CardioExchange Archive

May 19th, 2010

Novel Platinum Chromium Alloy Stent Found Safe and Effective 

Larry Husten, PHD

Novel Platinum Chromium Alloy Stent Found Safe and Effective: The Taxus Element paclitaxel-eluting stent (PES), which features a novel, thin-strut platinum chromium alloy “designed to enhance radiopacity, radial strength, and conformability,” was found safe and effective in the PERSEUS (Prospective Evaluation in a Randomized Trial of the Safety and Efficacy of the Use of the […]

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May 18th, 2010

• AHA and Wii: A Controversial Relationship
• Getting With the Guidelines Reduces Disparities in Treatment

Larry Husten, PHD

AHA and Wii: A Controversial Relationship: A deal struck between the American Heart Association and Nintendo of America was the subject of a critical news report on ABC’s “Good Morning America.” AHA president Clyde Yancy told GMA that Nintendo was giving $1.5 million over 3 years to the AHA, prompting Columbia University’s David Rothman to […]

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May 17th, 2010

• Can Two Million Kidneys Be Wrong?
• What Is the Clinical Utility of CTA?

Larry Husten, PHD

Can Two Million Kidneys Be Wrong? A new meta-analysis in the Lancet offers strong evidence that glomerular filtration rate and albuminuria are powerful independent predictors of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in the general population. Members of the Chronic Kidney Disease Prognosis Consortium used data from over 100,000 participants in studies utilizing urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR) […]

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May 14th, 2010

Time Window for TPA in Stroke Extended to 4.5 Hours

Larry Husten, PHD

Time Window for TPA in Stroke Extended to 4.5 Hours: A new pooled analysis in the Lancet provides evidence that rt-PA may be beneficial when given up to 4.5 hours after stroke onset. Kennedy Lees and colleagues added data from 2 recent trials (ECASS III and EPITHET) to 6 earlier trials to re-examine the effect […]

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May 14th, 2010

To Treat or Not to Treat: A Poll on Primary Prevention for a Hypothetical Woman

JoAnne M. Foody, MD

Rita Redberg’s recent post, Why I Don’t Recommend Statins for Primary Prevention in Women, has gotten some attention on CardioExchange. In comments on the post, CardioExchange members and contributors support various approaches to preventive interventions for women. Here’s your chance to weigh in: How would you handle a 65-year-old woman who has reasonably controlled hypertension […]

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May 13th, 2010

Routine Genotyping for Dual-Antiplatelet Therapy?

Larry Husten, PHD

Routine Genotyping for Dual-Antiplatelet Therapy? Should genotyping be used routinely to guide dual-antiplatelet therapy (DAPT)? Two perspectives in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology provide starkly contrasting views of the issue. Samir Damani and Eric Topol, writing in a Viewpoint, note that genetic variations affecting clopidogrel responsiveness are quite common, and are “the root […]

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May 13th, 2010

All this talk about migraines and PFO closure is giving me a headache!

Richard A. Lange, MD, MBA

Despite a previous randomized trial showing no improvement in migraine headaches with PFO closure, a new study disputes these findings. In patients with refractory migraines (aura in 80%) and at high risk of right-to-left shunting (all had an atrial septal aneurysm, eustachian valve, large shunt, and coagulation abnormalities), PFO closure significantly improved migraine symptoms. Howie Herrmann […]

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May 12th, 2010

Gust Bardy Answers Questions About the Entirely Subcutaneous ICD

gusthbardy and Larry Husten, PHD

Earlier today, at the annual meeting of the Heart Rhythm Society in Denver, Dr. Gust Bardy presented the initial experience with a promising new device, an entirely subcutaneous ICD (S-ICD). The paper was published simultaneously online in the New England Journal of Medicine. Dr. Bardy graciously agreed to answer questions about the device from the […]

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May 11th, 2010

• Meta-Analysis Finds Fibrates May Have Benefits
• Big Drop in CHD Mortality in Ontario • Working 9 to 5 Is Good for the Heart

Larry Husten, PHD

Meta-Analysis Finds Fibrates May Have Benefits: Jun and colleagues analyzed data from 18 placebo-controlled trials of fibrates with 45,058 participants. In their paper in the Lancet, they report that fibrate use was associated with a small but marginally significant 10% reduction in major cardiovascular events (p=0.048) and a slightly larger and highly significant 13% reduction […]

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May 10th, 2010

• AHA Scientific Statement on Air Pollution
• Bran Linked to Reduced Mortality Risk in Diabetic Women

Larry Husten, PHD

AHA Scientific Statement on Air Pollution: The American Heart Association has strengthened its position on air pollution. In an update to a 2004 scientific statement, the new statement, “Particulate Matter Air Pollution and Cardiovascular Disease,” finds greater evidence linking air pollution to CV disease and reaches several new conclusions, including: Even brief exposure over hours […]

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