AHA 2011 - Cardiology Conference Coverage

Heartwire

Features

Battling Big Tobacco: Physician activism vital on smoking's new frontiers

25 COMMENTS - Nov 28, 2011 15:15 EST

Global leaders in the fight against smoking stress that cardiologists and other physicians must become politically active to help counteract the immense power of the tobacco industry, which is constantly seeking to expand the number of smokers worldwide. Doctors have a voice, and they need to step out of their comfort zone and use it to effect change, say activists.

Lipid/Metabolic

Mipomersen shows large LDL reduction, but side effects an issue

4 COMMENTS - Nov 25, 2011 11:15 EST

Weekly injections of the drug caused a 47% fall in LDL, but many patients had flulike symptoms, liver-enzyme increases, and hepatic fat accumulation in a phase 2 study.

Lipid/Metabolic

Further results with ethyl-EPA show reduction in atherogenic particles

3 COMMENTS - Nov 24, 2011 13:45 EST

The manufacturer, Amarin, is in talks with the FDA about approval of the product, also known as AMR101, although whether that will depend on an outcomes study now under way is unclear.

Imaging

CONFIRM CT registry raises more questions about who is at risk for coronary disease

6 COMMENTS - Nov 24, 2011 12:00 EST

More analysis of the CONFIRM registry data was discussed the AHA meeting, providing new insights into the progression of coronary disease that will, hopefully, help doctors use CT to better predict which patients are at greatest risk for coronary events.

Arrhythmia/EP

ALPHEE: No benefit of celivarone in preventing ICD shocks

1 COMMENT - Nov 23, 2011 14:00 EST

Although amiodarone, included as a calibrator arm, reduced the number of shocks, it also increased mortality, sending a safety signal in this population.

Arrhythmia/EP

ICD protection likely needed, even if LVEF improves

1 COMMENT - Nov 23, 2011 11:15 EST

Oregon SUDS study finds LVEF to be a slippery sudden-death risk marker: when low, it predicts need for an ICD, but when improved, the risk doesn't seem to go down, according to researchers.

Interventional/Surgery

Increased inflammatory response in South Asians following CABG surgery

3 COMMENTS - Nov 22, 2011 17:00 EST

South Asian individuals undergoing CABG surgery have significantly increased systemic inflammation in response to cardiopulmonary bypass, and this increased inflammatory response might explain their higher rate of mortality following cardiac surgery, say researchers.

Arrhythmia/EP

Tighter postshock driving restrictions supported in ICD registry

1 COMMENT - Nov 22, 2011 10:00 EST

Further shocks are more likely and, if they happen, occur sooner, after first and second appropriate shocks; so shouldn't restrictions on driving go up with increasing number of ICD therapies?

Interventional/Surgery

Cardiac stem cells improve LV function, reduce infarct size in ischemic cardiomyopathy

Nov 22, 2011 09:30 EST

Among 14 patients analyzed, LVEF increased from 30.3% before the intracoronary infusion of cardiac stem cells to 38.5% four months after the infusion, with an even more pronounced increase observed in eight patients at one year. In a separate study, less successful results were observed in acute-MI patients treated with bone-marrow-derived mononuclear cells.

Heart failure

Interplay of hypertension and infection underlies heart disease in Africa

Nov 21, 2011 16:00 EST

High blood pressure and the cardiac sequelae of infections such as rheumatic disease and HIV are combined into a double whammy when it comes to acute heart failure, new registry data from sub-Saharan Africa reveal. Putting into practice what is known to work already will help tackle this burden, says one expert.

Heart failure

Low vitamin C portends worse heart-failure outcomes

Nov 21, 2011 12:30 EST

Previous studies have shown that vitamin-C levels are inversely associated with high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, but the link between vitamin-C levels and outcomes in heart-failure patients has not been thoroughly examined.

