Aspirin has been widely used for more than 50 years as a common, inexpensive blood thinner for patients with heart disease and stroke, but doctors have little understanding of how it works and why some people benefit and others do not.

Sudden cardiac death (SCD) is the leading cause of death in high school-aged athletes. To determine if SCD can be prevented with a heart screening, The Christ Hospital Health Network (Cincinnati, Ohio), The University of Mississippi Medical Center and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center partnered with USRowing and Toshiba America Medical Systems Inc. to conduct The Athlete Heart Research Study. Initial participants included volunteer high school rowers with more than two years of continuous practice who competed in the USRowing Youth National Championships, June 7 – 9, 2013 in Oak Ridge, Tenn.

Researchers have announced the results of a five-year study that shows early fetal echocardiography provides reliable prenatal diagnosis of major congenital heart disease (CHD). First trimester screening looks very promising for detection of heart problems and increases the need for scheduling early and detailed cardiac evaluations.

Researchers have announced the results of a retrospective five-year study, which shows that echocardiography can be useful in identifying new strategies for combating the growth failure in infants with hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS). The high mortality and morbidity rate for these high-risk infants with congenital cardiac anomalies has been difficult to change, but this is a promising step for medical intervention.

Researchers have announced the results of a study which shows that among patients readmitted for congestive heart failure (CHF), a high E/e’ (a measure of elevated left ventricle filling pressure via ultrasound) at admission is significantly associated with higher 30-day readmission rates. Focusing on lowering elevated E/e’ levels will be important to control healthcare costs and to reduce the high rates of morbidity and mortality in this patient population.

North Shore University Hospital (NSUH) announced it has installed the most advanced cardiac computed tomography (CT) scanner to help diagnose heart disease and a patient’s risk for heart attack.