July 3rd, 2014
Sitagliptin Associated with Increase in Heart Failure Hospitalizations
Larry Husten, PHD
The cardiovascular effects of drugs used for glucose control in patients with diabetes have been a subject of controversy for many years now. More recently, attention has started to focus specifically on the risk for heart failure (HF). Now, an observational study will likely raise new questions about the dipeptidyl peptidase (DPP)-4 inhibitor sitagliptin (Januvia, Merck). In […]
June 30th, 2014
Selections from Richard Lehman’s Literature Review: June 30th
Richard Lehman, BM, BCh, MRCGP
This week’s topics include atrial fibrillation and cryptogenic stroke, higher potency statins and the risk for new diabetes, and more.
June 10th, 2014
Major Medical Organizations Establish Ambitious Diabetes Registry
Larry Husten, PHD
Our knowledge of diabetes today is a bit like the way blind men understand an elephant. With a myriad of isolated perspectives it’s nearly impossible to gain a broad overview. Now, a new initiative from a group of major medical organization will seek to provide the tools to better see a full picture of the elephantine […]
June 9th, 2014
Selections from Richard Lehman’s Literature Review: June 9th
Richard Lehman, BM, BCh, MRCGP
This week’s topics include the CORONARY trial, the association of azithromycin with mortality and CV events among older patients hospitalized with pneumonia, and more.
May 27th, 2014
Selections from Richard Lehman’s Literature Review: May 27th
Richard Lehman, BM, BCh, MRCGP
This week’s topics include mortality trends in patients with diabetes, cardiovascular remodeling in CAD and HF, and more.
March 24th, 2014
Selections from Richard Lehman’s Literature Review: March 24th
Richard Lehman, BM, BCh, MRCGP
This week’s topics include non-leg venous thrombosis in critically ill adults, a comparison of factor Xa inhibitors and warfarin for preventing stroke and thromboembolism in atrial fibrillation, and more.
March 12th, 2014
Clinical Trials For Diabetes Drugs Need To Consider Heart Failure
Larry Husten, PHD
Is heart failure the missing 800 pound gorilla in diabetes trials? That’s the argument proposed by a group of prominent cardiovascular and diabetes researchers. It was long believed that by virtue of their glucose-lowering properties diabetes drugs would confer substantial cardiovascular benefits. That belief is no longer widely held, however, and the FDA now requires cardiovascular […]
February 11th, 2014
FDA Investigating Heart Failure Risk Linked to Saxagliptin
Larry Husten, PHD
The FDA said today that it is conducting an investigation of a possible increased risk for heart failure associated with the diabetes drug saxagliptin. Saxagliptin, a dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitor, is marketed by AstraZeneca as Onglyza and Kombiglyze XR. (AstraZeneca recently completed the purchase of all rights to the drug from its manufacturer, Bristol Myers-Squibb.) The investigation stems […]
January 6th, 2014
Mediterranean Diet Protects Against Diabetes, Regardless of Weight Loss
Larry Husten, PHD
Even if it doesn’t lead to weight loss, a Mediterranean diet could help prevent the onset of type 2 diabetes, according to a subanalysis of last year’s influential PREDIMED study. In the main trial, reported in the New England Journal of Medicine, nearly 7500 people at high risk for cardiovascular disease were randomized to a low-fat […]
January 6th, 2014
Selections from Richard Lehman’s Literature Review: January 6th
Richard Lehman, BM, BCh, MRCGP
This week’s topics include the NAVIGATOR study, trials of stents, mitral valve repair vs. replacement, and more.
NEJM Journal Watch — Recent Cardiology Articles- Is Diltiazem Safe in Patients with AF Taking Apixaban or Rivaroxaban?
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- A New TAVR Prosthesis for Aortic Regurgitation Shows Promise
- Aprocitentan, a Newly Approved Drug for Resistant Hypertension