News • Study on ventricular shapes
How heart shape links to cardiovascular disease risk
Researchers have published findings that show the genetic structure of the heart’s shape may offer new insights into individual heart health.
Search for: "Heart disease" - 250 articles found
News • Do no harm
“Never words” in doctor-patient communication (and what to say instead)
“There’s nothing else we can do”, “Why did you wait so long to come?” – doctors should avoid using such phrases. A new study points out the destructive potential of “never words”.
News • Tradefair programme overview
Don't miss: Hot issues, current trends and innovations at the Medica 2024 Labmed Forum
Skills shortages and digitalization, trends in cardiology and oncology, future prospects in laboratory medicine, and healthy aging – these pressing topics are at the forefront of discussions at this year’s Medica Labmed Forum.
News • Elderly heart patients
Aortic stenosis: benefits of early intervention
Early surgery for aortic stenosis – a common heart condition in the elderly – can drastically improve patients' quality of life, a new study shows.
News • Microgravity-induced changes
How cancer cell cultures in space can help defeat cancer on Earth
New insights gained from 3D cell cultures of breast and prostate cancer grown on the International Space Station (ISS) National Laboratory could lead to a way to treat not just these but all cancers.
News • Insights into bile production
Liver discovery could lead to better CVD treatments
A new discovery about how the liver flushes cholesterol from the body could lead to more effective treatments for cardiovascular disease – the leading cause of death worldwide.
News • Research on 'risk windows'
Covid vaccination reduces risk of serious cardiovascular disease, study finds
People who have been fully vaccinated against Covid-19 have a significantly lower risk of developing more severe cardiovascular conditions linked to Covid-19 infection, a new study shows.
News • Study on sex-specific VHD treatment
Treatment inequality puts women with heart valve disease at risk
Women with severe native valvular heart disease (VHD) are less likely to be treated in accordance with guidelines than men, finds a new study conducted at more than 200 centres across Europe.
News • Unintended use of wearables
People with long Covid may "hack" their fitness trackers – for better or worse
Many aspects of long Covid are still poorly understood, so many sufferers have turned to self-monitoring via wearables. New research explores the benefits and drawbacks of this approach.
News • Impact on cardiovascular disease
How pollution of soil and water threatens heart health
“Evidence is mounting that pollutants in soil as well as in water may damage cardiovascular health,” find the authors of a new publication, which advocates the need for more sustainability.
News • Experts propose combination strategy
Kidney cancer: early detection through 'piggyback' screening
Kidney cancer is relatively rare, so dedicated screening programmes would not be cost-effective. Combined with lung cancer screening, however, this would be much more feasible, a new study shows.
News • Increased risk of atherosclerosis
Cardiometabolic risk factors impair heart microcirculation
A new study reveals that cardiometabolic risk factors and subclinical atherosclerosis impair the function of the microvessels that irrigate the heart, potentially increasing atherosclerosis risk.
News • When red means bad (for the heart)
Nutri-Score hints at foods that increase CVD risk
The Nutri-Score is designed to provide consumers with information on nutritional quality. New research reveals that the ratings also correspond with the cardiovascular health impact of the products.
News • Surprising study results
Coronary bypass: new insights on ‘no-touch’ vein harvesting
For coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), a ‘no-touch’ technique to harvest the saphenous vein graft has been considered superior to the conventional approach. Surprisingly, a new study comes to a different conclusion.
News • Echocardiography
Robot arm and 5G for remote heart diagnostics
When the cardiologist cannot come to the patient, a robot arm might do the trick: New research shows the potential of echocardiograms performed remotely using robot arm technology and a 5G network.
News • Respiratory and CVD monitoring devices
Commercial partnership to co-promote patient monitoring technologies
Nonin Medical, a provider of SpO₂ monitoring solutions, and CO₂ monitoring specialist Corscience have entered into a partnership to co-promote each other’s OEM product offerings.
News • Cardiac disease research
Endometriosis associated with increased risk for heart attack, stroke
New research from Denmark explores a possible connection between endometriosis and an increased risk of heart attack and stroke. Details are presented at the ESC 2024 Congress.
News • Time loss vs. life expectancy gains
Dialysis: Is the tradeoff always worth it?
New research sheds light on the tradeoffs between survival and time spent in inpatient care that dialysis might entail. This could help patients with kidney failure make more informed decisions.
News • Alternative to blood transfusion
Rhesus pregnancy: immunotherapy to protect the foetus
In rhesus pregnancy, antibodies from the pregnant mother can lead to anaemia for the foetus in the uterus. A new study suggests that a drug could serve as a non-surgical alternative.
News • Cardiovascular magnetic resonance
Non-invasive MRI technique to predict heart failure risk
New resesarch suggests a new way of assessing the risk of heart failure without invasive diagnostic tests. The method involves MRI to measure heart pressure as a predictive factor.
News • Research on fitness training
Exercise after stroke: intensity matters
Extensive and moderate, or short and intense? New research suggests which approach to physical exercise is more effective for improving fitness among people recovering after a stroke.
News • ICD usage in HF patients
Kidney dysfunction as a predictor of sudden cardiac death
A prospective study has revealed that kidney dysfunction may be a powerful predictor of sudden cardiac death. Findings could lead to revisions in the guidelines for ICD usage.
News • Damage in vascular organoids
Lab-grown diabetic vessels give new insights
Using vascular organoids derived from stem cells, researchers gain new insights into how diabetes damages blood vessels. This could lead to to the development of new treatments.
Opinion article • Wearable medical devices
Sweat analysis reveals a wealth of health information
Diagnosis and monitoring medical conditions, including cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and infections: In this opinion article, Alix Joseph (Linxens) explores the potential of sweat analysis.
News • Successful treatment of congenital heart disease
First “Double-decker” surgery for scimitar syndrome
Surgeons have performed an unprecedented procedure on a two-year-old child diagnosed with scimitar syndrome. This marks the world’s first successful application of the “Double-decker Technique”.
News • Public survey on medical conditions
Cancer seen as #1 health concern, AI as solution
Cancer, dementia, heart attack: these are the medical conditions people are most worried about, according to a new UK survey. It also reveals hopes for AI in the future of cancer research and care.
News • Biomaterial-based device
Heart valve made of human collagen opens up new treatment avenues
A new heart valve comprised of biological material obtained from human cells, opens up new therapeutic avenues for patients with paediatric heart diseases, such as tetralogy of Fallot.
News • Finding fibrosis
Hyperpolarized MRI improves early detection of kidney diseases
Using an advanced scanner, researchers have developed a technology that can detect the earliest changes in the kidney when scar tissue begins to form.
News • Cardiac imaging analysis
AI greatly speeds up heart chamber segmentation from MRI scans
From 45 minutes to just a few seconds: A new computer model utilises AI to examine cardiac MRI scans in the four-chamber plane, potentially offering speedy and dependable heart health evaluation.
News • Artificial intelligence application
AI integration into cardiovascular ultrasound to improve diagnoses
Philips announced its latest AI-enabled cardiovascular ultrasound platform to help speed up cardiac ultrasound analysis with AI technology and reduce the burden on echocardiography labs.
News • Infrared thermography analysis
AI predicts coronary artery disease from facial thermal imaging
A combination of facial thermal imaging and artificial intelligence (AI) can accurately predict the presence of coronary artery disease (CAD), new research finds.
News • Improved detection of heart failure
New MRI model for better imaging of women's hearts
Researchers have been able to fine-tune how magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is used to detect heart failure in women’s hearts, making it more accurate for female patients.
Article • E-skin patches
How “intelligent” skin could highlight cardiac conditions
Two companies are combining their unique expertise to develop intelligent e-skin patches to “self-sense” cardiac events in patients. The flexible patch platform will deliver a comprehensive understanding of both electrical and mechanical heart activities and has the potential to enable cardiologists to better monitor their patients.
Video • Transthoracic ultrasound localization microscopy
Super-resolution imaging of microscopic heart vessels
Researchers were able to produce sub-millimetre resolution images of cardiac micro-vessels. This non-invasive new technique could allow scientists to study the physiology of the heart in more detail.
