Almost 3 percent of infants and children hospitalized for pediatric arterial ischemic stroke (AIS) die in the hospital, according to a new international study published in the May 2018 edition of Pediatrics.

Five more patient deaths have been linked to two liquid-filled intragastric balloon systems designed to treat obesity, bringing the worldwide total to 12 deaths since 2016.

Researchers have found the HeartMate 3 (HM3) left-ventricular assist device (LVAD) improves long-term outcomes and may also decrease the cost of care overtime for heart failure patients compared to the HeartMate II (HMII).

Time spent alive and out of healthcare institutions can be calculated from claims data and represents an important, easy-to-grasp outcome for heart failure patients, researchers said.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) occurs in about 9 percent of patients undergoing left atrial appendage closure (LAAC) and is associated with greater odds of downstream mortality and embolic events, according to a study published June 4 in JACC: Cardiovascular Interventions.

To help define ideal dietary sodium levels, researchers have proposed turning to a truly captive population: prisoners. In this tightly controlled environment, it would be feasible to collect data that could finally help resolve the debate about whether low-sodium diets are preventive against hard outcomes like stroke and death.

Restenosis of the carotid arteries is more likely after stenting than endarterectomy and increases the likelihood of stroke, according to a subanalysis of a randomized trial published in The Lancet Neurology.

A compound found in green tea can break up the plaque that causes atherosclerosis, according to research published May 31 in the Journal of Biological Chemistry.