Archive for February, 2009
Alberta Health Services, Cardiac Sciences, Jonathan Howlett, Libin Cardiovascular Institute, Vascular Grand Rounds
In Learning, Researchers on February 25, 2009 at 4:25 pm
Grand Rounds on the Internet
The first of the Libin Cardiovascular Institute of Alberta’s on-line and interactive Vascular Grand Rounds was held the evening of February 24th 2009. The benefits of leveraging the Internet for such rounds is that we are able to engage in an interactive way, individuals who are geographically dispersed throughout our service area and beyond.
Dr. Jonathan Howlett
Is there really a heart failure epidemic? Why heart failure may become a young person’s problem
Replay Available! Click Here
Prior LCIA sponsored session on Obesity Click Here
Alberta Health Services, CMAJ, Dean Travoulsi, Eldon Smith, Libin Cardiovascular Institute, Medicine, Mouheiddin Traboulsi, STEMI
In Healthcare on February 24, 2009 at 9:45 pm
From the report “Building a Healthy Canada” as delivered to the Government of Canada by the Canadian Heart Health Strategy and Action Plan Steering Committee:
All parts of the network work together to ensure that people are assessed, referred and transported quickly to the best site for their care. They develop processes and procedures that ensure timely care.
For example, the Libin Cardiovascular Institute and the Calgary Health Region have a program to ensure rapid access to re-perfusion therapy for patients suffering a heart attack. Emergency service providers record an electrocardiogram on all patients with acute chest pain that is suspected to be heart-related and transmit it electronically to the on-call interventional cardiologist. Patients with an acutely blocked artery are then directed to the appropriate hospital, where they bypass admitting and emergency and go directly to the catheterization laboratory for immediate angioplasty and stenting as needed. According to data from the Canadian Institute for Health Information, for the past four years Calgary has had the lowest mortality rate for heart attack victims in Canada.
Read related archive article about Dr. Mouheiddin Traboulsi and the inception of the STEMI program highlighted in the national strategy paper – Click Here
Read the CMAJ study reporting results of Calgary’s STEMI implementation - Click Here
Alberta Health Services, Arya Sharma, Canadian Obesity Network, Obesity, UAlberta
In Healthcare, Learning on February 24, 2009 at 6:06 pm
The Libin Cardiovascular Institute of Alberta is experimenting with on-line public sessions on a variety on topics related to cardiovascular health. On February 23rd 2009, the Institute was a co-sponsor of an on-line session on obesity delivered by Dr. Arya Sharma, Scientific Director of the Canadian Obesity Network. The session was attended by participants from throughout North America!
A recording of the session is available – Click Here
Related educational resources can be found at:
Blood Pressure, Cardiac Sciences, Hypertension, Libin Cardiovascular Institute, Medicine, Norm Campbell
In Researchers on February 19, 2009 at 7:01 pm
The Libin Cardiovascular Institute of Alberta’s Dr. Norm Campbell wrote an editorial for the February 9th 2009 edition of Hypertension. Have a read:
Hypertension Management
Time to Shift Gears and Scale Up National Efforts
Elevated blood pressure is a major modifiable risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and the leading cause of preventable death worldwide. Current estimates indicate that 
7.6 million premature deaths and 92 million disability-adjusted life years are attributable to suboptimal blood pressure. Most of the lifestyle causes of hypertension are well known, and clinical trials provide clear evidence that reducing blood pressure with antihypertensive drugs significantly decreases CVD morbidity and mortality. Despite this, the World Health Organization is predicting an epidemic of hypertension and, in clinical practice, most patients with hypertension are undiagnosed, untreated, or suboptimally treated. Against the backdrop of increasing CVD burden worldwide, the gap between what we know and do in hypertension prevention and management is a major cause for concern.
Achieving optimum hypertension control to prevent hypertension-associated CVD has been a substantial challenge. There are multiple reasons for lack of blood pressure control, including …
Hypertension. 2009;53:450-451
Read the rest on the Hypertension web-site.
Alberta Health Services, Bob Ford, Cardiac Sciences, Jonathan Howlett, Libin Cardiovascular Institute, Nick Campbell, Tanis Lane
In Healthcare on February 18, 2009 at 8:12 pm
by Michelle Biegler
February is “Heart Month”. This year, February 8-14, 2009, was dedicated to Heart Failure Awareness Week. During this time, our heart failure staff decided to celebrate by holding an evening event for people diagnosed with heart failure, friends, families and any others interested. The event was titled, “Living Heart Healthy: A guide to living well with Heart Failure” and was held on February 10, 2009.
The evening agenda included 4 speakers, all presenting on different areas of heart failure. First off was Dr. Jonathan Howlett, Cardiologist, discussing, “Living Well to prevent heart failure” He offered insight on heart failure, obesity, diabetes and hypertension and shared suggestions as to what you can do today to improve your condition.