Prevention

Vitamin D does not improve endothelial function or arterial stiffness, but it remains the vitamin du jour

105 COMMENTS - Nov 18, 2011 14:30 EST

Researchers performing the small study report that treatment with vitamin D for four months had no significant effect on endothelial function, vascular stiffness, or inflammation in healthy postmenopausal women. Other observational studies found an association with cardiovascular end points and cardiac mortality, but these trials are limited by their design. Only VITAL will fully answer the vitamin-D question, say experts.

Acute Coronary Syndromes

"Nuisance" bleeds don't up CV events in non-ST-ACS

Nov 18, 2011 10:00 EST

But people who have nuisance bleeding early on are twice as likely to have major cardiovascular events than are people who have nuisance bleeds after the 30-day mark—a finding that likely speaks to the overall high-risk nature of these patients.

Medscape Medical News

Abuse early in life linked to cardiovascular risk

3 COMMENTS - Nov 17, 2011 08:45 EST

New data from the Nurses' Health Study II shows increased risk of cardiovascular events among women physically or sexually abused early in life.

Heart failure

Altitude simulator improves exercise performance and QoL measures in heart-failure patients

1 COMMENT - Nov 16, 2011 13:45 EST

Altitude exposure improved exercise time, the six-minute-walk test, and quality-of-life scores 48 hours after the completion of treatment, and these improvements were retained four weeks after the end of the altitude-simulation sessions.

Brain/Kidney/Peripheral

CLEVER! Greater walking gains from "supervised exercise" than stenting in proximal PAD

3 COMMENTS - Nov 16, 2011 13:00 EST

Patients with claudication from aortoiliac peripheral artery disease are often considered "ideal" candidates for stent revascularization, but invasive therapy isn't necessarily their best management option, a randomized study suggests.

Arrhythmia/EP

Colchicine halves postop AF in COPPS substudy

4 COMMENTS - Nov 16, 2011 12:15 EST

An old anti-inflammatory gout drug cut the rate of postoperative atrial fibrillation following cardiac surgery by almost 50%, new data show. While the results are promising, further confirmatory studies are needed, say the authors and others.

Interventional/Surgery

Early surgery easily beats drugs in comparison of endocarditis treatments

Nov 16, 2011 11:15 EST

The benefits of early valve surgery to treat infective endocarditis have been difficult to study in retrospective trials due to treatment biases and differences in baseline characteristics. Researchers in Korea conducted the first randomized clinical trial comparing surgery and standard antimicrobial therapy to prevent embolism in patients with severe mitral- or aortic-valve disease.

Thrombosis

ELEVATE-TIMI 56: Clopidogrel 225 mg for patients with one loss-of-function allele

2 COMMENTS - Nov 16, 2011 08:00 EST

UPDATED / / Tripling the maintenance dose of clopidogrel to 225 mg daily in stable heart disease patients carrying one clopidogrel loss-of-function allele achieved levels of platelet reactivity, but in patients homozygous for the CYP2C19*2 allele, even 300 mg appears inadequate.

Imaging

CAC doesn't immediately reverse when risk factors improve

6 COMMENTS - Nov 15, 2011 16:55 EST

The MESA study showed that some baseline patient characteristics were associated with both the incidence and progression of coronary calcium, but no study, until now, has systematically examined how changes in common coronary disease risk factors relate to changes in coronary artery calcium over time.

Lipid/Metabolic

AIM-HIGH fallout: Experts disagree over niacin's niche

58 COMMENTS - Nov 15, 2011 14:36 EST

"This trial disturbs me greatly," HDL guru Dr Philip Barter told the press, prompting a swirling debate that raised more questions than answers.

Lipid/Metabolic

Cautious optimism welcomes new CETP inhibitor, evacetrapib

3 COMMENTS - Nov 15, 2011 14:10 EST

Evacetrapib more than doubled HDL in a small, short-term phase 2 study, and it lowered LDL to boot. And it appears safe. But this is only the start of a very long road for CETP-inhibitor trials, said lipid experts.

Lipid/Metabolic

Some obese patients may shed pounds with "enhanced" counseling

Nov 15, 2011 08:15 EST

About a third of obese patients seen in primary-care practice who received an extra helping of weight-loss counseling plus either meal replacements or a diet drug achieved a modest but meaningful 5% weight loss at two years in a new study.

