February 24th, 2014
Vitamin Supplements Come Up Short Once Again
Larry Husten, PHD
Once again, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) has concluded that there is no good evidence to support the routine use of multivitamins or most individual or combination vitamins by healthy adults to prevent cardiovascular disease or cancer. The USPSTF also recommended against the use of two specific vitamins — beta-carotene and vitamin E. Beta-carotene has […]
February 24th, 2014
What Is “Non-Valvular” Atrial Fibrillation?
Shengshou Hu, M.D.
Wes Fisher attempts to figure out what the latest marketing phrase – non-valvular atrial fibrillation – really means.
February 24th, 2014
Meta-Analysis Links Vegetarian Diet and Lower Blood Pressure
Larry Husten, PHD
A new meta-analysis provides the strongest evidence yet that a vegetarian diet is strongly associated with lower blood pressure. Although various health benefits of a vegetarian diet have often been proposed, a rigorous examination of the effect on blood pressure has not been previously performed. In a paper published in JAMA Internal Medicine, Japanese researchers analyzed data […]
February 24th, 2014
Selections from Richard Lehman’s Literature Review: February 24th
Richard Lehman, BM, BCh, MRCGP
This week’s topics include radiofrequency ablation vs. antiarrhythmic drugs as first-line treatment of paroxysmal AF, Symplicity HTN-1 and Symplicity HTN-3, and more.
February 19th, 2014
Victor Dzau Leaving Duke to Head the Institute of Medicine
Larry Husten, PHD
Cardiologist Victor Dzau will leave his positions as the chancellor for health affairs at Duke University and the CEO of the Duke University Health System to become the next president of the Institute of Medicine. He will replace Harvey Fineberg, who has been the IOM president for the last 12 years. “I am humbled and […]
February 18th, 2014
Trial Offers Little Support for Early Use of Radiofrequency Ablation in Atrial Fibrillation
Larry Husten, PHD
A new trial offers little support for early use of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) to treat atrial fibrillation (AF). Current guidelines state that RFA may be indicated in patients with symptomatic paroxysmal AF after antiarrhythmic drug therapy has failed. Although earlier hopes have been dashed that RFA would prove to be a cure for AF, some experts […]
February 17th, 2014
Selections from Richard Lehman’s Literature Review: February 17th
Richard Lehman, BM, BCh, MRCGP
This week’s topics include hospital variation in noninvasive cardiac imaging, percutaneous renal denervation in patients with treatment-resistant hypertension, and more.
February 14th, 2014
Is It Time for an Alternative to CME?
Nicholas Bergfeld, BS, BA
A medical student’s conversation with his physician father makes him wonder about the future of lifelong medical education.
February 14th, 2014
FDA Once Again Rejects New Indication For Rivaroxaban
Larry Husten, PHD
The third time wasn’t the charm. The FDA today turned turned down — for the third time — the supplemental New Drug Application (sNDA) for rivaroxaban (Xarelto, Johnson & Johnson) for use in acute coronary syndrome patients to reduce MI, stroke, or death. In addition, the FDA — for the second time — turned down the sNDA for rivaroxaban in […]
February 13th, 2014
Fellows: Want to Blog for CardioExchange at ACC.14?
Harlan M. Krumholz, MD, SM and John Ryan, MD
CardioExchange is looking for fellows to blog at ACC.14 in Washington, DC next month.
