FUTURE OF HEART HEALTH

We can avoid heart attacks!

2011-08-31T22:02:00.001-05:00

THE LAST HEART ATTACK by Sanjay Gupta on CNN

The 3rd Harold Buchwald Memorial Lecture of Heart Health

2011-05-17T15:32:00.015-05:00

Sharon Mulvagh delivered

3^rdHarold Buchwald Memorial Public Lecture on

Heart Health in Winnipeg on Sept. 8^th, 2011

To re-focus International Academy of Cardiovascular Sciences emphasis on Prevention and Early Detection of Heart Disease, Dr. Naranjan Dhalla, Executive-Director, named Ivan Berkowitz as the “HEART HEALTH SCHOLAR”. We recognized the support of the Myles Robinson Memorial Heart Trust by honouring their founder and past president Harold Buchwald and organized the “Harold Buchwald Memorial Lecture on Heart Health”.

For the 3^rd Harold Buchwald Memorial Lecture, we invited an exceptional cardiologist Dr. Sharon Mulvagh who is the Director of the Women’s Heart Clinic at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester.

Dr. Mulvagh’s lecture was “A STRATEGY TO AVOID HEART DISEASE!"

to enjoy her incredible talk, please click here

Our thanks to the following without whom this event could not have been the wonderful success it was:

Winnipeg Convention Centre, Sid Halpern,Lakeview Developments, Hon. Richard Kroft, Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, Experimental Cardiology Lab, Pitblado LLP, Friends of Upper Fort Garry, Winnipeg Jewish Foundation, BMO NesbittBurns, Steingarten Schechter, Abe Anhang, PC Manitoba Fund, Manitoba Business Council, Winnipeg Jewish Federation, St. Boniface Hospital Federation and the Mayo Clinic

With support from the MYLES ROBINSON MEMORIAL HEART TRUST and MANITOBA INNOVATION, ENERGY and MINES

A short BIO

2011-05-17T15:01:00.004-05:00

SHARON L. MULVAGH, M.D.

F.A.S.E., F.A.C.C., F.A.H.A., F.R.C.P.(C)

Professor of Medicine, Mayo Graduate School of Medicine

Director of Women’s Heart Clinic

Consultant in Cardiovascular Diseases and Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic

Rochester, Minnesota

Dr. Mulvagh is Professor of Medicine, Mayo College of Medicine, Consultant in Cardiovascular Diseases and Internal Medicine, and Director of the Women’s Heart Clinic at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota. She is a clinical cardiologist active at the international, national, local and institutional levels in noninvasive cardiovascular imaging, specifically echocardiographic imaging using newer technologies including contrast echocardiography and myocardial perfusion imaging. Dr. Mulvagh also has a special interest in heart disease in women. She is an active investigator in clinical and translational imaging research, and an internationally recognized educator and speaker on cardiovascular imaging and women’s cardiovascular issues. Dr. Mulvagh evaluates and counsels patients in the Women’s Heart Clinic at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, and has ongoing studies investigating the role of noninvasive testing for the diagnosis of coronary heart disease in women at risk, as well prospective assessment of the effects of hormone therapy on the heart and vascular system. Most recently, she has been actively collaborating with her endocrine colleagues, exploring the physiologic effects of varying glycemic states and insulin resistance on coronary blood flow, in order to gain mechanistic insights into diabetes and heart disease. She earned her doctorate in medicine, graduating magna cum laude, from the University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada. She completed her internship at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, residency in internal medicine at Boston University Medical Center, Boston, MA, and fellowship in cardiology at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, TX. She has practiced emergency and internal medicine in Ontario, Canada, and was a visiting scientist at NASA Johnson Space Center, and Clinical Instructor for the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, TX, prior to arriving at Mayo Clinic in 1990.

Dr. Mulvagh is a fellow of the American College of Cardiology, the American Heart Association Council on Clinical Cardiology, the American Society of Echocardiography, and the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. She is an elected member of Sigma Xi, and has served on the Board of Directors for the American Society of Echocardiography as well as having past elected membership in the Aerospace Medical Association. She has chaired and participated in numerous committees including the American Society of Echocardiography Task Force for Clinical Applications of Ultrasound Contrast, Committee on Live Programs, and NASA Scientific Working Group and Peer Review sessions. Dr. Mulvagh has moderated and chaired many scientific sessions for the American College of Cardiology, the American Society of Echocardiography, and the American Heart Association. She established, and was the medical chair for the First Inaugural Go Red For Women American Heart Association Luncheon in Rochester, MN in 2007, and has continued to play a driving role in investigation of the Rochester community epidemiology of heart disease in women. Her publications include numerous manuscripts in peer-reviewed journals and invited articles and book chapters addressing investigative frontiers in echocardiography, and women and heart disease. She was the chair and primary author of the initial and updated consensus statements of the American Society of Echocardiography on the “Clinical Applications of Ultrasonic Contrast Agents in Echocardiography”.

Recently, Dr. Mulvagh was appointed to the Steering Committee which is developing the International Academy of Cardiovascular Sciences :GLOBAL NETWORK TO FIGHT CADIOVASCULAR DISEASES”

Her husband is also a cardiologist, and they have three children ages 14 through 20, four dogs, three cats, 2 mini-goats and mini-horse, numerous chickens and ducks, plus assorted rodents. As a family they are actively involved in soccer, hockey, gardening, beekeeping, and managing a honey business which has been recognized by Minneapolis-St. Paul Magazine’s “Best of the Best”. Since medical school days, she has run recreationally, for stress relief and general fitness. While a resident in Boston in the early 1980’s, she assisted in the Boston Marathon Med-Ops at the finish line, which was set up in the basement of the Prudential Bldg, and always dreamed of one day running a marathon. In 2005, she finally found the time to expand her running program, and has subsequently run the Twin Cities, Chicago and Boston Marathons.

