A new study by researchers at Rhode Island Hospital provides much-needed insight into the molecular mechanisms that cause arrythmia, or irregular heartbeat, and how it triggers sudden cardiac death, one of the nation's leading killers. Their findings, published online in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, could pave the way for the development of new, genetically-targeted therapies to treat and prevent fatal arrythmias.

How slow growth as a fetus can cause diabetes as an adultIntrauterine growth retardation (IUGR), which results in a baby having a low weight at birth, has been linked to the development of type 2 diabetes in adulthood. It has been suggested that this is because the expression of key genes is altered during fetal development and that this affects disease susceptibility later in life.

The Honourable Tony Clement, Minister of Health has announced unding from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) for 764 health research projects across Canada, totalling over $298 million. Minister Clement was joined by Dr. Patrick McGrath, a member of CIHR's Governing Council, Dr. Po-Yin Cheung, a neonatologist and CIHR-funded researcher from the University of Alberta, and Luis and Oksana Delgado from Edmonton, whose 22 month old son Adrian received medical care from Dr.

CorMatrix Cardiovascular, Inc., an Atlanta- based company dedicated to developing and delivering unique extracellular matrix (ECM(TM)) biomaterial technologies that harness the body's innate ability to repair damaged cardiovascular tissue, announced that the company has received 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its CorMatrix ECM(TM) for Cardiac Tissue Repair, which utilizes the company's proprietary ECM Technology(TM).

Despite widespread use of cholesterol-lowering drugs, a significant number of cardiac patients continue to suffer heart attacks and stroke. Researchers theorize that high levels of an enzyme found in coronary plaques may be to blame, by making plaques more likely to rupture and block blood flow. The drug darapladib may offer a way to fight that risk, according to new research led by the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine.