Cardiology

For patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), administering ticagrelor in the ambulance safely reduces ischemic events 24 hours following primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Representing two of the major conferences in the cardiac world the American College of Cardiology and the European Society of Cardiology have found ways to work together to help patients on both sides of the Atlantic.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) cause more than 52% of all deaths in females, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), and myocardial infarction (MI) incidence is increasing in the younger population.

The glucose-lowering medication lixisenatide was found not neither increase nor decrease cardiovascular (CV) events compared with placebo in patients afflicted with type 2 diabetes and acute coronary syndrome.

There could be a new first-line treatment for hypertension in patients needing diuretic therapy, according to research presented at the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Congress conference in London, UK.

As with all cardiac intervention procedures there are risks for the patients. However, working in consultation with doctors the results can be minimized to provide the best level of care.

The MANTRA-PAF trial, A study looking at a treatment for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation reached its five year follow-up mark and the results were shared at the recent European Society of Cardiology Congress to see whether surgical or pharmaceutical treatment was better for patients.

The benefits of naps for young children have been well established and utilized for many years. A recent study looked at whether taking a nap in the middle of the day could help hypertensive adults better manage their condition.

While PCSK9 inhibitors have been shown to help patients lower their cholesterol levels, there are still questions about potential side effects as well as when and how the medication will be made affordable and available to patients.

According to trial results presented at ESC Congress 2015, treatment with cyclosporine was no better than placebo for patients who received percutaneous coronary intervention for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction.

It was less than two decades ago that researchers uncovered the role of PCSK9 in a person's body. In just the past few months two new medications have been developed that could go a long way in helping win the fight against bad cholesterol.

For some patients lifestyle intervention may not be enough to help them get the results they are looking for. Doctors are looking for more definitive treatments to assist their patients in the future.

By the time patients are treated by a cardiologist their condition has already made significant progress. Finding ways to treat them before they reach the specialist stage has become a focus of the medical community.

Not all emergency rooms are created equal, but if hospitals work together patients can still get the care they need even if it means going to another institution. Ensuring patients can afford the care they receive is also a key component to this discussion.

In an emergency room doctors sometimes only have a matter of moments to make the best diagnosis for a patient. Having the tools to make those calls is important in keeping their patients healthy and alive.

While the treatment of atrial fibrillation has made many advancements in recent years there is still much more work to be done. As with other areas of medicine this includes individualized approaches to care.

At the annual ESC Congress in London there were many key studies presented. Some of them could provide information that doctors can put into practice as soon as they return to the office.

Atrial fibrillation is a common condition cardiologists face on a regular basis. How best to treat those patients is an area still being worked on in the field and in practices around the world.

Patients suffering from psoriasis have a higher risk of developing arrhythmia – even after controlling for other risk factors, according to a study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.

The US Food and Drug Administration last night announced it has approved evolocumab (Repatha/Amgen), an injectable drug for some patients who are unable to get their LDL cholesterol under control. Statins are a cheaper and generally effective treatment, but the new class of drugs is expected to help people who cannot tolerate them, for whom they do not work, and for people with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia.

FDA has approved evolocumab (Repatha, Amgen) injection, a human monoclonal antibody that inhibits proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9), for some patients who are not able to adequately control low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol with current therapies.

A new review and meta-analysis finds that - despite the lack of drug-specific antidotes to arrest major bleeds - novel oral anticoagulants are associated with a lower risk of fatal bleeds than warfarin in patients with atrial fibrillation.

To keep their minds sharp, older people are often advised to take vitamins or other dietary supplements and to engage in regular exercise. Two studies in JAMA show those practices had no effect on cognitive function.

Medical researchers know there is a connection between psoriasis and cardiovascular diseases, but a new Iranian study in Clinical, Cosmetic & Investigational Dermatology further verifies lipid abnormalities linked to psoriasis and suggests a serum lipid profile and blood pressure check for all of those patients.

Most self-improvement intervention programs rely on self-monitoring, or increased awareness of bad habits, to help people change their behaviors. Traditionally, programs have used diaries, calendar notes, or check-ins at daily or weekly meetings to help individuals recognize and replace unhelpful routines. The October 2015 issue of Telemedicine and e-Health includes a study that describes how simple electronic feedback can help people with weight problems.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is requiring additional clinical trials on testosterone supplements after revealing that labeling claims about their safety and efficacy are not backed by substantial evidence.

High levels of noncalcified coronary plaque and an increased risk for heart attack is linked to poor HDL-cholesterol efflux capacity (CEC) in patients with psoriasis.

Does the use of electronic cigarettes, known as "vaping" lead teens to become smokers? A California team reports teen users are more likely to later try combustible tobacco, but say it is not clear whether they would have become smokers anyway.

A whole new segment of the population, particularly elderly patients are now eligible for a lifesaving cardiac procedure with the development of Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement or TAVR.

Atrial fibrillation is a growing problem and new techniques and technologies are being developed to treat the condition. One new device has been developed as a new surgical option for doctors to consider.