Diagnosis of endocarditis is usually based on clinical, microbiologic, and echocardiographic findings. Treatment involves antimicrobial therapy targeted to the identified organism. Surgical indications include heart failure, uncontrolled infection, and prevention of embolic events. The latest article in our Clinical Practice series reviews diagnosis and treatment options for infective endocarditis. Infective endocarditis has an estimated annual… Read More…
What was the most important medical advance reported in NEJM between 1970 and 1979? There are seven days left in this round. Vote now! In a 1970 article, Drs. Swan, Ganz and colleagues described a new device for measuring pressures in the right side of the heart and pulmonary capillary wedge. Until then, rigid catheters were… Read More…
The incidence of diabetes is increasing, but that of diabetic retinopathy is falling, probably owing to better management of glucose levels, lipid abnormalities, and hypertension. Clinical trials of VEGF and PPAR-α inhibitors are improving vision and providing insights into pathogenesis. The latest article in our Mechanisms of Disease review series, “Diabetic Retinopathy,” comes from Drs…. Read More…
In the latest article in our Clinical Therapeutics review series, proliferative retinopathy develops in a 55-year-old man with type 2 diabetes. Panretinal photocoagulation, which causes reduced production of VEGF by destroying hypoxic retinal cells, is recommended. Diminished peripheral and night vision can occur. Data from the Diabetic Retinopathy Study indicate that approximately half of all… Read More…
In the Original Article, Olmesartan for the Delay or Prevention of Microalbuminuria in Type 2 Diabetes, Haller et al. investigated whether an angiotensin-receptor blocker (olmesartan) would delay microalbuminuria in patients with type 2 diabetes and normoalbuminuria. Olmesartan was associated with a delayed onset of microalbuminuria, even though blood pressure control in both groups was excellent…. Read More…
