January 9, 2020 – Researchers may have discovered a way to turn back the clock on aging heart muscles in fruit flies, a development that could lead to new therapies for older humans with heart disease.

January 7, 2020 — Abbott announced U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of a new alternative surgical technique for Abbott's HeartMate 3 heart pump that will allow more advanced heart failure patients to avoid open heart surgery. The new, less invasive approach is designed to provide surgeons a choice in surgical method for patients receiving the HeartMate 3 Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD).

The  American Society of Echocardiography (ASE) has updated its guidelines for using echocardiography to image ischemia. Ischemic heart disease (IHD) occurs when the arteries of the heart cannot deliver enough oxygen-rich blood to the heart and is the leading cause of death in the United States. Stress echocardiography is routinely used for the detection of flow-limiting blockages in the coronary arteries in patients with symptoms such as exertional chest pain or shortness of breath. In this era of multimodality imaging, understanding the role and advantages of stress echocardiography for the patient presenting with symptoms of potential cardiac origin is essential. 

January 7, 2020 — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted a supplemental new drug application (sNDA) from AstraZeneca and granted priority review for dapagliflozin (Farxiga) to reduce the risk of cardiovascular (CV) death or the worsening of heart failure (HF) in adults with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) with and without type 2 diabetes (T2D).

The Prescription Drug User Fee Act date, the FDA action date for this supplemental application, is scheduled for the second quarter of 2020.

Adult Congenital Heart Symposium

This popular annual event is a unique opportunity for patients, family, caregivers and their physicians to learn more about care and treatment options from leading adult congenital heart disease experts. The event is split into two sections: CME and patient/caregivers.

Vascular Ultrasound Master Class

This course teaches the fundamentals of vascular ultrasound physics and examination techniques, clinical applications and interpretations. Faculty experts review protocols and lead case-based discussions to build strong basic knowledge. Attendees get hands-on practice performing ultrasound studies on volunteers who have abnormal findings.

Houston Methodist Cardiac MRI Weeklong, Hands-on Workshop

Course Director: Dipan J. Shah, MD. This workshop covers the practical applications of cardiac MRI, including basic MRI principles, cardiac anatomy, late gadolinium enhancement, stress imaging, vascular imaging, case interpretations and troubleshooting image acquisitions. The development of practical skills and knowledge will be emphasized. In order to better facilitate lectures and hands-on

Multimodality Cardiovascular Imaging for the Clinician

Course Director: William A. Zoghbi, MD, Course Co-directors: Stephen H. Little, MD; John J. Mahmarian, MD; Dipan J. Shah, MD; and Miguel A. Quiñones, MD. This program features didactic lectures and panel discussions focused on the vital role cardiovascular imaging plays in the management of the cardiovascular patient. Small-group breakout sessions provide an interactive learning experience.

DeBakey Cardiovascular Congress

This inaugural program teaches cardiovascular imaging and interventional techniques in an intensive hands-on setting. Participants practice techniques including 3D planning using CT/MR image datasets, intraoperative image fusion and 3D image acquisition for interventional guidance. By the end of the program, participants should be able to apply these imaging and image guidance techniques to specific interventional/surgical procedures in order to improve their clinical practice. The course is designed for cardiovascular interventionalists interested in advanced imaging techniques.

Heart of a Woman

This event focuses on the gender-specific symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of heart disease. After a morning of informative lectures and a heart-healthy cooking demonstration, participants can tailor their experience in small-group breakout sessions addressing ways women can proactively improve their heart health.

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