Heart Disease Heart Disease ResearchResearch

Copyright 2010. PEER.tamu.edu

Do you know anyone who has been Do you know anyone who has been affected by heart disease?affected by heart disease?

Who?Who?

Share you answers with the class.Share you answers with the class.

Think About It:Think About It:

Why do people want to research heart Why do people want to research heart disease?disease?

Who pays for research on heart Who pays for research on heart disease?disease?

How is heart disease research actually How is heart disease research actually done?done?

Share some of your thoughts.Share some of your thoughts.

Why is the research done and who pays for Why is the research done and who pays for the research? the research?

The American Heart Association (AHA)The American Heart Association (AHA)

The AHA believes that learning more about the #1 killer in America is one of

the best ways to accomplish its mission of reducing deaths associated with heart

disease by 25%.

Heart Disease is the #1 Cause of Death in the United States

The AHA depends on private donations and The AHA depends on private donations and fundraising activities to pay for research. fundraising activities to pay for research.

Have you ever participated in Jump Rope for Have you ever participated in Jump Rope for Heart? Heart?

If you have, then you have helped pay for If you have, then you have helped pay for heart disease heart disease research!!research!!

The National Institutes of HealthThe National Institutes of Health

(NIH)(NIH)

The NIH is a public organization that The NIH is a public organization that promotes and pays for research to acquire promotes and pays for research to acquire

new knowledge to help prevent, detect, new knowledge to help prevent, detect, diagnose, and treat disease and disability, diagnose, and treat disease and disability,

from the rarest genetic disorder to the from the rarest genetic disorder to the common cold.common cold.

It is done in a step-by-step process. It is done in a step-by-step process. Choose one key word from each of the Choose one key word from each of the

following steps and write it down.following steps and write it down.

How is Heart Disease Research Done?

The scientist asks questions about an observation.

The scientists then, after gathering some background information, makes a

hypothesis, or what the scientist thinks the answer to the question is.

Then the scientist plans an experiment to test the hypothesis.

The experiment is done and data is recorded (written or entered into a computer).

The data from the experiment is analyzed. Averages are taken, numbers are graphed. The scientist interprets what the numbers

and graphs mean.

The scientist has to find a way to get money to pay for the research.

The scientist makes a conclusion. He or she decides whether the conclusions agree with the

hypothesis or not.

The scientist communicates the results to others. Many times, more observations

are made and more questions are asked.

Often, one experiment leads to another. The scientist will start planning the next

step as he or she finishes the initial experiment.

What words did you write?

Share with the class!

QUESTION

HYPOTHESIS

OBSERVATION

EXPERIMENTDATA

CONCLUSION GRAPH

COMMUNICATE

When scientists have a question, When scientists have a question, they have to submit that question they have to submit that question as a Research Application and see as a Research Application and see if they can get an agency like the if they can get an agency like the AHA or NIH to “fund”, or pay to do AHA or NIH to “fund”, or pay to do the experiment to find the answer the experiment to find the answer to the question. to the question.

It’s not simple, like if you ask your It’s not simple, like if you ask your mom to go to the movie and she mom to go to the movie and she decides yes or no. decides yes or no.

Many people look at the question Many people look at the question and decide whether or not it is and decide whether or not it is worth the time, effort and dollars worth the time, effort and dollars to do the research.to do the research.

Who pays for the Research?

Life Cycle of a Research ApplicationLife Cycle of a Research Application

Application Application submittedsubmitted

An idea beginsAn idea begins

Peer Review Peer Review CommitteeCommittee

E-mail E-mail notificationnotification

Research Is Research Is ConductedConducted

Yea!Yea!

Reports Reports PublishedPublished

Findings Findings SharedShared

Assigned to Assigned to reviewersreviewers

Critique Critique developeddeveloped

Rank-Rank-ordered listordered list

Research Research CommitteeCommittee $$ Funded Funded

HmmHmm……

How would you like it if every time you asked a question, like whether you

could go to the movie, you had to go through this whole process?

Conducting the ExperimentConducting the ExperimentMany times, when heart disease research, or any research, is done Many times, when heart disease research, or any research, is done animals are used as preliminary subjects. animals are used as preliminary subjects.

In fact, in 1912, In fact, in 1912, Alexis Carrel Alexis Carrel received the Nobel Prize in Medicine for his received the Nobel Prize in Medicine for his work on suturing (stitching) together blood vessels. His technique was work on suturing (stitching) together blood vessels. His technique was perfected by using dogs and cats! perfected by using dogs and cats!

