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(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- A new compound has been discovered that could lead to new treatments for heart attacks as well as ways to protect the heart during open-heart surgery. The research pinpoints a newly discovered molecule.
University of Stanford investigators led the research. The study was conducted in rats. They found a compound called Alda-1 activates an enzyme that helps to reduce the amount of cell death caused by lack of blood flow to the heart. Scientists say this discovery could lead to not only new treatments for heart attacks, but they also uncovered cellular mechanisms that explain how alcohol can protect against heart attack damage.
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In addition, researchers say they may have uncovered a possible key to reducing chest pain and the heart attack damage among millions of people of East Asian descent who are genetically unable to respond to nitroglycerin and other cardiovascular treatments.
Researchers say while the finding is exciting, it was only done in the lab and it could take years of work to refine the compound into a version that would be safe and effective for humans.
SOURCE: Science, 2008
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