June 23rd, 2014
If You Snus, You Lose: Study Shows Benefits of Quitting Smokeless Tobacco
Larry Husten, PHD
The adverse effects of smoking are well known and documented. The effect of smokeless tobacco is less clear. Now a study from Sweden, published in Circulation, offers evidence that quitting smokeless tobacco after MI is about as beneficial as quitting smoking. The results do not support the common view that smokeless tobacco is a safe alternative […]
June 19th, 2014
Genetic Studies May Help Unravel the Triglyceride Problem
Larry Husten, PHD
The precise role of triglycerides in heart disease has been very difficult to determine. To help untangle the knotty problem two research groups studied large populations and identified rare variations in a gene (APOC3) that encodes for apolipoprotein C3, which is known to increase triglyceride levels. In the first paper, published in the New England […]
June 18th, 2014
Yet Another Delay for Boston Scientific’s Watchman Device
Larry Husten, PHD
Boston Scientific hopes the third time will be the charm. The company disclosed on Tuesday yet another obstacle in the path to approval for its novel Watchman left atrial appendage closure device for the prevention of stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation. Although it has already been before two FDA advisory panels, the company said […]
June 17th, 2014
FDA Approves Second-Generation Heart Valve from Edwards Lifesciences
Larry Husten, PHD
The next phase of the burgeoning and rapidly maturing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) market has begun. Edwards Lifesciences announced on Monday afternoon that the FDA had approved its second-generation Sapien XT TAVR device for the treatment of high-risk and inoperable patients suffering from severe symptomatic aortic stenosis (AS). The Sapien XT is the successor to the first-generation Sapien device, […]
June 17th, 2014
A Meta-Look at Thrombolysis vs. Conventional Anticoagulation for PE
Jay Giri, MD, MPH and Saurav Chatterjee, MD
Jay Giri and Saurav Chatterjee discuss their meta-analysis of trials comparing thrombolytic therapy and conventional anticoagulation in patients at intermediate risk for pulmonary embolism.
June 17th, 2014
Mixed Results for Thrombolysis in Pulmonary Embolism
Larry Husten, PHD
The role of thrombolytic therapy for the treatment of pulmonary embolism has been unclear, as it has been difficult to measure the precise balance between enhanced clot-dissolving efficacy and greater bleeding risk produced by thrombolysis when compared with conventional anticoagulation. A new meta-analysis published in JAMA analyzed data from 16 randomized trials including 2115 patients. […]
June 16th, 2014
Selections from Richard Lehman’s Literature Review: June 16th
Richard Lehman, BM, BCh, MRCGP
This week’s topics include statins and physical activity in older men, transitional care interventions to prevent heart-failure readmissions, and more.
June 16th, 2014
Case: Smoking-Related CV Risk and the Need for Statin Therapy in a Former Smoker Who Quit Long Ago
Jay D Shah, MD, Neil J Stone, MD and James Fang, MD
Jay Shah presents the case of a 66-year-old woman who quit smoking 15 years ago and is seen for a cardiovascular risk assessment.
June 16th, 2014
European Regulators Investigate Cardiovascular Safety of Ibuprofen
Larry Husten, PHD
The European Medicines Agency announced on Friday that it had initiated a review of the cardiovascular safety of ibuprofen when taken in high doses over an extended period of time. The review will be performed by the Pharmacovigilance Risk Assessment Committee (PRAC). The EMA said that people taking ibuprofen should continue to take it as long as they follow […]
June 16th, 2014
Positive Results for New Oral Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Drug
Larry Husten, PHD
Actelion has announced positive top-line results for a phase III trial of a new oral drug for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). The drug, selexipag, is a first-in-class orally available selective prostacyclin IP receptor agonist. The pivotal, double-blind GRIPHON study was the largest outcome trial ever performed in PAH. A total of 1,156 PAH patients were randomized to selexipag or […]