Stem cells can repair damaged heart muscle: Study

Scientists have found that infusion of heart`s own stem cells can repair the damage caused to the organ following an attack, a discovery they say could lead to
new treatment strategy for cardiac regeneration.

The study, published in The Lancet, showed that the cells help the organ re-grow healthy muscle after a heart attack, challenging the belief that cardiac scarring is permanent and
that once lost, healthy heart muscle cannot be restored.

In the research, a team led by Prof Eduardo Marban at the Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute in Los Angeles assessed a group of 25 patients, with an average age of 53 years, each of whom had suffered a heart attack.

Patients were treated at the Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute and at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore. Of these, eight were received standard care while 17 received infusions of
cardiosphere-derived stem cells (CDCs) that were created using the patient`s own heart tissue.
The procedure was less invasive and involved removing pieces of living heart muscle around half the size of a raisin using a catheter under local anaesthetic; this tissue was then used to create the supply of cardiac stem cells.

Each patient then received an infusion of around 12 to 25 million of his or her own stem cells during a second minimally invasive procedure.

Patients who had the stem cell infusion saw their scar size drop from 24 per cent to 12 per cent of the heart on average, while controls saw no reduction in scar size.

"This discovery challenges the conventional wisdom that, once established, cardiac scarring is permanent and that, once lost, healthy heart muscle cannot be restored," said the researchers.

"We show intracoronary infusion of autologous CDCs after myocardial infarction is safe, warranting the expansion of such therapy to phase two study," they added.

The scientists also said that the unprecedented increases they noted "in viable heart muscle, which are consistent with therapeutic regeneration, merit further assessment of clinical outcomes".

Changes in end-diastolic volume, end-systolic volume, and left-ventricular ejection fraction did not also differ between groups by six months, they pointed out.

Only four patients (24 per cent) in the stem cell group had serious adverse events compared with one control (13 per cent), although of the four events in the stem cell group, only one was regarded as possibly related to the treatment.

In a linked comment, Dr Chung-Wah Siu and Prof Hung-Fat Tse of University of Hong Kong said: "These findings suggest that this therapeutic approach is feasible and has the
potential to provide a treatment strategy for cardiac regeneration after myocardial infarction."

Now, pacemakers powered by heartbeat

Researchers have now developed a prototype device that could power a pacemaker using vibrations in the chest cavity that primarily occur due to heartbeats.


Though pacemakers require only small amounts of energy (about 1 millionth of a Watt), their batteries have to be replaced periodically, which means multiple surgeries for patients.

Researchers have searched for ways to prolong battery life – trying to generate energy to power a pacemaker using blood sugar, or the motion of the hands and legs – but these methods either interfere with metabolism or require a more drastic surgery, such as passing a wire from the limbs to the chest area.

In the new technique developed by aerospace engineers from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, vibrations in the chest cavity deform a layer of piezoelectric material, which is able to convert mechanical stress into electrical current.

Tests indicate that the device could perform at heart rates from 7 to 700 beats per minute (well below and above the normal range), and that it could deliver eight times the energy required for a pacemaker.

Furthermore, the authors write, the amount of energy generated is always larger than the amount required to run a pacemaker, regardless of heart rate.

Though the team has yet to develop a prototype that is biocompatible, they say that the potential to package this energy harvester with pacemakers gives it an advantage over competing methods.

The study has been recently published in the AIP’s Applied Physics Letters.

Active ingredient in Viagra eases heart problems

An active ingredient in Viagra can alleviate heart problems, a new study has claimed.

According to Bochum’s researchers in cooperation with colleagues from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester (Minnesota), sildenafil makes stiffened cardiac walls elastic again.

They researchers studied dogs with diastolic heart failure, a condition in which the heart chamber does not sufficiently fill with blood. They showed that sildenafil makes stiffened cardiac walls more elastic again.

The drug activates an enzyme that causes the giant protein titin in the myocardial cells to relax.

“We have developed a therapy in an animal model that, for the first time, also raises hopes for the successful treatment of patients,” Wolfgang Linke of the RUB Institute of Physiology, said.
Sildenafil inhibits a specific enzyme, phosphodiesterase 5 A, which causes the increased formation of a messenger substance (cGMP). The messenger substance activates the enzyme protein kinase G, which attaches phosphate groups to certain proteins.

