All articles tagged with #human heart
Scientists have created the first-ever detailed 3D atlas of the human heart using advanced imaging technology, allowing unprecedented views of both healthy and diseased hearts. This breakthrough, likened to a "Google Earth" for the heart, aims to enhance understanding and treatment of cardiovascular diseases by providing detailed anatomical insights that were previously unattainable.
Scientists have created the most detailed map of the developing human heart, revealing 75 types of heart cells, including previously unseen cell types in the heart's valves and muscles. The research, published in Nature, utilized advanced techniques to study whole human hearts donated between weeks 9 and 16 of fetal development, shedding light on how different cells organize to form the heart's structures. The atlas has important implications for understanding congenital heart disease and regenerative medicine, and the next step is to create a full 3D model and a "4D atlas" to track heart development over time.
Researchers have used cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) to determine the structure of the human cardiac myosin filament, a key component of muscle contraction in the heart. The study provides insights into the organization and arrangement of proteins within the filament, including myosin heads, tails, titins, and cMyBP-C. The structural data has been deposited in public databases, allowing other scientists to access and analyze the findings. This research contributes to our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying heart function and may have implications for the development of treatments for cardiac diseases.
Scientists have discovered microplastics inside human heart tissues, highlighting the pervasive presence of these particles in various environments. In a pilot study, heart tissue samples from 15 patients undergoing surgery revealed the presence of tens to thousands of individual microplastic pieces, with eight different types of plastic detected. Blood samples also contained minuscule plastic particles, which decreased in size after surgery. The findings suggest that invasive medical procedures may be an overlooked route of microplastics exposure, providing direct access to the bloodstream and internal tissues. Further research is needed to determine the extent of this problem.
Scientists have created the most detailed cell catalogue of the human heart to date, mapping eight regions and profiling 75 different cell states. Using single-cell transcriptomics methods, researchers analyzed over 700,000 individual cells and nuclei from tissue samples of 25 donor hearts. The study revealed the presence of glial cells supporting signaling processes in pacemaker cells, immune cells producing antibodies to protect the heart from infections, and a population of cells in the myocardium that are sensitive to stress and inflammation. The findings could lead to new ways to improve heart treatments and further research into heart diseases.