theheart.org - Lipid/Metabolic

Over 1300 deaths in Mediator scandal in France

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 14:30:48 EST

The number of deaths attributable to heart-valve insufficiency as a result of the use of benfluorex in France is likely more than double that previously thought, a new investigation finds.

Ten foods provide half of sodium eaten in US

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 10:00:06 EST

New estimates of salt consumption from a recent US survey show that 10 food groups provide almost half of the dietary sodium consumed in the country and that 90% of individuals eat more than the recommended daily amount of sodium.

Like father, like son: Y-chromosome variant may explain CAD

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 18:30:00 EST

New genetic work has unveiled an association between some lineages of the relatively empty male Y chromosome and coronary artery disease. The hypothesis, while "intriguing," requires more research to confirm, says one expert.

For stroke risk, look for novel lipid/lipoprotein biomarkers

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 11:15:16 EST

Women with triglyceride levels in the highest quartile had a significant 56% increased risk of stroke compared with women in the lowest quartile. Similarly, for women with highest quartile of VLDL particle size and IDL particle number, there was a significant 59% and 46% increased risk of ischemic stroke compared with women in the lowest quartile.

Fitness and fatness independently linked with CVD risk factors

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 16:00:00 EST

Individuals should be aware that exercising can have positive health effects, even if the weight doesn't necessarily come off, as can losing weight alone, researchers say, although the ideal combination is to improve fitness and lose fat.

Lower mortality in NFL players�if weight is kept in check

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 14:15:21 EST

The reduction in mortality and cardiovascular disease was observed in the smaller players—defensive backs, quarterbacks, and wide receivers, as well as fullbacks, halfbacks, and running backs, among others. For the true giants of the gridiron, the linemen, cardiovascular disease mortality was not significantly reduced compared with the US population.

KEEP: Focus on CKD patients with highest SBP

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 12:30:06 EST

A new, contemporary study in real-world patients with chronic kidney disease finds that those with systolic BPs of 140 mm Hg and higher are at the greatest risk of developing end-stage renal disease. Hence the current "goal" in CKD patients of 130 mm Hg should be revised upward, say the authors, making the target easier to achieve and allowing physicians to focus on other aspects of care.

Sitagliptin/metformin once-daily combo approved for diabetes

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 18:00:59 EST

The extended-release combination of sitagliptin and metformin joins saxagliptin/metformin as a once-daily tablet for type 2 diabetes.

Photos on school lunch trays boost veggie intake

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 15:45:11 EST

A simple intervention, whereby photographs of green beans and carrots were placed in lunch trays in a school cafeteria, has had some success in boosting consumption of these vegetables among elementary schoolchildren.

The flap over flavonoids

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 15:15:40 EST

The field of flavonoids and polyphenols continues to attract a massive amount of interest, from researchers and the public alike. But can health really be improved by eating chocolate and drinking red wine?

"Cardiovascular health," new focus of the AHA, linked with reduced mortality

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 16:15:32 EST

Individuals meeting five of seven cardiovascular health metrics outlined by the American Heart Association had a significantly lower risk of all-cause mortality and deaths from diseases of the circulatory system when compared with unhealthy individuals who met none of the cardiovascular health criteria.

Stroke risk linked to infections in children

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 09:00:00 EST

A new study finds the risk is highest closer to infection, then tapers off.

Combination type 2 diabetes pill gets FDA nod

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 17:30:37 EST

The new treatment option combines linagliptin and metformin in a single tablet taken twice daily in adults with type 2 diabetes who require more than one medication to lower blood glucose.

New data will shed light on cancer risk from imaging

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 13:00:29 EST

Ongoing epidemiological studies in children who have undergone CT scans should help provide a better understanding of radiation-associated cancer risks from cardiac imaging over the next few years.

Once-weekly exenatide okayed by FDA for type 2 diabetes

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 17:30:00 EST

The FDA approved the once-weekly version of exenatide for type 2 diabetes with a list of required postmarketing studies on the potential for cardiovascular events and medullary thyroid carcinoma.

Statins reduce cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality in women: Meta-analysis

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 16:00:00 EST

Based on the meta-analysis, which included 18 clinical trials, investigators conclude that the benefits of statin therapy for the reduction of cardiovascular outcomes and all-cause mortality extend to both men and women.

Interarm BP differences increase CVD risk

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 13:15:56 EST

New research indicates that large differences in systolic blood pressure between the right and left arm of 15 mm Hg or more point to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and death. The findings should add weight to guidelines, which already encourage doctors to measure BP in both arms, say the authors and editorialists.

