theheart.org

Prevention

1 COMMENT - Sep 29, 2008 13:30 EDT

A new Italian study has shown, for the first time, that consuming moderate amounts of dark chocolate can significantly reduce CRP levels. (di Giuseppe R et al. J Nutr 2008; 138:1939-1945.)

Acute Coronary Syndrome

New study finds type of HRT is key with regard to MI risk

Oct 1, 2008 13:45 EDT

Important new information on HRT and the risk of MI has emerged from a Danish observational study, which finds that the type of HRT used could be key when it comes to the likelihood of a heart attack. (Lokkegaard E et al. Eur Heart J; published online before print September 30, 2008.)

Heart failure

Subspecialty certification on the way for specialists in advanced heart failure

Sep 30, 2008 16:30 EDT

The certification is expected to encompass the management of patients with implantable defibrillators and biventricular pacemakers, although not device insertions.

Clinical cardiology

Routinely screen for clinical depression in CHD, AHA formally recommends

Sep 30, 2008 09:45 EDT

Providers should take the opportunity in any setting in which they see CHD patients, according to a "science advisory" from the organization, which acknowledges a lack of direct evidence that such efforts will improve the patients' clinical outcomes. (Lichtman JH et al. Circulation 2008; published online before print September 29, 2008.)

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Editorial series

A series of discussions among editorial leaders, developed by theheart.org

The Cardiology Show

ESC 2008: The Munich Summit

Sep 5, 2008 15:30 EDT

Join Drs Valentin Fuster, William Boden, Antonio Colombo, Raymond Gibbons, Franz Messerli, Marc Pfeffer, Philip Poole-Wilson, Ph Gabriel Steg, Renu Virmani, and Harvey White as they plumb the depths of the SYNTAX (Part 1) and CARDIA trials and weigh in on the cancer scare in the SEAS study (Part 2).

Cardiology panels

SYNTAX at one year: Deciphering the data

Oct 3, 2008 13:40 EDT

Drs Antonio Colombo and Renu Virmani talk about the one-year results of the SYNTAX trial, the importance of understanding registries, and the complex issue of clopidogrel duration with drug-eluting stents in a discussion moderated by heartwire journalist Shelley Wood.

Cardiology panels

Rethinking heart failure after GISSI-HF

Sep 26, 2008 10:36 EDT

Dr Philip Poole-Wilson talks to Drs Marc Pfeffer and Franz Messerli about the clinical implications of the GISSI-HF trial and how it may alter our view of the pathophysiology of heart failure.

Cardiology panels

Clinical trials under the microscope: A critical look at current practice

1 COMMENT - Jul 29, 2008 09:52 EDT

Join Drs Harlan Krumholz, Robert Harrington, Steven Nissen, and Frans Van De Werf as they give clinical trials a spirited going-over, from how they are being conducted to who is conducting them, and get into some of the sticky issues around sponsorship and data management.

Discussion and opinions

Lively, interactive exchanges moderated by thought leaders, staff or contributors to theheart.org

Topolog

Pfizer, Prasugrel and New Cardiovascular Drugs

Oct 2, 2008 14:26 EDT

This week Pfizer announced its plans to stop CV development; last week the FDA announced it still was not in a position to approve prasugrel. Where is CV drug development headed?

Fellows' Corner

Specializing in HF? Listen to our interview on board certification in advanced HF and transplant cardiology with Dr Konstam

Sep 29, 2008 15:11 EDT

theHeart.org Discussion Forum

Join Forum Moderator Dr. Melissa Walton-Shirley as she blogs from the ESC in Munich

May 14, 2008 15:43 EDT

Read about our forum moderator's heroic and sometimes comic efforts to get a smoking ban passed by her city council in tobacco country.

theHeart.org Discussion Forum

Discussion Forum

May 14, 2008 15:52 EDT

theheart.org Forum, where discussions among healthcare providers, clinicians, and researchers reflect our common goal of decreasing cardiovascular morbidity and mortality around the world.

Interventional/Surgery

Elective PCI possible without "safety net" of anticoagulation

1 COMMENT - Oct 6, 2008 17:00 EDT

Low-risk patients with uncomplicated lesions can have elective PCI safely performed using dual antiplatelet therapy without systemic anticoagulation, according to a new randomized study. An accompanying editorial begs to differ, however. (Stabile E et al. J Am Coll Cardiol 2008; 1293-1298.)

