Posted on 02/25/2013 9:31:30 PM PST by neverdem
People who suffer heart attacks are at increased risk of having a second and potentially fatal occurrence because of the damage the heart attack does to cardiac muscle tissue. Now scientists at the University of California San Diego have developed a new biomaterial - an injectable hydrogel - that can repair the damage from heart attacks, and help promote the growth of new heart tissue.
Millions of people around the world suffer heart attacks every year and survive. These traumatic events occur when blood supply to the heart muscles is somehow blocked, robbing them of oxygen and causing them to die. They raise the possibility of subsequent heart attacks, as well as heart failure, and a higher likelihood of death within five years.
The problem, say experts, is the development of scar tissue in the damaged cardiac muscle. Initially helpful in healing the heart, the tough scar tissue actually weakens the supportive protein scaffold, or matrix, that normally exists in the space between heart muscle cells. This scaffold can support and promote the growth of new cells -- except when it's destroyed by post-heart attack scar tissue.
“So we thought the best thing to deliver to the heart would be what was initially there in the first place," said Karen Christman, who is a biomedical engineer interested in tissue regeneration. "And so we developed this liquid form of this cardiac extracellular matrix that once it goes into the tissue can reassemble into that natural scaffold.”
If this works, imagine the lives it will save or extend. Yet, 7 minutes after posting no other responses? Sure, it’s not important like the Oscars, but still .....
At twelve thirty (EST), I’m not surprised.
I caught the abstract already. So I searched Extracellular Matrix Hydrogel in Google News. There were only 6 stories!
Bump
This isn’t at peak hours though, so it’ll probably need a bump early in the morning. If I can remember I’ll be happy to do it as this type of stuff interests me.
This will kill a good section of the implantable CRT-D market (the market relies on studies that show the likelihood of recurrence after an initial MI and the necessity of an implantable re-sync device as a life-saving mitigation tool). Hell, we use the studies to garner reimbursement from medicare and medicaid.
Unfortunately I am strapped to this market for my livelihood right now. The hits just keep on coming...
If this is successful it will be a giant step forward in cardiac rehabilitation. My nephew is a biomedical engineer and I understand little about the science. Thankfully there are many very intelligent young people.
I’m also going to BTTT for tomorrow morning.
(you should see me get on my soapbox about the disparity of coverage at the deaths of Michael Jackson v Michael DeBakey)
It will be interesting to see if a repair is effective when administered years after a MI incident.
Or Princess Di and Mother Teresa.
So much for a break through that older people who suffer the most heart attacks will not be able to use. Thanks to ObamaCare.
IMHO, that's way too late. That fibrotic scar tissue will have formed by then.
Looking forward to seeing the data collected from human trials and especially, the results from long term studies. This treatment sounds very promising.
Two things:
1. That the body can even use this is amazing and just shows you how dynamically formed we are.
2. Given this story and the real miracle that American medicine is why do we have Obamacare?
Have you listened to this or read the transcript?:
http://www.econtalk.org/archives/2012/07/scott_atlas_on.html
We’ve been tricked by the Left again. My rule is go to the original source whenever available. The Left will lie about anything to get its way and they did it on health care.
I wonder how this would work if it was combined with bone marrow stem cells mentioned in the article the other day.
That link and all of the links therein should be required reading/listening for everyone. Thanks for sharing it!
BTTTFLR
That entire Econtalk site is a goldmine. I’m thinking of putting together a ping list. Are you interested?
That entire Econtalk site is a goldmine. I’m thinking of putting together a ping list. Are you interested?
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