July 11th, 2013
Thrombolytic Therapy for Prosthetic Valve Thrombosis in Pregnant Women?
Mehmet Ozkan, Professor of Cardiology, Patricia Casais, MD, PhD and John Ryan, MD
Mehmet Özkan discusses his research group’s study of low-dose, slow-infusion t-PA in pregnant women with prosthetic valve thrombosis. Patricia Casais, a coauthor of the official editorial on the study, also offers her perspective.
July 11th, 2013
Link to Prostate Cancer Brings More Bad News for Fish-Oil Story
Larry Husten, PHD
Adding more confusion to an already fishy story, a new study has found a significant association between omega-3 fatty acids and the risk of prostate cancer. Although the link had been previously observed, the finding surprised the investigators, who wrote that “these findings contradict the expectation that high consumption of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids and low consumption […]
July 9th, 2013
Low Rate of Problems with Statins in Study of Quarter Million Patients
Larry Husten, PHD
A very large analysis of previously published studies finds that statins are generally safe and well tolerated, but helps confirm previous links to a small increased risk for diabetes and elevation of liver enzymes. Some statins were better tolerated than others, and lower-dose statins were better tolerated than high doses. In a paper published in Circulation: […]
July 9th, 2013
Look AHEAD: More Questions Than Answers
Kasia Lipska, MD, MHS
Reflecting on the LOOK AHEAD trial, an endocrinologist asks some important questions: Should we hold lifestyle interventions to the same high standards of scrutiny as pharmacological interventions? Don’t we already have enough evidence about the impact of lifestyle interventions to implement them in care?
July 8th, 2013
Selections from Richard Lehman’s Literature Review: July 8th
Richard Lehman, BM, BCh, MRCGP
This week’s topics include a home-based walking intervention for those with PAD, BNP screening and collaborative care for HF, clopidogrel with aspirin in acute minor stroke or transient ischemic attack, and more.
July 4th, 2013
FDA: Olmesartan Can Cause Sprue-Like Enteropathy
Larry Husten, PHD
The FDA is warning that the angiotensin II receptor blocker olmesartan (marketed as Benicar, Benicar HCT, Azor, Tribenzor, and generics) may cause severe diarrhea. According to an FDA safety announcement, olmesartan “can cause intestinal problems known as sprue-like enteropathy. Symptoms of sprue-like enteropathy include severe, chronic diarrhea with substantial weight loss.” The warning is being added […]
July 2nd, 2013
Hundreds of Questions About the Integrity of Stem-Cell Research Group
Larry Husten, PHD
Serious questions have been raised about the integrity and validity of research conducted by a well-established German stem-cell research group. An article in the International Journal of Cardiology exhaustively details a multitude of discrepancies and contradictions in papers from the group. Further, the revelation of such widespread misconduct may lead to broader, disturbing questions about the reliability of […]
July 1st, 2013
Selections from Richard Lehman’s Literature Review: July 1st
Richard Lehman, BM, BCh, MRCGP
This week’s topics include studies on aggressive fluid and sodium restriction in acute decompensated HF, the yield of routine cardiac testing in an ED-based chest pain unit, and more.
July 1st, 2013
New Anticoagulant Found Safe and Effective in Acute Venous Thromboembolism
Larry Husten, PHD
In a large clinical trial the new oral anticoagulant apixaban (Eliquis, Pfizer and Bristol-Myers Squibb) was at least as effective as standard therapy and caused fewer bleeding complications in patients with acute venous thromboembolism (VTE). The results of the AMPLIFY (Apixaban for the Initial Management of Pulmonary Embolism and Deep-Vein Thrombosis as First-Line Therapy) trial are being presented today at […]