theheart.org: Brain, kidney and peripheral medical news

Acute Coronary Syndromes

Latest European and US STEMI guidelines compared and contrasted

Nov 6, 2009 17:15 EST

The latest recommendations for the treatment of ST-elevation MI issued by American cardiology associations and the European Society of Cardiology are compared and contrasted in a new paper.

Arrhythmia/EP

Enrollment halts in randomized trial of CPR for out-of-hospital arrest

Nov 6, 2009 16:00 EST

No survival differences after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest were seen at a preliminary DSMB review in the ROC PRIMED trial, which compared early vs delayed post-CPR assessment for defibrillation and tested the effectiveness of a device for optimizing intrathoracic pressure during CPR.

heartbriefs

Serum phosphorous, kidney function predict CAC

Nov 5, 2009 17:00 EST

The Spokane Heart Study finds a connection between kidney function, serum phosphorus, and the risk of coronary artery calcification.

Medscape Medical News

Prehospital triage "immediately successful" in boosting rates of thrombolytic therapy for stroke

Nov 5, 2009 11:00 EST

Toronto researchers report that a citywide prehospital protocol raised their rates of thrombolytic treatment to among the highest in North America, underlining, they say, the critical importance of organized stroke care.

Interventional/Surgery

Off-pump CABG shows no benefit over on-pump approach: ROOBY study

7 COMMENTS - Nov 4, 2009 17:00 EST

A 2203-patient randomized trial of off-pump vs on-pump CABG surgery found no differences in neuropsychological outcomes and worse overall outcomes for the off-pump group at one-year follow-up.

Hypertension

Adding fuel to the J-curve fire; debate is reignited

2 COMMENTS - Nov 4, 2009 14:30 EST

More discussion about the J-curve in hypertension is published this week; one expert believes the undue attention being paid to this subject might discourage doctors from treating high blood pressure aggressively.

heartbriefs

No CV risk reduction with B vitamins posttransplant

Nov 4, 2009 13:15 EST

In keeping with all the other evidence showing no effects of homocysteine-lowering with B vitamins, the FAVORIT study now confirms that this lack of benefit is also seen in renal-transplant recipients.

Interventional/Surgery

US updates advice on perioperative beta-blocker use in noncardiac surgery

5 COMMENTS - Nov 3, 2009 14:30 EST

A US update on the perioperative use of beta blockers for noncardiac surgery is, says the lead author, "similar" to recent European guidance on this issue.

heartbriefs

FDA expands exenatide use; warns of renal-failure risk

Nov 3, 2009 13:15 EST

The FDA has issued a warning about exenatide the same day the agency approved its first-line use along with diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Heart failure

CORONA analysis reopens door for statins in heart failure

Nov 3, 2009 10:45 EST

Statins for heart failure? After they failed to show much effect in two large randomized trials? Yes—maybe; at least in patients with ischemic heart failure who start the drugs early enough, suggests a post hoc analysis based on one of the trials.

Hypertension

Combined home/GP hypertension control program successful in Pakistan

3 COMMENTS - Nov 2, 2009 17:00 EST

A synergistic approach of educating general practitioners about hypertension control together with a program to send lay workers into people's homes to educate them about the management of high blood pressure has proven successful in low- to middle-income households in Pakistan.

Brain/Kidney/Peripheral

No TREAT: Darbepoetin alfa fails to reduce CV or renal events in anemic diabetics with CKD

Oct 30, 2009 20:41 EDT

No differences were seen between groups, except in strokes, which were twice as high in the active-treatment group. Anticipated improvements in fatigue scores were modest and not clinically meaningful, investigators say.

Imaging

Imaging study shows plaque regression with niacin vs placebo

15 COMMENTS - Oct 30, 2009 16:00 EDT

Just weeks before ARBITER-HALTS 6 results come out at AHA 2009, an MRI study suggests that niacin is better than placebo in statin-treated patients with low HDL, at least for reducing carotid wall area. Experts say they'd also like to see insights into niacin effects on lipid-rich plaque volumes—the more commonly seen end point with MRI.

Lipid/Metabolic

Lifestyle-based diabetes prevention seen to endure for at least a decade

Oct 30, 2009 10:00 EDT

The protective effects of diet modification, exercise, and other lifestyle changes against new-onset diabetes showcased in the three-year Diabetes Prevention Program continued out to 10 years in a follow-up analysis.

heartbriefs

Combination drugs for weight loss

2 COMMENTS - Oct 29, 2009 15:30 EDT

Two studies presented this week have shown positive effects on weight loss using a combination of agents.

heartbriefs

Non-CV mortality also important in dialysis patients

Oct 28, 2009 14:15 EDT

Physicians may tend to overlook risk factors for noncardiovascular mortality in patients starting dialysis, since the emphasis in the past has always been on cardiovascular risk, researchers say.

Lipid/Metabolic

GLP-1 analog liraglutide promising in obesity

Oct 22, 2009 18:30 EDT

A drug originally developed to treat diabetes may have promise as an obesity therapy, a new study shows. Those taking liraglutide, a GLP-1 analog, lost more weight than those on an established obesity medication, orlistat.

Prevention

HCM transmitted by sperm donation: A case report

Oct 22, 2009 15:45 EDT

The donor, who was later shown to be affected by a novel beta-myosin heavy-chain mutation that causes HCM, is responsible for at least nine children known to be genetically affected with HCM.

Clinical cardiology

Simple cooling methods improve neurologic outcomes after cardiac arrest, new review confirms

Oct 22, 2009 11:00 EDT

A new literature review confirms that conventional cooling methods work safely to improve survival and reduce brain damage after cardiac arrest.

Brain/Kidney/Peripheral

New analyses from ECASS 3 support use of tPA up to 4.5 hours after stroke

Oct 22, 2009 08:30 EDT

Investigators show benefits of thrombolysis after stroke across a variety of subgroups; although not all end points reached statistical significance, trends favored treatment with tPA. The message, though, remains to treat as soon as possible, they say.

Brain/Kidney/Peripheral

Iloprost prevents contrast-induced nephropathy in high-risk patients undergoing coronary intervention

Oct 21, 2009 13:00 EDT

Intravenously administered iloprost, a prostacyclin analog, may help prevent contrast-induced nephropathy in patients with renal dysfunction undergoing coronary procedures, a new pilot study suggests.

Clinical cardiology

Cardiovascular disease increases risk of hip fracture

Oct 20, 2009 16:00 EDT

Swedish researchers have confirmed a link between stroke and subsequent hip fracture in older people and identified for the first time that a diagnosis of heart failure also increases the risk for this fracture. They also identify a large genetic component to this association, via their use of a twin registry.

heartbriefs

Omega-3s no help to SSRI-treated CHD patients

4 COMMENTS - Oct 20, 2009 16:00 EDT

The researchers suggest further study is still needed, as it is unclear whether higher doses of omega-3 fatty acids or setraline, longer treatment, or a different ratio of EPA to DHA would produce favorable results.

Interventional/Surgery

Data from 1.23 million patients confirms warfarin increases mortality in trauma patients

4 COMMENTS - Oct 20, 2009 13:45 EDT

Warfarin use is rising in both older and younger patients. How much does the anticoagulant contribute to the risk of traumatic injuries?

Heart failure

Transfusion in acute HF: No extra mortality risk

Oct 19, 2009 11:00 EDT

Blood transfusions for anemia in acute decompensated heart failure don't exacerbate outcomes, as may happen in some ACS cases, suggests a one-year experience of hospitals in Israel. On the contrary . . .

	Yes
	No