Narrow Results

This study introduced a novel auxiliary method for heart failure (HF) diagnosis using the phase space complexity features of ballistocardiogram (BCG) signals collected from piezoelectric sensors. Such a method can potentially monitor high-risk patients out of the clinic. Experimental measurements were collected from 46 patients with HF and 24 healthy subjects. The signals were divided into 1014 nonoverlapping segments (HF: 684 segments, Healthy: 330 segments). First, a digital signal processing framework was established to extract phase space complexity features of BCG with ensemble empirical mode decomposition. Applying a targeted selection strategy, we then identified three key intrinsic mode function (IMF) bands (IMF4–IMF6) for subsequent analysis. Different IMF combinations of features were evaluated using the K-Nearest Neighbors (KNN), Support Vector Machine (SVM), Random Forest (RF), and eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGB) approaches. Through 10-fold cross-validation, the proposed method exhibited 94.98%, 93.80%, 94.76%, and 94.86% accuracies for the KNN, SVM, RF, and XGB classifiers, respectively. The best performance was achieved by combining IMF4–IMF6 features with the KNN classifier. The proposed BCG signal processing framework is lucrative for diagnosing HF in a home setting.

Berberine is the basic chemical component of a Chinese herb, Coptis chinensis Franch (coptis), considered to be useful in treating some diseases of the cardiovascular system, such as hypertension and chronic heart failure (CHF). In this study, we investigate the inhibitory effect of berberine on experimental cardiac hypertrophy, which is regarded as a risk factor of CHF and other heart diseases. Forty-two male SD rats were divided into four groups: age-matched control, aortic banding model, berberine-treated group and captopril-treated group. Cardiac hypertrophy was induced by suprarenal abdominal aorta constriction (banding). The drugs were orally administered for 8 weeks starting from 4 weeks after surgery at dosage of berberine 10 mg/kg and captopril 50 mg/kg. Blood pressure (BP) was measured four times during the period of the experiment, and hemodynamic parameters, cardiac index, cell size of left ventricular myocardium and total protein of left ventricular tissue were detected 8 weeks after treatment with drugs. The data from the present study showed that: (1) The BP of the aorta banded rats was increased compared with those of the normal (p < 0.001) and the age-matched control rats (p < 0.001), and berberine showed no significant effect on it. (2) After 8 weeks of treatment with berberine, the elevated left ventricular end diastolic pressure (LVEDP) was slightly decreased compared with the aortic banded rats. Meanwhile, the maximum rates of contraction and relaxation (±dp/dt_max) was increased (p < 0.05) and the time to reach the point of maximum rate from beginning of contraction (t-dp/dt) was shortened (p < 0.01), indicating that the functions of heart, both contraction and relaxation, were improved. (3) Cardiac growth was inhibited by treatment with berberine. Both whole heart and left ventricular weight were notably decreased compared with the banded rats (p < 0.05 and p < 0.01). (4) The cell size of left ventricular myocardium was significantly reduced (p < 0.001) and the total protein of left ventricular tissue was slightly down-regulated by treatment with berberine. These data suggest that berberine can improve abnormal cardiac function and can prevent the development of left ventricular hypertrophy induced by pressure overload. This indicates that it may have therapeutic potential in the treatment of CHF.

Phytochemical flavonoids have been proven to be effective in treating various disorders, including cardiovascular diseases. Acacetin is a natural flavone with diverse pharmacological effects, uniquely including atrial-selective anti-atrial fibrillation (AF) via the inhibition of the atrial specific potassium channel currents $I_{\mathrm{\text{Kur}}}$ (ultra-rapidly delayed rectifier potassium current), $I_{\mathrm{\text{KACh}}}$ (acetylcholine-activated potassium current), $I_{\mathrm{\text{sKCa}}}$ (calcium-activated small conductance potassium current), and $I_{\mathrm{\text{to}}}$ (transient outward potassium current). $I_{\mathrm{\text{to}}}$ inhibition by acacetin, notably, suppresses experimental J-wave syndromes. In addition, acacetin provides extensive cardiovascular protection against ischemia/reperfusion injury, cardiomyopathies/heart failure, autoimmune myocarditis, pulmonary artery hypertension, vascular remodeling, and atherosclerosis by restoring the downregulated intracellular signaling pathway of Sirt1/AMPK/PGC-1α followed by increasing Nrf2/HO-1/SOD thereby inhibiting oxidation, inflammation, and apoptosis. This review provides an integrated insight into the capabilities of acacetin as a drug candidate for treating cardiovascular diseases, especially atrial fibrillation and cardiomyopathies/heart failure.