News • Leukemia MRD after chemo
AML: Residual cancer testing as an important safeguard
Blood cancer cells can remain in the blood of AML patients, even after chemotherapy seemed successful. Testing for these residuals before blood cell donation is a vital precaution, a new study finds.
News • On-demand reversibility
Anticoagulation with an ‘on/off’ switch
Researchers developed a new type of anticoagulant whose action can be rapidly stopped. This reversible activity could revolutionise the use of anticoagulants in surgery or other applications.
News • Opportunity for new treatment approaches
Atherosclerosis and cancer share surprising similarities, study finds
In cancer, cell deterioration can drive progression. A similar process happens in artherosclerosis, new research reveals. This finding could lead to new ways of combatting disease-causing plaque.
News • Cardio-Ankle Vascular Index (CAVI)
Study finds artery stiffness indicative of cardiovascular risk
The stiffer the arteries, the greater the cardiovascular risk, according to a new study. The researchers suggest using this as a predictive tool, and emphasise the utility of a specific clinical tool.
News • Cardiovascular disease detection
Routine chest CT with AI to assess CVD risk
AI-enhanced CT scans can accurately evaluate cardiovascular risk without contrast media, a new study shows. The technique uses coronary calcium and heart chamber size as markers for disease detection.
News • Increased risk of infection
Researchers identify cause for immunodeficiency after stroke and heart attack
After a stroke or heart attack, the risk of infection is increased – however, why this happens was unknown. Now, researchers found a previously unknown cause – and a therapeutic approach.
Article • "Timely" study
Improved care after heart attack on AI-powered telemedicine platform
Coronary artery disease causes more than 1.8 million heart attacks each year in Europe. In most cases, rehabilitation helps the patients to return to their everyday life. But what happens once the patients have left the rehab clinic?
News • Research on syndrome correlation
Finding the link between Guillain-Barré and Takotsubo
Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (‘broken heart syndrome’) is a known complication of Guillain-Barré, but not much is known about the association between the two. New research aims to change this.
News • Mechanistic subtypes
The telltale traces long Covid leaves in the blood
Findings from the largest UK study of patients hospitalised with Sars-CoV-2 infection show that long Covid leads to ongoing inflammation which can be detected in the blood.
News • Minimally invasive procedure
Aortic valve replacement: TAVR on par with surgical approach
Decreased rates of death and stroke: new research shows the validity of transcatheter aortic valve replacement in low-risk patients. This advocates a less invasive alternative to surgical options.
Article • Photon-counting CT, strain imaging, 4D flow MRI
How new technologies shape the future of cardiovascular radiology
New approaches to cardiovascular radiology are evolving to help clinicians gain an increasingly better insight into heart conditions. Latest developments in cardiovascular radiology include myocardial strain imaging, 4D flow and photon-counting CT technology. An ECR 2024 session shone the spotlight on these areas of cardiovascular imaging with expert speakers outlining the pros and cons of each.
News • Point-of-care testing
New AI tool detects Covid-19 in lung ultrasound images
Using ultrasound imaging to detect Covid-19 infections, a new automated detection tool could help doctors in the emergency room diagnose patients quickly and accurately.
News • Heart rhythm disorder
Stroke prevention: experts recommend routine atrial fibrillation testing
Atrial fibrillation is the most common heart rhythm disorder globally. Patients at high risk for AF, such as those with heart failure or prior stroke, should be tested at every GP visit, experts say.
Article • Key findings of latest survey
Women’s health: solutions for a growing problem
Awareness of the importance of women’s health is on the rise, but many challenges remain: At ECR 2024 in Vienna, we spoke with Hologic about their continued evaluation of healthcare efforts for women. At the congress, the company also shared how AI could be used to mitigate the effects of medical staff shortage.
News • Using portable devices
Lighting the way to noninvasive blood glucose monitoring
New research could revolutionize noninvasive monitoring of blood glucose levels (BGLs): a Japanese team developed a novel methodology to estimate BGLs from near-infrared light (NIR) measurements.
News • Late effects of amblyopia
‘Lazy eye’ in children increases risk of serious disease in adulthood
Adults who had amblyopia (lazy eye) in childhood are more likely to experience hypertension, obesity, and metabolic syndrome as an adult, as well as a higher heart attack risk, finds a new study.
News • Metastasis susceptibility
How chronic stress spreads cancer
Chronic stress can have a significant impact on health, from an increased risk for heart disease to a greater susceptibility of cancer metastasis. New research points out the underlying mechanisms.
News • Cardiovascular disease research
"Heart on a chip": 3D printing cardiac biorings
Researchers have developed a 3D-bioprinted, miniaturized chip to advance the understanding of cardiovascular disease and aid in the development of new precision treatments.
News • Focus on protein GDF15
Newfound mechanism could improve efficiency of diabetes treatments
Research reveals how a new mechanism could improve the efficiency of current treatments for diabetes. This may open up new ways of approaching metabolic diseases that are a global health problem.
News • Chemotherapy and cancer drugs
‘Heart-on-a-Chip’ to test cardiotoxicity of treatments
Chemotherapy can be toxic to heart cells. To help protect the hearts of cancer patients, Cedars-Sinai investigators have created a three-dimensional “heart-on-a-chip” to evaluate drug safety.
Article • UK research project
"Our Future Health": Shifting from curative to preventive care
As a result from better living standards and medical advances, population longevity increases – a development which, paradoxically, current healthcare systems are ill-prepared for, Sir John Bell points out. The UK’s Our Future Health programme, which he chairs, exemplifies the paradigm shift to a prevention-centered healthcare approach.
Article • Men are from Mars, women are from Venus
Sex differences in imaging cardiovascular disease
An interplanetary title for a quite down-to-earth topic: The symposium "Men are from Mars, women are from Venus" at the EACVI congress (European Association of Cardiovascular imaging) launched into the differences between the hearts of men and women. While the speakers could firmly establish that both sexes share the same home world, variations in their cardiac anatomy warrant a more…
News • Survey reveals alarming misconceptions
Bariatric surgery: shortcut to weight loss or last resort?
Millions suffer from obesity, an epidemic that continues to trend upward. While bariatric surgery is a very effective treatment option, a new survey reveals common misconceptions about the procedure.
News • Cardiac valve simulator
A biorobotic heart for better valve stimulation
Combining a biological heart and a silicone robotic pump, researchers created a biorobotic heart that beats like a real one, with a focus on a valve on the left side of the heart.
News • Rude awakening
Why waking up to your phone alarm could putting your health at risk
The sound of an alarm clock in the morning might not just be annoying – it might be a health risk, according to new research from the University of Virginia’s School of Nursing.
News • Reduction of cardiovascular disease risk
Chrononutrition: Eat early, save your heart
Beware of midnight snacks: New research shows that the time at which we have our meals could influence our risk of developing cardiovascular disease.
News • Promising prototype solution
An artificial heart valve that grows with the child
Many children born with heart problems receive prosthetic valves, but the valves cannot grow with them. A prototype expanding artificial heart valve could greatly reduce the number of surgeries.
News • From the heart to the brain
Early onset of coronary heart disease increases dementia risk
Having coronary heart disease at a younger age was associated with an increased risk of dementia, Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia, a new study finds.
News • Troponin assessment
Blood test aids emergency diagnosis of heart conditions
A high sensitivity blood test can improve diagnosis for one in five patients who have a heart muscle injury, according to new research.
News • Ventricular fibrillation research
Promising therapeutic target for cardiac arrhythmias discovered
A newly discovered signaling mechanism implicated in the development of ventricular fibrillation offers promise of future treatment options for this life threatening condition.
News • Funcional brain imaging
New design increases fMRI resolution tenfold
Ten times more detail than current 7T scanners, over 50 times more than 3T: A new type of functional MRI will allow neuroscientists to more precisely localize and trace brain networks.