An extraordinary discussion about WOMEN's HEART HEALTH

2011-03-17T17:40:00.002-05:00

CLICK TO VIEW:
Dr. Oz and Dr. Noel Bairey Merz

We have an extraordinary vision to fight the pandemic of heart disease

2011-03-09T09:41:00.002-06:00

Our President-elect James Willerson introduced our concept

an amazing new break-through!

2011-02-25T15:13:00.000-06:00

Medtronic introduced an MRI-friendly pacemaker

We are promoting heart health all over the world!

2011-02-07T02:54:00.001-06:00

Click here and see our opening coverage or all of India!

IACS President announced his vision during IACS 4th World Congress in India on Feb. 2, 2011

2011-02-05T00:40:00.002-06:00

http://www.heartacademy.org/heart.flv.php

Academy's 3rd World Congress in India Feb 1 to 6

2011-01-04T10:56:00.000-06:00

Please clic k for details

AN EXTRAORDINARY DEBATE - STENTS or SURGERY

2011-01-04T09:56:00.002-06:00

IT'S ONLINE - CLICK HERE

A Personal Plan to Prevent Heart Attacks!

2011-01-03T11:21:00.003-06:00

______by Ivan Berkowitz, International Academy of Cardiovascular Sciences HEART HEALTH SCHOLAR, Winnipeg, Canada from CV Network Vol 9 No 2

Don’t worry, my vision of prevention of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) will not use 5-syllable words and explore such topics as the potential of genomics or choice of medical devices. I believe that my personal experience has been successful enough to be worth sharing.

Without having had my DNA analyzed, I know that my genes forecast substantial risk of CVD. My mother was only 56 and my father was 62 when they succumbed to sudden cardiac arrest. Even before her death I realized that my mother had done an awesome job of bringing great joy to our lives, especially with the extraordinary food she loaded us with. Surprise … when I was 17, I realized, on my own, that I needed to lose weight and stopped some things like sugar, cream and then even milk in coffee; butter and, without even starting, smoking. However, the importance of food taught by my mother has never left my being. Unless I had significant control, I have tended to eat too much and weight loss was followed, gradually, by gaining most of it back.

1978 was an important benchmark. My older daughter was planning for her Bat Mitzvah so we agreed to lose weight. More significant was an invitation to a talk by Dr. Kenneth Cooper who ‘invented’ the system of counting aerobic points at his Cooper Clinic in Dallas. His talk was the highlight of the opening of the Reh-Fit Centre in Winnipeg. Also, plans were underway for the first Marathon in Manitoba. All these influences attracted me to join the Reh-Fit, seriously pursue their running program, follow an extreme diet and even try the Manitoba Marathon. At that point, I was only able to walk and run 6 miles but I was smitten. The next year, I had a great base and was able to finish my first of 22 full (26.2 miles) marathons. The training affected my taste for heavy foods and I have not eaten red meat since. The serious lifestyle change really got me into the best shape of my life over the next 20 years; even started training others so over 100 students finished their first of many marathons; and, most importantly, brought into my life the love of my life. The bottom line is that I feel I have enjoyed incredible health, vitality and ever- expanding interest in new ventures including my artistic spirit to create pottery.

Indeed I have followed a direction I read recently for Dr. Andrew Weil who gave 4 disciplines if living a long life is important: “You may want to adopt some of the habits that supercentenarians have in common. Supercentenarians - people who live to be 110 or older - share four lifestyle characteristics that may help explain their longevity. Throughout their lives, they have remained:

Physically active. Even as you get older, daily physical activity should be a priority. Modify your routine to incorporate small steps, such as daily walks, using the stairs instead of the elevator, or taking up hobbies that involve exercise, such as gardening, playing tennis or hiking.
Positive. Maintaining an optimistic outlook is important to managing stress and preventing related health issues such as heart disease. You can easily train yourself to start looking at the glass as half full. Begin with some simple self-reflection and meditation, and use humor for coping with negative thoughts.
Social. A network of family and close friends is vital to optimum health. You can enjoy the benefits of a well developed social life by spending time with people who make you happy, joining community groups or clubs, volunteering, and participating in support groups.
Spiritual. Regardless of your religious affiliation (if any), feeling a connection with nature, a higher being or purpose cultivates spirituality, and is an important part of graceful aging.”

Two reports from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published recently in the Journal of the American Medical Association provide an update to obesity prevalence in the United States. Based on data from 2007-2008, researchers report that 68 percent of U.S. adults and 32 percent of school-aged U.S. children and adolescents are overweight or obese. On a Blog posted on April 13, 2010, Dr. Regina Benjamin, U.S. Surgeon General reported: “Last week, I participated in a meeting on childhood obesity at the White House to discuss ways to combat the growing health epidemic. I joined the First Lady, Education Secretary Arne Duncan, Domestic Policy Council Director Melody Barnes, Office of Management and Budget Director Peter Orszag, Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Kathleen Merrigan and experts and practitioners from around the country to discuss the challenges. I have been traveling around the nation, taking the message around the country and talking to people about the challenges they’re facing. I’ve traveled to Florida, where 43 percent of poor children and 45 percent of black children are either overweight or obese. I’ve met with Native American Tribal Councils, who are concerned about populations that have diabetes rates that are twice the national average. I’ve been to Durham, North Carolina, where the entire community is engaging in an effort to target obesity and other childhood health problems with unprecedented collaboration between public and private agencies. The problems are real, and so is the determination to solve them. I want to change the national conversation from a negative one that focuses on disease to a positive conversation about being healthy and being fit. But for people to act on these conversations, Americans need to live and work in environments that support their efforts. We need everyone’s help to support common sense, innovative tools and solutions. The meeting at the White House was an important step in that direction.” First Lady Michelle Obama has led the development of “Let’s Move!” which has an ambitious but important goal: to solve the epidemic of childhood obesity within a generation. Let’s Move will give parents the support they need, provide healthier food in schools, help our kids to be more physically active, and make healthy, affordable food available in every part of the United States.

