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Anti-inflammatory effects of pioglitazone and/or simvastatin in patients with distinct clinical risk for cardiovascular complicationsStatins are the most commonly used pharmacologic intervention in patients with increased cardiovascular risk. In addition to their beneficial effect on the atherogenic lipid profile, they have been shown to exert several pleiotrophic effects, including the reduction of low-grade inflammation. Thiazolidinediones (TZDs) are a new class of antidiabetic drugs that have been shown to improve insulin sensitivity and to reduce cardiovascular risk in patients with type 2 diabetes. Our study is the first to show a complementary effect of TZD and statin treatment on several cardiovascular risk factors in subjects without diabetes. These findings may have important implications for further discussion on cardiovascular risk reduction, especially for patients with metabolic syndrome.
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Video Capsule Endoscopy: Recent Advances in DiagnosisInvestigation of the small intestine or the esophagus with conventional diagnostic and imaging modalities can be challenging. Video capsule endoscopy is a relatively new and noninvasive technique that allows direct visualization of the small bowel or the esophagus and can obviate the need for or guide the use of more invasive procedures. The capsule contains a miniature camera that takes pictures of the lining of the small intestine or the esophagus. Unlike conventional diagnostic procedures, video capsule endoscopy can often successfully identify the source of the problem quickly and painlessly. It is also useful in assessing patients with a variety of other conditions affecting the small intestine or the esophagus, including Crohn's disease, celiac disease, tumors, reflux disease, esophagitis, and Barrett's esophagus.
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Body mass index and risk of stroke in womenAlthough several studies have found a positive association between body mass index (BMI) and stroke in men, the association in women is less clear. We evaluated women enrolled in the Women's Health Study and found that increased BMI was a strong risk factor for total and ischemic stroke. These results show that the number of total and ischemic strokes may be reduced if obesity is prevented.
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Benzodiazepine Use and Risk of Alzheimer's DiseaseA study looking at the link between benzodiazepine exposure and risk of Alzheimer's Disease.
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The prognostic role of metabolic syndrome after myocardial infarctionWe evaluated the prognostic role of metabolic syndrome after myocardial infarction and found that metabolic syndrome correlated with an increased risk of cardiovascular events and death. The risk of developing diabetes decreased with weight loss in patients with metabolic syndrome. These results indicate that a more aggressive approach to the treatment of patients with metabolic syndrome, particularly with regard to changes in lifestyle, would be beneficial.
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OCR Issues Proposed Modifications to HIPAA Privacy and Security Rules to Implement HITECH ActOn July 14, 2010, the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), issued a proposed rule containing modifications to the privacy standards, security standards, and enforcement regulations under HIPAA.
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The Sensationalization of Medical Errors: Breaking Down the Data In Order to Improve Patient CareUsing data from four previously published studies and using mathematical models to extrapolate data to the current year, researchers at Johns Hopkins contended that medical errors were now the third leading cause of death in the US today.
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Sexual Activity and Counseling in the First Month after Acute MI Among Younger AdultsIt is widely accepted that sexual activity is an important component of quality of life for men and women with cardiovascular disease (CVD), as well as for their partners, and is a safe activity, in general. Yet, older studies show that most CVD patients do not believe they have been educated by health care providers on when to resume sexual activity or any necessary restrictions following acute myocardial infarction.
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As One Pandemic Ends, My Tips on How To Navigate This Next OneDr. Todd Hutton gives tips for how to best handle the ongoing mental health crisis.
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Fundamentals of clinical research: Causal inference, surrogate measures, and intention to treatThe previous installment of this series on clinical research highlighted some important fundamentals in cohort studies and randomized controlled trials (RCTs). In this article, additional issues that are critical to the understanding of RCTs are discussed, including causal inference, the use of surrogate measures, and the principle of intention to treat (ITT).
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Doctors Betrayed by Traditional Financial StrategiesFor most doctors an "off the rack" plan from an accounting, legal, insurance or investment firm just doesn't work.
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The Short Shrift of HealthcareThis 10-part series will expose why consumers and doctors are getting the short shrift in all healthcare reform proposals.
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Increased risk of cardiovascular disease among middle-aged women due to glycemic loadWe conducted a study among 15 714 Dutch middle-aged women consuming modest-glycemic-load diets. Results showed that high dietary glycemic load and glycemic index increased the risk of cardiovascular disease. This association was particularly evident among overweight women. Recommendations to follow a high-carbohydrate diet may therefore not be optimal in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases.
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Elevated high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and carotid atherosclerosisWe assessed the relationship between high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol level and carotid plaque progression in 1952 men and women with preexisting carotid atherosclerosis over a period of 7 years. The HDL cholesterol level was inversely related to plaque growth. The plaques that became more echogenic during follow-up had a lower growth rate compared with those that became more echolucent. These findings suggest that HDL cholesterol stabilizes plaques and counteracts their growth by reducing their lipid content and inflammation.
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EPOCRATES: A Helping Hand for NursesRecalling medications, their side effects, dosing, and other information is a huge responsibility for professional nurses, and it is a duty that must be taken seriously. In nursing school, specifically in my pharmacology class, I remember how laborious it was trying to memorize the specifics of a variety of medications, and I started using Epocrates during this time to assist me with this endeavor.
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Key Aspects for Implementing a Lung Cancer Screening ProgramLCS programs must be integrated with a smoking cessation program, and data should be collected regarding the interventions offered to active smokers.
