Through the kindness of Richard M. and Yvonne Hamlin, Summa Health System announced today the largest philanthropic gift in its organization’s history – a $4 million contribution for the creation of a hybrid cardiovascular operating room at Summa Akron City Hospital. In honor of the benefactors, Summa’s Center of Excellence building at 95 Arch Street in Akron will be renamed The Richard M. and Yvonne Hamlin Pavilion. The facility is home to numerous cardiopulmonary patient services as well as medical and surgical physician offices.

A history of kidney stones may put women but not men at higher risk of coronary heart disease (CHD), according to a study published in the July 24 issue of JAMA.

Physicians may think twice before prescribing calcium supplements to patients with chronic kidney disease, based on results of a study published online July 19 in The Lancet. Researchers reported that the use of calcium-free phosphate binders may lower mortality risk in these patients compared with calcium-based binders.

To improve clinical staff safety during interventional procedures and help monitor radiation dose, Toshiba America Medical Systems, Inc. has partnered with Unfors RaySafe, Inc. to offer a new dose monitoring and management tool for Infinix™-i cardiovascular X-ray systems. The Unfors RaySafe i2 displays real-time dose exposure information, helping to make exams safer for all clinical staff.

In 2012, the FDA put physicians on alert after determining that a compounding center shipped potentially contaminated injectable products linked to a fungal meningitis outbreak. In JAMA Neurology’s July 22 online section, a team from Tennessee described the diagnostic challenges they faced treating three patients who presented with ischemic stroke several weeks after receiving epidural injections.

Call it howling at the moon, but the timing of aortic dissection surgery within the lunar cycle may influence the odds of death and length of stay, according to a study published online July 9 in Interactive CardioVascular and Thoracic Surgery.

Poor compliance with antihypertensive medications among patients with high blood pressure may greatly increase their risk of death and hospitalization due to strokes, according to a population-based study published in the July 21 issue of European Heart Journal.

A new book, The Heart of Leonardo, features all of Leonardo's drawings on the heart and its physiology, accompanied by translations of his accompanying notes.