevated risk of SCD would allow early interventions on risk factors to be implemented."

2 Sep 2013

Average height of European males increased by 11cm between mid-19th century and 1980

The average height of European males increased by an unprecedented 11cm between the mid-nineteenth century and 1980, according to a new paper published online today in the journal Oxford Economic Papers. Contrary to expectations, the study also reveals that average height actually accelerated in the period spanning the two World Wars and the Great Depression.

2 Sep 2013

Being overweight but metabolically healthy is not linked with increased risk of heart attack

Metabolically healthy women have the same cardiovascular disease risk regardless of their BMI, according to research presented at the ESC Congress today by Dr S-ren Sk-tt Andersen and Dr Michelle Schmiegelow from Denmark.

2 Sep 2013

Mass screening programme of 75-76 year olds to identify undiagnosed AF

Stroke is the second cause of death worldwide. Atrial fibrillation is the most common clinically relevant cardiac arrhythmia in Europe, affecting approximately 1.5-2% of the general population.1 Prevalence is estimated to double in the next 50 years as the population ages.

2 Sep 2013

Combination of music and exercise training improves endothelial function in CAD patients

Professor Deljanin Ilic said: "In the setting of cardiovascular risk factors and cardiovascular disease the endothelium loses its normal function.1 Since endothelium derived nitric oxide is necessary to maintain an adequate vascular response, correction of endothelial dysfunction has become a goal of therapy."

2 Sep 2013

Common blood pressure drug reduces fatal cardiac problem in patients with Marfan syndrome

A common drug that is used to treat high blood pressure in the general population has been found to significantly reduce a dangerous and frequently fatal cardiac problem in patients with Marfan syndrome.

2 Sep 2013

Use of anticoagulant does not reduce ischemic events among patients undergoing PCI

Use of the novel anticoagulant otamixaban did not reduce ischemic events compared with unfractionated heparin plus eptifibatide but increased bleeding among patients with non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndromes undergoing a percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI; procedures such as balloon angioplasty or stent placement used to open narrowed coronary arteries), according to a study published by JAMA.

2 Sep 2013

Pre-treatment with prasugrel increases risk of bleeding without reducing risk of ischemic events

In patients with non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE- ACS), pre-treatment with the P2Y12 antagonist prasugrel prior to catheterization, significantly increases the risk of life-threatening bleeding without reducing the risk of major ischemic events, according to the results of the ACCOAST (A Comparison of Prasugrel at PCI or Time of Diagnosis of Non-ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction) trial.

2 Sep 2013

Reimbursement systems appear to impact on achievement of cholesterol lowering targets

Dr Gitt said: "There are wide variations between European countries in the achievement of LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) targets. However the effect of different reimbursement systems on meeting the targets was unknown."

2 Sep 2013

Researchers pinpoint ways to counter effects of antibiotics-driven depletion of gut-dwelling bacteria

A new study by researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine could help pinpoint ways to counter the effects of the antibiotics-driven depletion of friendly, gut-dwelling bacteria.

2 Sep 2013

CAD patients with very low LDL-C levels benefit from statin treatment

Dr Nakano said: "Many randomised clinical trials, such as Treating to New Targets (TNT) and PROVE IT-TIMI, have shown that aggressive cholesterol lowering with statins improves clinical outcomes in patients with CAD and high LDL-C levels.1,2 But until now it was not known whether aggressive lipid lowering with statins would also benefit CAD patients with very low LDL-C levels."

2 Sep 2013

Despite living with highest risk factors for heart disease, people in high income countries suffer less

Despite living with the highest risk factors for heart disease, people in high income countries suffer less from serious cardiovascular disease, says an international study by the global PURE (Prospective Urban Rural Epidemiology ) collaboration and led by McMaster University researchers.

2 Sep 2013

Meta-analysis indicates protective effect of statins in preventing cataracts

Cataracts are the leading cause of visual impairment worldwide affecting more than 20 million people. Statins are among the most commonly prescribed medications. In the USA they are prescribed to 1 in 3 people over 45 years of age at a cost of $35 billion annually.

2 Sep 2013

Medical Research News

BP variability a long-term challenge

Researchers identify origin of human TB

TAVI is safe therapeutic option than redo cardiac surgery

ddPCR technology can be used to reproducibly quantify microRNA in plasma

DE-MRI before ablation can stage atrial fibrosis and help predict success treatment

Low temperature triggers acute myocardial infarction

Researchers develop new model to predict treatment success more accurately

Leisure-time physical activity might reduce risk of SCD among men with low CRF

Average height of European males increased by 11cm between mid-19th century and 1980

Being overweight but metabolically healthy is not linked with increased risk of heart attack

Mass screening programme of 75-76 year olds to identify undiagnosed AF

Combination of music and exercise training improves endothelial function in CAD patients

Common blood pressure drug reduces fatal cardiac problem in patients with Marfan syndrome

Use of anticoagulant does not reduce ischemic events among patients undergoing PCI

Pre-treatment with prasugrel increases risk of bleeding without reducing risk of ischemic events

Reimbursement systems appear to impact on achievement of cholesterol lowering targets

Researchers pinpoint ways to counter effects of antibiotics-driven depletion of gut-dwelling bacteria

CAD patients with very low LDL-C levels benefit from statin treatment

Despite living with highest risk factors for heart disease, people in high income countries suffer less

Meta-analysis indicates protective effect of statins in preventing cataracts

Clue's CEO Rhiannon White on the Future of Femtech and PCOS

Freezing Point Osmometry in Life Science Applications

Precision in every drop: Inside Hamilton’s syringe technology

Latest News