DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ 'There may be no light for a very long time': Ukrainians face a massive test of survival this winter
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-22 | by ( Holly Ellyatt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Daily life has become a test of survival for many, with basic necessities such as water, food and medical provisions becoming scarce. Kherson residents collect water at a water point in the city that has had no electricity or water since the Russian retreat on November 16, 2022 in Kherson, Ukraine. Firefighters work to put out a fire at energy infrastructure facilities, damaged by Russian missile strike, as Russia's attack on Ukraine continues, in Kyiv region, Ukraine November 15, 2022. EvacuationsUkrainian officials in parts of the country most badly affected by power shortages are warning residents of a harsh winter ahead. Residents talk with train station staff while waiting to be evacuated from Kherson on Nov. 21, 2022 in Kherson, Ukraine.

For decades doctors have been telling their patients that high levels of HDL, otherwise known as “good cholesterol,” could protect them from heart disease. But a new study suggests that having a lot of so-called good cholesterol doesn’t mean a lower risk of heart attacks. The new findings surprised the researchers, who originally designed their study to understand how cholesterol levels in Black and white middle-aged adults without heart disease affected their future risks. Previous research on "good" cholesterol and heart disease consisted of mostly white adults. Low HDL levels were associated with an increased risk of coronary heart disease in white participants, but not Black participants.

☆ Study suggests that HDL or ‘good’ cholesterol is less beneficial than previously thought, especially for Black adults
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-21 | by ( Deidre Mcphillips | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Also, higher levels of HDL cholesterol were not found to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease for either group. “It’s been well accepted that low HDL cholesterol levels are detrimental, regardless of race. The researchers found that high levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and triglycerides “modestly” predicted heart disease risk among both Black and White adults. But they suggest that more work is needed to understand what’s driving the racial differences in the link between HDL and heart disease risk. And in the meantime, current clinical assessments for heart disease risk “may misclassify risk in Black adults, potentially hindering optimal cardiovascular disease prevention and management programs for this group,” they wrote.

☆ Gabby Giffords still struggles to find words, but she hasn’t lost her voice
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-18 | by ( Dr. Tara Narula | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Watch “Gabby Giffords Won’t Back Down” at 9 p.m. ET/PT November 20 on CNN. One of those voices that has spoken up in her own unique way is Gabby Giffords. Video Ad Feedback Obama shares what he's learned from Gabby Giffords 00:58 - Source: CNNI met Gabby before the debut of the CNN documentary “Gabby Giffords Won’t Back Down,” a detailed portrayal of the inner fire that helped her heal and pushes her to help others do the same. Gabby told me she feels optimistic, but she knows that she has a long road ahead. Gabby told them “rocking chairs”: a phrase to mean a long time from now, when they’re sitting on the porch in old, worn rocking chairs.

☆ Qatar World Cup: 'Our dreams never came true.' These men helped build Qatar's tournament, now they are struggling to survive.
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-17 | by ( Aimee Lewis Pramod Acharya Sugam Pokharel | Aimee Lewis | Pramod Acharya | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +31 min

It will be a historic event, the first World Cup to be held in the Middle East, but one also mired in controversy. He had dreamed of watching World Cup matches from the rooftop of the hotel he had helped build. In Qatar, migrant workers can now change jobs freely without permission from their employer. However, a number of European federations have issued a joint statement saying they would campaign at the tournament on human rights and for a migrant workers center and a compensation fund for migrant workers. The motto for Qatar’s bid team in 2010 was ‘Expect Amazing.’ In many ways, this year’s World Cup has replicated that maxim.

☆ Matt Quinlan's high-dividend stock funds hold more than $20 billion in investor assets. The Franklin Templeton vet told us where he finds innovators that can deliver big returns.
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-17 | by ( Marley Jay | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Historically, big dividend payments have been associated with just a couple of stock market sectors. Franklin Templeton fund manager Matt Quinlan says that's changed in recent years. But inflation and interest rates were extremely low during that period, and it seemed like the growth and spending could go on forever. In a market like today's that's defined by higher interest rates and inflation, which erode returns over time, a solid dividend yield can give buyers a real leg up. He's also run its $24.3 billion Rising Dividends Fund for three years, and its results have been particularly strong across his tenure.

