Cardiology

In a recent survey, physicians identified peer-reviewed journal articles, continuing medical education, evidence-based guidelines, and national experts as the most useful sources of information to stay current on therapeutic advances.

Preliminary research suggests that optogenetics could eventually replace electric shocks in the treatment of atrial fibrillation.

As the bioactive fatty acids in milk have been tentatively linked to anti-inflammatory and improved metabolic effects, its calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, and potassium content may lower blood pressure and alleviate cardiometabolic syndrome.

Since many patients with night eating syndrome (NES) believe they will not fall back asleep until they ingest a full meal, it's no surprise that NES is associated with obesity and metabolic abnormalities.

Researchers analyzed records from more than 25,000 Medicare beneficiaries and found no evidence that testosterone replacement therapy increases the risk of heart attack among older men.

Left untreated or inadequately treated, syphilis may cause tertiary cardiovascular disease, one form of which is syphilitic aortitis.

Thanks to better anesthetics, new surgical techniques, and more consistent anticoagulant use to prevent venous thromboembolism, mortality after total hip replacement surgery is rare. Nevertheless, a patient's risk of death briefly increases following the procedure.

When patients with diabetes or metabolic syndrome experience acute cardiac events, the subject of stents often arises.

A pair of randomized controlled studies have both found that continuous monitoring of patients after cryptogenic strokes can detect several times as many cases of atrial fibrillation as conventional monitoring.

The patients who are most likely to develop a hospital-acquired condition after bariatric surgery are precisely those who stand to benefit the most from undergoing the procedure.

Out of all possible factors, trauma is the single largest cause of death among Americans aged 46 years or younger.

The US Food and Drug Administration recently announced it will require the makers of testosterone replacement therapies to add general warnings about venous blood clots to product labels.

Among highly nicotine-dependent male smokers, therapies that combine smoking cessation agents significantly increase the likelihood of quitting, according to a study published in The American Journal of Psychiatry.

Although hospitals routinely implement peer review processes to ensure that physicians are meeting the prevailing standards of care, the procedure has been associated with controversy.

Study results show that obese patients with psoriatic arthritis who were treated with tumor necrosis factor-alpha blockers who also lost at least 5 percent of their bodyweight from baseline were much more likely to achieve minimal disease activity.

Phase II trial data suggest that a fixed-dose combination of ranolazine and low-dose dronedarone may significantly reduce disease burden among patients with atrial fibrillation.

Researchers at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center have released a study showing the potential of a dangerous interaction between a common supplement and prescription medication.

Among patients aged 65 years or older who are hospitalized with community-acquired pneumonia, azithromycin lowers the risk of 90-day mortality in exchange for slightly increased odds of myocardial infarction compared to other antibiotic regimens.

Although valve replacement is indicated when aortic valve stenosis (AS) is severe, experts have struggled with crafting evidence-based recommendations in the presence of mild or moderate AS, which has led to inconsistent practices and surgical guidelines.

Researchers in Australia believe they have found what had been a missing link between low levels of vitamin D and hypertension.

Minutes and seconds can make a difference in the amount of brain damage suffered by a stroke patient, but now scientists have shown that medication can significantly help limit the damage.

Although the Caprini Thrombosis Risk Assessment Tool is widely used and well validated, many surgeons struggle to implement it appropriately and accurately when automated calculators are unavailable.

Cardiovascular risk related to severity of inflammation, but not associated with disease duration

New research financed by Medtronic Inc. suggests that implantable cardiac resynchronization therapy devices governed by its new algorithms may reduce atrial fibrillation-related complications in patients who have experienced heart failure.

A drug which has already been approved for patients with diabetes could have more benefits for people at risk of having heart disease, according a recent study.

By emphasizing early postoperative mobilization alongside mandatory venous thromboembolism (VTE) risk stratification and concurrent electronic prophylaxis recommendations, hospitals can significantly reduce the likelihood of VTE complications among surgical patients.

Treatment for 12 weeks with empagliflozin led to significant reductions in HbA1c levels and blood pressure compared to placebo.

Data from a large cohort of Swedish men suggest that regular vigorous exercise starting around age 30 may increase the risk of atrial fibrillation, particularly among those who stop exercising later in life.

A retrospective cohort study of Medicare beneficiaries hospitalized for heart failure with a left ventricular ejection fraction between 30-35% found improved 3-year survival rates among those who received a prophylactic implantable cardioverter-defibrillators compared to those with no ICD.

Men with HIV have more noncalcified plaque in their arteries than their uninfected counterparts.