Of great interest to me has been television coverage of “Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution”, initially successful in the U K and now in the U S A. The difficulty but amazing success is summarized online at: http://www.ted.com/talks/jamie_oliver.html

To be specific, I have not written a book like the “South Beach Diet” or the “Pritikin Program”. But I am delighted to share a simple one-page which I call the “Trout Lake Diet”, named after possibly the most important influence on my continuing good CVD prevention – since my father’s investigation located Trout Lake, Ontario in 1944, I found the greatest environment including water we can drink right from the lake, physical activity and the extraordinary peace found without electricity, indoor plumbing and such toys as cell phones! On CBC Radio, I recently heard Diana Beresford-Kroeger, author of “The Global Forest”. She is a gardener who likes to combine her medical training with her love of botany. Having studied classical botany, medical biochemistry, organic and radio nuclear chemistry, and experimental surgery, Diana believes that the cures for cancer and other ailments can be found in her garden located in Merrickville, Ontario. She referred to research proving that pine forests (like the woods around Trout Lake): “Trees are a living miracle,” Ms. Beresford-Kroeger said. “Leaves can take in carbon dioxide and create oxygen. And all creatures must have oxygen Trees not only breathe and communicate; they also reproduce, provide shelter, medicine, and food, and connect disparate elements of the natural world.” She also talked about the Hawthorn trees whose berries are widely regarded in Europe to use to promote the health of the circulatory system and have been found useful in treating angina, high blood pressure, congestive heart failure and cardiac arrhythmia.

At Trout Lake, we have hosted friends from all over the world – will you join us and hear my favourite sound – the call of our loons?

Ivan’s “TROUT LAKE” Diet*

One page is all you get = my simple approach for people on the go.

My friend/doctor Jack Rusen has introduced me to:

2 glasses of ice water before every meal.

Forbidden products: (direct or as ingredients): salt, sugar, desserts, butter, white flour, red meat, cream, white potatoes, white flour pasta, skin, deep-fried food, white rice, soft / high fat cheese, liquor (except the odd glass of red wine), soft drinks other than diet, juice, desserts with sugar

and / or milk products and / or white flour

Encouraged products: fruits, salads, vegetables (especially dark coloured ones), pulse vegetables (garbanzo, chickpeas, lentils), oatmeal, soy products, tofu, fish, white meat of chicken / turkey, salmon, prunes, bran products, vinegars, canola oil, flax oil or crushed, brown/wild rice, buckwheat, walnuts, almonds, skim milk, pepper, herbs, garlic, mushrooms, whole wheat flour products, green tea, chamomile tea (instead of coffee especially for an upset tummy).

Approaches to meals:
Breakfast – soy/skim milk, oatmeal, shredded wheat/bran, egg beaters, fruit
Lunch – salad, fruit
Dinner – veggies / salad, meat or fish (not huge portions), fruit

Exercise is strongly recommended. At least, walk 30 minutes every day. Weight workouts are good. Not necessary to train for and complete 22 full (26.2 miles) Marathons as I have done, but it helps!

and, NEVER, NEVER eat even a mouthful after 8:00 PM

*Based on personal experience over 50 years, losing probably a TON of weight (and recently another 20 pounds in 2 months concentrating on this approach!) but still fighting to lose the fat that creeps back, probably due to metabolism that attracts fat … and an innate LOVE of food!

MARS and Academy continue corporate partnership

2010-12-09T08:44:00.002-06:00

Going back to the partnership established for the 2001 World Congress in Winnipeg, the Academy was delighted to introduce to the world of heart health the new product ranges of MARS: Cirku and CocoaVia through the Academy Booth at the Scientific Sessions 2010 of American Heart Association in Chicago, November 7 - 9.

click here for details on these products

Talks from 3rd Symposium on The FUTURE of HEART HEALTH

2010-09-20T11:17:00.005-05:00

Sam Cohen Auditorium,
St. Boniface Hospital Research Centre
351 Tache Ave.
Saturday, September 25, 2010

Moderator: Richard Cloutier, News Director
CJOB 68, Manitoba's Information Superstation

CLICK ON TITLES TO CONNECT TO TALKS ONLINE:

8:45 am
Introduction
Dr. Michel Tetreault – President & CEO, St. Boniface Hospital
Dr. Alan Menkis – Medical Director, Winnipeg Regional Health Authority Cardiac Sciences Program and Section Head of Cardiac Surgery, University of Manitoba

Session 1
What We Can Learn From The U.S. Health Care System, What They Can Learn From Us
9:00 am
The Honorable Senator Sharon Carstairs – Member of Canada’s Senate
Dr. Jeffrey Rich – Adult Cardiac Surgery, General Thoracic Surgery, Norfolk, Virginia
Discussion Panel: Dr. Hilary Grocott, Dr. Michael Mack