Next was Tanis Lane, Nurse Clinician at the Foothills Medical Centre Cardiac Function Clinic, who spoke about “The patient’s role in the management of heart failure”. Her presentation focused on what the person living with heart failure can do on a daily basis, to improve their quality of life and to become more actively involved in their care.
After Tanis was Bob Ford, Pharmacist at the Foothills Medical Centre Cardiac Function Clinic, whose talk was entitled, “Pills and potions -notes and notions”. He covered the medications that are currently being used in the treatment of heart failure, vitamins and minerals as well as some good common sense insight on the use of medications in heart failure.
Read the rest of this entry »
Blood Pressure, Cardiac Sciences, Hypertension, Libin Cardiovascular Institute, Matthias Friedrich, Medicine, Obesity
In Healthcare, Researchers on February 18, 2009 at 6:09 pm
Dr. Matthias Friedrich, Director of the Libin Cardiovascular Institute’s Stephenson CMR Centre, spoke with Metro Calgary about educating kids on health.
Excerpt:
Unfortunately, Dr. Matthias Friedrich says there’s also too much salt on our plates, and it’s getting into the heart arteries of people as young as 12.
“Obesity is increasing dramatically in our society, especially at a young age,” Friedrich said. He works in cardiac sciences in the faculty of medicine at the University of Calgary.
He said that heart problems aren’t as big a concern in the minds of young people as they should be, as it is the leading cause of death in Canada.
To read the rest of the article, visit Metro News.
Cholesterol, HDL, Libin Cardiovascular Institute, Medicine, William Ghali
In Researchers on February 18, 2009 at 3:37 pm
The Libin Cardiovascular Institute of Alberta’s Dr. William Ghali wrote an editorial for the February 16th 2009 edition of the BMJ. Have a read:
HDL cholesterol and cardiovascular risk
Treatments can increase HDL cholesterol, but do not independently reduce risk
History tends to repeat itself, in the medical sciences as in other domains. In the linked systematic review (doi:10.1136/bmj.b92), Briel and colleagues put high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol into perspective as a marker of risk, and their findings evoke memories of other risk markers.1 Like HDL cholesterol, premature ventricular contractions are a validated risk marker for cardiovascular disease. Such contractions indicate an increased risk for adverse cardiovascular outcomes in the general population and in patients presenting with cardiovascular disease.2 3 Yet specific treatments that eliminate these contractions do not decrease the risk for adverse outcomes and can even increase risk.4 Thus, modifying the known marker of increased risk does not necessarily modify the risk itself.
Briel and colleagues demonstrate this phenomenon for HDL cholesterol in a meta-regression study of 108 clinical trials that assessed more than 300 000 patients and several lipid modifying treatments.1 They found that …
BMJ 2009;338:a3065
Read the rest on the BMJ web-site.
Alberta Health Services, Cardiac Sciences, Heart and Stroke Foundation, Libin Cardiovascular Institute, Medicine, Sarah Weeks, Transplant
In Healthcare, Researchers on February 12, 2009 at 11:30 pm
The Libin Cardiovascular Institute of Alberta’s Dr. Sarah Weeks was on Breakfast Television on February 11th along with 7 year old Taylor Stang and Taylor’s mom. Taylor is an inspirational little girl, who needed a heart transplant while in kindergarten. To watch the clip, click on the picture below (from the BT site, select the “BT Heart’s Heart Month” segment from along the bottom):
To watch Click Here
February is Heart Month. Visit the Heart and Stroke Foundation web-site for more information.
For other stories featuring Dr. Weeks – Click Here
Brenda Hemmelgarn, Jonathan Lytton, Libin Cardiovascular Institute, Medicine, Rodger Loutzenhiser, Sarah Childs
In Uncategorized on February 12, 2009 at 9:11 pm
The latest CIHR decision announcement includes four members of the Libin Cardiovascular Institute of Alberta. Congratulations are in order! Below, we’ve provided ‘the skinny’ of each successful application, but please visit CIHR’s search database for full abstracts.
Using a genetic approach in the zebrafish, we have identified two genes that affect whether vessels become arteries or veins, and that allow endothelial cells to migrate. In this proposal, we will elucidate how these genes function and interact with each other.
This study will determine if differences in cardiac care exist for First Nations compared to non-First Nations people by exploring access to specialized cardiac care and invasive cardiac procedures. It will also begin to address issues of quality of care by looking at differences in markers of quality care aimed at reducing the risk of vascular disease.
We have developed methods to obtain individual afferent and efferent arterioles and to examine the key biochemical steps regulating vasoconstriction. The initial studies outlined in our proposal will define the differing biochemical pathways regulating function in the afferent and efferent arteriole and will provide a basis for subsequent studies determining how these mechanisms are altered in diabetes and CKD.
