Tag: Heart Disease

Scientists have successfully used heart muscle cells created from induced pluripotent stem cells to counter the deleterious effects of heart attack in non-human primates. Reprogrammed cells for heart regeneration Yamanaka Factors - Opportunities for RejuvenationDrs. Takahashi and Yamanaka showed that they could use Oct4, Sox2, Klf4, and c-Myc (OSKM) to reprogram cells back to pluripotent, embryonic...

A recent Molecular Metabolism paper dives into the differences between intermittent and chronic rapamycin treatment and its differential impact on male and female mice [1]. The dark side of rapamycin Rapamycin doesn’t need much introduction in the lifespan extension community. This mTOR inhibitor has been shown multiple times to extend lifespan in animal studies. Because...

A new publication in iScience has described a novel way in which heart tissue can be encouraged to accept a gene therapy by using ultrasound to create cavitation bubbles. A little-known target and a new delivery vector This paper begins with a discussion of S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH), a compound that, in excess, is associated with an...

A new study suggests that the flavonoid epicatechin, found in chocolate, tea, and berries, provides robust protection against reperfusion injury in myocardial infarction [1]. Reperfusion injury: friendly fire Myocardial infarction (heart attack) is the injury caused by complete or partial cessation of blood flow to a portion of the myocardium, the heart’s muscle tissue. This,...

Researchers publishing in Aging have pinpointed a protein that increases after exercise and is associated with a reduced risk of coronary artery disease. The deadliest disease has inflammatory roots Coronary artery disease directly kills more people than anything else in the world [1]. Its causes stem from atherosclerosis, the buildup of arterial plaque. Among its...

Working with non-human primates, scientists have discovered that the protein SIRT2, a member of the sirtuin family, might play an important role in slowing cardiac aging [1]. The heart of the matter The heart is arguably the hardest worker among the organs, constantly pumping enormous amounts of blood without ever skipping a beat (well, almost)....