A protein that the heart produces during the heart's development could be redeployed after a heart attack to help the organ repair itself, researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas have found.

The new mouse-study findings show that the protein, thymosin beta-4, prevents cell death after an experimentally induced heart attack and limits the degree of scar tissue formation.

Thymosin beta-4 is already used in clinical trials to promote wound healing on the skin. As a result, the protein could enter clinical trials for treating the heart in the very near future, said Dr. Deepak Srivastava, the study's senior author.

The researchers believe that thymosin beta-4 works with two other proteins to change cell metabolism and create stronger heart muscle cells that can resist the low oxygen conditions after a heart attack.

"If the protein has a similar effect in humans as it does in mice, the impact by sheer volume is great-nearly one million people have heart attacks every year just in the United States," said Dr. Srivastava.

Heart-Healing Statistics

* More than one million Americans have blood cholesterol higher than it should be, and more than half are women. Reducing total cholesterol by 10 percent might lower the incidence of heart disease 30 percent.

* Anyone--young or old, overweight or thin, male or female--can have high blood cholesterol. Only some of the cholesterol in our blood comes from the foods we eat. Be aware that a family history of cardiovascular disease is an important risk factor for heart attack and stroke.

* Reducing salt intake, getting regular exercise, and eating plenty of fruits, vegetables and whole grains are the first steps to help lower cholesterol levels and prevent heart disease. Many people at higher risk need to complement these changes with medication.

* High cholesterol has no symptoms. Everyone age 20 and older should have a cholesterol check at least once every five years, more often if the doctor advises.

New Approaches to Heart Disease

The current focus on diagnosing and treating heart disease has expanded greatly in the past 10 years. An example is the recent Trial to Assess Chelation Therapy (TACT).

In addition to participating as an investigator in the TACT trial, Dr. Dale Guyer reports promising results with another "old" therapy that has come to the forefront, Lipostabil.

"Lipostabil, or phosphatidylcholine, is a nutrient made by the body which restores elasticity of arteries, lowers cholesterol, and helps support many body functions," he told the Post. "Intravenous infusions have, according to its inventor, been 'nothing short of amazing.' In my own practice, I have seen dramatic results even in patients with diverse problems such as chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, hepatitis, immune disorders, and weight loss."

Watch Your Waistline

What is your belt size? To reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease, men should aim for a waist circumference of less than 40 inches. For women, a measurement of less than 35 inches is desirable.

People with body shapes resembling apples are more likely to develop serious health problems than their pear-shaped counterparts, warn obesity experts.

Experts explain that fat cells carried around the waist produce chemicals that may interfere with the body's ability to utilize insulin. The larger a person's waistline, the more resistant they tend to become to the glucose-controlling hormone. As a result, the body produces more insulin to achieve the same effect. Over time, however, the pancreas is unable to meet the higher demand, and insulin production slows or stops altogether.

Other studies show that thicker waistlines can also raise the risk of high blood pressure and unhealthy cholesterol levels.