Cholesterol drugs could cut clots

"Drugs which can regulate levels of cholesterol in the blood may also reduce the risk of dangerous clots, say scientists. Blood clots can result in stroke or heart attack. Researchers, writing in the journal Blood, reduced the size and stability of blood clots in mice and said the discovery could lead to new drugs. The British Heart Foundation said it was an exciting discovery which could result in more effective treatments. Around 32,000 people in the UK die after developing a blood clot. The team at the University of Reading was investigating how clots form and say they were surprised to find that protein, LXR, was involved. LXR is already known to control levels of cholesterol and drug companies have been targeting it for new treatments"

Cause of death of Italian saint uncovered

"Researchers have used X-ray techniques to uncover the cause of death of a 700-year-old Italian saint. Santa Rosa - who died when she was 18 or 19 years old - was most likely killed by a blood clot in the heart, say the Italian research team. It is said the 13th Century saint had miraculous powers that allowed her to raise someone from the dead and to survive the flames of a burning pyre. Her mummified remains are conserved in a monastery near Rome. The research team had been asked in 1995 to carry out some preservation work on the body, which was showing signs of damage. As part of the restoration work, they were able to take X-rays using a mobile device" - BBC

Key to blood clotting discovered

Scientists have discovered a molecular mechanism that is key to regulating the way blood clots. The team from Harvard University, writing in the journal Science, said the finding could help treat people who have blood-clotting disorders. If blood clots too much, people can develop a potentially fatal thrombosis; too little and they can bleed to death. UK experts said the research was important and could help develop new treatments for blood disorders - BBC

Discovery could block blood clots

Scientists have found a potential way to prevent blood clots which can cause heart attacks. They believe the discovery could aid the development of better heart attack prevention and treatment. The key is to remove a particular protein - PKC alpha - from specialist blood cells called platelets which play a key role in the formation of clots. The University of Bristol study, carried out in mice, appears in the Journal of Clinical Investigation - BBC