We have recently discovered that when the gene for the K+-dependent Na+/Ca2+-exchanger, NCKX4, is knocked out in mice, the animals are phenotypically normal, healthy and fertile, but are 30% reduced in weight. The experiments proposed here will lead to an in depth understanding of the location and mechanism whereby the NCKX4 protein works to control feeding behaviour and satiety circuits in the brain.
Blood Pressure, Ellen Burgess, Libin Cardiovascular Institute, Medicine, Nephrology, University of Calgary
In Researchers on February 11, 2009 at 11:22 pm
A recent study in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, led by the Libin Cardiovascular Institute of Alberta’s Dr. Ellen Burgess, is generating international attention!
Dr. Ellen Burgess
Excerpt from the Press Release:
Taking a much higher than recommended dose of the hypertension drug candesartan cilexetil effectively lowered the amount of protein excreted in the urine of patients with kidney disease, according to a study appearing in the April 2009 issue of the Journal of the American Society Nephrology (JASN). By reducing such proteinuria, the drug could potentially prevent the development of serious complications such as end-stage kidney disease and therefore save many patients’ lives.
Many research efforts are focused on finding ways to lower urinary protein excretion in patients with kidney disease because doing so may postpone kidney failure and prevent the development of cardiovascular disease.
To read the entire Press Release Click Here
To read a related article by the Washington Bureau of Reuters Click Here
To read the JASN abstract Click Here
Alberta Health Services, Canadian Cardiovascular Society, Cardiac Sciences, Jonathan Howlett, Libin Cardiovascular Institute, Medicine
In Healthcare, Researchers on February 11, 2009 at 3:36 pm
The Libin Cardiovascular Institute of Alberta’s Dr. Jonathan Howlett was recently interviewed by CTV Calgary’s Karen Owen. Dr. Howlett explains why there is a strong possibility of a Heart Failure epidemic in the not so distant future. Click the picture or link below to go to a clip of the CTV Calgary story (after you click play, you’ll need to watch an ad before the actual story, so be patient):
Dr. Jonathan Howlett
CTV Calgary article and video – Click Here
The Libin Cardiovascular Institute of Alberta web-site has numerous resources for patients and those interested in learning about Heart Failure and other conditions. Have a look – Click Here
Alberta Health Services
In Healthcare, Learning on February 9, 2009 at 6:04 pm
Over one thousand topics of health information are available on the Health Information Library. The topics have been developed by Alberta Health Services – Calgary clinical experts. Click the image below or click Here:
You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view the PDF documents.
Related – check out the Human Atlas videos
Related – see education materials in the LCIA’s Patient Resource Centre
Alberta Health Services, Cardiac Sciences, health, Jonathan Howlett, Libin Cardiovascular Institute, Medicine
In Healthcare, Researchers on February 6, 2009 at 4:09 pm
Free for-patient reception & symposium
Living Heart Healthy
a guide to living well with heart failure
Presented by Cardiologist Dr. Jonathan Howlett
with additional presentations by Pharmacist Bob Ford, Nurse Clinician Tanis Lane, and an individual living with heart failure
7:00pm – 8:30pm
Tuesday February 10th 2009
Hillhurst/Sunnyside Community Centre
RSVP required – Click Here for more details
For other Heart Month programs, including an on-line interactive session on obesity, visit www.LibinInstitute.org
Cardiac Sciences, Heart and Stroke Foundation, Libin Cardiovascular Institute, Medicine, Norm Campbell, UCalgary, University of Calgary
In Healthcare, Researchers on February 3, 2009 at 4:38 pm
Libin Cardiovascular Institute of Alberta member Dr. Norm Campbell making waves in hypertension …
Dr. Norm Campbell / Photo: Bruce Perrault
Excerpt from Press Release:
A new study from the University of Calgary’s Faculty of Medicine shows a marked reduction in cardiovascular death and hospitalization rates occurring in people with high blood pressure. Those rates went down at the same time that the Canadian Hypertension Education Program was introduced and while there was an increase in drug therapy to treat hypertension.
Click Here to read the entire Press Release
Click Here to watch GlobalTV coverage – Clip removed 
Click Here to listen to CBC Radio coverage
Read the rest of this entry »
Alberta Health Services, Cardiac Sciences, Heart and Stroke Foundation, Libin Cardiovascular Institute, Medicine, Sarah Weeks, UCalgary, University of Calgary
In Healthcare, Researchers on February 2, 2009 at 4:34 pm
The Libin Cardiovascular Institute of Alberta’s Dr. Sarah Weeks was recently interviewed by GlobalTV Calgary’s Michelle Schurman. In the interview, Dr. Weeks describes the potential value of C-reactive protein testing.
NOTE – GlobalTV has removed this clip – sorry!
- Dr. Sarah Weeks
Last month, Dr. Weeks also spoke to CTV’s Karen Own about women and heart disease. You can watch that story Here.