An unattended 2-year-old starved after his father died at their upstate New York home earlier this year, authorities said Tuesday. The father died naturally from "cardiovascular disease," according to a statement from the Ontario County Sheriff's Department. The toddler's cause of death was starvation, and the manner was ruled to be accidental, the sheriff said. "It is believed that Mr. Conde passed away first, and the child was not able to obtain any nourishment after his father passed," the sheriff concluded. The pair were last seen alive Jan. 22, and investigators have said there were no signs of forced entry or foul play inside the apartment.

☆ Artificial light while asleep linked to higher diabetes risk
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-14 | by ( Sandee Lamotte | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —Sleeping in a room exposed to outdoor artificial light at night may increase the risk of developing diabetes, according to a study of nearly 100,000 Chinese adults. Urban light pollution is so widespread that it can affect suburbs and forest parks that may be tens, even hundreds, of miles from the light source, the authors said. “Studies have suggested that inconsistent sleep patterns have been linked to an increased risk of type 2 diabetes,” he said in a statement. Blood samples were collected and compared with satellite imagery of light levels in the area of China in which each person lived. The analysis found chronic exposure to light pollution at night raised blood glucose levels and led to a higher risk of insulin resistance and diabetes.

☆ Weight loss startups offer access to new drugs, but do they provide good care?
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-13 | by ( Darius Tahir | Kaiser Health News | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +11 min

Now a wave of startups offer access to a new category of drugs coupled with intensive behavioral coaching online. These patients pay hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars, to access new drugs, called GLP-1 agonists, along with online coaching to encourage healthy habits. (That price includes generic drugs, but not the newer GLP-1 agonists, like Wegovy.) The firms say they’re on the vanguard of weight care, both citing the influence of biology and other scientific factors as key ingredients to their approaches. Found said older generics like zonisamide are more accessible than the GLP-1 agonists advertised on social media and their own website.

☆ A brain expert shares his 7 'hard rules' for boosting memory and fighting off dementia
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-13 | by ( Marc Milstein | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

As a neuroscience researcher, here are seven hard rules I live by to keep my brain sharp and fight off dementia. Keep blood pressure and cholesterol levels in checkYour heart beats roughly 115,000 times a day, and with every beat, it sends about 20% of the oxygen in your body to your brain. High blood pressure can weaken your heart muscle, and is one of the leading causes of strokes. Ideally, your blood pressure should be no higher than 120/80. To lessen isolation and loneliness, you can also boost brain chemicals like serotonin and endorphins by performing small acts of kindness: Wish others well or check in with somebody.

☆ Don’t bother with dietary supplements for heart health, study says
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-06 | by ( Jen Christensen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —Six supplements that people commonly take for heart health don’t help lower “bad” cholesterol or improve cardiovascular health, according to a study published Sunday, but statins did. Some people believe that common dietary supplements – fish oil, garlic, cinnamon, turmeric, plant sterols and red yeast rice – will lower their “bad” cholesterol. The fatty deposits can block the flow of oxygen and blood that the heart needs to work and the blockage can lead to a heart attack or stroke. He calls these supplements “21st century snake oil.”In the United States, the Dietary Supplement and Health Education Act of 1994 sharply limited the US Food and Drug Administration’s ability to regulate supplements. “The good news, we know statins work,” Khera said.

An earlier study in adults showed that the drug did indeed help with weight loss. “We’ve entered the phase where we are seeing the kind of weight loss where teens come to us in tears. In addition to the weight loss, the drug reduced some cardiovascular risk factors, including waist circumference and bad cholesterol. As it turns out, even when people get weight loss surgery, “three years out, there is significant weight gain,” Li said. When a weight loss drug like this is prescribed to patients, that shouldn’t be the end of things, Li said.

[1/2] The company logo for Johnson & Johnson is displayed to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the company's listing at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York, U.S., September 17, 2019. J&J is focused on its pharmaceuticals and medical devices operations with the consumer health spinoff expected by November 2023. Chief Executive Joaquin Duato has said he will look to build up the medical devices unit through acquisition. Abiomed will operate as a standalone business within the healthcare conglomerate's medical technology division. J&J's medical technology business includes surgical, orthopedic and various other devices.