This technique has now been used to save many dogs and cats, as well This technique has now been used to save many dogs and cats, as well as many humans!as many humans!

Both of these breeds of dogs, Caviler King Charles Spaniel and Doberman Pinscher,have genetic predispositions for heart problems. Surgery that was first tested on animals

saves many of these dogs every year…….. and many people, too.

Heart Surgeons Have to Heart Surgeons Have to Practice New TechniquesPractice New Techniques

Do you want them to do their Do you want them to do their learning on YOU? learning on YOU?

That is why they use animals first.That is why they use animals first.

Experience counts in heart

surgery!

This cow has a heart device in her. The scientist is collecting data to see how well the

device is working.

Stop and review:Stop and review:

1.1. Which two organizations fund the Which two organizations fund the most heart research? most heart research?

2.2. What steps does a scientist go What steps does a scientist go through to do research? through to do research?

3.3. Why are animals sometimes used Why are animals sometimes used for heart research? for heart research?

Many scientists have done Many scientists have done research on heart disease, and research on heart disease, and many people and animals have many people and animals have

been saved because of their been saved because of their research!research!

History of Heart Disease ResearchHistory of Heart Disease Research

1938 First heart surgery in humans1938 First heart surgery in humans

1956-1961 Fat and cholesterol shown to increase risk 1956-1961 Fat and cholesterol shown to increase risk of heart diseaseof heart disease

1965 Smoking is linked with health risks1965 Smoking is linked with health risks

1967 First heart transplant done1967 First heart transplant done

1968 First Bypass surgery done (bypass makes a way 1968 First Bypass surgery done (bypass makes a way around a blocked artery using a piece of another around a blocked artery using a piece of another artery somewhere in the body)artery somewhere in the body)

Write down the one you think is MOST IMPORTANT:

More MilestonesMore Milestones1977 First Angioplasty, or using a balloon to open a 1977 First Angioplasty, or using a balloon to open a

blocked arteryblocked artery

1985 Cholesterol lowering drugs are 1985 Cholesterol lowering drugs are

shown to reduce incidence of heart disease shown to reduce incidence of heart disease

and deathand death

1994 Stents, or small devices used to 1994 Stents, or small devices used to

keep arteries open, are approved and usedkeep arteries open, are approved and used

2002 Robots are used to assist in heart surgery2002 Robots are used to assist in heart surgery

2007 It is shown that reducing amount of salt eaten 2007 It is shown that reducing amount of salt eaten lowers risk of heart attack and strokelowers risk of heart attack and stroke

Let’s look at a few of these milestones Let’s look at a few of these milestones more closely:more closely:

Blood Oxygen AnalysisBlood Oxygen Analysis In 1954, Leland Clark made In 1954, Leland Clark made

the first membrane-covered the first membrane-covered oxygen electrode oxygen electrode

This device measured This device measured oxygen levels in blood, oxygen levels in blood, solutions, or gases. solutions, or gases.

Why is this important???Why is this important???

““Blue-baby” SurgeryBlue-baby” Surgery

The “Blue-baby” surgery is a The “Blue-baby” surgery is a procedure perfected on dogs. It procedure perfected on dogs. It allows doctors to fix a congenital allows doctors to fix a congenital (happens before birth) error in the (happens before birth) error in the development of the large vessels development of the large vessels connecting the heart and lungs. connecting the heart and lungs.

What do you think “blue-baby” What do you think “blue-baby” means?means?

Heart-Lung MachineHeart-Lung Machine During open-heart surgery, oxygen circulation During open-heart surgery, oxygen circulation

through the lungs is not possible, so blood through the lungs is not possible, so blood must get oxygen from a machine somehow.must get oxygen from a machine somehow.

Leland Clark invented an oxygenator machine Leland Clark invented an oxygenator machine that met the essential requirementsthat met the essential requirements– a "defoaming" chambera "defoaming" chamber– a combined bubble trap and oxygenated blood a combined bubble trap and oxygenated blood

residence component residence component

Why do you think this machine removes foam and Why do you think this machine removes foam and bubbles from the blood? Are air bubbles good for bubbles from the blood? Are air bubbles good for

the heart? Why does air not get into you bloodstream the heart? Why does air not get into you bloodstream when you get a cut?when you get a cut?

