HN Summary • New genetic cause identified: SickKids and University of Toronto researchers discovered previously unknown disease-causing variations in the EIF3A and EIF3B genes linked to congenital heart disease, facial differences and developmental delays. • Global validation: By connecting with international clinicians through GeneMatcher, the team identified 18 affected individuals worldwide, revealing a consistent pattern […] The post Researchers uncover genetic basis of heart defects and facial differences in syndrome appeared first on Hospital News.
HN Summary • Living Heart Tissue Created with Custom 3D Printer Researchers at the Centre for Heart Lung Innovation (HLI), St. Paul’s Hospital, developed an in-house 3D printer that produces living human heart tissue from patient-derived stem cells. This enables highly consistent, reproducible tissue samples that mimic real human heart behavior. • Advancing Drug Testing […] The post Researchers create living heart tissue with a 3D printer for testing new treatments appeared first on Hospital News.
A new MRI-based study from McGill and Concordia University researchers has uncovered a sex-specific link between psychosocial stress and early signs of heart inflammation. Among 219 adults studied, women who reported high levels of stress — related to caregiving demands, low emotional support or overall perceived stress — showed elevated T1 and T2 heart tissue markers associated with early cardiac disease. These changes were not observed in men, even under comparable stress levels, suggesting fundamental biological differences in how stress affects cardiovascular health. Although the MRI values didn’t meet clinical thresholds, the elevated levels could signal increased long-term risk. The research underscores the importance of incorporating psychosocial stress and mental well-being into cardiovascular risk assessments, particularly for women, and lays groundwork for future studies exploring hormonal and biological contributors to stress-related heart disease. The post Researchers find link between psychosocial stress and early signs of heart inflammation in women appeared first on Hospital News.
