James Chen-tson Fang, M.D., has been named chief of cardiovascular medicine at the University of Utah School of Medicine and director of the cardiovascular service line at University of Utah Health Care.

Medtronic, Inc. (NYSE:MDT) today announced market release of the CardioGuide™ Implant System, a novel real-time navigation system for cardiac resynchronization therapy pacemakers and defibrillators (CRT-P and CRT-D), in the United States and Canada. The system helps physicians determine the most appropriate location for left-ventricular lead placement by generating 3-D images of the cardiac veins; enhanced software for the system will be commercially available later this year that also analyzes the motion of select cardiac vessels on the left side of the heart. Clinical studies have shown that appropriate left-ventricular lead placement may improve CRT response in heart failure patients (1,2,3).

scPharmaceuticals LLC today announced that it has entered into a strategic partnership and product development agreement with Sensile Medical Holding AG of Zug, Switzerland to develop an innovative new therapeutic option for patients with heart failure.  The terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

According to research presented during the 21st annual scientific sessions of the American Society of Echocardiography (ASE) in San Diego this week, cardiac troponin plasma concentrations and longitudinal strain can predict the development of cardiotoxicity in patients treated with anthracyclines and trastuzumab chemotherapies.