ScienceDaily: Latest Science News: Disrupted heartbeat restored with regenerative intervention

ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

Breaking science news and articles on global warming, extrasolar planets, stem cells, bird flu, autism, nanotechnology, dinosaurs, evolution -- the latest discoveries in astronomy, anthropology, biology, chemistry, climate and environment, computers, engineering, health and medicine, math, physics, psychology, technology, and more -- from the world's leading universities and research organizations.

Disrupted heartbeat restored with regenerative intervention
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/gDpNrS6PJ3c/130903151851.htm
Sep 3rd 2013, 19:18

Sep. 3, 2013 — Mayo Clinic researchers have found a way to resynchronize cardiac motion following a heart attack using stem cells. Scientists implanted engineered stem cells, also known as induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells, into damaged regions of mouse hearts following a heart attack. This regenerative approach successfully targeted the origin of abnormal cardiac motion, preventing heart failure.
The findings appear in the September issue of the Journal of Physiology.
"The discovery introduces -- for the first time -- stem cell-based 'biological resynchronization' as a novel means to treat cardiac dyssynchrony," says Andre Terzic, M.D., Ph.D., senior author of the study. Dr. Terzic is the Michael S. and Mary Sue Shannon Family Director, Center for Regenerative Medicine, and the Marriott Family Professor of Cardiovascular Diseases Research.
Muscle damage following a heart attack may disrupt normal heart conduction, resulting in a condition known as cardiac dyssynchrony. Current therapy uses pacing devices such as pacemakers; however, many patients with advanced heart failure do not respond favorably to these devices because heart tissue must be healthy for optimal outcome. Stem cell-based repair would offer a new solution to patients who would otherwise be resistant to device-based resynchronization.
"A high-resolution ultrasound revealed harmonized pumping where iPS cells were introduced to the previously damaged heart tissue," says Satsuki Yamada, M.D., Ph.D., first author of the study.
The study provides evidence that a stem cell-based intervention may be effective in synchronizing failing hearts. Additional studies will follow to validate the value of stem cell-based regenerative solutions in addressing abnormal cardiac motion in heart failure, ultimately leading to improved patient care.
"By harnessing the potential of regenerative medicine -- repairing the injured heart, in this case -- we will be increasingly able to provide more definitive solutions to our patients," adds Dr. Terzic.
Other members of the Mayo Clinic research team include Timothy Nelson, M.D., Ph.D.; Garvan Kane, M.D., Ph.D.; Almudena Martinez Fernandez, Ph.D.; Ruben Crespo-Diaz, Ph.D.; Yasuhiro Ikeda, D.V.M., Ph.D.; Carmen Perez-Terzic, M.D., Ph.D.; along with Jonathan Nesbitt; Lois Rowe; Diane Jech; and Courtney Rustad. The research was supported by the National Institutes of Health, American Heart Association, Marriott Heart Disease Research Program and the Mayo Clinic Center for Regenerative Medicine.
This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service — if this is your content and you're reading it on someone else's site, please read the FAQ at fivefilters.org/content-only/faq.php#publishers. Five Filters recommends: Massacres That Matter - Part 1 - 'Responsibility To Protect' In Egypt, Libya And SyriaMassacres That Matter - Part 2 - The Media Response On Egypt, Libya And SyriaNational demonstration: No attack on Syria - Saturday 31 August, 12 noon, Temple Place, London, UK



You are receiving this email because you subscribed to this feed at http://blogtrottr.com

If you no longer wish to receive these emails, you can unsubscribe here:
http://blogtrottr.com/unsubscribe/cz0/tSbHWJ