Session 2
Integrated Delivery Of Cardiac Care (Convergence)
10:00 am
Dr. Michael Mack – Chairman of the Board, Cardiopulmonary Research Science and Technology Institute; Medical Director Cardiovascular Services and Director of Transplantation, Medical City Dallas Hospital, Dallas, Texas
Dr. Arvind Koshal – Director of Development and External Affairs, Mazankowski Alberta Heart Institute
Discussion Panel: Mr. Francis LaBossiere, Dr. Alan Menkis, Dr. David Taggart, Ms Sheila Bowles

Session 3
Hospitals, Are You Promoting Healthy Living in The Workplace ?
11:00 am
Dr. Sharon Macdonald - Department Head, Associate Professor, Department of Community Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Manitoba
Discussion Panel: Dr. Arvind Koshal, Mr. Francis LaBossiere, Ms. Lorraine Avery

Session 4
Your Genes Can Tell Dosages You Need !
12:50 pm
Dr. Jennifer Hall – Associate Professor of Medicine; Director, Program in Translational Cardiovascular Genomics, Lillehei Heart Institute Developmental Biology Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis
Discussion Panel: Ms. Susan Mertin, Dr. Pawan Singal, Dr. Ryan Zarychanski, Dr. Rob Ariano

Session 5
Making Your Heart Stand Still: Advances In MR Technology For Cardiac Diagnoses
1:30pm
Dr. Ian Smith – General Director, National Research Council Institute for Biodiagnostics, Winnipeg
Dr. John Saunders – Chief Scientific Officer, Founder of IMRIS, Winnipeg
Discussion Panel: Dr. Michael Mack, Dr. Davinder Jassal

3:00 pm – 4:00 pm
The Debate:
Angioplasty and Stents are Better Revascularization Than Cardiac Surgery
Pro: Dr. John Ducas - Section of Cardiology, St. Boniface General Hospital
Con: Dr. David Taggart – Professor of Cardiovascular Surgery, University of Oxford, Consultant Cardiac Surgeon, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, United Kingdom
Rebutal
Open Discussion

For or more information
please contact:

IVAN BERKOWITZ
1-204-228 3193
E-mail: ivan@mts.net

We need to worry about children!

2010-09-19T16:32:00.006-05:00

We faced a shock 3 years ago when our new grandson was found to have a hole in his heart. I was able to confirm with some of the leading specialists in the wold (my friends) that he would need surgery. And one of best pediatric cardiac surgeons FIXED Christopher last year (this is one heart problem which can be fixed once and for all!). I visited him recently and watch his pony-riding class which he loves!

But now I have heard a much sadder story about the Gable family - be sure to look at the video = what can we do about H C M ?

An article for the FREE PRESS

2010-09-19T07:06:00.000-05:00

Networking, knowledge sharing aim of heart conference

By Peter Carlyle-Gordge

For the Free Press

Winnipeg is often described as the heart of the continent.

The city is also becoming well known as a centre for excellence in the field of heart health, and that fact will again be illustrated Sept. 25when the third Symposium on the Future of Heart Health will be held in the Sam Cohen Auditorium of the St. Boniface Research Centre.

The biennial gathering will attract some leading heart specialists, including Dr. David Taggart, Professor of Cardiovascular Surgery at Oxford University as well as Consultant Cardiac Surgeon at the world famous John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford, England.

Also slated to speak are: Dr. Ian Smith, General Director of the National Research Council Institute for Biodiagnostics; Dr. Jennifer Hall, Associate Professor of Medicine and Director of the Program in Translational Cardiovascular Genomics at Lillehei Heart Institute Developmental Biology Centre at the University of Minnesota; Dr. Arvind Koshal, Director of Development and External Affairs at the Mazankowski Alberta Heart Institute; and Dr. Michael Mack, board chair of the Cardiopulmonary Research Science and Technology Institute, Medical Director of Cardiovascular Services and Director of Transplantation, at the Medical City Dallas Hospital.

Many other experts, including local ones, will be taking part in the Symposium which is organized by the University of Manitoba’s Cardiac Sciences program and by the International Academy of Cardiac Sciences.

Ivan Berkowitz, a conference coordinator who also has the title Heart Health Scholar, has long been dedicated to shining a bright light on the field of cardiovascular health and in getting heart specialists and researchers to network, compare notes, share knowledge and generally get more attention and funding for the discipline. “This Symposium isn’t overly technical so the layman can learn something from it, but it isn’t A-B-C stuff either,” Berkowitz says. “Our aim is to bring together a variety of experts who can share information and ideas.”

Berkowitz lost both parents to heart disease at relatively young ages, so he has a very personal interest in trying to advance the sharing of knowledge and improving both prevention and treatment programs.

“One problem is that hospitals and doctors are just so busy trying to treat people suffering with the disease that they have little time to focus on education and prevention,” he says. “New technologies and treatments are very important, but early detection and education programs to prevent the onset of the disease are also vital.”

He says heart health education presents a huge opportunity for a healthier society.“We know that 80 per cent of cardiovascular disease could be prevented but you have to start with young people,” he says. “About one in three deaths is cardiovascular related. It’s very important to see how other specialists are approaching treatment and prevention and that’s one reason the International Academy of Cardiac Sciences was established here. We want to get experts from all over the world talking to each other and sharing knowledge.”

The International Academy of Cardiovascular Sciences (IACS) was founded in 1996 and is headquartered in Winnipeg. Established by renowned cardiovascular scientists, surgeons and cardiologists, the academy provides the organizational structure for the worldwide sharing of research and education information in the field of heart health.

