July 31st, 2013
European Heart Guidelines Based on Disgraced Research May Have Caused Thousands of Deaths
Larry Husten, PHD
Despite a 2-year-old scandal discrediting key evidence, current guidelines relying on this evidence have not been revised. As a result of physicians following these guidelines, some researchers say, it is possible that thousands of patients may have died each year in the U.K. alone. It is unlikely that a true understanding of the damage will […]
July 30th, 2013
More Bad News for Valsartan
Larry Husten, PHD
In the last few days, more bad news about valsartan (Diovan, Novartis) has emerged. Another major study conducted in Japan — the Jikei Heart Study — will be retracted, and Japanese health authorities said they were investigating severe skin reactions associated with use of the drug. The new events are only the latest problems for the […]
July 29th, 2013
Selections from Richard Lehman’s Literature Review: July 29th
Richard Lehman, BM, BCh, MRCGP
This week’s topics include riociguat for chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension, renal outcomes associated with invasive vs. conservative management of ACS, statins and musculoskeletal conditions, arthropathies, and injuries, and more.
July 29th, 2013
Sex and the Cardiac Patient Should Not be a Taboo Subject
Larry Husten, PHD
It’s not an easy conversation to have. After a heart attack or other major cardiac event, talking about sex is awkward, and often avoided by patients, their partners, and physicians. But a new consensus statement from several major cardiology organizations urges physicians to get over their reluctance or embarrassment and counsel their cardiac patients about […]
July 29th, 2013
Possible Cognitive Benefits Found in Dementia Patients Taking Centrally Acting ACE Inhibitors
Larry Husten, PHD
An observational study from Ireland raises the intriguing possibility that centrally acting ACE inhibitors may help slow the cognitive decline that is a hallmark of people with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. The study, published in BMJ Open, followed the rates of cognitive decline in 3 groups of patients: dementia patients being treated with centrally acting ACE […]
July 25th, 2013
Novel Pulmonary Hypertension Drug Shows Modest Promise in Phase 3 Trials
Larry Husten, PHD
A new drug appears to have promising — but not game-changing — effects in people with two forms of pulmonary hypertension. Riociguat, a soluble guanylate cyclase stimulator under development by Bayer, is thought to have vasodilating, antiproliferative, and antifibrotic effects. Results of two phase 3, placebo-controlled trials were published today in the New England Journal of Medicine. CHEST-1 studied the […]
July 25th, 2013
The Changing Landscape of Pulmonary Hypertension
John Ryan, MD
Two multicenter clinical trials published in the New England Journal of Medicine explore the role of a new oral pulmonary vasodilator in pulmonary hypertension.
July 25th, 2013
Vasopressin-Epinephrine Plus Corticosteroids Improve Neurologic Status After In-Hospital Cardiac Arrest – Implications for Out-of-Hospital Arrest?
Graham Nichol, MD MPH
Graham Nichol takes a close look at a recent randomized trial that examined whether combined vasopressin-epinephrine plus corticosteroids during CPR could improve survival and neurologic status in patients with in-hospital cardiac arrest.
July 23rd, 2013
Funding for Landmark Framingham Heart Study Slashed by $4 Million
Larry Husten, PHD
One of the most important studies in the history of medicine will be sharply curtailed as a result of the federal budget cuts. The landmark Framingham Heart Study (FHS) has been told by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) that it will lose $4 million of its funding. The cut represents 40% of its […]
July 22nd, 2013
Studies Raise Questions About Echocardiography
Larry Husten, PHD
Echocardiography is a safe, noninvasive tool to image the heart without the use of radiation. For this reason it has become the most frequently used method to look at the heart for a wide variety of medical indications. Now two new studies suggest that, despite its popularity, transthoracic echocardiography is often not beneficial. One study […]