Cardiac disease is the leading cause of death in the “Western world”. And with heart disease being so prevalent, too many patients deal with cardiac fibrosis on a daily basis.

The National Institutes of Health and the Novartis Corp. have funded an animal study that may lead to a possible treatment…

The animal study, led by the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, demonstrates a bone morphogenic molecule known as rhBMP7 can reverse the cardiac fibrosis process, offering the possibility of a therapeutic target for the debilitating condition.

via Science daily

Post from: Blisstree

A New Treatment On The Horizon For Cardiac Fibrosis

The new site is replete with a wide variety of information, from a patient health survey, heart condition information, treatment options and regional resource directories, to an extensive article library, blog, chat room, and the latest news and media clips featuring top experts in the field. There is even a printable list of “Questions to ask your Doctor,” a tool to help patients make the most of their medical visits.

Heart failure is an overwhelming disease for many, and having the tools and resources to make informed treatment decisions is very welcomed indeed. If you live with heart failure on a daily basis, go check it out. Let me know what you think.

The site is very easy to navigate and has some great resources. I am very excited at the service that it could provide!

HeartFailureCenter.com 

Post from: Blisstree

New Site For Heart Failure Patients

Pompe disease is a rare neuromuscular genetic disorder that affects approximately 5,000 to 10,000 people world wide. It occurs in babies, children, and adults who inherit a defective gene from each parent. The disease manifestations can vary greatly from one person to the next.

I have to admit, until I was contacted to write about Pompe disease, I had only heard it mentioned once or twice in nursing school. It is one of those diseases that you will come across once through out your entire clinical career. This disease has devastating ramifications on both the patient, and the family that has to live with it on a daily basis.

Progressive muscle weakness is the most common symptom in both the infantile-onset and late-onset Pompe disease. The muscles used for breathing and generalized movement are the most affected. In infant-onset the heart is severely affected. When muscles that perfuse your body tissue of oxygen are compromised, there are huge effects that occur in domino fashion. Most babies with Pompe disease die from cardiac or respiratory complications before their first birthday.

Why is this information important to you? You never know who might be searching for a diagnosis. Either a friend of a friend, or that neighbor down the street’s granddaughter. Knowledge is power, especially when it comes to a gravely devastating disease like this.

It is important to understand the way that genes are transferred from one generation to the next. Our ancestors directly affect what we become and how our lives will ultimately pan out health wise. There is research going on everyday to further understand, treat and ultimately cure Pompe disease.

If you or someone you know is affected by Pompe disease, know you are not alone. There are resources and communities out there to help you with every facet of your life. Pompe community is a great place to start…

• United Pompe Foundation
• The website of the Pompe’s Group of the Association for Glycogen Storage Disease (UK)
• International Pompe Association – A federation of Pompe disease patient’s groups world-wide.
• Genzyme’s Pompe Information site
• FDA Approval News for Myozyme
• Canadian Association of Pompe

via Pompe Community
Wiki External Links
National Institute of Neurological Disorders And Stroke

Post from: Blisstree

Pompe Disease Has Huge If Not Fatal Effects On One’s Heart… There Are Resources Out There To Better Understand This Disease

This past Monday, officials at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in California announced that Mr. Iwuchukwu received his second chance on life. He received his heart in March, but the transplanted organ had been down this road before. You see, this particular heart had already been donated to someone who died of non cardiac complications.

There have been previous cases of patients receiving used hearts, but it’s considered uncommon, said Dr. J. David Vega of Emory University Hospital, who chairs the thoracic organ transplant committee of the United Network for Organ Sharing.

How bizarre? A reused organ transplant is not something you encounter on a daily basis, heck even yearly basis.

Few recipients receive a heart that had been previously transplanted mainly because it increases the risk of rejection by the body.

A “pre- owned” heart can also have lessened muscle function. But if you had the decision to make, would you say that a recirculated heart donation is better than the alternative?

via Comcast

Ceders Sinai

Post from: Blisstree

Used Heart Transplant Gives Second Chance On Life