This so-called phosphorylation causes blood vessels to relax, which was why the “potency pill” Viagra originally came onto the market. The Bochum and Rochester researchers found that the cardiac muscle protein titin is also phosphorylated through the same mechanism.

“The titin molecules are similar to rubber bands. Bochum``s researchers in cooperation with colleagues from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester (Minnesota),” the Bochum physiologist said.

The activity of the protein kinase G causes titin to relax. This makes the cardiac walls more elastic. The effect occurs within minutes of administering the drug.

“Of all the patients aged over 60 who are in hospital because of a weak heart, half suffer from diastolic heart failure,” Linke said.

“Although we know that the decreased distensibility of the cardiac walls is the cause, the disease cannot be treated properly with today’s medicines,” Linke added.

The study has been published in the journal Circulation.

Tomatoes `good for heart`

The humble tomato is more than a delicious fruit. A new study says that eating it daily could help lower cholesterol and blood pressure levels, thus keeping heart disease at bay.

An international team, led by University of Adelaide, has claimed that a bright red pigment called lycopene found in tomatoes contains antioxidant properties vital to good health.

Researchers came to the conclusion by summarising the effect of lycopene on cholesterol and blood pressure analyzing the collective results of 14 studies in the last 55 years.

"Our study suggests that if more than 25 milligrams of lycopene is taken daily, it can reduce LDL-cholesterol by up to 10 per cent," Dr Karin Ried, who led the team, said.

Tomatoes in particular have high levels of lycopene, with half-a-litre of tomato juice taken daily, or 50 grams of tomato paste, providing protection against heart disease, say the researchers.

"That`s comparable to the effect of low doses of medication commonly prescribed for people with slightly elevated cholesterol, but without the side effects of these drugs, which can include muscle pain and weakness and nerve damage," Dr Ried said.


According to the researchers, lycopene is better absorbed in processed and cooked tomatoes or tomato paste rather than fresh tomatoes.

"Research shows that high lycopene consumption has been associated with a decreased risk of cardiovascular disease, including hardened arteries, heart attacks and strokes," Dr Ried said.

He, however, added that more study is needed to explore whether doses higher than 25 to 44 milligram’s of lypocene a day provide additional benefits.

Ten ways to keep your heart healthy

A healthy heart is the way to healthy living, but the frenzied modern lifestyle is taking a toll on this little muscular organ. A sedentary lifestyle, munching on junk food, alcohol, smoking, long working hours and increasing stress is making the heart more and more vulnerable. The average human heart beats approximately 2.5 billion times during an average lifespan of 66 years. But then are we making the most of 2.5 billion beats? Apparently not… But don`t you think it`s high time that we pay attention to what our heart needs.

Here are a few easy ways to keep your heart young…

1. Eat Healthy: The first and foremost for a healthy heart is to know what is in your plate. Always keep a check on what you eat and when you eat. A diet adequate in vegetables, fruits, whole grains and small amount of oil and red meat can help your heart beat longer.

2. Maintain healthy body weight: Maintaining healthy weight is important for over all well being as obesity increases the risk of various heart diseases, high blood pressure, diabetes etc. Maintain BMI between 20 to 25 which is considered the optimal weight.

3. Practice Yoga, mediate or exercise: Even if you cannot follow all of them together, try implementing one of the practices to enhance your hearts healthy. A 30 minute aerobic exercise improves your heart rate. Yoga and meditation are also great for your heart as they help ease stress which automatically improves your hearts functioning.

4. Be active: If you are unable to take time to exercise regularly, try to be active throughout the day. Take the stairs instead of a lift, mop the floor or try walking back home from work, if you live nearby.

5. Quit smoking and alcohol: This needs no explanation, as everyone who consumes alcohol or smokes knows about what these products can do to their heart. Cutting on cigarettes or alcohol is rather tough, but killing oneself is not a smart choice either. Try getting out of the addiction slowly but surely.

6. Manage stress levels: When things start going wrong, one tends to lose appetite and indulge in excess smoking and drinking. In such a situation, managing the stress level is extremely important. If you let stress get on to your head for long you will gradually decrease the number of years in your life. Talk to friends, socialize, slow down a bit and take a break. Enjoying your life to the fullest is the best way to keep your heart healthy and agile.