Lipid/Metabolic

AIM-HIGH: Results raise controversy over early stopping

26 COMMENTS - Nov 15, 2011 08:00 EST

Final results appear to suggest that the signal of increased ischemic stroke with niacin, which was one of the reasons why the study was stopped early, could have been the play of chance.

Prevention

POWER program: Phone, internet intervention achieves, maintains weight loss

2 COMMENTS - Nov 15, 2011 08:00 EST

UPDATED WITH COMMENTARY // A remotely conducted weight-loss program was just as effective as a program attended in person at promoting weight loss and, in a twist compared with many studies, keeping much of the weight off.

Lipid/Metabolic

SATURN: Maximum doses of rosuvastatin and atorvastatin equally regress atherosclerosis

12 COMMENTS - Nov 15, 2011 08:00 EST

UPDATED // High-dose statin therapy with atorvastatin or rosuvastatin resulted in a significant regression of coronary atherosclerosis, despite differential effects on LDL- and HDL-cholesterol levels.

Interventional/Surgery

Customized informed consent improves communication

1 COMMENT - Nov 14, 2011 17:15 EST

Many patients either don't read or don't comprehend the informed-consent material given to them before a PCI. The PRISM tool is designed to make informed-consent information clearer and more specific to the individual patient.

Prevention

Whither ATP 4? JNC 8? Obesity 2? AHA gets guideline updates, not answers

6 COMMENTS - Nov 14, 2011 15:45 EST

A special session was scheduled for AHA 2011 for long-awaited hypertension, cholesterol, and obesity guidelines to be unveiled, at least in draft form. But no red carpet was rolled out today.

Arrhythmia/EP

PALLAS: Dronedarone a hazard in high-CV-risk patients with permanent AF

2 COMMENTS - Nov 14, 2011 12:30 EST

UPDATED // The antiarrhythmic, approved for paroxysmal or intermittent AF, upped the risk of stroke, heart failure, and arrhythmic death in patients with permanent AF and other CV risk factors.

$FAST: Surgical ablation bests catheter ablation in treatment of drug-refractory AF$

Arrhythmia/EP

FAST: Surgical ablation bests catheter ablation in treatment of drug-refractory AF

1 COMMENT - Nov 14, 2011 12:30 EST

UPDATED // The surgical approach is not without its drawbacks, however, with investigators reporting a significantly higher procedural adverse-event rate in the surgical-ablation arm compared with catheter ablation, driven largely by procedural complications. A second study, MANTRA, also showed that catheter ablation was better than drug therapy as a first-line treatment in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.

Acute Coronary Syndromes

Cutting copays for post-MI drugs helps outcomes, with no added cost to insurers

1 COMMENT - Nov 14, 2011 08:00 EST

UPDATED // Several studies have shown that patients' adherence to medications goes down when their out-of-pocket costs for those drugs goes up, so some researchers tested what happens to adherence when the patients' costs go down.

Prevention

NHBLI-appointed expert panel recommends universal cholesterol screening for kids

6 COMMENTS - Nov 13, 2011 17:30 EST

The panel recommends that adolescents undergo lipid screening for nonfasting non-HDL-cholesterol levels or a fasting lipid panel between the ages of 9 and 11 years, followed by another full lipid screening test between 18 and 21 years of age.

Medscape Medical News

New-onset AF in sepsis increases stroke, death

Nov 13, 2011 17:25 EST

A new study finds onset of new AF in patients hospitalized for sepsis is associated with significant in-hospital stroke and death.

Thrombosis

"Bridging" anticoagulation may not be necessary in vast majority of patients

13 COMMENTS - Nov 13, 2011 16:15 EST

Patients with conditions such as atrial fibrillation who need to have their long-term warfarin anticoagulation interrupted so that they can undergo invasive procedures don't always require so-called "bridging" therapy, says one expert.

