September 26th, 2013
Scrutinizing the PRAMI Trial of “Preventive Angioplasty”
Victor Montori, MD, MSc
Victor Montori offers his analysis of the PRAMI trial and the many ramifications of stopping an investigation early.
September 26th, 2013
Increase In Deaths Linked To First-Line Treatment With Sulfonylureas
Larry Husten, PHD
First-line treatment with sulfonylureas instead of metformin in people with type 2 diabetes is associated with a significantly elevated risk of death, according to results from an observational study presented at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) meeting in Barcelona. Although guidelines do not recommend the use of sulfonylureas for first-line treatment, the drugs are […]
September 25th, 2013
Is It Safe to Treat Acute Pulmonary Embolism in an Outpatient Setting?
Christopher Kabrhel, MD MPH
Christopher Kabrhel discusses his research group’s study of the factors associated with clinical deterioration and the need for hospital-based interventions after an acute pulmonary embolism.
September 23rd, 2013
Using Registry Data, FDA Expands Indication for Edwards’ Sapien Transcatheter Heart Valves
Larry Husten, PHD
Relying on an important new source of information, the FDA said today that it had expanded the label for the Sapien Transcatheter Heart Valve (Edwards Lifesciences). Previously, the Sapien was approved for insertion via the transfemoral or transapical access points in patients not eligible for traditional aortic valve surgery. The new labeling no longer mentions access points […]
September 23rd, 2013
Selections from Richard Lehman’s Literature Review: September 23rd
Richard Lehman, BM, BCh, MRCGP
This week’s topics include a randomized trial of preventive angioplasty in MI, aliskiren in patients with prehypertension, and otamixaban and ischemic events in NSTE-ACS.
September 20th, 2013
Taking a Clear-Eyed View of Statins and Cataracts
Larry Husten, PHD
Past observational studies have turned up conflicting findings about the effects, if any, of statins on developing cataracts. Now a large new observational study finds a small but significant increase in cataracts in statin users, however, experts warn that without further support the new finding should probably not influence clinical practice. In a paper published […]
September 19th, 2013
Clopidogrel’s Benefits Seen Mainly in Smokers
Nicholas Downing, MD
Clopidogrel appears to offer more protection against cardiovascular events among smokers than nonsmokers, according to a systematic review in BMJ. Researchers examined data from six randomized trials comparing clopidogrel (alone or with aspirin) with control treatments (namely, aspirin alone or lower-dose clopidogrel plus aspirin). Nearly 75,000 patients with established cardiovascular disease, 30% of whom were […]
September 18th, 2013
Both Overuse and Underuse Explain Disparities in Coronary Revascularization
Larry Husten, PHD
A new study finds that groups who have often been found to receive less medical care — non-whites, women, and people without private insurance or who are from urban and rural areas — are less likely to undergo coronary revascularization. But the same study finds that this disparity may be in no small part due to […]
September 18th, 2013
Younger Women with ACS Less Likely to Have Chest Pain
Larry Husten, PHD
Younger women with an acute coronary syndrome are slightly less likely than men to present with the classic symptom of chest pain, according to a new study published in JAMA Internal Medicine. In recent years there has been a growing understanding that women with ACS are less likely to have chest pain and, partly as a result, […]
September 16th, 2013
Intense Lifestyle Changes May Lengthen Telomeres
Larry Husten, PHD
A very small pilot study offers early evidence that a program of comprehensive lifestyle changes increases telomere length. Telomeres, which have been compared to the plastic caps that prevent shoelaces from unravelling, help protect chromosomes. Telomere length is closely correlated to cellular aging: as we age the telomeres in our cells grow shorter. The new study, published online […]