Although great strides have been made in improving the death rate from heart disease, heart attacks and related problems are still the No. 1 killer. The academy believes that research has found answers but the facts are too slow in moving beyond the laboratories to the bedside. The Academy, through world-wide representation, builds connectivity and encourages networking through traditional means of journals, texts and symposia, a quarterly official bulletin CV Network, as well as through an interactive website: www.heartacademy.org It aims to organize cardiovascular teach-ins all over the world for the continued education of practicing physicians, surgeons and experimental cardiologists. Another goal is to establish cardiovascular forums in all major cities of the world for organizing and increasing the interaction of clinical cardiologists and surgeons with basic scientists.

The Academy is registered to give tax-deductible receipts in Canada (International Academy of Cardiovascular Sciences Inc.) as well as in the United States (Academy of Cardiovascular Sciences Foundation USA Inc.). The Academy has been strongly supported locally by the Myles Robinson Memorial Heart Trust.

Berkowitz says we seem to be facing a global pandemic of cardiovascular disease “which shows all the signs of getting worse”. He says some experts claim this is due to the urbanization of many populations, a move that often goes along with a change for the worse in diet and less emphasis on physical exercise. He says fighting the disease depends on earlier detection, education and a cooperative, interactive approach to sharing knowledge and medical skills. “People do need to take better care of themselves and we all have room for improvement,” he adds. “I’m very proud that Winnipeg is able to attract so many distinguished heart specialists to discuss these challenges.”

Berkowitz has his own formula for staying well. His family has summered at a cottage on Trout Lake near Kenora since the 1940s and he’s developed his own program of diet and exercise. “I call it the Trout Lake Diet rather than the South Beach Diet,” he laughs.

The symposium will be moderated by CJOB radio’s Richard Cloutier and will begin with remarks by Dr. Michel Tetreault, president & CEO of St. Boniface Hospital. Also speaking will be Dr. Alan Menkis, the Medical Director of the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority Cardiac Sciences Program. He is also Section Head of Cardiac Surgery at the University of Manitoba and was recently elected as a Fellow of the IACS.

Dr. Menkis, says gatherings like this one are vitally important in sharing knowledge and seeing the big picture in cardiac health care. “We cover the whole spectrum of heart health from politics to public police, clinical innovation and basic research,” he says. “Usually we gather some world-renowned leaders in the field so we learn from them and also raise public consciousness about this important field. The goal is to improve health knowledge and look at best practices as well as getting a message to the public.”

He says Winnipeg is also home to many talented heart specialists so the flow of knowledge and networking is two-way. “Outsiders can also learn from how we have totally reorganized the delivery of heart care in the hospitals in this province,” he says. “We can all learn a lot from each other so this kind of sharing and cooperation helps everyone.” Dr. Menkis says Winnipeg is already a highly respected hearth health centre and has attracted some very talented doctors and researchers from overseas. He says the work of the National Research Council and companies such as Winnipeg-based IMRIS, which manufactures a wide range of imaging equipment — including magnetic resonance imaging and x-ray angiography for structural heart disease and electrophysiology — is renowned around the world.

He added that some of the symposium sessions will be perfectly intelligible to the general public and he expects attendance to be anywhere from 100 to 200.

For more information: Contact Ivan Berkowitz at (204) 228 3193
 E-mail: ivan@mts.net

EVERYONE SHOULD KNOW SOME CPR

2010-09-01T13:46:00.000-05:00

EVERYONE SHOULD KNOW SOME CPR - NOW YOU CAN EASILY

just click here

TED.com has awarded its TED PRIZE to Jamie Oliver to CHANGE EATING HABITS!

2010-03-26T09:01:00.002-05:00

The TED Prize is awarded annually to an exceptional individual who receives $100,000 and, much more important, "One Wish to Change the World." Designed to leverage the TED community's exceptional array of talent and resources, the Prize leads to collaborative initiatives with far-reaching impact.

YOU NEED TO WATCH ...

http://www.ted.com/talks/jamie_oliver.html

FROM THE MAYO CLINIC!

2010-02-24T10:12:00.002-06:00

LEARN ABOUT NEW CONTINUOUS CPR to save lives!

President Clinton's Heart Procedure: Common for Bypass Patients

2010-02-12T16:51:00.002-06:00

By Alice Park for TIME Inc ONLINE

Former President Bill Clinton underwent a successful heart procedure on Thursday at the Columbia campus of New York Presbyterian Hospital. Clinton was treated for symptoms of chest discomfort that he had experienced over the past several days, according to his cardiologist, Dr. Allan Schwartz.

After undergoing a battery of tests, Clinton received two stents in a coronary artery. The low-risk procedure involved inserting small metal mesh tubes into the artery to prop it open. The stents will remain within the artery permanently as scaffolding, allowing the vessel to stay open and accommodate blood flow. (See pictures of Clinton's North Korea rescue mission.)

"His prognosis is excellent," said Schwartz at a press conference on Thursday evening, adding that the former President was on his feet two hours after the hour-long procedure. "President Clinton has since been up and walking around and visiting with his family. He's in good spirits. We hope to have him go home tomorrow."

By Thursday evening, Clinton's daughter, Chelsea Clinton, was with him at the hospital, and his wife, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who learned of her husband's condition before a meeting with President Obama in the White House, had traveled from Washington to New York City.

Clinton underwent quadruple-bypass surgery in 2004 at New York Presbyterian Hospital. That procedure was also prompted by symptoms of chest pain. Doctors took blood vessels from elsewhere in his body and grafted them onto his heart to circumvent four blocked heart arteries. In 2005, the former President underwent another operation to remove scar tissue and fluid that had built up in his body — complications of the bypass procedure. (Watch a video about Bill Clinton and Haiti.)

