Latest science news in Health & Medicine
Deadly bird flu on rise
The United Nations is warning of a possible resurgence of the deadly bird flu virus, saying wild bird migrations had brought it back to previously virus-free countries and that a...
Intravenous virus eyed as possible cancer treatment
Scientists from the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute have succeeded in delivering a virus intravenously that only attacks cancer tumours and doesn't harm healthy tissues, according to a new study.
Considerably lower risk of stent thrombosis and restenosis in 'new generation' drug-eluting stents
Results from the SCAAR study, presented at the ESC Congress 2011 today, showed that Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) with "new generation" Drug Eluting Stents, was associated with a 38% lower...
Hemodynamic results after Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI)
Since 2007 Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI) has become an alternative treatment for elderly patients with severe aortic stenosis at high risk for surgical aortic valve replacement. At present, durability...
Dieting beats exercise for diabetes prevention, combination is best
Lifestyle changes that include dieting to lose weight and exercise can help prevent type 2 diabetes, but researchers were uncertain which element contributes more. A new study suggests that,...
Medication used to reduce heart rate also reduces heart volume in patients with cardiac insufficiency, study finds
Researchers have presented results of an analysis demonstrating that ivabradine, a medication used to reduce heart rate, also reduces heart volume (left ventricle) among patients with cardiac insufficiency.
Link between abnormal sugar accumulation and the neuronal degeneration characteristic of Lafora disease
Short-term energy storage in animal cells is usually achieved through the accumulation of glucose, in the form of long and branched chains, known as glycogen. But when this accumulation happens...
Evidence in the field of CVD in pregnancy is sparse, but the condition remains a concern
Pre-existing heart disease in pregnancy remains a concern. Complications are frequent and in some cases may be life-threatening for both the mother and her child. In Europe maternal heart disease...
Daily remote monitoring reduces inappropriate shocks and improves battery longevity for ICD patients, trial shows
A French clinical trial concludes that cardiac device management using a home monitoring system with daily telemetry in patients with an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) is safe, reduces the number of...
Leisure-time physical activity increases risk of atrial fibrillation in men, but general health benefits from physical exercise outweigh risk
A Norwegian survey carried out between 1974 and 2003 showed that there was a graded independent increase in the risk of AF with increasing levels of physical activity in a...
Discontinuation of smokeless tobacco (snus) after myocardial infarction linked to improved survival
In a prospective cohort study, discontinuation of smokeless tobacco after a myocardial infarction (MI) is associated with a lower risk of subsequent mortality. Investigators found that post MI snus quitters...
Cycling fast: Vigorous daily exercise recommended for a longer life
A study conducted among cyclists in Copenhagen, Denmark showed that it is the relative intensity and not the duration of cycling which is of most importance in relation to all-cause...
Cigarette smoking causes more arterial damage in women than in men, study finds
The harmful effects of tobacco smoke on atherosclerosis, one of the driving forces of cardiovascular disease, are greater in women than in men, according to a large European epidemiological study.
Common antibiotic helps lethal lung disease
A common antibiotic can help reduce the severe wheezing and other acute symptoms of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, according to a large new study.
CABG still preferred over PCI in patients with triple vessel disease
Results from CREDO-Kyoto PCI/CABG Registry Cohort-2 show that percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) was associated with significantly higher risk for serious adverse events in patients with triple vessel disease than coronary...
Potential benefits of remote follow-up of ICD patients
Results from the EVATEL (EVAluation of TELe follow-up) trial are the first in Europe to demonstrate potential safety and efficacy benefits from the remote follow-up of ICD patients. The trial...
Effects of dalcetrapib on vascular function
Results of the phase IIb dal-VESSEL study show that dalcetrapib, an investigational molecule which acts on cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP), did not impair endothelial function (as indicated by flow-mediated...
Time trends in STEMI -- improved treatment and outcome but gender gap persists
In spite of an increased attention to gender differences in treatment of myocardial infarctions, focus on adherence to guidelines and a change in predominant therapy, the gender difference in treatment...
Beating heart problems: How a combined group therapy helps depressed cardiac patients
Researchers from the Heart Research Centre in Melbourne, Australia, have demonstrated the benefits of the 8-week 'Beating Heart Problems' group programme in a randomised controlled trial. According to Principal Research...
Fat around the heart boosts heart-attack risk
Recently, interest in the fat around the heart -so called pericardial fat- is rapidly growing. Even a thin person can have pericardial fat. Several studies suggest that pericardial fat induces...
Hair-cell-derived patient-specific heart cells for disease modeling and drug screening
Hair follicle keratinocytes offer a simple and accessible route to generate patient-specific induced pluripotent stem cells, iPSCs, with minimum inconvenience for the patients, shows study presented at the ESC Congress...
The effect of eplerenone vs. placebo on cardiovascular mortality
Today results from a new sub-analysis of the EMPHASIS-HF study showed significant reductions in death and hospitalization for five pre-defined high-risk patient sub-groups with chronic heart failure (CHF) and mild...
Sunburn rife as men skimp on sunscreen
(Medical Xpress) -- Nearly 90 per cent of British adults admit their skin has been sunburnt with almost half experiencing pain as result of being in the sun.
Mom goes back to work, family OK
Easing the maternal guilt associated with mothers returning to work, University at Albany health economist Pinka Chatterji and co-researchers Sara Markowitz and Jeanne Brooks-Gunn recently released the results of a...
Docs Cite Head Injuries in Ruling Out Youth Boxing
Kids' brains can take longer to heal, and memory impairment can affect learning.
Foods rich in protein, dairy products help dieters preserve muscle and lose belly fat
New research suggests a higher-protein, lower-carbohydrate energy-restricted diet has a major positive impact on body composition, trimming belly fat and increasing lean muscle, particularly when the...
Prevention of sudden cardiac death: Scientists predict risk for life-threatening arrhythmias
Researchers in Germany have developed a method to identify a subgroup of patients with myocardial infarction who are at increased risk for sudden cardiac death. Using cardiac magnetic resonance tomography...
Detox: flushing out poison or absorbing dangerous claptrap?
The alternative-medicine version of detox has real-world side-effects that outweigh its imaginary benefitsColonic irrigation has been the subject of many newspaper articles in recent weeks. So one might think the debate about this...