We exclusively analyze the onset and condition of formation of modulated waves in a diffusive FitzHugh–Nagumo model for myocardial cell excitations. The cells are connected through gap junction coupling. An additive magnetic flux variable is used to describe the effect of electromagnetic induction, while electromagnetic radiation is imposed on the magnetic flux variable as a periodic forcing. We used the discrete multiple scale expansion and obtained, from the model equations, a single differential-difference amplitude nonlinear equation. We performed the linear stability analysis of this equation and found that instability features are importantly influenced by the induced electromagnetic gain. We present the unstable and stable regions of modulational instability (MI). The resulting analytic predictions are confirmed by numerical experiments of the generic equations. The results reveal that due to MI, an initial steady state that consisted of a plane wave with low amplitude evolves into a modulated localized wave patterns, soliton-like in shape, with features of synchronization. Furthermore, the formation of periodic pulse train with breathing motion presents a disappearing pattern in the presence of electromagnetic radiation. This could provide guidance and better understanding of sudden heart failure exposed to heavily electromagnetic radiation.

Healthcare is indeed an inevitable part of life for everyone. In recent days, most of the deaths have been happening because of noncommunicable diseases. Despite the significant advancements in medical diagnosis, cardiovascular diseases are still the most prominent cause of mortality worldwide. With recent innovations in Machine Learning (ML) and Deep Learning (DL) techniques, there has been an enormous surge in the clinical field, especially in cardiology. Several ML and DL algorithms are useful for predicting cardiovascular diseases. The predictive capability of these algorithms is promising for various cardiovascular diseases like coronary artery disease, arrhythmia, heart failure, and others. We also review the lung interactions during heart disease. After the study of various ML and DL models with different datasets, the performance of the various strategies is analyzed. In this study, we focused on the analysis of various ML and DL algorithms to diagnose cardiovascular disease. In this paper, we also presented a detailed analysis of heart failure detection and various risk factors. This paper may be helpful to researchers in studying various algorithms and finding an optimal algorithm for their dataset.

In this study, a lumped parameter model which includes systemic circulation, cerebral blood vessels, systemic arteriolar resistance control, heart rate control, cerebral autoregulation mechanisms and cerebral CO₂ reactivity was developed to simulate healthy and heart failure conditions. In the healthy cardiovascular system model, the results were obtained with all control mechanisms connected to the model. Whilst heart failure cases were simulated, all control mechanisms were removed from the model. Then, cerebral autoregulation and cerebral CO₂ reactivity mechanisms were connected to the model. Lastly, systemic arteriolar resistance and heart rate control mechanisms were connected to the model. Also, Monte Carlo Analysis was performed to determine the range of parameters controlled for simulations of healthy and heart failure conditions. The results showed that blood flow rate in cerebral circulation can be simulated more accurately by modeling interaction among autoregulatory mechanisms rather than studying separately.

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Australian Bionic Eye about to Begin Human Trials.

Discovery of Upregulated Enzyme in Damaged Brain Tissue.

Cataract Gene Uncovered by Chinese Scientists.

Study Shows HK 1997 Flu Originates from Single Mutation.

Ten Percent Japanese have Gene Mutation Tied to Abnormal Clotting.

Correlation between Electromagnetism and Leukemia.

Womb Nutrition Critical to Later Health.

Study Shows Asthma is Needlessly Tolerated.

New Treatment for Heart Failure.

Taiwan’s New Rice Strain Holds Promise.

Parental Habits Affects Children’s Weight.

