September 3rd, 2010
ESC: Similarities and Differences
Susan Cheng, MD
Many things about ESC felt different compared to other conferences I’ve attended — and as many felt the same. The basics were familiar— the welcome booths, the exhibits, and the masses of semi-serious looking people sporting the requisite badge-plus-bag accessory combo. (Thank goodness the bags were bright green and easy to spot from a mile away, […]
September 1st, 2010
Clopidogrel and Aspirin Dosages Scrutinized in CURRENT-OASIS 7 Papers and Editorials
Larry Husten, PHD
In the CURRENT-OASIS 7 trial, more than 25,000 patients with ACS for whom an interventional strategy was planned were randomized to either double-dose clopdiogrel (a 600-mg loading dose on the first day followed by 150 mg daily for 6 days and 75 mg daily thereafter) or standard-dose clopidogrel (a 300-mg loading dose, followed by 75 mg […]
September 1st, 2010
NEJM Editors Call for Removal of Sibutramine from U.S. Market
Larry Husten, PHD
Earlier this year, following the discovery of signals of potential danger in a large clinical trial, the weight loss drug sibutramine (Meridia) was withdrawn from the market in Europe while the FDA added a strongly worded contraindication to its use in people with cardiovascular disease. Now, 2 weeks before an FDA advisory panel will vote […]
September 1st, 2010
Long-Term Effect of Intensive BP Control in Blacks
Larry Husten, PHD
The African-American Study of Kidney Disease and Hypertension (AASK) investigated the role of intensive blood-pressure control in slowing the progression of chronic kidney disease in black patients. In the previously reported results of the randomized portion of AASK, intensive BP control had no effect on the progression of CKD. Now the AASK Collaborative Research Group reports the […]
September 1st, 2010
Breathing Easier with Compression-Only CPR
Larry Husten, PHD
A recent NEJM study showed that out-of-hospital, cardiac-arrest patients who received compression-only CPR or traditional CPR had similar survival rates. We asked Mark Link, a member of the AHA Advanced Cardiac Life Support Committee, questions about this latest research. Read what he has to say, then ask him your own questions here.