November 27th, 2013
Physicians Report Alarming Increase in LVAD Pump Thrombosis
Larry Husten, PHD
Cardiac physicians from three top institutions report an abrupt and highly troubling increase over the last two years in the incidence of pump thrombosis in patients who have received the HeartMate II left ventricular assist device (LVAD) manufactured by Thoratec. The current investigation, published online in the New England Journal of Medicine, was initially prompted by an […]
November 27th, 2013
Reflections on JFK From an Irish Cardiologist in Dallas
John Ryan, MD
While attending AHA in Dallas, John Ryan visits the site of JFK’s assassination and reflects on what the President meant to the Irish then and now.
November 26th, 2013
Little Difference in Chest Pain Between Men and Women
Larry Husten, PHD
In recent years, the medical community has grown increasingly concerned that women with heart attacks may be less likely to receive prompt and effective treatment. The difference between the sexes in the presentation of symptoms is thought to be a major barrier to better treatment for women. But now a study published in JAMA Internal Medicine finds that […]
November 26th, 2013
Edoxaban and the Changing Landscape of Novel Anticoagulants for Atrial Fibrillation
Christian Thomas Ruff, MD, MPH
Christian Thomas Ruff, a coauthor of the ENGAGE AF-TIMI 48 trial of edoxaban versus warfarin in patients with atrial fibrillation, discusses the future of novel anticoagulants.
November 25th, 2013
FDA Removes Restrictions on Avandia
Larry Husten, PHD
In a remarkable climax to a long-running drama, the FDA today lifted major restrictions on rosiglitazone (Avandia, GlaxoSmithKline). The drug has been the subject of intense criticism and controversy since the 2007 publication of the famous Nissen meta-analsysis that first raised the possibility that the blockbuster diabetes drug might increase the risk of heart attack and cardiovascular death. The FDA said […]
November 25th, 2013
Selections from Richard Lehman’s Literature Review: November 25th
Richard Lehman, BM, BCh, MRCGP
This week’s topics include DAPT cessation and coronary events after PCI, statins and cognitive function, and more.
November 25th, 2013
FDA Reprimands 23andMe, Grants Breakthrough Status to Factor Xa Inhibitor, and Approves Promus Premier Stent
Larry Husten, PHD
It was a busy morning at the FDA. Three new FDA actions may be of considerable interest in the cardiology universe: FDA Halts 23andMe Personal Genome Test: The FDA sent a scathing letter to 23andMe ordering the company to stop selling its Personal Genome Service (PGS) test. The FDA highlighted two cardiology-related uses of PGS as “particularly concerning,” […]
November 25th, 2013
A 2-Hour Diagnostic Protocol for Assessing Chest Pain in the ED
Martin Than, MBBS
Martin Than discusses his study group’s randomized trial comparing a 2-hour diagnostic protocol with a standard protocol for patients who report chest pain in the emergency department.
November 21st, 2013
Next Steps for the Randomized Registry Trial
Michael Solon Lauer, MD
Michael S. Lauer discusses his article titled “The Randomized Registry Trial — The Next Disruptive Technology in Clinical Research?”
November 20th, 2013
Consumption of Nuts Linked to Mortality Benefit
Larry Husten, PHD
Nut consumption has long been linked to healthy lifestyles. Now, a study in the New England Journal of Medicine extends the finding and demonstrates a strong association with improved mortality. Ying Bao and colleagues examined data from nearly 120,000 people enrolled in the Nurses’ Health Study and the Health Professionals Follow-up Study to assess the relationship […]