☆ J&J's nearly $17 billion offer to buy a heart pump maker goes right to why we own it
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-01 | by ( Zev Fima | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

The spin-off of J & J's consumer business, including such brands as Band-Aid and Tylenol, is expected in November of next year. Bottom line The new standalone J & J consumer company will be called Kenvue . A decision like this, to lay out nearly $17 billion, or $380 per Abiomed share, upfront, can therefore speak to management's confidence in the opportunity this acquisition presents. Fortunately, Johnson & Johnson has one of the best balance sheets in the world. Johnson & Johnson headquarters in New Brunswick, N.J. Mel Evans | AP

☆ J&J to buy heart pump maker Abiomed in $16.6 bln deal
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] The company logo for Johnson & Johnson is displayed to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the company's listing at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York, U.S., September 17, 2019. REUTERS/Brendan McDermidNov 1 (Reuters) - Johnson & Johnson (JNJ.N) said on Tuesday it will buy heart pump maker Abiomed Inc (ABMD.O) in a deal valued at $16.6 billion to boost its cardiovascular devices business. The deal comes at a time when J&J is spinning off its consumer health business to focus on its pharmaceuticals and medical devices operations. Abiomed shareholders will also get rights to receive up to $35 per share in cash if certain commercial and clinical milestones are achieved. Reporting by Raghav Mahobe and Leroy Leo in Bengaluru; Editing by Shounak DasguptaOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Here's why you should focus on frequency and speed to get the most benefit out of your 10,000 steps a day
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-27 | by ( Renée Onque | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Number of steps: Aim for 9,800 - 10,000 a dayFor every 2,000 steps, risk of heart disease, cancer and premature death decreases by 10%, peaking at 10,000 steps each day, the research shows. Additionally, a little under 10,000 steps a day (9,800) can drop risk of dementia by 50%. And "adults who took 8,000 or more steps a day had a reduced risk of death over the following decade than those who only walked 4,000 steps a day," according to the National Institute of Health. At 112 steps per minute, individuals were able to lower their reduction risk of the condition by 38%. The individuals included in the study did not have cardiovascular disease, cancer or dementia when the research first began.

☆ Black and Hispanic adults less likely than Whites to receive ‘potentially lifesaving’ bystander CPR during cardiac arrest, study finds
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-27 | by ( Jacqueline Howard | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

The data also showed that 38.5% of Blacks and Hispanics received bystander CPR when the cardiac arrest happened at home, compared with 47.4% of Whites. He added that not receiving bystander CPR during a cardiac arrest can have “significant clinical outcomes” for the person whose heart stopped pumping. “Bystander CPR ensures some level of blood circulation, oxygenation of the brain and other vital organs,” Benjamin said. “Certainly time to intervention is critical, and bystander CPR and defibrillator access and use is a part of that,” she said, adding that disparities in how much CPR training is conducted in communities also plays a role in the likelihood of someone receiving bystander CPR. “We need to use what we learn about disparities to help improve the likelihood of bystander CPR for everyone.

☆ Watch CNBC's full interview with Bristol Myers Squibb CEO Dr. Giovanni Caforio
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-26 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailWatch CNBC's full interview with Bristol Myers Squibb CEO Dr. Giovanni CaforioBristol Myers Squibb CEO Dr. Giovanni Caforio joins CNBC's 'Squawk on the Street' to discuss the company's third-quarter earnings report. Caforio also breaks down the company's portfolio of cardiovascular drugs, including heavyweight Eliquis. "Internationally, business was impacted by exchange," Caforio tells CNBC.

☆ People who caught mild Covid had increased risk of blood clots, British study finds
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-25 | by ( Spencer Kimball | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Patients with mild Covid, defined as those not hospitalized, were 2.7 times more likely to develop blood clots, according to the study published in the British Medical Journal's Heart on Monday. Participants were tracked until they developed cardiovascular disease, died or until the study ended in March 2021. While people with mild Covid had an increased risk of blood clots, patients hospitalized with the virus had a significantly higher risk of cardiovascular disease in general. The risk of cardiovascular disease for mild and severe cases was highest in the first 30 days after infection but continued later. The scientists said their findings highlight the importance of monitoring even people who had mild Covid for cardiovascular disease over the the long term.

