| Indo-US joint research on genes causing cardiac problems | | Posted Thursday, September 28, 2006 2:57:03 PM by Blog57 Team | | Hyderabad, Sep 23 : A new research project identifying genes causing high risk of cardiac arrest among Indians will be launched by the Hyderabad based Apollo Hospital and the John Hopkins Institute soon. The two institutions will randomly select a group of Indians suffering from cardio vascular ailments, disclosed Pratap C Reddy, Chairman of the Apollo Group of Hospitals. According to Apollo Group sources, Rupees six crore would be spent on the project, reported The Pioneer. The identified genes would be modified or neutralized using the latest technologies like genomic, proteonomics, nano-technology and translational research. The need for the research arose as Indians are found to be the most prone to heart ailments compared to people of other nationalities. According to a WHO warning, if the situation is not checked, then by 2012, more than half of the heart patients in the world would be Indians.... | |
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| | | Herceptin heart problems can be reversed says study | | Posted Friday, August 18, 2006 1:02:41 AM by Blog57 Team | | The first 'real world' study of breast cancer drug Herceptin's side-effects has found that patients may have an elevated risk of heart problems, but that these can be reversed.The study found heart irregularities among 28 per cent of patients using Herceptin, but that these were resolved by withdrawing Herceptin and providing standard heart drugs.Following treatment for their heart conditions, the women were able to safely resume Herceptin use. The chance of heart irregularities prove to be "an acceptable risk" when compared to the benefits of Herceptin, said the authors.Earlier clinical trials had found between ten and 26 per cent risk of heart problems, depending on different programmes of treatment"It has been known for some time that Herceptin can cause heart problems for some women," said Cancer Research UK medical director professor John Toy."Current NICE guidelines outline that before using the drug all women should receive cardiac assessment and be monitored throughout their treatment to minimise the risk.... | |
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| | | Point: High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein and Cardiac C-Reactive Protein Assays: Is There a Need to Differentiate? | | Posted Wednesday, July 19, 2006 6:58:33 PM by Blog57 Team | | By Rifai, Nader; Ballantyne, Christie M; Cushman, Mary; Levy, Daniel; Myers, Gary L Recent evidence has shown that inflnmmntion plays a pivotal role in the inception and progression of atherosclerosis, and population studies have demonstrated a strong and independent association between baseline concentrations of inflammatory biomarkers and future coronary events. Because the majority of individuals who develop coronary events are not in a high-risk group according to the Framingham risk assessment of traditional risk factors for coronary heart disease (CHD),'1 and because one half of those who suffer myocardial infarctions have normal lipid values, measurement of inflammatory markers has been suggested as an adjunct to lipid testing to better identify individuals at increased risk (1).... | |
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