A new hypothesis about Alzheimer's disease
...strokes and is characterized by a hardening of the arteries over time due to deposits of fibrous tissue, calcium, fat, cholesterol, proteins, cells, and other materials on the inner "endothelial" walls of an artery). This discovery made Kelly sit up straight when he first heard it because inflammation is inc...Progenitor cells predict heart disease severity
...ow to produce EPCs needed to repair and rejuvenate arteries exposed to a genetically induced risk of high lipi...t and progression of atherosclerosis, which causes arteries to clog and become less elastic. For the current study, the researchers measured the levels of EPCs ...Community hospitals do not transfer high-risk heart patients for aggressive therapy
...iary facilities with the ability to reopen clogged arteries with an angioplasty or coronary bypass surgery procedure, as recommended by the leading U.S. heart organizations. The results of this analysis, the first such comprehensive look at this issue at community hospitals, highlights a crucial ...Depression predicts mortality in women with heart disease
...mia, which is typically caused by blockages in the arteries that supply the heart with oxygen and nutrient-rich blood, can over time lead to chest pain, heart attacks or death. In many cases, ischemia cannot be felt by the patient, meaning that heart muscle cells can die "silently" each time they are deprived...High blood pressure in the lungs a major risk for death in adults with sickle cell disease
...o the pressure measured by cuff on the arm) in the arteries that supply the lungs. The blood vessels that supply the lungs narrow and their walls thicken, so they can't carry as much blood. Like a kinked garden hose, pressure builds up and backs up. The heart works harder, trying to force the blood through. I...Blood protein may be important predictor of future cardiovascular attack
...e whether a woman actually had obstructed coronary arteries or not," said Dr. Johnson. "More research particularly clinical trials to discover appropriate anti-inflammatory regimens, for example is desperately needed," she continued. The study was funded by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLB...Cheap four-drug combo saves heart patients' lives
...ght the plaque that builds up in clogged, hardened arteries -- the atherosclerosis that leads to chest pain and reduced blood flow to the heart. The bottom line for patients, Mukherjee says, is that people who have a history of heart attack or unstable angina should talk with their doctor about making sure th...Newborn brain injuries stem from infections, not delivery
...o-called "end zones" between the long, penetrating arteries that supply blood to the brain. These zones are susceptible to the type of fall in cerebral blood flow and oxygen that could occur during complications in delivery, as marked by excess acid in the umbilical cord. The Hopkins team reviewed medi...Stroke news tips for Thursday, Feb. 5, 2004
...n healthcare costs. A "quick scan" of the carotid arteries in the neck, electrical measurement of the heart rhythm via electrocardiogram and blood pressure measurement were studied as a cluster of tests to be used in screening for stroke risk factors in seniors, the investigator said. The study screened 2,...Angioplasty clears clogged brain arteries
...n angioplasty is widely used to open blocked heart arteries but is not as commonly used for clearing neck and brain arteries. In some cases, a miniature wire tube called a stent is left behind after angioplasty to keep the artery propped open. Blood thinners such as aspirin and anticoagulants such as warfa...Blood-diverting catheter holds promise for stroke treatment
... of blood flow volume. The blood pressure in the arteries increased an average of only 6 percent overall and did not increase in five patients. "This shows the increased blood flow did not simply result from an increase in blood pressure but from an increase in blood volume," Campbell said. "This is the d...Corkscrew device retrieves clots, quickly reverses stroke damage
...as retrieved," he said. Of the 61 patients whose arteries were unblocked with the device, "23 have no disability or have minor disability, such as hand writing problems," Starkman said. The MERCI Retrieval System is inserted into an artery in the groin, and then carefully guided via standard angiography i...New technique for opening blocked carotid arteries significantly lowers complication risk
... widely to open vessels that feed the heart to the arteries serving the brain. L. Nelson Hopkins, III, M.D., c...age during the procedure, which could clog smaller arteries in the brain and cause a stroke. Once the filter is in place, the surgeons inflate a balloon to dep...For leg-bypass patients, drugs can save lives and limbs, but many patients go without them
...disease, or PAD, in which clogged or stiffened leg arteries cause pain during walking or rest. Left untreated,...own to do the same for patients with clogged heart arteries who have heart bypass surgery or angioplasty. So, Henke and his colleagues suggest that millions m...C-reactive protein more than a heart disease marker
...associated with the buildup of fatty plaque in the arteries than did those who did not produce the protein. "Our study supports the use of C-reactive protein as a marker of risk for heart disease," said Chan. "Not only that, but it identifies at least one mechanism by which the protein contributes to the de...Ultrasound-guided liposomes boost imaging, target drug/gene therapy
...osclerotic plaques or blood clots, in the coronary arteries and other arteries in the body, including those to the brain. Once they reach their target in the arteries, the echo...Coronary heart disease risk assessment improves with coronary artery calcium scoring
...scans measure the amount of calcium buildup in the arteries of the heart. Calcium is one of many substances found in atherosclerotic plaques. The calcium score correlates with the amount and severity of blockages a person has. According to the one of the study's authors, Robert C. Detrano, MD, PhD, "The fin...Drug-coated stents effective in 'real world' patients
...ny flexible wire mesh tubes that prop open blocked arteries in the heart. Drug-eluting stents are coated with...ded 508 patients with previously untreated blocked arteries who were treated with sirolimus-eluting Cypher stents. Four hundred fifty patients with similar blo...UCI to lead first public health study exploring link between air pollution and heart disease
...ac ailments, such as blood clots, hardening of the arteries and heart disease. Ultrafine particles are produced primarily by engine combustion, with diesel engine exhaust containing a particularly high concentration. Because they are so small (less than 100 nanometers in size), they are easily absorbed int...Its never too late to start exercising and losing weight , Joslin study shows
...es a substance called nitric oxide that causes the arteries to dilate and improves blood flow. "In the majority of people with type 2 diabetic and even in many obese individuals who do not have diabetes the function of this layer is altered, initiating the atherosclerotic process," he said. Diabetes affect...