Washington, April 14 : Researchers at University College London (UCL) have identified a protein, known as serum amyloid P component (SAP), which may be a possible therapeutic target in Alzheimer’s disease.

Lead researchers Professor Mark Pepys FRS has even developed a new small molecule drug, CPHPC, which specifically targets SAP and removes it from the blood.

Washington, Apr 14 : Heart patients who become depressed are at greater risk for heart failure (HF), a condition in which the heart can''t pump enough blood throughout the body, says a new study.

The study published in the April 21, 2009, issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, is the first to investigate the influence of depression after heart disease on the likelihood of developing HF.

The research also found that taking antidepressant medications to ease depressive symptoms did not appear to mitigate this risk.

Washington, Apr 14 : Former prison inmates are more likely to have high blood pressure than those who have never been incarcerated, says a new study.

What's more, young adults who have been incarcerated appear more likely to have left ventricular hypertrophy, an enlarging of the heart muscle that is a common consequence of hypertension, according to a report in the April 13 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

Washington, Apr 14 : Aspirin and other medications that prevent blood clotting by inhibiting the accumulation of platelets could increase the likelihood of asymptomatic cerebral microbleeds among older adults, says a new study.

Cerebral microbleeds-small deposits of the iron-storing protein hemosiderin in the brain-can be a sign of cerebral small-vessel disease.

Washington, Apr 14 : Erectile dysfunction (ED) drugs like Viagra and sildenafil pose no threat to vision, say researchers.

According to a report in the April issue of Archives of Ophthalmology, one of the JAMA/Archives journals, two medications used to treat the disorder in men do not appear to have visual side effects when taken daily for six months, despite concerns about eye-related complications.

Washington, April 14 : Vegetable and nut intake and a Mediterranean dietary pattern seem to lower the risk of heart disease, according to a review of past studies.

However, the review also suggests that the consumption of trans-fatty acids and foods with a high glycemic index may be harmful to heart health.