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You have a burning chest pain and a doctor looks at a squiggly-lined graph to determine the cause. That graph, an electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG), can help the doctor decide whether you're having a heart attack or an acid attack from last night's spaghetti. Correct interpretation may prompt life-saving, emergency measures; incorrect interpretation may delay care with life-threatening consequences.

Mitralign, Inc. announced today that it has successfully performed the first two implants of the Mitralign Percutaneous Annuloplasty System(TM) for mitral valve repair in it's European Pilot Study. The procedures were performed by Chief. Dr. med. Eberhard Grube and Dr. med. Lutz Buellesfeld at Helios Heart Center in Siegburg, Germany. Procedures were assisted by Oberarzt Dr. med. Ralf Müller. The Mitralign System was able to significantly reduce the patient's mitral regurgitation.

Women with the autoimmune disease systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) have a more than two-fold increased risk of cardiovascular disease over women without the disease according to research funded in part by the Arthritis Foundation. The research was presented this week at the American College of Rheumatology Annual Scientific Meeting in San Francisco.

Leading charities are calling on patients in England to take part in a public survey, launched today, to ensure the government puts cardio and vascular disease at the top of future health strategy. The Cardio & Vascular Coalition (CVC), a group of 36 voluntary organisations, is urging people who suffer from cardio and vascular disease, their relatives, or carers to visit http://www.consultationfinder.

Westside Regional Medical Center announces the implantation of the first wireless implantable electrocardiogram (ECG) Monitoring System in South Florida performed by Dr. David Kenigsberg, a Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiologist on staff at Westside Regional Medical Center. Dr. Kenigsberg was previously an electrophysiology fellow at Virginia commonwealth university Medical Center and trained under Drs.

Title: Kidney patients More Susceptible to Sudden Cardiac DeathCategory: health newscreated: 11/1/2008 2:00:00 amlast Editorial review: 11/3/2008