Prevention

Athletic directors and doctors want standard screening form for SCD

2 COMMENTS - Nov 13, 2011 15:50 EST

Although one out of every 30 000 to 50 000 high school athletes dies of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest each year, their preparticipation screening does not always include adequate evaluation for cardiovascular risk. Investigators in Washington State investigated the link between doctors' understanding of the guidelines for preparticipation screening and completeness of the screening in their state.

Interventional/Surgery

AIDA STEMI: No benefit of IC over IV abciximab

1 COMMENT - Nov 13, 2011 12:45 EST

There was no benefit of giving abciximab by an intracoronary bolus over the normal intravenous route in the AIDA STEMI trial.

Thrombosis

ADOPT: Extended apixaban no better than standard enoxaparin for VTE in medically ill

1 COMMENT - Nov 13, 2011 08:00 EST

UPDATED // Apixaban has failed to show a benefit when given as extended prophylaxis for VTE in medically ill patients, compared with a shorter regimen of enoxaparin, the ADOPT results show.

Acute Coronary Syndromes

ISAR-REACT 4: Bivalirudin preferable to abciximab/heparin in NSTEMI

1 COMMENT - Nov 13, 2011 08:00 EST

UPDATED WITH COMMENTARY // Lead investigator Dr Adnan Kastrati, says that a clear strategy can now be formulated for bivalirudin use in the cath lab—that it should be used in STEMI and NSTEMI patients only. But others believe bivalirudin should be used for all PCI patients.

Acute Coronary Syndromes

TRACER: Novel thrombin blocker vorapaxar stumbles in ACS, ups bleeding risk

Nov 13, 2011 08:00 EST

UPDATED // It didn't improve the primary end point of ischemic events, either, although there were some positive notes on a few secondary outcomes among the high-risk patients given the drug on top of standard therapy, which usually already included dual antiplatelets.

Acute Coronary Syndromes

ATLAS ACS 2: Low-dose rivaroxaban looks good in ACS

2 COMMENTS - Nov 13, 2011 08:00 EST

UPDATED // The lower of the two doses tested in the trial has shown promising results, with a reduction in overall and cardiovascular mortality vs placebo, despite an increased risk of bleeding and intracranial hemorrhage. But is this applicable to all patients?

Acute Coronary Syndromes

ACS at AHA: Experts speculate on vorapaxar and rivaroxaban

Nov 8, 2011 12:15 EST

Two major ACS trials are reporting in a few days' time at the American Heart Association meeting, but can any new agent scale the bar set by ticagrelor?

News

What's going to be hot at AHA 2011

1 COMMENT - Nov 8, 2011 09:00 EST

AIM-HIGH, PALLAS, ATLAS: sound familiar? Some of the hottest data coming out at this American Heart Association 2011 Scientific Sessions made headlines earlier this year when trials were stopped early or had top-line results released to the public for SEC reasons. But that's only stoked enthusiasm for the full details, meeting organizers say.

Discussion and opinions

Blogs

Heart failure and transplantation with Dr Ileana Piña

LVADs: From A to Z with Dr James Kirklin

Jan 25, 2012 09:15 EST

Heart failure and transplantation with Dr Ileana Piña

Digoxin toxicity in heart-failure patients with Dr Paul Hauptman

Jan 06, 2012 13:00 EST

2 comments

Clotblog with Dr Samuel Goldhaber

ACP's new inpatient VTE prophylaxis guidelines: Radical or right-on?

Dec 02, 2011 10:30 EST

1 comments

Clotblog with Dr Samuel Goldhaber

Anticoagulation bridging: An update for practitioners

Nov 25, 2011 11:30 EST

2 comments

Cutting-edge dialogues with Drs Tim Gardner and Mat Williams

Can the "heart team" work?

Nov 23, 2011 16:30 EST

1 comments

This week in cardiology from heartwire

#116: "Bridging" anticoagulation may not be necessary in many; AIM-HIGH: Results raise controversy; ATLAS ACS...

Nov 18, 2011 13:45 EST

Private practice with Dr Seth Bilazarian

Making sense of patient compliance

Nov 16, 2011 20:55 EST

2 comments

Heartfelt with Dr Melissa Walton-Shirley

Post-AHA 2011: So what will I do differently tomorrow?

