CardioExchange Archive

June 24th, 2014

In Emerging China, STEMI Admissions Skyrocket But Treatment Lags

Larry Husten, PHD

Accompanying all the other changes in China over the past decade, admission to the hospital for ST-segment elevation MI (STEMI) has soared, according to a paper published in the Lancet. Although the study finds that there have been some genuine improvements in treatment, the Chinese healthcare system still has a long way to go to improve […]

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June 24th, 2014

FDA Recalls Another Batch of Generic Metoprolol

Larry Husten, PHD

The FDA has recalled more than 13,000 bottles of metoprolol succinate extended-release tablets manufactured by Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories. In addition, the agency recently recalled another lot of generic metoprolol from a different company, Wockhardt. Both recalls were for medicines manufactured at facilities in India. There have been multiple reports in recent years of problems with generic […]

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June 23rd, 2014

Mobile Cardiovascular Screening Programs Come Under Fire

Larry Husten, PHD

The consumer group Public Citizen has urged 20 hospitals to sever their involvement in a mobile cardiovascular screening program. The HealthFair Cardiovascular Screening Packages are unethical, mislead consumers, and do more harm than good, according to Public Citizen. In a statement, the president of the American College of Cardiology, Patrick O’Gara, said that “the questions raised […]

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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 […]

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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 Journal […]

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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 […]

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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, which […]

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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. Overall, […]

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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 the […]

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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 placebo. […]

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