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The first reports of the successful reprogramming of adult human cells back into so-called induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells, which by all appearances looked and acted liked embryonic stem cells created a media stir. But the process was woefully inefficient: Only one out of 10,000 cells could be persuaded to turn back the clock.

From Halloween through Valentine's Day, chocolate helps celebrate the season. While overindulging leads to calorie concerns, the right amounts of the right kinds of chocolate can actually make one feel and even look better. Registered dietitians Shara Aaron and Monica Bearden, authors of CHOCOLATE - A HEALTHY PASSION (Prometheus Books), can explain chocolate's role in health and wellness, as well as its history, culture, sensory pleasures and more.

Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Herb Kohl (D-Wis.) on Thursday sent letters to the Cardiovascular Research Foundation and Columbia University seeking financial disclosures and other information regarding their relationships with manufacturers of pharmaceutical drugs and medical devices, the

Medtronic, Inc. (NYSE: MDT) announced today the target lesion revascularization (TLR) rate for the company's Endeavor drugâ?�eluting stent in the realâ?�world Danish trial, SORT OUT III, was 4.0 percent. This result at nine months is consistent with the ENDEAVORâ?�Five realâ?�world study, which reported an overall TLR of 4.5 percent at 12 months. The rates of myocardial infarction in the SORT OUT III study were very low for both the Endeavor (1.4 percent) and the Cypher (0.5 percent) stents.

A revolutionary heart operation technique using cutting edge technology will be performed on Monday 20 October and broadcast live to delegates at the Heart Rhythm Congress 2008 taking place in Birmingham. The procedure to tackle heart rhythm disorder will be performed by Dr Andre Ng, Senior Lecturer in Cardiology at the University of Leicester and a Consultant Cardiologist at the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust.

Patent foramen ovale (PFO) is a diagnosis that is becoming more and more common - up to 25% of adults have it. PFO is said to increase the risk...

Fewer drug-coated stents are being inserted into the arteries of Australian heart disease patients following concerns about their long-term safety, even though new evidence shows that these stents are safe, according to research published in the latest issue of The Medical Journal of Australia (MJA).

Six months ago, Alice County was dying from congestive heart failure. Her weak heart was barely pumping blood, she was listless, had no appetite and had dropped 50 pounds in less than a year, and was so short of breath that she slept sitting up. When the 61-year-old Chino, Calif. woman came to the Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute this past March, tests revealed her heart was so damaged that it was operating at less than 10 percent of normal capacity.

Title: Occasional smoking Still Does DamageCategory: health newscreated: 10/18/2008 2:00:00 amlast Editorial review: 10/20/2008

Title: Low Blood Pressure During Surgery Boosts Stroke RiskCategory: health newscreated: 10/19/2008 2:00:00 amlast Editorial review: 10/20/2008