Article • Trade fair presence
Taiwan blends tech and tradition at Medica 2023
AI features for automation, integrated systems and more: the role of medical technology has never been as vital as today, and MedTech companies from Taiwan are putting their best foot forward to contribute. At the 2023 Medica trade fair, visitors of the Taiwanese pavilion not only had the opportunity to see the latest medical products on display, but also get acquainted with Taiwanese culture in…
News • Lab model to find treatments for stroke, dementia
Finding (and fixing) vascular leaks in the brain
Using small blood vessels grown in the lab, researchers discover how vascular leaks leading to dementia and stroke emerge – and how this damage might be fixed.
News • Obstetric triage
Adapted emergency care for pregnant women shows success
Reseachers from the University of Gothenburg propose a new model for adapted triage in emergency care for pregnant women, which could become clinical routine throughout Sweden.
News • VITT reseach
Cause for rare, but deadly vaccine-related blood clotting found
A mechanism that led some patients to experience cases of deadly clotting following some types of Covid-19 vaccination has been identified in new research.
News • Health communication on AMR
How to improve public understanding of “antimicrobial resistance”? Rename it
A new study on public health communication shows that the term commonly used to describe bacteria resistant to current medicines or antibiotics fails to stick in people’s memories.
News • Chronotype, duration, apnea and more
How sleep impacts cardiovascular health
A new study shows five aspects of sleep that are almost equally important to explain the association between sleep and the risk of coronary events and stroke.
Article • Gender-specific symptoms
AI pilot project: Early detection of heart attacks in women
A new research collaboration aims to develop a forward-looking AI application to detect gender-specific symptoms earlier and further reduce mortality from heart disease, especially among women.
News • Myocardial infarction, heart failure, atrial fibrillation, and aortic stenosis
Research reveals striking inequalities in NHS heart care
Stark inequalities in diagnosis and treatment of four of the most common heart conditions in the UK have been revealed in new research led by a team at the University of Leeds.
News • Reduction of as much as 14 years
Early type 2 diabetes has huge impact on life expectancy
The earlier it starts, the more type 2 diabetes shaves off of a person's life expectancy. For people in their 30s, this can be as much as 14 years less, new research finds.
News • Preparing for the next pandemic
New rapid electronic diagnostic test for infectious diseases
A new molecular test for bacteria and viruses, including Sars-CoV-2, has been developed at the University of Surrey, as they warn that the world needs to be prepared for the next pandemic.
News • Spirometry distribution
The ‘silent scandal’ of missing lung tests across England
A new survey by The BMJ reveals shortages of vital diagnostic tests for respiratory conditions, such as COPD and asthma, across some of the most deprived areas of England.
Article • Five-year EU project to avoid heart damage in oncology patients
Cardiac collaterals in breast cancer therapy
Modern cancer therapies are tough on the tumours, but often, also on the heart of the patients. The “CARDIOCARE” project aims to reduce the cardiac burden of anti-cancer therapies through more patient-tailored treatment approaches. At the ESC 2023 cardiology congress, Professor Katerina Naka from the project’s consortium explained why older patients are at the highest risk of cardiotoxic…
News • Only 2 out of 4 methods for EMS found to be useful
Sepsis screening: inadequate tools lead to underdiagnosis
Two out of the four screening tools used by emergency medical services are inadequate for recognising sepsis, according to new research presented at the EUSEM Congress.
News • Heart perfusion simulator
iHEART: a new model to boost cardiac research
A team at Politecnico di Milano developed iHEART, a mathematical and computational model of the human heart designed for studying coronary artery disease.
News • MEDICA Labmed Forum
Hot issues, current trends and innovations in lab medicine
From cancer to AI, from management to new medication: this year's Labmed Forum at MEDICA 2023 in Düsseldorf (November 13-16) once again features an exciting scientific programme.
News • Navigating between cells
Microrobots offer new opportunities for cancer treatment and wound healing
Half as thick as a human hair: Researchers at TU Munich have developed the world's first microrobot capable of navigating within groups of cells and stimulating individual cells.
News • Mapping prevalence across European hospitals
Sepsis: suprisingly common, underdiagnosed, and deadly
New research from Lund University has found a suprisingly high incidence of sepsis across hospital admissions. The experts say that the condition can be likened to an epidemic.
News • Widening coronary arteries
Intervention after heart attack: don't wait, revasculate
Cardiologists in Zurich demonstrate that immediate revascularization of non-involved blood vessels offers better outcomes for patients after a heart attack than a delayed procedure.
News • Economic burden of CVD
Putting a price tag on cardiovascular disease in Europe
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) cost the EU an estimated €282 billion in 2021, according to late breaking research presented at the European Society of Cardiology's ESC Congress 2023.
News • Cardiovascular compensation
Catching up on sleep on the weekend? Why your heart won't play along
Whether it’s work or play that prevents us from getting enough shut-eye during the week, assuming we can make up for it by sleeping in over the weekend is a mistake.
Interview • Symptoms and their causes
Sneezing and sniffing: Is it allergies, a common cold, the flu, or Covid-19?
A family physician at Tufts University School of Medicine offers advice for how to treat allergies and how to tell if symptoms are due to allergies, the common cold, the flu, or Covid-19.
News • Deep learning in imaging
Earlier detection of diabetes through chest x-rays and AI
A new AI model finds that x-ray images collected during routine medical care can provide warning signs for diabetes, even in patients who don’t meet the guidelines for elevated risk.
Article • Oncology imaging
The expanding role of CT in lung cancer management
While screening programs for several of the commonest cancers are now well established, lung cancer screening has yet to reach anywhere near the same proportion of at-risk patients.
News • Adverse outdoor conditions
Heat waves and PM2.5 air pollution double risk of fatal heart attack
Heat waves, cold snaps and high levels of fine particulate pollution could raise heart attack risk, according to a new study, which highlights one especially dangerous combination.
News • Proof-of-concept research
Researchers reverse chemotherapy-related fertility loss
A new study by investigators from Brigham and Women’s Hospital demonstrates the potential for restoring fertility when the ovaries have stopped working.
News • Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy imaging
Combining cDTI and CMR to detect deadly heart condition
Combining two types of heart scan techniques could help doctors to detect deadly hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) before symptoms and signs on conventional tests appear.
News • Genotype-specific strategy
‘Digital twins’ of patients’ hearts give insights into cardiac health
Scientists have developed a tool to create a digital replica of an individual's heart, which could inform the diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular diseases.
News • 3D placenta model
"iPlacenta" could transform healthcare in pregnancy
A placenta on a chip developed at the University of Dundee has the potential to transform research into life-threatening conditions in pregnancy.
News • DCE-MRI urography
Metal-free kidney MRI dye for more personalized diagnostics
University of Ottawa scientists have introduced a metal-free MRI dye capable of mapping kidney function with unprecedented accuracy — a promising technique for more personalized care.
News • Multi-ancestry polygenic score
Dataset diversity improves heart disease risk prediction
By using genetic data on multiple traits from people of non-European ancestry, scientists have improved the accuracy of polygenic scores in predicting disease risk for all.
News • Soft, wireless implant
A dissolving cardiac device that monitors and treats heart disease
A new device could monitor and treat heart disease and dysfunction in the days, weeks or months following traumatic heart-related events — and harmlessly dissolve afterwards.
Sponsored • Health & Care Expo
Taiwan goes “beyond healthcare”
Post-pandemic problems, ageing societies, the impact of climate change on human health: To find solutions for new and ongoing healthcare challenges, thinking outside the box is crucial. This year’s Medical Taiwan Health & Care Expo took this approach to heart: True to its motto “beyond healthcare”, the event showcased a wide range of innovative products, promising start-up presentations…
News • From 529 million to 1.3 billion cases by 2050
Diabetes: Experts predict drastic increase in the next 30 years
More than half a billion people are living with diabetes worldwide, and that number is projected to more than double to 1.3 billion people in the next 30 years.
