October 18th, 2012
Multivitamins May Confer a Small, but Significant, Cancer Risk Reduction in Men
Nicholas Downing, MD
Middle-aged and older men who take multivitamins have a modestly reduced risk for cancer, according to an industry-supported study in JAMA. Nearly 15,000 male U.S. physicians aged 50 and older were randomized to a daily multivitamin or placebo and then followed for roughly 11 years. Multivitamin recipients had a small but significant reduction in total […]
October 16th, 2012
FDA Review Raises Safety Concerns About Mipomersen
Larry Husten, PHD
An FDA review raises a number of potentially significant safety concerns about the cholesterol-lowering drug mipomersen. The review appears ahead of a Thursday meeting of the Endocrinologic and Metabolic Drugs Advisory Committee to evaluate Genzyme’s new drug application (NDA) for use of the drug as an adjunct to maximally tolerated lipid-lowering medications and diet to reduce […]
October 16th, 2012
FDA Warns About Fungal Meningitis in Transplant Patient Who Received NECC Cardioplegia Solution
Larry Husten, PHD
The FDA said on Monday that it had identified a transplant patient with Aspergillus fumigatus infection who received cardioplegia solution during surgery. The solution was manufactured by the New England Compounding Center (NECC), which has been at the center of a broad investigation after the deaths of at least 15 patients from fungal meningitis due to contaminated vials […]
October 15th, 2012
FDA Reviewers Raise No New Red Flags Over Lomitapide
Larry Husten, PHD
FDA reviewers have raised no new concerns about lomitapide ahead of a Wednesday meeting of the Endocrinologic and Metabolic Drugs Advisory Committee. The FDA today released briefing documents that evaluate the new drug application (NDA) for lomitapide capsules, the microsomal triglyceride transfer protein (MTP) inhibitor from Aegerion Pharmaceuticals. It’s intended for use as an adjunct to a […]
October 15th, 2012
Selections from Richard Lehman’s Literature Review: October 15th
Richard Lehman, BM, BCh, MRCGP
This week’s topics include PCI use in states with public reporting of outcomes; proneurotensin as a prognostic marker for CVD, diabetes, and mortality; vorapaxar for secondary prevention of thrombotic events in patients with previous MI; and atenolol vs. metoprolol for hypertension.
October 15th, 2012
Stable Anticoagulation, Unstable Gait
Jeff Dickey, MD and James Fang, MD
A 91-year-old man with mild drug-controlled hypertension and atrial fibrillation has long-term, well-managed stability on warfarin anticoagulation. After developing problems with his balance and some gait instability, a physical exam reveals a carotid bruit. Carotid ultrasound and magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) confirm >95% stenosis of the right internal carotid artery. Brain CT is negative. Questions: […]
October 12th, 2012
Free Cardiac And Spine Surgery For Walmart Employees At Six Hospitals
Larry Husten, PHD
Starting next year 1.1 million U.S. Walmart employees and their dependents will be eligible for free heart, spine, and transplant surgery at six highly regarded health care organizations. Walmart employees will have no out-of-pocket costs, including travel, lodging, and food for the patient and a caregiver. On Thursday the company announced that its “Centers of Excellence” program, […]
October 12th, 2012
PCI Public Reporting Programs: Incentivizing Better Decisions?
Joseph S. Ross, MD, MHS
Joe Ross wonders what’s really behind the lower rates of PCI use in states that have public reporting programs.
October 10th, 2012
Chocolate and Nobel Prizes Linked
Larry Husten, PHD
You don’t have to be a genius to like chocolate, but geniuses are more likely to eat lots of chocolate, at least according to a new paper published in the august New England Journal of Medicine. Franz Messerli reports a highly significant correlation between a nation’s per capita chocolate consumption and the rate at which its […]
October 10th, 2012
Danish Study Gives a Boost to Hormone Replacement Therapy ‘Timing Hypothesis’
Larry Husten, PHD
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) suffered a sharp blow a decade ago when the Women’s Health Initiative failed to show any cardiovascular benefit in women taking HRT. Despite the setback, many researchers theorized that HRT might still be beneficial in women who start HRT close to menopause. Now a study from Denmark published in BMJ lends strong support to […]