H Takanari, L Nalos, A Stary-Weinziger, K de Git, R Varkevisser, T Linder, MJ Houtman, P de Kort, M Peschar, T de Boer, RR Tidwell, MB Rook, MA Vos, MA van der Heyden. Efficient and specific cardiac Ik1 inhibiton by a new pentamidine analog. Card Res 2013; 99: 203-214.

Researchers at the DH&L are developing a medicine in their laboratory with a highly targeted pharmacological function to block previously untreated ion channels in the heart. After having been tested in preclinical tests and clinical trials, this medicine could be used in the treatment of cardiac arrhythmias.

VJ Bourgonje, MA Vos, S Ozdemir, N Doisne, K Acsai, A Varro, A Sztojkov-Ivanov, I Zupko, E Rauch, L Kattner, V Bito, M Houtman, R van der Nagel, JD Beekman. TA van Veen, K Sipido, G Antoons. Combined Na/Ca exchanger and L-type calcium blocker as a potential strategy to suppress arrhythmias and maintain ventri­cular function. Circ A&E 2013; 6: 371-9.

Medicines to treat cardiac arrhythmias are effective but often associated with unpleasant side effects which prevents their wide-spread use. These medicines include calcium-channel blockers which reduce heart function, making them unsuitable for patients with heart failure. Researchers at the DH&L are investigating a new remedy which focuses specifically on intracellular calcium metabolism.

Waes, J.A.R. van, Nathoe, H.M., Graaff, J.C. de, Kemperman, J.T.J.H., Borst, G.J. de, Peelen, L.M., Grobben, R.B., Doevendans, P.A., CHASE investigators, x & Klei, W.A. van (2013). Myocardial injury after noncardiac surgery and its association with short-term mortality. Circulation, 127(23), 2264-2271.

Patients older than sixty have an elevated risk of having a heart attack during or after noncardiac surgery, although more than two-thirds of this patient group do not have any heart problems at all. The Department of Cardiology has investigated myocardial damage after surgery by analysing troponin levels in the blood. This showed that almost 20% of patients have myocardial damage. Patients with an elevated troponin level have a threefold higher risk of dying within one month of surgery. Cardiology is working together with Anesthesiology, Surgery and Epidemiology within the CHASE study group at UMC Utrecht to investigate the cause of this elevated troponin level.

Tragante, V., Doevendans, P.A.F.M., Nathoe, H.M., Graaf, Y. van der, Spiering, W., Algra, A., Borst, G.J. de, Moll, F.L., Bakker, P.I.W. de & Asselbergs, F.W. (2013). The impact of susceptibility loci for coronary artery disease on other vascular domains and recurrence risk. European Heart Journal, 34(37), 2896-904.

Alongside known genetic risk factors, such as blood pressure, the Department of Cardiology as the Principal Investigator in a large consortium study has discovered two new genetic factors related to blood pressure. This has increased the understanding of the underlying mechanisms of blood pressure and may lead to new therapies for patients with hypertension.

Cardiologist in Training and Researcher Dr. Leo Timmers received a Fellowship for Clinical Research Talent from the Board of Directors at the UMC Utrecht. He will use it for further research into the involvement of the basic immune system in healing a heart attack.

http://www.queen-of-hearts.eu/

Biomarkers are measurable characteristics of the heart and vessels that can be used to detect underlying biological processes. Evaluation of the correct biomarkers can help predict whether people are at risk of a heart attack in the future. This is what research in the fields of proteomics and biomarkers focuses on. Professor of Experimental Cardiology, Prof. Gerard Pasterkamp, is the leader of this research area within the UMC Utrecht-wide campaign 'Circulatory Health'.

www.eurostars-eureka.eu

The Department of Cardiology collaborates with the Biotech companies CardioGenx and Firalis to research methods that can easily and rapidly diagnose ischemia (oxygen shortage in the heart) by investigating gene expression of cells involved in vessel formation around the heart. This joint research project was given Eurostar funding by Eureka's Eurostars Programme.