On Thursday, a series of tests, including an angiogram, an electrocardiogram and blood tests, showed no evidence of heart attack or damage to the heart. However, one of the four bypass grafts Clinton received six years ago was completely blocked. Doctors stented one of Clinton's coronary arteries to increase blood flow to the heart.

Cardiac experts say that the blockage of grafted heart vessels is not unusual in bypass patients. Depending on whether the grafts are veins or arteries — the former being smaller and less flexible than the latter — blockage could occur as soon as five years or as late as 10 years following the initial surgery. Schwartz said the bypass graft that was blocked in Clinton's case has about a 10% to 20% failure rate at five to six years. (Comment on this story)

"It's important to remember that blocked blood vessels are not an event but a disease," says Dr. Clyde Yancy, president of the American Heart Association, who is not involved in Clinton's care but spoke in general about what to expect after bypass surgery. "We know blockages have their own natural history, and this just highlights the need to always be at the ready."

Clinton, 63, has spent much of the past several weeks in Haiti as the U.N. special envoy to that country, contributing to the relief efforts there after the catastrophic January earthquake. The former President has maintained a rigorous schedule since his bypass surgery, giving speeches, working with his global charitable foundation and accompanying his wife on the campaign trail during her own bid for President in 2008.

"This was not a result of either his lifestyle or his diet, which have been excellent," said Schwartz, referring to Clinton's procedure on Thursday. "His cholesterol numbers and other risk factors that we follow have all been excellent."

Even in patients who do everything right — eating a healthy diet, exercising and reducing stress to maintain heart health — new vessels can become blocked again, Yancy says, simply because heart disease is a progressive condition that is not cured by surgery. But it is that much more crucial for bypass patients to control risk factors, maintain healthy weight, lower cholesterol and blood pressure and not smoke in order to decrease the risk of future heart events. "This is a chronic condition," said Schwartz. "We don't have a cure."

Clinton's cardiologist emphasized that his patient was smart to respond promptly to the warning signals, like chest discomfort, that had been discussed in the past.

"The goal of this treatment is for President Clinton to resume his very active lifestyle," said Schwartz, who said he told Clinton he could go back to work on Monday. "It makes him less susceptible to future heart attacks."

MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING between ISCTR and IACS

2010-02-08T17:06:00.002-06:00

Sir Magdi Yacoub, President IACS and Nabil Dib, President of ISCTR

at the ISCTR meeting in San Diego, February, 2009

Dr. Naranjan S. Dhalla has been appointed to the Advisory Board of the International Society of Cardiovascular Translational Research (ISCTR). Dr. Dhalla as Executive Director of IACS has agreed to recognize the "Journal of Cardiovascular Translational Research" as an Official Journal of IACS.

A Memorandum of Understanding has been developed by Jennifer L. Hall, Ph.D. Vice President, ISCTR and Ivan Berkowitz, MBA, Director of Development, IACS to define and clarify the relationship between the IACS and the ISCTR. The two groups share a vision and a commitment to research and education. In brief, they seek to work in cooperation to further the Mission outlined below and to work toward the objective of setting up a shared management for raising funds, delivery of services and building the long-term viability of fulfilling this mission. The leadership of the organizations agree to work together the next twelve months with a focus on implementing the following objectives that will serve to accomplish the broader goals listed above:

1. Research

The goal is to establish research committees from both organizations to collaborate on research to help support the Mission. A goal will be for these committee members to work together to publish guidelines to move the field forward scientifically. The IACS and the ISCTR will work together in forming research committees each year to prioritize and review areas of focus - the committees will be formed in the fall, meet at the annual Summit Meeting in February, and have conference calls throughout the year to follow up.

2. Education

An educational committee will be formed to review and prioritize educational goals for the affiliated organizations. The main focus of this committee will be meetings, internet networking, the journal (JCTR) and training fellowships. This committee will include members from both organizations.

The goal is to support educational advancement of individuals and institutions that are committed to supporting the Mission. Both organizations will promote educational events and share information amongst members. Members of the IACS will be affiliated members of ISCTR and members of ISCTR will be affiliated members of the IACS. Links will be established between web sites of both organizations.

Plans are being developed for a brain-storming session during the Annual Meetings of A C C in Atlanta in March 2010.

@hivanb/heart-health-experts Let's start sharing new highlights of CVD research and developments in care and prevention

2010-01-28T14:55:00.004-06:00

Please sign up for a new TWITTER group and let's try to share ...
https://twitter.com/signup

new from the American Heart Association = 7 simple standards for Heart Health

2010-01-28T10:38:00.000-06:00

* Never smoked or quit more than one year ago

* Body mass index less than 25 kilograms per square meter

* Physical activity of at least 150 minutes (moderate) or 75 minutes (vigorous) each week

* Four to five of the key components of a healthy diet consistent with current AHA guideline recommendations

* Total cholesterol of less than 200 mg/dL

* Blood pressure below 120/80 mm Hg

* Fasting blood glucose less than 100 mg/dL

Update from Doris Taylor on building new hearts

2010-01-20T11:01:00.000-06:00

http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2010/01/15/midmorning1/

AN EXTRAORDINARY EVENT !

