Reducing Blood Pressure Levels Effectively in Practice
Cardiology Summary and Comment
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Two interventions each helped to modify this cardiovascular risk factor successfully, but staffing such programs would be costly.
By Frederick A. Masoudi, MD, MSPH
January 6, 2010
Covering:
Ma J et al., Arch Intern Med 2009 Nov 23; 169:1988
Carter BL et al., Arch Intern Med 2009 Nov 23; 169:1996
Epidemiology of Hyperlipidemia in the U.S.
General Medicine Summary and Comment
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The high prevalence of untreated hyperlipidemia in high-risk patients requires new approaches.
By Thomas L. Schwenk, MD
December 17, 2009
Covering:
Kuklina EV et al., JAMA 2009 Nov 18; 302:2104
Hingorani AD and Psaty BM., JAMA 2009 Nov 18; 302:2144
Gaziano JM and Gaziano TA., JAMA 2009 Nov 18; 302:2148
Diabetes, Depression, and Disease Control
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
In patients with diabetes, depression is associated with reduced compliance with medical treatments and worse disease control.
By Joel Yager, MD
December 7, 2009
Covering:
Katon W et al., Psychosom Med 2009 Nov/Dec; 71:965
Women and Heart Disease: More Work to Be Done
Women's Health Summary and Comment
In recent years, in-hospital MI mortality has improved but MI incidence has risen.
By JoAnne M. Foody, MD
December 3, 2009
Covering:
Towfighi A et al., Arch Intern Med 2009 Oct 26; 169:1762
Vaccarino V et al., Arch Intern Med 2009 Oct 26; 169:1767
Lipids, Apolipoproteins, and Vascular Disease: What to Measure?
General Medicine Summary and Comment
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Either total and HDL cholesterol, or apolipoproteins, fasting or not, are equally accurate.
By Thomas L. Schwenk, MD
November 24, 2009
Covering:
Di Angelantonio E et al. for the Emerging Risk Factors Collaboration., JAMA 2009 Nov 11; 302:1993
Lipid-Lowering Therapy in HIV-Infected Patients
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
Gemfibrozil levels are reduced by lopinavir/ritonavir coadministration, which may explain the difficulty in lowering triglycerides in HIV-infected patients.
By Rajesh T. Gandhi, MD
November 18, 2009
Covering:
Busse KH et al., J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr 2009 Oct 1; 52:235
Rosuvastatin Beats Pravastatin for PI-Associated Hyperlipidemia
However, the study was small, and patients were followed for only 45 days.
ARBITER 6-HALTS: A Surprise Knockout
Cardiology Summary and Comment
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Niacin's clear win over ezetimibe as an adjunct to statin therapy challenges assumptions about lipid management.
What Can the Antiphospholipid Syndrome Teach Us About HDL?
Cardiology Summary and Comment
Low paraoxonase activity in women with APS correlated with dysfunctional HDL and arterial abnormalities.
By JoAnne M. Foody, MD
November 10, 2009
Covering:
Charakida M et al., JAMA 2009 Sep 16; 302:1210
More on Adverse Effects of Antipsychotics on Children
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
An observational study details metabolic changes after 12 weeks of treatment with atypical antipsychotics.
By Barbara Geller, MD
November 9, 2009
Covering:
Correll CU et al., JAMA 2009 Oct 28; 302:1765
Varley CK and McClellan J., JAMA 2009 Oct 28; 302:1811
Effect of Statins on Responses to Interferon Beta-1a
Neurology Summary and Comment
A retrospective study suggests that statins do not interfere with the therapeutic effects of IFNβ-1a in multiple sclerosis, but methodologic problems render the issue unresolved.
By Hillel Panitch, MD
October 6, 2009
Covering:
Rudick RA et al., Neurology 2009 Jun 9; 72:1989
Refining Antiplatelet Treatment in Patients with Acute Coronary Syndromes
Cardiology Summary and Comment
In a randomized trial, oral ticagrelor outperformed clopidogrel.
By Beat J. Meyer, MD
September 2, 2009
Covering:
Wallentin L et al. for the PLATO Investigators., N Engl J Med 2009 Sep 10; 361:1045
Statins to Prevent Perioperative Cardiovascular Events
General Medicine Summary and Comment
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In high-risk patients, several weeks of statin therapy before vascular surgery led to less ischemia and fewer MIs.
By Allan S. Brett, MD
September 3, 2009
Covering:
Schouten O et al., N Engl J Med 2009 Sep 3; 361:980
Combination Lipid-Lowering Therapy May Not Be More Effective Than High-Dose Statin Monotherapy
"Limited evidence" suggests that combination lipid-lowering therapy is no more effective than high-dose statin monotherapy for improving clinical outcomes, according to a meta...
Statin Reload Beneficial in Percutaneous Coronary Intervention
Cardiology Summary and Comment
The ARMYDA-RECAPTURE results demonstrate that the protective effects of statin loading before PCI extend to ACS patients who are already taking statins.
By Howard C. Herrmann, MD
August 19, 2009
Covering:
Di Sciascio G et al., J Am Coll Cardiol 2009 Aug 4; 54:558
Ellis SG and Anwaruddin S., J Am Coll Cardiol 2009 Aug 4; 54:566
Statins for Primary Prevention: Homing in on Effectiveness
Cardiology Summary and Comment
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A new meta-analysis bolsters the case for benefit.
Active Commuting and Cardiovascular Risk
Cardiology Summary and Comment
Walking or biking to work is associated with some favorable risk markers, but whether these practices confer a benefit is unclear.
Childhood Socioeconomic Status and Inflammatory Disease
Dermatology Summary and Comment
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Deprivation in childhood increases markers of inflammation in adults, regardless of adult prosperity.
Statins for Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease
General Medicine Summary and Comment
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Statin users were less likely to experience major adverse coronary or cerebrovascular events.
Red Yeast Rice for Hypercholesterolemia in People with Statin-Related Myalgias
General Medicine Summary and Comment
This herbal supplement lowered LDL cholesterol levels without causing intolerable myalgias.
Medicare Part D, Prescription Drug Spending, and Total Medical Spending
Cardiology Summary and Comment
In patients with little or no drug coverage before Part D enactment, additional drug costs during the program’s first 2 years were offset by reductions in other medical costs.
More Tofu, Please?
Cardiology Summary and Comment
In a small randomized, controlled study, a low-carbohydrate, plant-based diet improved lipid measures more than a high-carbohydrate, low-fat diet.
By JoAnne M. Foody, MD
June 24, 2009
Covering:
Jenkins DJA et al., Arch Intern Med 2009 Jun 8; 169:1046
Tuttle KR and Milton JE., Arch Intern Med 2009 Jun 8; 169:1027
An Herbal Option for Statin-Intolerant Patients?
Cardiology Summary and Comment
A supplement of red yeast rice outperforms placebo in a small randomized trial.
By Joel M. Gore, MD
June 17, 2009
Covering:
Becker DJ et al., Ann Intern Med 2009 Jun 16; 150:830
Phillips PS., Ann Intern Med 2009 Jun 16; 150:885
Rapid Weight Gain in Early Infancy Increases Risk for Cardiovascular Disease and Diabetes
Infants with rapid weight gain had significantly greater body fat and waist circumference and reduced insulin sensitivity as adults, compared with infants with slow weight gain.
Prevention of Death After Stroke
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Only a quarter of British stroke patients (age,
