Adam Hochron

When treating a patient with vitiligo it can be easy to look at their skin condition and no further. There is work being done to show that more can be done to help the patient not only physically, but mentally as well.

In most instances a microscope is enough to make a diagnosis of melanoma, but in some the view under the lens does not provide a clear enough picture. A new test that combines math and science could make the most difficult cases easier to identify.

For anyone who has had or been exposed to someone with chicken pox herpes zoster, or shingles, can be a very real risk. A vaccine for patients over the age of 60 can greatly reduce the likelihood of contracting the disease.

The American Academy of Dermatology is meeting in San Francisco and while there are many noteworthy topics being discussed, melanoma is one of the leading topics of discussion at the event.

The reporting of PCI results is not a common practice for many reasons, and while some states require it of their doctors, there could be both medical and political barriers standing in the way of it becoming a nationwide program.

With New York and Massachusetts leading the way laws requiring public reporting of PCI results were recently expanded to Washington State as well. A recent study looked at the risks and benefits of other states starting similar programs.

The use of dual anti platelet therapy is popular among cardio patients but questions remain of how long that therapy should continue after a cardiac event.

As technology improves, so does the ability for doctors to better view their patients from a variety of angles as part of their overall care. This is also true in cardiology when treating patients with myocardial diseases.

As with any new class of medications there are many questions that will need to be answered by and for healthcare professionals.

If the new class of drugs are as effective as they appear to be in early studies, it could have a drastic affect on how patients with cardiac issues are treated in the future.

One of the hot topics at the American College of Cardiology's annual meeting in San Diego was a new class of drugs being developed that could revolutionize the field of cardiac care.

The landscape of cardiac care has changed dramatically over the past few years and will continue to well into the future. What it will look like exactly remains to be determined based on a number of factors.

With a new class of drugs on the horizon questions remain about what PCSK9 inhibitors will mean to the future of cardiac care. Doctors are slowly learning the answers to those questions as possible approval draws closer.

As Doctors become more familiar with the new cholesterol guidelines it will be up to them to carry the message to the patients about ways they can improve their overall health.

It has been many years since guidelines looking at cholesterol control were revised. Now the question is how to keep the new guidelines current even in the future.

Neurology and cardiology may not always work together to promote a person's overall health but some recent research has shown a closer connection between the two fields.

When he first discussed the idea of a vaccine to help fight heart disease P.K. Shah, MD, said he was laughed at for even considering the work. Several decades later the doctor is being lauded as his dream comes closer to becoming a reality.

Having worked at Cedars Sinai since 1982 Robert J. Siegel, MD, has seen a lot of changes in the medical profession and helped many doctors hone their craft as they begin their own work in the field.

With more complex patients anything surgeons can do to ensure success with surgery is a benefit. A recent study looked at how imaging can predict whether cardiac procedures will go well for them and their patients.

Patient care continues to make dramatic changes including the way information is shared not only between doctors and patients, but also other doctors treating the same people. Technology making that happen continues to evolve as well.

Coronary interventionalists face a wide variety of challenges on a daily basis and as patients post greater problems it is up to the doctors to come up with new ways to treat them.

The use of targeted temperature management in patients who have suffered cardiac arrest remains a highly debated topic, especially in terms of whether there is an optimal target temperature for maximum benefit in reducing mortality and preserving cognitive function.

Paul Spittle, vice president, Cardiovascular and Respiratory, AstraZeneca US, discusses results from the PEGASUS trial and explains what they may mean for heart attack and stroke risk in patients who have suffered a myocardial infarction.

Sunil Agarwal, MD, from Mount Sinai Hospital in New York, discussed the results of his research on the use of continuous cardiac monitoring to monitor elderly patients for atrial fibrillation and sub-clinical arrhythmia and help reduce their risk of stroke and other health complications.

Jason Katz, MD, MHS, from the University of North Carolina, discusses recent improvements in the field of coronary intensive care and identifies promising research that could lead to additional positive outcomes for patients.

A recent study comparing outcomes from ablation to treatment with medication showed the procedure provided greater benefit for atrial fibrillation patients with congestive heart failure.

With the recent addition of new drugs to help prevent stroke in atrial fibrillation doctors now have more choices to help patients. While there are more choices, there are also potential issues with the new drugs.

Researchers are always looking for new ways to use existing medications. That is true for the hormone oxytocin, which a group of researchers recently looked at as a potential weight loss tool for men.

With the number of patients diagnosed with diabetes continuously rising efforts are being made to find new ways to treat the condition beyond insulin and other traditional medications.

There are certain health concerns that come with pregnancy, just as there are some that come with weight gain. A recent study looked at how the two can be tied together for some patients.