Are Women with Migraine at Increased Risk for Major CVD Events?
Cardiology Summary and Comment
Only if they have aura symptoms, according to Women’s Health Study data
By JoAnne M. Foody, MD
August 16, 2006
Covering:
Kurth T et al., JAMA 2006 Jul 19; 296:283-91
Lipton RB and Bigal ME., JAMA 2006 Jul 19; 296:332-3
Age-Related Macular Degeneration and Stroke
General Medicine Summary and Comment
A significant association persisted after adjustment for common etiologic factors.
By Richard Saitz, MD, MPH, FACP, FASAM
August 15, 2006
Covering:
Wong TY et al., Ann Intern Med 2006 Jul 18; 145:98-106
Vitamins, Homocysteine, and Cognition
Neurology Summary and Comment
Vitamin supplementation in normal elders with elevated homocysteine levels did not improve cognition.
By David Knopman, MD
August 15, 2006
Covering:
McMahon JA et al., N Engl J Med 2006 Jun 29; 354:2764-72
Atorvastatin After Stroke or TIA
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Free
Risk for recurrent stroke was lower with statin therapy.
By Allan S. Brett, MD
August 10, 2006
Covering:
The Stroke Prevention by Aggressive Reduction in Cholesterol Levels (SPARCL) Investigators., N Engl J Med 2006 Aug 10; 355:549-59
Raloxifene Does Not Prevent Heart Disease
Cardiology Summary and Comment
Is the drug’s benefit in reducing breast cancer risk enough to warrant prescribing it to an individual woman?
By Harlan M. Krumholz, MD, SM
August 2, 2006
Covering:
Barrett-Connor E et al. for the Raloxifene Use for The Heart (RUTH) Trial Investigators., N Engl J Med 2006 Jul 13; 355:125-37
Stefanick ML., N Engl J Med 2006 Jul 13; 355:190-2
Treat Hypertension, Prevent Dementia?
Neurology Summary and Comment
An observational study of older men raises the possibility of such a benefit if treatment lasts at least 5 years.
By Farzaneh A. Sorond, MD, PhD
August 1, 2006
Covering:
Peila R et al., Stroke 2006 May; 37:1165-70
Revisiting Dipyridamole for Secondary Stroke Prevention
Neurology Summary and Comment
New evidence from the ESPRIT trial supports the use of dipyridamole plus aspirin.
By J. Donald Easton, MD
August 1, 2006
Covering:
The ESPRIT Study Group., Lancet 2006 May 20; 367:1665-73
Does Supplementation with Folic Acid and B Vitamins Prevent Vascular Outcomes?
Neurology Summary and Comment
Not according to the Heart Outcomes Prevention Evaluation study
By James F. Toole, MD
August 1, 2006
Covering:
Lonn E et al., N Engl J Med 2006 Apr 13; 354:1567-77
Raloxifene and Risk for Cardiovascular Events and Breast Cancer
Women's Health Summary and Comment
Free
For older postmenopausal women, the benefits of raloxifene may not outweigh the risks.
By Andrew M. Kaunitz, MD
July 27, 2006
Covering:
Barrett-Connor E et al., N Engl J Med 2006 Jul 13; 355:125-37
Stefanick ML., N Engl J Med 2006 Jul 13; 355:190-2
Atrial-Based vs. Ventricular Pacing: A Meta-Analysis
Cardiology Summary and Comment
Free
Atrial-based pacing reduced the incidence of atrial fibrillation and, to a lesser extent, stroke.
By Mark D. Carlson, MD
July 26, 2006
Covering:
Healey JS et al., Circulation 2006 Jul 4; 114:11-7
Tse H-F and Lau C-P., Circulation 2006 Jul 4; 114:3-5
Cognitive Decline After Off-Pump CABG
Cardiology Summary and Comment
It was common, and not significantly less so than after on-pump surgery.
By Harlan M. Krumholz, MD, SM
July 26, 2006
Covering:
Jensen BO et al., Circulation 2006 Jun 20; 113:2790-5
The Cognitive and Neuroanatomic Underpinnings of Confabulation
Neurology Summary and Comment
Free
Memory retrieval and monitoring for veracity both appear to be defective, and confabulation requires damage to two different brain regions.
By Andrew E. Budson, MD
July 25, 2006
Covering:
Gilboa A et al., Brain 2006 Jun; 129:1399-414
Dual Antiplatelet Therapy Strikes Out in AFib
Cardiology Summary and Comment
Free
Warfarin remains the standard of care for preventing stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation.
