DUBLIN — July 12, 2018 — Medtronic plc (NYSE:MDT) today announced U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) labeling expansion for the Medtronic SelectSecure(TM) MRI SureScan(TM) Model 3830 cardiac pacing lead to include stimulation of the bundle of His. It is the only pacing lead on the market approved for His-bundle pacing (HBP).

MIAMI, July 11, 2018 — Scientists from the Diabetes Research Institute (DRI) at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine today announced the launch of a new clinical trial that will assess the impact of high-dose omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin D supplementation on halting the progression of type 1 diabetes (T1D).

The FDA has cleared a less-invasive implant approach for Medtronic’s HeartWare HVAD system, allowing the left ventricular assist device (LVAD) to be placed through a small incision between the ribs. It is the first LVAD approved in the U.S. to be inserted with this technique, according to Medtronic.

Valsartan, a common drug used to control hypertension and heart failure, is being recalled in 22 counties due to concerns its active pharmaceutical ingredient, N-Nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA), a known carcinogen, poses a cancer risk.

Quantitative flow ratio (QFR) allows for the functional assessment of stenosis on par with fractional flow reserve (FFR) but doesn’t require a guidewire, an international group of researchers reported in the Journal of the American Heart Association.

A program designed to help hypertensive patients with complex medication regimens understand the drugs they are prescribed not only failed to improve adherence, but it actually raised their blood pressure.

Black men and women have higher incidences of hypertension by the age of 55 compared to white men and women, according to a study published July 11 in the Journal of the American Heart Association.

Scientists are beginning to explore whether infusing heart tissue with mitochondria can restore function to oxygen-deprived cells after a heart attack. The technique has potential in both pediatric and adult patients, according to an article in The New York Times.

The American Red Cross declared an emergency blood shortage on July 9, calling for donations of all blood types—but especially type O—as the agency scrambles to make up for the Fourth of July holiday week.

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) issued a Grade I recommendation for screening peripheral artery disease (PAD) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk with the ankle-brachial index (ABI), indicating current evidence is insufficient to recommend screening without signs or symptoms of disease.