Catheter Ablation Bests Antiarrhythmic Drugs for Drug-Refractory Paroxysmal AFib
Cardiology Summary and Comment
Radiofrequency pulmonary-vein ablation outperformed drug therapy in limiting AF recurrence and improving quality of life.
By Mark S. Link, MD
February 3, 2010
Covering:
Wilber DJ et al. for the ThermoCool AF Trial Investigators., JAMA 2010 Jan 27; 303:333
Population-Based Benefits of Salt Reduction
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Daily intake of 3 g less per person could lower annual U.S. cardiac-related deaths by as many as 92,000.
By Thomas L. Schwenk, MD
February 2, 2010
Covering:
Bibbins-Domingo K et al., N Engl J Med 2010 Jan 20
Appel LJ and Anderson CAM., Engl J Med 2010 Jan 20
Alderman MH., JAMA 2010 Feb 3; 303:448
Ischemic Infarction and POEMS Syndrome
Neurology Summary and Comment
A retrospective observational analysis supports evidence that POEMS syndrome is an independent risk factor for cerebral infarction.
By Alexander Venizelos, MD, and Jose Biller, MD, FACP, FAAN, FAHA
February 2, 2010
Covering:
Dupont SA et al., Neurology 2009 Oct 20; 73:1308
Treating Basilar Artery Occlusion
Neurology Summary and Comment
A registry study suggests that intra-arterial thrombolysis is not superior to intravenous thrombolysis for BAO and that IVT is superior in patients with mild-to-moderate deficits.
By Barney J. Stern, MD
February 2, 2010
Covering:
Schonewille WJ et al., Lancet Neurol 2009 Aug; 8:724
Hankey GJ., Lancet Neurol 2009 Aug; 8:695
C-Reactive Protein and Cardiovascular Disease: Cause, Mediator, or Marker?
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Much of the association between CRP levels and ischemic vascular disease depends on other risk factors.
By Bruce Soloway, MD
January 28, 2010
Covering:
The Emerging Risk Factors Collaboration., Lancet 2010 Jan 9; 375:132
Prediction of Long-Term Outcome After Intracerebral Hemorrhage
Neurology Summary and Comment
The ICH score was accurate in predicting long-term functional outcome in a validation study.
By Natalia S. Rost, MD
January 26, 2010
Covering:
Hemphill JC III et al., Neurology 2009 Oct 6; 73:1088
Sonothrombolysis for Proximal Occlusions
Neurology Summary and Comment
Can microspheres safely enhance sonothrombolysis of proximal occlusions in acute ischemic stroke?
By Farzaneh A. Sorond, MD, PhD
January 26, 2010
Covering:
Molina CA et al., Ann Neurol 2009 Jul; 66:28
Predicting Short-Term Risk for Stroke Recurrence
Emergency Medicine Summary and Comment
A new Web-based risk score based on readily available clinical and imaging information is a good predictor of risk for recurrence.
Antidepressant Use and Cardiovascular Risk in Postmenopausal Women
Women's Health Summary and Comment
Although antidepressants were not associated with coronary heart disease risk, SSRIs were associated with higher stroke risk and both SSRIs and TCAs with higher all-cause mortality.
By Diane E. Judge, APN/CNP
January 21, 2010
Covering:
Smoller JW et al., Arch Intern Med 2009 Dec 14/28; 169:2128
O'Connor C and Fiuzat M., Arch Intern Med 2009 Dec 14/28; 169:2140
Does Clopidogrel Work Differently in Men and Women?
General Medicine Summary and Comment
No significant differences in treatment effect were detected between sexes.
By Kirsten E. Fleischmann, MD, MPH
January 19, 2010
Covering:
Berger JS et al., J Am Coll Cardiol 2009 Nov 17; 54:1935
Faxon DP., J Am Coll Cardiol 2009 Nov 17; 54:1946
Lipid Levels and Stroke
Neurology Summary and Comment
In a large meta-analysis, non-HDL cholesterol was associated with risk for ischemic but not hemorrhagic stroke; triglycerides, HDL, and apolipoproteins were not associated with stroke risk.
