Cardiovascular / Cardiology News

1. Tiny cell “antennas” may help explain why some babies are born with heart defects

   A newly discovered communication system in the microscopic “antennae” of cells may help explain how some congenital heart defects develop. When genetic mutations disrupt this system, the effects may extend beyond the heart to organs including the brain, kidneys, and skeleton.

2. Who really needs a heart calcium scan?

   A 10-year study of more than 6,000 adults found that popular coronary calcium scans may add little to standard heart disease risk estimates for many people. But for patients with borderline or intermediate risk, the scans could make a meaningful difference by revealing who is actually more likely to develop heart disease.

3. Too much light at night may quietly reshape your heart

   Nighttime light exposure was linked to thicker, stiffer heart chambers and early signs of reduced heart function in a study of more than 11,000 people. The findings suggest that keeping bedrooms darker could be an overlooked strategy for protecting the heart.

4. Scientists discover the human heart can regrow muscle after a heart attack

   Researchers have shown for the first time that human heart muscle cells can regrow after a heart attack. The finding overturns the idea that damaged areas of the heart are completely incapable of regeneration. Scientists now hope to identify ways to dramatically boost this natural repair process, potentially opening a new path toward treatments for heart failure.

5. DNA treatment cuts bad cholesterol by nearly 50% without statins

   Researchers have designed a new DNA-based treatment that targets PCSK9, a protein closely tied to high LDL cholesterol and atherosclerosis. Their most effective molecule reduced PCSK9 protein by 87% in human liver cells and lowered cholesterol by 47% in genetically modified mice after a single injection.

6. Ozempic and Wegovy linked to nearly 40% fewer asthma attacks

   Semaglutide, the drug found in Ozempic and Wegovy, was linked to nearly 40% fewer asthma attacks in a large real-world study. It was also associated with about 20% fewer COPD flare-ups. Researchers say GLP-1 drugs may offer respiratory benefits in addition to their effects on diabetes and obesity, but clinical trials are needed to confirm the findings.

7. Cialis linked to higher glaucoma risk in large study

   A large study of nearly 74,000 men suggests that long-term use of tadalafil, best known as Cialis, may be linked to a higher risk of glaucoma and other eye pressure problems. Men prescribed the drug for urinary symptoms caused by an enlarged prostate were 22% more likely to develop glaucoma, 32% more likely to develop ocular hypertension, and 33% more likely to be diagnosed with primary open-angle glaucoma or start glaucoma treatment over five years.

8. New injectable treatment helps the brain rebuild after stroke

   Duke researchers developed an injectable scaffold that helped stroke-damaged brains grow new blood vessels, support nerve regrowth, and recover movement in mice. The treatment appears to work partly by recruiting the body’s own immune cells, including neutrophils that may switch from damaging to helpful under the right conditions.