News

Treating heart disease with bone marrow cells

- An injection into the heart muscle with cells from the bone marrow can treat heart disease.  This is according to a recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

· Investigators report on a study to treat patients with chronic heart disease.  In this study, investigators used cells from the patient’s bone marrow and injected them directly into the wall of the heart.  Study authors report this technique improved heart function by three months after the procedure.

· This was a placebo controlled, double-blinded prospective study of 50 patients and took place over a three months period.

· Patients who received an injection with their bone marrow cells had a statistically significant improvement in their heart function when assessed at 3 months.

· This is an interesting and novel treatment for refractory heart disease.  The study authors do not discuss the a mechanism to explain why patient would benefit from the bone marrow injection in to their heart.
The cells of the heart do not divide and heart cells that have died do not regenerate or get replaced by new cells.  It is likely that their bone marrow contained “stem cells” which can induce the formation of a new heart cell.

· Heart disease is a common disease in the United States and current treatment for refractory chronic heart disease in unsatisfactory.  Current treatment is limited to medications and in severe cases, cardiac bypass grafting surgery.  This technique would be a big advancement in the treatment of heart disease and is a significantly easier option to traditional heart surgery.
More studies are needed to confirm these results and to determine the long term benefit of bone marrow injections.

Cristopher Geiler, MD
May 22nd, 2009

Reference
JAMA. 2009;301(19):1997-2004

Read more – May 23, 2009

Adriamycin

· Trade Name
ADRIAMYCIN

· Generic Name
Doxorubicin

· Drug Class
Cancer medication

· How It Works
Medication binds to DNA

· Serious Side Effects
allergic reactions
anemia
bone marrow toxicity
bleeding
heart toxicity
heart muscle damage
heart failure
heart arrhythmia
infection
inflammation of the heart lining
inflammation of the heart muscle

· Common Side Effects
bone marrow toxicity
change in color of nails
change in color of the urine
diarrhea
hair loss
heart failure
inflammation of the esophagus
inflammation of the mouth
loss of appetite
nausea
redness of the face
stomachache
vomiting

Read more – April 2, 2009

Doxorubicin

· Trade Name
Adria

· Generic Name
DOXORUBICIN

· Drug Class
Cancer medication

· How It Works
Medication binds to DNA

· Serious Side Effects
allergic reactions
anemia
bone marrow toxicity
bleeding
heart toxicity
heart muscle damage
heart failure
heart arrhythmia
infection
inflammation of the heart lining
inflammation of the heart muscle

· Common Side Effects
bone marrow toxicity
change in color of nails
change in color of the urine
diarrhea
hair loss
heart failure
inflammation of the esophagus
inflammation of the mouth
loss of appetite
nausea
redness of the face
stomachache
vomiting

Read more

Adria

· Trade Name
ADRIA

· Generic Name
Doxorubicin

· Drug Class
Cancer medication

· How It Works
Medication binds to DNA

· Serious Side Effects
allergic reactions
anemia
bone marrow toxicity
bleeding
heart toxicity
heart muscle damage
heart failure
heart arrhythmia
infection
inflammation of the heart lining
inflammation of the heart muscle

· Common Side Effects
bone marrow toxicity
change in color of nails
change in color of the urine
diarrhea
hair loss
heart failure
inflammation of the esophagus
inflammation of the mouth
loss of appetite
nausea
redness of the face
stomachache
vomiting

Read more

Actoplus MET

· Trade Name
ACTOPLUS MET

· Generic Name
Pioglitazone Metformin

· Drug Class
Diabetes Mellitus medication

· How It Works
Medication increases insulin sensitivity
Medication decreases liver glucose production and decreases intestinal glucose absorption

· Serious Side Effects
heart failure
liver toxicity
bladder cancer
fractures
diabetic macular edema

· Common Side Effects
low blood glucose
edema
fluid retention
weight gain
headache
sinusitis
muscle pain
sore throat
shortness of breath
anemia

Read more – March 29, 2009

Pioglitazone

· Trade Name
Actos

· Generic Name
PIOGLITAZONE

· Drug Class
Diabetes Mellitus medication

· How It Works
Medication increases insulin sensitivity

· Serious Side Effects
heart failure
liver toxicity
bladder cancer
fractures
diabetic macular edema

· Common Side Effects
low blood glucose
edema
fluid retention
weight gain
headache
sinusitis
muscle pain
sore throat
shortness of breath
anemia

Read more

Actos

· Trade Name
ACTOS

· Generic Name
Pioglitazone

· Drug Class
Diabetes Mellitus medication

· How It Works
Medication increases insulin sensitivity

· Serious Side Effects
heart failure
liver toxicity
bladder cancer
fractures
diabetic macular edema

· Common Side Effects
low blood glucose
edema
fluid retention
weight gain
headache
sinusitis
muscle pain
sore throat
shortness of breath
anemia

Read more

Obesity And Heart Failure: An evolving relationship…

· Heart failure may develop from obesity, according to a study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology March 2009.
· Investigators analyzed data from the Framingham Offspring Study and found that a certain protein released from fat cells called RESISTIN was elevated in people who went on to develop heart failure.

· Investigators state that the relationship between RESISTIN and heart failure is not completely clear.  RESISTIN appears to be a new and independent risk factor for the development of heart failure.

· RESISTIN may be part of a more complex relationship between obesity and heart function.  Obesity is associated with the development of insulin resistance, diabetes and hypertension.  Even accounting for this relationship, RESISTIN increased heart failure incidence and likely represents additional harm to heart function.

· Researches comment that it is too early to consider anti-RESISTIN medication in combating heart failure.

· Until this relationship is worked out, the best advice at this time is dieting and exercise.

Reference
Frankel DS, Vasan RS, D’Agostino RB, et al. Resistin, adiponectin, and risk of heart failure. The Framingham Offspring Study. J Am Coll Cardiol 2009; 53:754-762.

February 5, 2009

Read more – February 5, 2009

Facial swelling

• Facial swelling is the symptom of edema or fluid in the tissues around the face.

• Facial swelling can be a sign of an infection of the face and would typically be warm and tender to touch and reddish in color.

• Facial swelling can also be a sign of low blood protein levels, kidney failure, liver failure or heart failure and should be evaluated by your doctor.

Read more – January 4, 2009

Coughing blood

• Coughing blood (hemoptysis) is the symptom of blood tinged phlegm to obvious frank blood with coughing.

• Coughing blood can be due to:
· bronchitis (an infection of the bronchioles in the lungs)
· bronchiectasis (scaring of the lungs)
· pneumonia (infection of the lower airways- alveoli)
· autoimmune disorders (diseases in which the immune system inappropriately attacks the lung tissue).
· crack cocaine use
· pulmonary embolism
· severe heart failure
· lung cancer

• Coughing blood should always be evaluated by your doctor

Read more – December 12, 2008

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