Molecular insights into hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

Article Abstract:

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a genetic disorder that can cause sudden death in young adults. Its main effect is cardiac hypertrophy (enlargement of the heart). Cardiac hypertrophy can be a complication of several other heart diseases, but hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is different because the enlargement develops without any apparent cause over the first 20 years of life. Over half the patients with cardiac hypertrophy inherit the disorder. To find a mutant or disease-causing gene for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, chromosomes of families with the disease were screened for a genetic marker. A genetic marker was found on chromosome 14, the chromosome that contains the genes for part of alpha and beta cardiac myosin, two heart muscle proteins. Genetically altered myosin may change the structure of the heart muscle or interfere with its function. Seven mutations in the gene for beta cardiac myosin have been found in families with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. If one family member has hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, the particular mutation can be identified in that patient and the family can be tested for the same mutation.

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The health benefits of exercise: a critical reappraisal

Article Abstract:

The role of exercise in preventing heart disease is controversial. A research study found that men who took up a moderately vigorous sport had a lower risk of dying from coronary heart disease or any other cause than those who did not. These men may have also had some other characteristics that decreased their risk of cardiovascular disease. Another research study found that Norwegian men with the highest level of physical fitness had a lower risk of dying from cardiovascular disease or any other causes than those with a lower level of physical fitness. Evaluation of 27 studies in the medical literature also found that regular physical activity decreases the risk of coronary heart disease. Regular exercise may also benefit patients who are already suffering from coronary heart disease. It is not known whether exercise can prevent future coronary events or death in these patients.

Prevention, Coronary heart disease, Exercise

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Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy - beyond the sarcomere

Article Abstract:

Mutations in the gene for cardiac myosin-binding protein C are linked to a type of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy that has a better prognosis than most cases of this disease. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is characterized by an overgrowth in certain parts of the heart and can lead to heart failure. A 1998 study found 12 mutations in the gene for cardiac myosin-binding protein C that had never been described before. Many of the patients did not develop heart disease until middle age and their prognosis was better than usual. However, it may be very expensive to screen all family members of these patients for the mutations.

Gene mutations, Gene mutation

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