Heart attack deaths plummet in three EU nations

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 12:15:26 EST

New statistics from Denmark, England, and Poland show a roughly 50% drop in deaths due to acute AMI in recent decades.

Cardiologists flagging woeful patient care say they paid with their jobs

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 15:30:00 EST

An echocardiographer and cardiac surgeon who say their jobs were axed in retaliation after they lodged numerous complaints of substandard patient care at a county hospital in Santa Clara are suing some of their former bosses, including two other cardiologists. The plaintiffs also claim they suffered severe harassment as a result of expressing their concerns. The defendants' attorney says the case "is hotly disputed."

Vytorin US label updated with SHARP results

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 12:05:17 EST

But the FDA has not allowed an official indication for chronic-kidney-disease patients, which has concerned investigators who conducted the trial.

Pay for SGR repeal with war savings, say medical groups

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 15:45:34 EST

A letter to Rep Dave Camp from 110 medical societies admits that war savings from military pullbacks are a "budget gimmick" but says they could retire SGR debt, another budget gimmick.

PLATO: PPI analysis "raises flag" but should not change practice

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 13:00:47 EST

A new analysis of the PLATO study has found that use of a proton-pump inhibitor was independently associated with a higher rate of cardiovascular events but that this was apparent in both the ticagrelor and clopidogrel arms. The finding is likely due to confounding and should not precipitate any change in advice on this subject, says the lead author.

Carotid images don't boost quit rates or cut CV risk factors in smokers

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 17:00:00 EST

A new randomized controlled trial is the latest addition to a contentious field of research trying to establish whether "seeing is believing" when it comes to motivating cardiovascular risk reduction.

To prescribe or not to prescribe: That is the statin question, experts debate

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 12:30:09 EST

The two very different sides of the statin argument are debated today in the Wall Street Journal, with Dr Roger Blumenthal arguing the drugs prevent heart disease in patients with cardiovascular risk factors as well as in those who have already had a cardiovascular event. Dr Rita Redberg, on the other hand, argues against the current practice of prescribing statins to healthy patients with cardiovascular risk factors, including individuals with elevated cholesterol levels.

Dapagliflozin declined by FDA

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 17:00:54 EST

The US Food and Drug Administration has denied approval for the novel diabetes drug dapagliflozin, asking codevelopers Bristol-Myers Squibb and AstraZeneca to provide more studies.

Treat risk and not LDL-cholesterol targets, new perspective argues

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 11:00:00 EST

In focusing on patient risk, rather than LDL-cholesterol treatment targets, doctors would improve patient outcomes and reduce adverse effects and costs that result from treating low-risk, low-benefit patients, say experts.

NHANES: One in three adults, one in six children obese

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 13:00:04 EST

Obesity continues to be a significant public health problem in the US, affecting more than one-third of US adults and 17% of children and adolescents, but 2009-2010 data suggest trends may have plateaued for most groups.

Resveratrol scientists react to Das fraud scandal: "Research will continue"

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 17:20:01 EST

As the controversy over the research fraud allegations against Dr Dipak Das enters its third day, researchers told heartwire what the news means for the field of resveratrol research and, more pressingly, an upcoming scientific meeting.

Red-wine researcher charged with photo-editing fraud

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 09:30:31 EST

A University of Connecticut investigation found Dr Dipak K Das guilty of falsifying and fabricating images that appeared in published research.

Statins cost four times more in US than UK

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 15:00:38 EST

UPDATED // Based on 2005 numbers, American private insurers paid as much as 400% more for statins than the UK government was paying over the same period. Even for statins sold as brand-name drugs in both countries, US costs were at least double.

Inactivity is a universal risk factor for heart attack

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 12:40:42 EST

New findings from the INTERHEART study show that being physically active during leisure and work time protects against MI. The message is simple, say the authors: incorporate as much physical activity into daily life as is possible. Not surprisingly, those who own a TV and car have a higher risk of MI, they also show.

Serum potassium targets in acute MI need rethink, analysis suggests

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 16:00:00 EST

Recommendations to routinely raise serum potassium levels when ventricular arrhythmias are a concern may be based on outmoded data, according to authors of one of the largest analyses of its kind.

New guidelines suggest blood glucose testing for all inpatients

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 09:30:37 EST

New clinical-practice guidelines from the Endocrine Society say all patients should have a glucose test on admission to the hospital and describe optimal management of hyperglycemia in patients who do not require intensive care.

