New research out of the University of Pittsburgh and the University of Chicago have discovered a new role for 2 enzymes and heart muscle contraction, histone acetyltransferases (HATs) and histone deacetylases (HDACs). Being in its early stages, it is none the less exciting in that it could provide new treatments…
As a possible treatment for such conditions as congestive heart failure, this technique could present an alternative to current therapies that counteract heart muscle weakness by boosting cellular calcium content, Shroff said. The heightened calcium improves muscle contraction but also results in more energy consumption in hearts that often are …read more

Stroke is one of the most feared diseases among the elderly. It often strikes without warning and the symptoms are vague and hard to determine. If treatment (tPA) isn’t administered within three hours after a stroke occurs, the patient is at greater risk of severe disability or death.
In a new study, researchers at Harvard University found that the enzyme matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) may help remodel brain tissue seven to 14 days after a stroke. This is an important finding because current treatment views the MMP-9 enzyme as a hazard, but new therapy may need to harness the …read more