7. Check your family history: Having a family history of heart problems can increase your risk of having cardiovascular diseases many folds. If a close relative of yours is suffering from a heart problem, then it’s better for you to take extra care of your health.

8. Get good sleep: Lack of sleep worsens blood pressure and cholesterol. Sleep deficiency also leads to increased stress levels, which also raises the level of inflammation in your body further increasing risk of heart-related problems. A sleep of 7 to 9 hours each night will help your heart stay healthy.

9. Get regular health screening: Get screened for high blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol levels.

10. Laugh out loud and be happy: Laughter is indeed the best medicine for your heart. Laughing for just 15 minutes daily can boost blood flow by 22% and prevent arteries from hardening. Being happy is the ultimate mantra to a healthy heart.

Tips for a healthy heart

A healthy heart is key to having a healthy life. Sedentary and stressful lifestyle is leading to more and more people having cardiovascular problems at an early age. Here are a few tips to keep your heart beating for long:-

1) Check your blood pressure timely: It is important to keep your blood pressure low by eating a diet low in sodium, exercising and keeping your arteries functioning.

2) Eating less cholesterol, Trans and saturated fats.

3) Eating less meat: A diet low in saturated fat is one crucial factor in preventing heart disease, obesity, cancer and diabetes among others.

4) Exercising regularly: Exercising has so many benefits. It relieves stress, lowers your blood pressure, burns fat, strengthens your immune system and just leaves you feeling good for the rest of the day.

5) Staying at your healthy weight, or lose weight if you need to in order to be healthy.

6) Avoiding unnecessary stress as it raises your blood pressure.

7) Avoid smoking and cut down on your alcohol intake. A smoker is twice more likely to have a heart attack than a non-smoker and regular consumption of alcohol leads to increase in blood pressure, weight gain and can even damage heart muscles.

Green at heart? Avoid beef: Jairam

Stop eating beef to save the world, Union Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh suggested on Thursday.

A vegetarian himself, Ramesh offered a pat on the back for non-beef eaters, saying they help in “climate mitigation”.

“The single-most important cause of [carbon] emissions is eating beef,” Ramesh said. “My formula is stop eating beef. This would stop the emission of [large amounts of] methane.”

While Ramesh quoted a number of studies — and global climate change expert R.K. Pachauri — to support his view, the issue has been debated for years.

Last year, a UN Food and Agriculture Organisation study found that meat production accounts for nearly a fifth of all greenhouse gas emissions — emissions that are causing temperatures to rise, causing erratic rainfall, higher sea levels and stronger storm events.

On the flip side, many scientists argue that meat-eating is good for the environment because it eliminates animals whose manure emits methane, a greenhouse gas 23 times more potent in the global warming scenario than carbon dioxide.

Ramesh’s comments throw the ball back in the court of the developed world a fortnight ahead of the climate change negotiations in Copenhagen.

Per capita consumption of meat in the developed world is 70 to 80 times that in India, where the majority shuns beef and pork for religious reasons.

Ramesh, who was speaking at the launch of a UN report on world populations, ended his speech with a reminder that 600 million Indians are potential climate change victims, making it the biggest domestic threat facing the country

Eight cups of tea a day can boost your heart and brain

Drinking eight cups of tea daily might sound a bit too much for some people, but health experts say the intake can help fight heart disease, improve brain power and also boost longevity.

Independent dietician Dr Carrie Ruxton's research on caffeine at King's College, London, saw her review 47 published studies to reach the conclusion that caffeinated drinks such as tea, coffee and cocoa have positive effects on mental function, increasing alertness, feelings of well-being and short-term memory.

Previous studies have already linked the drink's healthy antioxidant properties and high flavonoid content to preventing heart disease and cutting the risk of some cancers.

Ruxton has supported earlier reports by claiming that an optimal intake of 400mg of caffeine a day leads to "key benefits in terms of mental function and heart health".

She assessed three studies, accounting for almost 90,000 patients, to find that drinking four cups of tea or coffee a day reduced chances of cardiovascular disease.

She referred to another study of 26,500 middle-aged smokers, which hinted that men who ingested more than two cups of tea a day pulled down the probability of getting a stroke by 20 percent.

