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In the gut of patients with heart failure, important groups of bacteria are found less frequently and the gut flora is not as diverse as in healthy individuals. Data obtained by scientists of the German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK) provide valuable points of...

The loss of a loved one, a dispute with your neighbour, infections or a fall – mental and physical stress can be triggers of a broken heart (broken heart syndrome). What is more, physical stress seems to be more dangerous than emotional stress, a study of the German Centre for...

The number of patients with an artificial heart has drastically risen in the last ten years. This affects several thousand people in Germany alone. The patient’s physical condition is usually stable after rehabilitation, but they are still restricted – as is their mental health....

Strong or weak, big or small – variations in our genome play a decisive part in how our heart is shaped and works. Scientists of the German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK) together with an international consortium have identified ten new genetic variants associated with...

LMU researchers led by Christian Weber (Principle Investigator at the DZHK) show that the chemokine receptor CXCR4 protects the integrity of arterial walls, and define a new mechanism that restricts the deleterious accumulation of cholesterol in atherosclerotic plaques.

One of the most common acquired heart diseases in the over 75’s is aortic valve stenosis. Normally, it requires the replacement of the valve. In principle, there are two ways to do this: the patient’s thorax is opened surgically and an artificial valve is implanted; or a new...

Signal molecules called chemokines often work in tandem to recruit specific sets of immune cells to sites of tissue damage. A systematic analysis of their interactions by LMU researchers and DZHK-Scientists pinpoints potential targets for new therapies.

A current evaluation of seven population-based studies in Germany reveals that blood pressure in Germany has decreased in the last two decades. The greatest decrease was seen in 55 to 74 year-olds. Despite the decrease, blood pressure in Germany is still too high. Particularly...

The molecule microRNA-210 stabilises deposits in the carotid artery and can thus prevent them from tearing, and prevent dangerous blood clots from forming. This is what scientists headed by Prof. Lars Mägdefessel, Professor of Vascular Biology at the Technical University of...