theHeart.org: Lipid and Metabolic news related to heart conditions.

Medscape Medical News

Low-cholesterol/cancer studies should "dispel lingering doubts" of causal link

Nov 5, 2009 14:15 EST

Two new papers should help put to rest concerns that low serum cholesterol levels may increase cancer risk.

Lipid/Metabolic

Not all metabolic syndrome is created equal: Framingham Offspring analysis

Nov 5, 2009 11:45 EST

The syndrome (defined by ATP III criteria) can predict increased cardiovascular and mortality risk or not, depending on which three of five risk factors contributed to the diagnosis, a cohort study suggests; its investigators caution that their observations are only preliminary.

Interventional/Surgery

VELETI in print: Plaque sealing of SVGs a strategy "ahead of its time"?

Nov 4, 2009 15:30 EST

The imaging study was the first to show that stenting a non-flow-limiting stenosis of an SVG may help slow or halt the accelerated atherosclerosis that takes place in these vessels. An accompanying editorial cautions that the study does little more than "infer a trend toward anatomic benefit."

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.

Imaging

CAC scoring plus SPECT provide long and short view of cardiac risk

6 COMMENTS - Nov 3, 2009 17:00 EST

UPDATED // An 1126-patient trial shows that SPECT and CAC scoring imaging tests are independent and complementary predictors of short- and long-term cardiac risk, respectively.

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.

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.

Medscape Medical News

CRP predicts mortality and MI, but not stroke

Oct 29, 2009 12:00 EDT

A new analysis from the Northern Manhattan Study finds that high-sensitivity C-reactive protein was modestly associated with mortality and MI but not ischemic stroke in this multiethnic population, suggesting the predictive value may depend on other factors.

Acute Coronary Syndromes

Sex differences in changing MI prevalence, mortality challenge conventional wisdom

Oct 29, 2009 10:30 EDT

Two well-known observational registries highlight such changes in women and men over a decade or more: Do women younger than 55 still have an advantage over men in the same age group?

Lipid/Metabolic

Schizophrenia plus diabetes linked with higher CAD yet lower revascularization rates

Oct 28, 2009 16:30 EDT

Individuals with schizophrenia and diabetes—as opposed to diabetes only—have a greater risk of CAD but a smaller likelihood of receiving CABG or PCI, a large cohort study suggests.

Prevention

Lorcaserin passes weight-loss and valvular hurdles in BLOSSOM study

1 COMMENT - Oct 27, 2009 16:15 EDT

Among overweight patients, including those with preexisting echocardiographic valvulopathy, the average weight loss was approximately 5 kg with lorcaserin. Importantly, there were no concerns raised about new or worsening cardiac valve problems with the 5HT2C-receptor agonist.

Lipid/Metabolic

ACCORD update: "One size fits all" may not be best glucose-lowering strategy

1 COMMENT - Oct 27, 2009 10:00 EDT

While post hoc analyses of ACCORD data suggest there are subgroups of diabetic patients who may not benefit from an aggressive glucose-lowering approach, similar analyses with ADVANCE data did not identify subgroup differences.

Prevention

Experts weigh in on calorie lists on menus, despite "mixed" science

2 COMMENTS - Oct 26, 2009 16:45 EDT

Results showing that people eat less when they know how many calories are in that Big Mac are mixed, but experts say that menu labeling provides only upside, with no public-health cost, and that over time results will show the information to have a positive effect on obesity rates in the US.

heartbriefs

Distribution of body fat important in VTE

Oct 26, 2009 16:00 EDT

The distribution of body fat, as well as the amount, is important when it comes to the risk of venous thromboembolism, Danish researchers have discovered.

Lipid/Metabolic

Less exposure to cardiovascular risk factors with intensive diabetes intervention: Look AHEAD

1 COMMENT - Oct 26, 2009 10:00 EDT

Intensive lifestyle intervention in the management of diabetes produces sustained weight loss and improvements in fitness, as well as improvements in glycemic control, systolic blood pressure, and HDL-cholesterol levels.

Lipid/Metabolic

New MESA data: Pericardial fat a better predictor of CHD than BMI

9 COMMENTS - Oct 23, 2009 17:00 EDT

Pericardial fat, which is found around the heart, predicts future CHD events and may even be a better predictor of these than conventional obesity measures, such as BMI and waist circumference, a new study of MESA participants shows.

Lipid/Metabolic

Look at absolute event rates when interpreting trial results

Oct 23, 2009 13:30 EDT

The low event rate in the RECORD trial of rosiglitazone has led some to question the validity of the results.

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

Glucose lowering in type 2 diabetes to prevent CVD remains controversial but still important

1 COMMENT - Oct 22, 2009 14:45 EDT

Although the case for intensive glucose lowering in diabetic patients to prevent CVD is not straightforward, glucose control is still important for other reasons, and blood pressure and lipid control should not be neglected, according to debaters at a diabetes meeting.

Prevention

Current risk equations may overestimate CVD risk in diabetic patients

Oct 21, 2009 10:00 EDT

Researchers using different international databases report that the Framingham and UKPDS risk equations overestimate the probability of CV events in diabetic patients.

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.

Lipid/Metabolic

Thiazolidinediones have a role for appropriate diabetic patients

5 COMMENTS - Oct 20, 2009 12:45 EDT

After 10 years of clinical use of TZDs, "we are still at the beginning," and randomized controlled trials shed light on their use in appropriate diabetic patients, speakers at a diabetes symposium reported.

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