February 27th, 2014
Tooth Extraction Prior to Cardiac Surgery May Not Be a Good Idea
Larry Husten, PHD
People with an infected or abscessed tooth are at elevated risk for cardiovascular disease. They are at particular risk for developing a serious infection during surgery, including endocarditis. Because of this risk, in order to reduce the risk of infection many patients undergo dental extraction prior to having a planned cardiac surgery. Now, however, a […]
February 27th, 2014
Steve Jobs Rejected the First Medical App in 1977
Larry Husten, PHD
There’s been a lot of speculation that future Apple products will include health-related apps and biometric sensors. Here’s the story of what might have been the first Apple medical app, except for the fact that in 1977 Steve Jobs had absolutely no interest in going in that direction. George Diamond is now retired after a long and very distinguished career as a cardiologist […]
February 27th, 2014
Save the Date!
CardioExchange Editors, Staff
Join Us! CardioExchange Cocktail Reception at the ACC Sunday, March 30, 2014 6:30 pm Renaissance Hotel Room #12 Washington, DC • Participate in a discussion about CardioExchange, social media, and community in cardiology • Meet Harlan Krumholz and other members of the CardioExchange community • Share drinks and appetizers [gravityform id=”5″ name=”CardioExchange Cocktail […]
February 27th, 2014
U.K. Geriatrician: Statins, Antihypertensives “Greatly” Overprescribed for Adults 80 and Older
Nicholas Downing, MD
“The data strongly suggest that we are over-treating many healthy patients aged 80+ regarding stroke prevention,” concludes U.K. geriatrician Kit Byatt in a perspective published in Evidence-Based Medicine. Byatt offers a brief review of the evidence, noting that the large HYVET study in China and Europe showed only modest stroke-prevention benefits with antihypertensive therapy in […]
February 27th, 2014
Poor Medical Research: What Has Changed in 20 Years?
Harlan M. Krumholz, MD, SM
A recent blog and a 20-year-old editorial has Harlan Krumholz wondering: Why there is so much poor medical research?
February 25th, 2014
Is Post-MI Statin Therapy Appropriately Intensive?
Suzanne V. Arnold, MD, MHA
Suzanne V. Arnold discusses her research group’s study of statin initiation, intensification, and maximization after acute myocardial infarction.
February 25th, 2014
Study Raises Questions About Transfusions in PCI Patients
Larry Husten, PHD
A very large observational study raises important questions about the role of transfusions in PCI patients in the U.S. In a study published in JAMA, researchers from Duke and Yale analyzed data from more than 2.25 million percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) procedures at more than 1400 hospitals. The data came from the CathPCI Registry, a large ongoing […]
February 25th, 2014
FDA Approves New Catheter for Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation
Larry Husten, PHD
The FDA has granted marketing approval for the Thermocool Smarttouch ablation catheter for use in patients with drug-resistant paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF), sustained monomorphic ischemic ventricular tachycardia, and type I atrial flutter. The device is manufactured by Biosense Webster, a Johnson & Johnson company. The device, according to the company, “is the first therapeutic catheter approved in […]
February 24th, 2014
Vitamin Supplements Come Up Short Once Again
Larry Husten, PHD
Once again, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) has concluded that there is no good evidence to support the routine use of multivitamins or most individual or combination vitamins by healthy adults to prevent cardiovascular disease or cancer. The USPSTF also recommended against the use of two specific vitamins — beta-carotene and vitamin E. Beta-carotene has […]
February 24th, 2014
What Is “Non-Valvular” Atrial Fibrillation?
Shengshou Hu, M.D.
Wes Fisher attempts to figure out what the latest marketing phrase – non-valvular atrial fibrillation – really means.