CardioExchange Archive

March 12th, 2012

5 Ways CME Misses the Mark

Behnood Bikdeli, M.D.

Some people critique Continuous Medical Education (CME) programs as spoon-feeding. As a young physician struggling to learn a lot of material, I actually appreciate a bit of ready-to-consume content that I can learn quickly and effectively. The American College of Cardiology (ACC) and other reputable institutions provide CME programs that, overall, help to keep physicians […]

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March 12th, 2012

Selections from Richard Lehman’s Weekly Review: Week of March 12th

Richard Lehman, BM, BCh, MRCGP

This week’s topics include stem cells for the heart, BP in both arms and vascular disease, and how patients and caregivers interpret prognostic information.

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March 8th, 2012

Michael Ezekowitz Joining Cardiovascular Research Foundation to Establish AFib Research Center

Larry Husten, PHD

Michael Ezekowitz is joining the Cardiovascular Research Foundation (CRF) in New York City to start a new center for atrial fibrillation research. Ezekowitz, a cardiologist at the Lankenau Institute for Medical Research in Philadelphia, had been a professor and vice president for clinical research at Lankenau. Recently, Ezekowitz was a co-principal investigator of the RE-LY […]

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March 8th, 2012

The Psychological Impact of DVT and PE

Beth Waldron, MA

The evaluation of the care and outcome of patients with venous thromboembolism is often focused on the visible short-term effects of a clot, such as: Has the acute clotting episode resolved? Are chronic pain, swelling, or other post-thrombotic issues well managed? Has there been any bleeding associated with anticoagulation? Has there been a VTE recurrence? […]

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March 6th, 2012

Another Round in the Debate on Diabetes and Statins

Yoni Freedhoff, MD

Let me start by saying that I am proud to have Eric Topol as a friend and a trusted advisor over the past 20 years. His work has been an inspiration to cardiovascular health professionals for several decades. His new book, The Creative Destruction of Medicine: How the Digital Revolution Will Create Better Health Care, […]

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March 5th, 2012

Selections from Richard Lehman’s Weekly Review: Week of March 5th

Richard Lehman, BM, BCh, MRCGP

This week’s topics include goal-oriented patient care, stenting vs. medical therapy, and patient satisfaction and mortality.

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March 5th, 2012

New Insight Into Obesity and Physical Activity in Children

Karen Dorsey, MD, PhD

As obesity has increased among children, a clear link has been established between obesity and cardiovascular risk factors including high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and diabetes. However, less is known about whether being more physically active might protect children from developing these risk factors. Among adults, physical activity has been shown to reduce cardiovascular risk […]

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March 2nd, 2012

Statins and Protease Inhibitors May Interact, Causing Rhabdomyolysis

Physician's First Watch, CardioExchange Staff

The FDA is warning again about interactions between protease inhibitors and certain statins that can lead to rhabdomyolysis. Protease inhibitors are used to treat HIV and hepatitis C. In a safety communication, the agency published a list of statins that should either be avoided or whose dosing levels should be limited when coadministered with protease […]

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March 1st, 2012

Decision on Apixaban (Eliquis) Pushed Back By 3 Months

Larry Husten, PHD

Confirming earlier speculation by a Wall Street analyst, Pfizer and Bristol-Myers Squibb announced on Wednesday evening that the FDA had extended by 3 months the action date for the new drug application (NDA) for the highly anticipated oral anticoagulant apixaban (Eliquis). The application is for their important indication of stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation. The […]

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March 1st, 2012

The Growing Number of Observation Stays: How Do You Decide?

Harlan M. Krumholz, MD, SM

The number of observation stays are growing in this country, in part as a response to Medicare audits that are disallowing admissions for some patients – and maybe in part to reduce crowding in the Emergency Medicine Department. The problem is that criteria are not clear, so there is likely a lot of variability across […]

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