August 13th, 2014
Two New Studies Fuel the Debate Over Sodium
Larry Husten, PHD
Three papers and an editorial in the New England Journal of Medicine are sure to throw fresh fuel on the ongoing fiery debate over sodium recommendations. Current guidelines recommend that people should limit their intake of sodium to 1.5 to 2.4 grams per day, but these recommendations are based on projections and have never been tested in […]
August 13th, 2014
With Health Disparities Research, Descriptive Analysis Isn’t Enough
Paul S. Chan, MD, MS
Paul Chan takes a critical look at the shortcomings of the current state of disparities research and asks what we could do differently to improve the lives of others.
August 12th, 2014
Stroke Risks Associated with Atrial Fibrillation Measured
Two retrospective JAMA studies examine aspects of the thromboembolic risks that accompany atrial fibrillation. One study measured stroke risks after perioperative AF. Researchers looked at claims data for some 1.7 million surgical patients, roughly 1.4% of whom had perioperative new-onset AF. Stroke rates by the 1-year mark were higher with perioperative AF, both after cardiac surgery (0.99% […]
August 12th, 2014
From the Mouths of Babes
Shengshou Hu, M.D.
Wes Fisher reflects on how his “Bring Your Daughter to Work” days, both then and now, caused him to value his experience as a physician.
August 12th, 2014
What Can We Really Deduce from ACCORD?
Kasia Lipska, MD, MHS
For Kasia Lipska, post hoc analyses of intensive glucose lowering in the ACCORD trial require greater scrutiny.
August 11th, 2014
Potassium Supplements for Users of Loop Diuretics?
Charles E Leonard, PharmD, MSCE and Behnood Bikdeli, M.D.
Behnood Bikdeli interviews Charles Leonard about his PLOS ONE study investigating possible survival benefits from the empiric use of potassium supplements in new users of loop diuretics.
August 11th, 2014
Selections from Richard Lehman’s Literature Review: August 11th
Richard Lehman, BM, BCh, MRCGP
This week’s topics include the effects of intensive glucose control on ischemic heart disease and a meta-analysis of the effects of thrombolysis with alteplase for acute ischemic stroke.
August 11th, 2014
What’s the Next Phase for Digoxin in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation?
Mintu Turakhia, MD MAS
Mintu P. Turakhia discusses his observational study of digoxin use and mortality risk in patients with atrial fibrillation, using data from the TREAT-AF study.
August 11th, 2014
Study Offers Little Support for an Old Drug
Larry Husten, PHD
Digoxin is one of the oldest drugs in the cardiovascular arsenal, derived from the foxglove plant and first described in the 18th century by William Withering. It is frequently used in patients with heart failure (HF) and with atrial fibrillation (AF). The few trials supporting its use were performed in HF patients before newer treatments […]
August 7th, 2014
Neck Manipulation Linked to Cervical Dissection
Larry Husten, PHD
After a neck adjustment — also known as cervical manipulative therapy and typically employed by chiropractors and other healthcare providers — people are at increased risk for cervical dissections, which can lead to stroke, according to a scientific statement released by the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association. Although a cause-and-effect relationship is far from being proved, the groups say that […]