Microneedle patches provide an alternative to conventional needle-and-syringe immunisation, and potentially offer improved immunogenicity, simplicity, cost-effectiveness, acceptability, and safety. In a recent Phase I trial, safety, immunogenicity, and acceptability of the first-in-man study on single, dissolvable microneedle patch vaccination against influenza was evaluated. The influenza vaccine can offer the best available protection against the flu […]

Novartis Phase III study shows ACZ885 (canakinumab) reduces cardiovascular risk in people who survived a heart attack Phase III CANTOS study met the primary endpoint, a composite of heart attack, stroke and cardiovascular death, showing that ACZ885 (canakinumab) in combination with standard of care therapy reduces cardiovascular risk in people with a prior heart attack […]

Nitrate supplementation [Beetroot Juice] decreases sympathetic nerve responses that contribute to heart disease risk Bethesda, Md. (May 10, 2017)—A new study finds that dietary nitrate—a compound that dilates blood vessels to decrease blood pressure—may reduce overstimulation of the sympathetic nervous system that occurs with heart disease. The research team looked specifically at beetroot juice, a […]

Favourable effects of vitamin D on cardiac function in patients with chronic heart failure secondary to left ventricular systolic dysfunction – the results of the MRC-funded VINDICATE Study A daily dose of vitamin D3 improves heart function in people with chronic heart failure, a five-year University of Leeds research project has found. Dr Klaus Witte, […]

Clinical use of antibacterial envelope mesh cuts infection rate for ICD/CRT implants The TYRX™ Absorbable Antibacterial Envelope and the TYRX™Neuro Absorbable Antibacterial Envelope are the first commercially available implantable medical devices designed to stabilize Cardiac Implantable Devices  [CRTs and ICDs] and Implantable Neurostimulators [INSs] and to help reduce their infection. Medtronic PLC has signed up […]

Patients admitted with acute heart failure who exhibit iron deficiency (ID) tend to have a longer and more expensive hospital stay and a greater likelihood of readmission, according to analysis of Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) in England presented at the British Cardiovascular Society (BCS) conference in Manchester. The research, which looked at data over three […]