Ruxton insisted that she aimed to "debunk" false beliefs surrounding caffeine.

Moreover, she asserted that people who avoid drinking team might be doing more harm than good.

"People who cut out caffeinated drinks may miss out on the potential health benefits of the compounds they contain," the Daily Express quoted her as saying.

She further suggested that there was "no need" for parents to stop children from drinking tea and coffee.

In fact, she claimed it was better than juice in some regards.

Also, Dr Catherine Hood, of the Tea Advisory Panel, agreed to Ruxton's claims.

She said, “Caffeinated drinks have been unfairly demonised. Black tea, in particular, contains polyphenols, which are natural plant antioxidants.”

"These have beneficial effects on many biochemical processes in the body because they protect cells against harmful free radicals.

"Flavonoids are thought to be especially useful, with a number of studies reporting a link between them and lower risk of heart attack."

British girl's, Heals itself after transplant

British doctors designed a radical solution to save a girl with major heart problems in 1995: they implanted a donor heart directly onto her own failing heart.

After 10 years with two blood pumping organs, Hannah Clark's faulty one did what many experts had thought impossible: it healed itself enough so that doctors could remove the donated heart.

But she also had a price to pay: the drugs Clark took to prevent her body from rejecting the donated heart led to malignant cancer that required chemotherapy.

Details of Clark's revolutionary transplant and follow-up care were published online Tuesday in the medical journal Lancet.

"This shows that the heart can indeed repair itself if given the opportunity," said Dr. Douglas Zipes, a past president of the American College of Cardiology. Zipes was not linked to Clark's treatment or to the Lancet paper. "The heart apparently has major regenerative powers, and it is now key to find out how they work."

In 1994, when Clark was eight months old, she developed severe heart failure and doctors put her on a waiting list to get a new heart. But Clark's heart difficulties caused problems with her lungs, meaning she also needed a lung transplant.

To avoid doing a risky heart and lung transplant, doctors decided to try something completely different.

Sir Magdi Yacoub of Imperial College London, one of the world's top heart surgeons, said that if Clark's heart was given a time-out, it might be able to recover on its own. So in 1995 Yacoub and others grafted a donor heart from a 5-month-old directly onto Clark's own heart.

After four and a half years, both hearts were working fine, so Yacoub and colleagues decided not to take out the extra heart.

The powerful drugs Clark was taking to prevent her from rejecting the donor heart then caused cancer, which led to chemotherapy. Even when doctors lowered the doses of drugs to suppress Clark's immune system, the cancer spread, and Clark's body eventually rejected the donor heart.

Luckily, by that time, Clark's own heart seemed to have fully recovered. In February 2006, Dr. Victor Tsang of Great Ormond Street Hospital in London, Yacoub and other doctors removed Clark's donor heart.

Since then, Clark — now 16 years old — has started playing sports, gotten a part-time job, and plans to go back to school in September.

"Thanks to this operation, I've now got a normal life just like all of my friends," said Clark, who lives near Cardiff.

Her parents marveled at her recovery, and said that at one point during Clark's illness, they were told she would be dead within 12 hours.

Miguel Uva, chairman of the European Society of Cardiology's group on cardiovascular surgery, called Clark's case "a miracle," adding that it was rare for patients' hearts to simply get better on their own.

"We have no way of knowing which patients will recover and which ones won't," Uva said.

Still, transplants like Clark's won't be widely available to others due to a shortage of donor hearts and because the necessary surgeries are very complicated. In the last few years, artificial hearts also have been developed that can buy patients the time needed to get a transplant or even for their own heart to recover.

Zipes said if doctors can figure out how Clark's heart healed itself and develop a treatment from that mechanism, many other cardiac patients could benefit.

At the moment, doctors aren't sure how that regeneration happens. Some think there are a small number of stem cells in the heart, which may somehow be triggered in crisis situations to heal damaged tissue.

Experts said Clark's example is encouraging both to doctors and patients.

"It reminds us that not all heart failure is lethal," said Dr. Ileana Pina, a heart failure expert at Case Western Reserve University and spokeswoman for the American Heart Association. "Some heart failure patients have a greater chance of recovery than we thought."