CardioExchange Archive

April 25th, 2012

When You’re Hot, You’re Hot: Salim Yusuf Second Most Influential Scientist in 2011

Larry Husten, PHD

McMaster University’s Salim Yusuf has tied for second place in the annual ranking of the “hottest” scientific researchers, according to Thomson Reuter’s Science Watch. Yusuf was a co-author of 13 of the most cited papers in 2011. Only one other researcher, genomic pioneer Eric Lander of the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, had more highly-cited papers than Yusuf. Two […]

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April 23rd, 2012

Selections from Richard Lehman’s Literature Review: Week of April 23rd

Richard Lehman, BM, BCh, MRCGP

This week, Richard discusses JAMA’s coverage of patient-centered care and all things CABG in NEJM.

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April 23rd, 2012

How to Avoid a Lousy Practice Position After Fellowship

CardioExchange Editors, Staff

A CardioExchange member shares 10 tips for avoiding a lousy practice position – and finding a great one – after fellowship.

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April 20th, 2012

Aliskiren (Tekturna) Gets New Warning and Contraindication from FDA

Larry Husten, PHD

The FDA has issued new warnings about antihypertensive drugs containing the direct renin inhibitor aliskiren (including Tekturna, Amturnide, Takamio, and Valturna) when used in combination with ACE inhibitors or angiotensin-receptor blockers (ARBs). The FDA now states that these drug combinations are contraindicated in patients with diabetes, and it is adding a new warning to avoid […]

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April 18th, 2012

Selections from Richard Lehman’s Literature Review: Week of April 16th

Richard Lehman, BM, BCh, MRCGP

This week’s topics include an “awful question” about statin therapy, coronary computed tomographic angiography in the ED, vorapraxar for secondary prevention, and stent wars.

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April 18th, 2012

Preoperative Statins Found to Reduce AF and Length of Stay but Not Mortality

Larry Husten, PHD

In a systematic review published in the Cochrane Library, investigators at the University of Cologne in Germany analyzed data from 11 trials that tested the effects of preoperative statins in 984 patients undergoing heart surgery. Preoperative administration of statins reduced the risk for developing atrial fibrillation (AF) and shortened the length of stay in the ICU and in […]

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April 17th, 2012

Million Dollar Bonuses for Five Ohio State University Electrophysiologists

Larry Husten, PHD

Five Ohio State University electrophysiologists received 2011 bonus payments greater than $1 million, resulting in total pay for the year for each cardiologist of about $2 million. The news was first reported by the Dayton Daily News and subsequently covered by Heartwire. Five out of seven bonuses that topped $1 million at OSU went to the electrophysiologists. […]

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April 17th, 2012

What’s in a Name? Go for the Generic

Nicholas Downing, MD

A recent report published in the Archives of Internal Medicine highlights some “low-hanging fruit” for anyone trying to deliver more cost-effective healthcare. The authors (I am the first author and Harlan Krumholz, CardioExchange editor-in-chief, is the senior author) describe how branded formulations of fenofibrate — marketed by Abbott as Tricor and Trilipix — account for the vast majority […]

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April 13th, 2012

CT Angiography for Safe Discharge of Patients

(Reprinted with permission from NOW@NEJM, a blog for physicians about the New England Journal of Medicine) Chest pain is the second most common reason for Emergency Room visits in this country, and although only 10-15% of patients admitted with chest pain are ultimately diagnosed with an acute coronary syndrome, the majority of patients get admitted. […]

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April 10th, 2012

Baseline ECG Abnormalities in Older Patients Tied to Increased CHD Risk

Larry Husten, PHD

Although routine ECG screening in asymptomatic people is not recommended by guidelines, a new study raises the possibility that ECGs in an elderly population can provide a modest improvement in risk classification. In the Health, Aging, and Body Composition Study, published in JAMA, Reto Auer and colleagues followed 2192 adults 70 to 79 years of age without […]

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