Andrew Smith

A new trial of the pancrelipase formulation Zenpep found the product to be as safe and effective as Creon for the treatment of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency in cystic fibrosis patients aged 12 years and older.

Analysis of a multicenter cohort indicates that the causes of chronic pancreatitis vary significantly in men and women and that the phenotype of the disease is independent of patient sex.

A retrospective analysis of transesophageal echocardiography from 388 patients undergoing catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation has found no significant evidence that novel oral anticoagulants reduce the incidence of left atrial thrombus or eliminate the need for transesophageal echocardiography before ablation.

A trial designed to find a quick and definitive way to test for exocrine pancreatic insufficiency in cystic fibrosis patients has instead discovered another feasible method that does not work.

Analysis of 3 apremilast trials finds that the medication increases workplace productivity and reduces workplace limitations for at least a year in patients who began trials with inadequately controlled psoriatic arthritis.

A Swedish trial found that weekly yoga was associated with higher quality of life, lower blood pressure and slower heart rates in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.

A new analysis of treatment costs and trial outcomes concludes that immediate use of tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFis) is a cost-effective strategy for managing psoriatic arthritis patients with both skin and joint involvement but not for managing those patients with joint disease alone.

Researchers have identified several factors (including dementia, anemia, depression, and anticonvulsant use) that increase the risk of traumatic intracranial bleeding in older patients with AFib who are also on warfarin therapy.

Patients with type 1 or type 2 diabetes mellitus can experience modest exocrine pancreatic insufficiency and moderate-to-severe subclinical pancreatic fibrosis even in the absence of pancreatitis.

Analysis of cardiovascular registry data comparing components of the CHA2DS2-VASc score and oral anticoagulant use also found that women and patients with vascular disease were less likely than other patients with atrial fibrillation to be prescribed anticoagulation that is now indicated by standard guidelines.

A new trial of magnetic resonance imaging finds that analyzing scans for subclinical signs of inflammatory joint disease can help predict which psoriasis patients will go on to develop psoriatic arthritis.

Compared to current guidelines for atrial fibrillation (AFib) detection in patients with ischemic stroke, 10-day Holter-ECG monitoring is superior for a-fib detection.

Researchers evaluated the effects of ursodeoxycholic acid supplementation on nutritional status in patients with mild liver disease.

A 96-week-long trial of etanercept (Enbrel) indicates durable therapeutic benefits and no serious adverse events in pediatric patients with psoriatic arthritis and other types of juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

Analysis of questionnaire data has identified 5 factors that help predict which patients with chronic inflammatory rheumatic diseases such as psoriatic arthritis will abandon biologic treatment.

A retrospective analysis of records from more than 55,000 patients indicates that influenza infection increases the risk of developing atrial fibrillation (AF) and that increased vaccination could reduce AF onset.

A comparison of 3 algorithms designed to detect cases of “classic†cystic fibrosis in newborns with negative or inconclusive sweat test results supports the use of a fecal elastase test to identify pancreatic insufficiency requiring immediate treatment.

A new study comparing psoriatic arthritis patients who do and do not develop cardiovascular disease suggests a strong connection between arthritis that’s polyarticular at onset and diabetes and subsequent strokes and coronary events.

A meta-analysis of data concludes that atrial fibrillation is a greater risk factor for stroke, cardiovascular disease, and death in women than it is in men.

New analysis of data from longitudinal cohorts finds that psoriatic arthritis patients were more than 50% more likely than those with psoriasis but no arthritis to develop infection. It also provides further evidence that biologic medications are also a risk factor for infection.

A new analysis of cohort study data estimates the average annual cost of caring for children with chronic pancreatitis or acute recurrent pancreatitis in the US now approaches $50,000.

A new randomized controlled trial hints that pancrelipase may do better than conventional pancreatic enzyme supplementation in protecting against non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in pancreatic cancer patients who undergo pancreatoduodenectomy.

A new retrospective analysis indicates that the interval between the diagnosis of persistent atrial fibrillation and the use of catheter ablation is inversely related to the procedure’s chance of long-term success.

Blood analysis in patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases such as psoriatic arthritis indicates that biologic medications do not reduce the efficacy of anti-pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine, and that patients with such conditions may not need to be vaccinated more frequently than others.

A new patient registry analysis assessed whether there were any significant differences in outcome between combination therapy and monotherapy in patients with psoriatic arthritis.

A new study suggests that caregivers who want to increase the use of pancreatic enzymes by young patients with cystic fibrosis should consider whether their parents need treatment for depression.

Analysis of health records and questionnaire results from heart failure patients indicates a significant link between permanent atrial fibrillation and cognitive impairment among such patients.

A trial of choline supplements in children with cystic fibrosis and pancreatic insufficiency found that supplements alter some amino acid concentrations but do not change methionine or homocysteine status.

Investigators looking to compare the risks of 13 different targeted immunomodulators gathered 51 observational studies and 10 randomized controlled trials that made head-to-head comparisons. Most of the studies involved patients with rheumatoid arthritis but the underlying research also included patients with ankylosing spondylitis, inflammatory bowel diseases, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, plaque psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis

Analysis of records from nearly 100,000 British patients indicates that gout is significantly associated with an increased risk of atrial fibrillation, both at the time of initial diagnosis and also going forward.