Scientists have discovered a way to trigger damaged heart cells to heal themselves, an advance that may lead to 'groundbreaking' treatments for heart failure and other cardiac diseases. Researchers have identified a long non-coding ribonucleic acid (ncRNA) that regulates genes controlling the ability of heart cells to undergo repair or regeneration. This novel RNA, which researchers have named "Singheart," may be targeted for treating heart failure in the future. Unlike most other cells in the human body, heart cells do not have the ability to self-repair or regenerate effectively, making heart attack and heart failure severe and debilitating.
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death worldwide, with an estimated 17.7 million people dying from CVD in 2015. CVD also accounted for close to 30 per cent of all deaths in Singapore in 2015. Researchers from Singapore used…