Cholesterol ResearchCholesterol Research High blood cholesterol causes plugged arteries. High blood cholesterol causes plugged arteries.

When it accumulates in walls of arteries, it obstructs When it accumulates in walls of arteries, it obstructs the arteries and reduces blood flow. the arteries and reduces blood flow.

Two Dallas researchers won the Nobel Prize in 1985 Two Dallas researchers won the Nobel Prize in 1985 for discovering that for discovering that low density lipoprotein (LDL) promotes artery plugging. This discovery led to the making of widely-used drugs that lower blood cholesterol and reduce the number of heart attacks.

Cholesterol is an organic molecule. It is necessary for your body, but excess

cholesterol leads to problems.

This is an artery clogged with cholesterol. A deposit of cholesterol is

called a plaque.

““Statins”: drugs that decrease Statins”: drugs that decrease synthesis of cholesterolsynthesis of cholesterol

In 1964, Konrad Bloch received a Nobel In 1964, Konrad Bloch received a Nobel Prize for explaining how cholesterol was Prize for explaining how cholesterol was synthesized (made by the body). synthesized (made by the body).

Ten years later, this led to the discovery of Ten years later, this led to the discovery of statins, or drugs that reduce the synthesis statins, or drugs that reduce the synthesis of cholesterol.of cholesterol.

Many people now take statins to reduce Many people now take statins to reduce their cholesterol.their cholesterol.

You may have seen commercials for some You may have seen commercials for some of them (Lipitor, Crestor, Vytorin?)of them (Lipitor, Crestor, Vytorin?)

Stent ResearchStent Research Stents are used to open plugged arteries.Stents are used to open plugged arteries. Research was mostly on human subjects (with Research was mostly on human subjects (with

many unanswered questions that might be many unanswered questions that might be answered by animal research). Problems include: answered by animal research). Problems include: reaction to implant, nerve damage, subsequent reaction to implant, nerve damage, subsequent blood clots.blood clots.

Areas of current research include: materials used Areas of current research include: materials used to make stents, stent design, anti-clotting to make stents, stent design, anti-clotting coatings on stentcoatings on stent

Heart-assist Pump ResearchHeart-assist Pump Research The heart-assist pump is a The heart-assist pump is a

mechanical pump surgically mechanical pump surgically installed to help diseased heartsinstalled to help diseased hearts

In Russia in 1937, V.P. Demichov In Russia in 1937, V.P. Demichov implanted a heart-assist device in implanted a heart-assist device in a dog.a dog.

About 5 million Americans suffer About 5 million Americans suffer from heart failure annually. from heart failure annually. Approximately 35,000 heart failure Approximately 35,000 heart failure patients need transplants each patients need transplants each year, but only 2,500 donor hearts year, but only 2,500 donor hearts are available. are available.

Other InnovationsOther Innovations Coronary bypass surgery, artificial heart Coronary bypass surgery, artificial heart

valve insertion, and pacemaker valve insertion, and pacemaker implantation were all tested and studied in implantation were all tested and studied in dogs before being used in humans. dogs before being used in humans.

What is going on NOW in What is going on NOW in Heart Disease Research?Heart Disease Research?

Cell ReplacementCell Replacement A damaged heart cannot heal itself A damaged heart cannot heal itself

because the cells are fully because the cells are fully differentiated and cannot divide to differentiated and cannot divide to make new ones, the way skin does, make new ones, the way skin does, for example.for example.

Stem cells Stem cells from bone marrow could, from bone marrow could, in theory, help solve this problem. in theory, help solve this problem. Stem cells can grow into many Stem cells can grow into many different types of cells. Research is different types of cells. Research is ongoing to find a way to make this ongoing to find a way to make this work for people with damaged work for people with damaged hearts. hearts.

One problem with stem cells is that One problem with stem cells is that the recipient’s body may regard the the recipient’s body may regard the cell as containing foreign protein cell as containing foreign protein and the immune response may kill and the immune response may kill off the injected cells.off the injected cells.

Stem cells from bone marrow could be injected into a damaged heart.

What’s the future of Heart What’s the future of Heart Disease Research?Disease Research?

You are a big part of the future of heart You are a big part of the future of heart disease research because some of you disease research because some of you may be research scientists and most of may be research scientists and most of

you will pay taxes or help raise money to you will pay taxes or help raise money to help pay for research!help pay for research!