Top ten cardionews

01.00 02/02/2009, Cardiosource
While earlier studies have suggested that B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP)-guided therapy may have a beneficial role in the management of chronic heart failure, there are very little data on this topic in elderly patients. Accordingly, the goal of this trial was to investigate the efficacy of intensive vs BNP guided therapy.


Top 10 Most Read Articles by Cardiologists:
1. Antibiotic Prophylaxis Against Infective Endocarditis: New Guidelines, New Controversy? Infective endocarditis takes a heavy toll when it strikes, so is it wise to limit antibiotic prophylaxis for dental procedures? The rationale for disagreement among experts is presented. 2. FDA Supports Use of Vytorin, Completes Year-Long Review of ENHANCE
3. Debate About Ezetimibe Not Over Yet: Experts Again Weigh in on Cancer Risk
4. Goodbye to Electrical Cardioversion for Atrial Fibrillation?
5. FDA Expands List of Tainted Weight-Loss Products
6. Economic Blues Trickle Down to Physicians
7. Life-Threatening Condition (I)
8. Sildenafil for the Treatment of Heart Failure
9. FDA Approves Abbott's Trilipix
10. One in Five Middle-Aged Adults Newly Eligible for Statins Based on JUPITER


TOp ten cardiological news
Interventional/Surgery COGENT 1 trial scrapped, sponsor declares bankruptcy The trial was testing a single-pill combination of clopidogrel and omeprazole to reduce the incidence of GI side effects. Jan 22
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Lipid/Metabolic Debate about ezetimibe not over yet: Experts again weigh in on cancer risk At the heart of an exchange in the New England Journal of Medicine between Dr Steven Nissen and Dr Rory Collins and Sir Richard Peto is whether or not a conclusion can be made that there is "no credible evidence" regarding a cancer risk associated with ezetimibe. (Nissen SE. N Engl J Med 2009; 360:86-87; author reply 87.) Jan 7
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Murmurs Nissen to Obama: How to heal the ailing FDA UPDATED WITH CLARIFICATION // Timed to help bring the 44th US president up to speed on the most pressing scientific matters facing the nation and the world, Nature has published the opinions of what it calls "six leading voices" to explain "what the new US president needs to do to move beyond the Bush legacy." Among the six is Dr Steven Nissen, who is also one of several names reputedly being considered for the post of FDA commissioner. Jan 20

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Lipid/Metabolic One in five middle-aged adults newly eligible for statins based on JUPITER On the basis of JUPITER's findings, investigators estimate that an additional 19.2% of middle-aged and older adults not meeting existing criteria could be prescribed statin therapy for primary prevention. (Spatz ES. Circ Cardiovasc Qual Outcomes; published online before print January 13, 2009.) Jan 14
5
Clinical cardiology Psoriasis and CAD: New call to recognize link A new report is reiterating the increased risk of coronary artery disease observed in patients with the inflammatory skin disease psoriasis and stressing that patients must be informed of this link and have their cardiovascular risk factors regularly assessed and, if necessary, treated. (Friedewald VE et al. Am J Cardiol 2008; 102:1631-43.) Jan 5
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Acute coronary syndromes Still a role for facilitated PCI? Facilitated PCI may still have a role for STEMI patients who face delays getting to the cath lab, a new study suggests. (McKay RG et al. Am J Cardiol 2009; 103:316-321.) Jan 23
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Lipid/Metabolic Majority of patients hospitalized with CAD at guideline-recommended LDL targets Many patients hospitalized with a first or recurrent acute coronary syndrome have LDL-cholesterol levels considered normal by current guidelines, which suggests that current lipid targets are not low enough to prevent cardiovascular risk, say researchers. (Sachdeva A et al. Am Heart J 2009; 157:111-117.) Jan 20

8
Arrhythmia/EP Federal judge tosses Sprint Fidelis lawsuits The FDA device review and approval process preempts product liability suits filed under state law, according to the decision. Jan 7
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Interventional/Surgery FAME published: Fractional flow reserve-guided PCI significantly reduces clinical events FFR-guided PCI reduced the risk of death, MI, or repeat revascularization by 30% and death or MI by 35%, compared with the current practice of using angiography to guide stenting decisions. An editorial states that on basis of this and other trials, it's likely the investigators are onto something. (Tonino PAL et al. N Engl J Med 2009; 360:213-224.) Jan 15
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Acute coronary syndromes FDA continuing to study effectiveness of clopidogrel The Food and Drug Administration is continuing to study the effectiveness of clopidogrel in patients taking other medications, particularly proton-pump inhibitors, and in those with genetic variants linked with clopidogrel resistance and a subsequent increased risk of cardiovascular outcomes. Jan 26