Pages 12 & 13 of the UCalgary Medicine 2008/9 Research Report focus on some recent achievements of the Libin Cardiovascular Institute of Alberta. To view the report, click the image below.
Note the picture used on the top of page 13 (click for larger version):
VAD patient Scott Ouellette, with Dr. Paul Fedak, Dr. Debra Isaac, and Anita Hadley, BN.
You can read more about Scott in the following blog entries:
Playing Golf with a VAD – First in Alberta, Maybe the World!
Director of the Libin Cardiovascular Institute of Alberta, Dr. L. Brent Mitchell, was recently interviewed by Global TV regarding atrial fibrillation, the potentially very serious abnormal heart rhythm condition. Click the image or link below to watch (it is the second story in the Healthbeat segment).
Global TV’s Healthbeat interview – Click Here
Earlier, Dr. Mitchell was quoted in a press release on the same subject. Excerpt:
“It’s important that we raise public awareness about this issue because atrial fibrillation is a common condition that is likely to affect more and more baby-boomers who will be entering their sixties and seventies soon,” said Calgary’s Dr. Brent Mitchell, Director, Libin Cardiovascular Institute of Alberta, who points out that atrial fibrillation currently affects six percent of those over 65. “If left unchecked, it can have serious heart health consequences, the most important of which is stroke,” he said.
The story was also covered on Breakfast Television Calgary including on the BTCalgary blog.
Openers of SKCa and IKCa channels enhance agonist-evoked nitric oxide synthesis and arteriolar vasodilation.
Jianzhong Sheng, Srikanth Ella, Michael Davis, Michael Hill, Andrew Braun
FASEB Journal 23(4): 1138-1145
This study demonstrates that direct manipulation of select endothelial ion channels is capable of lowering blood pressure in animal models and may thus represent a novel therapeutic strategy in the treatment of hypertensive states associated with vascular disorders.
Andrew Braun: abraun@ucalgary.ca
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Blockade of K(ATP) channels reduces endothelial hyperpolarization and leukocyte recruitment upon reperfusion after hypoxia.
Figura M, Chilton L, Liacini A, Viskovic MM, Phan V, Knight D, Millar TM, Patel K, Kubes P, Giles WR, Tibbles LA
Am J Transplant. 2009 Apr;9(4):687-96. Epub 2009 Mar 9.
Injury of kidney transplants at the time of transplantation can occur due to lack of oxygen when the graft is obtained from the donor, stored, and during the implantation into the recipient. This ischemic damage can result in short term graft dysfunction and long term graft loss. We examined the earliest stages of this damage in blood vessel lining (endothelial) cells, and found that lack of oxygen can affect channels in the cell membrane and lead to changes in the endothelial cells that promote inflammation and leukocyte recruitment. These changes can be altered using a common drug called glybenclamide (glyburide). This may be important in preventing transplant injury, and may also be a mechanism in other ischemic injuries like heart attacks and stroke.
Lee Anne Tibbles: Office ph# 403-220-2064
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Antagonistic interactions among Plexins regulate the timing of intersegmental vessel formation.
Lamont RE, Lamont EJ, Childs SJ.
Dev Biol. 2009 May 5. [Epub ahead of print]
PMID: 19422817 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
In this article we show that zebrafish semaphorin3e (sema3e) is expressed by endothelial cells of the dorsal aorta, primary motoneurons, and endodermal cells. Read the rest of this entry »
By Kyle Glennie
“I’m obviously delighted. Being a member of this society has enhanced my professional development and enabled me to provide better care to my patients with heart rhythm disorders.”
Dr. Anne Gillis - Photo by Bruce Perrault
While Dr. Anne Gillis may be delighted by her appointment as 2nd vice president of the Heart Rhythm Society-a post that will eventually lead to her becoming president in three years-her patients and her colleagues at the University of Calgary Faculty of Medicine must be ecstatic.
The international leader in science, education and advocacy for cardiac arrhythmia professionals and patients, the Heart Rhythm Society (HRS) is the primary information resource on heart rhythm disorders. Gillis, a professor in the Department of Medicine and a member of the Libin Cardiovascular Institute of Alberta at the Faculty of Medicine, is only the second non-American to ever be chosen as president of the HRS.
The level of achievement Gillis has accomplished with this appointment certainly hasn’t been lost on Dr. George Wyse, one of her colleagues at the Heart Rhythm Society and a Distinguished Alumni of the University of Calgary.
“Being chosen as president of this major international society is an important recognition of Dr. Gillis personally, and also a recognition of the stature of the cardiac arrhythmia program at the Libin Institute and the University of Calgary.”
Five-year presidential track
The HRS’ clear cut government structure will see Gillis become the second vice president this year, then she’ll graduate to first vice president next year before moving on to president-elect, president and finally past-president in the three subsequent years.
Servier Canada has launched a Vascular Research Award that translates to a one-off unrestricted educational grant of $70,000.
Skinny on criteria:
Interested?
Visit Servier’s website (click here) for more details including how exactly to apply.
* Deadline is May 30th 2009 – act fast! *
In addition to funding cutting edge research, the Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research (AHFMR) runs several wonderful programs that require volunteers to be successful. These programs aim to inspire young minds by introducing them to concepts of science in innovative ways. Their objectives are certainly shared by the Libin Cardiovascular Institute.
Review the list below and see if you can help (select links for details):
Where YOU come in …
To ensure the success of the above programs, the AHFMR needs volunteers. The requirements vary from program to program and there is a place for Principal Investigators, Post Doc Fellows and PhD Students alike. You do not have to be AHFMR funded or be engaged with the AHFMR in any way, shape or form to participate. Additionally, this is not a one way deal, as there is a certain satisfaction that comes with inspiring young minds – and don’t forget that this could also be a wonderful teaching opportunity to highlight in your CV. It is truly a win-win!
Interested or have further questions?
Please e-mail Dr. Zenobia Ali of the AHFMR Education Community Outreach Program at: zali@ucalgary.ca
Don’t forget to tell her you’re from the Libin Cardiovascular Institute of Alberta and that you love the AHFMR … and yes they do fund us 
A study by Libin Institute members Dr. Kathryn King and Dr. Hude Quan, co-principal investigators, suggests that ethnicity is having a significant impact on timely access to cardiac care in Calgary and likely across Canada.
The Libin Institute's Dr. Kathryn King, Professor, Faculty of Nursing
In an article posted on the University of Calgary web-site, Dr. King says:
There are ethnic variations in coronary heart disease symptoms that, when combined with some other factors, may increase the time it takes to get effective treatment.
To read the rest of the story at UCalgary.ca – click here
Dr. King will be presenting the study group’s findings at the Canadian Association for Health Services and Policy Research (CAHSPR) annual meeting, to be held in Calgary May 11th to 14th 2009.
Article on CBC.ca – click here
Article in Metro News – click here
To read an abstract of the article in the American Journal of Cardiology – click here
