February 28th, 2013
The Mediterranean Diet in Clinical Practice: Three Experts Weigh In
Walter Willett, MD, MPH, DrPH, Arthur Agatston, MD, Alice H. Lichtenstein, D.Sc. and John Ryan, MD
Esteemed nutrition experts Walter Willett, Arthur Agatston, and Alice Lichtenstein discuss the PREDIMED study’s finding that a Mediterranean diet can reduce the risk for CV disease.
February 27th, 2013
HPS2-THRIVE Coming Attraction: What Went Wrong with Niacin?
Larry Husten, PHD
In less than two weeks, on March 9, the main results of the HPS2-THRIVE (Heart Protection Study 2-Treatment of HDL to Reduce the Incidence of Vascular Events) study will be presented in San Francisco at the annual meeting of the American College of Cardiology. The results have been eagerly awaited since Merck’s brief announcement in December that the trial had not met its primary endpoint and that it […]
February 26th, 2013
Mixed Results for Spironolactone in Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction
Larry Husten, PHD
Although the mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists spironolactone and eplerenone have been shown to be beneficial in patients with heart failure (HF) with reduced ejection fraction (EF), their role in HF patients with preserved EF has not been tested until now. Now the results of the Aldo-DHF study (Aldosterone Receptor Blockade in Diastolic Heart Failure), published in […]
February 25th, 2013
Selections from Richard Lehman’s Literature Review: February 25th
Richard Lehman, BM, BCh, MRCGP
This week’s topics include extended use of apixaban, dabigatran, warfarin, or placebo in VTE, the 5-year follow-up of the SYNTAX study, and more.
February 25th, 2013
Large Trial Shows Cardiovascular Benefits of Mediterranean Diet
Larry Husten, PHD
A large new trial offers powerful evidence that a Mediterranean diet can reduce the risk for cardiovascular disease. Results of the PREDIMED (Prevención con Dieta Mediterránea) study were published online in the New England Journal of Medicine. Investigators in Spain randomized 7447 people at high risk for cardiovascular disease to one of three diets: a Mediterranean diet […]
February 22nd, 2013
Persistent Chest Pain After Myopericarditis
John Ryan, MD, James Fang, MD, James De Lemos, MD, Kamalendu Kanu Chatterjee, MBBS,FRCP, Thomas Ryan, MD and Rick Akira Nishimura, MD
Five experts offer their perspectives on a perplexing case involving a young physician patient.
February 22nd, 2013
SYNTAX After 5 Years: Any Change in Results (or Your Practice)?
Richard A. Lange, MD, MBA and L. David Hillis, MD
The 5 year results of the SYNTAX (SYNergy between percutaneous coronary intervention with TAXus and cardiac surgery) trial are now published. SYNTAX assessed the optimal revascularization strategy for patients with left main and/or 3-vessel disease by randomly assigning such patients to CABG or PCI (with a first-generation paclitaxel-eluting stent) and then determining the rate of […]
February 21st, 2013
Study Casts Doubt on Value of Genetic Testing for Familial Hypercholesterolemia
Larry Husten, PHD
The recent introduction of two drugs specifically targeted to treat people with the rare but dangerous condition of homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) has caused increased interest in figuring out the best strategy to identify people with the disorder. Now a new study published online in the Lancet suggests that one of the main screening plans that relies on genetic […]
February 20th, 2013
New Studies Examine Prolonged Anticoagulation for VTE Recurrence
Larry Husten, PHD
Three studies published in the New England Journal of Medicine provide important new information about the risks and benefits of extended prophylaxis using two of the new oral anticoagulants in patients who have had venous thromboembolism (VTE). In the RE-MEDY and the RE-SONATE trials, the role of dabigatran was examined in patients who had completed at least 3 […]
February 20th, 2013
Small Study Explores Expanded Use for TAVI in Native Valve Aortic Regurgitation
Larry Husten, PHD
As transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) gains increasing acceptance, cardiologists and surgeons are exploring additional patient populations who may benefit from the procedure. A new paper in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology provides the first look at the use of TAVI in the small but important group of patients with pure, severe native aortic […]