2009-10-22T16:44:00.009-05:00

CO-SPONSORED BY:

3rd SYMPOSIUM on the FUTURE of HEART HEALTH

Saturday Sept. 25, 2010 *** WINNIPEG MB Canada

for details contact: Ivan Berkowitz – (tel) 1-294-228 3193
or E-mail: ivan@mts.net

Jay Cohn dazzled exceptional Winnipeg crowd

2009-06-19T10:57:00.033-05:00

The 2^nd Annual Harold Buchwald Memorial Lecture on Heart Health was the highlight of a Luncheon on Sept. 25/09. The Lecture was supported by the Myles Robinson Memorial Heart Trust. We invited Dr. Jay Cohn from the University of Minnesota where he leads The Rasmussen Center for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention. The title of his awesome lecture was "A STRATEGY FOR EVERYONE TO LIVE PAST 100!".
GO TO:

http://sbrc.tv/1/watch/60.aspx

To read about the Rasmussen Centre and Dr. Cohn:

http://www.umphysicians.umn.edu/Clinics/CardiovascularDiseasePreventionRasmussenCenter/index.htm

Encouraged by the success of a dynamic talk by Dr. Eldon Smith in 2008, we believe in making this event an annual activity. Please enjoy my introduction to the 1st Lecture at: http://sbrc.tv/1/watch/34.aspx?

We are able to share Dr. Smith's talk online

http://sbrc.tv/1/watch/35.aspx

AN EXCEPTONAL REPORT ON THE LIFE OF MICHAEL DEBAKEY by his AMAZING SISTERS

2009-06-18T21:06:00.001-05:00

click here

Sir Magdi Yacoub reflecting on the FUTURE!

2009-06-18T16:01:00.007-05:00

At the Convention of the INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR CARDIOVASCULAR TRANSLATIONAL RESEARCH in San Diego in February 2009, the President of the Academy Sir Magdi Yacoub delivered the Opening Address and went into his crystal ball to reflect on "The Future of Cardiovascular Medicine" https://netfiles.umn.edu/xythoswfs/webui/_xy-10566557_1-t_KGP72a7T

[Dr. Yacoub (R) with Dr. Alan Menkis when he visited Winnipeg for the 1st Symposium on the Future of Heart Health in 2006]

WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT!

2009-06-16T17:07:00.000-05:00

http://www.heartacademy.org/yacoub.htm

An incredible talk about bringing Heart Health to Africa

2009-06-16T17:02:00.003-05:00

http://blog.ted.com/2008/04/ernest_madu.php

An interesting discussion of Heart Health by my friend Tom Kottke from Minneapolis

2009-06-16T13:14:00.000-05:00

http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2009/08/21/midday1/

unbelievable ... we can all keep on running!

2009-06-16T11:44:00.002-05:00

Fauja in Adidas 'Nothing Is Impossible' advertising campaign. He replaced David Beckham as Adidas’s new poster boy. On the Adidas billboards, spread across London, he was sitting cross-legged; as if cooling his heals after a day’s work out, peeping over Londoners, tired and overworked, telling them the secrets of his unfailing energy.
Fauja Singh, Britain’s most popular Sikh is 98 now, the oldest runner in London Marathon.
He is threatening to break his own world record of 5.40 hours in the 90 plus age bracket that he set previously. While running Marathon races in London, New York and Toronto, he raised thousands of pounds for various charities promoting Sikh culture around the world. He has also raised money for B.L.I.S.S., a charity dedicated to the care for premature babies. He describes it as the ‘oldest running for the youngest.
Fauja’s jogging skills were developed on an Indian farm in Punjab, and then at the magical age of 81, when he moved to the UK, his love for the sport became more “serious”.

"Father of Viagra" Louis Ignarro visited St. Boniface

2009-06-08T17:09:00.003-05:00

We were honoured to welcome Dr. Louis Ignarro on May 29 and 30, 2009. Indeed, his visit had originally been planned to present to Dr. Ignarro a 2007 “Medal of Merit”, the most prestigious award of the Academy “FOR OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENTS IN CARDIOVASCULAR EDUCATION AND RESEARCH”. His busy schedule led to the Award being presented before he could accept it personally.

To enjoy Dr. Iganrro's Lecture and his Public Presentation, please visit:

"Father of Viagra" Louis Ignarro visited St. Boniface

We were honoured to welcome Dr. Louis Ignarro on May 29 and 30, 2009. Indeed, his visit had originally been planned to present to Dr. Ignarro a 2007

“Medal of Merit”, the most prestigious award of the Academy “FOR OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENTS IN CARDIOVASCULAR EDUCATION AND RESEARCH”. His busy schedule led to the Award being presented before he could accept it personally.

To enjoy Dr. Iganrro's Lecture and his Public Presentation, please visit:

http://sbrc.tv/1.aspx

A SPECIAL EVENT TO HONOUR A VERY SPECIAL MAN !

