January 30th, 2013
Small Study Suggests Yoga May Benefit AF Patients
Larry Husten, PHD
A study published online in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology suggests that yoga may benefit people who have atrial fibrillation. The study, which the authors describe as “a small, proof-of-concept study,” is the first of its kind. The findings raise the possibility that yoga may reduce AF symptoms and arrhythmia burden. Other physiological and […]
January 30th, 2013
How Insurance Status Affects Treatment for Patients with CAD
Kim G. Smolderen, PhD, Paul S. Chan, MD, MS and John Ryan, MD
Does a patient’s insurance status affect a physician’s decision to prescribe evidence-based therapies for CAD?
January 29th, 2013
FDA Approves Mipomersen for Homozygous Familial Hypercholesterolemia
Larry Husten, PHD
The FDA said today that it had granted approval to the novel cholesterol-lowering drug mipomersen sodium for use as an adjunct to diet and drug therapy in patients with homozygous hypercholesterolemia. The drug, which was developed by Isis Pharmaceuticals, will be marketed under the brand name of Kynamro by Genzyme. Kynamro was approved as an orphan drug, which […]
January 29th, 2013
Popular Antidepressants May Prolong QT Interval
Larry Husten, PHD
In August 2011 the FDA issued a safety communication recommending that the extremely popular antidepressant citalopram (Celexa) not be used at doses greater than 40 mg/day because of a potential increased risk for serious cardiac arrhythmias associated with prolongation of the QT interval. Now a study published in BMJ lends support to this warning and suggests that other antidepressants may […]
January 29th, 2013
Selections from Richard Lehman’s Literature Review: January 28th
Richard Lehman, BM, BCh, MRCGP
This week’s topics include using hospital readmission as a quality marker and the cardiovascular safety of peginesatide for anemia in patients with CKD.
January 29th, 2013
In REGARDS to Depression, MI, and Death in Patients with CHD
monikasafford393
Monika Safford discusses the behavioral mechanisms that most contribute to the association between depression and MI or death in those with CHD.
January 29th, 2013
ESC Gives a Shot in the Arm to Radial Access for PCI Procedures: A New Default?
Larry Husten, PHD
Radial access is now the preferred approach for percutaneous coronary interventions, according to a consensus document from the European Society of Cardiology and other European organizations and published online in EuroIntervention. However, at least one prominent U.S. interventional cardiologist thinks the “hard benefits” of radial access “are more controversial,” though he supports increased use of the newer […]
January 28th, 2013
Study Warns Against Dual Blockade of Renin-Angiotensin System in Heart Failure and Hypertension
Larry Husten, PHD
The enormous success of ACE inhibitors in hypertension and heart failure spurred hope that adding a second drug to block the renin-angiotensin system would yield improved outcomes. Although definitive evidence supporting dual blockade of the renin-angiotensin system has never been found, more than 200,000 patients in the U.S. currently receive this therapy. Now a large new meta-analysis […]
January 28th, 2013
Getting a Read on St. Jude Leads: An Interview with Robert G. Hauser
Robert George Hauser, BS MD and John Ryan, MD
The researcher and EP who first documented problems with St. Jude next generation leads reacts to the FDA’s recent letter to the company and explains what he is doing for patients who have received these devices.
January 25th, 2013
Appropriate Use or Defensive Medicine?
Sarah C. Hull, MD, MBE (Master of Bioethics)
Is the practice of defensive medicine overriding the implementation of appropriate use to the detriment of economics, patient care, and medical education?