Nov 16, 2011 14:25 EST

11 comments

Heartfelt with Dr Melissa Walton-Shirley

MI FREEE, POWER, and better health: You can't even GIVE this stuff away!

Nov 16, 2011 11:57 EST

3 comments

Trials and PIs

EASE with Dr Duk-Hyun Kang

Nov 16, 2011 10:20 EST

1 comments

Private practice with Dr Seth Bilazarian

When to bridge patients on long-term anticoagulation

Nov 16, 2011 10:15 EST

Trials and PIs

ADOPT with Dr Samuel Goldhaber

Nov 16, 2011 09:41 EST

Trials and PIs

CLEVER with Dr Emile Mohler

Nov 16, 2011 09:38 EST

Trials and PIs

TRA-CER with Dr Kenneth Mahaffey

Nov 16, 2011 09:36 EST

Trials and PIs

Lipid-modulating effects of evacetrapib Dr Stephen Nicholls

Nov 16, 2011 09:32 EST

2 comments

Trials and PIs

SATURN with Dr Stephen Nicholls

Nov 16, 2011 09:24 EST

Heartfelt with Dr Melissa Walton-Shirley

Phone and internet intervention for weight loss; SATURN on rosuvastatin and atorvastatin; new CETP inhibitor,...

Nov 15, 2011 19:50 EST

Trials and PIs

ISAR-REACT 4 with Dr Adnan Kastrati

Nov 15, 2011 19:02 EST

Trials and PIs

Dr John Spertus on individualized informed-consent form to improve patients' experiences with PCI

Nov 15, 2011 18:52 EST

Clotblog with Dr Samuel Goldhaber

Extended VTE prophylaxis after hospital discharge: Lessons from ADOPT

Nov 15, 2011 15:55 EST

Private practice with Dr Seth Bilazarian

Niacin in AIM-HIGH: What implications for the practitioner?

Nov 15, 2011 11:20 EST

4 comments

Trials and PIs

AIM-HIGH with Dr William Boden

Nov 15, 2011 10:04 EST

Trials and PIs

ALPHEE with Dr Peter Kowey

Nov 14, 2011 19:04 EST

Heartfelt with Dr Melissa Walton-Shirley

Cutting copays to better outcomes; Scottish "pharmacist intervention trial"; customizing informed consent; C-PORT E: PCI...

Nov 14, 2011 19:00 EST

Trials and PIs

Dr Richard Lowrie on pharmacist intervention to prevent hospitalization and death in patients with heart...

Nov 14, 2011 18:19 EST

Trials and PIs

Post-MI FREEE with Dr Niteesh Choudry

Nov 14, 2011 18:15 EST

Heartfelt with Dr Melissa Walton-Shirley

The ABCs of the impact of the C-PORT E study

Nov 14, 2011 14:06 EST

1 comments

Trials and PIs

PALLAS with Dr Stuart Connolly

Nov 14, 2011 12:55 EST

Trials and PIs

Dr Jens Cosedis Nielsen on the comparison of radiofrequency ablation and antiarrhythmic drug therapy as...

Nov 14, 2011 12:55 EST

Private practice with Dr Seth Bilazarian

Rivaroxaban (Xarelto) in ACS: Calculating net clinical benefit

Nov 14, 2011 09:10 EST

Heartfelt with Dr Melissa Walton-Shirley

ISAR-REACT 4 on bivalirudin; IC vs IV abciximab in AIDA STEMI; vorapaxar in TRACER; ADOPT:...

Nov 13, 2011 23:25 EST

Heartfelt with Dr Melissa Walton-Shirley

ATLAS ACS 2-Where do we stop?

Nov 13, 2011 22:53 EST

5 comments

Heartfelt with Dr Melissa Walton-Shirley

After ISAR REACT 4, will bivalirudin remain the 'ex-Mr Kardashian' of the PCI world?

Nov 13, 2011 21:05 EST

3 comments

This week in cardiology from heartwire

#115: What's going to be hot at AHA; FDA approves rivaroxaban; FDA issues "safety communication"...