Aortic stenosis grading system misses rare, high-risk group

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 17:00:00 EST

A new study has examined the clinical outcomes of asymptomatic aortic-stenosis patients classified by valve area plus flow-gradient patterns instead of the older, inherently inconsistent system based on separate area, gradient, and flow measurements.

Bereavement triggers MI, new study finds

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 16:00:00 EST

Bereaved people are 21 times more likely to suffer an MI the day after the death of a significant other, and this heightened risk remains for as long as a month afterward, new research finds. Healthcare providers, the bereaved themselves, and their family and friends need to recognize this heightened risk, say the authors.

Statin use associated with significantly increased risk of diabetes: WHI analysis

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 16:00:00 EST

New data from the Women's Health Initiative hint that the risk of diabetes is higher than suggested by previous studies, with investigators reporting a 48% increased risk of diabetes among women taking the lipid-lowering medications.

Novel LDL-gene-targeted agent promising

Thu, 05 Jan 2012 14:45:54 EST

Suppressing the activity of PCSK9, a gene known to mediate low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol metabolism, cut LDL-C levels in a small dose-ranging study.

Excess calories, not proportion of dietary protein, key in causing obesity

Thu, 05 Jan 2012 10:15:33 EST

Excessive food intake, rather than the mix of protein, fat, and carbohydrates, has been implicated in causing obesity and is key in treating it.

BRCA1 cancer gene affects cardiac function

Wed, 04 Jan 2012 14:00:00 EST

Canadian researchers have discovered that the BRCA1 gene is implicated in cardiac function, at least in mice. The findings may also have implications for cancer sufferers who have mutations in this gene: they may be at increased risk of heart disease and more likely to suffer cardiotoxicity from chemotherapy.

Type 2 diabetes adds risk to tissue valves

Tue, 03 Jan 2012 17:15:47 EST

Type 2 diabetes is a known determinant of degeneration of both native and prosthetic valve implants, so a group of Italian researchers investigated whether bioprosthetic valves also degenerate faster in diabetic patients vs nondiabetic patients.

Bariatric surgery reduces CV events, but mechanisms remain a mystery

Tue, 03 Jan 2012 16:00:00 EST

The latest data from the Swedish Obese Subjects study show that bariatric surgery reduces the risk of cardiovascular events and CV death among obese individuals, compared with usual care. But weight loss is not the reason behind this reduced risk, meaning that guidelines that use BMI to determine who will get such surgery need updating, say the authors and an editorialist.

Congress postpones Medicare pay cut

Fri, 23 Dec 2011 09:30:15 EST

UPDATED // After the Senate had overwhelmingly approved the plan and a tumultuous few days among House Republicans, this morning Congress voted to put off a steep cut in Medicare physician reimbursements that was to take effect on January 1, 2012.

ALTITUDE halted: Adverse events when aliskiren added to ACE, ARB therapy

Tue, 20 Dec 2011 13:20:02 EST

Data and safety monitors for ALTITUDE noted that patients in the trial taking aliskiren instead of placebo on top of ACE or ARB therapy experienced an increased incidence of nonfatal stroke, renal complications, hyperkalemia, and hypotension.

Combining wireless sensors and genomics for CVD prevention?

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 10:00:31 EST

Monitoring an individual's risk for MI in the future would ideally first take into account his or her genome sequence or other biomarkers and then might use an implanted nanosensor smaller than a grain of sand. In an excerpt from his new book, The Creative Destruction of Medicine, theheart.org's editor in chief offers a glimpse of what that might look like.

AHA Statistics: New year, same trends

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 16:00:12 EST

The new annual update on the state of America's heart health is out and provides some encouraging news about outcomes while underscoring the severity of the country's problems with obesity and poor fitness.

Vitamin D fails again to affect CV mortality

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 11:15:40 EST

Three-year follow-up from a British study adds to accumulating evidence that vitamin-D supplementation does not have an impact on cardiovascular mortality. Only large ongoing trials, the results of which are not expected for a number of years, will resolve this issue once and for all, say the researchers.

CPAP benefits in metabolic syndrome

Wed, 14 Dec 2011 17:00:00 EST

Three months of treatment with continuous positive airway pressure was associated with improvements in many components of the metabolic syndrome in a new study in patients with both metabolic syndrome and obstructive sleep apnea.

AF following TAVI associated with higher risk of stroke

Wed, 14 Dec 2011 16:00:00 EST

A small study indicates that even a very short episode of AF following TAVI might be associated with an increased risk of stroke. The findings have implications for antithrombotic therapy after TAVI, say the authors and accompanying editorialists.