Newswise — Three patients at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center were among the first in the United States to be implanted with a next-generation artificial heart pump called the DuraHeart™ Left-Ventricular Assist System. The surgeries took place earlier this year. NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia is one of only three centers in the U.S. currently enrolling patients in a clinical trial studying the device.

 Zannos Grekos, MD, a featured speaker at the at the 17th Annual World Congress on Anti-Aging Medicine and Regenerative Biotechnologies, announced one year follow-up results for a pulmonary

 Obstructive sleep apnea, or periodic interruptions in breathing throughout the night, thickens sufferers' blood vessels.

 This study showed that early treatment can stabilize and potentially reverse the process of RV remodeling that can lead to RV dysfunction and death. Therefore, early recognition and prompt treatment may be the key to targeting the disease before initiation and progression of vascular remodeling and RV dysfunction occurs to achieve the best durable long-term outcome.

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 Tuesday, Gilead Sciences Inc. (GILD: News) said it has initiated enrolling patients in a Phase II clinical trial of cicletanine hydrochloride, an oral agent in development for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension.

 OUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif.

 Bayer Schering Pharma has initiated a Phase III program with its oral agent riociguat. The two studies - Chest-1 and Patent-1 - will investigate the efficacy and safety of riociguat in patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension or pulmonary arterial hypertension. Over 700 patients will be recruited for the two studies.

 Cold hands are not only a sign that the weather's bitter  -  they could be a symptom of something more serious. 

There are at least a dozen conditions which cause chronic cold hands, including peripheral vascular disease and ME. 

 Edited Press Release FRANKFURT -(Dow Jones)- German pharmaceutical maker Bayer AG (BAY.XE) said Monday its Bayer Schering Pharma unit has begun phase III program trials with the oral pulmonary agent riociguat. 
Two phase III trials will investigate the application in patients with both chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) and pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). 

 Salt-sensitive hypertension occurs when the kidneys hold onto more sodium than necessary.