By Beat J. Meyer, MD
July 19, 2006
Covering:
The ACTIVE Writing Group on behalf of the ACTIVE Investigators., Lancet 2006 Jun 10; 367:1903-12
Outcomes with Raloxifene in Women with Above-Average Coronary Risk
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Free
Raloxifene use reduces risk for breast cancer but introduces other potentially serious health concerns.
By Allan S. Brett, MD
July 13, 2006
Covering:
Barrett-Connor E et al., N Engl J Med 2006 Jul 13; 355:125-37
Stefanick ML., N Engl J Med 2006 Jul 13; 355:190-2
Warfarin Better Than Aspirin plus Clopidogrel in Atrial Fibrillation
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Free
This large randomized trial was stopped early when a clear advantage was noted for warfarin in preventing stroke and non-CNS emboli.
By Bruce Soloway, MD
July 11, 2006
Covering:
The ACTIVE Writing Group on behalf of the ACTIVE Investigators., Lancet 2006 Jun 10; 367:1903-12
Verheugt FWA., Lancet 2006 Jun 10; 367:1877-8
Update on NSAIDs, COX-2 Inhibitors, and Cardiovascular Risk
General Medicine Summary and Comment
In a meta-analysis, COX-2 inhibitors, as well as NSAIDs other than naproxen, were associated with higher risk.
By Keith I. Marton, MD
July 11, 2006
Covering:
Kearney PM et al., BMJ 2006 Jun 3; 332:1302-5
Symptomatic Intracranial Stenosis: Insights from GESICA
Neurology Summary and Comment
We still need a randomized, controlled trial comparing pharmacotherapy and angioplasty plus stenting.
By Lee Birnbaum, MD, and Ralph L. Sacco, MD, MS
June 22, 2006
Covering:
Mazighi M et al., Neurology 2006 Apr 25; 66:1187-91
Aspirin Resistance: Still Much to Learn
Neurology Summary and Comment
Perspective on an evolving clinical topic
By Mark J. Alberts, MD
June 8, 2006
Covering:
Hankey GJ and Eikelboom JW., Lancet 2006 Feb 18; 367:606-17
Another Look at ß-Blockers for Hypertension
General Medicine Summary and Comment
ß-blockers might be more acceptable first-line drugs for younger hypertensive patients than for older patients.
By Allan S. Brett, MD
June 23, 2006
Covering:
Khan N and McAlister FA., CMAJ 2006 Jun 6; 174:1737-42
Adding Dipyridamole to Aspirin Improves Secondary Prevention After Stroke
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Free
The combination of aspirin plus dipyridamole might become the treatment of choice for routine secondary prevention.
By Bruce Soloway, MD
June 9, 2006
Covering:
The ESPRIT Study Group., Lancet 2006 May 20; 367:1665-73
CT Angiography in the Evaluation of Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
Emergency Medicine Summary and Comment
Its role is not yet clear.
By Diane M. Birnbaumer, MD, FACEP
June 26, 2006
Covering:
Carstairs SD et al., Acad Emerg Med 2006 May; 13:486-92
Aspirin plus Dipyridamole for Secondary Stroke Prevention?
Cardiology Summary and Comment
Free
The ESPRIT trial resolves a long-standing question.
By Beat J. Meyer, MD
June 22, 2006
Covering:
The ESPRIT Study Group., Lancet 2006 May 20; 367:1665-73
Norrving B., Lancet 2006 May 20; 367:1638-9
Are Patent Foramen Ovale and Aortic Arch Atherosclerosis Commonly Associated with Stroke?
General Medicine Summary and Comment
New data do not confirm previous findings of high rates of stroke among patients with these conditions.
By Allan S. Brett, MD
May 26, 2006
Covering:
Petty GW et al., Mayo Clin Proc 2006 May; 81:602-8
Petty GW et al., Mayo Clin Proc 2006 May; 81:609-14
Insular Stroke and QT Prolongation
Neurology Summary and Comment
Patients with acute stroke and insular involvement or a prior stroke may require continuous ECG monitoring.
By Vladimir Hachinski, MD, DSc
May 4, 2006
Covering:
Tatschl C et al., Cerebrovasc Dis 2006 Jan; 21:47-53
Migraine, Stroke, and Angina in Young People
Neurology Summary and Comment
A brief, registry-based report poses important questions — but provides few answers — about stroke and chest pain in young migraineurs.
By Louis R. Caplan, MD
May 4, 2006
Covering:
Hoffmann M., Headache 2006 Feb; 46:208-11
