CardioExchange Archive

July 30th, 2014

Heart of the Matter: Treating the Disease Instead of the Person

Leana S Wen, MD, MSc

Dr. Leana Wen’s analysis of the lack of overlap between physicians’ and patients’ desires has sparked a lot of discussion about patient satisfaction—what are your thoughts?

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July 28th, 2014

No Reduction in Atherosclerosis Progression With Menopausal Hormone Therapy

Larry Husten, PHD

More than a decade ago the Women’s Health Study produced surprising and important results when it showed that broad use of hormone replacement therapy did not reduce cardiovascular risk in postmenopausal women. However, the study also led to speculation that hormone therapy might be beneficial when delivered closer to the time of menopause. Now a study published […]

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July 28th, 2014

Selections from Richard Lehman’s Literature Review: July 28th

Richard Lehman, BM, BCh, MRCGP

This week’s topics include a comparison of catheter-directed thrombolysis plus anticoagulation and anticoagulation alone to treat DVT, several papers on dabigatran and bleeding risk, and more.

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July 28th, 2014

Death by Running: It’s the Heat and Not the Heart

Larry Husten, PHD

The growing popularity of marathons and other extreme sports has sparked worries about the potential dangers of these activities. The press and medical research have both focused on the risk for arrhythmias. But that concern may be misdirected. A new study from Israel published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology finds that a much more […]

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July 28th, 2014

Running: Any Amount Is Good and More May Not Be Better

Larry Husten, PHD

Although there is broad agreement that exercise is beneficial, there has been substantial uncertainty about how much exercise is good for you. Recently some studies have suggested that too much exercise may actually reduce the benefits of exercise. Now a study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology finds that even a […]

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July 23rd, 2014

More Questions Raised About Dabigatran

Larry Husten, PHD

Once again, dabigatran (Pradaxa) has raised the wrath of the critics. Several articles (see here, here, and here) and an editorial published today in The BMJ raise more questions and concerns about the drug, which is the first of the new oral anticoagulants. Relying on new evidence along with previously disclosed data, Deborah Cohen, the investigations editor for The […]

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July 21st, 2014

Selections from Richard Lehman’s Literature Review: July 21st

Richard Lehman, BM, BCh, MRCGP

This week’s topics include the effects of extended-release niacin with laropiprant in high-risk patients and dual-antiplatelet beyond one year after DES implantation.

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July 21st, 2014

Probiotics May Help Reduce Blood Pressure

Larry Husten, PHD

As interest in probiotics has grown in recent years, some evidence has emerged that probiotics may favorably reduce blood pressure, but trials have been small and inconsistent. Now a meta-analysis published in Hypertension suggests that the blood-pressure lowering effects of probiotics may be genuine. Saman Khalesi and colleagues analyzed data from nine parallel, randomized, controlled trials including 543 […]

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July 17th, 2014

Clinical Events vs. Quality of Life: An Insider’s View of TACT

Gervasio Antonio Lamas, MD

TACT investigator Gervasio Lamas provides perspective on two new TACT papers that appear to have contradictory results.

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July 14th, 2014

Poor Retention of Guideline Recommendations

Harlan M. Krumholz, MD, SM

Harlan Krumholz discusses a JAMA study that found a substantial proportion of Class I guideline recommendations were not durable over a 10-year period.

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