February 26th, 2015
Exploring Sex Differences in the Use of Mechanical Circulatory Support for Advanced Heart Failure
Jennifer Cook, MD
Jennifer L. Cook discusses differences between men and women in the use of ventricular assist devices for advanced heart failure.
February 24th, 2015
Increased Risk with NSAIDs Following Myocardial Infarction
Larry Husten, PHD
The cardiovascular safety of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen and diclofenac has been the subject of considerable uncertainty and controversy. Now a new study published in JAMA raises specific concerns about the safety of these drugs in the highly vulnerable population of people who have had a recent myocardial infarction. Using data from several linked […]
February 23rd, 2015
Want to Blog for CardioExchange at ACC.15?
Harlan M. Krumholz, MD, SM and John Ryan, MD
CardioExchange is looking for members to blog at ACC.15 next month in San Diego.
February 23rd, 2015
Selections from Richard Lehman’s Literature Review: February 23rd
Richard Lehman, BM, BCh, MRCGP
This week’s topics include a comparison of fondaparinux and low-molecular-weight heparin in patients with non-STEMI and a study of multiple BP medications, achieved BP, and mortality in older nursing home residents.
February 23rd, 2015
Study Links Sauna Use to Better Health — In Finland
Larry Husten, PHD
Spending more time in the sauna may lead to a longer and healthier life — at least if you live in Finland, according to a new study published in JAMA Internal Medicine. Finnish researchers analyzed data from the Kuopio Ischemic Heart Disease Risk Factor Study. The new analysis focused on 2,315 middle-aged men who had 1, 2-3, or […]
February 19th, 2015
Companies Plan To Resume Renal Denervation Trials
Larry Husten, PHD
Medtronic and Boston Scientific have announced plans to start phase 2 clinical trials this year for their updated renal denervation catheters. The once promising new technology is intended to treat hypertension unresponsive to drug therapy. The failure last year of Medtronic’s Symplicity HTN-3, the first large pivotal trial to rigorously test renal denervation, sent manufacturers back to their […]
February 19th, 2015
A Close Examination of Recent Studies of Endovascular Treatment for Acute Ischemic Stroke
Rory J Spiegel, MD
Rory Spiegel takes a close look at the MR CLEAN, EXTEND-IA, and ESCAPE trials.
February 16th, 2015
Study Tests Very Simple High-Fiber Diet
Larry Husten, PHD
Diets notoriously fail to help people lose a lot of weight. One problem is that most diets include a broad range of restrictions and guidelines that many people find difficult to follow. Another problem is that negative recommendations may have unintended consequences, such as low-fat recommendations leading to increased consumption of refined carbohydrates. Now a […]
February 16th, 2015
Cardiovascular Risk Calculators Overestimate
Larry Husten, PHD
Calculating cardiovascular risk has become a central and highly controversial component of cardiovascular guidelines. Now a study in the Annals of Internal Medicine finds that most of the commonly employed tools seriously overestimate the risk of people today. Researchers used data from 4,227 people enrolled in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) between 2000 and 2002 to assess the […]
February 16th, 2015
Case: Rising Coronary Artery Calcium in a Patient Who Has a Normal Stress Echo with an Abnormal ECG
Ethan J Weiss, M.D.
A 74-year-old physically active man exercises daily, takes a statin for hyperlipidemia, and has no other risk factors aside from a mildly elevated hemoglobin A1c. His most recent lipid profile, in January 2015, was: Total-c: 144 mg/dL LDL-c: 84 mg/dL HDL-c: 48 mg/dL Triglycerides: 59 mg/dL His coronary artery calcium scores were 109.5 in the […]