Biota Discovers New Potent Antivirals.

Celladon Partners with V-Kardia on Development of Percutaneous Delivery of Gene Therapy for Heart Failure.

Regenera Closes Multimillion Dollar Drug Deal.

Napo Pharma Collaborates with AsiaPharm.

Matrix Buys Over Belgian Company Docpharma.

Ranbaxy Buys Portfolio from Spain's EFARMES.

Japan's MediBIC and ReaMetrix India Team up.

Medical & Biological Labs and DNAVEC Establish Joint Venture Company in China.

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InfleXion Corp Develops Diagnostic Kits.

GNI and Shanghai Genomics Merge.

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Schering AG Sets Up Asia-Pacific Headquarters in Singapore.

Three Global Companies Invest US$112 Million to Form Joint Venture: Interpharma, Quintiles and Temasek Holdings

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Frequent Monitoring of Atrial Fibrillation Patients and Anticoagulants.

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TauRx enters collaborative R&D agreement with Bayer Schering Pharma.

Major New Asean Health and Well-Being Study.

EUROPE – Avastin + Metformin = Drastic reduction in skin cancer.

EUROPE – Skin barrier puzzle solved.

EUROPE – Ageing population could boost economy.

EUROPE – Social amoeba replace animals in Bipolar Disorder research.

JAPAN – Rogue DNA plays key role in heart failure.

JAPAN – New photonics technology to spot and help cure diseases earlier.

JAPAN – Researchers at University of Bonn convert skin and umbilical cord cells directly into nerve cells.

SINGAPORE – IBN's 'Fish and Chips' may help accelerate drug discovery.

USA – Non-cancerous brain tumors linked to frequent dental X-rays.

USA – New cellular mechanism against viral infections uncovered.

USA – Study shows unified process of evolution in bacteria and sexual eukaryotes.

USA – Sugar production switch in liver may offer target for new diabetes therapies.

USA – Dengue changes gene activity, function of mosquito salivary glands.

USA – ORNL, Yale take steps toward fast, low-cost DNA sequencing device.

USA – Normal tissue cells have "personal space" issues.

USA – Scientists discover key enzymes that uncross chromosomes.

USA – New Brain-Machine Interface Moves Paralyzed Hand.

USA – Researchers Find Evidence of Banned Antibiotics in Poultry Products.

AUSTRALIA – Origins of plague: Scientists reveal the cause of one of the most devastating pandemics in human history.

AUSTRALIA – Admedus releases interim phase I results for Herpes study.

CAMBODIA – Study tags cause of malaria drug resistance in Cambodia.

JAPAN – Discovery of mechanism by which sex hormone regulates aggressive behavior.

SINGAPORE – Singapore's first influenza vaccines demonstrates favorable immunogenicity and tolerability in clinical testing.

SINGAPORE – Scientists from Genome Institute of Singapore and Stanford University show RNA architecture expanding understanding of human genetics.

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SINGAPORE – Researchers make new discovery of protein as a promising target for treatment of anaplastic thyroid carcinoma.

AFRICA – African project aims to stop rats in their tracks.

AFRICA – African monsoon project to benefit crops and healthcare.

CANADA – Cancer researchers discover pre-leukemic stem cell at root of AML relapse.

EUROPE – Understanding heart failure at the cellular level.

INDIA – Africa and India cultivate agricultural research ties.

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Unraveling Heart Failure: Looking at an Asian Phenotype.

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National Heart Research Institute Singapore and Thermo Fisher Scientific team up to further enhance stem cell research techniques.

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WomenHeart launches first campaign to improve quality of life and reduce hospitalizations for women living with heart failure.

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CardioKinetix completes enrollment in Chinese trial of first-of-its-kind parachute device for treatment of heart failure.

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UNITED STATES – Probing the Mystery of How Cancer Cells Die.

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ASIA – Singapore scientists make major breakthrough to treat fibrotic diseases that cause organ impairment and failure.

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AMERICAS – Rockefeller University biologist Michael W. Young honored with Nobel Prize for pioneering studies on circadian rhythm.

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