CardioExchange Archive

May 24th, 2013

Spinning RECORD: Battle Over Rosiglitazone Heats up Two Weeks Before Crucial FDA Meeting

Larry Husten, PHD

Battle lines are being drawn two weeks before a highly unusual two-day FDA advisory committee meeting to discuss the contentious diabetes drug rosiglitazone (Avandia, GlaxoSmithKline [GSK]). This will be the second time an FDA panel has wrestled with the fate of the drug and expectations have been that the discussion will once again be heated. But […]

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May 23rd, 2013

Small Study Suggests Statins May Blunt Benefits of Exercise

Larry Husten, PHD

A small study is raising big questions about whether statins may blunt the beneficial effects of exercise. The study has been published online in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology and is the subject of a New York Times blog. Some 37 previously sedentary, overweight or obese adults with at least two other risk factors underwent 12 weeks of […]

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May 22nd, 2013

Subdural Hematoma and Possible ACS After Syncope

Indu Poornima, MD and James Fang, MD

Choose your management approach and defend it.

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May 21st, 2013

Athletes with ICDs Don’t Need to Quit Sports

Larry Husten, PHD

Although the American College of Cardiology and the European Society of Cardiology now advise people with ICDs not to participate in vigorous sports, a new study offers strong support for people with ICDs who want to take part in sports. Now findings from the ICD Sports Safety Registry, published in Circulation, provide vital new information about this important […]

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May 21st, 2013

European Medicines Agency Starts Review of Combined Use of Drugs that Block the Renin-Angiotensin System

Larry Husten, PHD

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) said last week that it was initiating a review of the combined use of agents that block the renin-angiotensin system (RAS). The three classes of RAS-blocking drugs (ACE inhibitors, ARBs, and direct renin inhibitors) are used to treat hypertension and congestive heart failure. The EMA said that the review was being performed […]

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May 20th, 2013

Similar Cardiovascular Risk Observed with COPD Drugs

Larry Husten, PHD

A large observational study has found no difference in the increased risk for cardiovascular disease between the two main classes of drugs used in the first-line treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). LABAs (long-acting inhaled beta-agonists) and LAMAs (long-acting muscarinic antagonists) have a variety of beneficial effects in COPD patients, but evidence has been […]

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May 20th, 2013

Selections from Richard Lehman’s Literature Review: May 20th

Richard Lehman, BM, BCh, MRCGP

This week’s topics include the safety and efficacy of sitagliptin for type 2 diabetes, use of glucocorticoids and the risk of VTE, and forced smoking abstinence.

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May 17th, 2013

Instagram for Heart Attacks: iPhone App Speeds ECG Transmission to Hospital

Larry Husten, PHD

In the crucial early stages of a possible myocardial infarction (MI), EMTs on the scene now rely on slow and unreliable proprietary technology to transmit vital ECG data to physicians at a hospital for evaluation. But a new iPhone app using standard cell phone networks may help speed the process and, ultimately, cut delays in […]

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May 13th, 2013

Selections from Richard Lehman’s Literature Review: May 13th

Richard Lehman, BM, BCh, MRCGP

This week’s topics include the ADVANCE III trial, the latest fish-oil supplement study, and a review of management strategies for asymptomatic carotid stenosis.

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May 13th, 2013

Blogging at HRS 2013: From The FIT Lounge, Insights From Douglas Zipes About Publishing

Sandeep K Goyal, MD

I finally managed to walk to the Fellows in Training lounge, hoping to connect with some co-fellows. I did find lot of fellows, but to my surprise Dr. Zipes was there and ready to answer burning questions about getting published.

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