News • Noninvasive diagnosis in high-risk CAD patients
Photon-counting CT: “bloom” reduction improves heart disease detection
Photon-counting CT enables accurate diagnosis of coronary artery disease in high-risk patients, a potentially significant benefit for people previously ineligible for noninvasive screening.
News • Performance-based evaluation
Useful, not pretty: How AI can improve medical imaging
US researchers evaluated AI techniques for cleaning medical images based on performance in clinical tasks. Some algorithms make the scans look better, but actually decrease image quality.
News • Extracorporeal photopheresis
Study on ECP in heart transplant patients presents promising results
Results from a large European study reinforce the use of Extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP) in heart transplant patients as a treatment for heart transplant rejection and prevention of rejection.
News • Beyond polygenic risk scores
Adding blood biomarkers to genomics to better predict common disease risk
New research suggests that combining blood biomarkers with genomic information more accurately, cost-effectively predicts the risk of developing diseases.
News • At-home medical imaging
Study explores diagnostic potential of "ultrasound selfies"
One day, the ultrasound equipment that health care professionals use for diagnostic imaging may no longer be confined to the clinic, instead operated by patients in the comfort of their homes.
News • 3D vascular models
'Virtual blood vessel' technology could improve heart disease care
Patients with heart disease could benefit from less extensive interventions thanks to technology that creates 3D computer models of blood flow through the heart's arteries, according to new research.
News • Study shows need for better education and awareness
Cardiac arrest: defibrillators only used in 1 of 10 cases
Defibrillators are being used in just one in ten cardiac arrests where the lifesaving devices are available, according to new research presented at a British cardiology conference in Manchester.
News • Statement against "unacceptable behaviours"
British cardiologists take a stand against bullying in the specialty
British societies BCS and BJCA publish a joint policy statement to stamp out bullying, harassment, and discrimination in the specialty, endorsed by 19 affiliated organisations.
News • Pre-eclampsia
Detecting high-risk pregnancy with heart attack test
About 5% of all women develop pre-eclampsia during pregnancy, which in severe cases can become life-threatening for mother and child. Using commercially available troponin tests, high-risk patients could be identified much earlier and more accurately than before.
News • Cardiac benefits of a strong quadriceps
Heart failure prevention: Why you shouldn't skip 'leg day'
People with strong legs are less likely to develop heart failure after a heart attack, according to research presented at the Heart Failure 2023 scientific congress in Prague.
News • Congenital heart defect diagnosis
Photon-counting CT improves cardiac imaging in babies
A new advanced form of CT imaging offers better cardiovascular imaging quality compared to dual-source CT (DSCT) in infants with suspected cardiac heart defects, according to a new study.
Video • Cardiology & Biomedical Technology
Repairing heart damage: Breakthrough in vascularized heart organoids
Researchers have succeeded in introducing a vascular system into tiny living and beating model human heart muscles, an achievement which it's hoped will accelerate progress toward the ultimate goal of repairing damage from heart disease.
News • Genetic diseases
Study sheds light on causes of rare genetic diseases in 5,500 people
Around 5,500 people with severe developmental disorders now know the genetic cause of their condition, thanks to a major nationwide study in the U.K..
News • Cardiovascular diseases
Smart watches could predict higher risk of heart failure
Wearable devices such as smart watches could be used to detect a higher risk of developing heart failure and irregular heart rhythms in later life, suggests a new study led by researchers from University College London (UCL).
News • Hypertension and the brain
Study links high blood pressure to memory loss and dementia
A new study led by the University of Edinburgh has identfied areas of the brain susceptible to damage from high blood pressure, affecting memory loss, thinking skills and dementia.
News • Cardiology study
Does the ‘obesity paradox’ exist? New research debunks myth
New research has debunked the idea of an “obesity paradox”, whereby overweight or obese patients with heart failure are less likely to end up in hospital or die than people of normal weight.
Article • RESTORE hospital programme
Facilitate recovery from hip fracture surgery by geriatric patients
Caregivers at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, Texas, have developed a programme designed to facilitate recovery by geriatric patients following hip fracture surgery. The Returning Seniors to Orthopedic Excellence (RESTORE) programme is designed to provide stellar comprehensive collaborative co-managed care for older adults with orthopaedic injuries.
News • Artificial intelligence in radiology
AI accurately identifies normal and abnormal chest X-rays
An artificial intelligence tool can accurately identify normal and abnormal chest X-rays in a clinical setting, according to a new study. The tool identified abnormal X-rays with a 99.1% sensitivity.
News • Overlooked by most doctors
Income and ethnicity identified as risk factors for cardiovascular disease
According to Dutch researchers, people with low income are up to 1.5 times more at risk of a heart attack or stroke than their wealthier compatriots. Ethnicity was also identified as a risk factor.
Sponsored • Orthopaedics
Hip arthroplasty for femoral neck fractures – but without the complications
Arthroplasty for femoral neck fractures has seen enormous progress in recent years, but complications due to infections are still a major problem. With good preparation and the right technique, however, orthopaedic surgeons can take away much of the horror of this scenario.
News • Tissue meets tech
Researchers grow electrodes in the brain
Researchers at Linköping, Lund, and Gothenburg universities in Sweden have successfully grown electrodes in living tissue using the body’s molecules as triggers.
News • Non-communicable diseases management
Can the metaverse improve public health?
A new interdisciplinary article suggests ways in which the virtual-reality-based metaverse can help design healthy living environments and combat non-communicable diseases.
News • Coronary plaque vulnerability
Using radiomics to predict heart attacks
Researchers developed a radiomics model that uses information from coronary CT angiography images to assess coronary plaque vulnerability, a common cause of heart attacks.
Video • Organ restoration
First successful regeneration of diseased kidney
In a world first, scientists from Singapore and Germany have shown that regenerative therapy to restore impaired kidney function may soon be a possibility.
News • Angiography advances
Photon-counting CT enables lower contrast media for aortic imaging
Photon-counting detector CT reduces the amount of contrast needed for CT angiography (CTA) while maintaining image quality, according to a new study published in Radiology: Cardiothoracic Imaging.
Video • Early detection of dementias
Promising sensor to screen for Alzheimer's
Canadian researchers are developing a new, ultra-sensitive biosensor to screen for Alzheimer’s disease and other diseases. The device has successfully completed the proof-of-concept stage.
News • Deep learning analysis of X-rays
AI used to triage patients with chest pain
Artificial intelligence (AI) may help improve care for patients who show up at the hospital with acute chest pain, according to a new study published in Radiology.
News • The benefits of inefficient activity
How "silly walks" can improve cardiovascular health (no, really)
And now for something completely different: Adults could achieve global physical activity targets by walking inefficiently for just a few minutes each day, finds a study in the BMJ.
News • First on site, but short-lived
New insights into immune defence may explain Covid-19 reinfections
A new study has found that antibodies produced in the nose decline nine months after Covid-19 infection, while antibodies found in the blood last at least a year.
News • Diagnosis of tumors, organ malfunction and more
Wearable skin patch could help monitor at-risk patients
Engineers have developed an electronic patch that can give medical professionals unprecedented access to crucial information that could help spot life-threatening conditions.
News • Evaluation methods for the 21st century
Cardiology leaders: clinical trials need a fresh start
Time for modernisation: The current model for randomised clinical trials must be redesigned for the 21st century, according to leading European and American cardiology societies.
News • Mechanical heart activity captured
Contactless ECG monitoring technique developed
Reseachers from the University of Science and Technology of China have developed a method for contactless electrocardiogram (ECG) monitoring through a millimeter-wave radar system.
News • Gender bias
Dangerous double standard in heart disease prevention advice for women and men
Women are told to improve their lifestyle to prevent heart disease while men are advised to take statins. That’s the finding of a study presented at the ESC Asia scientific congress.
News • Myocardial infarction microscale model
"Heart attack on a chip" to find better therapy options
Researchers have developed a so-called “heart attack on a chip”, which could one day serve as a testbed to develop new heart drugs and even personalized medicines.
