New Risk Factors for Cardiovascular Problems After Joint Surgery Identified
In addition to confirming previously identified risk factors for cardiovascular complications after total joint replacement (TJR) surgery, researchers have shown that bilateral and revision operations are associated with increased risk. "Revision joint replacement and bilateral surgery are much more prolonged operations than primary unilateral joint replacement," Dr. Jeffrey N. Katz, from Brigham and Women's Hospital […]
Plasma DNA More Reliable Than CEA for Detecting Recurrent Esophageal Cancer
Elevated free plasma DNA is a reliable indicator of recurrent esophageal cancer, more so than carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), and is able to detect recurrent disease in most patients before clinical evidence emerges. These findings come from a study by researchers at the University of Southern California, published in the July issue of the Journal of […]
Earlier and More Aggressive LDL Lowering, or Better Approaches for Targeting High-Risk Individuals?
A new review by three renowned experts in cardiology suggests that efforts to treat elevated cholesterol levels are not exploiting the full potential of cholesterol-lowering strategies, and current approaches to treatment are simply doing "too little, too late. [1]" The evidence, say these experts, is strong enough to support even more aggressive use of lipid-lowering […]
Statins Help With Obesity-Related Plaque Progression After Heart Surgery
As body mass index (BMI) increases, the likelihood that atherosclerosis will progress after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) also rises, US researchers report. However, aggressive statin therapy may eliminate this association.
Urologic Disease Burden Among Veterans Underestimated
In the Veterans Affairs Healthcare System, estimates of urologic disease prevalence among males and females based only on primary diagnosis will significantly underestimate the true disease burden, say researchers in Los Angeles.
Disease-Free Period Predicts Response to Salvage Therapy for Oral Cancer
In patients with locally recurrent carcinomas of the oral cavity and oropharynx, a disease-free interval of more than 1 year and tumor tissue negative for EGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor) expression predict a good response to salvage surgery.
Multidisciplinary Collaboration Needed to Incorporate Genomics Into Clinical Care
Multidisciplinary collaboration is needed to incorporate genomics into clinical care, according to scientists who have launched a new initiative to investigate potential uses of genetic testing in primary care. Their commentary on the topic, published in the July 29 issue of Nature Genetics, addresses the gap between research on gene–disease associations and the use of […]
Gastric Bypass Can Improve Renal Function in Patients With Morbid Obesity
Patients with morbid obesity who also have chronic renal disease (CRD) may improve or stabilize renal function after gastric bypass, according to a study presented here at the American Society for Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery 25th Annual Meeting. CRD is common in obese patients, and chronic renal failure is more than 7 times higher in […]
Coronary Calcium Better Than Carotid IMT for Predicting CVD Risk, MESA Analysis Shows
Coronary artery calcium (CAC) scores are better than carotid intima media thickness (IMT) at predicting risk of subsequent cardiovascular disease events, a new analysis from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) suggests [1]. While CAC was best at predicting risk of all cardiovascular disease or coronary heart disease specifically, carotid IMT was modestly better than […]
VA Study: ART Confers Negligible Risk for Heart Disease
Four-year follow-up of more than 40,000 HIV-infected patients revealed no association between longer durations of ART exposure and risk for cardiovascular disease. Summary Many antiretroviral regimens have been associated with metabolic perturbations that are linked to risk for atherosclerotic heart disease. Consequently, there is keen interest in determining the rates of cardiovascular events among HIV-infected […]
