martedì 31 marzo 2009

Cardionews

Plavix reduces stroke risk in heart rhythm study
Plavix, a blood clot preventer sold by Bristol-Myers Squibb Co and Sanofi-Aventis, cut the risk of stroke by 28 percent in patients vulnerable because of irregular heart beats, a large clinical study found.

Statins May Help Before Artery-Opening Surgery
Giving statins just before artery-opening angioplasty procedures reduces the incidence of heart attacks and other problems, even for people who already have been taking the cholesterol-lowering drugs, Italian trials show.

Study shows cholesterol drug can lower risk of blood clots
Statin drugs, taken by millions of Americans to lower cholesterol and prevent heart disease, also can cut the risk of developing dangerous blood clots that can lodge in the legs or lungs, a major study suggests.

Once-a-day heart combo pill shows promise in study
Mon, Mar 30, 2009 A single daily pill that combines aspirin and four blood pressure and cholesterol medicines has passed its first big test, potentially offering a cheap, simple way to prevent both heart disease and stroke.

New Device Treats Common Heart Rhythm Disorder
An implanted device may soon replace the anti-clotting drug warfarin as the first line of treatment for many people with atrial fibrillation, a new study suggests.

Mayo study shows simple finger device may help predict future heart events, such as heart attack
Results of a Mayo Clinic study show that a simple, noninvasive finger sensor test is "highly predictive" of a major cardiac event, such as a heart attack or stroke, for people who are considered at low or moderate risk, according to researchers.

Aldosterone Blockers Move Up for Obese
NEW YORK — Two aldosterone receptor blocking drugs—spironolactone and eplerenone—have almost overnight become important, second-line antihypertensive drugs for obese patients.

CV Trial Data Confirm Value of Tailoring Glycemic Goals
The target hemoglobin A1c of less than 7% should remain the general goal for nonpregnant adults with diabetes, despite the recent results from three large randomized trials showing that intensive glucose lowering did not reduce the risks of cardiovascular disease in people with longstanding type 2 diabetes.

Cardiac Cell Therapy Advances in Trials
NEW YORK— Despite setbacks, the field of cell therapy for cardiovascular disease continues to move ahead, adapting with experience, adopting the newest technology, and learning from past mistakes.

Exercise in Heart Failure
DR. GOLDSTEIN, medical editor of CARDIOLOGY NEWS, is professor of medicine at Wayne State University and division head emeritus of cardiovascular medicine at Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit.

Does pharmaceutical industry funding bias research?
DR. MILES is a professor in the center for bioethics and the department of medicine at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis. He has no relevant conflicts of interest to disclose.

Policy & Practice
The FDA has issued updated guidance for manufacturers that distribute journal articles or other scientific publications concerning off-label uses for their FDA-approved drugs, devices, or biologics. On its Web site, the agency suggests that distributed journal articles be only from organizations using editorial boards with “demonstrated expertise in the subject of the article,” independence to review articles, and fully disclosed conflicts of interest. Authors and editors should also disclose conflicts. Acceptable articles can't be from special supplements funded even partially by a manufacturer. In its presentation to practitioners, an article should not be highlighted, otherwise marked up, or attached to promotional materials.

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