☆ Billionaire investor Vinod Khosla lays out why changing how primary care is paid for could disrupt healthcare
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-24 | by ( Sarah Braner | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

On Thursday, the billionaire investor Vinod Khosla spoke about reducing costs in healthcare. Vinod Khosla thinks the best way to disrupt healthcare is to change how it's paid for at the primary-care level. The billionaire investor and founder of Khosla Ventures said he thought that in the next decade, primary care should cost as little as $1 to $5 per visit. "If you change the definition of primary care from what is today's primary care, or urgent care mostly, to a much-broader definition where your hypertension is managed in primary care, where your diabetes is managed in primary care, you will see that take over and affect the core total cost of care downstream," he said. For instance, a company like Oak Street Health can operate primary care at a loss because it makes money if its patients stay healthy.

☆ People who live next to an LA airport frequented by jet-setters are complaining about the fumes getting worse
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-23 | by ( Britney Nguyen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

More and more private jets, as well as charter planes, are using the Van Nuys Airport in LA, creating more fumes. VNY, the call letters for Van Nuys Airport, is a general aviation airport, meaning it's for public use, and does not usually have commercial service. Another San Fernando Valley resident told the LA Times she wouldn't let her son go outside because of the fumes. In 2020, there was a 300% increase year over year in first-time private jet fliers, Robb Report reported. Gutierrez-Hedges said she wanted to see a curfew for private jet take-offs and landings, and a study on the air quality.

☆ Abbott raises 2022 profit forecast for second time
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-19 | by ( Nancy Lapid | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Oct 19 (Reuters) - Abbott Laboratories (ABT.N) on Wednesday raised its annual earnings forecast for the second time, citing strong demand for medical devices and COVID-19 diagnostic tests. COVID-19 test kit sales were up $1.7 billion, compared to $1.9 billion last year and $2.3 billion in the second quarter, as testing declined amid a slower pace of infections. The company now expects $5.17-$5.23 per share in adjusted earnings this year, compared to at least $4.90 per share it forecast earlier. read moreAbbott said it expects around $7.8 billion in COVID-19 test sales this year, with $500 million in the fourth quarter, compared to the $6.1 billion it had forecast earlier. The Illinois-based company reported third-quarter worldwide sales of $10.4 billion, down 4.7% from a year ago.

☆ Sleep may be just as important to heart health as diet and physical activity, research finds
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-19 | by ( Jen Christensen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

In June, the American Heart Association added sleep duration to its cardiovascular health checklist, now called “Life’s Essential 8.” These science-based guidelines were created to help all Americans improve their heart health. Other research has also shown connections between short sleep and chronic diseases that could also hurt heart health. Those poor health behaviors also contribute to poor heart health. Poor sleep is also linked to a lower engagement in physical activity, Makarem said. So it is not a surprise that poor sleep would increase future heart disease risk,” Makarem added.

CNN —There’s growing evidence that Black heart failure patients are less likely to get advanced therapies than White patients. A study published Wednesday in the journal Circulation: Heart Failure finds that among a group of adults with heart failure, White people were twice as likely as Black people to receive a heart transplant or a ventricular assist device, a mechanical heart pump often used for patients with end-stage heart failure. The data showed that a heart transplantation or a ventricular assist device was performed in 11% of the Black patients compared with 22% of the White patients, although death rates were similar in both: 18% in Black patients and 13% in White patients. The researchers noted that patients’ preferences for ventricular assist devices, heart transplantation or other therapies did not affect the results. These data refute the idea that disparate heart failure outcomes have to do with things like the personal preferences of the patient,” he said.

☆ J&J stock dip after earnings beat reflects 2022 outperformance rather than the results
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-18 | by ( Zev Fima | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +11 min

On an adjusted operational basis, which excludes the impact of acquisitions and divestitures and currency, sales rose 8.2%. Management said on the call they continue to see this business on track for its 11th consecutive year of above-market adjusted operational sales growth in 2022. Driving the results were increased sales of Stelara on the back of market growth and market share gains in Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis. Women's Health sales increased 7.9% on an operational basis to $225 million versus the $222 million expected. On a reported basis, management tightened their EPS guidance range to $10.02 to $10.07 from $10 to $10.10 previously.

Search resuls for: "Cardiovascular"

25 mentions found