Stem cells behind clogged arteries

Health

more>>

'Nonsmoking' hotel rooms may not fully protect guests

People who opt for nonsmoking rooms in hotels with a partial smoking ban are not fully protected from harmful exposure to so-called "thirdhand" smoke, according to a new study.

Cellphone use may reveal your dominant brain

New research suggests the dominant side of your brain may make the call on which ear you choose to use while talking on your cellphone.

High-frequency noise boosts math skills in study

Scientists report that they were able to improve the math-calculation skills of college students by buzzing their brains with doses of random high-frequency noise.

1 in 5 U.S. kids has a mental health disorder
As many as one in five American children under the age of 17 has a diagnosable mental disorder in a given year, according to a new federal report.

Eyelash extension adhesives may cause bad reactions

Eye experts warn that the adhesives used to apply eyelash extensions can cause allergies and infections.

Look for new, improved sunscreen labels

New labeling laws for sunscreen will help American consumers choose the product that provides the best sun protection, experts say.

Many public pools contaminated with human waste

There are few things more inviting than a cool, clear pool on a hot summer day. But a new federal report will have you thinking twice before dipping a toe in the water.

Most Americans say no to smoking in their homes, cars

Drop by for a visit or share the drive -- but please, no smoking.

Yoga may help ease high blood pressure

People who follow the ancient practice of yoga may be getting an added health boost, with a new study suggesting it can fight high blood pressure -- also known as hypertension.

Fitness in middle age may help shield men from cancer later

Men who are physically fit in middle age have a lower risk of developing and dying from certain cancers, new research indicates.

WEDNESDAY, June 6 (HealthDay News) -- A previously unknown type of stem cell is the culprit behind blocked blood vessels that can lead to heart attack and stroke, new research in mice suggests.

It's long been believed that smooth muscle cells within blood vessel walls combined with cholesterol and fat to clog arteries. But in research with mice, a team at the University of California, Berkeley found that's not the case.

Using genetic tracing, the investigators determined that a type of stem cell called a multipotent vascular stem cell is to blame and said it should be the focus in the search for new treatments.

"For the first time, we are showing evidence that vascular diseases are actually a kind of stem cell disease," principal investigator Song Li, a professor of bioengineering and a researcher at the Berkeley Stem Cell Center, said in a university news release. "This work should revolutionize therapies for vascular diseases because we now know that stem cells rather than smooth muscle cells are the correct therapeutic target."

The study was published June 6 in the journal Nature Communications.

"This is groundbreaking and provocative work, as it challenges existing dogma," said Dr. Deepak Srivastava, director of the Gladstone Institute of Cardiovascular Disease at UC San Francisco, who provided some of the mouse vascular tissues used in the study.

"Targeting the vascular stem cells rather than the existing smooth muscle in the vessel wall might be much more effective in treating vascular disease," explained Srivastava in the news release.

While the findings hold promise, experts note that research involving animals frequently fails to lead to benefits for humans.

More information

The U.S. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute has more about atherosclerosis.

*DISCLAIMER*: The information contained in or provided through this site section is intended for general consumer understanding and education only and is not intended to be and is not a substitute for professional advice. Use of this site section and any information contained on or provided through this site section is at your own risk and any information contained on or provided through this site section is provided on an "as is" basis without any representations or warranties.