Article • Alternative to lumpectomy
Breast cryoablation for surgically inoperative patients
Breast cryoablation is an emerging treatment for early-stage, localized breast cancer that destroys malignant tumours by freezing them. During the past decade, it has been increasingly utilized as an alternative to lumpectomy, but its long-term benefits compared to other breast cancer treatments are still unproven.
News • Deadly heart inflammation
Hope for first blood test to detect myocarditis
The first blood test to diagnose inflammation of the heart muscle (myocarditis) could be in use in as little as a year, following the discovery of a molecular signal in the blood.
News • Environmental medicine
Study shows how air pollution eats away at the immune system
The diminished power of the immune system in older adults is usually blamed on the aging process. But a new study shows that decades of particulate air pollution also take a toll.
News • Changes to brain stem, frontal lobe
Post-Covid: MRI reveals significant brain abnormalities
Using a special type of MRI, researchers have uncovered brain changes in patients up to six months after they recovered from Covid-19, according to a study being presented at the annual RSNA meeting.
News • Heart disease diagnosis
New MRI technique to enhance metabolic imaging
Swiss researchers developed a new MRI method to visualise metabolic processes in the body. Their objective is to improve the future diagnosis and treatment of heart disease.
Sponsored • Periprosthetic protection
Bone cements containing antibiotics for infection prophylaxis – quo vadis?
Periprosthetic infections and revisions are on the rise in Germany and worldwide, with significant consequences for affected patients as well as for the healthcare systems. Precisely because the number of patients at higher risk of infection in arthroplasty continues to rise, attention is increasingly focused on how this dreaded complication can be avoided.
Article • Home-based assessment
How ‘smart’ weighing scales can help monitor health
Innovative smart weighing scales are adding a new dimension to home monitoring for healthcare. By collecting data via sensors and proprietary technology as people stand on them, the scales can assess health metrics to give users more precise measurements for a deeper understanding of their body.
Article • Wearables at Medica 2022
Smart ring medical device for 24/7 blood pressure monitoring
A smart-ring medical device is emerging as an effective and discreet wearable for round-the-clock blood pressure monitoring. Using photoplethysmography (PPG) signals to measure the bloodstream 24/7 through the wearer’s finger, a new feature of the “Cart-I plus” ring from manufacturer Sky Labs enables it to constantly monitor hypertension without user intervention.
Article • Session on sex differences
Championing gender-sensitive medicine
A session at the Medica Health IT Forum will focus on the important topic of gender-sensitive medicine and raise critical points within the field. While a key challenge remains in raising awareness and acceptance that there are medical differences between men and women, session chair Dr Martina Kloepfer points out that gender-sensitive medical care is the ‘lowest common denominator of…
News • New X-ray technique
HiP-CT reveals link between long Covid and pulmonary fibrosis
A new X-ray technology has been used to identify a link between the damage that severe Covid-19 can inflict on lungs and pulmonary fibrosis, a disease that causes severe scarring of lung tissue.
Article • Brain imaging
White matter hyperintensities: a valuable biomarker to assess mortality risk
White matter hyperintensities (WMH) on the brain seen on MRI represent a biomarker associated with a 50/50 risk of death within five years after a first incident acute ischemic stroke (AIS) or transient ischemic attack (TIA).
Article • At-home diagnostics
Making remote patient monitoring simple
Increasing accessibility of remote and home monitoring for patients with pulmonary diseases can help improve treatment and rehabilitation adherence, and support health systems and hospitals in tackling waiting lists. The various advantages of remote monitoring systems will be highlighted in a Medica session focusing on “Preventing chronic diseases with diagnostics and analytics”.
News • Cardiology research
Are hearts from Covid-19 positive donors safe for transplantation?
Donor hearts from people who were Covid-19-positive appear to be as safe for transplantation as those from people without Covid-19, according to a new short-term analysis.
Article • Renal carcinoma differentiation
SPECT/CT improves diagnosis of indeterminate kidney tumours
99mTc-Sestamibi SPECT/CT can aid in the diagnosis of solid renal lesions, especially in cases where contrast enhanced CT findings are inconclusive, according to researchers from the Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Missouri.
Article • LTX overview
Lung transplant surgery: last hope for patients with advanced lung diseases
Despite treatment, chronic lung diseases such as COPD or cystic fibrosis can become so severe that a lung transplant is necessary. Dr Urte Sommerwerck explains which patients might be considered for transplantation and why follow-up is as important as the surgery itself.
News • Study on meth, cannabis, cocaine and opiate use
Illicit drugs linked with atrial fibrillation
Methamphetamines, cocaine, opiates, and cannabis are associated with an increased likelihood of developing atrial fibrillation, a newly-published 11-year study shows.
News • Menopause research
Hot flashes: a hazard for the heart?
Not just uncomfortable, but hard on the heart: Accumulating research suggests a link between hot flashes during the menopause and cardiovascular disease risk in women.
Article • Sex differences in heart failure
Why a closer look at a woman’s heart matters
The hearts of men and women are different – while this insight has been established for quite some time now, it might even surprise cardiologists just how deep these differences really run. In her presentation at this year’s ESC, Diana Bonderman, MD, gave a comprehensive roundup on sex differences in risk factors and subtypes of heart failure.
News • Sex-specific approaches needed
Dedicated women’s heart centers can improve accurate diagnoses
An important prospective study showcases improvement in outcomes for women with ischemic heart disease by attending a multidisciplinary women’s health center.
News • Blood-brain barrier simulation
Artificial brain vessels advance drug testing
German researchers present a novel method for testing chemical agents that could help in the development of drugs against neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's.
News • Support for seniors
Sensor-based early detection of age-related diseases from home
Swiss researchers have demonstrated how sensors could help detect health problems in the elderly at an early stage. This could help seniors to live a self-determined life at home for longer.
News • Improved detection and treatment
New trial shows benefits of smartphone-based atrial fibrillation screening
Atrial fibrillation screening using conventional smartphones more than doubles the detection and treatment rate in older people compared to routine screening, new research finds.
Article • Non-invasive method
Pressure-strain loop to assess myocardial work
Using left ventricular pressure-strain loops as a non-invasive way to assess myocardial work has benefits for cardiologists in terms of diagnosis and prognostic stratification for a wide range of heart conditions.
Article • Women’s heart health
Exploring the cardiovascular impact of pregnancy and menopause
The critical times in a woman’s life of pregnancy and the menopause – and their relation to heart health – is explored at the ESC. The defined field of gender-specific cardiology is becoming an increasingly important area of focus, experts say.
Interview • Cardisiography
AI supported vector cardiography to enhance screening precision
Cardisiography is a screening method for detecting structural, rhythmical, or vascular heart disease and a decision support tool to guide targeted follow-up. Meik Baumeister, CEO of Cardisio, talks about the development and the operating principle.
Article • Possibilities and risks
AI in cardiology: so much is feasible – but is everything useful?
It might sound like science fiction but it is reality in cardiology: with the help of artificial intelligence (AI) physicians can recognize from a patient’s headshot whether the person is suffering from coronary artery disease and is therefore at risk of myocardial infarction. But is that knowledge really useful? Professor Dr David Duncker calls for a differentiated and careful assessment of…
News • Heart muscle inflammation
Covid-19 infection increases myocarditis risk (a lot more than the vaccine does)
The overall risk of myocarditis is substantially higher immediately after being infected with Covid-19 than it is in the weeks following vaccination for the coronavirus, a large new study shows.
News • Cardiomyopathy research
Genetic defects can cause heart failure
Cardiomyopathy is not a uniform disease. Rather, individual genetic defects lead to heart failure in different ways, an international consortium reports.
Article • Philips presents portfolio update at ECR 2022
AI-powered MRI to increase imaging speed, reduce staff burden
The portfolio Philips presented at ECR 2022 revealed that the company not only advanced their products, but also listened to medical professionals and patients – and took their feedback to heart.
News • Gene therapy in the heart muscle
Targeting heart disease with viral vectors
Researchers have developed adeno-associated virus variants that target heart muscle cells and can thus be used for the precise treatment of heart diseases.
