Cardiology

The first wireless implantable hemodynamic monitoring system for patients with heart failure has been approved by the FDA.

The American Society of Hypertension (ASH) is the largest US professional organization dedicated to eradicating hypertension and its consequences. The following study presentations were highlights of the organization's 29th annual meeting in New York City.

AstraZeneca's Epanova (omega-3-carboxylic acids) was approved by the FDA for the treatment of adults with severe hypertriglyceridemia; two new studies support the concept that there can be too much of a good thing when it comes to exercise; and the FDA has issued a new statement recommending against the use of aspirin to prevent a first heart attack or stroke in people with no history of cardiovascular disease.

Mitral valve replacement provides a greater freedom from recurrent MR in patients with ischemic MR, but does it affect clinical outcomes?

The role of blood transfusions in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention remains controversial.

Should we give digoxin another look for chronic heart failure?

The safety and efficacy of drug-eluting stents are proven in the general population, but how do they perform in women?

This meta-analysis attempts to definitively answer questions about the role of anger in cardiovascular events.

Access, delivery, and affordability-will the courts decide the best course of action or will Congress?

It is primarily the responsibility of parents, teachers, and health care professionals to be role models for the younger generation with respect to healthy eating and physical activity.

Dietary sugars are thought to be a cause of obesity, chronic disease, and a variety of cardiometabolic risk factors, but little hard evidence of a causal relation has been found.

Research presented at the 2014 annual meeting of the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists indicates that testosterone replacement therapy may reduce the risk of cardiovascular events, contradicting two widely reported studies.

Patients with psoriatic arthritis may be at increased risk for cardiovascular disease, so physicians must carefully weigh the pros and cons of treatment with corticosteroids and other proatherogenic drugs.

Total number of hospitalizations increased by more than 23%, while associated treatment costs rose but mortality declined.

Study results presented at the 2014 American Thoracic Society International Conference show that treatment with rosuvastatin reduces markers of inflammation in patients with COPD after 12 weeks, but is not associated with improvements in measures of lung function.

Study results presented at the 2014 American Thoracic Society International Conference show that treatment with simvastatin did not decrease exacerbation rates or time to first exacerbation in patients with COPD.

Michael C. Ruddy, MD, FACP, FASH, describes the clinical applications of the Eighth Joint National Committee (JNC 8) hypertension management guideline.

Patients treated with too much or too little warfarin for atrial fibrillation (AF) are significantly more likely to develop dementia than patients who maintain proper medication levels.

Bariatric surgery represents a potentially useful intervention for managing obese type 2 diabetics who would fail to reach treatment goals with intensive medical therapy alone.

Since inactivity accounts for 10-16% of breast cancers, colon cancers, and diabetes cases, as well as 22% of heart disease, some researchers believe too much sitting can cause just as much harm as smoking.

Since those who undergo cardiac surgery are more likely to receive allogeneic blood transfusions, researchers at Johns Hopkins Hospital set out to investigate the effects of reinfusing autologous blood lost during cardiopulmonary bypass.

As newer anticoagulants become accepted into clinical practice, it is important to consider their unique properties, potential benefits, and how they act in the coagulation cascade.

Current dietary guidelines promoting high consumption of polyunsaturated fatty acids and low consumption of total saturated fats are not clearly supported by the medical literature.

Analysis of American hospital data found that the incidence of strokes associated with atrial fibrillation (AF) shot up 42% in just 7 years.

Cardiac MRI may help provide diagnostic information about arrhythmogenic events in patients with scleroderma who are being considered as recipients of implantable cardioverter defibrillators.

Zontivity (vorapaxar) was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration to reduce risk of heart attack, stroke, and cardiovascular (CV) death.

Patients find it very attractive to self-select a variety of vitamins and supplements that promise to improve their immune system and combat obesity without any dangers or dependence on healthcare professionals, but these claims are just not true.

Adult patients with binge eating disorder who were treated for 12 weeks with lisdexamfetamine dimesylate reported having 4 fewer binge days per week, and also experienced improvements in weight and triglyceride levels.

A new study of atrial fibrillation patients who require regular dialysis found more episodes of irregular heartbeat on dialysis days - particularly when dialysis was actually taking place - than at other times.