Nov 11, 2011 15:00 EST

Late-Breaking Trials I
Sunday, November 13, 3:45-5:13PM
West Hall B4
Moderators: Gilles Montalescot and Jeffrey Weitz

Download as PDF

	Intracoronary compared with intravenous bolus abciximab application during primary percutaneous coronary intervention: AIDA STEMI trial Sunday, November 13, 3:45-3:55PM Holger Thiele (Herzzentrum Leipzig, Germany) Discussion and panel 3:55-4:07PM (Discussant: Alice Jacobs, Boston University School of Medicine, MA)
	Abciximab plus unfractionated heparin vs bivalirudin in patients with non-ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention. The ISAR-REACT 4 randomized trial Sunday, November 13, 4:07-4:17PM Adnan Kastrati (Deutsches Herzzentrum, Munich, Germany) Discussion and panel 4:17-4:29PM (Discussant: Deepak Bhatt, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA)
	Extended anticoagulant prophylaxis in initially hospitalized medically ill patients: Results of the ADOPT (Apixaban Dosing to Optimize Protection from Thrombosis) trial Sunday, November 13, 4:29-4:39PM Samuel Goldhaber (Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA) Discussion and panel 4:39-4:51PM (Discussant: Mary Cushman, University of Vermont, Burlington)
	The Thrombin Receptor Antagonist for Clinical Event Reduction in Acute Coronary Syndrome (TRA-CER) trial Sunday, November 13, 4:51-5:01PM Kenneth Mahaffey (Duke Clinical Research Institute, Durham, NC) Discussion and panel 5:01-5:13PM (Discussant: Keith Fox, University of Edinburgh, Scotland)
	Anti-Xa Therapy to Lower Cardiovascular Events in Addition to Standard Therapy in Subjects with Acute Coronary Syndrome-Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction 51 (ATLAS ACS 2-TIMI 51) Trial: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo Controlled Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Rivaroxaban in Subjects with Acute Coronary Syndrome Sunday, November 13, 5:13–5:23 PM C Michael Gibson (Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA)

Late-Breaking Clinical Trials II
Monday, November 14, 10:45AM-12:13PM
West Hall B4
Moderators: Frederick Masoudi and Clyde Yancy

	The impact of full coverage for preventive medications after myocardial infarction on recurrent vascular events: The Post-MI Free Rx Event and Economic Evaluation (Post-MI FREEE) trial Monday, November 14, 10:45-10:55AM Niteesh Choudhry (Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA) Discussion and panel 10:55-11:07AM (Discussant: Eric Peterson, Duke Clinical Research Institute, Durham, NC)
	Pharmacist intervention to prevent hospitalization and death in patients with heart failure: A prospective cluster randomized controlled trial Monday, November 14, 11:07-11:17AM Richard Lowrie (National Health Service, Greater Glasgow and Clyde, Glasgow, Scotland) Discussion and panel 11:17-11:29AM (Discussant: Mariell Jessup, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia)
	Testing an evidence-based, individualized informed-consent form to improve patients' experiences with PCI Monday, November 14, 11:29-11:39 AM John Spertus (Mid America Heart Institute, Kansas City, MO) Discussion and panel 11:39-11:51AM (Discussant: Manesh Patel, Duke Clinical Research Institute, Durham, NC)
	Outcomes of non-primary PCI at hospitals with and without on-site cardiac surgery: A randomized study Monday, November 14, 11:51 AM-12:01 PM Thomas Aversano (Johns Hopkins Medical Institute, Baltimore, MD) Discussion and panel 12:01-12:13 PM (Discussant: Loren Hiratzka, TriHealth, Cincinnati, OH)

Late-Breaking Trials III
Monday, November 14, 3:45-5:13PM
Chapin Theater
Moderators: Alan Camm and Douglas Zipes