News • CMR-ECV vs. light-chain cardiac amyloidosis
'Stiff heart syndrome': Advanced MRI benefits patients
An advanced form of cardiac MRI has for the first-time enabled clinicians to measure the effectiveness of chemotherapy in patients with the life-limiting condition ‘stiff heart syndrome’.
News • Organ transplantation
Biofabrication: major step forward for building human heart
By recreating the helical structure of heart muscles, bioengineers improve understanding of how the heart beats.
News • As good as gold
Raman spectroscopy: a wearable chemical sensor
Researchers created a special ultrathin sensor, spun from gold, that can be attached directly to the skin without irritation or discomfort. The sensor can measure different biomarkers or substances to perform on-body chemical analysis.
News • Heart failure
Atrial fibrillation after surgery increases risk of hospitalization
People who develop an abnormal heart rhythm after surgery have an increased risk of subsequently being admitted to hospital with heart failure, according to a study of over 3 million patients.
News • Wearables
Personal health trackers may include smart face mask
Researchers developed two concepts of wearable smart bioelectronic devices, materials for better real-time monitoring of a person’s health, including vitals.
News • Study shows elevated risk
Finding connections between diabetes and heart valve disease
Individuals with diabetes display a substantially increased risk of disease in left-sided heart valves compared to controls without diabetes, a new comprehensive register study shows.
News • "Broken heart syndrome"
Brain changes linked to emotion discovered in Takotsubo syndrome
Changes in areas of the brain associated with emotion have been identified in people with Takotsubo syndrome, sometimes known as broken heart syndrome, according to new research.
News • New treatment approach
Injectable gel to repair damage after a heart attack
Researchers have developed a biodegradable gel that can help to improve the delivery of cells into the living heart and could form a new generation of treatments to repair heart attack damage.
News • World premiere
A liver was treated in a machine and successfully transplanted
The research team Liver4Life has treated an originally damaged human liver in a machine for three days outside a body and then implanted the recovered organ into a cancer patient.
News • Cardiac care
Cardiac disease expected to worsen post corona pandemic
COVID-19 pandemic has caused “global collateral damage” by disrupting cardiac services . Across the world problems with heart health will “...continue to accrue unless mitigation strategies are speedily implemented”.
News • Smart device
Dissolving pacemaker communicates with body-area sensor
Wireless bioresorbable pacemaker bypasses need to extract non-biodegradable leads, eliminating additional risk to the patient.
News • Protein malformation
Covid-19: immune reaction may cause amyloid generation
In patients with serious and long-term Covid-19, disturbed blood coagulation is often observed. Now, Swedish researchers found a connection between harmful amyloid production and Covid-19 symptoms.
News • Minimally invasive cardiology
TAVI: viable alternative to open heart surgery in aortic stenosis
Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI) is a less invasive procedure that is just as effective as open-heart surgery in treating severe symptomatic aortic stenosis, a new study shows.
Article • The right tool for the task
Vascular insights with MRI and ultrasound
Advances in image post-processing and contrast-enhanced techniques have widened the scope of possibilities for MRI and ultrasound vascular imaging, experts showed in a dedicated course at the ECR Overture.
News • HHV awaken via microRNA
Why herpes keeps coming back
Dormant herpesviruses induce their reactivation via a previously unknown cellular mechanism mediated by a viral microRNA, Würzburg researchers discovered.
News • Cardio-imaging
MRI could revolutionise heart failure diagnosis
Using MRI scans to detect heart failure could revolutionise how the condition is diagnosed, thanks to new research from the University of East Anglia and the University of Sheffield.
News • Photoacoustics and ultrasound
New 3D imaging technique to diagnose peripheral vascular diseases
Recently, a Korean research team has developed a 3D foot imaging technique that vividly captures peripheral blood vessels, even thinner than 1 mm. It combines photoacoustic and ultrasound images.
News • Measuring gases released from skin
Future wearables could open new way to monitor metabolic diseases
Scientists have taken the first step to creating the next generation of wearable health monitors, which could monitor the body’s health by detecting the gases released from a person’s skin.
News • Insights into atherosclerosis
How diseased blood vessels 'talk' to the brain
An international team has for the first time demonstrated that nerve signals are exchanged between clogged up arteries and the brain.
News • Customized to the patient
Organ-on-a-chip systems go 'plug and play'
A major advance demonstrates first multi-organ chip made of engineered human tissues linked by vascular flow for improved modeling of systemic diseases like cancer.
News • Cardiology research
Can't sleep? Why heart patients should take insomnia seriously
Sleep problems could hint at a heightened risk of heart disease, caution experts at the ESC Preventive Cardiology 2022 congress.
News • Highly accurate
A 30-second coronavirus test
The COVID-19 testing device can detect coronavirus infection in as little as 30 seconds as sensitively and accurately as a PCR test.
News • Survival predictor
AI mines MRI to predict cardiac arrest
An algorithm built to assess scar patterns in patient heart tissue can predict potentially life-threatening arrhythmias more accurately than doctors can.
News • Proven relation
Atrial fibrillation and dementia clearly associate
For people with atrial fibrillation, one of our most common cardiac disorders, dementia risk is elevated.
Article • Monitoring
Hybrid materials advance wearable devices
Researchers are developing wearable devices to catch early signs and symptoms of diseases or monitor sick patients. We spoke to wearables and medical device expert Professor John Rogers about the benefits, challenges, trends and innovation within the sector.
News • Blood filtering against inflammation
Hemoadsorption brings no benefit in endocarditis surgery
Reducing inflammatory mediators in the blood before surgical treatment of cardiac bacterial infection does not improve clinically relevant outcome, a new study shows.
News • CVD prevention
3D matrix ultrasound to identify cardiovascular injury
Scientists at the Spanish Center for Cardiovascular Research (CNIC) have led the development of a new 3D ultrasound method that improves the assessment of cardiovascular risk in healthy individuals.
Article • Cancer diagnostics
Bringing liquid profiling to the clinic
Liquid profiling is offering clear benefits in terms of cancer diagnostics and targeted therapy, but challenges remain in bringing it into the clinic.
Article • Wearable technology
Smart textiles to help detect heart conditions
Smart textiles with built-in sensors and transmitters present themselves as a diagnostic solution as they can monitor heart rhythm over long periods and thus pick up on potential Atrial Fibrillation.
News • In heart disease
Lab-grown pig heart tissue could replace animals research
A way to replicate what happens inside the heart after cardiac arrest could open new avenues for the study of heart regeneration whilst reducing the use of live animals in research.
News • Pediatric patients
Simulated heart flow model to treat heart disease
The system could enable significant advances for the 40,000 pediatric congenital heart disease patients born each year.
News • From decades to days
Single test for over 50 genetic diseases cuts diagnosis
A DNA test has been shown to identify a range of hard-to-diagnose neurological and neuromuscular genetic diseases quicker and more-accurately than existing tests.
News • Deep learning diagnoses
AI detects COVID-19 from smartwatch sensors
Combining questions about a person's health with data from smartwatch sensors, a new app can predict within minutes whether someone is infected with COVID-19.
Article • CAD pros and cons
CT or MRI – which is better for imaging stable cardiac chest pain?
When it comes to imaging stable cardiac chest pain, which modality should be used as the first-line test to investigate coronary artery disease: CT or MRI? Radiologists discussed the strengths and limitations of the two approaches in a lively Pros and Cons session at ECR Overture.
Sponsored • Siemens Naeotom Alpha
First CT scanner with photon-counting technology
Conventional CT imaging has reached its technical limitations: Resolution can only be improved by small margins and dose cannot be reduced significantly: Photon-counting technology enables drastic improvements.
News • Cardiac care
Exploring the potential of tele-rehabilitation
Cardiac rehabilitation can be done just as well at home as in the hospital. This is the conclusion of the most extensive research into ‘tele-rehabilitation’ to date.
News • Ultrasound
"Sonogenetics" researchers control mammalian cells with sound
Researchers pinpoint a sound-sensitive mammalian protein that lets them activate brain, heart or other cells with ultrasound.