2009-04-18T09:26:00.000-05:00

Institute for Heart Research, Slovak Academy of Sciences
Slovak Cardiological Society
Czech and Slovak Commission for Experimental Cardiology
Slovak Physiological Society
Slovak Society for Histochemistry and Cytochemistry
Slovak Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
THE HEART IN HEALTH AND
DISEASE CONFERENCE
at the occasion of 75th Birthday
Ing. Attila Ziegelhöffer, DrSc., F.I.A.C.S., F.E.S.C.,
November 12, 2009 at 10.00 AM
Conference Hall of SAS
Bratislava, Patrónka, Dúbravská cesta 9
PROGRAM
Opening – J. Styk
Chairs : N. Vrbjar, Ľ. Okruhlicová
Adaptive mechanisms in the diabetic myocardium: endogenous cardioprotection and
its loss
T. Ravingerová, J. Matejíková, A. Adameová1, T. Kelly2, A. Lazou2, D. Pancza,
O. Pecháňová3
Institute for Heart Research, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, 1Department of
Pharmacology and Toxicology Faculty of Pharmacy, Comenius University, Bratislava,
2School of Biology, University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, 3Institute of Normal and
Pathological Physiology, Bratislava.
P-glykoprotein – mediated multidrug resistance
A. Breier, M. Barančík, Z. Sulová, V. Boháčová, P. Dočolomanský
Institute of Molecular Physiology and Genetics, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava.
Disturbed circadian rhythms in the cardiovascular system
M. Zeman, L. Molčan, L. Kršková, A. Veselá, K. Szantoová, I. Herichová
Department of Animal Physiology and Ethology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius
University, Bratislava.
Signal transducing pathways activated by oxygen deprivation
S. Pastoreková, J. Pastorek
Institute of Virology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava.
Chairs : T. Ravingerová, M. Barančík
Calcium sensing through the heart.
B. Ziegelhöffer, F. W. Mohr, S. Dhein
Heart Center of Leipzig, University of Leipzig, Leipzig.
Advances and pitfalls of membrane potential and fluidity estimation in mitochondria
I. Waczulíková, J. Mujkošová1, M. Ferko1
Department of Nuclear Physics and Biophysics, Division of Biomedical Physics, Faculty
of Mathematics, Physics and Informatics, Comenius University, Bratislava, Institute for
Heart Research, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava.
Endurance and performance of two different concepts for left ventricular
stimulation with bipolar epicardial leads in long-term follow-up
T. Ziegelhoeffer, T. Schwarz, W. Ehrlich, J. Sperzel, W. P. Kloevekorn, H. Burger
Department of Cardiac Surgery, Kerckhoff-Clinic, Bad Nauheim.
BREAK
Developmental aspects of cardiac sensitivity to ischemia - protective mechanisms in
the immature heart.
B. Ošťádal, I. Ošťádalová, F. Kolář, Z. Charvatová, I. Netuka
Institute of Physiology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Prague.
Role of mitochondrial BK channels in cardioprotection by chronic hypoxia.
F. Kolář, G. Borchert
Institute of Physiology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Prague.
Protein remodeling of the myocardial tissue.
V. Pelouch
2nd Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic.
Evaluation of the antioxidant status in conditions of diabetes mellitus.
J. Čársky
Institute of Medical Chemistry, Biochemistry and Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of
Medicine, Comenius University, Bratislava.
Red Wine polyphenolic compounds prevent the development of hypertension
O, Pecháňová, I. Bernátová, S. Vranková
Institute of Normal and Pathological Physiology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava.
Protective action of 2,3-dihydromelatonin against the redox changes induced by
ischemia/reperfusion: effect on the brain.
O. Ondrejičková, S. Štolc, M. Dubovský, V. Šnirc
Institute of Experimental Pharmacology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava.
Melatonin inhibits oxidative stress and slows down hypertension development
J. Török, A. Zemančíková
Institute of Normal and Pathological Physiology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava.
Reperfusion damage: Is it a separate syndrome or just a continuation of ischemic
alterations?
J. Styk , T. Ravingerová, J. Slezák
Institute for Heart Research, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava.
Functional alterations of cardiac and renal Na,K-ATPase during diabetes mellitus
type 1.
N. Vrbjar, J. Vlkovičová, V. Javorková, L. Mézešová, M. Šteffek1, Z. Kyseľová1, A..
Gajdošíková1
Institute for Heart Research, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, 1Institute of
Experimental Pharmacology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava.
Subcellular myocardial adaptation to chronic ischemia.
J. Slezák, N. Tribulová, J. Styk, Ľ. Okruhlicová, T. Ravingerová
Institute for Heart Research, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava.
Heterogeneity in distribution and expression of conexin-43 in the aorta of SHR a
HTG rats.
Ľ. Okruhlicová, K. Dlugošová, J. Slezák, N. Tribulová
Institute for Heart Research, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava.
The role of intercellular connexin channels in the heart in prevention of malignant
arrhythmia
N. Tribulová, J. Radošinská, B. Bačová, Ľ. Okruhlicová, J. Slezák
Institute for Heart Research, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava.
Matrix metalloproteinases and their role in pathology of cardiovascular diseases.
M. Ivanová, P. Šimončíková, A. Špániková, M. Barančík
Institute for Heart Research, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava.
In vitro assessment of vascular reactivity by wire myograph
P. Bališ, P. Slezák, A. Púzserová, I. Bernátová
Institute of Normal and Pathological Physiology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava.
Effect of antihypertensive therapy on functional properties of heart kidney and liver
mitochondria in spontaneously hypertensive rats: Influence of captopril.
J. Mujkošová, M. Ferko, O. Uličná1, I. Waczulíková2, N. Vrbjar
Institute for Heart Research, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, 1Laboratory of
Pharmacobiochemistry, 3rdDepartment of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine,
Comenius University, Bratislava, 2Department of Nuclear Physics and Biophysics,
Division of Biomedical Physics, Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Informatics,
Comenius University, Bratislava.
Damage and protection in acute diabetic myocardium: the role of mitochondria
M. Ferko, J. Mujkošová, D. Kincelová1, O. Uličná1, I. Waczulíková2
Institute for Heart Research, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, 1Laboratory of
Pharmacobiochemistry, 3rdDepartment of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine,
Comenius University, Bratislava, 2Department of Nuclear Physics and Biophysics,
Division of Biomedical Physics, Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Informatics,
Comenius University, Bratislava.
BREAK
12.00 Laudatio – J. Styk
Greetings
13.00 Reception