April 10th, 2012
Selections from Richard Lehman’s Literature Review: Week of April 10th
Richard Lehman, BM, BCh, MRCGP
This week’s topics include the EINSTEIN-PE trial of rivaroxaban, the risk for suicide or cardiovascular death after cancer diagnosis, and a comparison of computer reminders vs. pharmacist outreach about medication dangers.
April 9th, 2012
Meta-Analysis: No Secondary CV Prevention Benefits for Omega-3 Fatty Acid Supplements
Larry Husten, PHD
A new meta-analysis published in the Archives of Internal Medicine finds no evidence to support claims of a beneficial effect of omega-3 fatty acid supplements on secondary CV prevention. Sang Mi Kwak and colleagues in the Korean Meta-analysis Study Group analyzed data from more than 20,000 patients with a history of CV disease who were randomized […]
April 9th, 2012
CEO Jack Lewin Leaving ACC After 5 Years
Larry Husten, PHD
The American College of Cardiology today announced that Jack Lewin, its CEO for the last 5 years, is leaving the ACC “to pursue other opportunities and challenges.” The ACC’s General Counsel and COO, Tom Arend, will serve as the interim Chief Staff Officer, according to the college. The Board of Trustees will soon begin recruiting […]
April 9th, 2012
David vs. Goliath: St. Jude Medical Seeks Retraction of Heart Rhythm Journal Manuscript
Shengshou Hu, M.D.
CardioExchange welcomes this guest post from Dr. Westby Fisher, an electrophysiologist practicing at NorthShore University HealthSystem in Evanston, Illinois, and a Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine at University of Chicago’s Pritzker School of Medicine. This piece originally appeared on his blog, Dr. Wes. St. Jude Medical, a widely-used manufacturer of implantable cardiac devices, finds they have a bit of a […]
April 5th, 2012
NIH Appoints Gary Gibbons As Next Director of the NHLBI
Larry Husten, PHD
Gary Gibbons will be the next Director of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI). The selection of Gibbons was announced today by the National Institutes of Health Director Francis Collins. Gibbons is the founder and current director of the Cardiovascular Research Institute, chairperson of the Department of Physiology, and professor of physiology and medicine at the […]
April 5th, 2012
When the Feds Come Knocking
Westby G Fisher, MD and John Mandrola, MD, FACC
CardioExchange welcomes this guest post from electrophysiologists Westby Fisher and John Mandrola. This piece originally appeared on their respective blogs, Dr. Wes and Dr. John M. Slightly over a year ago, the Department of Justice (DOJ) launched an investigation of a large number of institutions regarding concerns that implantable cardiac defibrillator (ICD) procedures were performed […]
April 4th, 2012
Suicide and CV Death Increase After Cancer Diagnosis
Larry Husten, PHD
The risks for suicide and cardiovascular death rise sharply after cancer is diagnosed, according to a new study from Sweden published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Fang Fang and colleagues analyzed data from more than 6 million Swedes, including more than half a million who received a first diagnosis of cancer. Following sharp initial increases […]
April 4th, 2012
Medical Societies Release Lists of Overused Tests and Procedures
Larry Husten, PHD
The American College of Cardiology (ACC) and other medical societies have released lists of commonly overused or misused tests and procedures. The action is part of Choosing Wisely, a broad initiative from the ABIM foundation. Here are the five tests or procedures identified by the ACC: Cardiac imaging tests (particularly, stress tests or advanced noninvasive imaging) should […]
April 3rd, 2012
Why We Should Abandon LDL Cholesterol Targets
Harlan M. Krumholz, MD, SM
In an interview on CurrentMedicine.TV, CardioExchange editor-in-chief Harlan Krumholz discussed an editorial he co-authored with Rodney Hayward on why the NIH’s forthcoming Adult Treatment Panel IV should abandon LDL Targets.
April 2nd, 2012
Improved Survival After Non-Shockable Cardiac Arrest with New CPR Guidelines
Larry Husten, PHD
In recent years, resuscitation guidelines have evolved to emphasize chest compressions. At the same time, a greater proportion of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) cases are now due to “nonshockable” rhythms, defined as asystole and pulseless electrical activity, but the effect of the new guidelines on these type of OHCA cases is unknown. In a study published […]