News • Heart failure and organ fibrosis
RNA therapeutics: potential far beyond Covid-19
RNA has already been making an impact in the context of the vaccine program, but the potential of RNA-based compounds is far from being fully tapped, as RNA allows for entirely new therapeutic approaches.
News • Cardiology insights
Lab-grown heart cells 'mimic' disease in vitro
Heart cells from a patient with an inherited heart disease called arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy do not contract correctly when grown in the laboratory, researchers from Osaka University have found.
News • Pancreas
Fat has unexpected benefits in type 2 diabetes
Scientists have found that fat can help the pancreas adapt to excess sugar, thereby slowing the onset of diabetes.
News • Cutting risk of death
Machine learning rapidly detects sepsis
Researchers used artificial intelligence to identify sets of genes that predict whether a patient will acquire severe sepsis.
News • Xenotransplant
Surgeons transplant pig heart into human patient
US surgeons perform historic first successful transplant of porcine heart into adult auman with end-stage heart disease.
News • Sex differences
Cardiovascular risks may be worse for women’s cognition
New study results show that though men are more likely to have heart conditions, the impact on their memory and thinking skills is lower.
News • In cardiac cells
Pop-up sensors measure electronic signals
A tiny ‘pop-up’ sensor monitors the electrical activity inside heart cells. The device could provide new insights into cardiac diseases, including myocardial infarction and arrhythmias.
Article • Cardiology helpers
A new era for robotic cardiac interventions
Interventional cardiology is entering a new era with the wider introduction of robotic procedures which bring significant benefits to the medical team and the patient. Two experts outlined the benefits at the ESC 2021 Digital Summit.
Article • Subset of wearables
From the wrist into the ear – the potential of hearables
Progress in miniaturising sensor technology has opened up new possibilities for monitoring vital signs outside the hospital environment. A subset of wearables are the so-called hearables – in-ear devices that are well suited for long-term monitoring as they are non-invasive, inconspicuous and easy to fasten. Hearables offer two major benefits: their proximity to the torso and vascular system of…
News • Revealed via new x-ray technique
Covid-19 can cause vascular damage to the heart
Using a new x-ray imaging approach, an interdisciplinary research team has detected significant changes in the heart muscle tissue of people who died from Covid-19.
News • Cardiology
Coronary artery disease: Machine learning predicts risk of death
A novel artificial intelligence score provides a more accurate forecast of the likelihood of patients with suspected or known coronary artery disease dying within 10 years than established scores used by health professionals worldwide. The research was presented at EuroEcho 2021, a scientific congress of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC).
News • Synthetic nucleic acid
New approach could help weak hearts
Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction was previously considered largely untreatable. A research team at the Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC) led by Professor Michael Gotthardt has now succeeded for the first time in improving cardiac function with the help of a synthetic nucleic acid, as the researchers report in the journal Science…
Article • Cancer imaging
PET/MRI offers significant patient benefits
PET/MRI is offering new imaging opportunities for cancer patients at various points along the care pathway with its ability to assess different biological processes and its increased specificity.
Article • Medical technology event
Overview: Compamed 2021
Since Compamed could only be held digitally last year, due to the pandemic, the event now takes place publicly again. Almost 500 registrations from exhibitors prove that there is a high level of interest from medical technology suppliers – a huge step towards reaching normality again.
News • Trade fair presence
Start-ups at Medica: Anticipation for two 'world cups'
Medica trade fair (November 15-18) is once again a welcome field for many healthcare start-ups to present their products. The joint stand at the 'Medica Start-up Park' in Hall 12 has become the central cross-national meeting point for the healthcare start-up scene, the fair's organizers are pleased to report. "We bring innovators and investors together. This time, more than 40 start-ups are…
News • Coronavirus imaging
Brightest ever X-ray shows lung damage from Covid-19
The damage caused by Covid-19 to the lungs’ smallest blood vessels has been intricately captured using high-energy X-rays emitted by a special type of particle accelerator. Scientists used a new imaging technology called Hierarchical Phase-Contrast Tomography (HiP-CT), to scan donated human organs, including lungs from a Covid-19 donor.
News • Whole genome sequencing
Rare disease diagnosis: the huge impact of WGS
Whole genome sequencing (WGS) from a single blood test picks up 31% more cases of rare genetic disorders than standard tests, shortening the ‘diagnostic odyssey’ that affected families experience, and providing huge opportunities for future research.
News • Irradiation
Adult stem cells transform faster with two lasers
Researchers from the University of Johannesburg find that shining a near-infrared laser on adult stem cells derived from human body fat, makes the stem cells replicate 54% faster.
News • Coronary microcirculation
New measurements improve diagnosis of ‘woman’s heart’
Researchers at the Catharina Heart and Vascular Center, together with Eindhoven University of Technology, have developed a new measurement method to analyze the smallest capillaries of the heart by measuring blood flow and resistance. The new method to assess coronary microcirculation allows cardiologists to make a clearer diagnosis. Until recently, the tests used for this purpose were not…
News • Successful investigational procedure
First ever pig-to-human kidney transplantation shows promise for organ replacement
The first investigational transplantation of a genetically engineered, nonhuman kidney to a human body was recently completed at NYU Langone Health—marking a major step forward in potentially utilizing an alternative supply of organs for people facing life-threatening disease.
News • Online platform for professionals
Cardiology webinars take a glimpse into the future of the field
In continuation of their healthcare webinar series, Canon Medical announces the Online Cardiology Days. From Oct 26 to Nov 4, world-renowned cardiology experts take a deep-dive into professional education and explore state-of-the-art imaging and clinical management insights during a series of interactive lectures, practical teaching sessions and real life clinical case discussions.
News • Cardiology research
Transcatheter aortic valve replacement: new insights on life expectancy
Researchers at Karolinska Institutet have examined long-term outcomes in patients who received pacemaker implantations after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) through their groin. The result showed no significant difference in mortality for the patients with pacemakers compared to those without. The study is published in the journal JACC: Cardiovascular Interventions.
News • Standardized heart attack protocols
Reducing heart attack deaths by 50%, getting rid of gender gaps in care
A new series of protocols for treating patients with the most severe types of hearts attacks can reduce deaths by more than 50%, and eliminate gender disparities in care and outcomes, according to a new study by Cleveland Clinic.
News • Roadmap for Improvement
Inaugural Global Women’s Health Index
Hologic, Inc. shared the findings from its inaugural Hologic Global Women’s Health Index, the world’s most comprehensive, globally comparative survey about women’s health.
News • Insight report
More screening and secondary prevention needed
For World Patient Safety Day, Health First Europe (HFE) published a comprehensive insight report on five disease areas that affect millions of European citizens each year and how the European Union could and should do a better job for its citizens.
Article • Discussing benefits and flaws
AI in cardiology: a marriage made in heaven – or hell?
The role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is one of the most divisive issues in cardiology. Two leading experts argue the pros and cons of its use, exploring its benefits and advantages to cardiac care, as well as highlighting the pitfalls and shortcomings of AI, while underlining the need for clear guidelines and regulations for its use going forward.
News • Battle against Covid-19 & other infectious diseases
WHO opens Hub for Pandemic and Epidemic Intelligence in Berlin
To better prepare and protect the world from global disease threats, H.E. German Federal Chancellor Dr Angela Merkel and Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General, have inaugurated the new WHO Hub for Pandemic and Epidemic Intelligence, based in Berlin.
