Recent months have brought striking new advances in the fight against heart disease. The Experimental Biology 2017 meeting (EB 2017) will showcase groundbreaking cardiovascular research in basic biology, engineering and patient therapeutics.
Use of "Neuroprosthetics" to Restore Heart Function in Patients with Spinal Cord Injury
Dysfunctions in basic, non-consciously controlled bodily processes such as blood vessel and heart function are the most common cause of death after a spinal cord injury. In a new study, researchers from the University of British Columbia and University of Louisville were able control the cardiovascular system in three people with spinal cord injuries by electrically stimulating the spinal cord using an implanted "neuroprosthetic" device. These spinal cord injured individuals showed significant improvements in blood vessel and heart function, cognitive function, blood pressure and flow of blood to the brain. The achievement raises hopes that neuroprosthetic implants for stimulating the spinal cord can improve patients' prospects after spinal cord injury.
Aaron Phillips will present this research at the American Physiological Society's annual meeting at 12:30-2:15 p.m. Wednesday, April 26, in Skyline Ballroom (poster W193 1077.1) (abstract).
Image available.
Heart Valves Created Using 3-D Printing Help Surgeons Practice and Plan Before the Real Deal
Mitral valve regurgitation, in which blood leaks the wrong way through the mitral valve, is the most common type of heart valve disorder. Surgeons can repair the mitral valve to ensure it closes properly during each heartbeat. Surgeons prefer to repair rather than replace the valve, but repairs have a high learning curve due to the mitral valve's complex anatomy. To increase repair success rates, a team at Western University in London, Ontario, have created patient-specific mitral valve models using 3-D printing, which can be placed in a beating heart simulator. Using the realistic models to plan and practice could help surgeons personalize their surgical approach and improve patient outcomes.
Olivia Ginty will present this research at the American Association of Anatomists annual meeting at 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m. Tuesday, April 25, in Room 176AB (abstract).
Images and videos available.
A New Way to Attack Artery-Clogging Plaque
Plaque buildup in the heart's arteries is the most common form of heart disease and the leading cause of death in the U.S. Researchers at the University of Ottawa have discovered a way to inhibit key enzymes behind plaque accumulation, inflammation and rupture--the processes that lead to heart attacks, strokes and other cardiovascular problems. Suppressing these enzymes in mouse models markedly reduced plaque formation, inflammation and instability, suggesting a promising new way to slow plaque buildup and prevent dangerous ruptures.
