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Cancer Genetics for Nurses: Connecting the DotsThe traditional family history taken in a practice setting typically includes information from first-degree relatives to create a pedigree diagram; it can also include second- and third-degree relatives.
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Cardiac catheterization in higher-risk NSTE-ACS patients: Why is it being underutilized by physicians?We compared the rates of cardiac catheterization in 2136 non–ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome patients who were stratified according to their baseline thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) risk score. Higher-risk patients were referred for catheterization at a similar rate as low-risk patients. The main reasons why physicians did not make referrals included (1) clinical trial evidence did not support an early invasive approach and (2) 68% of patients were thought not to be at high enough risk; however, 59% of these patients were found to be higher risk when their baseline TIMI risk scores were recalculated. Patients who were referred for catheterization had better in-hospital and 1-year outcomes. Our findings indicate that a significant opportunity remains to improve upon accurate risk stratification and adherence to an early invasive strategy for higher-risk patients.
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Contemporary stenting practices, optimal antiplatelet and antithrombotic therapy, and the continuum of care of patients with cardiovascular disease: A roundtable discussionThe first stent was invented in 1969 by Charles Theodore Dotter, experimenting on canine peripheral arteries.
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Weighing the Benefits of Long-term Opioid Use for Pain ManagementFor some patients the first treatment they receive to help manage their pain is opioid medication. Recent studies have looked at whether staying on these prescriptions for long periods of time can do more harm than good.
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Vernakalant: Expanding the antiarrhythmic vernacularAtrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained cardiac arrhythmia, occurring in over 2% of the general population.
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Covering Your Assets: S-Corps as Tax SheltersRecent court case highlights risks and opportunities
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Contemporary stenting practices, optimal antiplatelet and antithrombotic therapy, and the continuum of care of patients with cardiovascular disease: A roundtable discussionThe first stent was invented in 1969 by Charles Theodore Dotter, experimenting on canine peripheral arteries.
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What Will Gabrielle Giffords' Recovery Look Like?The recent events in Tucson, AZ, demonstrate our ability to respond to and treat people with severe traumatic brain injuries.
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Iatrogenic dilated cardiomyopathy and spectrum of current treatment modalitiesOur increasing ability to intervene in high-risk patients—with lower risks and greater chances for successful outcomes—is felt across the broad spectrum of cardiovascular disease. This is particularly evident in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM).
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Connecticut Sues Health Net for Data BreachLast week, the Connecticut Attorney General, Richard Blumenthal, sued Health Net of Connecticut for a data breach and their subsequent handling of the incident.
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Let's Get Smart about Antibiotic PrescribingAntibiotics are commonly prescribed by a wide range of clinicians. Data suggest that up to 50% of prescribed antibiotics are "unnecessary" or "inappropriate".
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Congress Should Repeal the HITECH ActToo expensive; too unproven; and too burdensome. It's time to say goodbye to this unwanted legislation.
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Cardiac magnetic resonance stress tests in coronary heart diseaseWe evaluated the prognostic value of cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) stress testing with direct comparison of adenosine stress first-pass perfusion and dobutamine stress wall motion imaging among 513 subjects with known or suspected coronary heart disease over a median follow-up period of 2.3 years. Positive results on CMR stress testing identified subjects at high risk for subsequent cardiac events (nonfatal myocardial infarction or cardiac death), whereas normal CMR stress test results were associated with a very low annual cardiac event rate.
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Health Care Reform: Guidance on Claims and Appeals RulesInterim final rules clarify the scope of internal claims and appeals procedures and external review processes under PPACA.
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Study Finds Wide Variation in the Use of Testosterone Therapy among Veterans Health Administration FacilitiesResearchers identify limited evidence base and uneven clinical application as probable reasons for variation.
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Alogliptin: The newest agent to fight the diabetes pandemicAccording to the American Diabetes Association (ADA), 23.6 million children and adults have diabetes (8% of the US population) and another 5.7 million cases remain undiagnosed. Epidemiologists predict that these statistics will double by 2030, further taxing the healthcare system. Medical expenditures are approximately 2.3 times higher for diabetic versus nondiabetic patients, and the annual cost of diabetes is estimated to be $116 billion.
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Going South: The Toll of Smoking on Kentucky & West VirginiaTobacco farm region physicians face the challenges of culture, law, and education in improving cessation.
