Low-Risk Food Pattern May Reduce Risk for Diabetes

Dietary patterns affect the risk for type 2 diabetes to a greater extent vs intake of specific food groups, according to findings from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA), reported in the June 10 Online First issue of Diabetes Care.

Post-MI Angina Common, Underappreciated, Undertreated in Registry Study

One in five patients with a myocardial infarction (MI) experienced angina one year after hospitalization for the acute event, and a substantial minority of those with angina had symptoms at least weekly, in a prospective, multicenter registry analysis appearing in the June 23, 2008 Archives of Internal Medicine [1].

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 […]

Blood Substitute Safely Reduces Need for Transfusion Following Elective Surgery

A hemoglobin-based oxygen carrier (HBOC-201, Biopure Corporation) appears to be a safe substitute for blood transfusion, according to results of a multinational, phase III clinical trial among patients undergoing elective orthopedic surgery. However, the blood substitute may not be appropriate for high-risk patients and patients over the age of 80, the findings suggest.

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 […]

Ischemic Preconditioning During the Use of the Percusurge Occlusion Balloon for Carotid Angioplast

AbstractIschemic preconditioning (IP) uses transient ischemia to render tissues tolerant to subsequent, prolonged ischemia. This study sought to evaluate factors that contributed to the development of cerebral ischemia during PercuSurge balloon (Medtronic, Santa Rosa, CA) occlusion in patients undergoing carotid angioplasty and stenting (CAS). The PercuSurge occlusion balloon was used in 43 of 165 patients […]

Does a Goiter Always Require Surgery?

Fate of the non-operated, non-toxic goitre in a defined population Winbladh A, Järhult JBr J Surg. 2008;95:338-343 SummaryDoes every patient with a benign goiter need surgery? To answer this question, the study authors reviewed data on 261 patients (median age, 56 years) who, at the time of clinical examination or after fine-needle aspiration (233 patients), […]

Review Addresses Strategies for Patient Adherence to Medications

A review published in the April 16 Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews provides various methods of encouraging patients to adhere to their medications, but the reviewers suggest that there are significant limitations and that more research is needed.