Scientists have shown that a build-up of cholesterol in cell organelles called lysosomes is related to a higher incidence of heart disease.

Researchers have found that a diet rich in fish, seafood, and grains - also called polyunsaturated fats - is better at preventing heart disease than a diet containing olive oil, nuts, and avocados - called monounsaturated fats. Although both types of fats are healthy, people should probably include more of the first than the second in their diet to keep a healthy heart, the scientists say.

Statin drugs, known primarily for their ability to lower cholesterol, also may reduce the overactive sympathetic nervous system response that contributes to the worsening of heart failure and increases the risk of sudden cardiac death, two University of Missouri-Columbia researchers have found. Heart failure is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States.

When protein plaque builds up in the blood, it can result in serious diseases such as heart disease and Alzheimer's. Cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibitors, a class of drugs under investigation for the treatment of one cause of plaque build-up, also exhibit negative side effects.

Lead researcher Associate Professor Andy Tan said the heart pump's innovative design was based on a double-output centrifugal model that pushed the blood in a counter direction to ensure correct flow through both sides of the heart, and is the subject of a patent application.

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania's School of Medicine have discovered that implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) - electric monitoring devices that deliver a lifesaving shock in the event of a cardiac arrest - help patients with heart problems live longer more active lives.

New genetic markers may be able to predict whether a person is likely to have coronary heart disease (CAD) in the future. Research carried out by Dr.