News • Medication combination
'4-in-1' blood pressure pill shows great promise
The first large-scale, long-term trial of a new strategy using combinations of very low-doses in one capsule, has demonstrated significantly improved control of high blood pressure - the leading cause of heart attack and stroke. This first large-scale, randomised controlled clinical trial of starting this novel combination blood pressure medication brought blood pressure under control in 80…
Article • Cardiology advances
Digital solutions for heart failure patients
Triage HF Plus, highlighted in the BCS conference session ‘Digital Innovation in Cardiology - What's new?’ is a digital heart failure care project that uses a customised algorithm to detect early signs of deterioration in patients with implanted devices. During her presentation ‘Digital solutions to identify worsening heart failure’, consultant cardiologist Dr Fozia Ahmed discussed the…
Article • Molecular targeting for better results
Emerging novel tracers for cardiovascular imaging
Molecular imaging, guided by novel tracers, is emerging as an important diagnostic and therapeutic tool in cardiovascular medicine. Delegates at ICNC-CT, the online International Conference on Nuclear Cardiology and Cardiac CT, also heard that cardiology can learn from fields such as oncology and neurology that have already made important advances in this area. Professor Frank Bengel, who is…
Article • SPECT/CT, MPI and more
The value of hybrid imaging in the cardiac arena
Combining imaging modalities is helping to achieve better diagnostic and therapeutic outcomes for heart patients. The topic, discussed in detail by experts at the ICNC-CT online International Conference on Nuclear Cardiology and Cardiac CT, examined hybrid/fusion imaging as the standard in cardiovascular imaging, and its value in clinical practice. Professor Terrence Ruddy spoke about the role of…
Article • Predictive plaques
Using AI for personalised prediction of heart attack
An AI-led device to assess coronary CT angiographs has been designed to assess cardiac plaque that may lead to myocardial infarction (MI). In his presentation ‘Vascular inflammation and cardiovascular risk assessment using coronary CT angiography’ (CCTA), Charambalos Antoniades, Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine at the University of Oxford, presented the research team’s findings during…
Article • Diagnosis, prognosis, prediction
AI offers advances in cardiovascular imaging
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is providing numerous opportunities across clinical care in the field of cardiovascular imaging. While challenges remain, AI is being applied in terms of diagnosis and prognosis, defining cardiovascular imaging pathways, and image acquisition and analysis. It can also help cardiologists predict which patients may do well, or which treatments are best applied to those…
Article • Risk reduction, rehabilitation
The role of AI in preventive cardiology
Artificial Intelligence and Big Data in cardiovascular risk reduction and cardiac rehabilitation are offering new opportunities for increased diagnostic accuracy and more personalised exercise prescription. Experts believe it can be harnessed to design tools to enable cardiologists to make better decisions, and have more confidence in the decision-making process. The topic was featured at ESC…
Sponsored • Transcatheter aortic valve implants
TAVI: from short-term effects to lifetime management
Until recently, TAVI, the minimally invasive procedure in which a replacement valve is inserted inside a diseased valve has been mostly prescribed for patients too weak to face open heart surgery – largely involving those in the 80-plus age group. Today, due to greater longevity plus advancing skills that result in risks reduction, TAVI is increasingly prescribed for patients in their 70s and…
Article • Preventive cardiology
AI to measure coronary plaque in six seconds
Coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) is a non-invasive imaging test which can be used to evaluate coronary artery stenosis and measure plaques. Current plaque analysis is time-consuming and needs expert readers in order to help assess a patient’s heart attack risk. That’s about to change.
News • Cardiovascular disease prevention
Why a good night's sleep can save your heart
In a new study, researchers at Lund University and Uppsala University have seen a clear connection between how long a person sleeps and a number of biomarkers linked to cardiometabolic diseases such as cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes.
News • Atrial fibrillation
Night shift work could increase risk of heart problems
People who work night shifts are at increased risk of developing an irregular and often abnormally fast heart rhythm called atrial fibrillation (AF), according to research published in the European Heart Journal. The study is the first to investigate the links between night shift work and AF. Using information from 283,657 people in the UK Biobank database, researchers found that the longer and…
Video • Coronavirus medication research
Lab-grown beating heart cells could identify Covid drugs
Scientists have grown beating heart cells to attempt to identify drugs to prevent Covid-19-related heart damage. Concerns over the extent of cardiac damage among Covid patients emerged during the coronavirus pandemic and there are also suggestions that the impact on cardiomyocytes could contribute to the symptoms of long Covid. To explore these issues, a research team at the University of…
News • Heart-related hospitalisations
Drug danger: opioid use linked to steep rise in cardiac arrests
A nationwide US study has shown that the rate of opioid-related cardiac arrests has steeply risen and is now on par with the rate of cardiac arrest from other causes. The research is presented at ESC Congress 2021. Opioid use disorder, which includes dependence and addiction, affects more than two million people in the US, while opioid overdose is the leading cause of death for those aged 25 to…
News • Clinical cardiovascular trials
Women still underrepresented in CVD research
Women remain underrepresented in cardiovascular clinical trials despite guidelines and legal requirements developed almost 30 years ago to ensure broader inclusivity. This lack of representation can limit availability of treatment data on the number one killer of women worldwide—cardiovascular disease.
News • Underrated lipids
The importance of 'beige' fat in dementia protection
Beige is considered a calming paint color, and scientists have new evidence that beige fat has a similar impact on the brain, bringing down the inflammation associated with the more common white fat and providing protection from dementia. They have found that beige fat cells, which are typically intermingled with white fat cells in the subcutaneous fat present on “pear shaped” people, mediate…
Article • Telehealth
Sheba Beyond: Creating Israel’s first virtual hospital
Israel’s first virtual hospital has been created following the advances and applications learned from using telemedicine tools and techniques to care for coronavirus patients in isolation wards. Sheba Beyond was established in January and over the last few months has successfully delivered care to patients across a range of areas. The development of the project was outlined to the DMEA –…
News • Cardiology research
Dynamic heart model gives insight into cardiac disease progression
Efforts to understand cardiac disease progression and develop therapeutic tissues that can repair the human heart are just a few areas of focus for the Feinberg research group at Carnegie Mellon University. The group's latest dynamic model, created in partnership with collaborators in the Netherlands, mimics physiologic loads on engineering heart muscle tissues, yielding an unprecedented view of…
News • Lasting impact
'Long Covid' study identifies over 200 symptoms
Patients who experience long Covid have reported more than 200 symptoms across 10 organ systems, in the largest international study of ‘long-haulers’ to date, led by scientists at University College London together with a patient-led research collaborative.
News • Cardiology research
Strong connection between heart health and pregnancy complications
A study of more than 18 million pregnancies has shown a strong and graded relationship between women’s heart health and pregnancy outcomes. The research is published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, a journal of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC). The researchers examined the presence of four risk factors for cardiovascular disease in women prior to pregnancy: unhealthy…
Article • AMR Insights platform
Antibiotic resistance: a global problem in urgent need of solutions
Antibiotics have been at the heart of modern healthcare since the 1950s. They are prescribed prior to an operation to minimise the risk of infection after the operation. Or antibiotics are prescribed to fight an infection. This practice, which might seem straightforward at first glance, has proven to cause a number of problems itself: Over the last twenty years, it has become increasingly clear…
Article • Gender issues
Promoting equity for women in cardiology in the UK
A national network of mentors and female role models, created by the British Cardiovascular Society (BCS), aims to encourage women to become cardiologists and end male dominance and negative and sexist comments.
News • Cardiology and sports
Risk of heart rhythm problems may be more than doubled for athletes
Athletes appear to be almost two and half times more likely than non-athletes to experience irregular heart rhythms (atrial fibrillation), suggests new research. In addition, those athletes involved in mixed sports such as football, rugby or netball appear to have the highest risk when compared with athletes taking part in endurance sports such as Nordic skiing, orienteering or rowing.
News • Remote cardiology
A real-time telemonitoring device for heart failure patients
Medical monitoring tech company Umana Medical announced a collaboration with the Preventive Cardiology and Medical Prevention, Center of Cardiology at the University Medical Center Mainz and Bayer AG on a clinical study (MyoMobile study) to explore a novel real-time remote cardiac monitoring device in patients with heart failure.
News • WHO global report
The six guiding principles for AI in healthcare
Artificial Intelligence (AI) holds great promise for improving the delivery of healthcare and medicine worldwide, but only if ethics and human rights are put at the heart of its design, deployment, and use, according to new WHO guidance.