March 11th, 2014
Cardiologist Tapped to Run the Smithsonian Institution
Larry Husten, PHD
A cardiologist has been chosen by the Smithsonian Institution’s Board of Regents to be the next leader of the Institution. David Skorton, who is currently the president of Cornell University, will be the Institution’s 13th Secretary, effective July 2015. He will be not only the first cardiologist but also the first physician to run the Smithsonian. Before going to […]
March 10th, 2014
Azithromycin, Levofloxacin Linked to Increased Risks for Arrhythmia and Mortality Compared with Amoxicillin
Nicholas Downing, MD
Azithromycin and levofloxacin carry higher arrhythmia and mortality risks than amoxicillin, according to an observational study in the Annals of Family Medicine. The FDA issued a cardiac warning on azithromycin in March 2013. Researchers studied nearly 1.8 million U.S. veterans (mean age, 57) who received outpatient prescriptions for one of the three antibiotics from 1999 […]
March 10th, 2014
Generic Lipitor Recalled Again
Nicholas Downing, MD
Ranbaxy has recalled over 60,000 bottles of generic atorvastatin after a pharmacist found a 20-mg tablet in a sealed bottle labeled with the 10-mg dose. The FDA considers this a class II recall, indicating “a remote chance of severe adverse consequences or death due to the product flaw,” Reuters reports.
March 10th, 2014
Can Decision Support Tools Actually Harm Patients?
Christine Sinsky, MD
Christine Sinsky questions whether a decision support tool that she’s required to use is helpful (as intended) or harmful to her patients.
March 10th, 2014
Selections from Richard Lehman’s Literature Review: March 10th
Richard Lehman, BM, BCh, MRCGP
This week’s topics include cognitive function and brain structure in type 2 diabetics after intensive lowering of BP and lipid levels, the association of β-blocker therapy with risks of adverse CV events and deaths in those with ischemic heart disease undergoing noncardiac surgery, and more.
March 6th, 2014
Vena Cava Filters Reduce Pulmonary Emboli But Increase VTE Recurrence Tenfold
Inferior vena cava filters seem to offer protection against death from pulmonary embolism when compared with anticoagulant therapy, but they have no significant effect on all-cause mortality. In addition, the filters are associated with higher rates of recurrent venous thromboembolism, according to an article in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. Researchers examined […]
March 5th, 2014
4 Deaths Linked to Thoratec HeartMate II LVAS
Larry Husten, PHD
Thoratec Corporation on Tuesday issued an urgent safety advisory about a serious problem with a key component of the HeartMate II LVAS system. The company said four patients had died and five had a loss of consciousness or other symptoms of hypoperfusion. The episodes occurred when patients and caregivers “experienced difficulties with the process of changing from a […]
March 4th, 2014
AF Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease Also Benefit from Warfarin
Larry Husten, PHD
Anticoagulation is a cornerstone of therapy for atrial fibrillation because it lowers the heightened risk for stroke in this population. People with chronic kidney disease are also at increased risk for stroke, but the benefits of anticoagulation are less clear in this group, and anticoagulation is used less often in AF patients who have CKD. […]
March 3rd, 2014
A New Approach for the Statin-Intolerant Patient?
Andrew M. Kates, MD
Andy Kates wonders if a new type of individual patient trial can help to identify whether a patient’s myalgia is caused by statin use.
March 3rd, 2014
Case: Palpitations in a Young Runner with Lamin A/C Deficiency
Anna Catino, MD and James Fang, MD
Anna Catino presents our latest case: A young, male, long-distance runner experiencing palpitations, who has lamin A/C deficiency and a family history of cardiac disease. How would you manage this patient?