By Mitchell S. V. Elkind, MD, MS
January 19, 2010
Covering:
The Emerging Risk Factors Collaboration., JAMA 2009 Nov 11; 302:1993
Management of Carotid Stenosis Before Cardiac Surgery
Neurology Summary and Comment
Carotid stenosis is not directly associated with increased stroke risk after cardiac surgery, and combined carotid and cardiac surgery should be avoided.
By Magdy Selim, MD, PhD
January 19, 2010
Covering:
Li Y et al., Arch Neurol 2009 Sep; 66:1091
Eastchester Clapping Sign: A Novel Test of Parietal Neglect
Neurology Summary and Comment
Asking patients with hemispatial neglect to clap may aid acute-stroke diagnosis and treatment.
By Thomas D. Sabin, MD
January 12, 2010
Covering:
Ostrow LW and Llinás RH., Ann Neurol 2009 Jul; 66:114
Could Reducing Salt Consumption Prevent Cardiovascular Events?
Cardiology Summary and Comment
High salt intake is associated in a dose-dependent manner with high rates of stroke and cardiovascular events.
By Beat J. Meyer, MD
January 6, 2010
Covering:
Strazzullo P et al., BMJ 2009 Nov 24; 339:b4567
Aspirin for Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease? Still a Very Close Call.
General Medicine Year in Review
Free
Individual risk assessment might be the best approach.
Is It Okay for Patients with Peptic Ulcer Bleeding to Continue Low-Dose Aspirin?
Cardiology Summary and Comment
For patients at cardiovascular risk, the short-term survival advantage of continuing aspirin therapy outweighed the bleeding risk.
By Joel M. Gore, MD
December 23, 2009
Covering:
Sung JJY et al., Ann Intern Med 2009 Dec 1
Review of t-PA Use Since FDA Approval
Neurology Summary and Comment
A new look at why t-PA remains underused despite multiple studies demonstrating that early thrombolysis is safe and effective.
By Jason Mackey, MD, and Joseph Broderick, MD
December 15, 2009
Covering:
Zivin JA., Ann Neurol 2009 Jul; 66:6
Cardiovascular Disease Trends
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Free
Hospital mortality among patients presenting with acute coronary ischemia has declined, but 10-year CHD risk failed to show significant declines.
By Jamaluddin Moloo, MD, MPH
December 10, 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
Dabigatran versus Warfarin in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation
Neurology Summary and Comment
Free
A large trial suggests dabigatran's noninferiority to warfarin in preventing strokes, but many questions remain to be answered.
By Karen L. Furie, MD, and J. Philip Kistler, MD
December 8, 2009
Covering:
Connolly SJ et al., N Engl J Med 2009 Sep 17; 361:1139
A Novel Approach to Preventing Brain Damage
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
In a rat study, suppression of a little-studied nonselective cation channel minimizes neuronal loss and preserves function after ischemia.
By Steven Dubovsky, MD
December 7, 2009
Covering:
Sun H-S et al., Nat Neurosci 2009 Oct; 12:1300
Lipids, Apolipoproteins, and Vascular Disease: What to Measure?
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Free
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
Aspirin Unproved for Primary Prevention of CV Events in Patients with Diabetes
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Results question guideline recommendations for routine aspirin use.
By Paul S. Mueller, MD, MPH, FACP
November 24, 2009
Covering:
De Berardis G et al., BMJ 2009 Nov 6; 339:b4531
Haynes R et al., BMJ 2009 Nov 6; 339:b4596
Accelerated vs. Standard Streptokinase Infusion for Prosthetic Valve Thrombosis
Cardiology Summary and Comment
Accelerated infusion was no better than standard infusion at producing complete clinical response.
BP Reduction in Acute Intracranial Hemorrhage: How Low Should We Go?
Emergency Medicine Summary and Comment
This small phase I study shows that BP reduction is feasible but does not identify an optimum target level.
Systematic Screening for Blunt Cervical Vascular Injury Reduces Time to Diagnosis and Incidence of Stroke
Emergency Medicine Summary and Comment
A standardized scoring system and computed tomographic angiography greatly reduced time to diagnosis from the old standard of conventional angiography.
