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Medco health Solutions, Inc. (NYSE: MHS) presented a study at the 2008 Scientific Sessions of the American Heart Association that showed an increased risk for major cardiovascular events in patients taking clopidogrel (the active ingredient in Plavix) and proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) together.

Giving interferon to heart failure patients with evidence of a chronic viral infection safely eliminated two viruses from their systems and reduced levels of a third virus. Additionally, there were trends toward improved cardiac function and quality of life, but these did not reach significance at 24 weeks, researchers reported at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2008.

Exercise training is safe in heart failure patients, does not significantly reduce hospitalization or death, but is associated with several improved clinical outcomes, even in those already receiving optimal medical care, researchers reported at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2008. The Heart Failure and A Controlled Trial Investigating Outcomes of Exercise Training (HF-ACTION) was presented as a late-breaking clinical trial.

Researchers reported on a study of a new oral anti-clotting agent -- rivaroxaban -- designed to identify doses that would be safe to test in subsequent Phase III efficacy and safety trials. The results of ATLAS ACS-TIMI 46 were presented as a late-breaking clinical trial at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2008. "The goal of any early study is to find the right dose and the right way to give the drug, and we met that objective," said C.

Flu shots may reduce the risk of blood clots forming in veins by 26 percent, according to research presented at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2008. "Our study suggests for the first time that vaccination against influenza may reduce the risk of venous thrombotic embolism (VTE)," said Joseph Emmerich, M.D., Ph.D.

This year, about 450,000 Americans will die of coronary heart disease - the leading cause of death for both men and women. Although we have made great strides in preventing and treating heart disease, we continue to explore the complex mechanisms involved in cardiovascular disease, and we are eager to refine risk assessment tools and preventive strategies to reduce the incidence of heart attack and stroke.

Long-term data for Pradaxa® (dabigatran etexilate) in the prevention of thromboembolic events in patients with recurrent, persistent and chronic AF was presented today at the 80th American Heart Association annual congress.

The Cardio & Vascular Coalition (CVC) is a collaboration of voluntary and professional organisations working for improved cardio and vascular health. diabetes UK is a member of the CVC, whose interests span all heart and circulatory diseases (including heart disease and stroke), as well as the related conditions of kidney disease and diabetes. These conditions share many risk factors, so the CVC is campaigning for a Cardio & Vascular health Strategy for 2010 - 2020.

Study highlights: A stent that coats itself with the cells that line blood vessels is as effective as a drug-coated stent in preventing artery reblockage and blood clots for people with coronary artery disease. Unlike drug-eluting stents, the new device requires only short-term antiplatelet therapy. This stent is in use in many countries, but the Food and Drug Administration has not yet approved it for marketing in the United States.

Use of the cholesterol medication Crestor, manufactured by AstraZeneca, to prevent cardiovascular events in patients who do not have high cholesterol levels but have high levels of C-reactive protein would increase U.S. health care costs by $10 billion annually, according to an analysis released on Monday,