	Double-blind placebo controlled dose ranging study of the efficacy and safety of celivarone 50, 100, or 300 mg od with amiodarone as calibrator for the prevention of ICD interventions or death (ALPHEE) Monday, November 14, 3:45-3:55 PM Peter Kowey (MLH Heart Center Lankenau Medical Center, Wynnewood, PA) Discussion and panel 3:55-4:07 PM (Discussant: Cynthia Tracy, Georgetown University Hospital, Washington, DC)
	Atrial fibrillation catheter ablation vs surgical ablation treatment: A multicenter randomized clinical trial Monday, November 14, 4:07-4:17 PM Lucas Boersma (Saint Antonius Hospital, Nieuwegein, Netherlands) Discussion and panel 4:17-4:29PM (Discussant: A Marc Gillinov, Cleveland Clinic, OH)
	A randomized multicenter comparison of radiofrequency ablation and antiarrhythmic drug therapy as first-line treatment in 294 patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation Monday, November 14, 4:29-4:39 PM Jens Cosedis Nielsen (Aarhus University Hospital, Skejby, Aarhus N, Denmark) Discussion and panel 4:39-4:51 PM (Discussant: William Stevenson, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA)
	The results of the PALLAS study Monday, November 14, 4:51-5:01 PM Stuart J Connolly (McMaster University, Hamilton, ON) Discussion and panel 5:01–5:13 PM (Discussant: NA Mark Estes III, Tufts University, Boston, MA)

Late-Breaking Clinical Trials IV
Tuesday, November 15, 10:45AM-12:13PM
West Hall B4
Moderators: John Kastelein and Donald Lloyd-Jones

	Practice-Based Opportunities for Weight Reduction (POWER) Tuesday, November 15, 10:45-10:55AM Lawrence Appel (Johns Hopkins, Baltimore, MD) Discussion and panel 10:55-11:07AM (Discussant: Frank Sacks, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA)
	Comparison of the progression of coronary atherosclerosis for two high-efficacy statin regimens with different HDL effects: SATURN study results Tuesday, November 15, 11:07-11:17AM Stephen Nicholls (Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH) Discussion and panel 11:17–11:29 AM
	Lipid-modulating effects of evacetrapib, a novel CETP inhibitor, administered as monotherapy or in combination with the most commonly used statins Tuesday, November 15, 11:29-11:39 AM Stephen Nicholls (Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH) Discussion and panel 11:39-11:51AM (Discussant: Daniel Rader, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia)
	Extended-release niacin does not reduce clinical events in patients with established cardiovascular disease whose LDL cholesterol is optimally controlled with statin therapy: Results from the AIM-HIGH trial Tuesday, November 15, 11:51 AM-12:01 PM William Boden (University of Buffalo, NY) Discussion and panel 12:01-12:13PM (Discussant: Philip Barter, University of Sydney, Australia)

Late-Breaking Clinical Trials V
Wednesday, November 16, 10:45AM-12:13PM
Room W415 (Valencia Ballroom)
Moderators: Valentin Fuster and Patrick O'Gara

	Randomized trial of Early Surgery vs Conventional Treatment for Infective Endocarditis (EASE) Wednesday, November 16, 10:45-10:55 AM Duk-Hyun Kang (Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea) Discussion and panel 10:55-11:07AM (Discussant: Robert Higgins, Ohio State University, Columbus)
	Claudication treatment comparative effectiveness: Six-month outcomes from the CLEVER study Wednesday, November 16, 11:07-11:17 AM Timothy Murphy (Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, RI) Discussion and panel 11:17-11:29AM (Discussant: Michael Conte, University of California, San Francisco)
	Colchicine reduces postoperative atrial fibrillation. Results of the COPPS atrial-fibrillation study Wednesday, November 16, 11:29-11:39AM Massimo Imazio (Maria Vittoria Hospital, Torino, Italy) Discussion and panel 11:42-11:51AM (Discussant: Nancy Nussmeier, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse)
	ELEVATE-TIMI 56: Escalating clopidogrel by involving a genetic strategy-TIMI 56 Wednesday, November 16, 11:51AM-12:01PM Jessica Mega (Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA) Discussion and panel 12:01-12:13PM (Discussant: Lawrence Lesko, University of Florida, Gainesville)