Brain/Kidney/Peripheral

Endovascular AAA repair cost-effective in high-risk patients

Oct 6, 2008 14:30 EDT

The average one-year costs for EVAR and open surgery were nearly identical, despite the significantly more expensive endovascular procedural costs. Patients undergoing endovascular repair spent less time in the hospital, and this reduced morbidity translated into lower nonprocedural costs. (Tarride JE et al. J Vasc Surg 2008; 48:779-787.)

Prevention

India attempts to impose world's biggest smoking ban

Oct 3, 2008 11:30 EDT

The Indian government appears to have heeded the warnings of medical experts highlighting the immense problem of smoking in the country, with the introduction this week of a nationwide ban on smoking in public places.

Heart failure

Outcomes, quality of care largely unaffected by weekend admission for heart failure

Oct 2, 2008 18:15 EDT

The finding is contrary to what has been found for hospitalizations due to some other CV disorders. (Heart Failure Society of America 2008 Scientific Meeting.)

Clinical cardiology

Pfizer to drop development of drugs for hyperlipidemia, atherosclerosis, and heart failure

12 COMMENTS - Oct 2, 2008 17:00 EDT

UPDATED // Forbes reported the news online after obtaining an internal Pfizer memo.

Lipid/Metabolic

Merck stops taranabant development: Will not seek FDA approval

Oct 2, 2008 13:30 EDT

Prospects for the drug were dim, with late-stage studies showing a significant increase in psychiatric and gastrointestinal side effects with the cannabinoid-receptor blocker.

Interventional/Surgery

Transapical valve data: Climbing survival rates speak to improved skill, technology, and patient selection

Oct 2, 2008 11:30 EDT

Surgeons say the bleak six-month survival rate of 55% in the preapproval PARTNER EU data set reflects the learning-curve period. Refinements to the technology, growing expertise, and better patient selection are captured in the later SOURCE data set and those of single European centers, where 30-day survival approaches 90%. (European Association for Cardiothoracic Surgery 2008 Meeting.)

Interventional/Surgery

Oct 1, 2008 17:45 EDT

Should the ACC/AHA guidelines for the management of STEMI patients extend the acceptable PCI-related delay to as long as 120 minutes? A group of Danish researchers thinks so, but Dr Elliott Antman, who cochaired the writing committee of those guidelines, disagrees. (Terkelsen CJ et al. Antman E. J Am Coll Cardiol 2008; 52:1211-1215, 1216-1221.)

Lipid/Metabolic

FDA finds no link between statin use and ALS

1 COMMENT - Oct 1, 2008 16:00 EDT

The meta-analysis, which included 41 clinical trials, revealed similar rates of ALS in the statin-treated and placebo-treated patients. The agency said further monitoring is still needed, however, because of the expansive use of the drugs and the dire consequences of this neurodegenerative disorder. (Colman E et al. Pharmacolepidemiol Drug Saf; published online September 29, 2008.)

Interventional/Surgery

Miniaturized heart pumps: Difference between life and death in small children

Sep 30, 2008 15:45 EDT

Reporting on his own initial experience with a miniaturized ventricular assist device used as a bridge to transplant in small children, a leading pediatric heart surgeon is hoping that the pump—widely available in Europe—will soon be approved for use in the US. (Gandhi SK et al. Circulation 2008; 118:S89-S93.)

Interventional/Surgery

Survival post-heart surgery just as good when surgical trainees hold the scalpel, study suggests

Sep 29, 2008 16:00 EDT

Even though trainees were more likely to do higher-risk procedures, their results, in terms of mid-term survival and freedom from cardiac rehospitalizations, were just as good as those of their teachers, a new single-center study shows. (Stoica SC et al. Circulation; published online before print September 29, 2008.)

I'm not aware of any data that would support [the hypothesis] that ezetimibe causes fatal cancer within three years after the onset of treatment. I don't know of anything that can do that, except maybe a Chernobyl catastrophe.

— Dr Terje Pedersen

	PCI
	CABG